The title of our message
is the "Science of Revival. "
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The "Science of Revival. "
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Little Ann lay
in her hospital bed
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and her father
was there at her side,
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and she began to
whisper something
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through her parched lips.
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He told her,
Ann, it will be okay.
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It will be okay.
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Yet still she tried to whisper
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with the last amount
of strength that she had.
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And so her father got
down closer to her bed
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and even closer,
almost to where he could feel
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the wind from her
whisper hitting his ear.
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And she said to him
how much does it cost you
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to keep me alive for a year?
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You can imagine her father was,
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was quite disturbed
by this simple question
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from his little daughter.
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And he said it's all
right, it doesn't matter.
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She said, papa,
how much does it cost?
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And he told her how much it cost
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and she said,
papa, promise me this,
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promise me that you will
take that money every year
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and buy Bibles
and give those Bibles
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to little boys and
little girls who don't have one.
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And as soon as he
made that promise,
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little Ann took her last breath.
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What was it that
caused this little girl
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to be so in love with her Bible,
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that her very last
dying wish would be
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that her father would make sure
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that other
children get their Bibles.
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I believe that
during this message
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we are going to find out what
little Ann saw in her Bible.
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But before we begin to
open out the word of God
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we are going to pray, so
if you will pray with me.
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Father in Heaven,
we're very grateful
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that you have given us
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this opportunity
to study your word.
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Lord, no matter where we are,
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we ask that you will bless
us as we open your word now.
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Send your spirit
to enlighten our minds
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so that we can
rightly comprehend
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what you wrote
through Your prophets.
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And Father, we pray this
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in the name of
Jesus Christ, amen.
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My friends, I would
like you to open your Bible
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to the Old
Testament Book of Psalms.
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We're going to the Old
Testament Book of Psalms,
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and we're going
to turn to Psalm 85,
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Psalm 85 and verse 6,
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Psalm 85 and verse 6.
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The word of God reads
like this in Psalm 85:6.
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The Psalmist writes
"Wilt thou not revive us again,
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that thy people
may rejoice in thee?"
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Now, that word
revive right there
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is a combination of two words.
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The first part of
that word is "Re," "R, E"
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and it means again or anew.
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The last part of that word comes
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from a word called
"Vivere" which means to live.
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So, the Psalmist is
asking the question right here,
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will you not
cause us to live again?
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Will you not give us a new life?
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Now, friend, I
have a question for you.
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Was the Psalmist dead when
the Psalmist was writing this?
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Obviously not,
because dead people
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don't write things, do they.
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The Psalmist here is not
speaking of physical death
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but the Psalmist is
speaking of a spiritual death.
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"Wilt thou not revive us
or make us alive again. "
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Why was the Psalmist
asking this question?
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The Bible answers that for us
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in the New
Testament Book of Romans.
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Let's turn to the
right in our Bibles
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to the New
Testament Book of Romans.
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Matthew, Mark,
Luke, John, Acts, Romans,
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we're going to Romans
Chapter 6 and verse 23,
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Romans Chapter 6 and verse 23,
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why was the Psalmist
asking to be made alive again?
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The Bible says
here in Romans 6:23,
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"For the wages of sin is death,
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but the gift of
God is eternal life
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through Jesus Christ our Lord. "
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The wages of sin is death.
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The Psalmist understood that
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because of his sin he was dead.
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Now, maybe today
some of us are thinking,
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you know, that
does not apply to me.
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But the Bible says in
Romans Chapter 3 and verse 23.
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"For all have sinned and comes
short of the glory of God. "
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Romans Chapter 3 and verse 23.
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Because of the
transgression of God's moral law
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the Psalmist knew
that without a new life
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from his Creator, he was dead.
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He is making a passionate plea
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that his Creator will
cause him to live again.
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So, how is it, friend,
how is it that you and I
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can live a new life
through Christ Jesus.
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That life that was
promised in the Book of Romans,
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Chapter 6 and verse 23.
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How can we do that?
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Let's turn, we're gonna
look at three ingredients
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in this "Science of
Revival," three ingredients,
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and we're gonna
find the first ingredient
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in the New
Testament Book of First Peter.
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So, we're gonna turn
again to the right in our Bibles
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to the New Testament Book
of First Peter, Chapter 1.
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First Peter, you'll
find Hebrew's there,
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James, just keep going
to the right past James,
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we're gonna come to
First Peter, Chapter 1
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and the verse we're
looking for is verse 23.
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How is it that we
can live a new life?
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The Bible gives us
the answer right here,
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the first ingredient in
the "Science of Revival. "
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The word of God reads in
First Peter, Chapter 1 verse 23,
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"Being born again,
not of corruptible seed
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but of incorruptible,
by the word of God
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which lives and
abides forever. "
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So, friends, if you and I
are going to be born again,
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if we are going
to live this life
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that is new in Christ Jesus,
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we will find that
life in the word of God.
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Do you see this
from the scripture?
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The Bible plainly
says that we're born again
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not of corruptible seed,
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but of incorruptible
by the word of God.
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So, if you and I want
to live a life that is new,
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if we want to live a
life to the glory of God
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that life will be
based on the Bible.
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That new life will come from
the study of the word of God.
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The Psalmist asks to be revived.
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The word of God says
that if we want that new life,
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if we want to be made alive
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that we're born
again by the word of God.
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The first ingredient
that we have found here
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is that diligent,
earnest study of the word of God
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recreates our hearts.
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Look at what
happened to the hearts of men
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when they began
to study the Bible.
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Let's go now for the first time
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to the left in our Bibles.
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Let's go to the
left, we're gonna go
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to the New
Testament Book of Luke.
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Luke Chapter 24,
Matthew, Mark, Luke,
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the third book of
the New Testament,
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we're going to Luke 24
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and we're going to
begin reading in verse 27.
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Prior to verse 27, these
two disciples are walking
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on the road to Emmaus, they're
lamenting the death of Jesus
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and all of a
sudden as they're walking
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this third individual comes
and begins to walk with them.
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And they're
lamenting to this individual
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that walks with
them about Jesus.
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And then let's start in
verse 25 rather than 27.
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"Then he", talking
of Jesus said unto them
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you'll notice if you've
a red letter edition Bible
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that this is
written in red here.
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This is Jesus
talking, Jesus says,
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"O fools and slow
of heart to believe all
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that the prophets have spoken.
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Ought not Christ to
have suffered these things
00:11:02.15\00:11:05.91
and to enter into his glory
" Verse 27 this is the key,
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"And beginning at
Moses and all the prophets
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he expounded unto
them in all the scriptures
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the things concerning himself. "
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Now friends, you may,
you may think this is odd,
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how could, how could
those men understand all of that
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when Jesus was just
laying it out for them.
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In the first
century Galilean culture,
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all little boys had
to memorize the Torah.
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Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.
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They had it
memorized by the age of 10.
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And here Jesus begins at
Moses and all the prophets
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and He gives these
disciples a Bible study.
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What was the reaction
of these men's hearts?
00:12:01.32\00:12:06.91
Let's continue reading verse 28,
00:12:06.92\00:12:10.93
the Bible says in
Luke 24 and verse 28,
00:12:10.94\00:12:14.35
"And they drew
nigh unto the village,
00:12:14.36\00:12:16.18
whither they were went,
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and he made as though
he would have gone further,
00:12:17.66\00:12:21.33
but they
constrained him, saying,
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Abide with us for
it is toward evening,
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and the day is far spent.
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And he went in to
tarry with them. "
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Instead of going on further
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he goes in with
these men, verse 30.
00:12:32.76\00:12:38.22
"And it came to pass, as
he sat at meat with them,
00:12:38.23\00:12:43.09
he took bread, and blessed it,
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and brake, and
gave it to them. "
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And the Bible says
"that their eyes were opened,"
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they knew then
that it was Jesus.
