Chapter 3

 

Why Revival Tarries for America

 

Many through the years have set forth formulas for revival.  Although there are concrete principles for and examples of revival contained in scripture, throughout history we find that the Lord rarely brings a spiritual awakening to a city or nation the same way.  As a result, revival often becomes an elusive and arbitrary pursuit to many Christians. 

However, if one will delve beneath the surface of every true spiritual awakening, one will find a unique, specific, divine prescription, that when taken as recommended, became the key to unlocking the door to revival.  The Lord has given such a prescription to America over the past three decades.

 

The Root of Deception and Destruction

 

Physicians prescribe medicine to heal our bodies and restore them back to normal working order.  Natural diseases keep us from functioning at our full potential, and if left untreated could lead to death.  Similarly, spiritual diseases keep us from righteousness, holiness, intimacy with God and the fulfillment of our personal destiny in the kingdom.  If these spiritual diseases become severe enough, they may cause hardness of heart, a reprobate mind, and even the forfeiture of eternal salvation, resulting in spiritual death.

America has been the 20th century’s most prosperous nation.  Increasing prosperity and wealth, sooner or later, is often accompanied by an arrogance that can evolve into a spiritual disease called pride.  Pride is the root of deception.

 

Obadiah 3     “The pride of your heart has deceived you.”

 

Pride deceives us into thinking we don’t need God.  Pride says, “I can do all things”, whereas humility says, “I can do all things . . . through Christ who strengthens me.”  Instead of placing our trust in God, we believe that money will answer everything.  This is what happened to the New Testament Laodicean church and to America over the past several decades.  We say, “I am rich, have become wealthy and have need of nothing”.  However, we are completely deceived regarding our spiritual and moral condition.  In truth we “do not know” that we are “wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked” (Revelation 3:17).

Riches are deceitful because they promise happiness and contentment, but when pursued only bring sorrow (Mark 4:19). 

 

I Timothy 6:10  “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

 

Therefore it is imperative that we repent for arrogantly trusting in and setting our hearts on uncertain riches instead of the living God (Psalm 62:10, Proverbs 11:28, I Timothy 6:17).

We Americans pride ourselves at being “the best of the best”, portraying ourselves as invincible, undefeated champions, whether it be in business, battle, or baseball.  We take pride in our greatness, but have failed to remember the God Who made this country great (Deuteronomy 8:14, 17). 

 

Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

 

The root of pride ultimately yields destruction to people and nations who repeatedly reject His pleas for repentance.  In the Old Testament, after Israel repeatedly rebelled against the Lord, He allowed Babylon to overthrow them and take them into captivity.  Although Israel was humbled through their captivity, they eventually were restored.  How will America respond to the dawning of our season of divine judgment?

 

Our First Response or Last Resort

 

Two preachers weekly engaged in an ongoing discussion about a chronic problem they were having with a particular community leader.  No matter what they tried to resolve the issue, it was never settled.  Finally, one of the preachers said, “Maybe we should seek the Lord in prayer about this matter.”  The other preacher replied, “Has it come to that?”

Self-sufficiency is the trademark of the proud, who do not seek divine assistance or intervention and therefore rarely or never pray. What should be the first response for Americans in times of crisis and suffering is oftentimes our last resort – prayer (James 5:13). 

 

Luke 18:1 “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.”

 

Even as it is in the nature of fish to swim, birds to fly, and lions to roar, so should it be of Christians to pray.  Prayer should be as natural as breathing for the Christian.  However, in this country, we talk about prayer, have seminars and conferences about prayer, write books about prayer; but we just don’t pray. 

 

“Satan trembles when we pray.”

 

The enemy does not mind if we read our Bibles, distribute tracts, attend Church, feed the poor, clothe the naked, and visit the imprisoned.  However, Satan trembles when we pray.  Therefore, he will go to whatever lengths necessary to keep the righteous from effectual, fervent prayers that avail much.  To America’s shame, Lucifer has been quite successful at keeping us off of our knees (James 5:16).

 

Keep Yourselves from Idols

 

Prayer, in its truest sense, is seeking the face of God.  The fellowship of the Holy Spirit in the secret place of the Most High should be a Christian’s supreme privilege and greatest pleasure.  However, Christianity takes on a whole different paradigm in a prosperity driven culture, where seeking the hand of God takes precedence over seeking His face. 

We love the “prosperity” gospel in America, because we have found a way to get everything we have been lusting after, and do it in the name of God.  As a result, our misdirected, covetous pursuit of prosperity has led our nation into idolatry.

I John 5:21  “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

 

  In today’s culture, idolatry does not translate into bowing down to a graven image.  Very simply, an idol is any person, place or thing that takes the rightful place of God in our lives.  Idols can be identified by where we spend excessive amounts of time or money. 

