Revival-and Renewal
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of having better Christians through revival, which requires personal involvement in Christ's death and resurrection.
The preacher delves into the meaning of 'firm' (stereos) in the Bible, emphasizing its significance as stable, steadfast, and solid like a foundation. This term is used to describe advanced or deeper doctrine, contrasting solid food for adults with milk. The sermon explores how believers are called to stand firm in their faith, resisting the devil and remaining immovable in their beliefs, akin to a military formation standing against the enemy.
Text
I hope some of you will agree with me that it is of far greater importance that we have better Christians than that we have more of them! If we have any spiritual concerns, our most pressing obligation is to do all in our power to obtain a revival that will result in a reformed, revitalized, purified church. Each generation of Christians is the seed of the next, and degenerate seed is sure to produce a degenerate harvest; not a little better than but worse than the seed from which it sprang. Thus the direction will be down until vigorous, effective means are taken to improve the seed. Why is it easier to talk about revival than to experience it?
Because followers of Christ must become personally and vitally involved in the death and resurrection of Christ.
And this requires repentance, prayer, watchfulness, self-denial, detachment from the world, humility, obedience and cross-carrying!
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Revival
- The Problem of Degenerate Seed
- The Barriers to Revival
- Talk vs. Experience
- Personal Involvement in Christ's Death and Resurrection
Key Quotes
“It is of far greater importance that we have better Christians than that we have more of them!” — A.W. Tozer
“Followers of Christ must become personally and vitally involved in the death and resurrection of Christ.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Christians must become personally and vitally involved in the death and resurrection of Christ for revival to occur.
- Revival requires repentance, prayer, watchfulness, self-denial, detachment from the world, humility, obedience, and cross-carrying.
- A reformed, revitalized, and purified church is the result of a genuine revival.