What Revival Has Done for Me — Ken Blue

Turn to Psalm 85 .6. It's good to have our visitors here tonight. It's good to have you folks with us and. And you know, I hope you'll just forgive us for being a little bit. At home, you know, but that's where we are, right?

And I mean we're here every Sunday morning Sunday night Thursday night and two or three other times a week and so we just feel we know everybody and and. And We're glad you're here Brother Dave from Florida said to me this morning.

You tell folks what you said, would you to me? That is the friendliest church I've ever visited. Yeah, amen. All right. Have you got it? Psalm 85 verse 6. Psalm 85 6. I Read this entire psalm this evening, but I'll just call your attention to verse 6 so we can save some time.

Revival Must Be Grounded in Scripture

David said will thought will thou not revive us again that thy people may rejoice in thee. Now you ought to think about those words. Will thou not revive us again? That thy people may rejoice in thee.

I What I just I want to do is speak from my heart this evening and You'll forgive me if I talk a little bit about what. What I've learned can is this okay? We got an echo. Can you fix me up brother Dave?

First of all when we talk about experiences. If there's anybody in the world that is gun-shy of experiences you're looking at a preacher. I I don't put a lot of value on experiences. But that certainly doesn't mean that there aren't valid experiences that God's people ought to have.

But let me say this right up front that I would not give a plug nickel for any experience. That doesn't match and that is not true to a proper interpretation of the Word of God. I Still will try all experiences by the book understand me.

I've got a lot to learn. I'm looking forward to learning it. I Don't feel I'm a novice. I Feel I'm a student. There are things to learn. I want to learn them old Tom Malone said to us 21 years ago. He said now pastor.

He said boys. He said you better look at every new thing like a calf looking at a new gate. Those from the farm know what that statement means, okay? So when I talk about what has been happening here at open-door Baptist Church I'm not talking about emotional ism.

But I am talking about emotions. And there is a world of difference. Emotionalism is something that churches many times have to work up so people feel close to God. Emotions is something that breaks forth because a man or a woman is close to God.

Don't discount emotions. Emotions are right. They are God-made. But Spurgeon said it long ago though, I never understood it until just recently but Spurgeon said all emotions Must have as their father the truth.

So all of our emotions must be grounded in truth. Emotions can't distinguish. Emotions can't decide is this true or this true. Is this true? Emotions are just there and. So what I want us to think about then is what I believe is happening around here and what is happening in our lives is not some external from horizontally, but it is an external that came from heaven into our hearts and Then it manifests itself in gratitude and brokenness and joy and rejoicing.

But revival must come from God. You know as I talked with brother Boyle he liked just like all of us he set and tried for just a few minutes. What were the ingredients? You know folks are looking for ABCD to make it happen.

It won't work. It can't work. Will thou not revive us that thy people may rejoice in thee. The first thing we need to do is understand terms when we talk about revival. There are red flag words that we learn anywhere.

McCarthyism. Right red flag. Fundamentalism red flag. Do you ever notice how people will connect Jim Jones with fundamentalism and the ayatollah with fundamentalism? You connect these people with terms and then the term becomes a red flag.

So what you do is you get an Elmer Gantry or Elmer Fudd or somebody and you connect these people with a term and then the term becomes a Negative to where we are reluctant to deal with it. Even though it's a good Bible term.

Revival is a Bible term. It's also a Bible truth and It has been experienced in history down through the years if you've studied church history, you know that there were great revivals down through church history so revival could be and has been a reality, but sad to say because of our lack of education and Eventually shifting horses in the middle of the stream.

We have made revive. We've made meetings synonymous with revival to where when I was in Jacksonville a few months ago with a Baptist Church on every corner and a Church of Christ in between. You'd see banners flying in front of most of these churches revival June the 11th through the 23rd, you see revival and what they really meant is they had a high-powered speaker coming in fact brother Boyle as I talked with him, he was telling me he's got me coming over there in a few months and Preaching for him on a Tuesday night and it's their 10th anniversary that week and he's got some Obviously some high-powered preachers because I'm gonna be there and it's got to be high-powered.

