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April 28, 2020 4:00 am
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The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. If you would like to know how you can become a harvest partner, just go to harvest.org that's harvest.org was the first godsend wrote why will Jonah. Jonah brought revival. That's because nothing you until the first heavens to start with you, only to revive and bring revival to be unreliable today. Pastor Greg Laurie encourages us to take time to examine ourselves so we can go out into our workplace and told people to work with us about Jesus Christ and make sure you're walking away a little and alighting service candle lighters candle goes out like any of the others hard to pass on the fire when you got no such is the case with some believe they try to ignite someone else's faith with their own fire died down today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie helps us make sure revival begins in our own hearts and then gets passed along the kind of nationwide renewal so desperately need my text is noted job for suture there with me if you would Jonah to my messages. Can we have revival in our time. One of the largest revivals in human history, and this gives me hope for our own country because this nation were going to examine together deserve judgment and in a way I feel as though our country deserves judge when you save a Greg wife because knowledge brings responsibility. The only other nation, we would be closely likened to would be the nation Israel a nation also founded on biblical principles that is how we started this country and that knowledge brings responsibility.
I think of the words of Thomas Jefferson who said quote I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just and that his justice cannot sleep forever.
But when you look at the story of a nation that he had a revival just like America needs they have the Bible, the name of the city is Nineveh. Let me make a distinction between the word revival and awakening.
We often use them interchangeably, but I think a distinction can be made.
America needs and awakening the church needs a revival and awakening. That is when a nation comes alive spiritually sees its need for God and turns to God. A revival is when God's people come back to life again. That brings me to point number one what is revival, we need to take the the mysticism out of the word and just see it for what it is.
It simply means to bring back to life, to restore to be revived just to wake up from a state of sleep. Sometimes I watch television with my wife and show slug something that to me is will. How shall I put it delicately boring and we just have different tastes in general, so I'll watch whatever it is she's watching and and all.
Sometimes those prophets shall think you fell asleep and I wake up to nine in what way do that is not a sin to sleep not to take a little nap, but especially of something is boring but that's the way we are we going to admit were asleep.
We don't think were asleep at the person that is asleep doesn't necessarily know there are some events when you're awake that you can say all well I was asleep. That's a revival is coming back.
It's waking up. This is the kind of faith that God wants us to have. We need a of the Christians of the first century.
The faith that changed the world.
The faith that turned the world upside down. Consider this everywhere. The apostle Paul went there was either a wired or revival, but there was always action and never got boring. I feel the time is come for the church to start making a disturbance again revival is when God get so sick and tired of being misrepresented. He shows up himself and that's what we need to pray for right now that that will happen. So number one revival is waking up sleep point number two. Biblical preaching can bring revival biblical preaching can bring revival and that's illustrated in the story the real a look at in the moment. The story of the prophet Jonah the reluctant prophet, the chicken of the sea.
You might say. The original chicken of the sea. He did not want to go and preach to the city of Nineveh, because he finally went with a little extra persuasion that resulted in the largest spiritual awakening in all of the Bible, God said, go Jonah said no, God said oh God will always have the last word. No wider Jonah don't want to go to Nineveh because Jonah was well up patriotic Israelites and the enemies of Israel were the Assyrians and their capital was Nineveh. That's it. When God said to Jonah go preach the Nineveh you thought this through and he thought I know your nature. Lord, I know how gracious you are in loving you are and I willing you are to pardon my fear is a by going preach of those creepy people you'll forgive them and not judgment. If I don't preach. Jonah deduced, then God will judge them and that will be one less enemy we have to deal with, so he did not want to go and it is true. The Ninevites were really cruel people there were known for their savagery event when the Ninevites of Congress nation. They would often torture the people they conquered before they executed them.
There were known to burn Boys and Girls Club live and do torture others tearing the skin from their bodies and leaving them to die in the scorching sun rather than hide this depravity. They celebrated it and proclaimed it.
They even build monuments to their own cruelty, reminds us a little bit of the Nazis during World War II or in present-day terms binds us a lot of ISIS.
