Revival or Spiritual Disaster: Our Choice
Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.” Mark 9:29 NLT
“Lord, teach us to pray…” Luke 11:1 NLT
The only way we can avert spiritual disaster in the church and in the nation is for us to recover the Holy Spirit’s power. But to teach the cessation of the Holy Spirit’s Book of Acts anointing is to kick more dirt and rocks into the spiritual wells of salvation. The flow of revival demands the clearing of debris away from certain truths. These Bible truths are essential to revival:
Prayer Revival 1857-1858
First, God is transcendent and unchanging in His desire to be active today as He was in the past. He still sends His holy power to help believers. He does this by the person of the Holy Spirit. He still searches for a man, or a people, who will stand in the gap on His behalf. The truth is He still equips such a people by pouring out His Spirit upon them so they might witness for Christ with great power and conviction. To minimize this present, powerful work of the Holy Spirit is to end up with a powerless church that is lacking conviction of sin.
The second truth that must be reopened is the role of grace in teaching the church the distinction between the sacred and the profane. Grace does not make light of sin. Grace makes much of our costly salvation, purchased through Calvary’s cross. Like Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” (Italics added). Grace teaches us to say “No!” Paul taught that grace instructs us to deny ungodliness and worldly passions (Titus 2:11). Grace is not a free pass to indulge in sin. It is the gift of God to free us from sin by the power of Christ. All without condemnation.
The church must seek after a new quality of spiritual power for life. This comes only through prayer and knowing the greatness of a holy and personal Savior.
When I was in high school, our church in Houston experienced an amazing prayer revival that deeply touched many lives. Leonard Ravenhill, the praying British evangelist and author of the classic Why Revival Tarries, preached morning and evening. The house was packed with crowds of hungry seekers. The strong presence of the Lord created a seeker friendly atmosphere even without stage effects and entertaining musical bands. What we did experience was the faith building Word of the Lord along with deep conviction. Then came the Holy Spirit’s outpouring. That move of God affected the church for years to come. It transformed my generation into spiritual leaders, missionaries, Bible college professors, and high profile businessmen. It still marks me today. I live and pray to see another great prayer revival that will supercharge the church, heal families, and transform communities.
“Lord, teach us to pray.”
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