And he's got me wedged in between these high-powered fellas. Because he's very kind but we get the idea. This is revival but revival is nothing more than new life. I Looked up the definitions of revival and in the dictionary one Revival it is a return.

It's a recall or recovery to life from death apparent death as The revival of a drownded person. That's where we were there was apparent death and God brought revival. It's a return or recovery. It is also The return or recall to activity from a state of langer as the revival of spirits.

The spirit was revived. It is also renewed or more active attention to religion an awakening of men to their spiritual concerns. Revival is becoming God conscious and Responding in obedience to the Holy Spirit.

It will invoke contrition Confession cleansing restitution and rejoicing. Did you get it? Revival is becoming God conscious and responding in obedience to the Holy Spirit. It will evoke contrition confession cleansing restitution and rejoicing.

Humility, Contrition, and the Meaning of Revival

In Isaiah 57 15 the writer said for thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabits the eternity. Whose name is holy. I dwell in the high and holy places with him. That is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of to what to revive the spirit of the humble.

So before revival can ever take place humility must precede it. Humility must precede it and the only way we can be humble is let God break us. Mrs. Krauss. God love her. I love her this morning we were getting ready to for the choir and And As always she came in late.

Well, not always. But as she walked you don't mind me telling this to you. I knew you wouldn't as she as she walked in here bless her heart. I think one of our somebody said to her That's a pretty dress.

Jim said to her that's a pretty dress and she said I just kind of felt proud and wonder if there's anything else. He wanted to brag on. She took one more step and fell. I don't laugh fell flat on her face I mean face on this cement floor broke her glasses may have a broken nose and Hurt her wrist and She said to me.

She said pastor, isn't it? Right pride goes before a fall. Quite literally. Did you know God wants to revive us? If you had a little child and you found him face down in the swimming pool the urgency of the hour would be to revive It.

Wouldn't it? Why God would like to revive you and me. Because when we are revived we glorify him in Ezra 9 8 it says. And now for a little space. And you got to understand the time of the writing of the book of Ezra.

The children of Israel have been in captivity now for 70 years. Their oppressors have made life difficult for them and Nehemiah now has led a few back into the land. You understand the story he's led them back into the land and Ezra the scribe has come in and he's trying to put the worship back together and rebuild the temple and then in his prayer.

Here's what he says. And now for a little space for a little space. Grace has thou shown from the Lord our God to leave us a remnant to escape and To give us a nail in a sure place that our God may lighten our eyes and give us a little reviving In our bondage a Little reviving.

I'll tell you what a little reviving is better than none. A little revival is better than no revival. As brother Satara said if only one person gets revived it's better than no person getting revived.

Revival Requires Continual Dependence on God

A little reviving revival needs To happen again and again. Again, and again, some people will ask. I've already heard the skeptics. How long do you think it'll last? How many won't last I Mean we've been here before.

How long will it last? You know, I don't know the answer to that question. But I'll tell you this dear brother and sister if it lasts one hour it would be better to have one hour revival and no revival.

Wouldn't it I? Mean isn't one hour better than none. Many of us who are asking the questions about how long will it last or excusing ourselves, but not getting in on him. All that is an excuse how dare us ask God how long it will last.

It will last as long as we will let God Have his way in our lives. Revival can last as long as God. For revival is nothing more than Christ living through you and me. That's all revival is. It's coming to a place to where we die to ourselves and let Jesus live through us.

That's what revival is. It's reviving. It's not being supernatural. It's not being sinless. It's being in love with Jesus Christ and It's coming to the place to where you stop trying to live the Christian life and you let the Son of God live through you.

There's no bondage like trying to live the Christian life. You can't live it. God never intended for you. You can't save yourself and you can't live it. You didn't get the life by works and you don't manifest it or keep it by works.

You yield and let him live through you. Perfect freedom, that's what the song is about freedom. Why there's no freedom if I'm under the law, I'm under grace. So I don't know of any revival that lasts forever.

Read church history of the great revivals. They didn't last forever. Read the revivals in the Bible. They didn't last forever. Why in our text he said in verse 6 will thou not revive us what? Again. Will thou not revive us again?

