Revival Starts Here: Search Me, Change Me, Send Me

Lord, today we look back, we can see in history that God, you have done some mighty moves. There have been moments where it is clear it's not about any man. It's not about any church or denomination. It is all about you. That you receive the humble heart that's hungry and goes after you. Yes, Lord. It's not about credentials. It's about a surrendered heart. welcoming the fullness of who you are, taking you at your word. Jesus, you promised that we should receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, that we would be your witnesses. And that's what we want right now. We want your power. We want your power to change lives. We want your power to give hope. We want your power

to heal. We want your power to even resurrect the dead. Lord, today I I say start with me, God. Lord, let your power, the person of who you are, Holy Spirit, revive us again. Renew us, Lord, that our eyes would be fixated on you, the helper, the comforter, the creator God. Nothing is too hard for you. So I ask it, Lord, revival, let it start here today, right now. God, we love you. We bless you. We [music] thank you.

God, we're asking for a move in this region. We're contending for Central Oregon to be saved. God, would you draw hearts to you? Holy Spirit, would you move? God, would you make dry bones come alive in the name of Jesus? Jesus, you are the lifegiver. Abundant life is found in you and you alone, God. So draw hearts to you, Jesus. May people find life in you and you alone. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you. You are the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. You are the author of our stories. You are our creator, our redeemer, our sustainer.

God, light this church on fire. Light this city on fire for you. May our family and our co-workers and our neighbors and our friends and our schools, God, know who you are. Thank you, Jesus. Lord, I thank you for Kara's prayer as she just even reminds us that let let our heart align with yours that we would believe a revival in our schools [music] as the enemy has sought to destroy that which you love so precious little children, the least of these, the fragile. We say, Lord, let there be revival in Bend, Oregon, in our schools.

Let it be in our schools. Let there be a spirit of boldness upon those that believe in you, God. Let them share who you are, the gospel, the good news, the light of Jesus Christ. God, I'm proclaiming right now revival in every area from our families, from our neighborhoods, from the workplace. [music] God, may we have a heart like yours. May we may we long and yearn for the lost to be found. God, may we align our hearts with yours, Lord, to bring as many as we can to heaven with us, Lord. May we believe in the fullness of who you are. May our hearts break for what breaks yours, God. May Central Oregon be saved, God. May we not be be okay with the way things are, Lord. May we be a people that repent and run after you.

Fill us with the power of the person of the Holy Spirit. God, may our lamps be filled with oil. Let us not get so distracted with the mundane that we forget that Jesus, you're coming soon. The spirit and the bride say, "Come, Lord. Come. Come, Lord Jesus. Come. Let your church be ready. Come, Lord Jesus. Come. Let [music] us see it." And Lord, I'm praying that it wouldn't just be one day or someday. I'm praying for a revival today. Today. [music] Today. Would you disrupt the plans of the enemy today? Lord, would you break up the ordinary? God, would you just shift right now in the atmosphere that we would have expectation that God, you could do more right now? You could do more right now than I can ask or think

or imagine. God, may we long for what you long for. A right relationship just as Jesus, you and the father were one. May we be one with you, Lord. May we encounter and experience the same thing you did. May all of the sick be [music] healed. May every person afflicted with demons be set free in the name of Jesus. May we declare this region yours. Your kingdom come. Your will be done. We demand the enemy to to cease to flee. We rebuke the enemy right now in the name of Jesus Christ. Even in this moment, in this room, every distraction, every doubt, every confusion, be gone in the name of Jesus Christ.

Instead, we invite you, Holy Spirit. You're supreme over all. Would you anoint this time now that we would see you and respond? And the only [music] response when we see you clearly is revival. Yes, Jesus, you came that we might have life and have it abundantly. So, I'm asking for a resurgence of that, a reigniting of life abundantly. Bring dead hearts alive today in Jesus' name. Wake up the spiritually sleeping. [music] May the church not be apathetic but on fire for you. In Jesus' name, I ask these things. [music] In Jesus' name, we align with the church and we

say, Jesus, you are the head. [music] We are the body. In Jesus name, we give you authority today to have your will and your way. Jesus, you [music] said you would build your church. We can't do it. You You're the one building it. [music] The gates of hell shall not prevail. We take the keys of your kingdom today and we operate in the fullness of who you are and say from this day forward, we will not stay the same. [music] We will continue and we will see your kingdom come and your will be done right here on earth as it is in heaven. So we start with your daily bread. Lord, give us this day our daily bread. Man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from you, the Lord. I pray for just a releasing of [music] forgiveness today. Lord, may we forgive anyone that's caused an offense in our hearts and let us be set free as we understand you have forgiven us.