The size of dinner was around 1 million that was a very big city for ancient times there would be about the size of San Francisco. There were the capital of mightiest area which was a superpower of the day required three days to circle Metropolitan Nineveh and those Ninevites men, the lived large. They enjoyed the best chariots the finest food the most exotic entertainment and they had an extensive business and commercial system like none and all of the world, and in addition they been rolling out for 200 years and they were the reigning superpower on the planet at this time but unbeknownst to them, their days were number would not be all that long until Babylon would come and overtake her. So God was giving to Nineveh one last chance, so God says that Jonah go preach the Nineveh, Jonah's responses were no way they drink Gatorade and Nineveh.
These people are wicked.
I don't want to go to them and truly, as I said they were wicked, because God said they effectively stink to high heaven. So Jonah, you know the story got on the boat and went the opposite direction and a great storm came and all the sailors on the boat began to cry out to their gods for help bother with them.
It's been a bad storm because most people I know that have their sea legs are pretty common storms with this was a really scary one, so there crying out to their various deities, hoping one of them is the right one in the think about this mysterious stranger below deck and they bring about.
Of course, that's Jonah. They asked him what the story is one of the storm is there because of me and I'm a Hebrew and I'm running from God, and he told me to go preach the Nineveh and I said no there looking at them and thinking so why would you run from God. This powerful then Jonah says listen if you throw me over the side of the boat the storm. The really bike over the side to go now.
The Lord brings a great fish to swallow Jonah and inside I have to say, Jonah was stubborn. He spent days and three nights inside of that stomach it said I budget wrapped in seaweed humidity like you can't believe this stack of them in the face. I'm not forging finally came to her senses and Jonah got a personal revival in the belly of the fish we read about that in Jonah 2 verse one then Jonah then went after three days and three nights that he prayed to the Lord is God from inside the fish to remind you, you can pray pretty much anywhere you can pray from the inside of a fish, you can pray anywhere else he said. I cried to the Lord. My great trouble and he answered me. I called you from the world of the dead Lord you heard me you threw me into the ocean depths that I say down to the heart of the sea I was buried beneath your wild and stormy way drop in the verse seven what I lost all hope. I turn my thoughts once more to the Lord my earnest prayer went out to you and your holy temple.
Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all of God's mercies, but I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise inside the belly of the beast. Jonah had revival, meaning he was revived or brought back to life and what God had called him to do so. Now that he had hope again as he turned his thoughts to the Lord. He was ready to go obey the Lord. We often make the topic of revival way to mysterious. It's really quite simple. RA Torrey, an excellent writer. Among other things, is written on the topic of prayer. Put it this way. He said he had a prescription for revival. Torrey said of a church or a person followed it, they would be revived. There's three things. Torrey said they should do number one. He said let a few Christians. They don't even have to be many get thoroughly right with God if this is not done, the rest will come to nothing. A few Christians a lot get thoroughly right with God. Number two. Torrey says let them commit themselves to pray for revival until God opens a windows of heaven and it comes down and number three let them put themselves at the disposal of God for his use as he sees fit and winning others to Christ. That is all. Torrey says I given this prescription around the world and in no instant has failed. It cannot fail.
Pastor Greg Moore will have the second half of this message in just a moment we send these daily studies out via the radio, satellite and over the Internet. We don't always know how these messages are touching lives when we hear the stories of her listeners and reassures us that these lessons are helping people. Thank you so much Pastor Greg. Encouraging grounding God's answer to fear, and wearing it has helped me as I grow older I find myself getting more and more anxious. Just as a great reminder to pray for childlike faith and chastisement on trailing and control. Yes, he is in control. Do you have a story to tell of how Pastor Greg studies it made an impact on your life. If so, would you share that with us. Just call 1-866-871-1144 686687111441 today. Pastor Greg is examining the need for revival in our time, much as Jonah had a need for revival in his time. Pastor Greg continues now to know Jonah is revived and he's ready to do what God has called him to do. And so the fish cruises barks out Jonah. So Jonah was righteous and Ralph and he was revived and recommissioned by God. Listen to this. First, God sent revival to Jonah. Then Jonah brought revival to Nineveh.
