True Revival

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

Confession of sin is needful for close fellowship with God. Repentance from sin is necessary for a personal revival of our spiritual life. Below you will find a series of questions to help you think through areas of your life that may need cleansing. On reading these questions, as you are convicted of sin, confess it at once to God. Then you can claim cleansing and forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Prayerfully, meditate upon following Scriptures then consider and answer the questions which come after truthfully. Every "yes" answer means you are "missing the mark" in your life. "Missing the mark" (like an arrow missing the target) is the literal meaning for one of the Greek words (Greek - hamartia) for sin. When we sin, we miss the target. We fail to be all that we could be in Christ. We fail to know God's blessing - which He eagerly desires to give us.

Be sure to name your sin to God: "Lord, I have not put You first in my plans," or, "I have neglected Your Word and prayer." Do not make the least excuse for sin of any kind in your life. Refrain from making the least excuse for sin of any kind in your life. Proverbs 28:13 says "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."

As you are convicted of sin upon reading these questions, confess every transgression at once to God in prayer. With this, you can freely claim God’s cleansing and His complete forgiveness.

You may wish to write down the specific sins that come to mind as you read the questions. Then when you are finished praying to God for cleansing, tear the paper into bits and throw it away as a reminder that God does indeed cleanse you from "all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9b). Embrace the promise of Psalm 103:12: “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

No matter what others do, or do not do, dear Christian, leave nothing undone on your part. God wants to work through you to extend His kingdom on earth. He can begin by your agreeing with every requirement shown by the Lord through the Holy Spirit and His Word. Personal revival from the presence of the Lord can begin today - if you desire it.

Matthew 6:12-15: Is there anyone against whom you hold a grudge? Anyone you haven't forgiven? Anyone you hate? Anyone you do not love? Are there misunderstandings that you are unwilling to forget? Is there any person against whom you are harboring bitterness, resentment of jealousy? Anyone you dislike to hear praised or well-spoken of? Do you allow anything to justify a wrong attitude toward another?

Matthew 6:33: Is there anything in which you have failed to put God first? Have your decisions been made after your own wisdom and desires, rather than seeking and following God's will? Do any of the following, in any way, interfere with your surrender and service to God: ambition, pleasures, loved ones, friendships, desire for recognition, money or your plans?

Matthew 5:21-24 & Matthew 18:15-17: Have you failed to take steps to reconcile with your Christian brother or sister? Have you sinned against a brother (or sister) and you have failed to go to him and ask his forgiveness (Matthew 5:23)? Is there a Christian brother (or sister) who has sinned "against you" and you have failed to go to them (Matthew 18:15)?

Mark 16:15: Have you failed to seek the lost for Christ? Have you failed to witness consistently with your mouth for the Lord Jesus Christ? Has your life not shown to the lost the Lord Jesus Christ?

John 13:35: Are you secretly pleased over the misfortunes of another? Are you secretly annoyed over the accomplishments or advancements of another? Are you guilty of any contention or strife? Do you quarrel, argue or engage in heated discussions? Are you a partaker in any division or party spirit? Are there people whom you deliberately slight?

Acts 20:35: Have you robbed God by withholding His due of your time, talents and treasure? Have you failed to support Kingdom work either by service, prayer or giving? Have you robbed God by withholding the small amount He requires of time, service, and money? Have you given less than you ought to for God's work? Have you failed to support the weak either in prayer or in offering?

1 Corinthians 4:2: Are you undependable so that you cannot be trusted with responsibilities in the Lord's work? Are you allowing your emotions to be stirred for things of the Lord, but doing nothing about it?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20: Are you careless in any way with your body? Do you fail to care for it as the temple of the Holy Spirit? Are you guilty of intemperance in eating or drinking? Do you have any habits which defile the body?

1 Corinthians 10:31: Do you take the slightest credit for anything good about yourself, rather than give all the glory to God? Do you talk of what you have done rather than of what Christ has done? Do your statements begin mostly with "I"? Are your feelings easily hurt? Have you made a pretense of being something that you are not?

Ephesians 3:20: Are you self-conscious rather than Christ-conscious? Do you allow feelings of inferiority to keep you from attempting things you should in serving God? Do you put off doing things which Christ has called you to do because of feelings of inadequacy?