In Jesus name, I ask these things today. In Jesus name, somebody shout, "Amen." Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Praise be to God. Amen. Oh, Kara, my knees are weak now. Praise God. Praise God. Oh, glory to God. Come on, somebody. Hey, uh, we're going to get ready to receive the word today. I want to just ask you a question in my heart to yours. What if God answered that prayer for revival? What if God answered our prayer for revival? And I actually mean that. What if God answers our prayer for revival? And what if it's not the way we think it would look? What if God asks us to start with changing ourselves?

Because I can see the vision of revival in Bend. I'm a big dreamer. I'm a vision caster. I believe God's best over this region. I believe revival can happen in Central Oregon and that central Oregon shall be saved. I can see the multitudes of people believing in Jesus. I can see so many people set free from addiction that there are no longer a need for rehab centers in central Oregon. I can see so many people being healed that the doctors don't know what to do that they actually start reaching out to the churches. I I I can see it. I can see families restored. I can see it because I've experienced it. My father walked out on our family when I was 2 years old. My my mother

never got remarried because she was hurt so badly by men in her life. I never grew up in church. But at 16 years old, Jesus changed my life. And because of Jesus, I did not need to perpetuate abandonment in my family because God gripped my heart. I get to take him at his word. The last words in the Old Testament tell us the proclamation of what happens when Messiah comes. Malachi 4. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers. He's done it. I love my kids and my kids love me.

And I prophesy that this region will be known for fathers repenting and running to their kids and asking for forgiveness and children forgiving their fathers. I can see it because Jesus shows us when he came to this earth, he says, "If you have seen me, you've seen your father in heaven. I and the father are one. I don't do anything that the father doesn't tell me to do. So if you want to know your father in heaven, just look no further than Jesus. He shows us that we can have a right relationship with God through your father in heaven. Doesn't matter what family you were born into. Doesn't matter your past, what was done to you, or even all of the mistakes you've done.

Jesus when he steps onto the scene in Matthew 4:17 he preaches a message he proclaims the message of who he is and he says repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand the kingdom does not need to wait for someday another day you don't have to wait to get to heaven to experience heaven the kingdom can happen right now the kingdom is Jesus is the king and he has a way of living he has an authority of this world and he is the kingdom. So when you believe in Jesus and you operate under his authority, the kingdom is here. It's at hand. How do you get the kingdom? Jesus says, "Repent." Repent.

The most amazing word. The gospel could be summarized in one word, repent. Repent in itself just means to turn. When Jesus says repent, he says turn to God. Now, if that word has any negative connotation in your world, maybe through man, maybe through church hurt, maybe through what TV has said about that word repent, may I restore it to you. Because Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." So Jesus only tells the truth. And when he says repent, he's given you an opportunity to experience his kingdom. Repent means turn to the Lord. Some of us have a misunderstanding of this word that it's a a remorse. It means to be sorry for what we've done. That's not repentance because you could go right back to what you've been doing.

So if you're just sorry for your sins, if you're sorry for the wrongs you've done, if you're just sorry for living your life in apathy, if you're just sorry for something, that's not repentance. Repentance means you turn to God and you get God. Repentance means you turn to a God that's completely good. Repentance means you turn to a God that's completely kind. Repentance means you turn to a God that loves you. Repentance means you turn to a God that forgives you. Repentance means you turn to a God that restores you. Repentance means you turn to a God that resurrects the dead. Repentance means you turn to the God that made you that has a plan for you. And repentance means now you get to fulfill his purpose in your life. Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. This is revival.

Repentance removes everything the enemy tries to discourage, distract or deceive us. Because the kingdom means nothing is impossible with God. Blind eyes can be open. Deaf ears can be open. Cancer can disappear. a generation like ours can discover that Jesus is alive and boldness can be produced in our hearts that we are unashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And I want that revival for our kids. I want that revival for our city. I want that revival for our state. This is not something that we can vote into.

