This is the last in the series on Revival and it ends with a great push to persevere. All the things talked about in the series need to be done in a persistent way. It’s not enough to just go at it for a short time. It’s essential to pray “until” the Spirit is poured out from on high. Scott uses Isaiah 62 as his main text to bring out these ideas. The last part of the sermon several, potential momentum-quenchers are addressed. Let nothing and no one stop us from night and day pursuit of the glory of God!!!
Revival: Remember the Poor
To be Christian is to care for the poor. To care for the poor is to know God. Proverbs 21:13 says, “whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.” All our efforts to pray, fast and cry out for revival will be in vain if we do not relate to the poor properly. Scott brings us into Isaiah 58 and talks about the sort of fasting that God requires. It is fasting accompanied by a lifestyle of pouring out for the hungry and afflicted. Caring for the poor can be complicated and this is acknowledged; however, we simply cannot throw aside the call because it’s challenging. We must figure out how to live like Jesus in our city!
Revival: Pray
In this great pursuit of revival, prayer is an essential element. Extraordinary prayer has been a distinguishing feature of all historic revivals. Most of us know prayer is important and desire to have a deep life of prayer, however, we struggle to find a vibrant satisfying deep experience. This message focuses not so much that we should pray but on the how. Several neglected forms of prayer are discussed that deepen intimacy with God. The last part of the message lists several obstacles to prayer and practical wisdom on how to overcome them. This message is pure encouragement, not just for the person who doesn’t prayer at all, but for the person who is presently in a prayer rut.
Revival: Be Holy
In this great pursuit of revival the call to be holy is essential. In order for God’s Spirit to come with full force the way must be cleared. Every genuine revival is marked by deep conviction, repentance and holiness. Much attention is given in the sermon to explaining exactly what repentance is and how it’s not a one-time act but an ongoing ethic in the Christian life. The enemy (Satan) works very hard to frustrate the work of genuine repentance with subtle deception. The Apostle Paul tells us we are not unaware of Satan’s schemes. Pastor Scott spends the last part of the message exposing the lies of the evil one. Overall, this message brings clarity to how a Christian should think about and relate to sin.
Revival: Narrow Your Interests
Tabatha Mello, who is one of the directors of Teen Challenge, brought the entire women’s home to share stories and songs. The glory of God was displayed powerfully. Tabatha preached a strong message on revival and the importance of narrowing your interests for the sake of going deeper in Christ. She talked plainly about the many good things that can pull us away from the best things. She used 2 Peter chapter one as her main anchor text.
Revival: Gaze on Heaven
Most Christians understand the importance of earnest prayer, fasting and reaching people who don’t know God. The problem lies in the lack of motivation. One of the greatest motivators to devotion is a vision of heaven. Scripture tells us much about what is in store in eternity for those who love Christ. This sermon especially focuses on the portrait of the New Heavens and New Earth described in Revelation 21-22. At the end of the message Pastor Scott explains how a vision of eternal glory will drive us to seek God because we don’t want anyone we love to miss out. Scott talks about how information, relevance and love is not enough to reach the world. What is needed is divine power. Scott pleads with the community to go deep in light of what is at stake for people we love who are not presently heaven-bound.
Revival: Think On Hell
In this effort to prepare for revival it’s important to think deeply about eternal realities. Understanding the call to consecration, prayer, and fasting is meaningless without motivation. When we begin to see the end of those who reject the Gospel, it compels us. This message addresses the way culture thinks about hell and the way Christians avoid thinking about it. After walking through several passages describing hell in the Word, Scott then asks the difficult question—“who will go to hell?” The last part of the message presses the new birth. The only way to be saved from the wrath to come is by being raised to new life by Christ. Scott urges those who are uncertain of their standing before God to repent fully and put their trust in Christ alone.
Revival: Weep
It seems that most serious Christians are well aware of the importance of earnest prayer, fasting and giving themselves to reach others. The problem is a lack of motivation. Where does consuming passion come from? This message explores the source of sustained passion, namely, what we call the burden of the Lord. Tears are the fuel of revival praying. Revival begins when one individual or a group of individuals begin to see the true condition of people and weep over it. Unless we allow God to show us the severity of the danger people are in we will never weep. We must come to grips with eternal realities like the great judgment of God and ultimate hell for those who are not covered in the righteousness of Christ. Much is discussed in this message of the portrait of God described in Scripture compared to the pop-view of God as soft on sin. When we begin to see God as He is we begin to see people as they are. This is the beginning of revival.
Revival: The Rain Is Coming
God is able to step into any cultural situation at any time to renew, restore, and revive it. A farmer's job is not to make it rain, but rather prepare the ground to receive it. The rain of revival will fall – the question is if the church is ready to receive it.
Revival: Know What to Expect
There are a lot of silly notions floating around out there about what revival will look like when it appears. This message explores what to expect based on the ministry of Jesus, the movement of God in the early church and the most powerful revivals in church history. Scott gives 7 distinguishing marks of authentic revival and places the greatest emphasis on the unveiling of the holiness of God upon the people that leads to deep conviction and subsequent repentance. All the other marks of revival seems to flow from this first work of God pulling back the curtain and revealing the “otherness of the Holy”. This message is a must listen for those who are yearning for revival to prepare them for the full ramifications of what they are praying for. It’s also an important message to make sure we are praying in alignment with God.