When I was a teenager we had a revival in 1971 at Inez First Baptist Church. There were so many people saved that it seemed like the whole town had turned to Christ. The revival lasted for almost three weeks. Over 100 people made decisions. It seemed that just about every young person at Inez High School had accepted Christ. We thought our community was changed forever. My father was one of the first ones to come to Christ at that revival.
Two years later only my dad and less than a handful of others were still going to church somewhere. What happened? Many will get excited and emotional about Christ but not many will follow Him. Jesus describes His true sheep in John 10:27: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
When the excitement and emotion of the revival meeting goes away so do most of the people. In fact one lady told our pastor, “I don’t like regular church; I only like the big meetings.”
Revivals are good to encourage and fire up the flock and yes sometimes people get saved—and if it’s only ONE it’s worth it. But we need to make sure that people are truly saved. We must not lean on too much excitement, emotionalism, long invitations, trigger stories and begging people. (Trigger stories are stories that preachers tell to trigger an emotional response during an altar call.)
Of course we sometimes get excited and emotional about what Jesus has done for us, but excitement and emotion can’t save you. Only trusting in Jesus Christ and His death, burial and resurrection can save you. That is a decision that is made by reasoning and faith. “Come let us reason together,” the Bible tells us.
People left Jesus at the height of His popularity when He began to talk about betrayal and bad times ahead. John 6:66: “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” (Interesting, it’s John 666. Is this a veiled reference to the mark of the beast, the anti-Christ for whom people will leave the true Christ?)
There was a fatal flaw from the first in the profession of faith of those who left Jesus.
People get excited about Jesus but they do not trust in Him. Therefore they do not follow Him. They will start by not showing up for church much and after a while, they are back to their old life.
Jesus’ true disciples will follow Him no matter what! Ordinary days, Bad days, and even fearful days are when faithful followers of Jesus shine! But false disciples will drop out during days like that.
Faith cometh by Hearing and Hearing by the word of God. People are saved when they hear the gospel and respond in faith and trust in Jesus Christ. The church is then commanded to make disciples of them. I’ve heard people say, “Well the church didn’t disciple them! It’s the church’s fault!”
How can the church make disciples of those who are not really disciples, who have not truly trusted in Jesus Christ? You can’t make disciples of people who don’t show up to be discipled! I hope it is different with you.
Watch sermons and read sermon texts and other articles by going to tomahawkmbc.com. Listen to Pastor Jack Ward’s sermons on WSIP FM 98.9 every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Watch his sermons on his Facebook page. Find him on Rumble, Bitchute and Brighteon video platforms.