Reviving the Church: Returning to Foundational Truths

 

Summary

In Genesis 26:17-18, we find Isaac re-digging the wells of his father Abraham, which had been filled by the Philistines. This act serves as a powerful metaphor for the church's current need for revival. Just as Isaac had to remove the debris to access the life-giving water, the church must clear away the obstacles that hinder the flow of God's Spirit. These obstacles are often rooted in doctrinal errors and misunderstandings that have crept into the church over time.

One of the primary hindrances to revival is a departure from sound doctrine. Historically, every revival has been preceded by a return to foundational truths, such as the sovereignty of God, the doctrine of sin, the person and work of Jesus Christ, and the role of the Holy Spirit. A misunderstanding or neglect of these doctrines can lead to spiritual dryness. For instance, if our view of the Holy Spirit excludes the possibility of a fresh outpouring, we are unlikely to pray for or expect revival.

Another critical doctrine is justification by faith. This truth emphasizes our utter dependence on God's grace, stripping away any reliance on our own righteousness. Revival often begins when individuals recognize their spiritual bankruptcy and cry out for God's mercy. Similarly, the doctrine of regeneration highlights the necessity of a new birth, a transformation that only the Holy Spirit can accomplish.

However, even those who hold to orthodox beliefs can fall into the trap of "defective orthodoxy." This occurs when doctrines become an end in themselves rather than a means to know and experience God. True orthodoxy should lead to a vibrant relationship with God, not a lifeless adherence to doctrine. Additionally, an imbalance in doctrinal emphasis can lead to spiritual barrenness. When secondary issues overshadow the core truths of the faith, the Spirit's work is hindered.

The church must also guard against the spirit of pride, contentiousness, and a focus on entertainment rather than holiness. Revival begins within the church, not through external programs or gatherings. It is the church's responsibility to seek God earnestly, repent of sin, and align itself with His purposes. Only then can we expect a mighty move of God that will impact the world.

Key Takeaways:

- Revival and Sound Doctrine: Revival is often hindered by a departure from foundational Christian doctrines. A return to the truths of God's sovereignty, human sinfulness, and the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit is essential for spiritual renewal. These doctrines are not just theological concepts but are vital for experiencing the life-giving power of God. [02:06]

- Justification by Faith: This doctrine emphasizes our complete reliance on God's grace for salvation. In times of revival, individuals recognize their spiritual bankruptcy and cry out for God's mercy, understanding that their own righteousness is insufficient. This humility and dependence on God are crucial for experiencing His transformative power. [06:10]

- Regeneration and New Birth: True Christian conversion involves a profound transformation by the Holy Spirit. It is not merely a decision or a change in behavior but a new birth that results in a new nature. This work of regeneration is a hallmark of revival, leading to dramatic changes in individuals' lives. [09:22]

- Defective Orthodoxy: Even those who hold to correct doctrine can fall into the trap of making doctrine an end in itself. True orthodoxy should lead to a vibrant relationship with God, not a lifeless adherence to theological concepts. The focus should be on knowing and experiencing God, not just understanding doctrine. [14:19]

- The Spirit of Revival: Pride, contentiousness, and a focus on entertainment can quench the Spirit's work. Revival begins within the church, not through external programs or gatherings. The church must seek God earnestly, repent of sin, and align itself with His purposes to experience a mighty move of God. [37:51]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:14] - Introduction to Isaac's Wells
- [00:51] - Hindrances to Revival
- [01:32] - The Role of Doctrine
- [02:28] - Apostasy and Its Consequences
- [03:17] - Vital Doctrines for Revival
- [04:07] - The Holy Spirit's Work
- [05:16] - Justification by Faith
- [06:43] - The Necessity of Regeneration
- [09:22] - The Danger of Defective Orthodoxy
- [14:19] - Balance in Doctrine
- [19:02] - The Role of the Church
- [25:39] - Entertainment vs. Holiness
- [30:42] - The Spirit of Revival
- [37:51] - Conclusion and Call to Reflection

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Genesis 26:17-18

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Observation Questions:

1. What actions did Isaac take regarding the wells that his father Abraham had originally dug? How does this relate to the church's need for revival? [00:51]

