Q: Recently, our church had a retreat, and the speaker said (among other things) that the greatest need in America’s churches today is spiritual revival. Would you agree with him? — D.K.
A: Yes, I would agree. Tens of millions of people attend church every week — and yet every year our society becomes more and more immoral and secular. Surely this wouldn’t be the case if God’s people took their faith more seriously.
What are the keys to spiritual revival? The first key is repentance — acknowledging that we have strayed from God, and that we have not made Christ the center of our lives. We may believe in Him ... we may have felt close to Him in the past ... we may even have worked for Him and witnessed for Him. But over the years our faith has cooled and we’ve pushed Christ from the center to the edge of our lives. We’ve become like the Christians of Laodicea, of whom Christ said, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. .…. You are lukewarm” (Revelation 3:15-16).
The second key to spiritual revival is a renewed commitment to Christ and His will for our lives. Your life will never be the same once you realize how much God loves you, and how much Christ suffered for you. Nor will your life ever be the same once you realize how much God loves the whole world, and how much He wants to use you to reach out to others with His love.
Revival is our urgent need today — but it must begin in our own hearts and lives. Has this happened to you? May the Bible’s prayer become yours: “O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years” (Habakkuk 3:2, KJV).
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Affectionately known as the “World’s Preacher” for more than 60 years, the Rev. Billy Graham is one of the most influential and respected spiritual leaders of the 20th century. He has been a friend and spiritual advisor to ten American presidents and has preached the Gospel to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history — nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories — through various meetings. Hundreds of millions more have been reached through television, video, film, and webcasts. Send your queries to "My Answer," c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit the Web site for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: www.billygraham.org.
Comments
ronwilson: I agree! Men (they are the head) need to rise up in God and take their stand against the enemy that has invaded their home and then there will be revival.
Anyone else down with praying for a good old fasioned national repentence tonight? And while we're at it how about we ask God to open up the eyes and ears of our fellow brothers and sisters in the good old name of our Jesus? I mean, I'm tired of people shrugging of this message, They might not listen to you or me, but maybe if we ask "someone" with athority we might have a better chance at getting things to change for the better. Have we forgotten the power of prayer? "For where 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them" (Matt. 10:20) Im 100% serious, If anyone here reads this and is actualy concerned about the state of the worldwide Church with me, then start praying with me tonight, I personally am tired of watching Christians "choosing to take the easy luke warm route. Faith is not a fashion, nor is it a once a week job that calls us to work every Sunday from 10:30ish to noonish. What happened to the Church, what happend to Christian America? We can't all unite in a building, or get together in a time zone, but lets all pray for our Church tonight before we sleep.
America's Great Need is Spritual Revival in the Home.
Hope Page: http://itsallaboutjesusnotme.blogspot.com
I pray for God to raise up prophets in the land to tell it like it is. No sweet stuff. Just truth
Yes, I agree with this very much so, we all need to start reading our Bibles more, repenting more, looking into our own selves more. I dont know the hearts of other people, but it appears to me that alot of Christians have fallen asleep at the wheel. Those who aren't asleep seem to be more focused on works over grace, we're being lazy and hypocritical. Its so important any more that we begin observing ourselves. We all have tree's in our eyes, and only ourselves can remove them from our selves, Its time to quit judging others, its time to forgive our tresspassers, it's time to surreneder to our real master and work for him. Have faith, I dont know about anyone else but it's pretty clear to me that someones at the door knocking, are we ready to answer?
God "save" America, in Jesus' name!
AMEN.
A.S. I agree. It is rare to hear anyone say that there is a side to God that executes fierce wrath and judgement. Everyone wants to believe or think that He is only kind and gentle. Which He is. But I have seen His jealous side. Yes, He can be provoked. And this is coming to America. I pray for His mercy on those who truly love Him with all of their hearts. A dark day is ahead. A day of dread.
Personally, I cry to God whenever I am by myself by seeing the spiritual decay of this great
nation. America has forsaken God. Recently I began to wear a cap " Jesus, my great God"
and I was s making a study about the response of the people. Many think that I am out of my
mind, hardly anybody shows excitement to see that, but one Jewish convert said " I like
your cap". America is faced with a critical time, gas price is going out of control, food price
and everything else. People are crying to Washington to solve the problem, that is the
wrong place, only God can fix this problem. And, God will be merciful if we cry to Him with
a broken and contrite spirit. "God is a God of mercy but He is a God of fierce wrath too"
nogr8: I hear what you are saying, but,..... there would probably be only a handful that would sacrifice time to do this. America has almost gotten to the place that no amount of praying is going to hold back judgement.
A.S. Mathew and smbga,
What would you think of gathering a few people together willing to do what Rev. Graham suggests. Repent, renew our commitment for Christ, and believe God for the revival of our nation, communities, and our families? I mean really commit for a period of time and believe God to see Him work in our nation in a mighty way. Is anyone crazy enough to join me in this?
A.SMathew: You said it well!!!! You have spoken the Truth!! You couldn't have said it any better.
I am don't want to name any particular sin, but the Christians looked sins as sins 30 years back
will wink at the same sin today with less response. If things go like this, there will be a
day, nothing will be a sin anymore, and the Church buildings will be turning as social gathering
for a Sunday fun. Until there is a total repentance with a broken and contrite spirit, there is
no hope left for America.
If we are actually approaching the seven-year tribulation period prophecied in the Bible, I expect there will be a great spiritual awakening as the Church Age and the age of grace come to an end.
Hope Page: http://itsallaboutjesusnotme.blogspot.com
Hope Page: http://itsallaboutjesusnotme.blogspot.com
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE