Temple Baptist Church - 9-7-2025
Psalms 85:6
Introduction:
A. Revival is so necessary in these days of bombardment by the wickedness and sorrow of this present world. These are physically “fat” days but spiritually “lean” ones.
1. There is so much out there to distract, defile, disappoint, and discourage the believer that “reviving” becomes a moment-by-moment necessity!
2. We must keep our hearts revived today. The world will not revive us as it is so out of touch with God.
3. We must also continue to be faithful to the house of God and to each other in these last days.
B. Thus, the importance of revival. Revival is a church thing, but even more importantly, revival is a very personal thing!
1. “That thy people” The message can certainly be applied to the entire church congregation; however, the Psalmist is talking to individuals.
2. Therefore, “That thy people” refers to the individual as well as the whole because it is the individuals that make up the whole. If either you or I get revived, we bring that revival to the whole as we exhort one another!
3. Revive – to revive, to repair, to restore. Because of the weakness of our humanity, rejoicing is usually an on-again, off-again thing. Up high in April and shot down in May!
4. We become caught up in what is happening instead of what has happened. The issue lies in the distinction between the laughter of happiness and the rejoicing of joy.
C. The word “rejoice” is found 258x in your Bible (rejoice, rejoiced, rejoicing). It is a word of great importance to God’s children because of the sorrow and hardships of this present evil world.
D. In Psalm 85, we find the Psalmist asking God to revive His people spiritually, not physically.
1. Revival is not singing, shouting, and praising God, though they can certainly be results.
2. Revival is not stewardship or soul winning, though they can also be results of revival.
3. Revival is not the reviving of our spiritual belief in and walk with the Lord, though these are results of revival!
E. “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?” Revival is rejoicing in the Lord!
1. Rejoicing In The Lord in the Instance - Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. (The word “always” is one instance at a time: good times, bad times, encouraging times, discouraging times, fat times, and lean times.)
2. Rejoicing In The Lord in the Distance - 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice evermore. (The word “evermore” speaks of a continuance for the duration of time.)
F. Here is the gist of Psalm 85:5. Because of our humanity, we allow our circumstances to dictate our rejoicing in the Lord. We know that God can do anything, anytime, and anywhere, but we allow our flesh to cause our rejoicing in God to wane.
1. God’s People Rejoiced in Poverty - Rejoicing is not always found in our circumstances - 2 Corinthians 6:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
2. God’s People Rejoiced in Persecution - Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. (12) Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
3. God’s People Rejoiced in Prison - Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
4. A lack of revival brings about a lack of rejoicing which is contrary to: Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
G. Rejoicing in the Lord:
1. We can rejoice because of the Lord’s Propitiation. If we cannot rejoice in salvation, then we will rejoice I nothing else. Keeping our salvation fresh is such an essential part of our thankfulness.
Christ Jesus took our place and forgave us all our sins. ALL OUR SINS! Not just part of them.
1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (The act of delivering from sin! Atonement: the final, eternal covering!)
Romans 5:10-11 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. (Atonement is an Old Testament truth as the animal sacrifices were a covering until the Lamb of God would come to take away our sin. This is the only place in the New Testament were the word “atonement” is used and it is preceded by the definite article “the” which means one of a kind! Salvation is not “do,” it is “done!”)
Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
2. We can rejoice because of the Lord’s Presence. Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, (lo means to behold, see, or understand) I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
I have someone with me to bear my heavy load. What load are we carrying that we need rest from? I rejoice in the fact that God is not only here with me, He is here for me, He is on my side.
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
3. We can rejoice because of the Lord’s Providence. Job 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
I do not know what tomorrow will bring but I know Who holds tomorrow and Who holds my hand!
Psalms 23:5-6 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. (6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
4. We can rejoice because of the Lord’s Provision. Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
I have a roof up above me, clothes on my back, food on my table, and everything I need and most of what I desire. God has been so good to Barbara and me. We have no complaints!
Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (32) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. (33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
5. We can rejoice because of the Lord’s Protection. Psalms 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
How many times has God protected you? How many times could you have been killed in an automobile wreck.
2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (And now are here.)
6. We can rejoice because of the Lord’s Promises. 2 Peter 1:3-4 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
There are many different numbers given by scholars concerning the number of promises in the Bible. Everett R. Storms, a Canadian schoolteacher, did a careful count over many years and recorded 8,810 promises in the Bible of which 7,487 promises are from God to man.
The old song says, “Standing on the promises of God!”
7. We can rejoice because of the Lord’s Peace. Isaiah 26:3-4 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (4) Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
I thank God tonight that I have peace with God through His Son’s finished work of the Gospel. But, I also have the peace of God in my heart. Do you have that available peace tonight.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Conclusion: Our spiritual state has much to do with our mental state, and our mental state has as much to do with our general outlook on life. As a “merry heart” doeth good like a medicine, a positive state of mind makes our outlook on life positive. God STILL controls everything, and He ALWAYS loves His children!
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