This is not something a sermon can do. Not even a conference can do it, but the Holy Spirit can. And there is a prayer that we have to pray before we pray for our city, for those who are hurting, before we pray for those who are lost. We have to say, Lord, start here. Lord, start here. Start here in my heart. Start here in my thoughts. Start here with my words. [snorts] Start here with my time. Start here with my finances. start here with my future. If I don't surrender my life to the Lord, why should I ask anyone else to do that? If I haven't been revived, why should I ask God to do it with someone else when God wants to give us the fullness

of his kingdom? And is it possible that what we're praying for is only being stopped by simply our hearts not being fully surrendered? And we can pray day and night, week and month after year, even decades, saying, "Lord, change our city." But have we really said, "Lord, change me." [music] The title of today's sermon is more than a title. It's a prayer. It's a declaration. And I want you to memorize this. I want you to write this down. I I want you to remember what this looks like. Revival starts here. Revival starts here. Could Could you put your one hand over your heart? Just put one hand over your heart. Would you say that with [music] me? Revival starts here.

That's what we're going to look at today. Revival starts here. The reality of any revival is that it starts in the hearts of those that hear the word of God and respond to the word of God. In Psalm 139, we have this song that so boldly prays that God would have access to everything. Psalm 139 says, "Search me, oh God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts and see if there is any," someone shout, "any any grievous way in me. And lead me in the way of everlasting." That prayer gives access to God to every area that we've been protecting, to every area that you've you've said,

"God, you can't have this because I'm ashamed. I'm afraid. What if what if it gets exposed? What if somebody sees this? What happens if I go fully allin? What if I become a Jesus freak? Search me and find any grievious ways of saying, "God, I give you every cavern of my heart, my past, my present, and my future." Because if I really believe God is God, his path forward is everlasting. He's not a God of burden. He's not a God of shame. He's not a God of guilt. He's not even a God of condemnation. Romans 8:1, there's therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. He is a God of everlasting life. So when I give my whole heart to God, revival is no longer about me. It's all about Jesus.

He's the one that revives me. He's the one that shows me true life. It's all about Jesus. It's giving God access to everything. It's the surrender of all that I am. I can't hold back something. It's not a a following Jesus on Sundays. It's believing God every day. I want to spend most of our time today in the book of Acts. It's in the New Testament. It tells the story of how the church got started. [music] And in the early church, you see revival, but you also see resistance. And I'm believing that what God did before, he'll do it again. I'm believing that what we see in the cities in the book of Acts, God can do right in our city. Because the same God that moved then is the same God that can move now.

And it's not something we have to stir, manufacture, or even manifest. We have to see that it's Jesus that does it. In Acts chapter 3, when Peter and John go to the temple to pray, they meet a man who had been lame from the day he was born. He he was unable to walk. Day after day, he had to beg just to to to seek provision for his life. He was limited by his disability. And in Acts chapter 3, Peter proclaims to this man, "In the name of Jesus Christ, get up and walk." And this man went from staying on a mat to revival. He walked. He didn't just walk, he leapt.

And as he went into the temple, crowds were coming around wondering, "How does this man walk? Where did this miracle come from? And Peter points all of them to the fact that it wasn't man that did this. It was Jesus. Jesus did this. Jesus is the one that made this man walk. And Peter's response in Acts 3:19 says, repent. The same message of Jesus. Repent therefore and turn back from your sins. Turn back that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for [music] you. Peter's message to those who witness that miracle that day was repent.

Because there's an even greater miracle that you can be forgiven of every one of your sins in the name of Jesus today. You can be set free from every single sin in Jesus name. He died on the cross for every sin. Turn to him. Turn to him. And when you do, he says, here's a sign of revival. Refreshment. There's a refreshing that comes from the presence of the Lord. This is how you know you have the spirit of the living God. It's refreshing. You come in empty, you leave refreshed. You come in burdened, you leave refreshed. You come in uncertain with fear of your future, you leave refreshed. That's revival. And Peter says, "It's this Jesus that when you repent, when you turn to this Jesus, not only are you