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It says "And
their eyes were opened"
00:12:59.99\00:13:02.32
verse 31 "And they knew Him
00:13:02.33\00:13:04.56
and he vanished
out of their sight. "
00:13:04.57\00:13:10.28
Verse 32, "They
said one to another,
00:13:10.29\00:13:14.13
did not our
hearts burn within us
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while he talked
with us by the way,
00:13:18.72\00:13:21.41
and while he opened
to us the scriptures?"
00:13:21.42\00:13:25.77
Jesus has a Bible
study with these men
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and their heart
begins to flame with a flame
00:13:28.80\00:13:32.39
that only comes
from the word of God,
00:13:32.40\00:13:34.34
they were
experiencing new birth.
00:13:34.35\00:13:38.51
They were
experiencing being born again
00:13:38.52\00:13:43.90
by the word of God.
00:13:43.91\00:13:48.99
Now, my friend,
how is it with you?
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How is it with your Bible study?
00:13:52.69\00:13:57.78
Could you spend more time?
00:13:57.79\00:14:01.55
Could you make a more
diligent effort to be born again
00:14:01.56\00:14:04.37
by the only way the Bible
says we can be born again,
00:14:04.38\00:14:09.20
by the word of God.
00:14:09.21\00:14:15.02
The Psalmist wrote more on this,
00:14:15.03\00:14:16.79
let's turn back to the
left in our Bibles again
00:14:16.80\00:14:19.29
and we're gonna go
to Psalm 119, Psalm 119
00:14:19.30\00:14:24.36
and then we will go to verse 9.
00:14:24.37\00:14:27.69
So we're back in the
Old Testament, Psalm 119
00:14:27.70\00:14:33.23
and we are going
to begin in verse 9.
00:14:33.24\00:14:39.25
The word of God
reads in Psalm 119 verse 9,
00:14:39.26\00:14:42.13
"Wherewithal shall a
young man cleanse his way?"
00:14:42.14\00:14:46.01
The Bible asked this question
00:14:46.02\00:14:47.85
and the Bible
wants to know the answer,
00:14:47.86\00:14:49.92
how can a young
man cleanse his way?
00:14:49.93\00:14:53.18
And the answer given
by the Psalmist himself,
00:14:53.19\00:14:57.05
is by taking heat there
to according to thy word.
00:14:57.06\00:15:03.98
Verse 11 the Psalmist writes,
00:15:04.68\00:15:07.03
"Thy word have
I hid in my heart,
00:15:07.04\00:15:10.97
that I might not
sin against thee. "
00:15:10.98\00:15:15.75
Friends, it is only
through diligent Bible study
00:15:15.76\00:15:19.14
that our hearts begin
to burn with the flame
00:15:19.15\00:15:22.82
that God has put in us.
00:15:22.83\00:15:28.25
We must spend time
studying the word of God
00:15:28.26\00:15:31.25
if we want to live
the life that is new.
00:15:31.26\00:15:38.15
Look here what the
Psalmist says further
00:15:38.35\00:15:40.13
in this same chapter,
the same Psalm rather,
00:15:40.14\00:15:44.26
look at verse 107,
00:15:44.27\00:15:46.80
Psalm 119-107.
00:15:46.81\00:15:50.84
The psalmist says,
00:15:52.58\00:15:53.55
"I am afflicted
very much, quicken me. "
00:15:53.56\00:15:58.31
That word quicken
is an old English word
00:15:58.32\00:16:00.92
for make me alive please.
00:16:00.93\00:16:06.89
The Bible says, "I
am afflicted very much,
00:16:06.90\00:16:09.68
quicken me make me alive O Lord,
00:16:09.69\00:16:12.58
according to thy word. "
00:16:12.59\00:16:19.41
The Psalmist understood his,
00:16:19.42\00:16:22.26
the answer to his own question.
00:16:22.27\00:16:25.89
Will you not
revive us again O Lord?
00:16:25.90\00:16:30.22
And here he says make me alive
again according to thy word.
00:16:30.23\00:16:34.37
The first ingredient in
the "Science of Revival"
00:16:34.38\00:16:39.49
is diligent Bible study.
00:16:39.50\00:16:43.52
My wife and I
had the opportunity
00:16:43.53\00:16:45.47
to do some Bible work
here in the United States
00:16:45.48\00:16:50.05
and we were
following up some little cards,
00:16:50.06\00:16:52.87
you know, you drop
them off at people's houses
00:16:52.88\00:16:55.43
or you mail them to their
houses and they mail it back,
00:16:55.44\00:16:57.82
it's like a Bible
study request card.
00:16:57.83\00:17:01.86
And we got this little
Bible study request card
00:17:01.87\00:17:04.84
and we went to this address
00:17:04.85\00:17:07.90
but the people
there didn't speak
00:17:07.91\00:17:09.06
the same language that we spoke.
00:17:09.07\00:17:11.38
So, we were able to
help them find somebody
00:17:11.39\00:17:13.68
they could speak their
language to study with them,
00:17:13.69\00:17:15.90
but we knew that the Lord had us
00:17:15.91\00:17:17.28
in that particular
apartment complex for a reason.
00:17:17.29\00:17:21.98
So we began to
knock on the doors
00:17:21.99\00:17:23.82
adjacent to that apartment,
00:17:23.83\00:17:27.10
and we went to one
door and there was,
00:17:27.11\00:17:29.35
we knocked on his door
there was a man that came out,
00:17:29.36\00:17:31.62
he had on one of
those, those T-Shirts
00:17:31.63\00:17:34.35
that guys wear
that don't have sleeves,
00:17:34.36\00:17:35.79
they're just like
a tank top T-Shirt.
00:17:35.80\00:17:38.05
He had tattoos all
over himself and he said,
00:17:38.06\00:17:40.79
what do you want?
00:17:40.80\00:17:42.48
And I thought to
myself, Lord, please help me.
00:17:42.49\00:17:46.73
And I said, we're
looking for people
00:17:46.74\00:17:49.48
that would like to
study the Word of God.
00:17:49.49\00:17:52.19
He says, man, I'm all into that.
00:17:52.20\00:17:54.07
I thought to
myself, oh! Isn't this neat?
00:17:54.08\00:17:58.70
He said not only am I into it,
but this is a Hathaway house.
00:17:58.71\00:18:03.42
You can come
here on Sunday evening
00:18:03.43\00:18:05.85
and over 40 men are
required to be here,
00:18:05.86\00:18:10.20
you can present to them
00:18:10.21\00:18:11.89
that you want to
study the Bible with them
00:18:11.90\00:18:13.50
and if they want
to stay they'll stay.
00:18:13.51\00:18:15.83
We can't force them to
stay, but you can ask them.
00:18:15.84\00:18:18.62
So that's exactly what we did.
00:18:18.63\00:18:20.49
You can imagine my wife and I
00:18:20.50\00:18:21.65
are sitting in this house
00:18:21.66\00:18:22.87
as these men begin to
file in on that Sunday evening.
00:18:22.88\00:18:26.19
And my wife and I are
sitting real close to each other
00:18:26.20\00:18:28.12
and the more
people that got there,
00:18:28.13\00:18:29.10
the closer we sat to each other,
00:18:29.11\00:18:31.21
getting comfort, you know.
00:18:31.22\00:18:32.34
We've never been in
this situation before,
00:18:32.35\00:18:36.29
and we made our
appeal for men to stay
00:18:36.30\00:18:38.17
by for Bible
study. Four men stayed.
00:18:38.18\00:18:43.04
There was
another man that stayed
00:18:43.05\00:18:45.07
in the kitchen of this apartment
00:18:45.08\00:18:47.94
while we were
having the Bible study.
00:18:47.95\00:18:51.50
The following week
he did the same thing.
00:18:51.51\00:18:53.84
The following week
he did the same thing,
00:18:54.69\00:18:56.60
but the fourth week he came in
00:18:56.61\00:19:00.43
and he sat down in the study.
00:19:00.44\00:19:03.79
And after the study he
said, can I talk to you?
