Do You Want a Revival?

 

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered at Pilgrim Reformed Church on Sunday morning, the 19th of October, 2025.  A recording of our service may be available on our YouTube streaming channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch1992/streams for the older services or https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch3115/streams for later services.]

Family, does it seem like respect for the law of the land has dramatically lessened over the last decade?  It’s just crazy how much real lawlessness we see everywhere these days.  Protests often morph into criminal acts.  Robberies, thefts, recklessness on our highways, absolutely senseless shootings and stabbings, street takeovers, and the list goes on and on.

Laws are enacted by our elected representatives to preserve society, so that we can all live together.  Laws enforcement is an attempt to keep us civil with each other, to at least try to make life peaceful for us.  Without laws, society quickly devolves into chaos, and we’re seeing more and more of that.  Most of our laws derive from the Ten Commandments, such as don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t lie.  As more and more people rebel against God’s sovereignty, our society cracks and splinters.

Now the law attempts to keep us doing the right thing by telling us what is wrong.  And this is how God’s law works, too.  His law was given to us so that we would know and understand sin.  If there were no law, we wouldn’t know what actions are sinful, we wouldn’t know when we’re disobeying our God, condemning ourselves in the process.  Satan works to discredit and do away with the law.

The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church in Rome in which he gives us a little more insight into how God’s law and sin are related, and how the law and faith work together to salvation.  Please listen and follow along as Paul shares this piece of wisdom from God in the 3rd chapter of his Letter to the Romans, in verses 19 through 31, and I’ll be reading from The Living Bible version of our Holy Bible this morning…

19 So the judgment of God lies very heavily upon the Jews, for they are responsible to keep God’s laws instead of doing all these evil things; not one of them has any excuse; in fact, all the world stands hushed and guilty before Almighty God.

20 Now do you see it? No one can ever be made right in God’s sight by doing what the law commands. For the more we know of God’s laws, the clearer it becomes that we aren’t obeying them; His laws serve only to make us see that we are sinners.

21-22 But now God has shown us a different way to heaven — not by “being good enough” and trying to keep His laws, but by a new way (though not new, really, for the Scriptures told about it long ago). Now God says He will accept and acquit us — declare us “not guilty” — if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like. 23 Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal; 24 yet now God declares us “not guilty” of offending Him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in His kindness freely takes away our sins.

25 For God sent Christ Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to end all God’s anger against us. He used Christ’s blood and our faith as the means of saving us from His wrath. In this way He was being entirely fair, even though He did not punish those who sinned in former times. For He was looking forward to the time when Christ would come and take away those sins. 26 And now in these days also He can receive sinners in this same way because Jesus took away their sins.

But isn’t this unfair for God to let criminals go free, and say that they are innocent? No, for He does it on the basis of their trust in Jesus who took away their sins.

27 Then what can we boast about doing to earn our salvation? Nothing at all. Why? Because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds; it is based on what Christ has done and our faith in Him. 28 So it is that we are saved by faith in Christ and not by the good things we do.

29 And does God save only the Jews in this way? No, the Gentiles, too, may come to Him in this same manner. 30 God treats us all the same; all, whether Jews or Gentiles, are acquitted if they have faith. 31 Well then, if we are saved by faith, does this mean that we no longer need obey God’s laws? Just the opposite! In fact, only when we trust Jesus can we truly obey Him.

--Romans 3:19-31 (TLB)

Let us pray…  Father God, thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to work on the heart of Saul and turn him into the great evangelist, church planter, and writer for Your Son Jesus.  His letters to the early church are invaluable to Christians today.  Father, we know we disobey You at times, and we know it displeases You.  We need You to help us remember what Paul told us and put all our trust in You and Jesus.  Please forgive us those times we disappoint You and help us be more obedient to Your will, more loving, more caring, more compassionate, showing Your love to others so that they too might find salvation through Jesus.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit within us and better grasp the message You have for us this day.  This we pray in the precious name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.

Family, do you want a revival?  The church continues to see declining attendance, even as so many people still call themselves Christians.  There have been moments in fairly recent years when the church has experienced mini-revivals, short-lived revivals, such as immediately after 9-11.  There’s also been an up-tick in witnessing and professing faith following the killing of conservative Christian Charlie Kirk, but it hasn’t been widespread.  But folks, we need a good solid revival that will take root and hold for the next hundred years.  Where’s the next Dwight Moody, Billy Sunday, or Billy Graham?

You may be wondering what our scripture reading this morning has to do with revival.  Well, everything, I think.  Paul tells us that recognition of our sin is critical to us.  And folks, recognition – and acknowledgment - of our sin is a crucial component of revival.  James Packer, in his book Your Father Loves You, writes, “Revival is the visitation of God which brings to life Christians who have been sleeping and restores a deep sense of God's near presence and holiness. Thence springs a vivid sense of sin and a profound exercise of heart in repentance, praise, and love, with an evangelistic outflow.”