forgiven, you get the refreshment of revival and you could be certain of this. He's coming again soon. He's coming. Turn back to God because he's real and he's coming." And this is where we begin today because as we prepare for kingdom conference, I don't want to wait for the kingdom conference for revival. I want revival to start here. Before you invite anyone else into this room, I want you to know why you're inviting it into the room. You've experienced revival. And I'm believing that these few days that we'll experience this week will mark our church in such a way that it's not a conference. There'll be some children who are called into ministry as pastors, preachers, evangelists, missionaries. Some of you will be marked in such a way where you thought maybe

you missed God's call in your life, he's going to restore the days ahead. You're going to be marked in such a way that what the devil stole, God's going to restore and he's going to do it a hundfold. You're going to get a glimpse of God this week in such a great way. But I don't want you to wait till Thursday. I want you to know that the God that's there on Thursday is right here today as well. And before we bring anyone else into this building, can we just say it? Start with me. Revival starts here. So, I've got three prayers for us today. Three prayers that will change our lives. Three prayers. [music] Search me. Change me. Send me. This is revival. Search me. Change me. Send me. Could you say that with me?

Search me, change me, send me. If you pray this prayer, you cannot stay the same. So, Holy [music] Spirit, open up your word to us today. Expose what needs to be exposed. May we have the boldness to surrender our all to you and experience the fullness of what you have. May this city never be the same because revival starts right here in our hearts. Thank you for your love for us [music] that we can come as we are, but I thank you so much that you don't leave us the same. May we [music] leave forever changed today in Jesus name. Amen. Someone shout, "Search me. [music] Search me." This is a dangerous prayer because you're giving God access to everything. [music] And when you do, everything can change. In Acts chapter 1, Jesus gave a promise after the resurrection before he ascends into heaven. He said, "You shall receive

power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you." And he he takes those believers and he says, "Go to Jerusalem and wait." He ascends into heaven. And as they're staring into heaven, the angels come back and say, "What are you staring at? Didn't he tell you to go wait?" And they go to Jerusalem and they're in an upper room. The Bible tells us at the end of chapter 1, there's 120 men and women. And they're simply doing what we're doing on a day like this. They're worshiping. They're they're praying. They're in one accord. It's all about Jesus. And in just one moment on this day of Pentecost, a feast of the Jews, there was a sound of a mighty rushing wind. There was the sign of tongues of fire upon their heads. And there was the utterance of tongues. There were different languages spoken. And as Jerusalem was swollen with people from all over the world, they were hearing their own languages from these 120 because the Holy Spirit had been poured

out on the believers and the church was born. And those who witnessed the power, the authority of the kingdom were confused that day. But we do not have a God of confusion. You go to God's word and Peter stands up and he preaches Christ crucified that he died for our sins but he's not dead although he was buried on the third day he rose from the grave. And this Peter in Acts 2:36 says, "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." Peter does not leave us lingering wondering if like the the the Muslim faith declares in Islam that Jesus is just a prophet. He's not just a prophet. He is Lord and Christ.

Peter leaves us with the reality that Jesus is not just an inspiring good teacher. He is Lord and he is Christ. Christ means he's Messiah. He's the chosen. He's the anointed one. And as he's preaching this message of Jesus crucified, risen from the grave, Lord and Christ, those who were hearing that day, he says in verse 37, when they heard this, they were cut to the heart. That's what the word of God does. It cuts right to the heart. They were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" This is the moment when we give God access, his word gets into our heart and we realize we can't stay the same. When God's word gets into our hearts, we are no longer the same. Like a sword that enters in, God's word cuts to the heart.

Revival is not my friends need to hear the word of God. Revival is not I hope my spouse hears this message. Revival is not I hope my kids who are far from God hear this message. Revival is what do I do? Start with me. What what shall we do, Lord? When we hear the truth, there's a conviction. And Peter's response is the same message of the gospel. Here it is. Acts 2:38. Repent. Everyone shout repent. [music] Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Repentance means turning to God from our sins to him. It means in obedience, I'm no longer going to stay the same. The

baptism here is a reference to water baptism. Jesus says to his followers, "Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them all that I've commanded." And Peter says, "You just do what Jesus said to do. You get baptized. We're going to have baptisms next Sunday." If you've never been baptized, whether you've been a new believer for a few days or for 40 years, if you've not been baptized, you [music] have an opportunity for repentance. Can you get to heaven without being baptized? If you have believed in Jesus and asked for the forgiveness of your sins, of course you can. But you're living a life of disobedience. You're living a life without revival. Something really happens when you take Jesus so seriously. [music] You actually start doing what God's word says to do.

