datethewordtest

Tag: Revival

  • Verse to DATE the Word on September 5 (9/5) is Ezra 9:5 

    “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.” – Ezra 9:5
    Repentance leads to Revival

    As one comes to Ezra chapter 9 Ezra has heard a very disturbing report of some of God’s people practicing sin. It is especially grievous to Ezra that leading the way in practicing sin were the leaders.  Ezra 9:2c says, ‘in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.” As Ezra hears of these sins it brought a heavy brokenness, a brokenness described in Ezra 9:3.  It says, “As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled.”   

    As we come to Ezra 9:5 we find Ezra, who has been fasting all day, will rise from his sitting position to now fall to his knees to pray and he will pray a prayer of confession.  Ezra 9:6 tells of his prayer saying, “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.”   Ezra acknowledges that they, God’s people, have broken God’s commandments.  Ezra 9:10 says, “And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments.”

    How do you usually respond to a report that there is “sin in the camp?”  Does hearing about sin – first and foremost your own sin – break your heart? Ezra was appalled at sin being practiced.  He was astonished at sin being practiced.  He was ashamed, ashamed that sin was being practiced. His response was to humble himself before God and repent.  His response of repentance will lead to revival. 

    BTW – Revival has been defined as the renewed commitment to obey God’s command. 

    As you read of Ezra’s response you see his posture in which he is on his knees. I have come to believe that the strongest we will ever be is on our knees. May I challenge you to kneel in offering adoration to God?  May I challenge you to kneel in making confession?  May I challenge you to kneel in offering thanksgiving to God for His abundant goodness and amazing grace.  May I challenge you to kneel in pouring out your supplications to the Lord!  While there is no requirement for our posture as we pray kneeling is spoken of as the posture many of God’s people used as they prayed.

    Ezra gives us a tremendous example of responding to sin happening in a camp with humble brokenness and repentance. 

    Verse to DATE the Word on September 5 (9/5) is Ezra 9:5. It says, “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.” 

    Continue strong being brokenhearted over our sins,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on July 14 (7/14) is 2 Chronicles 7:14

    “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and 
    seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven,
    and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14
    A RECIPE for REVIVAL

    While 2 Chronicles 7:14 is very much a verse that speaks to the nation of Israel it offers a recipe for personal revival.  As we are prone to wander from the God we love, we also have an invitation to return to Him where He receives us and restores us.  

    For this return to happen there will need to be several changes beginning with one humbling themselves.  This mindset moves one from arrogance and pride, a spirit of I am right, and I know it all, to now acknowledging that God is right.  The ultimate acknowledgment is that YOU ARE NOT GOD, HE IS GOD, and GOD ALONE.  For one to return to God and His paths of righteousness one will need to repent.  Repenting means one is acknowledging they are WRONG.  To admit one is wrong calls for one to humble themselves.  

    From humbling oneself one now prays.  Why is this significant?  It means one is moving from independence of God to dependence on God.  

    Now the returner seeks God’s face.  To seek His face means one wants to know God.  To seek and see His face brings about WORSHIP!  The returner now offers praise to God.  

    Seeking the face of God also brings about a fresh awareness of our sinfulness that sparks a desire to turn from our wicked ways.  Seeking and seeing His face brings about a fresh view of God’s holiness and in seeing God’s holiness one is going to want to renounce wickedness.  As the prophet Isaiah sees God and hears the worship of HOLY HOLY HOLY he not only confessed his sin but within the confession was a desire to be cleansed.  

    2 Chronicles 7:14 is laying out for us the ability to experience personal revival.  The believer now walks humbly with God, depending on the Lord, seeking His face, and departing from sin. in doing this one becomes a useful vessel that is desiring to be used by God.  

    Are you in need of a personal revival?   Are you away from God?   Are you filled with arrogance and pride where you hold a view that you know better than God?  Are you seeking your own agenda?  Are you practicing wickedness?   Put into action 2 Chronicles 7:14 and God will forgive you and restore you!

    Verse to DATE the Word on July 14 (7/14) is 2 Chronicles 7:14. It says, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

    Personal note: As I grew up our church would have “revival” services each summer. I knew that there would be two songs sung each night. Revive Us Again before the preaching and Have Thine Own Way after the preaching. Maybe I simplify it too much but a take on 2 Chronicles 7:14 is LORD, HAVE THINE OWN WAY with me.
     

  • Verse to DATE the Word on July 3 (7/3) is 1 Samuel 7:3

    “Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD
    with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from
    among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and 
    He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” – 1 Samuel 7:3
    An excellent guide to personal revival!

    Over my many years on my spiritual journey, I have heard many messages on the need for revival.  As I read the Bible I have found several passages that speak of personal revival.  1 Samuel 7:3 is one of my top go-to verses for learning the actions needed for personal revival.   

    As you consider 1 Samuel 7:3 and personal revival please allow me to present a few thoughts. Personal revival is where one revives, bringing back to life,  personal obedience to the Lord! Revival is needed as one has put something or some things in place of God.  A person’s first love, their love for God has been replaced with another love.  Revival happens as one REALIZES they are wrong and they REPENT.  Repentance is making a 180 turn. One RETURNS to their first love.  One then takes the step of REMOVING the things that displaced their first love.  For there to be real revival I believe there is one more step and the step is to RESOLVE.  To resolve is to make a firm RESOLUTION.  The resolution includes a RECOMMITMENT  that says one will ONLY LOVE and SERVE GOD.  When this happens one can expect God to do incredible things through the person and for the person! 

    Are you serving ONLY HIM?  Have you given yourself to an idol or some idols that have drawn you away from your first love?  Do you need to have a personal revival?

    Tip – occasionally you need to draw a circle around yourself and say, “Lord, start a revival inside this circle.”  That prayer will certainly bring about conviction and God will reveal things that need to be removed.  Put into action the steps outlined above.  Rededicate yourself to serving ONLY HIM!

    Verse to DATE the Word on July 3 (7/3 ) is 1 Samuel 7:3. It says, “Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

    Getting really personal: When is the last time you inserted yourself into Joshua 24:15 and said “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD?”

    Continue Strong committed only to serving and loving Jesus.
    And remember to DATE the Word