Sermon Tone Analysis

Can the Church Be Revived?

2 Chronicles 7:14

 

For the past three weeks I have preached for revival—in our day and in this place.

The question remains unanswered: can the church be revived; and more particularly the question is addressed to us, can our church be revived?

Such questions cannot be answered in a sermon; they must rather be answered through our own determination and in our subsequent experience.

Such questions demand implementation and not discussion.

The message this day, then, is not so much an exposition or even a homily as it is an exhortation to consider the need and to determine to seek revival.

The Prospects For Revival In These Last Days — Is there is any possibility for revival in these last days?

Jesus told a parable about the planting of seed.

You will recall the parable and subsequent explanation in *Matthew 13:3-9*: A farmer went out to sow his seed.

As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.

It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.

But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.

Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

He who has ears, let him hear.

The disciples were confused; what possible spiritual meaning could they attach to this parable.

We also, were it not for the fact that we have heard the parable expounded by Christ Himself and that we have read the entire account before, would be confused by this story.

Did it really teach anything?

The disciples were driven by their curiosity, however, to enquire of the meaning of the parable when they were at last alone with Jesus, and He graciously and patiently instructed them in its meaning.

Fortunate are the people who receive the teaching of the Master provided in *Matthew 13:18-23*.

Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.

This is the seed sown along the path.

The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.

But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time.

When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.

The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.

But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it.

He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

This is actually one of the Kingdom parables which are grouped together in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ life and ministry.

By this parable and the others included with it (*the parable of the weeds*, *the parable of the mustard seed *and* the yeast*, *the parable of the hidden treasure *and* of the pearl of great value*, and *the parable of the net*), Jesus instructed His disciples about the progress of the Kingdom during the course of this age.

Throughout the age the Kingdom will grow, but it will be invaded by, even include within it, unrighteous people whom God alone shall segregate at Christ’s return.

In light of this parable, then, it should be no great surprise to discover that there are a number of theologians who contend, some quite vigorously, that there is no possibility for revival.

No doubt some, perhaps even most, of the religious leaders who inveigh against the presence of God are themselves spiritually dead and can neither long for nor understand the concept of revival since they have never known what it is to be alive to God.

They walk in darkness and have never perceived the light; and though they speak a religious language, they do not know the language of Zion.

They have heard the Word, the seed has been sown, but since it fell on the hardened path it was snatched away before it could even root.

Thus, they have neither a longing for nor zeal to prepare for the presence of God among His people.

Such people are best left alone whatever name they may adopt and however pious they may appear.

I met one such individual early in my ministry.

In my experience, such religious infidels seem legion.

Roland McGregor was a Methodist minister completing studies at Southern Methodist University in Dallas during the early seventies.

He had charge of two small east Texas parishes where he held forth when he was not engaged in theological study.

We became acquaintances through a ministry I conducted at the Kaufman County Prison Farm where he also came each fifth Sunday.

In conversation I learned that he did not believe the Bible to be authoritative, he did not believe Jesus Christ to be God nor did he believe there was any such thing as salvation, he did not believe there was a life beyond this present moment nor did he believe there would be a judgement of mankind … in fact, he did not believe much at all!

When I asked about the vows laid out in the Methodist Discipline and which he had avowed before the bishop and the assembled observers at the time of his ordination, he said that he did so holding mental reservations.

Though he spoke the words accepting the authority of the Word and the deity of Jesus Christ and the necessity of salvation and the judgement of souls, he employed a subterfuge which in his mind permitted him to take the vows without believing them.

When I asked why he bothered to be a preacher, he responded that it was an easy life and did not demand much of him.

Furthermore, he saw himself as helping people, although he was unable to address their deepest need or point them to life in Christ.

Such an individual is dead and incapable of being revived.

A liberal churchman is a liar and nothing that such an individual says can be trusted.

While the liberal speaks religious words, she or he employs subterfuge and deceit to blind the eyes of her or his listeners while lulling them to eternal death.

There are other religious spokesmen opposed to revival who have no root.

The seed of the Word fell on stony soil in which no root could be formed.

They are more concerned about the opinions of others, and they think that perhaps denominational leaders or influential people within the church would be embarrassed by pleas for revival and so they also oppose renewal of the spirit and refreshment of the heart.

They are best described as gopher Christians who poke their heads up out of their subterranean playpens to see which way the wind is blowing and then speak the same as everyone else.