2. What were the Philistines' actions towards the wells, and what might this symbolize in the context of the church today? [01:32]

3. According to the sermon, what are some of the doctrinal errors that have crept into the church over time? [02:28]

4. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in the context of revival? [04:07]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the act of re-digging wells serve as a metaphor for the church's need to return to foundational truths? What might these foundational truths include? [02:06]

2. In what ways can a misunderstanding of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit hinder the expectation and prayer for revival? [04:22]

3. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between justification by faith and the onset of revival? How does this doctrine emphasize our reliance on God's grace? [06:10]

4. How can "defective orthodoxy" lead to spiritual barrenness, even among those who hold correct doctrines? [14:19]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your understanding of the Holy Spirit. Do you believe in the possibility of a fresh outpouring of the Spirit? How might this belief (or lack thereof) affect your prayer life and expectation for revival? [04:41]

2. Consider the doctrine of justification by faith. How does recognizing your spiritual bankruptcy and dependence on God's grace impact your daily walk with God? [06:43]

3. Have you ever experienced a time when secondary issues overshadowed the core truths of your faith? How did this affect your spiritual life, and what steps can you take to refocus on the essentials? [19:02]

4. Pride and contentiousness are mentioned as hindrances to revival. Can you identify areas in your life where these attitudes might be present? What practical steps can you take to cultivate humility and unity within your church community? [37:51]

5. The sermon emphasizes the importance of the church seeking God earnestly and repenting of sin. What specific actions can you take this week to align yourself with God's purposes and seek His presence more earnestly? [30:42]

6. How can you ensure that your understanding of doctrine leads to a vibrant relationship with God rather than a lifeless adherence to theological concepts? What changes might you need to make in your study or practice of faith? [14:19]

7. Reflect on the role of entertainment in your spiritual life. Are there ways in which a focus on entertainment might be hindering your pursuit of holiness? How can you shift your focus towards seeking God's presence and holiness? [25:39]

Devotional

Day 1: Revival Through Foundational Truths
Revival is often hindered by a departure from foundational Christian doctrines. A return to the truths of God's sovereignty, human sinfulness, and the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit is essential for spiritual renewal. These doctrines are not just theological concepts but are vital for experiencing the life-giving power of God. When the church aligns itself with these truths, it clears away the obstacles that hinder the flow of God's Spirit, much like Isaac re-digging the wells of his father Abraham to access life-giving water. [02:06]

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 foundational truth about God have you neglected in your daily life, and how can you begin to realign yourself with it today?


Day 2: Embracing Justification by Faith
Justification by faith emphasizes our complete reliance on God's grace for salvation. In times of revival, individuals recognize their spiritual bankruptcy and cry out for God's mercy, understanding that their own righteousness is insufficient. This humility and dependence on God are crucial for experiencing His transformative power. When we acknowledge our need for God's grace, we open ourselves to the possibility of a fresh outpouring of His Spirit. [06:10]

Titus 3:5-7 (ESV): "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Reflection: In what ways have you relied on your own righteousness instead of God's grace, and how can you shift your focus to depend more fully on Him today?


Day 3: The Necessity of Regeneration
True Christian conversion involves a profound transformation by the Holy Spirit. It is not merely a decision or a change in behavior but a new birth that results in a new nature. This work of regeneration is a hallmark of revival, leading to dramatic changes in individuals' lives. When the Holy Spirit regenerates a person, they experience a newness of life that is evident in their actions and attitudes. [09:22]

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you need the Holy Spirit's transformative power. How can you invite Him to bring about this change today?


Day 4: Avoiding Defective Orthodoxy
Even those who hold to correct doctrine can fall into the trap of making doctrine an end in itself. True orthodoxy should lead to a vibrant relationship with God, not a lifeless adherence to theological concepts. The focus should be on knowing and experiencing God, not just understanding doctrine. When doctrines become a means to deepen one's relationship with God, they become life-giving rather than burdensome. [14:19]

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from merely understanding doctrine to truly knowing and experiencing God in your daily life?