In America, our most popular idols are sex and money. As a nation, we spend more time viewing pornography than in prayer, and spend more money on Viagra and lottery tickets than on missions.

 

“In America our most popular

 idols are sex and money.”

 

In Christian circles, ministry has become an idol.  Although we are to honor all of the ministry offices of the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher, some have exalted those in these positions above measure.  I personally know a man who was a successful vice-president at a rather large corporation, who served as an elder at his local church.  In love with the idol of ministry, he quit his secular job to pastor a tiny church to the chagrin of his wife and children.  Struggling financially, his wife was forced to go to work to meet the mounting bills, and within about three years they were divorced.

Ministers that are not “full-time” or “pastoring” a church are often classified as not “worth their salt” and canceled as sub-par. Working a full-time job as an avionics engineer, I at times had been a victim of “cancellation by classification” by other ministers and Christians.  In utter frustration I had spent over twenty years striving to enter “full-time” ministry, instead of being content with where the Lord had placed me.  Ministry was my idol, and I regret the years of vain labor and the unrest it cost me and my wife, pursuing something God had for me before it was time.

Lord, forgive us and help us dethrone our idols!

 

Harden Not Your Hearts

 

 Idolatry has blinded our eyes from seeing the truth and has deafened our ears from hearing the Lord’s voice.  After ignoring Him for years, the Lord’s once clear, loud pleas to return to Him become little more than faint, dull whispers.  Consequently, our relentless, rebellious pursuit of other gods over time has produced in us a deadly spiritual disease – a hardened heart.

 

Hebrews 3:15 “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

 

Christians who repeatedly refuse repentance, thinking they can return to the Lord whenever they desire, not only deceive themselves, but also tread on extremely precarious, spiritual ground.

 

Hebrews 6:4-6 “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit . . . if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

 

Repentance is a grace extended by the Lord to those who humble themselves before Him.  If we choose to fall on Jesus, the Rock of our salvation, we will be broken in our contrition and eventually restored.  However, if we continually harden our hearts in rebellion and impenitence, the Chief Cornerstone will fall on us and grind us into powder (II Timothy 2:25, Matthew 21:44). 

 

A Divine Prescription for Revival

 

Despite America’s symptoms of pride, prayerlessness, idolatry and impenitence, Jesus has a tailor-made prescription for our spiritual condition that He has been heralding from His throne room for over thirty years.  If taken as prescribed, His remedy will not only heal the church, but also our land.

 

II Chronicles 7:14  “If My people, who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land.”

 

Humility is the antidote for pride.  The Lord not only gives grace to the humble, but dwells with them in the high and holy habitation of heaven, where He revives and refreshes them.  Without humility, we can not acknowledge our need for God that is expressed through prayer (James 5:16, Isaiah 57:15). 

It follows that we cannot truly seek the face of God apart from prayer.  Over time, disciplined, daily prayer will cause our hearts, soul, and flesh to cry out for the living God.  Dwelling in the house of the Lord, inquiring in His temple, and seeking His face should become our supreme desire and passionate pursuit (Psalm 27:4, Psalm 63:1, 2).

One simple definition of revival is “God coming down”.  Some erroneously believe that God will draw near to His people arbitrarily. However, the Bible clearly teaches that God will draw near to us when we humbly draw near to Him in repentance.  Ironically, many preachers in America are trying to get Christians to laugh in church, when the Father longs to hear our cries of repentance.

 

 James 4:8-10 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Lament and mourn and weep!  Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

 

The prophet Isaiah was devastated at the death of his friend King Uzziah. Isaiah’s pain drove him in desperation to seek the face of God.  His pursuit culminated in an encounter with the Lord Himself in the very throne room of heaven. In His holy presence, Isaiah realized his own uncleanness, turned from his wicked ways, and acknowledged his need for the Lord’s cleansing, holy fire. Isaiah’s baptism of fire not only purged his sin, but also qualified him for service in the kingdom of God (Isaiah 6:1-8).

 

Blind Eyes, Deaf Ears & Dull Hearts

 

Isaiah was now ready and willing to serve the King, but could not represent Him without a commission.  What was to be his message from the Lord to the people of Judah?

 

Isaiah 6:9, 10 And He said, “Go, and tell this people: Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.  Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed.”

 

In a nutshell, Isaiah was to confront Judah’s backslidden condition, and spiritually open their blind eyes, unstop their deaf ears and break up their dull, stony hearts.

Like Isaiah, prophets today need a life changing encounter with the Master.  Prophets should be first in leading the Body into contrite, prayerful, God-sought repentance.  Pride, sexual immorality, the love of money, political ties, jealousy, selfish ambition, idolatry, and bitter root judgments all must be consumed by the Spirit of judgment and burning.  Only then can prophets preach an uncompromised, heart-rending, confrontational message of repentance that will shatter the rock-hard hearts of stubborn Americans (Isaiah 4:4, Luke 4:18, Matthew 13:14, 15).

