Devotion for October 17, 2008

Pray for Revival

The church in America, despite its many activities and apparent successfulness, has had no measurable affect in reversing this downward spiral. We must candidly admit that no country has had more Christian organizations, more radio stations, more books, more seminars, and more churches with proportionately less impact on society. We are confounded with the pollsters who tell us that religion is up but morality is down.

Sadly, the influence has been in the wrong direction, as we see evidence that our culture has begun to permeate our churches. The church is seduced by the social agenda of wealth and pleasure, and has condoned sinful compromises. There is moral decay within the church, with highly publicized scandals involving ministers, and divorce statistics which are not much better than those outside the church. Think of all that we and our churches would have to repent of if a spirit of holiness began to captivate us. How can America be influenced by an inconsistent and hypocritical church?

If the strength of the church should be determined by its impact on its surrounding culture, we desperately need an injection of spiritual life. The present powerlessness of the church may be a sign that God has withdrawn His blessing that we might seek Him—Erwin Lutzer, America’s Spiritual Crisis.

When will we wake up and recognize the spiritual condition of our churches? We must stop playing church and begin to live for Christ. Pray the Lord will convict our leaders. Pray for our country if you want, but unless you pray for our churches it is likely that we will see the glory of the Lord depart. It could He has already left many churches. Now they are just buildings full of dead men’s bones. Are we like the Laodiceans? The similarities are alarming.

And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ ——and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, [that] the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” (Revelation 3:14-18 NKJV)

Let us take the Lord’s counsel and seek to buy His gold. As long as a remnant remains there is hope. The greatest trials often bring the greatest rewards. First we must recognize the trial. Then we must feel the trial. After that, we will be inclined to cry out for mercy that our nakedness may not be revealed. Pray my friends pray for revival. Ask the Lord to begin with you. Then pray for those who lead that Christ alone would be their focus and His glory their goal.