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Sermon Illustrations > Repentance > Steps for Personal and Family Revival

Steps for Personal and Family Revival


From the Book of 750 Bible and Gospel Studies, 1909, George W Noble, Chica

1. Pray the prayer of the psalmist: "Search me, O 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" (Psalm 139:23, 24).

2. Be totally honest as you answer each question.

3. Agree with God about each need He reveals in your life. Confess each sin, with the willingness to make it right and forsake it.

4. Praise God for His cleansing and forgiveness.

5. Renew your mind and rebuild your life through meditation and practical application of the Word of God.

6. Review these questions periodically to remain sensitive to your need for ongoing revival. Genuine Salvation (2 Corinthians 5:17) Was there ever a time in my life that I genuinely repented of my sin? Yes □ No □ Was there ever a time in my life that I placed all my trust in Jesus Christ alone to save me? Yes □ No □ Was there ever a time in my life that I completely surrendered to Jesus Christ as the Master and Lord of my life? Yes □ No □ Is Christ lived out in my home and have I physically confessed Him Lord at home. Yes □ No □ God's Word (Psalm 119:97; 119:140) Do I love to read and meditate on the Word of God? Yes □ No □ Are my personal devotions consistent and meaningful? Yes □ No □ Do I practically apply God's Word to my everyday life? Yes □ No □ Do we as a family discuss God's Word often? Yes □ No □ Humility (Isaiah 57:15) Am I quick to recognize and agree with God in confession when I have sinned? Yes □ No □ Am I quick to admit to others when I am wrong? Yes □ No □ Do I rejoice when others are praised and recognized and my accomplishments go unnoticed by men? Yes □ No □ Do I esteem all others as better than myself? Yes □ No □ Do I rejoice when others in my family succeed? Yes □ No □ Obedience (Hebrews 13:17; 1 Samuel 15:22) Do I consistently obey what I know God wants me to do? Yes □ No □ Do I consistently obey the human authorities God has placed over my life? Yes □ No □ Do I consistently obey and honor my parents? Yes □ No □ Pure Heart (1 John 1:9) Do I confess my sin by name? Yes □ No □ Do I keep "short sin accounts" with God (confess and forsake as He convicts)? Yes □ No □ Am I willing to give up all sin for God? Yes □ No □ Do I repent and confess my sins to others in my family? Yes □ No □ Clear Conscience (Acts 24:16) Do I consistently seek forgiveness from those I wrong or offend? Yes □ No □ Is my conscience clear with every man? (Can I honestly say, "There is no one I have ever wronged or offended in any way and not gone back to them and sought their forgiveness and made it right"?) Yes □ No □ Is my relationship right with each family member? Yes □ No □ Do I go to bed at night with unresolved conflict with others in the family? Yes □ No □ Priorities (Matthew 6:33) Does my schedule reveal that God is first in my life? Yes □ No □ Does my checkbook reveal that God is first in my life? Yes □ No □ Next to my relationship with God, is my relationship with my family my highest priority? Yes □ No □ Values (Colossians 3:12) Do I love what God loves and hate what God hates? Yes □ No □ Do I value highly the things that please God (e.g., giving, witnessing to lost souls, studying His Word, payer)? Yes □ No □ Are my affections and goals fixed on eternal values? Yes □ No □ Are Biblical values reflected in my selection of music and T.V./movies? Yes □ No □ Sacrifice (Philippians 3:7,8) Am I willing to sacrifice whatever is necessary to see God move in my life and church (time, convenience, comfort, reputation, pleasure, etc.)? Yes □ No □ Is my life characterized by genuine sacrifice for the cause of Christ? Yes □ No □ Do I have a servant's heart at home? Yes □ No □ Spirit Control (Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 5:18-21) Am I allowing Jesus to be Lord of every area of my life? Yes □ No □ Am I allowing the Holy Spirit to "fill" (control) my life each day? Yes □ No □ Is there consistent evidence of the "fruit of the Spirit" being produced in my life? Yes □ No □ "First Love" (Philippians 1:21,23) Am I as much in love with Jesus as I have ever been? Yes □ No □ Am I thrilled with Jesus; filled with His joy and peace, and making Him the continual object of my love? Yes □ No □ How would others in my family view my love toward God on a scale of 1-10 Motives (Acts 5:29; Matthew 10:28) Am I more concerned about what God thinks about my life than about what others think? Yes □ No □ Would I pray, read my Bible, give and serve as much if nobody but God ever noticed? Yes □ No □ Am I more concerned about pleasing God than I am about being accepted and appreciated by men? Yes □ No □ Moral Purity (Ephesians 5:3,4) Do I keep my mind free from books, magazines, or entertainment that could stimulate fantasizing thoughts that are not morally pure? Yes □ No □ Are my conversation and behavior pure and above reproach? Yes □ No □ Do mom and dad approve of my friendships? Yes □ No □ Forgiveness (Colossians 3:12,13) Do I seek to resolve conflicts in relationships as soon as possible? Yes □ No □ Am I quick to forgive those who hurt or wrong me? Yes □ No □ Sensitivity (Matthew 5:23,24) Am I sensitive to the conviction and promptings of God's Spirit? Yes □ No □ Am I quick to respond in humility and obedience to the conviction and promptings of God's Spirit? Yes □ No □ Am I sensitive to my parent's desires? Yes □ No □ Evangelism (Romans 9:3; Luke 24:46,48) Do I have a burden for lost souls? Yes □ No □ Do I consistently witness for Christ? Yes □ No □ Prayer (1 Timothy 2:1) Am I faithful in praying for the needs of others? Yes □ No □ Do I pray specifically, fervently and faithfully for revival in my life, my church and our nation? Yes □ No □ How much time do we spend as a family in prayer? Yes □ No □