 

Jeremiah 23:29 “Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”

 

    Jesus’ prescription for revival in America comes with a promise.  If we will humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, He pledges to hear us from heaven, forgive our sin and heal our land.  Return and be healed. It’s that simple (II Chronicles 7:14, Isaiah 6:10).

 

“No Repentance . . . No Revival”

 

The primary reason why revival tarries for America is because the church, on the whole, is sick, having not taken the Lord’s prescription.  If the Body corporately continues to refuse the Lord’s prescribed dosage of humility, prayer, and repentance, there can be no true revival in America.  No repentance. . .No revival. . . Period.

 

Revival’s Key Ingredients

 

Recently, a minister was given an analogy by the Lord regarding the imbalance of modern prophetic ministry.  He was shown a three-legged stool with one of its legs missing.  One leg was labeled “personal prophecy” and the second leg “revelatory experiences”.  The third missing leg was “repentance preaching”.  Without the third leg, the stool could not stand.1 

When most Charismatic Christians think about prophetic ministry, they envision a prophet delivering personal prophecies to endless lines of expectant people.  One itinerant prophet told me that he had a man follow him into a restroom after a personal prophetic ministry session.  The man practically begged the prophet to give him a prophecy while the prophet was relieving himself at a urinal!  Talk about excess and abuse!

The prophet also brings to mind the sharing of interpretations of prophetic visions, dreams and signs.  Indeed, personal prophecy and revelatory experiences should have their place in the ministry of the prophet, but not at the expense of forfeiting the preaching of repentance.  The problem for most prophets is that repentance preaching is neither popular nor profitable.

Nevertheless, if we as a nation are not being confronted about our sin and wicked ways, repentance becomes improbable and revival impossible.  Therefore, one of the necessary ingredients for revival is the commissioning of bold prophets, who like John the Baptist, will preach uncompromising messages of repentance to a lukewarm, complacent American church.

Several years ago, David Yonggi Cho, the pastor of the world’s largest church located in Seoul, Korea, wrote a book entitled, Prayer: Key to Revival.  Having made intercessory prayer the foundation of the Yoido Full Gospel Church, Cho has had a huge role in transforming the nation of Korea, assembling to date 830,000 disciples.2  That book had a profound impact on my spiritual life as a new Spirit-filled Christian in the late 1980’s.  As past revivals have proven, sacrificial, desperate, sustained, strategic intercession is the second key ingredient to revival. 

Although repentance preaching and intercession are key ingredients to igniting revival fires, by themselves they are insufficient in bringing about societal transformation - a key characteristic of a national spiritual awakening.

 

Make Disciples of All the Nations

 

Before Jesus departed this world, He entrusted His disciples with a solemn commission that, if carried out, would expand the kingdom of God on earth.  Much of American Christianity has either forgotten the Great Commission or has a clouded understanding of its true meaning.

Recently, the Lord challenged me to carefully study the three Gospel accounts of Jesus’ Great Commission.  Along with some obvious similarities, I found that each account had a unique charge that the others did not have.

 

Matthew 28:19 “. . . make disciples of all the nations”

 

Jesus commanded us to make disciples, not converts. In America, preachers measure their success by the number of hands that are raised during an altar call for salvation.  Perhaps we would have a more accurate evaluation of our evangelistic efforts if we tracked the number of converts that submitted to water baptism. Our conversion from spiritual death to eternal life cost Jesus everything and us virtually nothing. 

 

“Make disciples, not converts!”

 

In contrast, discipleship costs a Christian everything.  Indeed, there is quite a difference between a Christian convert and a disciple of Christ.

 

 

Converts pray a “sinner’s prayer” one time.

Disciples pray effectual, fervent prayers over a lifetime.

 

Converts bend their knee at the cross one time.

Disciples take up their cross and follow Jesus daily.

 

Converts save themselves, and sit on their “blessed assurance”.

Disciples save others, pulling sinners out of eternal fire.

 

Converts know Jesus as Savior.

Disciples know Jesus as Lord.

 

Converts know Jesus in the power of His resurrection.

Disciples know Jesus in the fellowship of His sufferings.

 

Converts can only drink the milk of God’s word.

Disciples feast on the meat of God’s word.

 

Converts give to God to receive something from Him.

Disciples give to God to establish His covenant in the earth.

 

Converts are content in being served.

Disciples live to serve, loving not their lives even to death.

 

Converts make heaven.

Disciples make history.

 

Under the ministry of Charles Finney, the most prominent revivalist during the Prayer Revival of 1857, an estimated over 80% of his converts became disciples who served Christ their entire lives without backsliding.3 What was the secret to his success? 