Ephesians 4:28: Do you underpay? Do you do very little in your work? Have you been careless in the payment of your debts? Have you sought to evade payment of debts? Do you waste time? Do you waste time for others?

Ephesians 4:29: Is your talk filthy or unwholesome? Do you curse and swear at others? Does your language include sexual innuendoes and snide remarks? After speaking with you do people leave feeling torn down rather than built up?

Ephesians 4:31: Do you complain? Do you find fault? Do you have a critical attitude towards any person or thing? Are you irritable or cranky? Do you ever carry hidden anger? Do you become impatient with others? Are you ever harsh or unkind? Are you a person of evil temper? Are you irritable or cranky? Do you ever carry hidden anger? Do your co-workers, subordinates, spouse or children fear your anger? Are you a brawler? Do you cut down others with your tongue? Do you slander?

Ephesians 5:15-16: Do you listen to unedifying radio or TV programs? Do you read unworthy magazines or web sites? Do you find it necessary to seek satisfaction from any questionable source? Are you doing certain things that show you are not satisfied in the Lord Jesus Christ?

Ephesians 5:20: Have you neglected to thank Him for all things: the seemingly bad as well as the good? Have you virtually called God a liar by doubting His Word that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him"? Do you worry instead of thank? Is your spiritual temperature based on your feelings instead of on the facts of God's Word? Have you neglected thanksgiving at meals?

Philippians 1:21: Are you taken up with the cares of this life? Is your conversation or heart joy over "things" rather than the Lord and His Word? Does anything mean more to you than living for and pleasing Christ?

Philippians 2:14: Are you a grumbler against God's will in your life? Do you cooperate with God in His salvation work or long for "Egypt" like the Israelites? Do you grumble against those who are your brothers? Do you gossip? Do you speak unkindly concerning people when they are not present? Do you have an argumentative spirit? Do you carry prejudice against true Christians because they are of some different group than yours, or because they do not see everything exactly like you? Do you ever, by word or deed, seek to hurt someone?

Philippians 4:4: Have you neglected to seek to be pleasing to Him in all things? Do you carry any bitterness toward God? Have you complained against Him in any way? Have you been dissatisfied with His provision for you? Is there any unwillingness in your heart to obey God fully? Do you have any reservations as to what you would or would not do concerning anything that might be His will? Have you disobeyed some direct leading from Him?

Colossians 3:9-10: Do you engage in empty and unprofitable conversation? Do you ever lie? Do you ever exaggerate? Cheat? Steal? Do you overcharge?

Hebrews 10:25: Do you stay away from meetings where you can be encouraged by God's Word and God's people? Do you whisper or think about other things while God's Word is being read or preached? Are you irregular in attendance at services? Have you neglected family devotions?

Hebrews 13:17: Do you hesitate to submit to leaders in the church? Do you rebel at legitimate requests given to you to help in the work of the gospel? Do you in any way have a stubborn or unteachable spirit? Do you help your leaders to do their work with joy?

James 1:19: Do you spend more time talking than listening to others? Do you find yourself thinking about what you are going to say next rather than listening? Do you blurt out rather than considering what you should say? Are you quick-tempered?

James 4:6: Are you proud? Do you insist on having your own way? Do you insist on your "rights" before God?

James 4:11: Have you dishonored the Lord and hindered His work by criticizing His servants? Have you gossiped about a Christian brother or sister rather than going to them directly? Have you failed to pray regularly for your spiritual leaders?

1 John 3:3 & 2 Timothy 2:22: Do you have any personal habits that are not pure? Do you read that which is impure or suggests unholy things? Do you allow impure thoughts about the opposite sex to stay in your mind? Do you indulge in any unclean entertainment? Are you guilty of the lustful look?

Once you have confessed your sins, ask God to fill You with His Holy Spirit, who will give you power to resist temptation and sin (1 Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 4:13; Ephesians 1:19-23; 2 Timothy 1:7; Romans 6:1-16).

Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have sinned against You by directing my own life. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ's death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
~ Psalm 19:12-14

- adapted from 'Preparation for Personal Revival' at Christian Women Today website