Thursday, November 20, 2014

RENEWAL


RENEWAL

        We sing: “Revive us again, fill each heart with thy love, may each soul be rekindled with fire from above!”  Gospel Meetings bring righteousness, justice, and holiness – as Jesus is lifted up!  When a congregation experiences Renewal, certain things happen.  God in effect says: "By your faith, command Me."  We are to first act and then God will grant us Renewal!!!

 

        Renewal, Revival, and Spiritual Awakening make things happen.

 

        1. God comes down.  God is always with us, but we need to be reminded.  Renewal lifts up our eyes to The Holy One, mighty and majestic, who dwells among His people.  Like Isaiah in the temple we really see The Living God. 

        In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.”  Isaiah 6:1

 

        2. God's Word Comes Home.  In Renewal the Bible shows us Eternity. Christians find that this collection of Hebrew and Christian Scriptures is still God speaking to us and feeding our souls.

        Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  2 Tim 1:6-7

        Timothy had a special gift, but each of us has been given a talent, a gift with which we accomplish things.

 

        3. God's Purity Comes Through.  God uses His Word to renew consciences.  The perverseness, ugliness and guiltiness of sin are seen and felt with new clarity.  The depth of one's own sinfulness becomes obvious as never before.  So then forgiveness of sins becomes the most precious truth in God's promise to us!

        “...but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."  1 Peter 1:15-16

 

        4. God's People Come Alive.  Joyful assurance of salvation. Conscious communion with a Living savior.  A spirit of prayer and praise.  A readiness to share a life in common with other believers.  A love that reaches out to all in need.  These are characteristic marks of renewed Christians.  Old fears dissolve; and a new frankness in speech and action come to take their place.  The church at Ephesus (Rev. 2) was commanded to do this.  They needed to learn to love Jesus again and to do the first works.

        “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!  Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.”  Rev 2:4-5 (NLT)

 

        5. Outsiders Come In.  The church is alive!  People are drawn by the moral and spiritual magnetism of what goes on in (among) the church.  People are not impressed by a "words only" gospel, but by transformed lives and the living community of Faith. 

        Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” Acts 2:41

 

        6. Testing Renewal. We are to test all things.  Jesus is Lord. He came in the flesh.  He was tempted in every way that we are. He died on the cross.  He raised from death to life again!  He is coming again in power!

        a) Doctrinal  Does this Renewal produce a spirit that honors and praises the Christ of the Gospel?

        b) Ethical Does this Renewal produce character that is Christ-like?

        c) Holy Joy  Does this Renewal produce joy unspeakable and full of glory?  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:8-9 (KJV)

 

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