DO WE TRULY DESIRE REVIVAL?

The need for a sweeping spiritual awakening in our land is obvious to all. By and large, the American church is powerless today! Oh, there is much boasting of "revival" and "glory"; we hear such phrases as "The Holy Ghost showed up and showed off!". But, where is the new-creature change the Bible speaks of? Or, as Gideon asked of the angel: "if the Lord is with us, where are the mighty miracles that our fathers spoke of?".

I have followed the reports of "revivals" in recent years, and, after the fog of emotionalism clears, about all that has taken place is some type of "manifesting"! Shaking, falling- or, God help us, barking and howling!

Sadly, there are hundreds of thousands of disillusioned people left in the wake of this kind of worked-up spirituality! Not that there is anything wrong with the emotional aspect of worship; but, when the smoke clears, alas, there has been no "fire"!

DO WE TRULY DESIRE REVIVAL? If we do, then here is where it will start- in a posture of contrition, repentance, and brokenness before the throne of grace!

While out walking and praying this morning, I was reminded of times of spiritual renewal recorded in the Bible. I don't want to rehearse them here, except to say that they always began with the humbling and repentance of God's people. So, I began to pray and for quite some time, I was "drawn out" in prayer for the church.

Are we, personally, prepared to identify with the need, and to ask, and allow, the Lord to change us? If not, than any petition for revival is a fake! A fraud! If we were what we should be, then revival would not be needed! But we aren't, so we need revived!!

"Oh, God- forgive us our arrogance! We have gone along as if all is well, while failing to notice the subtle changes in our lives, our churches, and our land.

Forgive us our indulgences in the things of the flesh while becoming comfortable boasting of our spiritual liberties.

Forgive us for embracing the "idols" of this world.

Forgive us for excusing our lack of holiness with catch-phrases such as, "we're not perfect; only forgiven"!

Forgive us for our affinity for the degrading entertainment of this world that blasphemes Your holy name; that glorifies the very things that made necessary the death of Your precious Son, and fills us with fodder for all sorts of unclean and impure thoughts!

Forgive us for allowing this present world to consume our time, talent and treasure, while we hypocritically boast of having given all to You!

Forgive us of our gossip, back-biting- boasting, arrogance; our holier-than-thou attitude which has certainly been such a stench in your nostrils!

Forgive us for the gross neglect of your holy word; for such little time spent in the closet of prayer when there is so much to pray about!

Forgive us for turning buildings that we dedicate to You into entertainment venues, and getting to the place where we cannot distinguish between stirred emotions and the Presence of Your Blessed Spirit!

Forgive us for foolishly believing that we can serve two, or three, or more, masters!

Forgive us, O, Lord, for grieving You! For taking so very lightly the (little) things that required the shedding of Blood to atone for!

Forgive us for our dry eyes and dry altars, as the world around us goes to hell! Forgive us that our hearts are so out of tune with yours!

Forgive us for the little compartments of "self" the we guard. Those places that we resort to in order to indulge the flesh, in many ways.

Forgive us for taking the "flesh" so lightly that we think co-existence is possible. Forgive us for failing to mortify the flesh!

Lord, the list could be much longer, and we pray for You to reveal to us the needs within these deceitful hearts, that we might cast down every vestige of sin and self!

Lord, grant, once again, repentance unto life, as we pray with the Psalmist: 'Create in me a clean heart, O, God; and renew a right spirit within me.' "


I have a burden to see the Lord honored, and to see His Church renewed. If this resonates with your spirit, then I invite you to join me in repentance, fasting, praying and believing God to simply, yet powerfully, move in accord with the promises of His word.