Sermon Tone Analysis

Scriptures: 2 Kings 17:7-18; Romans 1:18-32; 2 Kings 22:11; 23:2-4, 25 James 4:7-12

INTRO.

Last week was so powerful.

I was so excited about hearing the missionaries speak last week.

I had intended on sitting right there and encouraging us all to listen to them .

However, I was a little under the weather last Sunday, but I’m so grateful that we had a live stream going, and I was able to watch the service even while not physically present here.

But it was so powerful as we’ve been talking about Revival, and then to hear them share how God is at work in Israel and many Jews are converting to Christianity, believing that Jesus IS the Messiah.

We’ve been talking about REVIVAL.

We walked through the Valley of Dry Bones and asked God to breathe life and light back into the dead and darkest areas of our lives.

We’ve seen how we all need a Spiritual Reboot daily in order to stay updated for all that we will face in each day.

Now because we are all such a perfect people, and a perfect church, today will just be going through the motions of hearing how God works to bring Revival to a rebellious people…I know we won’t be able to relate to this much at all.

This is for your neighbor, not you, right?!

Hmmm…well, I’m sorry.

I know you and I would like to put it on cruise control and zone out this morning, but this message IS for you and for me today.

So listen up…if you have ears to hear (SMILE).

Revival - Reviving that which is alive, but

dormant or weak.

Why Revival you ask? It’s God's plan.

Study the Bible and you find this cycle.

1. God's people blessed, righteous, prospering

2. God's people rebellious, willful, sinning

3. God's people punished, visited by their sin

and God's punishment

4. God's people repenting, confession of sin,

agreeing with God

5. God's people forgiven, restoration

This cycle repeated over and over.

Q: Now where are you in this spiritual cycle?

-Oh, how our country, our state, our church, ourselves,

need this spiritual refreshing!

It blares to us on

every hand - our nation near chaos, our world trembles

on brink of disaster, rushing to cataclysmic

destruction, so much desperation as natural disasters all around us steal people of everything they own and deeply care for.

Many others in open REBELLION and DEFIANCE against any authority, most importantly against the very ONE WHO CREATED THEM.

Now, let's examine God's Word:

I. SOME INDICATIONS WE NEED REVIVAL

A generation that would not hear.

Would not listen to God.

1. Stiff-necked and willful - led to unbelief in

the Lord God.

Each becoming a law unto himself.

Children, yes, but also the adults, teachers,

labor unions say, "I've got to get mine today."

(ILL.)

2. Vanity.

No need for God, glorification of

the human personality.

Oh, vain man, who can tap the secrets of the

universe but can't control his own problems of

sin and self.

3. The law and will of God was abandoned.

Purpose and direction were lost.

They forgot the

law that says: "Thou shall love the Lord, thy

God with all thine heart.

They forgot -

"What soever a man soweth, that shall he also

reap."

(ILL.)

II.

SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF REVIVAL - 2 Kings 22 and

23.

Josiah did right.

1.

A knowledge and heeding of God's Word.

How Does This Apply?

(ILL) Billy Graham - old evangelist drew

chalk circle.

"Let revival begin in here."

Billy Graham stepped into circle.

"Let it

begin in me."

2. A putting away of that which is wrong.

23:4-

15

Systematic destruction of evil and bad.

3. A complete committal of life and self to God.

23:3-4 We cannot help ourselves!

23:25 - Testimony of Josiah

Revival - Reviving that which is alive, but

dormant or weak.

Biblical Cycle:

1. God's people blessed, righteous, prospering

2. God's people rebellious, willful, sinning

3. God's people punished, visited by their sin

and God's punishment

4. God's people repenting, confession of sin,

agreeing with God

5. God's people forgiven, restoration

Q: Now where are you in this spiritual cycle?

What Now

There is a formula for REVIVAL - for personal Revival in your life.

I want you to study James 4:7-12 this week.

This is powerful This is the The Word of God.

If we will do this, we will experience:

1. Inner peace

2. A new purpose and direction

3. Fresh power infused from God for lives daily

needs.