00:19:03.80\00:19:09.60
I need to talk
to you in private.
00:19:10.98\00:19:13.05
You know, here I am, I'm
just a real green soul winner,
00:19:13.06\00:19:16.53
I didn't want to
be alone with this man
00:19:16.54\00:19:18.35
because of his background.
00:19:18.36\00:19:20.09
I was a little, little,
little scared and I said,
00:19:20.10\00:19:22.98
well, where do you want to meet?
00:19:22.99\00:19:23.97
He said well, how about
here on the front porch.
00:19:23.98\00:19:26.19
And I said okay, we'll
meet on the front porch.
00:19:26.20\00:19:29.17
So we went out
on the front porch,
00:19:29.18\00:19:30.38
he said look,
I've been listening
00:19:30.39\00:19:33.97
for the last several
weeks and I came in there today.
00:19:33.98\00:19:39.86
Yesterday I had a, a drug screen
00:19:41.23\00:19:46.21
and I know that the drug screen
00:19:46.22\00:19:47.49
is going to come back dirty,
00:19:47.50\00:19:50.99
but I know now that
when I go back to jail,
00:19:51.00\00:19:54.35
he knew he was
going, I will not go alone.
00:19:54.36\00:19:59.35
I will take God's word
which is hidden in my heart
00:19:59.36\00:20:02.64
and I will come out
not a dirty drug screen man
00:20:02.65\00:20:05.91
but a clean one.
00:20:05.92\00:20:07.08
God's word is the beginning
00:20:10.40\00:20:16.97
of our new life.
00:20:16.98\00:20:18.93
Maybe you have been neglecting
the study of God's word.
00:20:23.10\00:20:29.26
It has become not so
much a priority in your life.
00:20:29.27\00:20:33.60
And today the Spirit of God
00:20:37.69\00:20:40.41
is impressing you
to take your Bible,
00:20:40.42\00:20:45.94
and to blow the
dust right off the cover.
00:20:45.95\00:20:49.41
But we said we were
gonna have three ingredients,
00:20:53.37\00:20:55.24
didn't we? to the
"Science of Revival. "
00:20:55.25\00:21:00.32
Turn with me to
Romans the 10th Chapter,
00:21:00.33\00:21:03.69
so we're gonna go to the right
00:21:03.70\00:21:04.98
back to the New Testament,
00:21:04.99\00:21:06.93
Romans Chapter 10 and verse 17.
00:21:06.94\00:21:11.50
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts,
00:21:11.51\00:21:13.25
Romans Chapter 10 and verse 17.
00:21:13.26\00:21:19.23
The Bible says in
Romans Chapter 10 and verse 17.
00:21:20.67\00:21:23.77
"So then faith comes by hearing,
00:21:23.78\00:21:27.83
and hearing by,"
what? "The word of God".
00:21:27.84\00:21:31.48
So friends our faith is
going to increase as we do what?
00:21:31.49\00:21:36.40
As we study the word of God.
00:21:36.41\00:21:40.76
Now, Jesus had something
00:21:40.77\00:21:41.75
very interesting
to say about faith.
00:21:41.76\00:21:46.30
Jesus had something very
interesting to say about faith
00:21:46.31\00:21:49.61
and how it ties
in to God's word.
00:21:49.62\00:21:53.74
Let's turn to the left,
let's go back to the left now
00:21:53.75\00:21:56.59
and let's go to the
New Testament Book of Luke
00:21:56.60\00:21:59.07
the 18th Chapter. So
we're turning to the left,
00:21:59.08\00:22:03.41
past Acts, past
John, here we are in Luke
00:22:03.42\00:22:06.69
and we're going to Luke 18
00:22:06.70\00:22:09.50
and we will begin
reading in verse 1.
00:22:09.51\00:22:12.26
Now, as we read verse 1,
00:22:12.27\00:22:14.05
I want you to put
your thinking cap on,
00:22:14.06\00:22:17.13
because I'm going to ask
us and we're going to see
00:22:17.14\00:22:20.06
what is God saying
here from this verse.
00:22:20.07\00:22:23.58
Now, the Bible says,
00:22:23.59\00:22:25.26
"And he spake a
parable unto them to this end,
00:22:25.27\00:22:29.76
that men ought always to
pray, and not to faint. "
00:22:29.77\00:22:36.23
So what is the
purpose of this parable?
00:22:36.24\00:22:40.60
Jesus says, right, the
Bible says right here in verse 1
00:22:40.61\00:22:43.51
that the purpose of this parable
00:22:43.52\00:22:45.29
is to teach men to pray.
00:22:45.30\00:22:50.78
Then we have this parable.
00:22:50.79\00:22:52.63
This parable goes
on to say verse 2,
00:22:52.64\00:22:55.05
"There was in a city a
judge, which feared not God,
00:22:55.06\00:22:59.34
neither regarded man.
00:22:59.35\00:23:01.88
And there was a
widow in that city
00:23:01.89\00:23:04.17
and she came unto Him saying,
00:23:04.18\00:23:06.47
avenge me of my adversary,
00:23:06.48\00:23:09.19
and he would not for a while.
00:23:09.20\00:23:12.99
And he would not for a while,
00:23:13.00\00:23:14.91
but afterward he
said within himself,
00:23:14.92\00:23:17.56
though I fear not
God, nor regard man.
00:23:17.57\00:23:21.37
Yet because this
widow troubleth me,
00:23:21.38\00:23:23.87
I will avenge her,
lest by her continual coming
00:23:23.88\00:23:27.91
she weary me.
"And the Lord said,
00:23:27.92\00:23:30.63
Hear what the
unjust judge saith.
00:23:30.64\00:23:34.97
And shall not God
avenge his own elect,
00:23:34.98\00:23:38.55
which cry day
and night unto him,
00:23:38.56\00:23:40.60
though he bear long with them?"
00:23:40.61\00:23:41.96
Listen to what Jesus
says in verse 8, he says,
00:23:41.97\00:23:47.18
"I tell you that he
will avenge them speedily. "
00:23:47.19\00:23:50.57
Then he asks this question?
00:23:50.58\00:23:53.05
"Nevertheless when
the Son of man comes,
00:23:53.06\00:23:56.36
shall he find
faith on the earth?"
00:23:56.37\00:24:00.49
Where does faith come from?
00:24:00.50\00:24:02.91
Studying the word of God.
00:24:02.92\00:24:07.82
Now, the purpose of this parable
00:24:07.83\00:24:09.58
is to teach people to pray.
00:24:09.59\00:24:11.86
But Jesus ends this
parable with a question.
00:24:11.87\00:24:15.26
The question is
when the Son of Man comes
00:24:15.27\00:24:18.59
will He find faith on the earth?
00:24:18.60\00:24:21.16
Will He find people
studying the word of God?
00:24:21.17\00:24:26.40
My friends, the
Bible is quite clear
00:24:26.41\00:24:28.50
that as we begin to study
God's word we will recognize
00:24:28.51\00:24:33.00
that our life does not
line up with God's word.
00:24:33.01\00:24:39.78
And when our life
doesn't line up with God's word,
00:24:39.79\00:24:42.43
it creates in us this friction.
00:24:42.44\00:24:46.61
It creates in us this friction
00:24:46.62\00:24:50.14
we want to go one
way but God's word says
00:24:50.15\00:24:52.06
go another way.
00:24:52.10\00:24:53.70
As we begin to study God's word,
00:24:56.01\00:24:59.63
the Spirit of God
begins to speak to our hearts.
00:24:59.64\00:25:03.07
And then we have
to make a decision,
00:25:06.76\00:25:08.89
if we're gonna follow
what God has said or not?
00:25:08.90\00:25:11.65
And that leads us to prayer.
