'Forget Miricales Preach Holiness'
Leonard Ravenhill emphasizes the need for genuine conversion and holiness in modern Christianity, calling for a return to the message of the new birth.
This sermon emphasizes the need for true, genuine conversion and a deep commitment to the cross, rather than just seeking emotional experiences or outward displays of spirituality. It challenges believers to die to sin, embrace purity of heart, and focus on what the Word of God says rather than the opinions of others. The message calls for a return to the core message of new birth and transformation.
Full Transcript
You go to one charismatic meeting, you've been to them all, you stand and sing for 30-40 minutes, we're trying to work something up and God has to send something down. I can remember, dear brother, when you went to a holiness meeting in England or or Pentecostal, there were more people at the altar before the service than after. I used to fear going when I was 14.
I used to go, my daddy used to take me to a Pentecostal meeting and the whole row of the people, and they'd be praying with energy and crying to God. One old man particularly would say, come Lord and walk in our midst. And I used to think, I hope he doesn't, because I'm scared to death he would.
But God used to come in the meeting. And then at the end, he didn't have to beg and sing emotional songs, there's room at the cross. I said, forget it, there's room on the cross.
Forget there's room at the cross. Get on the cross. And as Tozer said, a man going down the road with a cross, he knew one thing about him, he wasn't coming back.
Our people don't want to die. There's only two kinds of people in the world, those who are dead to sin and those who are dead in sin. And we're in one of the two.
In fact, you talked about victory, they laugh at you. Oh, you can't live in victory. Well, then why don't you be a Buddhist or somebody? What do you do with somebody that says, look, I don't just want to get sick, I want to be pure in heart.
You can't be pure in heart. Who says so? One of the latest books off the press says you can't. Who cares a hell of a thing? What does the word of God say? What did Jesus say to the bad woman that came to him? Go and sin less.
He says that to a woman who's been spending in immorality before the cross. What does Paul say? Let him that stole steal less. No study, it's cut off.
What we need in America, dear brothers, is more than ever, we need people to go forth with a new birth message. Forget all about tongues, forget all about miracles and signs and wonders in case they're not happening anyhow. Let's get back to real genuine conversion.
Why?
Sermon Outline
- I. The Problem of Charismatic Meetings
- A. Emotional singing and begging for God's presence
- B. Lack of genuine conversion and holiness
- II. The Need for Holiness
- A. Room at the cross for all
- B. The call to die to sin and be born again
- III. The Reality of Victory
- A. Living in purity of heart and spirit
- B. The power of God's word and the new birth message
- IV. The Call to Action
- A. Forget miracles and signs, focus on genuine conversion
- B. Preach the message of holiness and the new birth
Key Quotes
“Forget there's room at the cross. Get on the cross.” — Leonard Ravenhill
“A man going down the road with a cross, he knew one thing about him, he wasn't coming back.” — Leonard Ravenhill
“What does the word of God say? What did Jesus say to the bad woman that came to him? Go and sin less.” — Leonard Ravenhill
Application Points
- We need to focus on genuine conversion and holiness rather than emotional experiences and superficial faith.
- The new birth message emphasizes the call to die to sin and be born again, which is the key to spiritual victory.
- We should forget about miracles and signs and focus on the power of God's word and the new birth message.