Excavating Hearts: Foundations for Spiritual Revival
Summary
Building a foundation for revival begins with the excavation of our hearts. This process is akin to preparing a construction site, where we remove the debris of our past to create a stable foundation for God's work in our lives. As we embark on this journey, we are reminded of the story of King Cyrus, a pagan king used by God to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, as prophesied by Jeremiah and Isaiah. This historical account serves as a metaphor for our spiritual journey, where we must return to God, rebuild our spiritual lives, and fight against the opposition that seeks to derail us.
The first step in this process is to return to our first love, God. We must come back to Him, not just in moments of worship but in our daily lives. This return is marked by rebuilding the altar of our hearts through praise and worship, which serves as the foundation for our spiritual revival. As we worship, we dig deep into our hearts, removing the clutter that hinders our relationship with God.
The second step is to check ourselves. Worship alone is not enough; we must examine our lives and make necessary changes. This involves repentance, a true change of heart and mind, which leads to transformation. We must not despise small beginnings, as even the smallest steps towards God can lead to significant spiritual growth.
The third step is to make sacrifices. Just as the Israelites had to rebuild the altar and offer sacrifices, we too must be willing to give up things that hinder our spiritual growth. This could mean letting go of habits, relationships, or mindsets that are not aligned with God's will. Sacrifice is essential for true excavation, allowing us to create space for God to work in our lives.
As we engage in this process, we are promised God's presence, His holy fire, His glory, and His gifts. These are the blessings that come with a heart properly excavated and aligned with God's will. We are called to be a safe space for others, reflecting God's love and grace in our interactions. This journey is not about perfection but about progress, as we continually seek to know God more deeply and serve Him more faithfully.
Key Takeaways:
1. Return to God: Revival begins with returning to our first love, God. This involves daily worship and a commitment to rebuilding our spiritual lives. We must prioritize our relationship with God, ensuring that our hearts are aligned with His will. [11:34]
2. Self-Examination: Worship is not enough; we must also examine our lives and make necessary changes. Repentance is key to transformation, requiring a true change of heart and mind. We must be willing to let go of the past and embrace the new things God is doing. [19:48]
3. Sacrifice for Growth: True spiritual growth requires sacrifice. We must be willing to give up things that hinder our relationship with God, whether they are habits, relationships, or mindsets. Sacrifice creates space for God to work in our lives. [35:55]
4. Embrace Small Beginnings: Do not despise small beginnings. Even the smallest steps towards God can lead to significant spiritual growth. We must be patient and trust the process, knowing that God is working in us and through us. [17:14]
5. Be a Safe Space: As we excavate our hearts, we become a safe space for others. Our lives should reflect God's love and grace, inviting others to experience His presence. We are called to be a light in the world, sharing the hope and joy of Christ with those around us. [22:04]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:23] - Foundations for Revival
- [01:03] - Reverence for the Word
- [02:24] - Building a House
- [05:44] - Excavation of the Heart
- [06:49] - Stability in Christ
- [07:29] - The Role of King Cyrus
- [08:53] - National Revival
- [09:33] - The Enemy's Strategy
- [11:34] - Returning to God
- [12:34] - Rebuilding and Resistance
- [13:11] - The Importance of the Altar
- [14:58] - Worship as Excavation
- [16:42] - Checking Ourselves
- [17:14] - Embracing Small Beginnings
- [19:48] - Moving Forward in Faith
- [22:04] - Being a Safe Space
- [23:56] - Creating Space for God
- [25:16] - The Gifts of God
- [30:04] - Revelation and Wisdom
- [31:23] - God's Promise of Restoration
- [33:40] - Building the Altar
- [35:09] - The Call to Sacrifice
- [37:38] - Starting Small
- [39:24] - Jeshua and Jesus
- [40:31] - Not by Might, but by Spirit
- [41:13] - The Spiritual Work of Excavation
- [42:12] - Creating a Safe Space
- [43:15] - The Purpose of Revival Bay
- [45:53] - The Power of Change
- [46:23] - Invitation to Prayer
- [47:20] - Gratitude and Closing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ezra 1:1-5
- Matthew 7:24
- Zechariah 4:6
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Observation Questions:
1. What role did King Cyrus play in the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, and how does this relate to the theme of revival? [01:03]
2. How does the sermon describe the process of "excavation" in the context of spiritual growth? [05:44]
3. What are the key steps mentioned in the sermon for building a foundation for revival? [11:34]
4. How does the sermon illustrate the importance of small beginnings in the journey of spiritual revival? [17:14]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the story of King Cyrus serve as a metaphor for our spiritual journey and the process of returning to God? [07:29]
2. How does the concept of "excavation" in the sermon relate to the biblical idea of repentance and transformation? [12:34]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between sacrifice and spiritual growth? [35:09]
4. How does the sermon interpret the significance of being a "safe space" for others in the context of spiritual revival? [22:04]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current relationship with God. What steps can you take this week to return to your "first love" and prioritize your spiritual life? [11:34]
2. Identify one area of your life that requires "excavation" or self-examination. What practical steps can you take to address this area and align it with God's will? [16:42]
3. Consider a habit, relationship, or mindset that may be hindering your spiritual growth. What sacrifice can you make to create space for God to work in your life? [35:09]
4. Think about a small beginning or step you can take towards spiritual growth. How can you embrace and celebrate this small step without despising it? [17:14]
5. How can you become a "safe space" for others in your community, reflecting God's love and grace in your interactions? [22:04]
6. What distractions in your life are preventing you from focusing on Jesus? How can you minimize these distractions this week to deepen your relationship with Him? [19:48]
7. Identify one person in your life who may benefit from experiencing God's love through you. How can you intentionally reach out to them this week? [45:53]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: Returning to Our First Love
Revival begins with a heartfelt return to God, our first love. This return is not just about attending church services or participating in worship; it is about integrating God into every aspect of our daily lives. It involves rebuilding the altar of our hearts through consistent praise and worship, which serves as the foundation for spiritual revival. As we engage in worship, we are called to dig deep into our hearts, removing any clutter that hinders our relationship with God. This process is a journey of aligning our hearts with God's will, ensuring that our lives reflect His love and grace. [11:34]
Isaiah 55:6-7 (ESV): "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
Reflection: What daily habit can you start today to prioritize your relationship with God and return to your first love?