00:25:15.08\00:25:20.29
Diligent Bible study,
00:25:20.30\00:25:22.78
the first ingredient in
the "Science of Revival. "
00:25:22.79\00:25:26.97
The second the
Bible is telling us
00:25:26.98\00:25:29.37
in this
prescription for revival,
00:25:29.38\00:25:32.46
the "Science of
Revival" is prayer.
00:25:32.47\00:25:35.19
Jesus says, when He comes
00:25:38.54\00:25:39.70
will He find people
studying the word of God?
00:25:39.71\00:25:42.75
Will He find people
studying to the point
00:25:46.04\00:25:48.28
that they end up on their knees
00:25:48.29\00:25:53.69
with a repentant heart.
00:25:53.70\00:25:59.10
Every promise, every
promise in the word of God
00:25:59.11\00:26:03.65
furnishes us with
subject matter for prayer.
00:26:03.66\00:26:08.18
Presenting the pledged word
of Jehovah as our assurance.
00:26:08.19\00:26:13.20
The Psalmist said in Psalm 55:17
00:26:13.21\00:26:17.42
that he prayed
evening, morning and noon.
00:26:17.43\00:26:22.34
How often, my
friend, do you pray?
00:26:24.93\00:26:29.38
The Psalmist in
Psalm 55:17 is not saying
00:26:29.39\00:26:32.22
that he sits down
at dinner and says,
00:26:32.23\00:26:35.52
dear Jesus, thank
you for this food, amen.
00:26:35.53\00:26:38.33
And then he gets up in
the morning and he says,
00:26:38.34\00:26:40.11
O dear Jesus, thank you
again for this food, amen.
00:26:40.12\00:26:43.05
And then he goes to lunch,
00:26:43.06\00:26:44.16
thank you Jesus,
for this food, amen.
00:26:44.17\00:26:46.01
That is not what the
Psalmist is saying there.
00:26:46.02\00:26:48.31
Let's go back to Psalm 55:17.
00:26:48.32\00:26:51.83
Turn to the left in your Bible
00:26:51.84\00:26:53.20
the Old Testament book of Psalm,
00:26:53.21\00:26:55.21
then we're going to Psalm 55:17.
00:26:55.22\00:27:00.06
Let's look at verse 16 it says,
00:27:03.24\00:27:05.60
"As for me, I
will call upon God,
00:27:05.61\00:27:08.57
and the Lord shall save me.
00:27:08.58\00:27:11.40
Evening, and morning,
and at noon, will I pray,
00:27:11.41\00:27:14.35
and cry aloud, and He
shall hear my voice. "
00:27:14.36\00:27:18.98
Friends, there
is power in prayer.
00:27:18.99\00:27:21.90
The New Testament
Book of James says
00:27:26.08\00:27:29.22
that the fervent prayer of
a righteous man avails much.
00:27:29.23\00:27:34.48
And then it goes on to
describe a man who prayed.
00:27:34.49\00:27:39.36
Let's look at
this, let's go to James
00:27:39.37\00:27:42.21
to the right in our Bibles,
00:27:42.22\00:27:43.67
almost back to the Book
of Revelation but not quite.
00:27:43.68\00:27:47.80
You're gonna
come to the T-section
00:27:47.81\00:27:49.31
of the New
Testament then you're gonna
00:27:49.32\00:27:50.89
go through Hebrews, then
you're gonna be in James,
00:27:50.90\00:27:54.32
we're going to James the
5th Chapter and verse 16.
00:27:54.33\00:28:00.02
James Chapter 5 and verse 16,
00:28:00.03\00:28:04.66
the Bible says in
James Chapter 5 and verse 16.
00:28:06.32\00:28:10.08
"Confess your
faults one to another,
00:28:10.09\00:28:13.15
and pray for one
another, that you may be healed.
00:28:13.16\00:28:16.82
The effectual fervent prayer
00:28:16.83\00:28:19.51
of a righteous
man availeth much. "
00:28:19.52\00:28:24.76
Verse 17, "Elias
was a man subject
00:28:24.77\00:28:28.29
to like passions as we are,
00:28:28.30\00:28:31.44
and he prayed earnestly
that it might not rain,
00:28:31.45\00:28:35.69
and it rained not on the earth
00:28:35.70\00:28:37.46
by the space of three
years and six months. "
00:28:37.47\00:28:42.27
Verse 18, "And he prayed again,
00:28:42.28\00:28:44.32
and the heaven gave rain,
00:28:44.33\00:28:45.95
and the earth
brought forth her fruit. "
00:28:45.96\00:28:48.80
How is it that
when this man prayed
00:28:48.81\00:28:52.38
the rain stopped for
three and half years.
00:28:52.39\00:28:58.02
How is it? Well,
let's go back to that,
00:28:58.03\00:29:01.15
let's go back to that story.
00:29:01.16\00:29:03.21
Let's turn back
to the Old Testament
00:29:03.22\00:29:05.03
Book of First
Kings, turning to the left
00:29:05.04\00:29:08.90
we're going to First
Kings, oh, look at that,
00:29:08.91\00:29:11.14
my Bible plopped right
opened to the spot there.
00:29:11.15\00:29:14.17
May be yours did
the same, I don't know,
00:29:14.18\00:29:15.95
may be you at
home had your Bible
00:29:15.96\00:29:17.61
plopped open to the right spot.
00:29:17.62\00:29:19.18
We're going to
First Kings Chapter 18,
00:29:19.19\00:29:23.21
First Kings Chapter 18,
we're going to read in verse 1.
00:29:23.22\00:29:27.49
The Bible says in First
Kings Chapter 18 in verse 1.
00:29:27.50\00:29:31.81
"And it came to
pass after many days,
00:29:31.82\00:29:34.90
that the word of
the Lord came to Elijah
00:29:34.91\00:29:37.75
in the third year, saying,
Go, show thyself unto Ahab,
00:29:37.76\00:29:43.02
and I will send
rain upon the earth. "
00:29:43.03\00:29:47.78
So, the Lord here tells Elijah,
00:29:47.79\00:29:51.27
go see Ahab and tell Ahab
that I'm gonna make it rain.
00:29:51.28\00:29:56.92
So that's
exactly what Elijah does.
00:29:56.93\00:29:59.79
Look at verse 36, same chapter,
00:29:59.80\00:30:01.82
Chapter 18 of
First Kings verse 36.
00:30:01.83\00:30:06.11
The Bible says,
"And it came to pass
00:30:06.12\00:30:09.12
there at the time of
the evening sacrifice,
00:30:09.13\00:30:12.33
that Elijah the
prophet came near,
00:30:12.34\00:30:15.07
and said, Lord God of
Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel,
00:30:15.08\00:30:20.85
let it be known this day
that thou art God in Israel,
00:30:20.86\00:30:26.13
and that I am thy servant,
00:30:26.14\00:30:28.45
and that I've done all
these things at thy word. "
00:30:28.46\00:30:31.58
Verse 37, "Hear
me, O Lord, hear me,
00:30:31.59\00:30:35.45
that this people may know
that thou art the Lord God,
00:30:35.46\00:30:40.10
and that thou hast
turned their heart back again.
00:30:40.11\00:30:45.99
Then the fire of the Lord fell
00:30:46.00\00:30:47.34
and consumed
the burnt sacrifice,
00:30:47.35\00:30:49.07
and the wood, and
the stones, and the dust,
00:30:49.08\00:30:50.48
and licked up the water
that was in the trench. "
00:30:50.49\00:30:55.29
Let's continue to go
down there in verse 39,
00:30:55.30\00:30:58.05
"And when all the people saw it,
00:30:58.06\00:30:59.13
they fell on their
faces, and they said, the Lord,
00:30:59.14\00:31:01.21
He is the God, the
Lord, He is the God.
00:31:01.22\00:31:04.53
And Elijah said unto
them, Take the prophets of Baal,
00:31:04.54\00:31:06.92
let not one of them escape.
00:31:06.93\00:31:07.94
And they took them and
Elijah brought them down
00:31:07.95\00:31:09.98
to the brook
Kishon, and slew them there.
