Introduction:
- Revival and revitalization is needed, and Jesus makes it very clear that what He wants revived is the Great Command and the Great Commission.
- We discover the great commandment in Matthew 22:35-40. “A lawyer asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
- The Great Commission is what Jesus told His disciples to do. Matthew 28:19-20). Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” This is discipleship with two parts, evangelism which is making disciples and baptizing them, and teaching them to observe all I have commanded you.
- The need is evident because we are not making disciples and not teaching the disciples we are making. Evangelical Christianity and The Southern Baptist Churches have been losing ground. We closed approximately 1000 churches last year. In the United States less than five percent of people who profess to know Christ are leading others to Jesus. There are not many Alabama Baptist making disciples of other believers. So, we need a revitalization of loving God and each other! We need a revival of doing the Great Commission and we need it quick.
- Just how do we have the revival we know we need? This is the greater question.
I. More of the Same will never work.
- We can shuffle around the organization but that will not generate revival in fulfilling the great command or great commission of Christ.
- The answer is not in a new program, new ways to worship, or a new way to share the good old story.
II. The answer is to listen to and obey Jesus!
- He said; “I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. [1] John 15:5. That sounds like revival to me.
- Christ said if we would abide in Him we would bare much fruit. Without Him we can do nothing but if we abide in Him we will produce much fruit.
- What is this fruit we will bare? It is the fruit of the Spirit! Galatians 5:22-23 ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
- Let me tell you that if you abide in Christ you will reflect the person of Christ as His Spirit lives in you, for you and through you. Jesus said if I be lifted up then I will draw all men unto me.
- When Jesus lived and walked among men those who met Him could not be neutral about Him. They either loved Him, followed Him or they walked away from Him or they wanted to get rid of Him.
- When the early disciples abided in Christ, people were being added unto the church daily.
- The fruit is a loving life like Christ, which results in people being saved from sin and discipled to abide in Christ. Matthew 28:19-20
III. The next question is how do we abide in Christ?
- First we must know Him as Savior and LORD.
- Next we must spend quality time with Him. We listen to Him. We have an ongoing conversation with Him. We worship Him. We walk with Him daily. We work with Him and we let Him work through us. We follow Him and we do what He tells us to do. That’s what it is to abide.
Conclusion:
- If there were more abiding in Jesus and Jesus abiding in us there would be a “Great Revival, a great Revitalization, and that will produce beautiful fruit, and abundant fruitfulness.
- Jesus gives us the invitation “Abide in Me” read John 15:1-11.
- Let the verses of Henry F. Lyte’s song be our prayer for revival and revitalization.
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.
I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.