America in need of a revival?

[traveller]

I think it's because we rely on ourselves way too much, instead of looking to God for our provision, our protection, our justice, our everything. In other parts of the world relying on God is a daily, hourly, event. In order to eat, they look to God. In order to exist another day, they look to God. Here, we take Him for granted way too often. We forget to say grace at mealtimes, yet get irritated if we can't get seated right away in a nice restaurant. We forget to ask Him how we should handle a small crisis, like a wreck, yet place a call to our attorney right away for a potential lawsuit. We forget to praise Him for equipping us to be able to work, but don't think twice about doubting Him when we don't get that anticipated raise. We forget to read His word everyday, then complain that He doesnt' speak to us anymore. We forget to be still, and listen for His guiding, and instead are out in the world, partying, making noise. We forget to think of Him first, in all things, and instead think first of ourselves. We're too busy, too successful, too eager to make a dollar, too caught up in our version of the world.

HOWEVER, I cringe when I hear "the church of America." There are many God-fearing people mixed in with everyone else here. These are the ones in the background that you seldom notice, that are washing the feet of someone else.

[traveller]

And yes, America is in need of a revival.

[Keith]

What is hindering the movement of the Holy Spirit in far too many of America's churchs and Christians? Where do I begin?

1. First and foremost people need to take personal responsibility for their own spiritual life - or lack thereof.

2. Watered down, ear tickling messages from the pulpit. Don't get me started on this one.

3. Money. Instant gratification. Greed. Selfishness. They want what God can give them. These people seek God's hand, not His face. They treat God like a genie in a bottle or a vending machine. They make their selection, pull the lever, and still hope they get change back. They are willing to trade eternal treasures for earthly ones.

4. Laziness. Procrastination. We want someone else to do the work while we "amen." Someone else will pray. Someone else will witness. Someone else will stand up for what's right. Someone else will read the Bible. For pete's sake, many people don't even bring their Bibles to church anymore. Today's technology that promises us more time and ease of life and convenience dominates people's mindset. We want it yesterday. Even a microwave is too slow for many people because they are used to getting what they want and when they want it... NOW.

5. Lukewarmness. The "I accepted Jesus and that's enough," attitude. Still living their lives as if nothing is changed. Salvation is fire insurance to them. Their mind is still in the world, partaking of the world's ways and mindset. Sunday Christians, Six-day sinners.

6. Embarrassment and fear. Too many Christians are ashamed to be associated with true Christianity and say, "It's a private thing. It's between me and God." Hogwash! They are just embarrassed and afraid of being laughed at. They want to be accept and not be called names like "Bible Thumper" or "Jesus freak". They couldn't fathom witnessing to someone or sharing their faith openly because they aren't willing to risk the embarrassment.

7. Lack of knowledge/time spent in the Word. When confronted with their beliefs, they back down. Why? Because they don't know how to give reason for what they believe.

8. Short on humility and long on pride. There's no real understanding of what Jesus really did for them. They believe it but act like it's a story. The attitude of "I'm not so bad compared to other people. I'm a good person." They live by their feelings.

9. Ingratitude. They are ungrateful for what they've been given. They have a sense of entitlement about themselves.

10. Lack of the fear of the Lord. God is no longer Holy to them, but a buddy. "God understands me." No understanding of His Holiness or Omnipotence. There is no reverence for Him. Most people don't require Him as vital.

11. Lack of personal relationship with Jesus. The music is just something they sing and it makes them "feel" good. It makes them "feel" spiritual. They know "of" Him but they don't "know" Him. Prayers are mechanical, if at all.

12. Desire. Most people are living according to the lusts and desires of their own flesh. TV, movies, friends, gadgets, etc., all come before time with God. "I'm just so busy!" "There isn't enough time in the day." We all make time for the things we believe are important. The truth is, they've become complacent in the things of God and their desires are for themselves, not God.

That's just a dozen reasons, need more?

Like someone else said, most Americans don't know what it's like to suffer, especially for their faith. They don't know what it's like to depend on Him moment by moment, day by day for their provisions. They don't know what it's like to live in a place where you can be killed just for being a Christian.

America needs missionaries.

[ruah brit]

Keep the replies coming . Although maybe I should have been more specific... I am really interested in hearing what people think has or is hindering the Holy Spirit from entering the church in America.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That would be due to the false Christ’s that are being preached for the collection plate. And the false doctrines of being ruptured, out of doing their sin, and being delivered to heaven, the throne of God, with all of their abominable practices and beliefs in their hearts. And all of this can be accomplishable by attending service, filling the collection plate and believing the lie.

Of course none of which will truly happen. Instead the Lord has told us of His plan to purge the alloy of abominations out of them first.

Jeremiah 7

10 and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, 'We are delivered to do all these abominations'?

11 Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it," says the Lord.

1Co 3

13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.

1Co 3

15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Isa 1

25 I will turn My hand against you, And thoroughly purge away your dross, And take away all your alloy.

Jer 9

7 Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: "Behold, I will refine them and try them; For how shall I deal with the daughter of My people?

Da 11

35 And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.

Zec 13

9 I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people'; And each one will say, 'The Lord is my God.' "

1Pe 1

7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

Psalms 66

10 For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.

11 You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs.

12 You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.

Da 12

7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.

Deut 32

36 For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.

37 And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,

Jeremiah 25

33 And at that day the slain of the Lord shall be from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth. They shall not be lamented, or gathered, or buried; they shall become refuse on the ground.

34 "Wail, shepherds, and cry! Roll about in the ashes, You leaders of the flock! For the days of your slaughter and your dispersions are fulfilled; You shall fall like a precious vessel.

