Avondale Church of God Winter Revival,
January 15, 2025
Speaker: Brother Dwayne Platt
The first evening of the Winter Revival brought a profound call to unwavering faith as Brother Dwayne Platt delivered a stirring sermon, focusing on the believer’s need to remain steadfast in a turbulent world. The congregation was encouraged to draw strength from God’s Word and to embrace His full provision for spiritual endurance.
Anchored in Ephesians 6:10-18, Brother Platt’s message emphasized the necessity of wearing the whole armor of God to stand against the “wiles of the devil.” His teaching, filled with scriptural depth and practical application, resonated deeply, calling the church to active engagement in their spiritual journey.
Lessons from David’s Anointing
Brother Platt opened his message by recounting the familiar story of David’s anointing in 1 Samuel 16. Samuel, sent to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as king, was initially drawn to Eliab, whose outward appearance seemed fitting for a monarch. However, God rejected Eliab, stating, “The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
“This story is a powerful reminder of God’s priorities,” Brother Platt said. “Man looks at the surface—appearance, achievements, charisma—but God looks deeper. He looks at the condition of our hearts.”
Platt elaborated on how people often misunderstand or underestimate what God values. “We might think, ‘I attend every service. I dress the part. I’ve got it all together.’ But if our hearts are not right, none of that matters to God. He is not impressed by our outward displays; He’s searching for sincerity, humility, and obedience.”
He shared a personal story of a young man in his home congregation who seemed devout but later confessed that his heart was far from God. “He did all the right things outwardly,” Platt explained, “but he finally admitted he was just going through the motions. When he let God examine his heart, that’s when the real change began.”
The Deceptive Nature of the Heart:
A Call for Honest Self-Examination
Turning to Jeremiah 17:9-10, Brother Platt delved into the sobering reality of the heart’s deceitfulness. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart,” he read, pausing to let the weight of the words settle.
Platt acknowledged that this truth might be unsettling. “We like to think we know ourselves, but the Bible tells us otherwise. Without God’s help, we are blind to the hidden motives, pride, and sin that linger in our hearts.”
He urged the congregation to embrace God’s scrutiny as an act of divine love. “It’s a blessing that God searches our hearts. He doesn’t do it to condemn us but to bring us closer to Him. He’s like a skilled surgeon, cutting away the things that harm us and making us whole again.”
Gideon’s Army: Fear, Rashness, and Discretion
The heart of Brother Platt’s message centered on Gideon’s encounter with God in Judges 7. Facing a massive Midianite army, Gideon initially gathered 32,000 men. But God declared the army too large, reducing it first to 10,000 and then to just 300 men.
Platt explained the three groups God identified among Gideon’s soldiers: the fearful, the rash, and those with discernment.
The Fearful
“First, God told Gideon to dismiss the fearful,” Platt said. “Fear is contagious. A fearful heart not only weakens the individual but spreads doubt and hesitation to others.”
Platt imagined the disappointment of the 22,000 who left. “Can you picture them returning home, hearing later that 300 men defeated the Midianites? What would they tell their families? ‘I was afraid, so I left.’ How do you think they felt knowing they missed out on being part of that great victory?”
He encouraged the congregation to confront their own fears. “Fear will rob you of opportunities to see God work. Whether it’s witnessing, testifying, or taking a stand for truth, fear holds us back. But faith moves us forward.”
The Rash
Next, Platt turned his attention to those dismissed for their lack of discretion. “These men weren’t afraid—they were careless,” he said, recounting how God tested the soldiers by observing how they drank water. Those who knelt and drank without vigilance were sent home, while those who stayed alert and brought water to their mouths were chosen.
“Carelessness can be just as dangerous as fear,” Platt warned. “The rash charge ahead without considering the consequences. They trust in their own strength and judgment rather than seeking God’s guidance. And when victory comes, they’re quick to take the credit instead of giving glory to God.”
The Discerning
Finally, Platt celebrated the 300 men who remained—those who combined courage with vigilance. “These men weren’t the strongest or the most numerous, but they were the ones God could trust. They had the discipline to stay watchful, even in the simplest of tasks.”
Platt drew a powerful parallel to the Church of God today. “God doesn’t need large numbers to accomplish His purposes. He needs faithful, discerning individuals who trust Him completely. With 300 committed people, God won a great victory. Imagine what He can do with us if we’re fully yielded to Him.”
The Fruit of a Faithful Heart
Expanding on Luke 13:6-9, Platt emphasized that a life touched by God will inevitably bear fruit. “Every saved heart should produce love, joy, peace, patience, and all the other fruits of the Spirit,” he said.
He cautioned against spiritual stagnation, likening it to the barren fig tree in Jesus’ parable. “God is patient, but He’s also just. He gives us time to grow, but if we persist in fruitlessness, there will come a day when He says, ‘Cut it down.’”
Platt shared the inspiring testimony of an invalid woman whose prayers sparked revival. “She couldn’t leave her bed, but she committed herself to fasting and intercession. That’s all it took for God to move. Don’t underestimate what He can do through your faithfulness, no matter your circumstances.”
Exhortation: Responding to God’s Voice
After the sermon, Brother Nathan offered a brief yet impactful exhortation, encouraging the congregation to act on what they had heard.
“Fear can hold us back,” he admitted. “Even standing here to exhort can be intimidating. But God calls us to push past our fears and trust Him to use us.”
Nathan echoed Platt’s challenge to confront complacency and prioritize prayer. “If God has put His finger on something in your heart tonight, don’t ignore it. Whether it’s fear, carelessness, or something else, He’s faithful to show you the way forward. But you have to be willing to listen and obey.”
Reflection Questions for Personal Application
1. Are there areas in your life where fear or carelessness is hindering your spiritual growth?
2. How can you cultivate a heart of discernment, like the 300 men in Gideon’s army?
3. What spiritual fruit is evident in your life, and where might God be calling you to grow?
4. How can you prioritize prayer and dependence on God in your daily walk?
Scriptures for Further Study
1 Samuel 16:1-13 – God’s choice of David and His focus on the heart.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 – The heart’s deceitfulness and God’s searching gaze.
Judges 7:1-22 – Gideon’s army and God’s victory through faith.
Luke 13:6-9 – The parable of the barren fig tree.
Conclusion
Brother Platt’s message served as a powerful reminder that God is searching for hearts that are faithful, discerning, and obedient. By confronting fear, rejecting rashness, and cultivating spiritual fruit, we can position ourselves to be used mightily by God. As the revival continues, the Avondale Church of God is called to embrace the refining work of the Holy Spirit and trust in His power to accomplish great things through His people.
About the Methods:
This message summary was prepared by Daniel Marsh, who processed the auto-generated transcript from this service's livestream and AI was utilized as a summary tool and writing assistant to create this summary.
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