A HEART FOR CHANGE
CONNECT Some years ago a type of men and women began to emerge in the life of the church. They were called revivalists. Just as evangelists are called to bring life to the lost, the revivalist is called to bring life to the church. Their heart’s desire is for revival to sweep over sleepy churches and see them burst into holy flame. A. W. Tozer writes about them.
“If Christianity is to receive a rejuvenation, it must be by other means than any now being used. If the Church is to recover from the injuries she has suffered, there must appear a new type of preacher. The proper, ruler-of-the-synagogue type will never do. Neither will the priestly type of man who carries out his duties, takes his pay and asks no questions, nor the smooth-talking pastoral type who knows how to make the Christian religion acceptable to everyone. All these have been tried and found wanting.
Another kind of religious leader must arise among us. He must be of the old prophet type, a man who has seen visions of God and has heard a voice from the Throne. When he comes (and I pray God there will be not one but many), he will stand in flat contradiction to everything our smirking, smooth civilization holds dear. He will contradict, denounce and protest in the name of God and will earn the hatred and opposition of a large segment of Christendom. Such a man is likely to be lean, rugged, blunt-spoken and a little bit angry with the world. He will love Christ and the souls of men to the point of willingness to die for the glory of the One and the salvation of the other.”
Revival usually comes on the backs of these other-worldly men and women. Are we willing to take up that call? Have you been singled out to be a revivalist?
You don’t have to be a minister! In fact, we need more Spirit filled laymen to work in secular jobs burning for God. Often, when asked what I do for a living, I tell them I am a school teacher. If they know I am a pastor, they will dismiss what I say because they see me as special, not like everyone else.
Today, we will return to the story of the re-building of Jerusalem and look at one of the prototypes of a revivalist and the spiritual renewal that took place under his influence. Our hero and model for today is Ezra.
PRAYER
MESSAGE Revivalists are concerned about one thing: life change. They long for men and women to be changed by an encounter with a holy God. Throughout history, revival has been marked by dramatic life transformation by those who participated. The key is “a heart for change.”
The Preparation of the Revivalist
Ezra 7:6 Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
If we want to be a revivalist, these are some things we should strive to be.
1. A person of the Word.
2. Anointed by God.
3. Have a pure heart.
4. Be obedient to the Word.
5. Disciple others.
The Principles of the Revivalist
1. Repentance
Ezra 9:3 So when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked out some of the hair of my head and beard, and sat down astonished.
Ezra 9:5-6 At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God. And I said: “O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens.
2. Confession and Change
Ezra 10:1 Now while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing downbefore the house of God, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept very bitterly.
Ezra 10:2-3 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra, “We have trespassed against our God, and have taken pagan wives from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this. Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and those who have been born to them, according to the advice of my master and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
Ezra 10:5 Then Ezra arose, and made the leaders of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear an oath that they would do according to this word. So they swore an oath.
The Preaching of the Revivalist
1. Based on the Word.
Nehemiah 8:1-3 Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.
2. Teaches the People
Nehemiah 8:4-6 So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose… 5And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
3. Raises Up Others
Nehemiah 8:7-8 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. 8So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.
4. Leads to celebration, confession, repentance, praise, and worship.
The Path of the Revivalist
APPLICATION How do we respond to all this? I hope you will read these two books, Ezra and Nehemiah, on your own and let God speak to you. I confess I am convicted by my own carnality when I look at the life of Ezra. Several things admonish me.
1. His depth of sorrow over sin.
2. His total commitment to the Word of God.
3. His singular devotion to the things of God.
4. His unabashed love for the people of God.
PRACTICAL STEPS
1. Spend more time in the Word of God.
2. Pray more; work less.
3. Spend time in confession and repentance.
4. Pour your own life message into others.
INSPIRATION Allow me to quote Tozer again as we close.
“The most pressing need just now is that we who call ourselves Christians should frankly acknowledge to each other and to God that we are astray; that we should confess that we are worldly, that our moral standards are low and we are spiritually cold. We need to cease our multitude of unscriptural activities, stop running when and where we have not been sent, and cease trying to sanctify carnal projects by professing that we are promoting them “in the name of the Lord” and “for the glory of God.” We need to return to the message, methods and objectives of the New Testament. We need boldly and indignantly to cleanse the temple of all that sell cattle in the holy place, and overthrow the tables of the money-changers. And this must be done in our own lives first and then in the churches of which we are a part.”
FINAL THOUGHTS Will we hear the call? Will I hear the call? As I am staring into the last years of my life I have some regrets. I wonder what might have been if I had only had eyes for Jesus; if I had spent more time with Him and in His Word. I am asking God in my latter years to restore unto me what the enemy has stolen. To allow me, like Samson, to slay more enemies of God in my dying that in my living.
You may feel the same way. It is not too late! Cry out to God and ask Him to give you the years back. If you are young, live so you will not have regret. Sow your life into God and your family and see what He will do.
Remember, He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we can ask or even think! To Him be Glory in the church now and forevermore!
MINISTRY TIME
No comments:
Post a Comment