Prayer, Preparation, and Personal Revival 

Psalm 139:23-34

"Search me, 0 God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” 

CONFESSION OF SIN IS NECESSARY FOR FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND REVIVAL AMONG GOD'S PEOPLE.

 

One of the problems we face as Christians is that many people do not look at sin as being very bad.  Seeing it as high treason has revolutionized my thinking.  In other words, when a Christian is Christ-controlled, Christ is on the throne of his life.  Ego-self is dethroned.  When the slightest sin is committed, a thought, word, deed, or attitude, Christ is dethroned and ego-self is enthroned.  That is treason!  It is self-usurping the throne from Christ.  Because He is King of kings and Lord of lords, it is high treason. 

Perhaps this is one reason James could say, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10) It is not so much the sin that is bad, but the very nature of sin itself.  It is high treason. 

Prayerfully consider the following questions.  Go through these one by one.  Answer truthfully each question.  Every "Yes” answer means sin in your life. 

In reading these questions, as you are convicted of sin, confess it at once to God.  Be willing to make it right.  Then, you can claim cleansing and forgiveness.  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) 

Be sure to name your sin to God, such as, "Lord, I have not put Thee first in my plans," or "Lord, I have neglected Thy work and prayer."  Do not make the least excuse for sin of any kind in your life.  "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper but whosoever confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." (Proverbs 28.13) 

No matter what others do or do not do, leave nothing undone on your part.  God wants to work through you to bring about a great spiritual awakening.  He can begin by your fulfilling every requirement shown by the Lord through the Holy Spirit and His Word.  A revival from the presence of the Lord begins today, if you desire it. 

Read the Scriptures first.  Ask the questions.  Give a truthful answer... “Yes” or "No".  DO NOT go to the next question until you have settled the one at hand.  This is not to just be read but prayed through. 

1 Matthew 6:12-14

Is there anyone against whom you hold a grudge?  Anyone you have not forgiven?  Anyone you hate?  Anyone you do not love?  Are there any misunderstandings that you are unwilling to forget?  Is there any person against whom you are harboring bitterness, resentment, or jealousy?  Anyone you dislike to hear praised or well-spoken of?  Do you allow anything to justify a wrong attitude toward another? 
 
 

2 Matthew 6:33

Is there anything in which you have failed to put God first?  Have your decisions been made after your own wisdom and desires, rather than by seeking and following God's will?  Do any of the following in any way interfere with your surrender and service to God: ambitions, pleasures, loved ones, friendships, desire for recognition, money, and your own plans? 

3 Mark 16:15

Have you failed to seek the lost for Christ?  Have you failed to witness consistently with your mouth for the Lord Jesus Christ?  Has your life not shown the Lord Jesus to the lost? 

4 John 13:35

Are you secretly pleased over the misfortunes of others?  Are you secretly annoyed over the accomplishments or advancements of another?  Are you guilty of any contention or strife?  Do you quarrel, argue, or engage in heated discussions?  Are you a partaker in any division or parting spirit?  Are there people whom you deliberately slight? 

5 Acts 20:35

Have you robbed God by withholding His due of time, talents, and money?  Have you given less than a tenth of your income for God's work?  Have you failed to support the church either in prayer or in offerings? 

6 1^st Corinthians 4:2

Are you undependable so that you cannot be trusted with responsibilities in the Lord's work?  Are you allowing your emotions to be stirred for the things of the Lord but doing nothing about it? 

7 1^st Corinthians 6:19-20

Are you in any way careless with your body?  Do you fail to care for it as the temple of the Holy Spirit?  Are you guilty of intemperance in eating or drinking? Do you have any habits that are defiling to the body? 

8 1^st Corinthians 10:31

Do you take the slightest credit for anything good rather than give all the Glory to God?  Do you talk of what you have done rather than of what Christ has done? Are your statements mostly about “I"?  Are your feelings easily hurt?  Have you made a pretense of being something that you are not? 

9 Ephesians 3:20

Are you self-conscious rather than Christ-conscious?  Do you allow feelings of inferiority to keep you from attempting things you should do in service for God? 

