the features of revival second, jacob had walked in ... · the features of revival genesis 35:1-15...
TRANSCRIPT
THE FEATURES OF REVIVAL
Genesis 35:1-15
If there is a need for today, it is for “revival”, a genuine
returning of God’s people to obedience to the Living, Eternal, Holy
God. The world that we live in finds many who claim the name of
Christ to be living much like the world. Many who profess Christ,
and even are leaders in churches are “caught” in sinful activities, and
their stories are aired via the news media.
The sobering truth is, there are many who claim to be
followers of Christ, that go to the same places and participate in the
same thing as the lost. Believer often go to the same places and tell
the same unclean stories as unbelievers. Believers are found
involved in wrongful activities much like the unbelieving world. The
reality is, there is a world of believers that are in need of revival.
How can we expect to make a difference in a wicked world, when the
world sees us being involved in wickedness ourselves? When you
read Genesis 35, you read the accounts of the first recorded Bible in
Scripture…it is the return of Jacob to Bethel, but it also gives us the
features of real revival. The sobering truth is this…if there is real
revival that comes to our hearts and lives…there is a cost. But with
that cost come the wonderful blessings from Holy God to our
1. THE CALL TO REVIVAL. The first feature to any moving of
God, begins with the call of God Himself. God had called Jacob to
revival. Jacob was facing trouble, and he was frightened to the core
of his being. His daughter, Dinah had been abused and raped. In
retaliation, his sons had killed all the males of the city. Jacob was
now facing retaliation from the surrounding rulers. Jacob was
expecting them to join forces and destroy him. Needless to say, his
life was on edge. There were certain realities in the life of Jacob.
First, Jacob had not set a spiritual example for his children.
He had not given them the guidance they needed. Jacob, in reality
had lived a carnal life and the children were feeling the consequences
of his life. The sobering reality is, often times the circumstances we
face in life have a way of drawing us back to Him. Are your children
feeling the consequences of your lack of spiritual leadership in the
home? Have you seen the impact on your children’s life because of
your life as a parent?
Second, Jacob had walked in disobedience. Jacob had lived
in the promised land for 9-10 years, but he hadn’t take time to go to
Bethel to fulfill his vow before God. While Bethel was only a day’s
journey, Jacob had lived those years not honoring his “vow” to God.
How do you respond to the vows you take before God? What about
the vow that He will be the Lord of your life? What about the vow to
love, honor and cherish the mate God has given you? What have you
done with those vows. Jacob had been disobedient in his vows.
Third, Jacob had allowed idolatry, the worship of others gods
within his household. The reality was, Jacob had not made God the
Lord of his household. God had removed his protective hand from
Jacob, and Jacob knew that the fault and the blame lie in his own
heart. When we are wise enough to realize the lack of God’s
blessings upon our life, is not the fault of others, our friends,
neighbors, or even a governmental problem, we are on our way to
spiritual renewal. While it took time for Jacob to face up to his
failures, and his wickedness before the Lord, the fact remained that
the Lord had never left him. God used a threatening crisis to move
him back to the Lord. The “crises” in the life of Jacob called him to
review his relationship with the Lord, and they were the tool to draw
him back to the Lord. What “crises” has God brought to your life to
draw you back to Him? God makes it clear that He loves a heart that
is broken, and repentant before His presence. (Ps. 34:18, 51:17)
2. GOD’S MESSAGE FOR REVIVAL. There is only “One” who
can give the message for revival and that is Holy God. As Jacob
heard from the Lord, he gathered the people around him and shared
the points of God’s message to the people.
First, there is the call to get rid of false gods. They had the
gods take by Rachel. They had foreign gods. In short the people
were filled with all manner of gods. A god was something that took
the place of Holy God. If God’s people are to experience revival,
then the call of God is to get rid of all false gods. A god can be
anything that takes the place of God. It can be self, money,
possessions, a love of anything above God. No revival will ever visit
the heart where there are “gods” that take the place of Holy God. If
we desire the hand of God upon our lives, and families we must put
away everything that competes with God.
