God Revives His People through Commitment to Christ

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites – men, women and children – gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. Then Shecaniah, son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, . . . Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.” (Ezra 10:1-4)
  Passage: Colossians 3:1-4

         I once heard of a country church that held a big revival every year. Over the years, a pattern developed of one lady in the church, with a reputation of being a complainer, a gossip and non-active member, coming to the revival meetings and always making an emotional commitment at the altar during an invitation. She would come and cry out loud, “Fill me Lord with Thy Spirit!” One year, an older deacon, who had watched this pattern year after year, with no real change in her life, hollered out, “Don’t do it Lord! She leaks!”
        True revival only comes out of true repentance, which leads to a real commitment of life to Christ. Repentance is a change of direction. It is becoming conscious of one’s sin, being convicted of it, confessing it and making a commitment that leads to a change in attitude and action after. I thank God for emotions that come when a person feels stirred by the Spirit. However, real revival is not determined by how high you jump when you feel the Spirit. It is determined by how straight you walk when you hit the ground. Walk straight with the Lord in commitment each day.

Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)