00:31:09.99\00:31:13.23
And Elijah said
unto Ahab, Get thee up,
00:31:13.24\00:31:17.25
eat and drink for there is
a sound of abundance of rain.
00:31:17.26\00:31:22.54
So Ahab went up
to eat and to drink.
00:31:22.55\00:31:25.26
And Elijah went up
to the top of Carmel,
00:31:25.27\00:31:28.46
and he sat himself
down upon the earth,
00:31:28.47\00:31:30.75
and put his face
between his knees. "
00:31:30.76\00:31:33.23
Elijah kneels down
on top of this mountain
00:31:33.24\00:31:36.44
and he begins to pray,
he begins to pray for rain,
00:31:36.45\00:31:40.96
he begins to pray the very thing
00:31:40.97\00:31:44.00
that God told him would happen.
00:31:44.01\00:31:47.35
And friends,
when you and I pray,
00:31:47.36\00:31:49.61
what God has
promised, God will deliver.
00:31:49.62\00:31:54.55
Because as soon as
it leaves the word,
00:31:54.56\00:31:56.31
as soon as the word leaves
the Lord's mouth it is done.
00:31:56.32\00:32:01.95
If you and I will only
begin to study our Bibles,
00:32:01.96\00:32:06.20
the Spirit of God will
begin to convict our hearts,
00:32:06.21\00:32:10.61
and we will be forced
to our knees in prayer.
00:32:10.62\00:32:13.90
Sometimes God's word says to us,
00:32:18.41\00:32:22.81
you need to go this way.
00:32:22.82\00:32:25.11
Our hearts in every bit
of our fleshly nature says,
00:32:25.12\00:32:28.92
you want to go that way.
00:32:28.93\00:32:35.20
Sometimes we love that way
00:32:35.21\00:32:38.04
and we're not
sure about God's way.
00:32:38.05\00:32:42.60
Maybe in your own life
you have been struggling
00:32:42.61\00:32:46.16
with that very thing,
you know from your study
00:32:46.17\00:32:50.60
of the word of God that
some things that you are doing
00:32:50.61\00:32:54.95
are just not pleasing to Jesus.
00:32:54.96\00:33:00.87
And you've been
having this inner struggle
00:33:00.88\00:33:02.83
because you love the sin,
00:33:02.84\00:33:06.17
but you also love your Savior.
00:33:06.18\00:33:08.93
Friends, that's when
you get down on your knees
00:33:08.94\00:33:11.71
and you pray, God in heaven.
00:33:11.72\00:33:15.21
You know that I
want to go your way,
00:33:15.22\00:33:19.70
but I want to go this
way, help me to hate this way,
00:33:19.71\00:33:24.77
and to love Your away.
00:33:24.78\00:33:26.06
God knows, friend,
God knows if you love it,
00:33:26.07\00:33:30.15
you're not pulling
the wool over God's eyes.
00:33:30.16\00:33:33.31
God knows if you love that sin,
00:33:33.32\00:33:34.96
tell Him, admit it
and say, Lord, help me.
00:33:34.97\00:33:41.34
Just like the
Psalmist said, "Save me. "
00:33:41.35\00:33:44.90
The first ingredient in
the "Science of Revival"
00:33:51.53\00:33:57.06
is diligent Bible study.
00:33:57.07\00:34:01.71
The second ingredient in
the "Science for Revival"
00:34:01.72\00:34:06.61
is sincere and earnest prayer.
00:34:06.62\00:34:12.61
My friends, prayer is
the breath of the soul.
00:34:12.62\00:34:18.63
You try it, whether you're here
00:34:18.64\00:34:21.32
or whether you're
at home, you try it.
00:34:21.33\00:34:23.81
Hold your
breath, turn the timer on
00:34:23.82\00:34:26.22
and tell me how long
can you hold your breath.
00:34:26.23\00:34:30.84
I've asked people to do
this in the past and the longest
00:34:30.85\00:34:33.34
we got to was like four minutes
00:34:33.35\00:34:35.16
and twenty one
seconds and he was blue
00:34:35.17\00:34:37.65
before he took his breath.
00:34:37.66\00:34:39.74
Well, maybe not literally
blue, but you know what I mean.
00:34:39.75\00:34:46.17
Prayer is the
breath of the soul.
00:34:46.18\00:34:50.18
Is your soul breathing?
00:34:53.51\00:35:00.18
Prayer is the
breath of the soul.
00:35:00.19\00:35:03.33
It is the secret
of spiritual power.
00:35:03.34\00:35:08.83
No other means of
grace can be substituted
00:35:08.84\00:35:11.25
and the health of
the soul be preserved.
00:35:11.26\00:35:14.92
Prayer brings the
heart into immediate contact
00:35:14.93\00:35:17.89
with the Well-spring of
life, and strengthens the sinew
00:35:17.90\00:35:23.21
and muscle of the
religious experience.
00:35:23.22\00:35:27.90
Neglect the exercise of prayer,
00:35:27.91\00:35:30.77
or engage in
prayer spasmodically,
00:35:30.78\00:35:33.67
as seems convenient,
00:35:33.68\00:35:36.36
and you will
lose your hold on God.
00:35:36.37\00:35:39.97
Neglect the exercise of prayer
and the spiritual faculties
00:35:47.52\00:35:52.00
of your life will
lose their vitality.
00:35:52.01\00:35:55.47
You will lose that new life.
00:35:55.48\00:36:00.04
The first ingredient,
diligent Bible study.
00:36:05.60\00:36:11.22
The second ingredient,
sincere and earnest prayer.
00:36:11.23\00:36:17.28
But sincere studying
the Bible and praying
00:36:17.29\00:36:20.05
with all of your heart,
00:36:20.06\00:36:21.15
leads you to
the third ingredient
00:36:21.16\00:36:23.80
in this "Science of Revival. "
00:36:23.81\00:36:27.15
Turn with me to
the Old Testament
00:36:27.16\00:36:29.68
Book of First
Samuel, that's to the left
00:36:29.69\00:36:32.90
from where we're here in Kings.
00:36:32.91\00:36:35.32
Let's turn to the left,
00:36:35.33\00:36:36.68
First Samuel
Chapter 12 and verse 23,
00:36:36.69\00:36:43.65
First Samuel
Chapter 12 and verse 23.
00:36:43.66\00:36:49.51
The word of God reads
like this "Moreover as for me,
00:36:51.23\00:36:56.35
God forbid that I
should sin against the Lord
00:36:56.36\00:37:00.16
in ceasing to pray for you. "
00:37:00.17\00:37:04.08
Who do we sin
against when we cease to pray
00:37:04.09\00:37:07.07
for people that we
know? The Lord God.
00:37:07.08\00:37:11.10
"God forbid that I
should sin against the Lord
00:37:11.11\00:37:13.59
in ceasing to pray for you but,"
00:37:13.60\00:37:15.77
and that is an important
but right there, my friend,
00:37:15.78\00:37:20.92
"but I will teach you
the good and the right way. "
00:37:20.93\00:37:26.36
Studying our
Bible causes us to pray,
00:37:28.73\00:37:33.59
because our lives do not
line up with the word of God.
00:37:33.60\00:37:38.20
And friends, as we
are praying for God
00:37:38.21\00:37:40.47
to continue to revive
our lives through His word.
00:37:40.48\00:37:43.64
God puts his
burden on our hearts,
00:37:43.65\00:37:46.45
for all of his people.
00:37:46.46\00:37:52.13
And then we too,
just like right here
00:37:52.14\00:37:58.33
in verse 23 of
First Samuel Chapter 12.
00:37:58.34\00:38:01.80
We too, we want
to teach our friends,
00:38:01.81\00:38:04.06
our family, our loved ones,
00:38:04.07\00:38:07.60
even our enemies the
good and the right way.
00:38:07.61\00:38:14.33
The third ingredient of
the "Science of Revival"
00:38:14.34\00:38:19.35
is witnessing.
