Church, I hope you are excited about our revival services that will start next Sunday. While we advertise it as a “Revival”, we understand that true revival cannot be preplanned or scheduled because only God can bring true revival. As we pray for revival, let us pause to consider 4 hindrances to revival and how God tells us to overcome them.
- Apathy. Revival does not come because too many Christians are indifferent and unconcerned. Frankly, they are too busy or focused on other things that revival is not considered. Apathy is a hindrance to revival because it is a lack of concern for the glory of God and the salvation of the lost. Apathetic Christians and churches do not ask and therefore do not receive (Matthew 7:7). The solution is to confess and repent of the sin of apathy and ask God for zeal to replace our apathy.
- Unforgiveness. Revival does not come because too many Christians refuse to be a peacemaker. Unforgiveness brings bitterness, resentment, and hatred. It separates Christians from each other and robs them of their peace and joy. Christians who refuse to forgive usually distance themselves from the church because of others in the church. A tragic result is that they suffer spiritually. Unforgiveness is a hindrance to revival because your failure to forgive someone disrespects the forgiveness you have received from God. The solution is to confess and repent of the sin of unforgiveness and ask God for greater love. This love will help you have the desire and ability to forgive the person who has hurt you.
- Sexual Immorality. Revival does not come because too many Christians refuse to obey God’s commands for sexual purity. Sex is designed by God to be enjoyed between one man and one woman in marriage. Sexual immorality is a hindrance to revival because you are contaminating the body God has given you to do good works. You cannot enjoy pornography, cheat on your spouse, engage in premarital sex, etc. and presume that God will bless you. The solution is to confess and repent of the sin of sexual immorality and ask God to help you exercise self-control.
- Pride. Revival does not come because too many Christians love themselves more than God and others. The greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). The second is to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31). Pride is a hindrance to revival because it flips the order and a prideful man loves himself more than anyone and anything else and lives his life focused on himself. The solution is to confess and repent of the pride and ask God to replace it with humility.
Are you hindering revival at Scott City because you are apathetic? Unforgiving? Sexually immoral? Prideful? Pray to God and ask Him to forgive and cleanse you.
Sermon from May 31, 2015 at First Baptist by Pastor Jeremy Sells
First Baptist Scott City, MO 