35 And the shepherds will have no way to flee, Nor the leaders of the flock to escape.

36 A voice of the cry of the shepherds, And a wailing of the leaders to the flock will be heard. For the Lord has plundered their pasture,

37 And the peaceful dwellings are cut down Because of the fierce anger of the Lord.

Denise

[kamusat]

I totally agree with Traveller and Keith's answers.

AMEN, AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!

Blessings, kamusat

[ruah brit]

The great tribulation is the purging furnace that creation is pressing into to remove the alloy from the Lord’s people and bring the fall of Babylon (confusion).

Re 7

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

Rev 7

14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.

16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;

17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Why does it take the great tribulation to get the Lord’s people to wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb?

Denise

[Christ's Free Servant]

I think we have had it much too easy as christians.  Lets face it, for most of us we have not had any real concequence of following Jesus.  Oh we might have to stop drinking or running around....  maybe be faithful to our spouses, but what real cost have we paid for our salvation.

When you risk you freedom and in many cases your life to become a follower of Jesus, it means more to you and you treet it different.

What this country needs for a "real" revival is a bit of persecution.....    I mean some serious persicution.  Something that registers that being a follower means something........    and it's coming......  just you wait and see, it's coming just as sure as the Lord will follow a few years later

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree wholeheartedly!

[Christ's Free Servant]

What is hindering the movement of the Holy Spirit in far too many of America's churchs and Christians?  Where do I begin?

1.  First and foremost people need to take personal responsibility for their own spiritual life - or lack thereof. 

2.  Watered down, ear tickling messages from the pulpit.  Don't get me started on this one. 

3.  Money.  Instant gratification.  Greed.  Selfishness.  They want what God can give them.  These people seek God's hand, not His face.  They treat God like a genie in a bottle or a vending machine.  They make their selection, pull the lever, and still hope they get change back.  They are willing to trade eternal treasures for earthly ones.

4.  Laziness.  Procrastination.  We want someone else to do the work while we "amen."  Someone else will pray.  Someone else will witness.  Someone else will stand up for what's right.  Someone else will read the Bible.  For pete's sake, many people don't even bring their Bibles to church anymore.  Today's technology that promises us more time and ease of life and convenience dominates people's mindset.  We want it yesterday.  Even a microwave is too slow for many people because they are used to getting what they want and when they want it... NOW. 

5.  Lukewarmness.  The "I accepted Jesus and that's enough," attitude.  Still living their lives as if nothing is changed.  Salvation is fire insurance to them.  Their mind is still in the world, partaking of the world's ways and mindset.  Sunday Christians, Six-day sinners.

6.  Embarrassment and fear.  Too many Christians are ashamed to be associated with true Christianity and say, "It's a private thing.  It's between me and God."  Hogwash!  They are just embarrassed and afraid of being laughed at.  They want to be accept and not be called names like "Bible Thumper" or "Jesus freak".  They couldn't fathom witnessing to someone or sharing their faith openly because they aren't willing to risk the embarrassment.

7.  Lack of knowledge/time spent in the Word.  When confronted with their beliefs, they back down.  Why?  Because they don't know how to give reason for what they believe. 

8.  Short on humility and long on pride.  There's no real understanding of what Jesus really did for them.  They believe it but act like it's a story.  The attitude of "I'm not so bad compared to other people.  I'm a good person."  They live by their feelings.

9.  Ingratitude.  They are ungrateful for what they've been given.  They have a sense of entitlement about themselves. 

10.  Lack of the fear of the Lord.  God is no longer Holy to them, but a buddy.  "God understands me."  No understanding of His Holiness or Omnipotence.  There is no reverence for Him.  Most people don't require Him as vital.

11.  Lack of personal relationship with Jesus.  The music is just something they sing and it makes them "feel" good.  It makes them "feel" spiritual.  They know "of" Him but they don't "know" Him.  Prayers are mechanical, if at all. 

12.  Desire.  Most people are living according to the lusts and desires of their own flesh.  TV, movies, friends, gadgets, etc., all come before time with God.  "I'm just so busy!"  "There isn't enough time in the day."  We all make time for the things we believe are important.  The truth is, they've become complacent in the things of God and their desires are for themselves, not God.

That's just a dozen reasons, need more?

Like someone else said, most Americans don't know what it's like to suffer, especially for their faith.  They don't know what it's like to depend on Him moment by moment, day by day for their provisions.  They don't know what it's like to live in a place where you can be killed just for being a Christian. 

America needs missionaries.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree! I heard some time back that the Christians in China were praying for the Christians in America to go through persecution and suffering so that we would experience revival and that people will come to a real and vital relationship with Jesus Christ. What is it going to take for that to happen? I think it's been said. We need to get ready for much trouble to come.

[CarolineS]

I agree that persecution will weed out the pew warmers and hypocrites in our churches, but it is something I am not looking forward to. I also agree that it is coming, I just hope not real soon.

CarolineS

[Micah68]

Acts 5:32 ... the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

If you don't obey God's laws, you don't get the Holy Ghost. That's all there is to it. God has commandments. That's step number one. If you aren't keeping His commandments, why should He give you His Holy Ghost? You would just turn into a profaner. So many churches are preaching that you don't have to overcome sin, that Jesus did it all, when in fact Jesus said: Go and sin no more. Then He brought it even a step higher in Matthew 5 by showing that you have to stop sinning also in your mind and spirit. Hebrews 12:14 says that without holiness no man shall see the Lord.

Too many Americans are lazy spiritually as has been said before. They allow all kinds of sin to go on and say nothing. Jesus said, Stop it! The Scripture also says, All who live godly will suffer persecution. The fact that most religious people in the US suffer no persecution proves that they are not living godly lives.