Finney preached a very strong message of repentance and refused to lead casual seekers in prayer to accept Jesus as Savior.  He demanded that serious seekers bear fruits worthy of repentance.  Finney thoroughly challenged seekers, insisting that each one count the cost of discipleship before making a decision to accept Jesus as Savior and a lifelong commitment to serve Him as Lord.  Finney had great success evangelistically because he preached “the gospel of the kingdom”, not just “the gospel of salvation”.

 

Matthew 4:23 “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.”

 

What is the difference?  The “gospel of salvation” proclaims Jesus as Savior and begins and ends with a “sinner’s prayer”.  However, the “gospel of the kingdom” proclaims Jesus as Lord, also begins with a sinner’s prayer, but is followed by a solemn, covenant vow to serve King Jesus as His disciple and ambassador for eternity.

Today, many preachers invite casual seekers to “try Jesus”, and beg them to raise their hand or come to the altar to say a simple “sinner’s prayer” to obtain salvation.  Their altar calls are devoid of any true commitment to the lordship of Jesus, which is required for discipleship.  As a result, they are disobeying Jesus by making converts, instead of disciples.

  In America, we preach a sugar-coated gospel in an effort to win seekers to Christ. Later, we wonder why these converts cease attending church when challenged to tithe, fast, intercede, or forsake friendships and habits that compromise holy living.  Preachers are finding that if they win seekers with candy, they can only keep them with candy.  Consequently, we have very few disciples in the church today to carry out the work of the kingdom that is necessary to bring about true revival and societal transformation.

 

These Signs Will Follow Believers

 

The gospel of Mark’s account of the Great Commission also has a unique verse not found in the other gospels.

 

Mark 16:17, 18 “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues . . . they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

According to Jesus, casting out demons, speaking in tongues, and gifts of healing should characterize the lives of believers.  However, current statistics reveal we have fallen far short of Jesus’ standard.  In a recent survey performed across six countries, at least 40% of Pentecostal Christians said they have never prayed or spoken in tongues.4 If this is the percentage amongst Pentecostals and Charismatics, what must it be for the remainder of Christendom?  It is no mystery why we are neither fulfilling the Great Commission, nor experiencing a great awakening.

Notice Jesus says, “These signs will follow those who believe.”  He does not say, “Those who believe will follow these signs.”  Instead of paying the price in prayer to operate in spiritual gifts, many believers today have become enamored with signs.  They run to and fro from meeting to meeting hoping to witness the appearance of supernatural gold dust, gems, angel feathers, oil and even blood. 

 

“SIGNS WILL Follow those who believe”

not

“Those who believe WILL follow signs”

 

To our shame, many have settled for seeking after heavenly tokens instead of making the necessary sacrifices to secure heavenly treasure.  Those treasures include salvation, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, divine healings, deliverance from demons, and the operation of spiritual gifts – all of which bear lasting fruit (John 15:16).

Jesus said, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign”.  When we seek signs instead of the God of signs, we are engaging in a form of spiritual adultery.  The treasure of heaven, the Comforter, abides within every born-again believer.  The Holy Spirit is the One we should be seeking (Matthew 12:39, II Corinthians 4:7).

 

Repentance Should Be Preached

 

Luke’s account of the Great Commission contains a distinctive phrase that the other gospels do not.

Luke 24:47 “. . . repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations . . .”

 

Jesus specifically commissioned us to preach repentance and the remission of sins in His name.  However, we find in America that just about anything but repentance is preached.  Churches throughout our nation weekly present a gospel devoid of Christ, offering inspiring messages assuring congregants’ dawning prosperity, forthcoming healing, or imminent breakthrough.  Many preachers are giving their congregations what they want to hear, instead of what they need to hear. 

Repentance messages are neither widely accepted, nor do they bring a big offering.  As a result, many prophets today, like Balaam, have sold out to Mammon, giving the people what they want – a nice personal prophecy promising breakthrough, healing and a new beginning.  What most of us need is repentance.

About two years ago, the Holy Spirit challenged me, saying, “If you really knew how much sin was going on in My Church, you would preach differently.”  I have accepted that challenge along with a growing number of prophets throughout America, who are now preaching strong messages of repentance.

Why does revival tarry for America?  Our pride, prayerlessness, idolatry, and impenitence have separated us from the Master.  Nevertheless, if we will humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, the Lord will hear us from heaven, forgive our sins and heal our land.  Once the Church experiences healing and restoration, we must then focus on fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commission - by preaching repentance and making disciples who demonstrate the character of Christ and the power of the kingdom of God.

 

Prayer:  Lord, forgive us for our pride, prayerlessness, idolatry and impenitence.  We humble ourselves before you and turn from our wicked ways.  Open our blind eyes, unstop our deaf ears, hear us from heaven, forgive our sins, and heal our land.  Forgive us for making converts instead of disciples, for seeking signs instead of the God of signs, and for not preaching repentance.  Help us to fulfill your Great Commission, in Your name we pray, Amen.