00:38:19.36\00:38:21.41
Inside your own church
you call this fellowship,
00:38:21.42\00:38:26.45
outside of your church you
call this witnessing, ministry.
00:38:26.46\00:38:33.29
Turn with me to
Jeremiah 20 and verse 9.
00:38:33.30\00:38:37.03
That's to the
right from where we are,
00:38:37.04\00:38:38.70
you're gonna go past Psalms,
you're gonna go past Proverbs
00:38:38.71\00:38:42.28
Isaiah, Jeremiah.
00:38:42.29\00:38:45.60
Jeremiah Chapter 20 and verse 9.
00:38:45.61\00:38:51.36
Jeremiah the 20
Chapter and verse 9.
00:38:51.37\00:38:57.85
Jeremiah says here, "I
will not make mention of him,
00:38:57.86\00:39:02.04
or speak any more in his name.
00:39:02.05\00:39:04.35
But His word was in
mine heart as a burning fire
00:39:04.36\00:39:08.40
shut up in my bones,
00:39:08.41\00:39:10.31
and I was weary with forbearing,
00:39:10.32\00:39:12.50
and I could not stay. "
00:39:12.51\00:39:14.10
I could not stand it he says.
00:39:14.11\00:39:16.63
I didn't want to teach other
people what God was saying.
00:39:16.64\00:39:19.79
I didn't want to share
God's word with other people.
00:39:19.80\00:39:22.14
But because he was so
intimately associated with God
00:39:22.15\00:39:25.32
through Bible study and
with prayer he had to do it.
00:39:25.33\00:39:29.76
He couldn't
stand not sharing it.
00:39:29.77\00:39:33.27
And how is it with you.
00:39:33.28\00:39:37.09
How is it with you, my friend?
00:39:37.10\00:39:39.05
How is it with
you? Jeremiah says that
00:39:45.35\00:39:49.79
"It just became inside of
him like a burning fire. "
00:39:49.80\00:39:54.10
You remember those disciples,
00:39:54.11\00:39:56.11
those disciples
walking on the roads to Emmaus,
00:39:56.12\00:39:58.63
when Jesus gave
them that Bible study.
00:39:58.64\00:40:00.78
They said, did not
our hearts burn within us.
00:40:00.79\00:40:07.68
You know some, some
mornings I make it a habit
00:40:07.69\00:40:09.77
of every morning to
have a time of devotion,
00:40:09.78\00:40:12.18
a time when I spend
time in the word of God,
00:40:12.19\00:40:14.79
studying God's word,
00:40:14.80\00:40:16.22
comparing that with
commentaries just praying.
00:40:16.23\00:40:21.38
And sometimes God will
just begin to give you a message
00:40:21.39\00:40:24.41
and you can't write it
as fast as He is giving it.
00:40:24.42\00:40:27.77
And your heart
begins to burn within you
00:40:27.78\00:40:29.66
and you just want to
share that with someone.
00:40:29.67\00:40:33.29
You know they say,
practice makes perfect.
00:40:33.30\00:40:36.49
You're gonna wake up tomorrow.
00:40:36.50\00:40:39.78
And you're going to
remember the sermon.
00:40:39.79\00:40:42.58
You're going to have special
time with God in His word.
00:40:42.59\00:40:47.25
And when you
get with your family
00:40:47.26\00:40:48.99
around the breakfast table,
00:40:49.00\00:40:51.31
tell me that you have
breakfast with your family.
00:40:51.32\00:40:55.62
When you get
around that table at work,
00:40:55.63\00:40:58.40
I know you talk with
your friends at work.
00:40:58.41\00:41:02.18
Share with them what
God showed you that day.
00:41:02.19\00:41:06.24
And you will see your knowledge,
00:41:09.84\00:41:12.39
your understanding of
the word of God increased
00:41:12.40\00:41:15.71
because as you share
it, it comes right back.
00:41:15.72\00:41:20.71
Three ingredients, the first
one is diligent Bible study,
00:41:20.72\00:41:27.51
number two,
sincere and earnest prayer,
00:41:28.08\00:41:33.18
number three is witnessing,
inside the church fellowship,
00:41:33.19\00:41:37.45
outside the church
you call it ministry.
00:41:37.46\00:41:40.16
Jeremiah said "I
can't take it anymore,
00:41:40.17\00:41:42.20
I have to share it. "
00:41:42.21\00:41:45.86
Turn with me to the
New Testament Book of Luke.
00:41:45.87\00:41:48.80
The New Testament Book of Luke,
00:41:48.81\00:41:49.95
that's to the
right from Jeremiah.
00:41:49.96\00:41:51.96
Matthew, Mark, Luke
in the New Testament.
00:41:51.97\00:41:54.71
We're going to
Luke the 8 Chapter.
00:41:54.72\00:41:57.70
Luke Chapter 8.
00:41:57.71\00:42:00.18
We will begin
reading in verse 38.
00:42:00.19\00:42:06.54
But before we - I
tell you, we read 38,
00:42:06.55\00:42:08.59
I'm gonna tell you
what happens before then.
00:42:08.60\00:42:10.46
There is this man
that's possessed of demons,
00:42:10.47\00:42:13.19
Jesus cast the
demons out of this man.
00:42:13.20\00:42:15.23
These demons go
into a herd of pigs,
00:42:15.24\00:42:16.91
the pigs drown themselves
00:42:16.92\00:42:17.92
because they're full of demons.
00:42:17.93\00:42:19.68
The people that
were, the pig herders,
00:42:19.69\00:42:22.31
go into town and into
the city and they tell them,
00:42:22.32\00:42:25.58
hey look, we just
lost our livelihood.
00:42:25.59\00:42:28.65
All these people come
out and they send Jesus away.
00:42:28.66\00:42:34.74
Luke Chapter 8 verse 38,
00:42:34.75\00:42:37.24
"Now the man out
of whom the devils
00:42:37.25\00:42:39.31
were departed besought him. "
00:42:39.32\00:42:41.37
He starts to talk to Jesus.
00:42:41.38\00:42:44.31
This man is
praying to Jesus in person.
00:42:44.32\00:42:49.25
And he is, the Bible says that,
00:42:52.24\00:42:53.96
"He besought him that
he might be with him. "
00:42:53.97\00:42:57.26
He said, Jesus please
these people don't like You
00:42:57.27\00:43:01.72
and I'm the reason,
don't let me stay here,
00:43:01.73\00:43:04.71
take me with You.
00:43:04.72\00:43:09.30
Jesus says to this man,
"Return to your own house,
00:43:09.31\00:43:15.86
and show how great
things God has done unto thee. "
00:43:15.87\00:43:22.30
Jesus tells him,
you can't just pray
00:43:22.31\00:43:27.10
and study the
Bible all the time.
00:43:27.11\00:43:30.77
You have to go share
that with other people.
00:43:30.78\00:43:36.32
Now it's quite
interesting that right here,
00:43:36.33\00:43:38.27
Jesus didn't say
you must go to seminary,
00:43:38.28\00:43:42.10
it's quite interesting
Jesus didn't say here,
00:43:42.11\00:43:44.20
you must go to
a training school.
00:43:44.21\00:43:47.86
Friends, when you fall in
love with the author of life,
00:43:47.87\00:43:50.72
Jesus Christ,
immediately you want to start
00:43:50.73\00:43:54.25
sharing Him with other people.
00:43:54.26\00:43:55.65
"And he went his way," verse 39
00:44:01.53\00:44:03.15
"and published
throughout the whole city
00:44:03.16\00:44:04.70
how great things
Jesus had done unto him. "
00:44:04.71\00:44:07.11
And if we had the time, we would
00:44:07.12\00:44:08.26
compare scripture with scripture
00:44:08.27\00:44:10.05
and we would find out
that when Jesus came back
00:44:10.06\00:44:11.92
to this town, this
town was waiting for Jesus
00:44:11.93\00:44:14.89
because of that man's testimony.