Packer goes on to say that all revivals have similar phases.  First, God comes upon us, His presence is felt, bringing an overwhelming sense of one’s own sins and sinfulness.  Second, the Gospel - the Good News of salvation through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus – is loved as never before.  Next, repentance deepens, an acknowledgement of and turning away from sin.  And finally, the Holy Spirit works, and works fast, as godliness multiplies, Christians mature, and converts appear, leaving the church stronger.

Now, a lot of people don’t want to think that they’ve sinned, and certainly don’t want to be told they sinned.  Satan has convinced some that there is no sin, or at least they’ve never been guilty of sinning.  But family, it’s not our job to go around telling people they sin, or pointing out their sin to them.  Our task is to love them and tell them about Jesus, and if they’ll listen, we can help them come to Jesus.

So what can we, as believers, do to help save our people, our nation?  Hear what the priest Ezra wrote in his 2nd Book of the Chronicles, chapter 7, verses 13 through 15 …

13 If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust swarms to eat up all of your crops, or if I send an epidemic among you, 14 then if My people will humble themselves and pray, and search for Me, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land. 15 I will listen, wide awake, to every prayer made in this place.

--2 Chronicles 7:13-15 (TLB)

“This place” mentioned there at the end, when God promises He will listen to every prayer made in this place”, this is God’s temple, which is now our heart.  God will listen to every prayer made from and in our hearts.  Prayer is our greatest and best tool to fuel a renewed love and following of our Lord.  In the 85th Psalm, verses 4 through 7, the sons of Korah confirm this when they pray…

4 Now bring us back to loving You, O Lord, so that Your anger will never need rise against us again. 5 (Or will You be always angry — on and on to distant generations?) 6 Oh, revive us! Then Your people can rejoice in You again. 7 Pour out Your love and kindness on us, Lord, and grant us Your salvation.

--Psalm 85:4-7 (TLB)

Pray for revival!  Pray that all people will love the Lord Jesus!  Pray, and God will listen.

Do you want a revival?  I think we need one, but it won’t be easy, getting a great revival going.  It won’t be easy, because it has to begin right here, here in Pilgrim Church, here in each of our hearts.  Each one of us needs to revive our faith.  We need to remember why we’re here, what we’re about, who we owe a debt to that we can never repay.  We need to recognize and admit that we are sinful, and then turn completely from our sinful ways.

It won’t be easy to start a revival because it has to start right here within each one of us, and it will hurt.  I am not looking forward to the day when I will stand before Jesus and listen as He tells me all the things I’ve done wrong, all the ways I’ve disappointed Him, hurt Him.  But I know that then He will say, “I shed my blood to wash You clean; your sins are forgiven.”

Family, I am calling us to revival.  Revival itself can be considered a call to Christians to awaken from their slumbers and take up their cross once again.  Let us serve Jesus, witness for Him, get our people back to Him, starting right here in Pilgrim.  Rather than worrying about empty pews, get on the phone, call your relatives and friends, and invite them to come and worship our Lord with us, encouraging and supporting and loving each other with us.  If we want a revival, it must begin with you and me.

In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Almighty God, thank You for giving us Your law so we can know what sin is.  Through Your law we know what goes against Your will, what displeases You, and the ways we might condemn ourselves.  Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to wash us clean of our sin, but Father, we need Your help to stay clean.  We confess our sinful nature, Father, and long to be revived in our love for You and our service for Jesus.  Please, Father, send a revival, and let it begin right here within each of us.  Please help us reach out and share the Gospel message with everyone we come into contact with. 

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You through Your Spirit within us, promising to be more obedient to Your word, and seeking Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, You shed Your own precious blood to wash us clean of our sin, and we are forgiven.  Thank You, Lord, for giving of Yourself for us.  Please help us give more of ourselves for You.  We love You, Jesus, and thank You for all You have done and continue to do for us.  We just ask that you please renew our hearts for greater service to You.  Revive our love for You and our fellow man.  And please forgive us when we struggle to do what we know is right, to not do what we know is wrong.  We don’t want to disappoint You and our Father God any more.  Please help us reach out to the non-believing world, sharing the Gospel message, showing Your love through our love.

Holy Spirit, please shield our minds and our hearts from Satan’s lies and the world’s empty promises.  Guide us around all the devil’s traps and snares.  Help us see though his temptations.  Help us keep our focus on the things of heaven and the needs of others rather than on anything this world might offer.  All this we pray in the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.