RUT TO REVIVAL - THE MOST DANGEROUS RUT
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion. CLICK HERE to find a discussion group. Enjoy!
Sermon Title: THE MOST DANGEROUS RUT
Main Scripture: Isaiah 1:12-20
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
Last week Pastor Ryan explained how dangerous being in a Spiritual rut is for our spiritual health and impact. But what is it that gets us into the Spiritual ruts but SIN? In fact, most ruts can be a consequence of our sin whether it’s a lack of trust in God or a lack of knowing God because we’re not abiding in the vine, Jesus. Pastor Coon shared how what seems like small, insignificant sins can desensitize us to falling into more serious sins for which we feel no remorse or conviction. We rationalize away our sins, yet it’s those very sins that keep us firmly in our ruts.
These sins grieve the heart of God whether we realize it or not. Like the Israelites, we come to church and worship but our disobedience bothers God and it ought to bother us. In order to experience revival, we have to get back to obeying the Bible. Obedience is key to getting out of any rut.
Notes:
This vision of Isaiah shows God’s heart and pain because of God’s people’s failures.
What is the greatest sin? Not murder, not adultery, not immorality! “Rejecting Christ is the greatest sin! It’s the one that separates us from God.
What is the second greatest sin? Disobedience! Refusal or neglect to obey God’s revealed will.
Sin is the most severe kind of rut we can be stuck in.
No one put us there but our own choices.
THE RUT OF SIN
Something is happening today that happened in Isaiah’s day. Isaiah 24:5
“The earth is defiled by its people, they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant.”
Statutes are “Mandate, rules, engraved permanently.”
God’s Word is His revealed will – his statues, his mandates, guidelines, and rules which are engraved permanently.
LUKE 17:26-36 “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting, and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just like those on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.”
If I walk in disobedience knowingly, I’m walking to my own demise on judgment day.
Willfully sinning will disbar me from Heaven.
Walking in obedience and brokenness and sorrows will be my entrance into Heaven!!
Falling into a sin rut is our issue to deal with.
How does this happen? One way! By becoming desensitized to the Holy Spirit. The “little” sins desensitize us to the point that it becomes easier to do something with more serious consequences.
This leads us to develop a lifestyle of disobedience – a daily norm where we become comfortable in our disobedience as a lifestyle.
A lifestyle of disobedience means we have become comfortable in our disobedience as a lifestyle.
WE ARE NOW SAYING WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG – NOT GOD.
This is a serious SIN RUT!
CONSEQUENCES OF LIVING A LIFESTYLE OF SIN:
In the Old Testament, some would sacrifice their children in the fire. While we are certainly not following that practice, but are we sacrificing or giving them over to things through our example?
To Technology
TV
Their friends
Their Views
Secularism
Inattentiveness
Lethargy
Complacency
Our children and grandchildren are watching, listening, and learning from our example. Our actions speak louder than our words.
Example of “Seat Belt Story”
If we are going to experience revival, we will need a ReBible first. When we walk in the Bible we will experience Revival – personally. And when we walk in personal revival, we will walk in revival corporately as a church. And God will turn our cities upside down!!
WHAT IS THE ANSWER TO ALL OF THIS TODAY?
If your Bible is worn your life won’t be torn.
Walk-in obedience… His Word!!
THE PRACTICAL LIST CHART
TAKEAWAYS:
Stop doing wrong; start doing right (Isaiah 1) “Wash and make yourselves clean. (Repent) Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”
Submit your WILL to the Word of God. Isaiah 1:19 “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land…”
God’s Word has all we need for life and godliness. Do what it says!! Philippians2:12-13 Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Discussion:
What stuck out to you from Psalm Isaiah 1:12-18?
What stuck out to you from the sermon?
How can we apply this message this week?
The most important decision you will ever make!
Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed we encourage you to say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!