00:44:14.90\00:44:17.37
The whole town
was then ready to hear
00:44:22.72\00:44:24.44
what Jesus had to say.
00:44:24.45\00:44:30.48
As witnesses for Christ,
we are to tell what we know.
00:44:30.49\00:44:36.34
What we ourselves have
seen and heard and felt.
00:44:36.35\00:44:42.13
If we have been
following Jesus step by step,
00:44:43.40\00:44:46.82
we will have something
right to the point to tell
00:44:46.83\00:44:48.99
concerning the way
in which He has led us.
00:44:49.00\00:44:52.22
We can tell others how
we have tested His promises,
00:44:52.23\00:44:54.73
and found the promises true.
00:44:54.74\00:44:59.42
We can bear witness
to what we have known
00:44:59.43\00:45:01.24
of the grace of Christ.
00:45:01.25\00:45:03.91
Friends, this is the
witness for which our Lord calls
00:45:03.92\00:45:07.72
and for want of which
the world is perishing.
00:45:07.73\00:45:11.57
How is it with you, my friend?
00:45:19.16\00:45:23.27
How is your Bible
study going on a daily basis?
00:45:23.28\00:45:27.75
You know, when my
daughter Samantha was born,
00:45:27.76\00:45:30.83
my wife had to feed
her like every three hours.
00:45:30.84\00:45:34.88
She had to eat.
00:45:34.89\00:45:38.29
Now she eats the same
amount of times as we eat.
00:45:38.30\00:45:44.54
And yet many
Christians think that
00:45:44.55\00:45:46.52
they can go to
church one day a week.
00:45:46.53\00:45:50.84
Get all the food
they need for the week,
00:45:50.85\00:45:55.32
and live on it
until the next church day.
00:45:55.33\00:45:58.54
You're starving yourself.
00:46:02.76\00:46:08.03
Friends, how's your prayer life.
00:46:08.04\00:46:14.95
Prayer is the
breath of the soul,
00:46:14.96\00:46:17.00
is your soul breathing?
00:46:17.01\00:46:23.36
Prayer is the
secret of spiritual power.
00:46:23.37\00:46:26.60
Does it contain
any power in your life?
00:46:32.47\00:46:35.73
Witnessing is the
outlet for the input
00:46:40.64\00:46:44.65
of Bible study and prayer.
00:46:44.66\00:46:49.61
It's quite interesting,
a good friend of mine
00:46:49.62\00:46:51.70
and I were at lunch one day,
00:46:51.71\00:46:53.46
and he told me about how he
went to this church service.
00:46:53.47\00:46:58.65
And in this church service,
00:46:58.66\00:46:59.86
there was a lady
upfront that was preaching
00:46:59.87\00:47:01.85
and in the back
there was a young man
00:47:01.86\00:47:04.29
that had like 30 bags
of potato chips around him.
00:47:04.30\00:47:09.16
He would open very
noisily one bag of potato chips
00:47:09.17\00:47:12.05
and just begin to stuff them.
00:47:12.06\00:47:16.09
The potato chips
falling all over his clothes,
00:47:16.10\00:47:18.23
hitting the floor in
the back of the church.
00:47:18.24\00:47:21.03
It was annoying to the people
that were sitting around him.
00:47:21.04\00:47:23.72
It was distracting to the people
00:47:23.73\00:47:25.30
that were closer to the front.
00:47:25.31\00:47:28.92
This lady just kept preaching,
00:47:28.93\00:47:30.98
she just kept
carrying on up there,
00:47:30.99\00:47:33.05
preaching about the power
of witnessing for Jesus Christ.
00:47:33.06\00:47:36.59
And how that is the
only outlet for Bible study
00:47:36.60\00:47:39.39
and for prayer.
00:47:39.40\00:47:41.71
This young man
in the back, yeah,
00:47:41.72\00:47:43.50
right there near
where you're sitting,
00:47:43.51\00:47:45.05
he just kept shoving
those potato chips in his mouth.
00:47:45.06\00:47:51.90
And it got bigger
and bigger and bigger,
00:47:51.91\00:47:57.76
in just about
the time her sermon
00:47:59.71\00:48:02.51
was finished he popped,
00:48:02.52\00:48:07.38
and she said,
that's what happens
00:48:07.39\00:48:10.95
when you don't have an outlet
00:48:10.96\00:48:13.31
for your Bible study and
your prayer, you will pop.
00:48:13.32\00:48:18.92
Your spiritual
life will be as nothing.
00:48:20.33\00:48:23.72
I remember when I
was first converted,
00:48:29.88\00:48:32.74
I was talking to a
very good friend of mine,
00:48:32.75\00:48:34.50
and I've known
him all of my life.
00:48:34.51\00:48:37.28
He said to me, that fire
you have, I had that once.
00:48:37.29\00:48:43.42
Don't worry, it'll go away.
00:48:44.90\00:48:48.84
And I looked at
my friend and I said,
00:48:48.85\00:48:51.18
God forbid
00:48:51.19\00:48:54.65
that my spiritual
life end up like yours.
00:48:54.66\00:49:00.32
Dear friend, maybe God
has spoken to you today.
00:49:00.33\00:49:04.99
Maybe you have
realized that you should be
00:49:05.00\00:49:07.12
studying the word of God more.
00:49:07.13\00:49:10.08
Something you have
realized that you should be
00:49:10.09\00:49:12.49
studying the word of God.
00:49:12.50\00:49:19.32
Some of you that
study the word of God
00:49:19.33\00:49:21.22
know already
that your prayer life
00:49:21.23\00:49:24.01
is not what it should be.
00:49:24.02\00:49:30.72
Maybe you want to change that
00:49:30.73\00:49:33.12
with a decision today.
00:49:33.13\00:49:35.47
Maybe you're just like
that little girl whose last wish
00:49:41.29\00:49:45.22
was that other children
would get Bibles maybe like you.
00:49:45.23\00:49:48.25
You want to begin to
share that with other people.
00:49:48.26\00:49:52.24
It all begins with
the study of God's word.
00:50:02.70\00:50:08.52
It goes then to prayer
and then to witnessing.
00:50:10.02\00:50:16.53
Now some people
will say, you know,
00:50:18.50\00:50:19.95
I don't witness
anymore because the last time
00:50:19.96\00:50:22.48
I witnessed, I got
a door shut on my face
00:50:22.49\00:50:24.82
Some people say I
don't witness anymore
00:50:24.83\00:50:26.74
because the
last time I witnessed
00:50:26.75\00:50:28.25
somebody told me that I
was stupid for doing that.
00:50:28.26\00:50:30.70
The last time I witnessed,
blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
00:50:30.71\00:50:33.86
There was an evangelist
00:50:37.89\00:50:40.32
who traveled
around to different areas.
00:50:40.33\00:50:45.09
He went to this rural
church to hold a meeting.
00:50:45.10\00:50:48.88
He was used to
staying in an hotel,
00:50:48.89\00:50:50.45
you understand but,
this the local elder
00:50:50.46\00:50:52.66
of this church
said, you know my friend
00:50:52.67\00:50:54.50
you stay at our house,
00:50:54.51\00:50:55.51
we have a very
nice big farmhouse,
00:50:55.52\00:50:57.07
the children have moved away.
00:50:57.08\00:50:58.43
It'll be nice for
you to be in the country
00:50:58.44\00:51:00.01
and to relax a little.
00:51:00.02\00:51:01.90
Well, he thought he
was already in the country
00:51:01.91\00:51:03.58
being in such a rural setting,
00:51:03.59\00:51:05.12
but he decided that
he would give it a go.
00:51:05.13\00:51:08.86
And so he went to his
home, very nice family,
00:51:08.87\00:51:13.77
lived on this
farm, they put him up
00:51:13.78\00:51:15.35
in the second storey room.
