Sunday, August 19,
2018
SUBJECT: REVIVAL
Today began the first of Revival services at First
Baptist Church, Nashville, GA
In the 10:30 am Service Bro. Bob Pittman brought a simple and
powerful message from Matthew 7:13-23 considered the most famous sermon of the
greatest Preacher of all time - Jesus Christ.
The emphasis was Eternity is going to be in 2 places…a provoking word;
but that’s not what I want to share as good as that was.
Tonight the message was from Psalm 32:11: Bro. Bob Pittman thinks this could easily be
among the top 10 greatest verses in the Old Testament of the Bible. I think I may put it near the top for me
after tonight.
Confession: For well over
a year I have struggled greatly about the spiritual condition of my church and
leadership. For the first time in 70
years of faithful participation in my church, I became discouraged and found
little reason to attend services or participate outside of my Sunday School
class. I had lost the joy of worship and
fellowship, feeling cast off and ridiculed.
For the first time in my Christian
life, I didn’t feel like I had any spiritually like-minded person in leadership
that I could go to for counseling. However,
the past year has been one of the best ever personally in my relationship with
The Lord. Every day has been an exciting
and challenging and amazing journey of realizing the Reality of the Presence of
God always with me.
My greatest desire as a
Child of God is that I want to finish well, and I don’t want to miss a single
thing that God has planned. Even though
I have enjoyed this delight time in personal fellowship with my Lord, my heart
has remained broken, burdened and hungry for fellowship with the Body of Christ
and His Love being expressed from the filling of the Spirit of God.
Celebration: Tonight I
heard the message I needed to see how to get back my JOY! I share my notes for my own refreshing, and
maybe help someone else who might be struggling with loss of joy.
*3-Fold description of a
Child of God
…”in the Lord” 2 Corinthians 5:17 a new creation; Romans 8:2 assurance of faith;
Romans 8:38-39
Nothing can separate the Love of God in Christ.
…”righteous” – a gift of God that
comes with Jesus.
…”upright in heart” – a straight
heart; a brand new heart Jeremiah 17:9
3-fold results
…”be
glad” – full of cheer; splashing over!
Why would we not “be glad” if we are “in Christ?”
…”Rejoice”
– to turn around as in dancing.
…”Shout
for joy” – like a pressure cooker – If the joy doesn’t come out, it will
explode!
Psalm 40 – like a new song you can see!
What robs JOY?
*Sin
– It doesn’t have to be a big one…a grudge, bitterness, unforgiveness,
resentment
*Critical
People – Joy Robbers, always negative.
(When someone wants to vent, Bro. Bob asks: Pointing to his ear – What is this? That’s right, it’s an ear – NOT a garbage
can!)
*Devil
– he causes to doubt salvation; question
the Love of God
Revival should bring joy
and rejoicing and should be spilling out!
Revival happens in
individuals…and you don’t have to be in church!
Revival comes to those who
know they really need it!
Invitation: When the
invitation was given, my heart was filled with conviction that I knew needed
confession…as I prayed, my heart was broken and I began to see that the church
and leadership had not been the reason I lost my joy…it was me! I knew that I needed to also confess and seek
forgiveness from my Pastor. I went to
him in tears and told him how I had blamed him and the church for losing my joy
and to please forgive me. He not only
forgave, but prayed for us to be able to work together. Nothing sweeter than reconciliation and JOY
restored!
