Something has been on my mind ever since I read and reviewed Jeff Steele’s book "We Want America Back". Jeff states that in the past forty years our nation has changed for the worse. I started thinking about those forty years. Then it dawned on me that it was forty years that the children of Israel roamed in the wilderness. It took that long to get all the doubt and unbelief out of the minds of God’s people. Forty years, that’s what it has taken to get rid of the Faith of the American people. Forty years ago in America "Laugh In" was considered a "racy" TV program. They now show that very same program to our children on Nickelodeon. Forty years ago abortion was considered a sin. We have come a long way in forty years. As I look around us, I see that the younger generation does not understand why Christians should be taking a stand against the murder of innocent babies, or an alternate lifestyle. Don’t worry; I’m not going to come down on the young people of today. The reason I’m not going to condemn them is because it’s not their fault. Wow, does that sound new agey or what? I was reading in the Bible the other day, where the children of Israel had wandered after other gods, but it was because they had not seen the power of God demonstrated. What a terrible accusation against the leadership of their nation. That hit me hard, and I couldn’t quit thinking about it. Then it dawned on me. When is the last time that this nation has seen the power of God actually moving in our churches? We have certainly become sophisticated. I can remember the day when they were the shouting Baptists and Methodists, and the Pentecostals were called Holy Rollers. How long has it been since we have heard those descriptions? I am it’s been around forty years. Forty years and the power of God has visibly left many of our churches. As I think back, I remember those times as I lived through them, but if I go back and listen to what my parent and grandparents experienced, and read about the great revivals and the visibility of God’s power in people’s lives during the Finney revivals, and the power of God that was exhibited in the Civil war days and the early days of our nation, I see that even what I experienced was nothing near the presence of God that was manifest in those days. How my heart yearns to, not go back to the good ole days, but to experience the power of God in those ways AGAIN, today! Understand, I am not wanting emotionalism, I am wanting a real move of God, where sinners are saved in the streets, at work, at home, and anyplace else that we can be ministers. This revival will have to come through you and me. It is time to lead our young people by example. Let us be the ones praying for revival, spending time at the altar and time in His Word. So do I blame this generation for not recognizing the fact that they have strayed away from God? No, it’s something that we have allowe by not leading by example. I am praying that God will send another great revival that will awaken the spirits with us.
Author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Written: 01/31/2004
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Category: Monthly ArticlesEditorials
Comments: 13
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Amen, Deon. Thanks for putting it so well.
God is good all the time & all the time God is good.
Elaine Harcourt
Deon, it's not often I can say this, but I agree 100%!
Great article, Deon! David Wilkerson expressess similar truths in his monthly newsletter, and I am challenged every time I receive one. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. They are timely and convicting.
Deon, that was good!
Deon,all I can say is amen brother! When a Holy Ghost inspired song is sung and nobody is moved something is wrong!
Prayer and Praise
I think the Church today needs more knee mail then e-mail! When prayer only lasts for 5 or 10 min it is hard to talk to God! Joy comes in the morning, a great time to pray and read the word of God! Some say I don't have the time in the morning, if we rise a little early and have this time with God, then look for a brighter day ahead! It takes faith and prayer to get love ones saved! If we read the first Chapter of John were it explains who God is and how long he has been here! Then as many as believed he gave the power to become Son's of God! Jesus said Greater things we would to and could do if we believe! Praise and prayer and believe will reap many great rewards! I love each of you who are in Christ Jesus and most of all the lost that don't know him!
We must Love them to show them Jesus in us!
We have to Pray, Pray, Pray, and Pray some more be a praying" Hyde", Remember him, the Missionary. May Gods Blessing be with all that are lost and in harms way!!
Joseph R Lyell
Wise words Deon.. I too long for that kind of "revival"..
Chuck
This is a good message. Hopefully, as we all turn back to God, Christian music will be controlled by God's heart, not the lure of commercialism.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit
- Galatians 5:25.
ROFLOL, commercialism is here and has been for a long time. Let's not assume that Christians have NEVER lived without it! The goal is to use it for our good! You can't run from it!
We Christians have to be renewed in the Spirit before we can bring the lost to Christ. Working so hard to make Christianity commercially acceptable is one of the main things that quenches the Spirit of God in our hearts. The reason? One, we spend so much concentration on packaging ourselves to be acceptable, we don't have time to think about Jesus. Two, true Christianity can never be commercially acceptable in the world. For it to be so means compromising the Gospel. Christian music is just a microcosm of the Christian world in general. We will not be revived until we throw off commercialism. Commercialism is the "other god" that is keeping us from the one true God.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit
- Galatians 5:25.
There is an old old question, which comes first the Chicken or the Egg?
Another Question is about God. Do we use God, Or does God use us? Is it what we do for God,Or what God does for us? When we have the answer to the last two question's we become his son's and daughter's!
Well said, Deon
Well said, Deon! I know many who are praying for that same revival to hit America.
Even here in Pensacola, where we experienced that awesome move of God, where we witnessed the manifestations of His Power, we're praying for that same revival. Over 3 million people have come through our doors since Father's Day 1995, and we were blessed to host the biggest, longest revival in American history. But the realization has burned in our hearts: There's so much more to do.
We're praying, too!
Great article, Bro!!
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