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Watch your video invitation to our Tent Revival/Cowboy Camp at the end of this article!

Old Fashion Tent Revival

Our annual tent revival at Fremont Baptist Temple is an exciting event and this year promises to be better than ever. We call it our Summer Spectacular because of all that takes place. We have two great preaching services every evening and spend the morning in a youth revival while we dedicate time to teens in the afternoon. Last year we began a western theme with an old fashion Sunday and transformed our VBS into Cowboy Camp with horses and many other features.

The most important feature of this week, however, is not the external excitement but what God is doing in the hearts of his people. That’s why preaching is the primary focus of this event!

As we approach revival each year, my goal as a pastor is to help prepare the hearts of our people to receive what God is planning on giving them during this tremendous week. What you are about to read is the printed summary of the message that was preached from the pulpit of FBT last Sunday. I trust that it will be a blessing to you as you seek personal revival. If you are within driving distance I would love to invite you to join us. A schedule of events can be found on our website at www.fremontbaptisttemple.com/cowboycamp.

Employment vs. Retirement

Typically, a person works till he is in his 60’s maybe 70’s then retires.  The Scriptures tell us the average life span is 70-80 years of age.

 ”The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” Psalm 90:10

So in this world we typically work and are productive for the majority of our lives, we retire and rest for a few years and then this life is over.  It seems that those who cease to be active after retirement do not last long. Those who find something to occupy their days live longer.  Even still for the average person, they work the majority of their lives before they rest from their labor.

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

God’s plan is different. We labor on earth for a relatively short time (80 years) and rest  eternally.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

What a great temptation exists to dwell on the wonderful truth found in the second half of Philippians 1:21. However, true revival begins when we emphasize and apply the first half of this verse with an understanding that the latter half comes later. In other words: Work before Retirement.

You will never find anything better than this. God promises us an eternity beyond comparison but expects us to work a few meager years first. Don’t misunderstand. We are not working for salvation but rather to please to One Who gave Himself for us. He owes us nothing and we can never repay the extreme sacrifice He made for us. Yet He still gives us the opportunity to make heaven even better by laying up treasures.

While we greatly rejoice in the first half of Philippians 1:21, today God wants us to focus on the first: “For me to live is Christ.” When we truly understand and apply these six simple words our lives will be characterized by revival.

What is the purpose of each breath you draw? Why does your heart beat just one more time?  Does God have a purpose for your continuing life? Paul thought so. Christ should benefit from each step I take, each word I speak and every action I commit.

If I truly want the excitement of revival in my life, I must ask if Christ is getting value from me. Does the cause of Christ benefit from my life? Does it make a difference that I am here?

Let us explore this thought through the acronym C-H-R-I-S-T and ask ourselves if we can say with Paul, “For me to live is Christ.”

 

 Listen Online: Reach for Revival.

 Courage /Commitment

We’re just gonna double dip on the letter “C.” These two words are inseparable. I don’t know how you can have one without the other. If Christ is destined to benefit from you life you need practice these two traits.

Let me tell you who I think is a wonderful example of this: Peter. I love to talk about Peter because he’s one apostle who didn’t seem to get it right all the time but God used him anyway. I’ve made tons of mistakes and sometimes I’ve had to second guess myself  and ask “Did I do the right thing?” I’m so glad that God doesn’t cast me away when I get it wrong!

When we read Matthew 26:31-35, we can hear the courage and commitment in Peter’s voice as he proclaims, “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.”

We all know that Peter was wrong….or was he? Yes, he did deny Christ three times that night and it is sure easy to pick on Peter for that. But have you considered that it was not God’s will for Peter to die that night? I don’t want to deny Peter’s failure but I sure do admire his intentions and we cannot forget that the story doesn’t end here.

Let’s move to John’s narrative. Find the last chapter (21) and reflect on Peter’s interview with the resurrected Christ. Move on past the “lovest thou me” portion for now. Listen to Christ as He confirms Peter’s previous proclomation.

“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.  This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.” John 21:18-19

What was He saying? He was telling Peter “You got it right. Your timing was just off. You’re not going to die for me when your young. You’re going to die for me when your old!”

Consider the following quote from Foxes Book of Martyrs.

“Among many other saints, the blessed apostle Peter was condemned to death, and crucified, as some do write, at Rome; albeit some others, and not without cause, do doubt thereof. Hegesippus saith that Nero sought matter against Peter to put him to death; which, when the people perceived, they entreated Peter with much ado that he would fly the city. Peter, through their importunity at length persuaded, prepared himself to avoid. But, coming to the gate, he saw the Lord Christ come to meet him, to whom he, worshipping, said, “Lord, whither dost Thou go?” To whom He answered and said, “I am come again to be crucified.” By this, Peter, perceiving his suffering to be understood, returned into the city. Jerome saith that he was crucified, his head being down and his feet upward, himself so requiring, because he was (he said) unworthy to be crucified after the same form and manner as the Lord was.”

Peter was indeed a man our courage and commitment? Are you?

