Teaching Text: Matthew 22:34-40 NRSVUE,”34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, an expert in the law, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 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.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Altar - a table for making sacrifices or offerings to God.
OUR ALTAR IS A SIGNAL THAT SAYS LORD WE WANT YOU HERE.
When we choose to encounter God this is where God’s will begins to come alive in our lives.
WHAT DOES GOD WANT FOR YOUR CITY FROM YOU?
REVIVAL - an instance of something becoming important again.
IT FIRST MUST START WITH YOU AND GOD.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 NRSVUE,”26 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to abolish things that are, 29 so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30 In contrast, God is why you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
We are partners with God in revival.
1 Corinthians 13 NRSVUE “If I speak in the tongues of humans and of angels but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all my possessions and if I hand over my body so that I may boasta] but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.””
Aim to love EVERY PERSON you encounter to make use of EVERY OPPURTUNITY we have.
Matthew 5:43-48 NRSVUE,”43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
“There are rare Christians whose very presence incites others to be better Christians. I want to be that rare Christian.” - A.W.Tozer
Get broken for your city through reading about Jesus’s way in Gods word.
Luke 23:34 NSRVUE,”34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” 39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept degrading him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” 43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.””
We must AIM FOR RENEWAL not just for ourselves but for all people by TENDING THE FLAME SPIRIT WITHIN US and BURNING FOR REVIVAL and LIVING LIKE JESUS so that ALL PEOPLE KNOW THE LOVE OF GOD.
2. BURN FOR REVIVAL
Habakkuk 3:2,”O Lord, I have heard of your renown, and I stand in awe, O Lord, of your work. In our own time revive it; in our own time make it known; in wrath may you remember mercy.”
The ______________ lasted from 1906-1915 and began with a small prayer meeting that erupted into a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit, marked by speaking in tongues, healings, and spontaneous worship. It was a powerful demonstration of unity, breaking down racial, social, and denominational barriers. The revival welcomed people from diverse racial backgrounds—African Americans, whites, Latinos, and Asians—worshiping together. This unity was groundbreaking during a time of racial tension, social issues, and political divide in America. The revival emphasized that all believers were equal before God, focusing on the shared experience of the Holy Spirit. Its legacy continues to inspire unity within many other movements, promoting inclusivity and oneness among Christians across cultural and social divides.
”O Lord, I have heard of your renown, and I stand in awe, O Lord, of your work. In our own time revive it; in our own time make it known; in wrath may you remember mercy.”
