Praying for Soul Revival

 

Introduction:

1. What is conviction? Hatred for sin and a fervent desire to live a holy life with true joy in serving Jesus Christ.
2. True conviction in the way we are studying it here is the opposite of being double minded or carnally minded.
3. True conviction in the way we are studying it here is to have your first love and not be lukewarm at all.

Conviction is a Blessing

1. It is a blessing: it is God’s lovingkindness that convicts us to repent and go to the Lord (Jer 31:3).
2. Repentance to acknowledge the truth and deliverance from Satan’s grasp is mercy (II Tim 2:25-26).
3. When the Lord opened the heart of Lydia to attend unto Paul, it was a great blessing (Acts 16:14).
4. When you have lost your first love or are lukewarm, you are disgusting to the Lord (Rev 2:4; 3:16).
5. We do not want to be ordinary Christians; we want God to stir up our hearts (Ezra 1:5; Haggai 1:14).
6. God is able to restore souls: David proved it; but we need it more often than once (Ps 23:3; 40:1-17).
7. The pangs of guilt that cause you to say, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” are by God’s grace.

Conviction is a Burden

1. It is a burden: when we do not have it, we should be burdened to get it back as soon as possible.
2. There is actually a simple process outlined in Scripture to get your first love back (Revelation 2:5).
3. When God’s hand is heavy upon you and you are miserable, there is a simple solution (Ps 32:3-6).
4. David’s penitential prayer is full of begging for God to restore his former godliness (Psalm 51:1-19).
5. Psalm 119 provides numerous examples of the prayer requests of the godly for conviction from God.
   1. When your soul is dry and miserable, it is appropriate to ask God to make it alive again (119:25).
   2. There is nothing wrong with begging God to make you understand His precepts better (119:27).
   3. It is very good to promise God what you will do, if He will increase your love for Him (119:32).
   4. There is nothing at all wrong with begging God to make you go in His commandments (119:35).
   5. It is a proper prayer of saints to pray for God to incline or turn your heart toward Him (119:36).
   6. When tempted by worldly vanity, you should ask God to make you alive toward Him (119:37).
   7. When asking to be made alive in His righteousness, you should be able to show desire (119:40).
   8. Do you thank God for afflicting you and bringing you back from straying from Him (119:67)?
   9. Do you tell Him the good things you learn by His afflicting chastisement in your life (119:71)?
   10. It is right to promise God what you will do, if He will make you alive in His kindness (119:88).
   11. When you are afflicted or troubled by various things, He can make you alive in them (119:107).
   12. When asking God to make you alive, ask for Him to make you alive in righteousness (119:149).
   13. We want to ask God to make us alive according to His promises against our enemies (119:154).
   14. When asking God to make you alive, ask for Him to make you alive in righteousness (119:156).
   15. You can ask for God to make you alive in kindness, but you must show holy affection (119:159).
   16. When did you last pray for God to seek you, like a lost sheep, admitting your desire (119:176)?
6. Note how the psalmist was unashamed to ask God to teach, lead, and quicken him (Ps 143:10-11).
7. God often deals with men by bringing back souls and giving light after a confession (Job 33:27-30).
8. No matter how bad things are – tell the Lord, and then ask Him to turn you back (Lam 5:17-22).
9. Solomon dedicated his temple by asking God to incline Israel’s heart unto Him (I Kings 8:57-58).
10. Consider the wonderful progression and mercy given to those who ask to be turned (Jer 31:18-20).
    1. The proper response to chastisement is confession, begging for help, and adoring God (31:18).
    2. God will turn you, and then you should express your grief and shame for your sins (31:19).
    3. Even in chastisement, God still tenderly loves His saints, and He will surely have mercy (31:20).
11. Consider the conditions and the blessings upon those who will turn to the Lord (Hosea 14:1-9).
    1. The inspired prophet tells backsliding saints exactly what to bring and say to the LORD (14:1-3).
    2. The immediate and gracious response of the Lord forgiving them is described in detail (14:4-7).
    3. The prophecy shows man’s small part, God’s favorable blessing, and wisdom to do it (14:8-9).
    4. Can you see the similarity in a previous offer and promise from the inspired prophet (Hos 6:1-3)?
12. If you are asleep or dead spiritually, it is the exhortation of an apostle to get up (Ephesians 5:14).
13. If you are serious about walking with God, James gives the means of getting serious (James 4:7-10).
14. The process of being delivered out of trouble and turned and revived is for prayer (Psalm 85:1-7).
15. Read how David offered God great devotion and obedience, but requested His presence (Ps 101:2).
16. The great, holy God of eternity is ready and willing to revive the humble and the contrite (Is 57:15).
17. The Lord Jesus is ready and willing for fellowship with His saints, if they are willing (Rev 3:20).
18. Consider how Paul prayed the Ephesian saints might be filled with the fullness of God (Ep 3:14-19).

Conclusion:

1. We do not want to be ordinary, spiritual Christians; we want to be the very best by His quickening power.
2. It is our duty to examine ourselves and ask God to help us find and correct any weaknesses (Ps 139:23-24).
3. It is our duty to beg God to keep sins from sneaking in and having dominion over us (Psalm 19:12-14).

For Further Study:

1. Sermon outline: Hot, Cold, or Lukewarm
2. Sermon outline: Seek Ye My Face
3. Sermon outline: Walking with God