David wanted to be revived again. That meant it had happened before and he it could happen again. You understand so don't throw in your lot with the skeptics. This principle is stated all through the Bible if you read the book of Judges and those of us that have been in the the Bible Classes on Monday night.

We are son a Thursday night. We've seen how that in the book of Judges. There is a constant repetition and the children of Israel did evil again on the side of the Lord. Did you ever read that in the book of Judges and they did evil again?

And they cried to the Lord and the Lord delivered them and they served the Lord how long 40 years. And They did evil and the Lord delivered them to their enemies and they cried to the Lord and the Lord delivered them and they serve the Lord 20 years.

And They did evil and the Lord delivered them to their enemies and they cried to the Lord and the Lord delivered them again. How long 40 years? I'd be happy if this revival would last 40 years. But you skeptics need to understand that nothing that man has anything to do lasts.

That's why we have to get back to God. I Think that perhaps I Think that perhaps it is an act of grace that Revival does come to an end because it shows us that we must come back and depend on God. I don't know how much wisdom is in that statement.

But I do know this that things have to happen to throw us back on God's dependence. I think where we lose revival perhaps is in our pride. You see the question is not a the question is not of the past or the future.

My past is gone and my future is not here. So I don't need revival for tomorrow. Do I? No, I need revival for right now. I Need the every hour. Right. I don't need revival tomorrow. Tomorrow is not here and tomorrow may never come and so what I remember praying with a dear brother and bless his heart as he struggled and and Labored to get get a hold of God in prayer his burden was how he could live the Christian life at work because of the Ungodly people he works with and I said dear brother.

You can't live it at work. You can't live it at work. You can't live it anywhere. Again, you've got to let him live it say see we keep worrying about tomorrow and the devil if he can keep you preoccupied about tomorrow with fears and Depressed over failures of the past.

Your present is going to be a mess. And I want you to know that's exactly the way the devil works. He keeps you defeated over the past and fearful of tomorrow and you can't live in freedom today. Jesus made it very clear.

He says take take no thought of tomorrow forget it. Did you know the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin and that word cleanseth is in the present tense. It's not something that he only did back at the cross.

It's something that is happening every second. Cleanses us so it needs to be done again. And again, I pray that it will last. I long for it to last. We must pray for one another we must help one another.

Prayer, Wisdom, and Mutual Care

When you go into the For you're out here grab a brother by the arm or a sister by the arm you ladies and Say let's go to the prayer room and have a word of prayer. Let's pray together. Make much of prayer.

Pray often. Pray driving down the freeway. Don't close your eyes. Some of you would make a bit of difference. But pray as you go down the freeway. Pray before you get out of your car to go to your work.

Pray before you eat your meals. Pray daily. Make much of prayer. Make much of prayer. When you get ready to answer the phone or answer a question, let me tell you. Almost without fail when somebody comes into my office and sets down and wants to talk.

They don't know it, but I'm having a word of prayer. And I am praying and I'm saying dear God. Give me wisdom to know how to answer this person properly know what to say. When you're when you're at work and somebody's asking you a question about well, why don't you do this?

Why don't you do that? Say you need to pray just shoot up a prayer. Okay, Lord. Give me wisdom on what to say here if any man lack wisdom. Let him ask of God Who gives all men liberally. God wants you to have wisdom why to glorify him?

You see everything again. God's wanting to glorify himself so if he can glorify himself by helping you then why not help you and God's not doing it just for my benefit in yours. He's doing it for his.

You better keep that in keep that in perspective. All right. Something else I learned during this revival meeting is sin is not sin against man. Sin is sin against God. Well, I went to that prayer room.

The night that brother Ralph preached on self, which was every night. But the one night that Where he started out the text in Isaiah all we like sheep have gone astray we've turned everyone to his own way.

Let me tell you in 35 years of being saved and hearing preaching and reading sermons and listening to tapes and going to Seminars and everything else under the world. I Have never in my life had a message To impact my life like that little message did that he just used the overhead projector and preached here that night.

There were no pulpit Dynamics in that sermon, but that sermon was dynamic. Because it was the Word of God mixed with the Holy Spirit of God and brother and sister. That's a combination that you can't beat.