That's because nothing can happen through you until it first happens to you is to start with you. You know you said I want to raise my children in the way of the Lord pray to that but make sure you're walking in the way of the Lord because some things are caught and other things are taught yellow listen to your bedtime stories and though listen to your little mini sermons. But there also to be watching your life to see if mom or dad live that out so we can go out into our workplace and tell people to work with us about Jesus Christ. Make sure you're a model of what it is to follow Christ. It can't happen through you until this first happened to you. That brings us to Jonah chapter 3 let's find what up so it shows up in Nineveh and here's his message. Look at verse four. One day Joan entered the city and shouted to the crowds. 40 days from now in Nineveh will be destroyed. That's a very hopeful messages, no promise of forgiveness no way out. Basically you're all going to die.I bet that Shirley would make a difference for the good happens verse five the people of Nineveh believed God's message from the greatest of the lease and they decided to go without food to wear sackcloth to show their sorrow. When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying.
He stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes and dressed himself in sackcloth Saturday keeper batches in the king and the nobles that this decree through the city.
No one, not even the animals we eat or drink anything at all, so they were asking everyone is required to wear sackcloth and pray earnestly to God. Everyone must turn from their evil ways and stop all of their violence.
Who can tell. Maybe God will appear the on us and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us and what God saw, they put a stop to their evil ways. He had mercy on them didn't carry out the destruction he had threatened stop there. That brings me to point number four. A revived person will be an evangelistic person a revived person will be an evangelistic person, let me turn that around.
If you have no desire to share your faith.
You need personal revival. Why is a revived person and evangelistic person because their evangelism. As a result of a Christ filled life you want to know an interesting statistic. Most people to come to Christ do it because someone who was young and the faith shared with them eating the 90% of people who have the gospel shared with them are from people who have known the Lord for two years or less. If you hear that eating the 90% of people who are the gospel shared with them are from people who have known the Lord for two years or less met interesting. Why is that why is it not from 10 years or more. The reason it's from two years or less is these are people who are often still and what we would call the first love relationship with Jesus Christ. There still discovering what God is done for them there still excited about it. But as we get older and the faith and we walked to the Lord for a time.
Sometimes we start taking these things for granted. You know what that means. It means we need revival.
We need to be brought back to the place we once were, but we realize how important it is to share with others what Jesus is done for us. Listen you want to experience revival in your life, get a brand-new believer next to you and hang out with them to. Here's a problem if you hang around with a bunch of jaded Christians. Some would even become cynical and after church, you critique the sermon you need some new friends hang out with some new believers were hearing this over the first time that are fired up and they have questions about get you digging back into scripture again. It's the best thing you can do your own spiritual help you stabilize them and they reenergize you everybody benefits but you see, sometimes we get away from that and we need to have a revival of that brings me to my last point number five even revived people need to be revived again even revived people need to be revived again. Why do I say this well here's a thought some spiritual awakening. Thousands of people are believing God is not judging them. How does Jonah react busy dancing in the streets for little happy dance no he's angry he's upset. In fact, he's hopping mad what you Jonah for verse one.
This change of plans. Upset Jonah became very angry and complained of the Lord about it, saying, didn't I say before I left home you would do this, Lord.
This is why run away to Tarsus.
I know you're a gracious and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. I knew how easily you can cancel your plans or destroying these people don't just kill me now Lord, I'd rather be dead than alive because nothing I predicted, is going to happen. What a brat. Look at how the Lord reacts Lord replied right for you to be angry about this easy. Jonah is just having a pity party. I wanted to see the instruction vacuum is so excited he pulled up a ringside seat to watch it. He had his popcorn in this milk duds, and it was going to be great is going to put it up on Snapchat and Instagram and Facebook and everything else. Nothing happened. Judgment didn't come so is angry Lord is like, what is wrong with you son. I spared these people you should be rejoicing. You should not be set to the prom with Jonah is he was preoccupied with himself.
Here's a man who survived three days and three nights in officious stomach then repent some praise and preaches the truth of the people of Nineveh. Amanda God uses they will bring about a spiritual awakening.
And yet this guy falls into sin. It's a good reminder to matter how long you've known the Lord, you can still mess up no matter how long you've known the Lord, you still may need to be revived again revival is getting back to the Christian life as it was meant to be lived.
Revival is being in the bloom of first love for a lifetime.