They are professionals, not prophets of the Living God.

You will no doubt recall the incident when Ahab, that vile occupant of the throne of Israel during the days of Elijah’s prophetic service, was withstood by Micaiah.

Jehoshaphat, though stupidly allied with Ahab, had at least perspicacity to ask if there was a prophet of the Lord after hearing from four hundred false prophets.

The messenger dispatched by the kings to summon Micaiah approached the prophet thinking the man of God to be just another mouth for hire and urged him to agree with the majority: Look, as one man the other prophets are predicting success for the king.

Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favourably [*1 Kings 22:13*].

But no true prophet is for hire, so Micaiah informed the courier: As surely as the LORD lives, I can tell him only what the LORD tells me [*1 Kings 22:14*].

Just so, the prophet of God in these last days will carefully consider where God is at work and call the people to work there with Him.

Let the denomination sink into oblivion if God has passed it by.

Let the influential among the congregation either get their lives right with God or remain silent.

If such seems odious to them let them leave that the leaven may be purged from among God’s holy people.

Other theologues opposed to revival are caught up in the concerns of this life.

They are like the seed which fell among the thorns.

Thus consumed with the cares of daily life and with the rewards of mortal life they are by default unconcerned for the glory of God.

Some such spokesmen of the Faith even have influential ministries, but their concern for personal security and for position precludes risk for the cause of Christ.

Some years ago, I chaired an evangelistic crusade in a coastal city.

All the churches united in an evangelistic effort.

Three of us pastors had met weekly for over twelve months praying for revival.

We issued repeated invitations to other churches to join us for a noon-hour prayer session.

Gradually a growing number of lay people joined us in prayer until the room in which we met was filled with people praying for revival.

God blessed richly and the churches were compelled by weight of lay demands to seek out an evangelist behind whom they might unite.

A steering committee was struck, an evangelist was approached and his agreement obtained, and meetings were scheduled.

During the meetings many people were converted to Christ and added to the churches.

At the conclusion of the evangelistic meetings the prayer meetings continued and the lay people inquired if there was not a means by which the churches could co-operate for continued advancement of the Kingdom of God and to foster the presence of His Spirit.

To my utter surprise, there was great opposition from the pastors of the largest churches in that city.

Their opposition was neither because of theological differences nor because of differences in worship styles, but their opposition was in each instance (whether they were Baptist, Presbyterian, United churchmen, or Reformed) predicated upon the concept that continued co-operation would hinder the building of their personal future.

In short, the advancement of their careers took precedence over the building of the Kingdom of God and over advancement of the cause of Christ.

I have focused on individual religious leaders who were opposed to revival and raised questions concerning the motives for their opposition—questions which find their origin in Christ’s teaching.

However I would have you take note that in the parable Jesus directed major attention to seed which fell on good soil representing he who hears the Word and understands it.

Such individuals produce a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

Thus, I am hopeful when I preach for revival.

I am hopeful because there are Christian leaders with a heart for God, and within whose hearts such appeal resonates.

I am hopeful because God is in the business of saving people and not simply scattering the seed of the Word in a vain hope that it will find appropriate soil.

Therefore, I am hopeful because God still reaches out to the lost and establishes them within His churches.

Even in the midst of the darkest days of the Tribulation—days in which the Spirit of God is withdrawn from the earth—we read of an astonishing revival in which men and women, converted during those awful days of unchecked wickedness, worship God even though such praise and worship means death.

I read of multitudes being turned to righteousness by the witness of these persecuted and punished believers.

John saw the souls of those who had been slain because of the Word of God and the testimony they had maintained [*Revelation 6:9*].

These are part of a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language who shall stand before the throne and in front of the Lamb, and who are identified as they who have come out of the great tribulation.

The revelation given the aged Apostle was that they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb [*Revelation 7:9, 14*].

Dear people, if God can so work during the darkest days yet to come, when the Spirit if removed and when evil rampages unchecked, and if God can accomplish such great things to the praise of His glory, is He not able to yet renew His work in this day?

The greatest revivals to ever be witnessed yet lie in the future, and who is to say that God cannot—or that God shall not—revive His work in this day and in this place?

The Prerequisites for Revival Set By God — If there is a possibility of revival in these last days, the question of conditions for revival naturally follows.

What prerequisites has God set for revival—if any?

The simple answer to this question is to again cite the text of these past several weeks that we might be reminded that God has called His people to revival.

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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.