You don't need gymnastics in the pulpit you just need the Spirit of God blessing what you're doing and Leave the results to God. God uses every man the way he wants to use them. And I'm glad that night he used God to speak to my heart.

I couldn't wait for the invitation. I couldn't stand and then when he told the story about the fellow that wanted the little wanted to be right with God. And you heard the story some of you the young preacher went to the old man and said I'd like to get right with God and pray and He the old man said let's take a walk in the woods.

And so as they walked through the woods the young man became impatient and said can we pray now? And the old man says no not yet. And they walked and they talked and finally the young man said can we pray now?

The old man said not yet and They walked and they talked. And the young man became very impatient and says when are we going to pray. He said not yet. Finally the young man stopped and said mister. I got to pray or I'll die and The old man said now's the time.

And I felt if I didn't pray I'd die. And I went to the prayer room and found Romans chapter 7 and I tried to devour that chapter. And what a wonderful chapter it is as it talks about our position and our death in Christ and our freedom.

And that song glorious freedom became a reality in my heart. Well, I've been saved 35 years. But a lot of God's people are not free. They're not free. You're not free. God longs for you to be free and so when David had sinned.

Sin Against God Requires Confession and Restitution

When David had sinned and stolen another man's wife and had her husband killed. He tried to hide it. He tried to cover it up. He wanted to be respectable. Do you know that you can't be respectable. You're not respectable anyway.

We're all sinners. But you know, we're trying to play the great cover-up. But in Psalm 51 listen to what David said. Have mercy upon me O God. According to thy loving-kindness according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgression.

Wash me thoroughly for mine iniquity. You know what he's talking about. He's talking about adultery his iniquity was his adultery with Bathsheba and He's saying God wash me from it. Notice something else.

He says I acknowledge my transgression confession. My sin is ever before me conscience. Conviction for I acknowledge my transgression. My sin is ever before me now watch this against thee and thee only have I sinned.

Two problems we make we either think and most Christians believe that all of their sins are against God. But they don't have to make restitution. They don't have to get right. And did you know that God didn't keep David's sin a secret in?

Fact it was written in the Bible so that every human being could read David's sin. David not only made public acknowledgement. God printed it so the world could read it. And you think about there for just a moment.

It was printed so everybody could read it. He went public. We justify our sins in our hearts by denying it we say I'm I'm not bitter. Or I don't have pride. That I'm alright, but we can't categorize these sins against God and those against man.

Because if I have something between me and another Christian or between me and my wife. Or between me and my mother or between a brother and sister. I am NOT right with God. David had sinned this way, but he said it's sin that way and so many times.

We try to harbor resentment against family members or church members and at the same time teach Sunday school and read our Bibles and pray to God and. Our problem is as we fail to see that sin of any kind is a sin against God.

Revival Beyond Denominational Boundaries

Understand me. Last of all I found out during the revival meeting that God is no respecter of persons. I found out that open-door Baptist Church Was doctrinally correct and spiritually bankrupt. I found out that the Non-baptist churches had more grace than we do.

God is no respecter of persons. Now you say you're a Baptist. Well. I got it on my stationery and On our incorporation papers. And on our church sign, but if you think that I think God loves Baptist more than anybody else I don't.

If you think that I think Baptists are closer to God than anybody else. I don't. I think Baptist Scripturally are closest to the truth scripturally. But spiritually they may be the furthest from the truth, and they are not the same by the way.

Don't confuse what you know with what you are. And I found out that those folks in Tacoma who were non-baptist had more grace than this than this whole church. I found out that Linwood Baptist Church had far more grace that pastor had far more grace than this pastor and One of the things that broke my heart in a combination of things during this meeting not just one thing.

The preaching. I mentioned the singing the words to the songs. Don't ever underestimate the importance of the words of songs. The word has the message. And that's why it's so important that we select Scriptural songs and that we select songs that glorify God and songs that convey great spiritual truths.

Most music today's a racket. That's all it is. It is trying to create some spiritual excitement. Because everything's dead on the inside and so the music and the preaching and the testimonies. But you know what broke my heart and showed me how wicked I was.

