"Will you not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?"
Psalm 85:6
Surely you must understand that the great need that we are facing today is for a mighty move of the Spirit of God that will reignite our churches and awaken our land. All around us is the undeniable evidence of a growing rot and decay that is destroying families and communities. Although some would say that this is a cultural problem (and it is), the foundational problem is one of a spiritual nature. Darkness thrives where there is no light. And it seems to me that very little light is shining in places in this land and around our world. WE NEED REVIVAL!
When I first came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, churches and ministries had a burden for revival and a heart for awakening. Much has changed during these past forty years, however, as we have replaced prayer rooms in our churches with coffee and pastry bars. We have removed mourning benches and installed trendy LED lighting and fog machines. And we have replaced the strong preaching of the word of God with HD video boards containing cute clips of modern movies. WE NEED REVIVAL!
There has been a great measure of discussion over the years concerning the subject of revival. Theologians have debated what revival actually is for New Testament believers, as well as how someone or a local church might experience revival. This article is not an attempt to explain my views on either of those arguments. It is my desire to show you WHERE we need revival as I consider experiences that I have recently encountered. Are you ready, let's go...
We NEED a REVIVAL of WORSHIP. The word "dead" should never be used to describe a worship service. Yet the sad reality is that many congregations display no joy, no excitement, no passion, and no zeal during times of corporate worship. I have often said that worship is nothing more than encountering the presence of God, and in His presence there is fullness of joy! (Psalm 16:11) Amen? We need a revival of worship, so that the prayer meeting has new life! We need a revival of worship so that the preaching of God's word is authoritative and life changing! And we need a revival of worship so that our praise is biblical, powerful, and enjoyable! We need a revival of worship. AMEN!
We NEED a REVIVAL of DISCERNMENT. In the Book of Ezekial, we read that the priests were to "teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean." (Ezekial 44:23) Yet the sad truth is that the priests often failed to do this, and the people had no idea what was pleasing in the sight of God and what was not. Beloved, we desperately need a revival of discernment. I was recently in a conference where I easily saw this displayed. Some of the music was wonderful, but some of it was highly questionable. One particular singer was able to get the young adults in the stadium to jump up and down with great enthusiasm. His style was not my preference, but it was not the style of music that concerned me. It was the fact that I could not understand one word that he was singing. Now I know that I was much older than the target audience at this conference, but I seriously doubt that they knew the words as well. And believe me, it had nothing to do with volume! If we are to worship in spirit and in truth as Jesus said in John 4, we need a revival of discernment. Why? Because TRUTH matters! Therefore, words matter, and lyrics matter. If his words were biblical, pointing to the sufficiency and majesty of Christ, I would have gladly joined them in their outer display of exuberance. But I could not determine if he was singing about Jesus, or he was rapping about the devil. And it's not just music at a Passion Conference. Years ago, I was attending a pastors' conference when a pastor from Tennessee preached an incredibly ridiculous sermon that simply butchered the accuracy of scripture. Yet I was surrounded by other preachers whooping it up and shouting words of affirmation to this biblical buffoon. And to make matters worse, a couple of years later I was attending a conference where an evangelist from Louisiana preached that same stupid message. God help us. We need a revival of discernment!
We NEED a REVIVAL of REPENTANCE. I have multiple books in my library on the subject of repentance. Friend, the demands of repentance have not changed. Repentance does not belong to some other dispensation of grace. The call to repent is in the Old Testament. The call to repent is in the New Testament. And the call to repent is contained in the messages to the churches in Revelation chapters two and three. We need a revival of repentance. Yet many congregations never hear a message on repentance, and others never hear a call to repent. In churches that still extend an invitation as the conclusion of a sermon, pastors will usually seek those in attendance to rededicate or recommit their lives. Why are we asking people to do what God never asks them to do? Pastor, you cannot find rededicate or recommit in the Bible, so stop asking people to do what is unbiblical! God demands people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). We should do the same. We need a revival of repentance.
We NEED a REVIVAL of HOLINESS. The Bible says that without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). Holiness simply means being set apart, sacred, or wholly devoted unto God. The scriptures tell us that we are to be holy, even as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15). Over the years I have been asked questions that lead me to believe that many church members desire to get as close as possible to sin, without actually sinning. Questions like: Can a Christian go to a few of the famous bars on Bourbon Street? Is it okay to watch R rated movies (you know, those with just nudity and vile language)? Can a Christian drink alcohol in moderation? And finally, since we are adults (or nearly adults) and in a committed relationship with plans, perhaps, for marriage, isn't it acceptable to enjoy some measures of our sexuality with each other? These kinds of ideas suggest that we desire to get as close as possible to sin without falling into the abyss of ruin and shame. This kind of thinking is rooted in spiritual brainlessness! What are we thinking? The Bible says that we are to be a HOLY people (1 Peter 2:9). We need a revival of holiness. Amen.
What if we do not experience a mighty move of God culminating in a spirit of revival? That is an unanswerable question. But I do know that spiritual darkness and personal oppression will continue to get worse and worse. And that scenario is unacceptable to me. Let's humble ourselves and seek Him for revival. Why? Because...
