Pastor Dale’s Message Notes

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Blessings promised to those that fear the Lord

A blessed life. Proverbs 28:14
Divine Wisdom. Psalm 111:10
Spiritual Knowledge. Proverbs 1:7
God’s Mercy. Luke 1:50
God’s friendship. Psalm 25:14
An aid in our Fight against Sin. Exodus 20:20

Characteristics of the God-fearing person

1. Intimacy with God.  Psalm 25:14
2. Never speaks disrespectfully about God. Malachi 3:16-17
3. Honor the Word of God.  Isaiah 66:2; Matthew 7:24-27
4. Live a holy life. 2 Corinthians 7:1
5. Obey no matter what. Genesis 22

Characteristics of the Heart that God Revives

Humility.  The Scriptures explain that “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).  In humility, therefore, we seek His grace by admitting our own great need, throwing off our self-sufficiency, and bowing prayerfully before our Lord.

Honesty.  Confession of sin avails us of the forgiveness and cleansing of God (1 John 1:9).  Experiencing personal revival always involves honestly dealing with our sins—both those committed against God and those committed against other people.

Repentance.  Seeking God’s face is not merely an exercise in rituals or words; it is really a change of direction.  Repentance involves turning from our sins so we can obey God instead of self.  As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, we must “put off” the old self and “put on” the new identity Christ died to provide for us (Ephesians 4:17-24).

Forgiveness.  Experiencing God’s forgiveness is one of the greatest blessings of the Christian life, and God requires that we pass that same blessing on to others who have offended, hurt, or taken from us (Ephesians 4:32).  As we come close to God for spiritual renewal, we must release the bitterness we hold and clear our sin accounts with others, extending forgiveness to those who have wronged us and seeking it from those we have wronged. 

Obedience.  From a position of humble repentance, we are now ready to say yes to Jesus in every category of our lives.  He is worthy of our obedience in everything from daily habits to major decisions.  Even our thoughts and motivations are important to Him (Luke 6:46).

Seeking His Kingdom First.  Obedience to God leads us to a complete reprioritization of life.  The ultimate aim of spiritual renewal is that each of us would walk with God, that we would demonstrate His love in a dark world, and that we would be a part of fulfilling the Great Commission task in our generation (Matthew 6:33; Mark 16:15).

Taken from Life in Action: 365 Days of Discovering True LifeThrough Abiding in Christ by Life Action Ministries

The Benefits of God’s Attributes

Because God is a personal Spirit, I will seek intimate fellowship with Him.

Because God is all-powerful, He can help me with anything.

Because God is ever-present, He is always with me.

Because God knows everything, I will go to Him with all my questions and concerns.

Because God is sovereign, I will joyfully submit to His will.

Because God is holy, I will devote myself to Him in purity, worship, and service.

Because God is absolute truth, I will believe what He says and live accordingly.

Because God is righteous, I will live by His standards. 

Because God is just, He will always treat me fairly. 

Because God is love, He is unconditionally committed to my well-being.

Because God is merciful, He forgives me of my sins when I sincerely confess them.

Because God is faithful, I will trust Him to always keep His promises.

Because God never changes, my future is secure and eternal. 

Taken from Discover God’s Character: 13 Key Attributes of God by CRU. https://www.cru.org/content/dam/cru/train-and-grow/life-and-relationships/13-key-attributes-of-god.pdf