Pastor A

Preparing for Revival – Part 5: Number 21: HEBREWS 10:25 Do you stay away from preaching services or are irregular at prayer services? Do you whisper or think about things while God’s Word is being read or preached? Do you neglect or slight private prayer and Bible study? Do you find prayer and Bible study uninteresting? Have you neglected thanksgiving at meals or family devotions?

Number 22: JAMES 4:6 Do you feel that you are a good enough Christian? Are you stubborn? Do you insist on having your own way? Do you insist on your rights?

Number 23: JAMES 4:11 Have you dishonored God or hindered His work by criticizing His servants? Have you failed to pray regularly for your Pastor, teachers, or other spiritual leaders? Do you find it hard to be corrected? Is there rebellion toward one who wants to restore you? Are you concerned about what other people will think than what will be pleasing to God?

If you have been honest and true in the matter of admitting your sins, then you are ready for God’s cleansing. Sins that are admitted to God are sins that are confessed and sins that are confessed are sins that are forgiven. I John 1:9

REMEMBER THREE THINGS:

1. If the sin is against God, confess it to God and make things right with Him.
2. If the sin is against another person, confess it to God and make things right with the other person
3. If the sin is against a group, confess it to God and make things right with the group.

If there is full confession, there will be full cleansing. The joy of the Lord will follow. Then there can be testimony and prayer in the power of the Holy Spirit. Psalm 19:12; Psalms 51:2-4:10

Preparing for Revival – Part 4: Number 16: PHILIPPIANS 4:4 Have you neglected to please God in ALL things? Are you bitter or have you complained against God in any way? Is there in your heart any unwillingness to obey God fully? Have you disobeyed some direct leading from God?

Number 17: COLOSSIANS 3:9 Do you ever engage in empty or unprofitable conversations? Do you ever lie? Cheat? Steal (time from your employer)?

Number 18: II TIMOTHY 2:22 Do you have any personal habits that are not pure? Do you allow impure thoughts to stay in your mind? Do you read anything, which is impure or suggests unholy things? Do you engage in any unclean entertainment? Are you guilty of the lustful look?

Number 19: JAMES 1:27 Have you allowed yourself to become spotted by the world? Do you dress to please God? Do you overspend or neglect to pray about things to buy?

Number 20: HEBREWS 13:17 Do you hesitate to submit to leaders in the church? Are you lazy? Do you rebel at requests to help in God’s work? Do you have a stubborn or unteachable spirit?

Preparing for Revival – Part 3: Number 11: EPHESIANS 4:31 Do you complain? Do you find fault? Do you have a critical attitude toward others? Are you consistently irritable and cranky? Do you get angry or carry hidden anger? Do you become impatient with others easily? Are you ever harsh/unkind with your words?

Number 12: EPHESIANS 5:16 Do you Iisten to unedifying radio or TV programs? Do you read unworthy magazines? Do you partake in worldly amusements? Do you find it necessary to seek satisfaction from a questionable source? Do you look at inappropriate Internet sites? Are you doing certain things that show that you are not satisfied in the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you tell or listen to any unclean stories or jokes?

Number 13: EPHESIANS 5:20 Have you neglected to thank God for all things? Have you virtually called God a liar by doubting His Word? Do you worry? Is your spiritual temperature based on your feelings instead of the facts of God’s Word?

Number 14: PHILIPPIANS 1:21 Are you consumed with the cares of this life? Is your conversation or happiness based on “things” rather than the Lord? Does anything or anyone mean more to you than living for and pleasing Christ?

Number 15: PHILIPPIANS 2:14 Do you ever by word or deed seek to hurt someone? Do you gossip? Do you speak unkindly about someone when they are not present? Are you prejudiced against other Christians because they are in another church or because they do not see everything like you?

Preparing for Revival – Part 2: Number 6: I CORINTHIANS 4:2 Are you dependable so that you can be trusted with responsibilities in the Lord’s work? Are you allowing your emotions to be stirred for things of the Lord but do nothing?

Number 7: I CORINTHIANS 6:19-20 Are you in any way careless with your body? Do you fail to care for it as the temple of the Holy Spirit? Do you overeat or do anything that is defiling to the body?

Number 8: I CORINTHIANS 10:31 Do you take the slightest credit for anything good about you instead of giving all the glory to God? Do you brag about what you have done rather than what Christ has done for you? Is your conversation mostly about “you”? Are your feelings easily hurt? Have you pretended to be something you are not?

Number 9: EPHESIANS 3:20 Are you self-conscience rather that Christ-conscience? Do you allow feelings of inferiority to keep you from attempting things you should be doing for God?

Number 10: EPHESIANS 4:28 Do you underpay? Do you do very little in your work? Have you been careless in the payment of your debts? Have you tried to evade payment of your debts? Do you waste time? Do you waste time for others?

Preparing for Revival – Part 1: In just three and one-half weeks we will begin the new 2010 year with Evangelist Bryan Samms of Lancaster Baptist Church and West Coast Baptist College. In preparation for revival, I challenge each TBT member to begin that self-examination process right now. We are utilizing the Midweek Service to prepare our church for revival through examination and prayer. We invite you to join us at 7:00 p.m. As part of this examination process, we will review 23 sets of questions in conjunction with a challenge from a particular passage of Scripture. Part One presents to us the first five sets of questions.

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Confession of sin is necessary for fellowship with God and revival among God’s people. Prayerfully consider the following questions. Go through these questions one by one. Answer truthfully all of these questions.

EVERY “YES” ANSWER MEANS THERE IS SIN OR A SITUATION FOR ME TO RESOLVE IN MY LIFE!

In reading these questions, as I am convicted of sin, confess it at once to God. Be willing to make it right. Then you can claim cleansing and forgiveness.

I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Be sure to name your sin to God. Example: “Lord, I neglected Bible study and prayer.” “Lord, I have not put you first in my plans.” DO NOT MAKE EXCUSES FOR SIN OF ANY KIND – CONFESS – NAME IT!

Proverbs 28:13 “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy,”

No matter what others do or do not do, we as born again Christians must leave nothing undone on our part. God wants to work through us to bring about a great spiritual awakening. He can begin by each of us fulfilling every requirement shown by the Lord through the Holy Spirit and His Word. We are to be fervent, on-fire, Spirit-filled soul winners, are you?

A great revival can start today, but it must start with you as an individual. Please give a truthful “YES” or “NO” to each of the following questions. Please read the scripture verses and then answer the question to the best of your ability.

Number 1: MATTHEW 6:12-15 Do you hold a grudge against or hate anyone? Is there anyone you do not love or have not forgiven? Are you harboring any bitterness, resentment, or jealousy? Is there anyone you dislike to hear praised or well spoken of? Do you allow anything to justify a wrong attitude toward another?

Number 2: MATTHEW 6:33 Is there anything in which you have failed to put God first? Have your decisions been made after your own wisdom and desires rather than seeking and following God’s will? Do any of the following in any way interfere with your surrender and service to God: ambitions, pleasures, loved ones, friendships, desire for recognition, money, your own plans, etc.?

Number 3: MARK 16:15 Have you failed to seek the Lost for Christ? Have you failed to witness consistently with your mouth for Christ? Does the life you lead fail to show Christ in you?

Number 4: JOHN 13:35 Are you secretly pleased over the misfortunes of another? Are you secretly annoyed over the accomplishments of another? Are you guilty of any contention or strife? Are there people you deliberately slight?

Number 5: ACTS 20:35 Have you robbed God by withholding what you owe Him of your time, talents, or treasure? (Notice the order) Have you failed to support our mission’s work either in prayer or offering? Do you give less than a tenth of your time and money?