Day 2: The Power of Self-Examination
Worship alone is not enough for spiritual growth; self-examination is crucial. This involves a deep and honest look at our lives, identifying areas that need change. Repentance is key to transformation, requiring a true change of heart and mind. It is about letting go of the past and embracing the new things God is doing in our lives. This process of self-examination and repentance leads to significant spiritual growth, as we align our lives more closely with God's will. [19:48]
Lamentations 3:40-41 (ESV): "Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord! Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven."
Reflection: What is one area of your life that you need to examine and possibly change to align more closely with God's will?
Day 3: Sacrifice as a Path to Growth
True spiritual growth requires sacrifice. Just as the Israelites had to rebuild the altar and offer sacrifices, we too must be willing to give up things that hinder our spiritual growth. This could mean letting go of habits, relationships, or mindsets that are not aligned with God's will. Sacrifice is essential for true excavation, allowing us to create space for God to work in our lives. By making these sacrifices, we open ourselves to the blessings and presence of God. [35:55]
Romans 12:1 (ESV): "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."
Reflection: What is one thing you can sacrifice today that is hindering your spiritual growth?
Day 4: Embracing Small Beginnings
Do not despise small beginnings, for even the smallest steps towards God can lead to significant spiritual growth. We must be patient and trust the process, knowing that God is working in us and through us. Small beginnings are often the foundation for great things, and as we take these steps, we are assured of God's presence and guidance. Embracing small beginnings requires faith and perseverance, trusting that God is leading us on a path of spiritual growth and transformation. [17:14]
Zechariah 4:10 (ESV): "For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel."
Reflection: What small step can you take today towards spiritual growth, trusting that God will use it for greater things?
Day 5: Being a Safe Space for Others
As we excavate our hearts and align them with God's will, we become a safe space for others. Our lives should reflect God's love and grace, inviting others to experience His presence. We are called to be a light in the world, sharing the hope and joy of Christ with those around us. This journey is not about perfection but about progress, as we continually seek to know God more deeply and serve Him more faithfully. [22:04]
Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV): "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Reflection: How can you be a safe space for someone in your life today, reflecting God's love and grace?
Quotes
"Building an altar, the excavation of your heart. And in this series, we're going to talk about a number of different things. Building an altar, repentance, forgiveness, prayer, fear of the Lord, the word of the Lord, worship. But we'll start this off today with building an altar." [00:00:39]
"Our goal is to care for you and give you what you need so you can go out and complete the mission that God has created you for. Each and every one of you and us have a purpose and a mission in Christ. And that looks different. But our goal as pastors is to equip you to do that." [00:05:25]
"So what must I do first? First, we got to build the altar. The first thing we must do when we build the house of the Lord, which when we talk about the physical temple in Old Testament, now we're talking about the altar in our hearts, right? Preparing the altar in our heart." [00:13:55]
"Every day, get up and say, Lord, thank you. And praise and worship doesn't have to be you singing. Praise and worship could be you just saying, Lord, I thank you. Lord, I magnify you. Thank you for giving me breath in my body. Thank you for giving me the power in my limbs, active activity in my limbs." [00:14:20]
"The second thing we must do is check ourselves. We got to check ourselves. Now we can be in worship. You can worship all you want and then go right back to doing the same thing he was doing before he was worshiping. So you can worship. But the second thing you got to do is you got to actually check yourself." [00:16:00]
"The thing is, many times we can hinder our forward progression because we're still looking back. We can hinder where we're going because we're so focused on the past when God is constantly asking us to shift. God. God. God is constantly asking us to open our minds to new possibilities, to new strategies, to new solutions, to new answers." [00:19:14]
"Excavation is done because through proper excavation, you can actually create more space. God wants to excavate. He wants you to excavate because he's trying to increase your capacity to receive him. Many times we can't receive what God has for us because we are so stuck on what we thought we should have." [00:23:28]
"God is saying, if you build me, if you, if you, if you excavate your heart and you let me build you up as a house, then what? What I'm going to do is I'm going to keep that fire burning. that fire won't go out see because he's our priest so we don't have to work to light the fire all we have to do is excavate our hearts." [00:27:20]
"God is saying that this year with proper excavation, he'll give you revelation and wisdom that you do not have. You've been asking God questions. Lord, how do I do this? How do I get from here to here? God is saying, if you excavate your heart properly, I will give you the answer." [00:30:58]
"We have to sacrifice ourselves for the kingdom. See, some people never know what they're meant to do. Travis, I can say he understood what he was meant to do. He understood. And that's the reason why he was willing to sacrifice. God calls us to be a living sacrifice." [00:35:15]
"Don't despise small beginnings. Amen. You have to start somewhere, but you've got to be willing to make a sacrifice. As they built the temple, the first thing they did was build the altar. Because what is the altar? It's just center of worship. And without the shedding of blood, there's no remission of sins." [00:37:45]
"When you walk by a person that's struggling to talk to him and say, hey, how you doing? What's your name? How did this happen? That is what excavation does. It changes you. God wants us to change. That's what our faith is for. Our faith is to do what we haven't done." [00:45:44]
Chatbot
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