OH THAT YOU WOULD REND THE HEAVENS

1. What Will It Take For Spiritual Awakening? OH THAT YOU WOULD REND THE HEAVENS

2. WE MUST WAKE UP • What is on the heart of God? • Focus on awakening • Fresh stirring

3. WE MUST WAKE UP  • Is the nation better or worse off? • Where’s the power? • Why is there no power?

4.  THE REASON IS… • We have a relationship problem with God • We are under the judgment of God

5. PROOF OF JUDGMENT • What is the judgment of God? • It is according to one’s deeds • Punishment fits the crime

6. PROOF OF JUDGMENT • Examples • David and Uriah • Ahab and Naboth • Babylon and God’s people • In line with one’s sin

7. PROOF OF JUDGMENT • The signs of the judgment • The removal of wisdom • True for Christians and the lost • Other examples

8. PROOF OF JUDGMENT • The signs of the judgment • Loss of spiritual power • Little life-changing impact • Uncommitted converts • Prayer movement with no change

9. PROOF OF JUDGMENT • The signs of the judgment • Loss of spiritual power • Turned over to sin • Little influence on society • Loss of favor • Defeat by our enemies

10. PROOF OF JUDGMENT • The signs of the judgment • Various other signs • Societal breakdown of the family • Societal and relational conflict • Bad leadership • Statutes that are not good

11. PROOF OF JUDGMENT • The signs of the judgment • Various other signs • Loss of finances • Setbacks increase over time • Natural disasters • Success is unfulfilling

12. CONCLUSION • We are under the judgment of God • If we do not awaken: • We will be destroyed • Our children will live out the consequences • Will you not arise?

14. THE PRIMARY REASON • Why are we asleep? • How can the signs be so prevalent and we not know it? • How can we live in the midst of this and not respond?

15. THE PRIMARY REASON • We have lost the fear of God • Recognizing the judgment is necessary to realizing there’s a problem • Call to prayer in 1863

16. THE PRIMARY REASON • How did we lose the fear of God? • We mistakenly assumed it hinders a love relationship with God

17. THE PRIMARY REASON • How did we lose the fear of God? • Love and grace apart from holiness • The accountability of grace • The accountability of love • Judgment begins with the house of God

18. THE PRIMARY REASON • How did we lose the fear of God? • False sense of security

19. CONCLUSION • We lost the fear of God • Let us fear God again

21. SINS TO ADDRESS • What are our wicked ways?

22. SINS TO ADDRESS • We left our first love • Desiring God • Prayerlessness

23. SINS TO ADDRESS • Not being on mission • Failure to bear fruit • Materialism • Use or misuse of resources

24. SINS TO ADDRESS • We have made false converts • Statistics in the SBC • Decision instead of repentance • Location instead of a relationship

25. SINS TO ADDRESS • We have not hallowed His name • We have treated God lightly • Served God when it is convenient • Not exercised church discipline

26. CONCLUSION • These sins must be addressed • These changes will position us to be gloriously revived

28. FOUR EXPECTATIONS • There is hope • When it is the darkest… • The light that dawns

29. FOUR EXPECTATIONS • God will create a catalytic moment • Elijah on Mt. Carmel • Hezekiah • Ezra • Nehemiah • Jesus • The catalytic moment is our invitation

30. FOUR EXPECTATIONS • Forgiveness of sin ≠ cancellation of judgment • Improbable that revival will cancel judgment • There will still be difficult days • The Civil War

31. FOUR EXPECTATIONS • God’s grace allows us to navigate judgment • What grace is • God must hallow His name

32. FOUR EXPECTATIONS • God’s grace allows us to navigate judgment • God will still be at work • In wrath God remembers mercy • Mercy places a revived people in the midst of judgment • A great harvest will follow

33. FOUR EXPECTATIONS • Successfully navigating the judgment of God will produce blessing • Hezekiah • Civil War • Parkview

34. CONCLUSION • So that we will know how to respond • In the here and now, we must focus on repentance