Why Is Genuine Revival Important for the Church in our Generation？
Alan Baker emphasizes that genuine revival is crucial for the modern church because it brings true repentance, heartfelt brokenness, and a renewed commitment to evangelism, reversing spiritual decline and drawing souls into God's kingdom.
This sermon emphasizes the urgent need for a move of God in the church, highlighting the decline in numbers, lack of true revival, and the importance of individuals turning to God wholeheartedly. The speaker expresses concern over the diminishing sense of holiness, evangelism rates, and the absence of tears as a sign of brokenness and repentance. True revival is described as a transformation of lifestyle leading to a dedicated life of service to the Lord, with a focus on bringing the lost into the kingdom of God.
Full Transcript
I think everybody knows that as they go into churches, they see the churches getting smaller and smaller numerically. We are dying. We are slowly dying.
And so we need to have a move of God. The fact that we are dying, and less people come in the kingdom of God, and less following wholeheartedly after God, less sense of holiness, we need a sovereign move of God. And also, the barometer for any true revival is individuals coming to the kingdom of God.
That is becoming an abnormality in the church in the West. I travel quite a lot and speak in different places, and some churches I find there's very few individuals coming to the kingdom each year, which breaks my soul, breaks my soul. And if I feel that, how much does the heart of our Heavenly Father see that? And also, because less than 3% of the church in the West is evangelising.
If we don't evangelise, we don't reach out, how can we see revival? Because revival essentially is souls coming into the kingdom of God. There's repentance, there's a turning around, and there's a rededication. Often we have revivals and we say that's a rededication to God.
I don't really believe that's a true revival. A true revival is individuals turning from their lifestyle and then coming into the kingdom of God, repenting and living a life wholeheartedly and committed to serving the Lord. That's revival.
And often the seabed for revival is tears. There's a brokenness, there's a rendering of the heart. And that's another thing we don't see in the church in the West.
There's very few tears. Often we have sermonettes, we have organised plans, but very few tears. And tears are the seabed for revival.
We need to be aware of our condition, and as we're aware of our condition spiritually and bring that before the Lord, then he changes us and makes us into his image. And what's the purpose and mission of Christ? It is to see those who are lost but in the kingdom. So that's why I believe revival is important, particularly in the West.
And there's a falling away as well. There's a falling away which is becoming a worldwide phenomenon. And so we need to be aware of that.
And more people being born, so less people coming to King God, so we definitely need a move of God.
Sermon Outline
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I
- The church is experiencing numerical decline and spiritual dying
- A sovereign move of God is urgently needed
- True revival is marked by individuals coming into the kingdom
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II
- Evangelism is critically lacking in the Western church
- Revival requires repentance and wholehearted commitment
- Rededication alone does not constitute true revival
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III
- Brokenness and tears are the foundation for revival
- The church lacks genuine sorrow and broken hearts
- Awareness of spiritual condition leads to transformation
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IV
- The mission of Christ is to bring the lost into the kingdom
- There is a worldwide falling away threatening the church
- A move of God is necessary to reverse these trends
Key Quotes
“The barometer for any true revival is individuals coming to the kingdom of God.” — Alan Baker
“Often the seabed for revival is tears. There's a brokenness, there's a rendering of the heart.” — Alan Baker
“If we don't evangelise, we don't reach out, how can we see revival?” — Alan Baker
Application Points
- Commit to personal and corporate evangelism to bring more souls into the kingdom.
- Cultivate a heart of brokenness and repentance as the foundation for revival.
- Regularly assess and confess the spiritual condition of yourself and your church community.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main sign of true revival according to Alan Baker?
True revival is indicated by individuals turning from their lifestyle, repenting, and coming into the kingdom of God with wholehearted commitment.
Why does Alan Baker believe the Western church is in decline?
He observes fewer people coming to faith, less evangelism, and a lack of genuine brokenness and repentance in the church.
What role do tears and brokenness play in revival?
Tears and brokenness are the foundational emotional and spiritual conditions necessary for revival to take root.
Is rededication the same as revival?
No, rededication alone is not true revival; revival involves a deeper turning to God and lifestyle change.
How can the church see a move of God?
By increasing evangelism, fostering genuine repentance, and cultivating brokenness before God.