You don't question whether or not you yield or you go this way or that way. I'm doing what he says to do. Whether I feel it, whether I understand what's going to happen, I'm going after God with absolutely everything. It has to change cuz it's no longer about me. It's all about say it Jesus. So the prayer is search me. Search me. And when you find any area of your life that's not right, here's some good news. It's not about you. When Isaiah comes into the presence of God in Isaiah chapter 6, he says, "Woe is me, a man of unclean lips. I've been with people who are unclean." And God doesn't say, "Well, Isaiah, I need you to go get your life right first before you come into my presence." Nope. God made Isaiah clean.

And when you give God access, he will make your lips clean. He will make your life clean. [music] And won't be about something you did. He's already done it for you. And his name is Jesus. And when you recognize he's just been waiting patiently for you to actually go allin, [music] I'm not talking about a Sunday Christian. I'm not talking about acting like a Christian. [music] I'm not talking about looking like a Christian. I'm not talking about reposting something saying you're a Christian. I'm simply saying you say, "Search me, God." And if there's something there that shouldn't be there, I'm going to take you at your word that God, at your kindness that's meant to lead to repentance, thank you for not wiping me off the face of the earth because I've been a liar. I've been a fraud. I I've been apathetic. I've been spiritually asleep. I've actually been spiritually dead. So today, I repent and I thank you for your kindness.

So, Holy Spirit, what have I been defending, protecting, stopping from surrendering fully to you? Is there someone today that you need to forgive? Is there something you need to confess? Is there something you need to get rid of? Is there something that you've been dishonest with? And and here's the deal. When you pray the prayer, "Search me." The Holy Spirit loves you so much. He's going to tell you what it is. It might sting a little, might hurt a little, might be a little embarrassing at first, but I've got good news for you. We have a kind God. We've got a gentle God. We've got a loving God. We've got a God that forgives us. And when John writes to the Christians in the first generation, [music] in the first century, he says in 1 John 1:9, he's writing this to Christians.

Don't pretend like you don't have sin. When you confess it, he says, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. That's a promise that's so strong that should get us excited. Say, God, I'm so done doing things the same way. I'm getting rid of my old. I'm repenting and turning to God. The first prayer today is search me. Revival starts here. Search me. Revival starts here. And what's the prayer? Search. Search me. Now, if you ask God to search you, then you've also got to be willing to say, "Change me." If you go to Acts chapter 19, there's an incredible story of a city much like Bend, Oregon. It's called Ephesus.

Ephesus was filled with false gods. It was filled with sexuality. It was filled with witchcraft in the form of self-help. Let me give you a better life. It's a lot like Bend, Oregon today. Paul comes into the city and he preaches the message of Jesus and people's lives are transformed. People are healed from sickness. People are delivered from demons. People start believing in Jesus. They're baptized in the Holy Spirit. And the city starts getting changed. May I just say, when the work of Jesus is happening, you will see some change. The [snorts] sick will be healed. Demons will flee. And we will see many who are lost will be found. [music] And the Bible says in the city of Ephesus, "What I pray over the city of Bend." Acts 19:17, "And fear fell upon them all. And the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled." When Jesus is being

honored, when Jesus is being magnified, there's an honor, a fear, a reverence that he is almighty God. He's not just this character that we just treat flippantly. He's God. And it says in verse 18, "And many of those who were now believers came." So now that they believe in Jesus, here's the change. Confessing and divulging their practices. A number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. The Bible says they actually counted up and said this was a lot of money. The value of them found it came to 50,000 pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continue to increase and prevail mightily. You want to know when we'll

see change when we repent of false gods and we get rid of anything that's not of God. Anything that's not of God? Anything that's not of God. And let me tell you, we have a lot of it even in our own homes and we bring it into our homes and we know not that we're actually giving glory to the wrong God instead of the [music] God Jesus Christ. Jesus alone is God. One God and three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. There's only one God. I was at Newport Market just last week, a grocery store, and you go to the garden department with flowers, and there's statues of Buddha that you pay your money to bring that false god into your home. statues of Hindu, Middle