Was the the number of people that came from other churches and would pray with us and would help us and say brother blue. We're praying that God will bring revival to your church. I Wanted to say go home.

I'm a Baptist. Did you know that if you check church history that most great revivals were not Baptist. Wesley was not a Baptist. Whitfield was not a Baptist. You keep checking them out. Most Baptist don't have time for revival.

They're too busy fighting. We're trying to fight. Did John the Baptist start the church or was it Isaiah? We don't know one dear lady. I Don't see her here tonight, but she stood no. I don't know she stood.

Listen to this John your mother is she here? Okay, mrs. Matey, you know her. She's the blonde lady gave the testimony several times. She called a pastor friend of hers in a nearby town Baptist. Baptist bread.

Baptist fed. When they die, they're Baptist dead. And she called him and said you wouldn't believe what's happening at open-door Baptist Church these weeks. I wish you would come. He said Mrs. Matey, I cannot come.

She said why not? She said because brother blue doesn't have any deacons. Now that is them. That's the track that we're running on. That's our mentality say I Cannot come to open-door Baptist Church because they don't have deacons.

You know, I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't get it. However, I Would have agreed with him before the revival. I really could not go to where Bill or Ralph and Lucita are preaching because they don't have Baptist on their door.

I couldn't do it. Because we know that only God can only bless within a Baptist Church. We God doesn't know that but we know it and maybe we'll get around to telling him. You know what? I learned during this God is no respecter of persons and God rebuked me.

I mean just just kicked me all over the building here by watching These people drive 50 miles a night every night. Leaving this building at 11 and 12 driving back to Tacoma. Getting up and going to their work wording working eight hours and then fighting that evening traffic every evening to be back up here By 630 so they could be in your church and my church to pray for us to encourage us.

So the God the Father would bless us. I found out that those people had far more grace than we all have put together. And I take the blame since I'm the leader and the pastor of this church. I take the responsibility and that's why I'm telling you tonight that God showed me that God is no respecter of persons.

Now at least you think I'm advocating that next Sunday night we have a joint meeting with the Pentecostal Church across town. I'm not advocating that. I'm advocating that we get to a spirit and a place of humility to where we realize.

That we have no corner on the truth and that God blesses whom he will bless. You know, I'm tired of this sectarian nonsense. It's a bunch of junk. It's a bunch of junk, you know, but we've got God cornered in and painted in you know I've run along with us with Baptist to know that that crowds not spiritual.

Amen, amen. Amen. They're not spiritual. They're just loud. But that just could be spiritual if we get right with God. You say now I'm worried about you pastor. Don't worry about me. We're gonna keep our sign up.

We're gonna keep our baptistry. I mean, you know when you got the truth keep it. And we know that we're bad because John was burned during this time of God that this time that God is no respecter of persons and God can love a Nazarene and a Nazarene could love me and pray for me and I would let him.

And that fellow that got saved at the Billy Graham meeting. It's okay. It's okay. Billy used to be a Baptist. He did. He even went to Bob Jones University a little bit. He did. You say do you approve of all he does he doesn't need my approval.

Who am I? You know as I think about all of this and I don't want you to think that I'm advocating an ecumenical program with liberals. I'm not even talking about that at all. I'm just simply saying what God showed me.

But as I think about what we're talking about here, I'm reminded of John and the disciples. They were preaching one day and they saw a guy out here he wasn't you know, he hadn't been ordained properly and he wasn't part of the of.

You know. He hadn't been to Springfield or Hammond or anywhere and he was out there preaching and the disciples said we saw him preaching in your name. And we tried to stop him says we forbid him and Jesus says don't forbid him.

Did you hear what Jesus said? Even though he's not one of the twelve. He's a renegade out here preaching leave him alone. He's preaching Tom Tucker, where are you Tom God bless him? God worked a miracle in that guy's heart and we said at the restaurant after we got out of church here at 12 o 'clock.

We went to the IHOP and we stayed there till 1 or 2 in the morning talking and pouring out our hearts to each other. And he got right with God at home and came and stood and gave a testimony about it.

