Revival and Preaching the Word

Richard Owen Roberts

(For those you unfamiliar with Roberts, he is one of the most prominent, living experts on biblical and historic revival. His quote is the one that I often use: "If revival came to America, the response would be clear: millions of church-people would be saved.")

Summary: Roberts calls pastors who have a heart for revival to preach the Word, not out of or about the Word. True revival, according to Roberts, springs from the fire of the Word as it breaks people in their heart-heartedness

2 Timothy 4:1-8

• Every Lord's Day people are being injured by preaching that is not faithful to the Word
  
• Amos 8:11 – a famine of hearing the Word of the Lord
  

Two Kinds of Revival:

• Word Based (Protestant Reformation, 1^st Great Awakening -1732-1770, 2^nd Great Awakening – 1792 - ?)
  
• Experience Based (3^rd Great Awakening 1857-1859)
  

 

Three Reasons why a Word-based revival is preferred?

1. Converts of experience-based revival tend to fall away with a far greater frequency

2. Word-centered movements last longer

3. The impact of experienced based revival is slight; the impact of word-based is deep

Conclusion: We need a reformation of revival – the powerful preaching of the Word through the power of the Spirit

 

Paul's Instructions to Timothy:

 

1. A Solemn Charge (4:1)

- God the Father and God the Son are called as witnesses

- Judgment is on the line

 

2. A Solemn Command (4:2)

- It is possible to preach from and about the Word without preaching THE Word

- How to know?

    Jer 23:29 – "Is not my Word like a fire and a hammer?"

    When you preach, is it like fire from heaven?

    Heb 4:12 – The Word is quick and powerful

    Does your message quicken people?

    Do you see people cut by the word?

    The nature of the Word is to create exposure – to be discerning

    1 Peter 1:23 – when was the last time you watched someone come alive under your preaching?

 

3. A Solemn Consistency (4:2)

- Preaching in season and out of season

Key Words: Reprove – correction of error, Rebuke – willing to honestly deal with sin, Exhort – a calling to turn

 

4. A Solemn Concern (4:3-5)

- It is possible to entertain our people

- Some preachers are so concerned about being liked and loved that they end up tickling the ears of their people

 

5. A Solemn Calling (4:5)

- there should be a sober-mindedness since we are carrying an important message for an urgent time

- there is so great a cost for those who carry this burden. This is not a task for the faint-hearted

- a calling to finish well

 

May we finish with power, grace, and glory to God!