Revival: A Call to Recognize God's Power

 

Summary

In reflecting on the passage from Joshua 4:21-24, the focus is on the significance of the stones taken from the Jordan River as a memorial. These stones serve as a reminder of God's miraculous intervention in history, paralleling the revivals of 1858-59. The stones prompt the question, "What mean these stones?" which leads to a deeper understanding of God's actions and purposes. The sermon emphasizes that God's methods and principles remain constant, and His miraculous acts are meant to demonstrate His power and glory to the world.

The primary purpose of revival, as highlighted, is to manifest God's glory and power, compelling those outside the faith to recognize His might. Revival is not for personal experiences or church growth but for God's glory. The church's role is to represent God to the world, and revival serves as a powerful testimony to His presence and power. The sermon stresses the need for the church to realize God's presence among them, which is often forgotten. Revival brings a renewed consciousness of God's power and presence, reminding the church of its reliance on Him rather than human efforts.

The sermon also addresses the fear of man and worldly powers, which often leads the church to rely on human strategies and organizations. Revival dispels this fear, reminding believers that God's power is greater than any earthly force. The church's true need is to know the living God and His power, which leads to a life of dependence on Him. The sermon concludes with a call to pray for revival, emphasizing that God acts after periods of trial and discouragement, often when His people are at their most desperate and helpless.

Key Takeaways:

- Revival serves as a powerful reminder of God's glory and power, compelling the world to recognize His might. It is not for personal experiences or church growth but for the glory of God, as seen in the memorial stones from the Jordan River. [06:29]

- The church often forgets the presence of the living God among them, relying instead on human efforts and organizations. Revival brings a renewed consciousness of God's power, reminding the church of its true reliance on Him. [21:17]

- Fear of man and worldly powers often leads the church to adopt human strategies. Revival dispels this fear, reminding believers that God's power is greater than any earthly force, and encouraging a life of dependence on Him. [30:46]

- The true need of the church is to know the living God and His power, leading to a life of dependence on Him. Revival encourages this realization, moving believers away from self-reliance and towards a reliance on God's power. [34:25]

- God often acts after periods of trial and discouragement, when His people are at their most desperate and helpless. This pattern is seen throughout history, and it is in these moments of utter dependence that God manifests His glory and power. [42:24]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to the Theme
- [00:29] - Historical Context of Revival
- [01:23] - The Memorial Stones
- [02:59] - God's Unchanging Methods
- [04:38] - Purpose of Revival
- [06:29] - God's Glory and Power
- [09:40] - Misguided Motivations for Revival
- [11:25] - Biblical Examples of God's Power
- [14:11] - The Need for Divine Intervention
- [17:21] - Revival's Impact on the Church
- [21:17] - Realizing God's Presence
- [25:54] - The Power of Prayer in Revival
- [30:46] - Overcoming Fear Through Revival
- [34:25] - Dependence on God's Power
- [42:24] - God's Timing in Revival

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Joshua 4:21-24

---

Observation Questions:

1. What was the purpose of the stones taken from the Jordan River according to Joshua 4:21-24? How did they serve as a memorial for future generations? [01:53]

2. How does the sermon describe the historical context of the revivals of 1858-59, and what parallels are drawn with the memorial stones in Joshua? [00:29]

3. What does the sermon suggest is the primary purpose of revival, and how does it relate to God's glory and power? [06:29]

4. According to the sermon, what are some of the fears that the church faces, and how does revival address these fears? [30:46]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the church often forgets the presence of the living God among them? How does this impact their reliance on human efforts? [21:17]

2. How does the sermon explain the relationship between revival and the fear of man and worldly powers? What does it mean for believers to live a life of dependence on God? [30:46]

3. The sermon mentions that God often acts after periods of trial and discouragement. How does this pattern reflect God's timing and purpose in revival? [42:24]

4. What does the sermon imply about the church's need to know the living God and His power? How does this realization shift the focus from self-reliance to dependence on God? [34:25]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you relied more on human strategies than on God's power. How can you shift your focus to depend more on God in similar situations in the future? [21:17]

2. The sermon emphasizes the need for revival to manifest God's glory. How can you personally contribute to this purpose in your community or church? [06:29]

3. Consider the fears you face in your spiritual journey. How can the realization of God's power help you overcome these fears? What practical steps can you take to live a life of dependence on Him? [30:46]

4. The sermon calls for prayer for revival, especially during times of trial. How can you incorporate this call to prayer into your daily routine? What specific trials are you currently facing that you can bring to God in prayer? [42:24]

5. How can you remind yourself and others of God's presence in your life, similar to how the memorial stones served as a reminder for the Israelites? What tangible actions can you take to keep this awareness alive? [01:53]

6. The sermon discusses the church's need to know the living God and His power. How can you deepen your understanding and relationship with God this week? What resources or practices can you engage in to facilitate this growth? [34:25]

7. Reflect on a recent experience where you felt helpless or discouraged. How did you see God at work in that situation, and how can this experience encourage you to trust in His timing and purpose? [42:24]

Devotional

Day 1: Revival as a Manifestation of God's Glory
Revival serves as a powerful reminder of God's glory and power, compelling the world to recognize His might. It is not for personal experiences or church growth but for the glory of God, as seen in the memorial stones from the Jordan River. These stones were a tangible reminder of God's miraculous intervention, prompting the question, "What mean these stones?" This question leads to a deeper understanding of God's actions and purposes. Revival, much like these stones, is meant to demonstrate God's power and glory to the world, not to serve individual or institutional agendas. It is a call for the church to focus on God's glory above all else. [06:29]

Joshua 4:21-24 (ESV): "And he said to the people of Israel, 'When your children ask their fathers in times to come, "What do these stones mean?" then you shall let your children know, "Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground." For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.'"

