This post is the second in a four part series exploring the message that fueled the Welsh Revival of 1904-1905. During this short period of time, revival swept through nearly every town on the Island of Wales and over 100,000 people came to faith in Christ.
A young preacher, Evan Roberts, stressed the following four tenets to his companions. As they began to personally do these, God used this group to help spread revival all over Wales. There is much to be learned from these tenets as we prepare for revival today.
Confess all known sin, receiving forgiveness through Jesus Christ
Remove anything in your life that you are in doubt or feel unsure about
Be ready to obey the Holy Spirit instantly
Publicly confess the Lord Jesus Christ.
In the last post we focused on confessing all known sin to God. Today let’s focus on the second tenet:
Remove anything in your life that you are in doubt
or feel unsure about
This is a step beyond confessing known sin. This is a decision to step as far away from sin as you can.
Many people defend their "right" to do something as a Christian. They try to get to the edge of sin without falling in. This is a dangerous way to live, yet many think they can "flirt" around with sin and not get into trouble.
Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?
Proverbs 6:27
Jesus taught us to be pray that we would not be "lead" into temptation. The behavior itself might not be sin, but will it lead you into a tempting, sinful situation? If so, get rid of it.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Matthew 6:13
Paul taught us that there are things that we may we feel have a right to do, but are not beneficial to us. Some of these things can actually sabotage you and your mission in the world.
You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is good for you. You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is beneficial. Don't be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. 1 Corinthians 10:23-24
Ask your self the following three questions:
Will this behavior lead me to sin?
Will this behavior lead a weaker Christian to sin if they copy me?
Will this behavior limit or harm my ability to influence people for Jesus?
If so, remove it!
This can include:
Relationships that pull you back to your old life
A "border-line" sinful book, song or TV program that makes you vulnerable to sin.
Videos you watch on your phone.
Conversations you have.
Certain places you drive by.
Certain clothing.
Unnecessary debt for things you don't need that will overwork you and pull you away from God's purposes.
Flirty conversations.
Using alcohol or other drugs.
Health Damaging habits.
The list goes on.
If in doubt and you have to continually "get around" God's Word on the matter- get rid of it.
Stay away from every kind of evil.1 Thessalonians 5:22 NLT
Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. 2 Timothy 2:22 NLT
A true revivalist does not have time to be weighted down with small things that are of no use to them They set it aside for the cause of Christ.
Soldiers don't get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. 2 Timothy 2:4
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us Hebrews 12:1
If you can't completely get rid of the tempting situation, it is important to have a plan in place before you get into it.
Think of it like this: How do you keep from wrecking on icy roads? First, avoid driving on them. But if you have no other choice, drive slowly and carefully. So what's your defense plan for dealing with tempting situations? Who are your partners that you can call or lean on for help? How can you call on the Power of God in that situation?
Personal Application
Ask the Holy Spirit to point out what needs to change. What is He making you feel "uneasy" about? What behaviors can lead you or others into sin? Tell Jesus that you will surrender that to Him and then walk away from it.
Review the "Works of the Flesh" from the last post. Confess and turn from any known sin that is in your life.
What known tempting situations will you have to work around?
Do you have strong prayer and accountability partners you can reach out to when you feel tempted or vulnerable? If no, what is your plan to develop these relationships in your life?