Let me make this more practical. You may never be called upon to die for the cause of Christ. Even today, many do risk persecution, imprisonment, torture and martyrdom for their faith. Freedom of religion is not a world-wide value. You may or may not ever have to learn the answer to that question. But are you willing to live for Christ?

Those who won’t live for Him are not very likely to die for Him. Are you ashamed to be a witness (Romans 1:16)? Are you committed enough to live a separated life? Are you courageous enough to be different? How can we say that Christ benefits from our life when our commitment can’t even carry us to reading our bibles, attending church and being a soulwinner? Forget being a martyr. Let’s just do the basics.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1

 

Honor

Honor is more than lip service. Anyone can sing the hymns in church or praise the Lord with a “good hearty ‘Amen!’”

“Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.” Isaiah 29:13

Many people talk about how they love the Lord but their life doesn’t show it. Honor is more than what we say; its what we do. Throughout my years of ministry I have spent some time in counseling couples. When I sit across from a young lady with a black eye and busted lip and listen to her husband explain how much he “loves” her, I get sick. He has no concept of love. His actions don’t match his words.

So how can a Christian talk about their love for God while they live lives that bring reproach to His name? Honor is more than lip service it is life service. Listen to Paul admonish Timothy on this very subject.

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:19-21

Christianity is not a once a week event. It is more than a lifestyle that honors Christ. It is a complete world view that examines everything I do in the light of how it affects my walk with Christ. Does what I do today bring honor to Him.

Scott has been saved for about a year and a half. He would tell you that God changed him completely from what he was to what he is. Just yesterday, he told me about a “church” not far from us that is hosting an outreach called “Suds and Salvation.” The basic concept is to blend booze and the bible. How’s that for departing from iniquity? Events like this disgust those who have been delivered from such vices. They know that that lifestyle doesn’t honor Christ.

D. L. Moody once encountered a staggering drunk along the city streets of Chicago, who with slurred speech proclaimed, “Mr. Moody, I’m one of your converts.” To this Moody replied, “You certainly must be. You don’t appear to be one of the Lords.” Moody understood that a Christian life is suppose to honor his Savior.

I know people will argue that Jesus ate with publicans and sinners. True but he didn’t have a beer with them, He ATE with them. He entered into Matthew’s house, not the local tavern. God help us when we have to worship in the devil’s house! Jesus certainly does love sinners. He didn’t come to condemn but to redeem and when He saves us He changes us. Endorsement of sin in order to entice someone to get saved does not honor God. As Dr. Bob Jones use to say, “Its never right to do wrong in order to do right.”

But there are less blatant ways to dishonor Him. Perhaps your tongue. Gossip, dirty jokes, hateful speech and so forth does not bring Him glory. How about our entertainment. Do our viewing habits or musical choices bring honor or dishonor. We could discuss all types of scenarios that would displease the Lord. But what we should really ask ourselves every day is simply “Does the Lord profit from this activity?”

“For me to live is Christ.” Does you life honor Him?

 Reach

Let’s let the letter R is Christ represent our Reach. This is the theme God has chosen for Fremont Baptist Temple this year based upon Philippians 3:13-14.

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

Each month carries a sub-theme and this month we are challenged to Reach for Revival. As we consider this challenge we must be reminded that reaching isn’t always easy. We don’t have to reach for things that are close. We don’t have to stretch ourselves at all for things that are easy.

When Paul admonishes the church at Philippi  to reach, he is not speaking of attaining simply through human effort. However, he is telling us that it isn’t always easy. He is telling us that we have to be willing to stretch ourselves or at least allow God to stretch us. Our problem is that we have a tendency to hold back. We find our comfort zone and stay there. We like what we know and resist unfamiliar territory.

Christ does not gain from the status quo. A mundane, routine schedule does not produce revival. A man that really wants to make a difference for Christ must be willing to be challenged. In fact, he should seek it. He should ask for it. “God, push me to the limits.” No one ever succeeds by blending into the crowd. Champions push themselves beyond the limits. Will you ask God to take you to a place you’ve never been before?

If you want Christ to gain from your life, you must be willing to step outside of the box. Stay in the book but get out of the box!

 

Influence

“For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.” Romans 14:7-8

I once preached a series on leadership based on the premise that we are all leaders. Everyone is. Some are good leaders, some are bad. But we are all leaders. Someone is watching you. Your life affects others. The classic movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” starring Jimmy Stuart illustrates the difference one person makes. Even the most insignificant of us makes a difference. The question is not whether or not you make a difference but rather what kind of difference you make.

I’m not as concerned about the degree of your influence as much as the direction of your influence. Some people will make a big impact and others a small one. I would much rather see you make a small impact for Christ than a big impact for the devil. The question isn’t how many followers you have but rather where are your taking them?

Words carry great weight and power; more so than most realize. Every Christian should read the third chapter of James on a regular basis and apply its principles fanatically. Be careful what you say because words once spoken can never be retrieved. It has been said that you should be sure that your words are always sweet because you might have to eat them one day.