Reflection: Consider a time when you witnessed God's power in your life. How can you share this experience to glorify God and encourage others to recognize His might today?


Day 2: Recognizing God's Presence in the Church
The church often forgets the presence of the living God among them, relying instead on human efforts and organizations. Revival brings a renewed consciousness of God's power, reminding the church of its true reliance on Him. This renewed awareness is crucial because it shifts the focus from human strategies to divine intervention. When the church acknowledges God's presence, it becomes a powerful testimony to the world. Revival is a call to remember that God is actively working among His people, and it is His power that sustains and grows the church, not human efforts. [21:17]

2 Chronicles 20:12 (ESV): "O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."

Reflection: In what ways have you relied on your own strength rather than God's presence in your daily life? How can you shift your focus to recognize and depend on His presence today?


Day 3: Overcoming Fear Through God's Power
Fear of man and worldly powers often leads the church to adopt human strategies. Revival dispels this fear, reminding believers that God's power is greater than any earthly force, and encouraging a life of dependence on Him. This realization is liberating, as it frees believers from the constraints of fear and empowers them to live boldly for God. Revival is a reminder that God's power is unmatched and that His presence is sufficient to overcome any challenge or opposition. It calls believers to trust in God's strength rather than succumbing to fear. [30:46]

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Reflection: Identify a fear that has been holding you back. How can you actively trust in God's power to overcome this fear today?


Day 4: Dependence on God's Power
The true need of the church is to know the living God and His power, leading to a life of dependence on Him. Revival encourages this realization, moving believers away from self-reliance and towards a reliance on God's power. This shift is essential for spiritual growth and maturity, as it aligns believers with God's purposes and empowers them to live out their faith authentically. Revival is a call to abandon self-sufficiency and embrace a life of dependence on God's strength and guidance. [34:25]

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV): "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?


Day 5: God's Timing in Revival
God often acts after periods of trial and discouragement, when His people are at their most desperate and helpless. This pattern is seen throughout history, and it is in these moments of utter dependence that God manifests His glory and power. Revival is a reminder that God's timing is perfect and that He often chooses to act when His people are most aware of their need for Him. It is a call to trust in God's timing and to remain faithful, even in the midst of trials and challenges. [42:24]

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (ESV): "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent trial or period of discouragement. How can you trust in God's timing and remain faithful, knowing that He often acts when we are most aware of our need for Him?

Quotes



God commanded these children of Israel to take up 12 Stones from the middle of the river of Jordan where the priests had been standing while the people were passing over he commanded them to take these 12 Stones and to set them up as a memorial outside the city of gilgal with this intention that when future Generations should happen to see this Memorial these Stones they should be provoked to ask the question what mean these stones. [00:01:36]

God does this thing from time to time God sends Revival blessing upon the church in order that he may do something with respect to those that are outside even he is doing something that is going to arrest the attention of all the people of the earth here is we must always realize the first reason forever considering this matter at all. [00:06:27]

The primary thing is the glory of God and the power of God and the name of God and the honor of God so let us be perfectly clear about that there are people who are ready to jump at anything that will solve their problem or the problem of the church you see a few years ago the main sections of the Christian Church were not interested at all in evangelism. [00:09:35]

Revival is of Great Value to the church as well as all it does for the world that you might know that you might fear the lord you are God forever now then what does it do for the church let me enumerate some of the things that are taught here quite plainly the first thing it does is to give the church an unusual consciousness of the the presence and the power of God. [00:17:37]

The church is this institution this body in which God dwells he's promised that I will be in you I will dwell in you I will walk among you that's what he says that is what he said to these children of Israel that is what is transferred in exactly the same way to the Christian Church the Christian church is not a human organization and institution. [00:19:55]

When God acts in Revival everybody present feels and knows that God is there of course we believe this we believe this by faith yes but we should know it we should have a realization of it we should be conscious of his nearness and that is what Revival does I'm going to do this thing says God and then all of you will realize that I'm among you I'm acting in your midst. [00:21:12]

The whole power that should be manifested in the church is his power that everything the church does should be a manifestation of the power of God what is the gospel well you remember the answer of the Apostle Paul it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth how easy it is to forget that isn't it how easy to preach it as a system preach it as a collection of ideas. [00:22:09]

The church is so afraid she's afraid of all organized sin you see this is the argument haven't you heard it so often we must be doing something they say because look at the world it's attracting the young people gives them a happy pleasant Saturday night entertains them teaches them how to sing and do this and that well now we must do the same thing. [00:30:58]

The Christian church has always had to fight the world and the Flesh and the devil she had to fight the Roman Empire at the beginning she had to fight the malignity of the Jews she's always had these enemies who are out to exterminate her and the church has often quaked and feared but never when there's been Revival because then they know that the Living God is among them. [00:33:19]

Our Supreme need and our only need is to know God the Living God and the power of his might we need nothing else it's just that the power of the Living God to know that the Living God is among us and that nothing else matters so we wait upon him we look to him we cry out unto him as Moses did when he was there before the Red Sea and didn't know what to do. [00:34:20]

God seems to do this always after a period of great trial and great discouragement note what I'm saying when does he do this well the text reminds us of two occasions the crossing of the Red Sea the crossing of the river of Jordan when does he do it oh he does it then I say after you've been in Egypt for a while in the bondage in the Captivity in the cruelty of Egypt. [00:38:00]

It is always after such a period that God acts and does his mighty deeds and shows forth his glory yes but that brings me to my second condition which was this and it seems to me to be so important it is not only after Egypt it is not only after the Wilderness the real moment when he does it the moment of Christ is is this when you are right up against the Red Sea. [00:41:32]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from May 24, 2017. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?