Why Revival?
by Harold Peasley
Part 1
Reading: 2 Chronicles 7: 12 – 16
The question people are asking is "Why is there no revival?"
Is it because of the state of the world?
Karl Jung said "It is becoming more and more obvious that it is not starvation, or microbes, or cancer, but man himself who is mankind's greatest danger."
Another, Anthony Store, from Human Aggression, said "We are the cruellest, most ruthless species that ever walked the earth."
However, that's not the greatest reason for the need of revival. Let me quote to you from Jonathan Edwards, the great Revivalist of New England and the USA. He said: "God has it much on His heart, from all eternity, to glorify His dear and only begotten Son, and there are some special seasons that He appoints to that end, wherein He comes forth with omnipotent power to fulfil His promise, an oath to mankind. And these times are times of remarkable pouring out of His Spirit to advance His Kingdom, such a day, is a day of His power."
I want to speak, therefore, on the 'WHY' of Revival, as you look at this verse under several headings:-
1. BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE IT INVOLVES
It says "If My People"
It was Leonard Ravenhill who wrote the book "Revival God's Way" and he says "Spiritual revival is not important to the church and to America; it is imperative"
The revival we need is highlighted by what Bill Bright, former President of Campus Crusade, stated after a poll was taken of Christians across the United States, and found the horrendous condition: "95% responded – "I am carnal or I am a babe in Christ." The general attitude is "relax and be raptured."
It was Leonard Ravenhill who said "We would rather squat in our rubber-foam pews and hear a more pleasant dissertation on Psalm 23 for the 1000th time, than hear a man fresh from audience with the Eternal God (a man whose sweat bedewed brow, indicates the volcano in his soul) cry with broken sobs "who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?" Psalm 94:16
He goes on to say "months ago the Wall Street Journal had an article on the "Electronic Church" – The New Testament church was not electronic – it was electrifying!
The church, fresh from the upper room, invaded the world: now the church in the supper room is invaded by the world.
The New Testament church did not depend on a moral majority, but rather on a holy minority!
The church right now has more fashion than passion, it is more pathetic than prophetic, is more superficial than supernatural.
The church the apostles ministered in was a suffering church; today we have a sufficient church.
Events in the spirit controlled church were amazing. In this day, churches are often amusing.
The New Testament church was identified with persecutions, prisons and poverty: today many of us are identified with prosperity, popularity and personalities. We lack apostolic power, because we lack apostolic piety; and we lack apostolic piety, because we lack apostolic purity.
There is an article:-
"What's the use of churches, great preachers, lettered men, great music choirs and organs, if they all fail – what then?
Their plans and schemes are perfect, they give themselves no rest, they get the best of talent, they try their uttermost, but what they need, my brother, is God's Holy Ghost."
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