Working closely with the Lord know you can't always have those initial emotions you cat is a new convert anymore. The new can of butterflies in your stomach like when you first met your husband or wife to be by still felt the same way toward my wife is IPO. When I first met her and I told her I will like this. My head feels a little dizzy just because I'm in a heart attack or something that's unrealistic, but your love can grow deeper your love can grow stronger. That's how we are to be followers of Jesus. Revival is nothing more or less than a new obedience to God then it's long obedience in the same direction. Listen only God can send an awakening to America will revival can happen right here right now where I need to do will remember second Chronicles 714 set up my people which are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked way. Then God says I'll hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land. That can happen for you now the people of Nineveh repented of their sin.
They call it what it was.
God sent his healing.
God can do the same for you.
We need to get back to that again, Esther, Greg Laurie important encouragement today about revival. I which desperately needed in our time and how to get it started and he'll follow up on what we've heard today as we closed today's addition of a new beginning now for a permanent copy of today's study get in touch and mentioned the title of the message. It's called can we have revival in our time, part two will be glad to give you all the details when you call 1-800-821-3300.
That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and then a pastor great has a word about a special children's book sent from popular British author Sally Lloyd Jones that were making available right now will give our contact information just a moment, everybody. I'm in studio right now is Sally Lloyd Jones and I'm looking at this amazing two books set that were offering to our listeners right now called found in love and beautifully illustrated and all of the copy all of the words are written by Sally Lloyd Jones and found is based on Psalm 23 and loved is based on the Lord's prayer.
Two separate books and right now Sally Skinner just read to you a little bit from her book called found.
Listen to this God is my Shannon and I and his mental now he feeds me he guides me soft to me.
I have everything I need inside my heart is very quiet as client is lying still in soft green grass and imagine management stream even when I walk through the scary lending places I went be afraid because my ship it knows where I am. He keeps me safe. He rescues me he makes me strong and brave.
He's getting wonderful things ready for me, especially for me because my hot surfeit of happiness can't hold Angel inside whenever I can.
I know God's never stopping navigating up on breaking always have enough okay to so that gives you an idea. Would you be able to read with this fantastic book. Beautifully illustrated written by Sally Lloyd Jones and you can read it to your child, your grandchild, your niece, your nephew or some other child that will really appreciate what you are presenting to them. And Sally has a special gift in bringing the message of the gospel to the little ones in a way that engages their minds and touches their hearts were offering this to books set to you right now for your gift of any size so we can continue to preach the gospel in teach the word of God to order your set right now once again it's called found and loved one of the books exploring the 23rd Psalm the other based on the Lord's prayer.
Both books come packaged together in a protective storage box that look great on your bookshelf and also find a sizable keepsake print that you can hang on your child's wall to remind them of the stories. If you don't have children in the home. You might even take this book set to work. Leave it in plain sight on your desk and watch what happens is a good conversation starter. Just call us at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or order online@harvest.org everybody pastor Greg Laurie here knows what going through this corona virus. A lot of people are afraid they're worried their concern. Listen, I want to bring Christ to this crisis and I want to bring some light darkness from the word of God so you can turn your worry in the worship so you can churn your fear into faith.
Sunday we have a special service for doing now live online and it simply called Harvest at Home, so be good or website harvest.org you can join us this coming Sunday for multiple services from the morning to the evening be a part of Harvest at Home this and trying pastor Greg Laurie this Sunday for Harvest at Home, harvest.org. Ever wonder how long your life will last pastor, Greg says, your life will last exactly as long as God planted from the very beginning.
More on that next time. But before we go. Pastor Greg closes our discussion of revival. This way now. I wonder right now the Lord is spoken to your heart. I wonder if you feel as though you need to have a spiritual revival I would review the bid revived need to be revived again same. I don't care about loss people. I don't have a passion for the word of God like I once had. I don't really care that much about prayer, but I want to be revived.
I want to get back to that place where God wants me to be, or maybe the Lord is spoken to you, and there are some wicked things you need to churn from listen if you want to do it. You pray this prayer out loud after me mean it from your heart. I believe it's a prayer that God will hear and definitely a prayer that God will answer.
Pray this after me now, Lord Jesus, I need revival.
I need to wake up. I need to be refreshed. I want to be passionate you. I want to be on fire for you.
I wanted greater hunger for the word of God, a greater desire to pray stronger burden for nonbelievers. Lord revived me roof wrestling fill me with the Holy Spirit right now. I received a man I bless you that possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor great free daily email devotions and harvest.org