00:51:15.36\00:51:18.76
Had a view out of the
window out onto the farm
00:51:18.77\00:51:21.69
and he could
see all the animals.
00:51:21.70\00:51:24.84
And he got out his
big city alarm clock,
00:51:24.85\00:51:27.01
not with the
battery 'cause you know,
00:51:27.02\00:51:28.56
he was going to a rural area,
00:51:28.57\00:51:30.03
he didn't know if
he'd have any electricity.
00:51:30.04\00:51:31.89
But he brought
the windup clock..
00:51:31.90\00:51:33.56
Chook, chook,
chook, chook, chook, chook,
00:51:33.57\00:51:36.07
chook, chook,
chook, set the alarm.
00:51:36.08\00:51:39.78
You know one of those
ringers has a hammer on it.
00:51:39.79\00:51:43.78
He set the alarm
for the next morning.
00:51:43.79\00:51:45.68
He went to sleep in
this big old tall bed,
00:51:45.69\00:51:47.83
you know, how
farm house beds are,
00:51:47.84\00:51:49.22
right, they're
taller than normal.
00:51:49.23\00:51:52.55
He laid down in that bed
and he just went to sleep,
00:51:52.56\00:51:56.47
knowing that that alarm
clock would be the next thing
00:51:56.48\00:51:58.57
he heard in the morning.
00:51:58.58\00:52:02.08
The next morning just
as sun was starting to come
00:52:02.09\00:52:05.09
into that window, he heard,
00:52:05.10\00:52:06.53
cock-a-doodle-doo.
cock-a-doodle-doo.
00:52:06.54\00:52:13.48
He looked at the alarm clock,
'cause he never heard it make
00:52:14.35\00:52:16.19
that sound before, but
it wasn't time to get up.
00:52:16.20\00:52:19.84
He looked outside
and on top of the barn
00:52:19.85\00:52:21.95
was this big ruby red rooster,
00:52:21.96\00:52:25.77
just crowing for
all he was worth.
00:52:25.78\00:52:28.03
Have those real nice
big long tail feather
00:52:28.04\00:52:30.82
sticking up in the air,
00:52:30.83\00:52:31.95
just crowing for all he's worth.
00:52:31.96\00:52:36.25
The evangelist said
well, maybe the Lord just wants
00:52:36.26\00:52:38.12
me to have some more time
studying and praying today.
00:52:38.13\00:52:42.88
So he got up, that night he
had his evangelistic meeting
00:52:42.89\00:52:48.04
and then he went
home and he went to bed,
00:52:48.05\00:52:50.60
and he set his alarm clock.
00:52:50.61\00:52:53.48
And the next morning just
as the Sun began to come up
00:52:53.49\00:52:55.92
over the horizon, he
was awoken with a jolt.
00:52:55.93\00:52:59.08
Cock-a-doodle-doo. That
old rooster just crowing
00:52:59.09\00:53:05.08
his heart out, doing his job,
00:53:05.09\00:53:08.88
doing what a
rooster is supposed to do.
00:53:08.89\00:53:14.51
The rooster did this
consistently for two weeks.
00:53:14.52\00:53:19.64
The evangelistic
eventually stopped
00:53:19.65\00:53:21.81
even setting the alarm clock.
00:53:21.82\00:53:25.70
He just waited for the
old rooster to wake him up.
00:53:25.71\00:53:28.28
One of the days
when they didn't have
00:53:33.26\00:53:34.96
a meeting that
night, he stayed on the farm
00:53:34.97\00:53:38.61
and he watched the animals.
00:53:38.62\00:53:41.53
He watched the horses as
they were grazing in the field.
00:53:41.54\00:53:44.23
He watched the cows
as they were out there
00:53:44.24\00:53:46.45
with the horses.
00:53:46.46\00:53:49.80
He watched the
pigs in the pigpen,
00:53:49.81\00:53:52.14
he watched the rooster
and all the hens in their pen.
00:53:52.15\00:53:59.14
Then he noticed, this
rooster flew up onto the post,
00:53:59.15\00:54:04.58
right beside the pigpen.
00:54:04.59\00:54:06.76
They just put some more slop
00:54:06.77\00:54:08.20
down there in the
pigpen you understand.
00:54:08.21\00:54:11.06
And this rooster looks
at that slop down there
00:54:11.07\00:54:13.71
and he sees
maybe a kernel of corn
00:54:13.72\00:54:15.50
or something and he walks it.
00:54:15.51\00:54:18.31
So he just hops down in
there, starts pecking away.
00:54:18.32\00:54:24.85
And all of a
sudden out of nowhere
00:54:24.86\00:54:26.60
comes this big old
pig, grabs the rooster
00:54:26.61\00:54:29.90
by the tail feathers
and slings that rooster
00:54:29.91\00:54:33.46
right out of
right out of the pigpen.
00:54:33.47\00:54:39.37
But he kept the feathers.
00:54:39.38\00:54:41.49
Evangelist watched as
that rooster went over
00:54:46.57\00:54:48.96
and hid himself
underneath the barn.
00:54:48.97\00:54:54.76
That night the evangelist
didn't set his alarm clock
00:54:54.77\00:54:58.12
because the rooster
had always been there.
00:54:58.13\00:55:03.78
The next
morning he woke up late,
00:55:03.79\00:55:08.55
what happened to the rooster?
00:55:08.56\00:55:12.62
The very same thing that
happens to many Christians
00:55:12.63\00:55:16.45
who have a door
shut on their face.
00:55:16.46\00:55:18.68
The very same thing that
happens to many Christians,
00:55:18.69\00:55:21.10
who have said,
you're stupid for sharing
00:55:21.11\00:55:22.74
that in a public manner.
00:55:22.75\00:55:24.38
The very same thing
that happens to Christians
00:55:24.39\00:55:26.41
whose friends say, don't
worry that fire will go out.
00:55:26.42\00:55:32.16
The rooster got his
feathers a little ruffled
00:55:32.17\00:55:34.49
and he refused to do his job.
00:55:34.50\00:55:40.67
Friends, as we study our Bibles,
00:55:40.68\00:55:44.96
God convicts our hearts of how
00:55:44.97\00:55:47.45
we are not inline with His word.
00:55:47.46\00:55:53.66
As we study our
Bibles, we recognize that
00:55:53.67\00:55:56.18
we are not yet what
God desires us to be.
00:55:56.19\00:56:00.97
And it causes us to pray.
00:56:00.98\00:56:04.13
And we may want to
go the world's way,
00:56:04.14\00:56:06.52
but Jesus wants
us to go His way,
00:56:06.53\00:56:08.33
and we fall down and we
pray, Lord, help me, you know,
00:56:08.34\00:56:11.07
I love it, help me to hate it.
00:56:11.08\00:56:12.90
Help me to do
what You want me to do.
00:56:12.91\00:56:17.39
And as we are praying
for our very own lives,
00:56:17.40\00:56:22.52
God convicts us that we
too need to be sharing His word
00:56:22.53\00:56:27.65
with our
friends, with our family
00:56:27.66\00:56:30.38
and even with our enemies.
00:56:30.39\00:56:37.02
Friends, won't you
start that revival today.
00:56:37.03\00:56:43.68
Won't you get down
on your carpet at home
00:56:43.69\00:56:46.90
and draw one of
those circles, you know,
00:56:46.91\00:56:48.58
how you used to do
when you were a kid,
00:56:48.59\00:56:51.18
and kneel down in that circle.
00:56:51.19\00:56:54.75
And you say,
Lord, revive me again,
00:56:54.76\00:56:59.45
make me what you want me to be.
00:56:59.46\00:57:01.68
Friend, at home
is that your desire?
00:57:01.69\00:57:06.41
Let's pray.
Father, we ask that you
00:57:06.42\00:57:11.69
will give us good Bible
study prayer and opportunity
00:57:11.70\00:57:15.68
to witness, in
Jesus' name, Amen.
00:57:15.69\00:57:22.16