But to show you how backslidden we can get Tom used to go on his he's a longshoreman and at lunch hour. He'd go up he'd go uptown Seattle and stand instead of eating his lunch. He'd take the whole hour and pass out gospel tracks.

But he got backslidden. But he was still gonna pass out tracks while he was backslidden. And he went up there and he saw another guy standing on his corner passing out gospel tracks. You would think that a fellow would rejoice and say I'll go to the other corner what you miss I'll catch but that's not the way backslidden people operate.

You know what happened to him? He got mad at God and he says now God you've taken everything away from me. And now you take my corner away from me or I pass out tracks. He said I just won't pass out anymore.

Isn't that something? So God probably sent a Nazarene or a Pentecostal on that corner to pass out tracks that I'll show you. I don't need you. I Get somebody else to do it. Am I telling it right? God's no respecter of persons, you know, it just burns bad to stuff that somebody thinks of something before they think of it.

You know if weak as Baptist can invent revival so we can so we can copyright it we were going to do it. But until then we're not going to touch it. No matter who it comes through and I think God brings it through other people to humble us.

I'm glad it came to this church. I'm glad it came to my heart. We are more than conquerors through him that loved us, but you know what's wrong with us. We're more concerned about who brings revival than we are that it comes.

We're more concerned about which food truck the food is on than what the food is. We're more concerned about the spokesman than we are the word. Listen to Paul. Paul said some people preach Christ out of sincerity.

Some people preach Christ hoping to add affliction to my bonds. They do it out of contention. Now hear what Paul says. Some people preach Christ for phony motives. Some people people preaching for right motives.

Paul said I rejoice in both because Christ is preached. Do you get that? We haven't come that far yet. We think that if the guy doesn't dot the I and cross the T where we do then his message can't be right.

Death to Sin and Freedom Under Grace

But his message can be right. Last of all revival is a matter of death and life. I found in Romans chapter 7 and Romans chapter 6 what shall we say then shall we continue in sin that grace may abound.

God forbid how shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein? Know you not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death.

That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection.

Knowing this that Ken blue is crucified with Jesus. That the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth. We should no more serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Are you dead? How many of you dead tonight?

If you're saved you're dead. If you are saved you're dead. If you are dead, you're free. You're free. I'm gonna illustrate it and I'm through. I'm thankful that I had a few years In the backwoods of Arkansas so I can illustrate and talk about some profound truths that you folks can't understand.

But I do remember that my granddad took a baby a little calf one time. This calf kept running off and we'd have to go they'd have to go look for it. I'd tag along behind. I'm just a little boy but I remember my granddad took a rope and put it around that little calf's neck and tied it to the barn door and that calf would start running and He'd get to the end of that rope and his neck would stretch and his feet would go up and his belly would be sunward.

And down he'd go flat of his back. And he'd get up and he'd shake his head and he'd walk around and pretty soon he'd run again. He'd get to the end of that rope and it jerk his neck and down he would go and he did that repeatedly.

Until one day all he did was hang around the barn door so my granddad went over and took the rope off of his neck and that baby calf thought he was tied up all the time and He just hung around the door.

Now listen. The problem with many of us is the devil has had us tied up for so long as Christians. That we think that we're not free. We believe that we're still in bondage and if you think you are and believe you are you will be and in this text I just read here.

It says that that we died with Christ. Ken Blue died with Christ and My old man is crucified with him for He died that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth. We should not serve sin and I don't have to serve sin.

There's a world of difference in committing an act of sin and serving sin. You do know the difference, don't you? All right. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more death hath no more dominion over him.

For in that he died he died once. But in that he lives he lives unto God. Then he says likewise Just as Jesus died Once unto sin and was buried and rose again likewise. Reckon you yourselves also to be dead indeed unto sin.

But alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body. You see before you surrender your life to God you may be saved. But sin reigns it reigns in the form of bitterness it reigns in the form of pride.

But once you come to the place to where you realize that you've been set free and you'll accept that Liberty. Sin does not reign that you should obey it in the lust there neither. Yield your members as instruments of righteousness and this unrighteousness.