Second, there is the call to purity. God called Jacob and
those around him to purify their hearts of sin, which meant to confess
and forsake sin. The reality of our world is that many who name the
name of Christ refuse to confess and forsake sin. Dabbling in sin is
rebellion before God, and the sobering reality is that God will deal
with all Christians who dabble in sin…through time sin will always
be exposed. God declares to all His people, “Wash away thy sins,
calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16)
Third, there was the call to change their clothes. “Changing
clothes” symbolized putting away the old of life of sin. For many
believers, there is a complete need to change the wardrobe of their
lives. God will never overlook our lives and our sins. Culture
doesn’t make a person sin, but rather reveals what is deep within the
heart all along. Our culture doesn’t make us sin, it just reveals our
heart. The God that meant business then, means business now. He
calls us to do the same. God never saved us to compromise. We are
called to be the light and the salt to a lost world. If we lose our
saltiness, it is impossible to be “resalted” and become reusable unto
the Lord. Imagine the thought….being saved…but unusable before
God and man.
Fourth, there is the call to go to the house of God, seek God
in worship. We live in a culture where many who name the name of
Christ saying, “I can be a good Christian and not go to church.” That
line of reasoning will not wash with Holy God. God called Jacob to
go to Bethel and worship the Lord. They were to seek His face.
They were to call upon His holy name. This was not isolated to
Jacob but involved his entire household of servant. God is serious
about our worship of Him. God calls for His people to call out to
Him in worship, to sing to Him in worship, and to declare His
wonders and amazing ways. “Seek the Lord and His strength: seek
his face forever.” (Ps.105:4) To be in the house of God worshipping
Him is an act of obedience, and He sees us and will honor our lives
and bring His blessing, because He loves the praises of His people.
While sin had brought trouble into his life, there was only one hope
and that was putting away sin, and seeking God. The truth is…that is
the same today. We cannot comprehend what God would do in our
world today, if people would put away their sins, and get back in the
house of God, and worship Him. Homes would be renewed, lives
would be restored, our land would begin a healing process. But it
must first start with the people of God.
Fifth, remember God’s deliverance in the past. Jacob
recalled the times God delivered him in the past, and was reminded
of the power of God’s deliverance. Real revival is refocusing on our
God who has delivered us in times past. In the 40’s it looked like our
world was going to be overtaken by a sinister ruler in Hitler…but
God saved our land. In the 60’s it looked like we were headed for
disaster with Cuba, and Russia…but God delivered us and saved us.
When astronauts in Apollo 13 were stranded in space…it looked like
all was hopeless and we had lost some of the best minds…but God
heard the prayers of many and brought them back home safely. We
have a God who has delivered His people in the past and He will do
it today…if we are serious and call on Him. It is time we all
remembered our God as Deliverer. He delivered then and He can
today.
3. GOD’S CALL TO REPENTANCE. When you examine v.4,
you find that the people were convicted to the core of their being of
their sins and desired to seek God. Because they meant business
with God…they handed Jacob their foreign gods. Their gods were
rings, earrings and other things that symbolized worldly living. They
released all their “gods” into the hands of Jacob. The sign that we
mean business with God is that we willingly, deliberately release out
of our hands, those things that we have held on to for years. When
we release our “gods” before Holy God. He will shine His face on us
again. What is there that is a “god” in your life. Is money your god?
Is your house your “god”? God doesn’t want you to become
homeless but release it to him and tell Him that you refuse to have
any competitors in your life over and above the Lord God!
When the people released their “gods” into Jacob’s
possession, it was a sign that those “gods” were no longer
emotionally significant anymore. It meant that they were no longer
going to give allegiance to those things above the Lord God.
What is there that you need to release before Holy God that is
being a competitor for your allegiance, time and energy? What is
there that you have such an emotional attachment to that you will not
give it up. The call of God is to surrender all idols up to Him, and in
return He will bring His blessings overflowing into your life.