10 Ephesians 4:28

Do you underpay?  Do you do very little in your work?  Have you been careless in the payment of your debts?  Have you sought to evade payment of your debts?  Do you waste time?  Do you waste the time of others? 

11 Ephesians 4:31

Do you complain?  Do you find fault?  Do you have a critical attitude towards any person or anything?  Are you irritable or cranky?  Do you ever carry hidden anger?  Do you get angry?  Do you become impatient with others?  Are you ever harsh or unkind?

12 Ephesians 5:16

Do you listen to unedifying radio or television programs?  Do you read unworthy magazines?  Do you partake in worldly amusements?  Do you find it necessary to seek satisfaction from any questionable source?  Are you doing certain things that show that you are not satisfied in the Lord Jesus Christ? 

13 Ephesians 5:20

Have you neglected to thank Him for all things, the seemingly bad as well as the good?  Have you virtually called God a liar by doubting His Word?  Do you worry?  Is your spiritual temperature based on your feelings instead of on the facts of God's Word? 

14 Philippians 1:21

Are you taken up with the cares of this life?  Is your conversation or heart joyful over things rather than the Lord and His Word?  Does anything mean more to you than living for and pleasing God? 

15 Philippians 2:14

Do you ever, by word or deed, seek to hurt someone?  Do you gossip?  Do you speak unkindly concerning people when they are not present?  Do you carry prejudice against true Christians because they are of some different group than yours or because they do not see everything exactly like you do? 

16 Philippians 4:4

Have you neglected to seek to be pleasing to Him in all things?  Do you carry any bitterness toward God?  Have you complained against Him in any way?  Have you been dissatisfied with His provision for you?  Is there in your heart any unwillingness to obey God fully?  Do you have any reservations as to what you would or would not do concerning anything that might be His Will?  Have you disobeyed some direct leading from HIM? 

17 Colossians 3:9

Do you engage in empty and unprofitable conversation?  Do you ever lie?  Do you ever exaggerate?  Cheat?  Steal?  Carefully consider: do you overcharge? 

18 2^nd Timothy 2:22

Do you have any personal habits that are not pure?  Do you allow impure thoughts about the opposite sex to stay in your mind?  Do you read that which is impure or suggests unholy things?  Do you indulge in any unclean entertainment?  Are you guilty of the lustful look? 

19 Hebrews 10:25

Do you stay away from the meetings of preaching of the Gospel?  Do you whisper or think about other things while God's Word is being preached?  Are you irregular in attendance at services?  Do you neglect to attend or participate in meetings for prayer?  Have you neglected or slighted your daily private prayer time?  Have you neglected God's Word?  Do you find the Bible and prayer uninteresting?  Have you neglected thanksgiving at meals?  Have you neglected daily family devotions? 

20 Hebrews 13:17

Do you hesitate to submit to leaders in the church or elsewhere?  Are you lazy?  Do you rebel at requests given to you to help in the work of the Gospel?  Do you in any way have a stubborn or unreachable spirit? 

21 James 1:27

Have you allowed yourself to become "spotted" by the world?  Is your manner of dress pleasing to God?  Do you spend beyond what is pleasing to God on anything?  Do you neglect to pray about things you buy? 

22 James 4:6

Do you feel that you are doing quite well as a Christian?  That you are not so bad?  That you are good enough?  Are you stubborn?  Do you insist on having your own way?  Do you insist on your rights?

23 James 4:11

Have you dishonored Him and hindered His work by criticizing His servants?  Have you failed to pray regularly for your Pastor or other spiritual leaders?  Do you find it hard to be corrected?  Are you more concerned about what people will think than what will be pleasing to God? 

If you have been honest and true in the matter of admitting your sins, then you are ready for

God's cleansing.  Sins that are admitted are sins that are confessed.  Remember these three things: 

1.  If it is a sin against God, confess it to God, and make things right with God.

2.  If the sin is against another person, confess it to God, and make the sin right with the other.

3. If the sin is against a group, confess it to God and make it right with the group.