Social networking has dramatically increased the ability for the average person to influence others. Paul Chappell has written an excellent work on the pros and cons of venues like Facebook and Twitter (The Blessings and Pitfalls of Social Networking).

I find these venues to be a curse and a blessing at the same time. I enjoy the added opportunity to keep up with family (especially antagonizing my sister…in Christian and brotherly love), catching up with old friends and staying in touch with church members and preacher friends. I enjoy checking out photos and hearing the latest news or sharing prayer requests.

On the other hand, I promise you that if my wife and I have a disagreement at home, you won’t learn about it on Facebook.  I’m shocked at the things people post as their status that really belong in their private journals. Is it really necessary to tell the world your personal business? Why would you embarrass family and friends in a public forum rather than working it out at home? What message does this send? How is your influence being used for Christ?

We need to change WWJD to WWJP: What Would Jesus Post?

Does your influence profit the name of Christ? If you want revival you must reach for the right influence.      

 Soulwinning

Soulwinning is not the purpose of revival; it is the result.

Revival is for God’s people. You can’t be revived till you’ve first been vived.  Life cannot be restored where it has never been manifested. The entrance of life is called birth. The restoration of life is revival. We sometimes confuse evangelistic efforts with revival efforts. Both are necessary but each is unique. They go hand in hand but have a different focus. Revival is geared towards the saved and soulwinning towards the lost. Revived Christians always have a burden to reach the lost. When we are revived we instinctively understand Proverbs 11:30.

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”

When we comprehend “For me to live is Christ,” we understand that each soul won brings a return on Christ’s investment. Christ shed His blood and paid the price for sin, once for all. His price is no greater and no less based upon how many come to Him. His investment remains the same. Therefore value is added for every new believer who receives Him. A revived Christian wants the Lord to receive a greater return on His investment.

Would you choose to receive 1% or 10% on your investments? Would you choose 10% or 50%? If you could double it would you? If you are wise. It would be foolish to do otherwise. In the same fashion, we understand that there is wisdom in winning the lost to Christ!

I am a firm believer that every Christian should be involved in the organized soulwinning efforts of his church. You say “But I witness to family, friends and coworkers.” That’s great! You should. But that doesn’t replace the systematic effort that Christ comissioned the church to put forth.

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Christ taught systematic soulwinning. This means we should have a plan to reach our community. While I believe you should be a witness everywhere you are, this does not insure that you will reach your community. I like the old fashion idea of highlighting a map of your town and canvassing every street. Talk to those you can and leave a tract when you can’t. Use different techniques along the way. Do what you can. But have an plan to reach the entire community and work the plan.

I was talking over some great ideas with a preacher friend yesterday. Ideas like taking brownies and writing personal letters to new move ins is great. Last week we went on “horse to horse” visitation! My son and I, along with some helpers from our church, visited an apartment complex loaded with kids. Then we passed out flyers about our upcoming revival and Cowboy Camp.

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There is nothing you can do to bring greater gain to the cause of Christ than to be obedient in the matter of soulwinning. 

(Feel free to use the comment section to share what you have done to systematically reach your community through your church.)  

 

Testimony

Your reputation is what you convince people to believe about yourself. Your testimony is what you convince people to believe about Christ. Which is most important? Do you recall what John said?

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:3

It has been said that you are the only bible some people will read you are the only Jesus some people will see. Your testimony might be the closest some will ever come to hearing a sermon on salvation. They won’t walk through a church door, tune into Christian radio or read an article like this. They just watch your life. The see your commitment. They notice whether you honor Christ or self. They see your reach  feel your influence. The destiny of their soul may rest in your hands. It is your testimony that can make the difference.

Your testimony is the culmination of all that we discussed today. Not only does your testimony affect the lost but it will encourage or discourage the saints. Does your life lift or or tear down other believers? Your momentum has a draft that will pull others in your direction. Which way is that?

A testimony is sometimes frightening. Sometimes it means you accept a negative reputation in order to have a good testimony. Paul understood this and strengthened Timothy for the challenge.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” 2 Timothy 1:7-9

Your testimony might loose you friends. It could cost you prestige. But if Christ will gain, is it worth it? Are you willing to make that trade? Are you willing to decrease so that He might increase? Does Christ gain from your testimony?

Increasing Your Value to Christ

In the job market, experience should increase your value to your employer. As a believer you are employed by Christ. The longer you are saved the more valuable you should be to the cause. Every day my value to the cause of Christ should be more significant. Real revival is contingent upon me realizing that “for me to live is Christ.” The more this concept is real to me the more revived my life will be.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

What return does Christ receive on His investment in you? You could never repay Him for your salvation. It is impossible to match the priceless gift of the blood of Christs. We could never in all eternity afford the gift of eternal life through God’s Son. But we can give Him a return on His investment. We can give Him ourselves. We can present our bodies a living sacrifice. We can add value to the cause of Christ.

Will you?