SIGNS THAT MY FAITH NEEDS A REVIVAL!

SIGNS THAT MY FAITH NEEDS A REVIVAL!

Ps 78:35-38

35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.

36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.

37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.

38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

Most professing believers live their “Christian” lives in a way that is not much of a threat to the Devil’s plan. Their lifestyle tends to be trendy, upbeat, casual and convenient. There is seldom a confrontation with evil because theirs is a live-and-let-live philosophy. If your faith seems fruitless and tasteless perhaps you may see yourself in these following signs that your faith needs a revival.

1.      A MISPLACED MORAL AUTHORITY

Judg 17:6

6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

We have abandoned the Bible or church leadership as our moral guides. Our own opinions have become the final authority for determining what is right or wrong.

The reason we need a government that acknowledges God and His principles is not so that government will agree with us but so that government might not lead us down a path of greater immorality.

2.      BIBLICAL ILLITERACY

Isa 1:3

3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

2 Tim 2:15-16

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

We are doing exactly the opposite of what this verse advises us to do. We have stopped personal and disciplined study of the Word of God and have entered into an unending string of vain babblings. The Greek indicates that “vain babblings” are empty, useless and fruitless speech. If the Word of God is not spoon-fed to us in “touchy-feely” bite-size portions, we quickly lose interest.

2 Tim 4:3-4

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

3.      RELIGIOUS CONSUMERISM

We have become “buffet believers” picking and choosing the most pleasant portions of our church doctrines and ignoring or challenging the rest. If our current religious “provider” fails to cater to our personal desires and opinions, we scoot across town to one that will. We will acknowledge truth only if it pleases us and we readily cross denominational lines to sample the various dainties available. Personal commitment to a body of beliefs has become foreign to our thinking. This is the root, and perhaps the rot, of ecumenism.

4.      CULTURAL CHRISTIANITY

The pursuits, interests and even the attire of most believers are indistinguishable from non-believers. Our values, norms and modes of interpreting reality have been entirely emancipated from any dependence upon God. Overwhelmed as we are by the pervading culture, we have accommodated our beliefs to fit in with its norms and values to the point that our Christian witness has lost its authenticity. —Facts of the Matter.

5.      HEARTS DEVOTED TO MATERIALISM

Matt 19:21-22

21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

We openly profess a strong distaste for “materialism” while greedily grasping for more and more. Our pious language does not fit our actions. We are enslaved by the reach for the “finer” things in life and we shun those churches that preach sacrificial giving to mission outreach.

Fortunately, Revival is available and waiting for us!

In view of the frequent modern use of "revive" and "revival," it is worthy of notice that it is to Timothy himself the exhortation is addressed. We too often merely pray for "revivals," forgetting that it is for us to "stir into flame" the gift of the Spirit which we have already received of God. It is ours from Him, but we let it lie dormant, as a slumbering ember merely. -- W. L. WALKER (from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia)

Dear Lord, please revive ME today. Revive our churches and our nation. Contain and restrain evil. Encourage and empower good. AMEN