Scene: The temple of God was lying in ruins, but people were living well in their own houses. God’s work was being neglected so Haggai, the prophet, delivered a message to them. He rebuked them, then told them to consider their ways, get up and rebuild God’s house. Read Haggai 1:12-14. Result: A revival took place! Is it also possible that the Lord’s church needs one as well?

Text: Revelation 3:14-19

• From the Bible
  1. Church at Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-5) They no longer loved the Lord as they did at the first.
  2. Church at Sardis (Revelation 3:1-3) Strengthen (build up) things that remain
  3. God’s people during the days of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 2:1-2) They had left the initial fervent love they had had for Jehovah. Their love needed reviving.

• From the present day [A Wendell Winkler quote]
  1. Ho-hum, unconcerned attitude
  2. Straddler, lukewarm, live a little for the Lord and a little for the world Read: Luke 14:33
  3. Spends little time in prayer, Bible study, and self-examination (Psalms 1:2)
  4. Stays away from the assembly of the church even when he could come (Hebrews 10:25)
  5. Gives little support to the work of the church (Luke 6:38)
  6. Avoids talking with others about spiritual matters (Mark 16:15)
  7. Wants worship services over as quickly as possible, groans if one responds to the invitation (Luke 15:7)
  8. Has time for other things, but no time to teach classes, visit the sick, attend gospel meetings

  Those with these characteristics need a revival desperately!

  II. What Causes People to Need Reviving?

  • Self-satisfied This was a major problem in the Laodicean church. (Revelation 3:17) "On the plains of hesitation, lie the blackened bones of countless millions, who, at the dawn of victory, sat down to rest, and resting, died." Unknown
  • Discouragement This was why the prophet, Elijah’s spirit needed reviving. (I Kings 19:4, 14, 18) We must remember Romans 8:31. ". . . If God is for us, who can be against us?"
  • Greed So much time and energy is spent pursuing acquisitions of more and more possessions that many are too tired to do the work of the Lord. " . . . One’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." (Luke 12:15)
  • Uninspired Preaching Notice I did not say "uninspiring" but "uninspired." The congregation must be fed a good strong diet of the Word. If preaching is weak, the church will be weak. (I Corinthians 2:1-5) Preaching should not be the philosophy of men; self-help; pop psychology. Just as a cool drink of water refreshes us on a hot day, so does drinking from God’s water renew our soul.
  • A Lack of Faith As the Lord said to Peter as he began to sink into the sea, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Often we have the spirit of the ten spies who came back from Canaan saying, "We can’t. We are like grasshoppers compared to them." Let us follow the advice given in Hebrews 10:35-38. "How to Bring About Revival"

  Conclusion:

  Does your soul need reviving? Have you become self-satisfied or maybe discouraged? Heed the admonition in Revelation 3:19. " . . . Therefore be zealous and repent." Or if you have never obeyed our Lord in baptism, why won’t you now?

  Bobby Stafford

  August 12, 2012