Day 5: Cultivating the Spirit of Revival
Pride, contentiousness, and a focus on entertainment can quench the Spirit's work. Revival begins within the church, not through external programs or gatherings. The church must seek God earnestly, repent of sin, and align itself with His purposes to experience a mighty move of God. When the church humbles itself and seeks God's face, it creates an environment where the Spirit can move powerfully. [37:51]

2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV): "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

Reflection: What is one area of pride or distraction in your life that you need to surrender to God to cultivate a spirit of revival within yourself and your community?

Quotes

"We are dealing at the moment with what may well be called the hindrances and the obstacles to revival. We are in the position of Isaac. He knew that there at the bottom of those wells which had been dug by his father, there was a supply of water, but unfortunately these Philistines had been there and had thrown earth and rubbish into these wells and had filled them up." [00:01:14]

"Now the first is this: fairly error with respect to doctrine is always a hindrance. Every revival emphasizes debt in the drought and the periods of dryness before revival. The church has gone astray in her doctrine and in her belief, and we believe the same is true today. I have no hesitation in asserting that the main cause of the state of the Christian Church and the whole state of the world in consequence today is the terrible apostasy that has characterized the church increasingly for the last hundred years." [00:02:17]

"If our doctrine of the Holy Spirit is one that excludes the possibility of a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, well then it's not surprising that we don't even think in terms of revival. It's not surprising that we're not praying for revival or looking for revival. So I do commend to you again a thorough examination of your whole view of the work of the Holy Spirit." [00:04:29]

"Justification by faith only is absolutely central. There has never been a revival but that this has always come back into great prominence. In other words, it means this: the end of all thinking about ourselves and our goodness and our good deeds and our morality and all our works. You look at the histories of revivals and you'll find men and women feeling desperate that they can do nothing." [00:05:56]

"True Christian conversion involves a profound transformation by the Holy Spirit. It is not merely a decision or a change in behavior but a new birth that results in a new nature. This work of regeneration is a hallmark of revival, leading to dramatic changes in individuals' lives." [00:09:22]

"Now then, that always is a doctrine that comes out in every period of revival and of reawakening, and so you see you get invariably at such times these remarkable and dramatic changes. Men who would be not only hopeless and who'd been abandoned by hopeless by their relatives and friends and dearest men who'd even abandon themselves feeling that nothing could be done for them." [00:11:01]

"Orthodoxy defined in those terms is an absolute essential, and it is Error and heresy, the work of the Philistines, that ever blights the work of the church and produces these appalling periods of drunk, such as that in which you and I are living at the present time. So we start with the absolute necessity of Orthodoxy in those vital respects." [00:13:02]

"Now, I am indicating that there is a terrible danger of our putting the doctrines, the true doctrines about the persons, into the place of the persons, and that is absolutely fatal. But it is a very familiar snare with regard to evangelical people and with regard to Orthodox people. You can be Orthodox but dead. Why? Well, because you're stopping at the doctrines." [00:15:31]

"An excessive emphasis on certain aspects of truth and allowing them to monopolize the whole of our attention. Now, this is not just my opinion. You can read the history for yourselves. Read the history of the church, and you will find that invariably it has led to that. Read your New Testament. Wasn't that the trouble incurred in the church at Rome?" [00:19:44]

"Revival always starts by something being done in the church. It starts in the church. You can't revive something that isn't there. You can only revive life which is drooping and languishing, and the order historically has been this: that something has happened to one man or a group of people in a church, and then as the result of that in the outpouring of the Spirit of God, mighty evangelism takes place." [00:36:16]

"You can be perfectly Orthodox and yet your orthodoxy can be finally useless if you're failing in your life, if you're disobedient to God's holy laws, if you're guilty of sin and continuing in known sin. If you put your own desires before him, well, we have no right to expect revival, however Orthodox and correct we may be in all our doctrines and in all our understanding." [00:46:02]

"Sin in any shape or form is ever one of the major hindrances to a visitation of the Spirit of God. Well, there I've been dealing with what I have called defective or eccentric orthodoxy. God willing, next Sunday I hope to continue this great matter and deal with dead orthodoxy and even beyond there to go on to other aspects of this urgent vital question of the need of a visitation and an outpouring of the Spirit of God in blessed revival." [00:47:24]

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Transcript
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