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There has been a lot of focus lately by Christians in America on the subject of revival. We read stories about local, national, and even worldwide revivals that took place in history. We write books and preach sermons about how to bring revival. And last but not least, we are gathering together more and more to pray for revival. Frankly, I’m excited about this renewed interest in revival. People, churches, and nations have been fundamentally changed as a result of revivals in the past, and I long for God to do it again in this our day. I long to see the relationships that would be restored, the believers that would be set aflame for Christ, and the unbelievers that would get converted as a result of a genuine outpouring of God’s Spirit in this land of ours. But at the same time, I am fearful. I am fearful that despite all the talk of revival, it may never actually come to America in the way that God desires. I am fearful that we as the American Church have slid too far down the chute of apostasy to ever be revived. I am fearful that we have rotted so completely from the inside that there is no longer the seedbed of revival that existed before other great revivals in history. I am fearful that we will not be willing to pay the necessary price in order to allow revival to come. The purpose for revival, you see, is not ultimately for the happiness of man. The purpose for revival is the glory of God. And His glory will be accurately portrayed only by a church which reflects, to some degree, His character, His beauty, and His holiness. As we discussed in the last chapter, one of the primary measuring sticks God uses in examining His people is their response to the commands of Jesus. God is ultimately glorified in a church that obeys His commands and He is disgraced by a church that ignores His commands. Recently I heard a speaker make a startling speculation regarding the commands of Christ contained in the Sermon on the Mount. “What would happen,” he asked, “if a church would decide to do everything the opposite of what the Sermon on the Mount teaches? What if they would look at every major command in this Sermon and then deliberately disobey it?” He then observed that the result would look frighteningly similar to the church that we now see in North America. It almost appears that we have studied Jesus’ words regarding swearing of oaths, loving our enemies, laying up treasures, and divorce and remarriage, and then deliberately chosen to do the opposite. The fear that I have is that the cost to correct this sad state of affairs is far more than what most believers will ever be willing to pay. To “turn from their wicked way” in regard to these commands alone would totally disrupt the lives of the vast majority of American Christians. And since Americans as a whole are adverse to the idea of having their lives disrupted, my fear is that true revival will never come. But what if I am wrong? What if large numbers of believers would turn back to a literal, wholehearted obedience to the commands of Christ? What if they would start loving their enemies rather than killing them (whether it be in self-defense or in war)? What if they would stop laying up treasures on earth and begin instead to lay up treasures in Heaven? What if they would separate themselves from the millions of adulterous marriages in existence right now? Then I would gladly eat my words and praise God for His mercy. I would praise Him for the true revival that He has poured out on His people. I would praise Him for a church that truly reflects His image, and for the great harvest of souls that would no doubt result from such a witness. _______________________ Here is one final thought about revival, directly from the Word of God. Please consider these words from the book of Malachi, and see if God appears to be making a connection between His delay in sending revival and a wrong view of divorce. Could this be a prophecy about the modern American Church? And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment? (Malachi 2:13-17)

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