Eastern false gods, small, medium, large, at a at a large cost financially that you work for money and then you take that money and you give it to buy a false god to bring into your home. And someone say, "Pastor, you're taking this too far. That's just art. It's just a statue. How could you how could you say something's wrong with this?" The Bible says actually that's a false god and you're giving the enemy an opportunity to take the rightful place in your home which alone belongs to the Lord. And so we say, "Lord, is there anything? Anything? Is there anything tarot cards, sage, crystals, Buddhas, Hindu gods? Is there anything? Is there any false lies that's hanging on my wall? Is there something my great grandma passed down that I'm keeping? Is

there anything I just got to get rid of it and say, "God, you're greater. You're greater. You're greater." And something significant happens. When you say, "Search me." You've got to be willing to say, "Change me because I'm going allin for Jesus." And I'll tell you what happens in Ephesus. When there's revival, there's also resistance. People started to get angry. Because we have a saying around here, healthy things grow. Growing things change, and changing things change things. And when you change, people will notice it. and either they're going to love it or they're going to hate it. And in Ephesus, people were angry and they got together a mob. And the Bible actually says in [music] Acts chapter 19, there was a riot.

So where there's revival, there might also be a riot because there's going to be resistance to change. Pastor Brandon always says it's not about things, it's about people. Healthy people grow. growing people change and changing people change people. This is revival. You're changed. They brought the books and they burned them all. And I just wonder today, what is it for you? Maybe it's a cannabis pipe because [music] you find more peace in cannabis than you do the Prince of Peace, Jesus. Listen, it might not even be a thing. It might not be crystals or tarot cards. Maybe you go to work and you flirt with someone at work because you feel good and your relationship and your marriage with your spouse is not that great, but that person makes you feel good. Maybe

you just need to cut that off and change and quit living a life of lies and go allin for God. Because you can't change anyone else, but you can change yourself. And if revival starts here, we've got to quit complaining about other people and start saying, "Search me and change me. Search me and change me." Then finally, we come to send me. Something else happens in Ephesus. And this is my dream over Bend, Oregon. There's a silver smith named Demetrius [music] who gets so upset because in Ephesus there was the worship of a perverse form of sexuality much like what we have today. We call it pornography.

There was a temple in Ephesus that was one of the seven wonders of the world. It was the temple to Artemis, also known as Diana. Very sexual. the the the physical form of the statue had breasts surrounding it. It was believed that if you just if you went towards this Artemis and you looked at the breasts and you worshiped and even the worship of of perversion of sexuality with priests and uh priestesses of [music] of Artemis that somehow you'd get this fertility and maybe you'll have kids in your family, maybe your crops will grow stronger. And so they went after this false god of the world in Ephesus. And Demetrius the silver smith is upset because he used to make little trinkets of Artemis and people would buy these silver little false trinkets and bring it into their

home. And it was a reminder that we visited Ephesus. It was a reminder that we went like going to Disneyland. It was a reminder that maybe this goddess will bless us. Maybe this false god will do something for us. And Demetrius is so upset because so many people were following Jesus. They weren't buying this trinket anymore. Maybe you're not seeing what I'm seeing yet, but when there's revival in here, it goes out there. It's not on Sundays. It goes into our schools. It goes into our businesses. It goes into our banks. It goes into our neighborhoods. You see, the church of Ephesus was not about a building down the street with a clever name on it that meets and worships together. It's about going out and changing the world that we live in.

God sends us out into the marketplace. And the marketplace might have resistance, but here's what determines revival. When resistance come, resilience comes. And here's how I'll define resilience. Resilience is the grace to keep obeying Jesus under pressure. That when you leave here, you still want Jesus more than anything else. When you leave here, if you're persecuted, you say, "I'm blessed for persecution." If you leave here and people get angry over what you're doing, it's just simply a sign. And by the way, when you get persecuted and you believe in Jesus, you never act like the people persecuting you ever because you have revival. In Acts 7, Stephen is being stoned for believing in Jesus. And do you know what he prays while he's being put to death? Father, forgive them. That's revival.

And there's a man that day holding the coats of those throwing the rocks and his name is Saul. And he's there giving permission to what's happening. And he's watching revival right there. What do you think's happening in his heart as he hears someone being put to death say, "Forgive them." And so I declare over you when God sends us out, it won't be easy, but we will have the resilience to do what needs to be done and reflect who God is. In Acts chapter 4, Peter and John have been arrested because of that lame man [music] that's now walking. And they're told by the officials, "Quit speaking about Jesus. [music] Quit preaching Jesus." And when they leave that place, they didn't go saying, "Well guys, that was a nice run. We're only in chapter 4 of the church, and maybe that's the end." Nope.

Instead, they said, "God, would you give us boldness?" Acts 4:29. Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your service to continue to speak your word with all boldness. Do you know what this word needs right now? Christians who are sent out with some boldness. The threats are real, friends. Did God ever say in this world, you're going to have a really easy life? Jesus says, "You will have tribulation, but take heart. I've overcome the world." Some of you are weary today. Some of you are empty spiritually. [music] Some of you are struggling so badly that I know there are so many marriages that come to this church who are struggling. You're on the brink of divorce or you're going through divorce. Some of you have been divorced and you've been defined by the hurt of your past. Some of you are widowed and you're wondering what your future holds. Some of you are young and you're wondering what your future. Let me just tell you today, revival doesn't

have to wait. Revival is not the right setting. Revival starts right here, right now. And I'm calling you to what the word of God says. Repent. What does that look like? Search me, change me, and send me. Because when [music] Steven is stoned, the church could have stopped right there. But by Acts chapter 8, the church scatters and a move of God happens. Why are we the church in Bend, Oregon 2,000 years later after this book of Acts? Because someone said, "Search me, change me, send me." It way outlasts you. And then when revival happens in you, you realize what God did for me, he can do for you. If he healed me, he can heal

you. If he resurrected a dead marriage with me, he could resurrect a dead marriage with [music] you. If he took care of my financial debt, he could take care of your financial debt. If he cured me of cancer, he could cure you of cancer. If he restored my family, he could restore your family. Do you see? But it starts with me. So I say it again, revival starts with me. Revival starts with me. Say it with me. Revival starts with me. If you want to know if you don't have revival, just carry an [music] offense towards anyone. Just acknowledge the sin in their life. That's how you'll know you do not have revival.

You might have a demonic spirit called a Pharisee. That sounds a lot like a Christian, but if you want to know you don't have revival, just start criticizing, [music] start complaining, and tell the world what's wrong with them. But the moment you realize what a wretch you are [music] and the amazing grace that saved you and that you've been set free, why would you want to contain that? Why would you want to give that away? If you've been rescued from hell, why would you not say, "If he did it with me, he could do it with you." [applause] This is what sets apart revival. The politics is set aside.

Thank God for what happened last week. that some of you ought to get on your knees now and start pleading, Lord, start with me. Don't start with the governor or county commissioner or a mayor. Don't start with legislation. That's nowhere in the Bible. Start with me. Search me. [music] Change me. Send me. So, I want to ask you to close your eyes. Some of you came in here today. If you're uncertain if you've ever surrendered your life to Jesus, this is your moment. I want to give you a booklet called the best decision you've ever made because the most important decision you can make is to believe in [music] Jesus. The Bible does not say go get your life right first to follow Jesus. The Bible says all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. And if you want to be saved from your sins today, if you want to be born again, if

you want the hope of eternal life and the Bible says you get the free gift of the Holy Spirit, God himself, he's going to empower you from this day forward to follow him. If that's you, if you want to believe in Jesus, I'm going to ask you to be bold and courageous. I want you to raise your [music] hand right now. Just raise your hand and we'll give you a next step. Praise be to God. Yes. Praise be to God. Praise be to God. I'm telling you, generations are changing right now all over this room. Keep your hand up until you get a booklet because I want you to see the next steps. This is the beginning of the best journey of your life. God's going to give you peace. Peace is yours in Jesus name. Joy is yours in Jesus name. Praise God. Hands all over the room. Now, I want you to join with me in prayer. I'm going to just say some short phrases. It's not the prayer that saves you. It's Jesus. And from this day forward, you can pray to God because you have access to God in Jesus.

So, just repeat these [music] words and know from this day forward, go to God with everything. He can do anything. So, don't stop praying. Don't stop trusting. Pray these words. Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus, I believe in you. I believe in you. Forgive me of my sins. Forgive [music] me. I receive the Holy Spirit. Revival starts here. Revival starts here. Search me Lord. Search me Lord. Change me Lord. [music] And send me Lord in Jesus name. In Jesus name. Amen.