While traditional churches are declining, evangelical and Pentecostal groups are doing just the opposite. "They're expanding their footprint in what statistics show are America's four least religious states: Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts."
But here's the real exciting, challenging, or encouraging angle on this story: the growth is coming from "immigrant vitality." New, spiritually vital ethnic congregations are "buying warehouses and remodeling them."-The Christian Science Monitor, December 23, 2012, G. Jeffrey MacDonald
"I have frequently remarked, that in any revival of religion, it is not often the children of pious parents that are brought in, but those who never knew anything of Christ before." -Charles Spurgeon
The world is looking for God. Tragically and ironically, as the world is looking for God, God’s people are asleep in their pews, asleep in religious traditions and lethargy. The Church is definitely ready for revival! The world wants and needs to know “how to” come to God and worship God, not with man’s opinion but with a “thus saith the Lord.” The world wants to hear God. The world wants models of authentic Christian living. The world wants to see God. The world for all its longing for the word of God is empty of information about God.
Today churches are full of people, but many are empty of God. Too many of God’s people have a self–sufficient spirit, an apathetic heart, and a dead disobedient lifestyle. Can these bones live again? Why is it that we have people coming to church more, but experiencing it less? They have not confessed their sins. They are spiritual corpses, dry bones. You may now be wondering how one becomes aware of this "dryness" in spirit and faith? I'd like to share some possible symptoms of this with you:
1. When there is no desire for Bible study and prayer.
2. When spiritual conversation embarrasses you or is avoided.
3. When you rationalize sin.
4. When you can quote scripture and attend service, but it doesn't make a difference in your life.
5. When you life revolves around money.
6. When it no longer bothers you that others are in misery and spiritually lost.
7. When worship and service to God does not excite you.
8. When you don’t have blessed assurance.
A wonderful example of spiritual revival from the Bible is Ezekiel. He was a man of God confronted with a congregation of God’s people who were discouraged, displaced and spiritually dead. The circumstances were ripe for revival. God took Ezekiel to a mountain top and gave him a visual aid of revival. Read Ezekiel 37:1–14. Revival is the process of bringing to life that which once was alive, but is now at the point of death. “Can these bones live again?” Ezekiel obeyed God, preached to those dry bones and then God breathed his spirit back into their bodies, God revived for himself a mighty army.
God will bring revival to our land, our people, the church, if we humble ourselves, pray and turn from our wicked ways. Now is a great time for revival!
Scripture: Proverbs 14:34; Matthew 6:33; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Matthew 4:4; Psalm 51:12–13; John 21:17; Revelation 3:15–22; Psalm 85:6
-special thanks to Mitchell Skelton
Prayer: Father God, in the name of Jesus, I come into Your presence with great thanksgiving. Thank
You for Jesus, who died to save me and many; thank You for the Holy Spirit, who helps me
pray with the right motives; thank You for Your Bible, that I may breathe in Your Word and come into a closer relationship with You. I exalt You. I come before You boldly as Your beloved child and confess my sins to You, in full confidence that You will forgive them if I have truly repented. I have forgiven those who have wronged me, and ask Your blessings on them. Amen
May God bless you!
Riley
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