Too Many Are Praying for the Revival of America

Often our prayers go unanswered because our prayers are not according to God's will. The obstacle to the transformative revival by the Spirit of God for America is not America, it's the church in America.

 
Years ago as a teen my church invited an evangelist to preach a four-day, Sunday through Wednesday night, revival meeting.  I was there every night along with all the other faithful members.  There were no salvations that I recall and that bothered me enough to ask the evangelist about it on the last night of the revival.  I asked, "How can we call this a revival meeting if no one got saved?"  His response has stayed with me my whole life.  The grey-haired evangelist said to me, "There's truth to what you ask but there's more.  I hunger and pray for sinners to repent at the altar but salvation of the lost is the result of revival not the product of revival.  When I preach at churches I know that most, if not all, are already believers.  My preaching is to revive the saints!  The fire has to first begin in the hearts of the saints, then it will spread out into the world.  I'm only one man but if God kindles a fire within you through my preaching to go out and witness and reach the lost, then revival has begun within you!  If just a handful of people, if even only one, catch the fire at every place I preach then revival has come to them and they can burn bright to reach their world, their friends and family, long after I've gone on to the next town."   

Revivals start with the household of faith. The supernatural transformation of hearts that America needs must first begin in the hearts of the body of Christ. 

One of the most popular Scriptures quoted for revival is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14, 

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore (heal) their land.  2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT

What has to happen before God "restores the land"? Notice carefully the progression.

If God's people

1- humble themselves

2- pray

3- seek His face

4- turn from their wicked ways

Then God will

1- hear from heaven

2- forgive their sins

3- restore their land

Where does revival begin? 

With God's people.  In context, this is referring to the Israelites, nevertheless, throughout Scripture God has taught us anyone who acknowledges God's name and authority, who responds to His invitation, He will hear from heaven.  

What is the final result? 

God heals their land.  In other words, when God's people are in right relationship to Him then He can through them restore and heal their land. Healing throughout the Old Testament can have both a mixture of spiritual, physical, and cultural applications.  Healing the land can mean stopping famine and pestilence and bringing the natural order back into alignment with God's purposes but it can also mean bringing into alignment to God's purpose the spiritual, political and cultural climate.  

If revival is to sweep America it will begin with God's people who make up His church.  We cannot pray for revival with only the mindset of  "God, heal America!"  That's putting the cart before the horse.  Our prayers for revival must be more personal and inward-focused.  "God, heal me!"  "God bring revival to my heart!"  "God bring revival to my church!" "God bring revival to my pastor!"   "God bring revival to the church in America!"  So stop praying for the revival of America if you're not first and foremost praying for the revival of your own heart and the heart of God's church.  Too many are praying for the revival of America and no further. They pray like it's God's problem.  No, it's our problem.   God's revival will not come from the outside, it will come from within.  Do your church history if you don't believe me.  All the great revivals throughout human history began among those saints of God praying and repenting and seeking God above all.  

Leonard Ravenhill, one of the great evangelists of the 20th century said, "As long as we are content to live without revival, we will."  Why is that true?  Because revival begins with the household of faith. If we're not praying for it, it ain't gonna come.  

We are the salt and light, we need re-seasoned and re-lit through seeking God in repentance and forsaking of our wicked ways. Those fires will spread to the lost, a fire that cannot be contained, fueled by the power of the Spirit through the prayers, repentance, obedience and testimonies of the saints. Sadly, many believers are soaked with the ways of the world. Any camper knows how hard it is to light wet wood. But throw that water-soaked log on a blazing fire and it will burn. The devil is like a forest ranger, looking to put out fires before they get too big. If God tarries in His return, and if America is to survive, revival is required. If God doesn't judge America's wickedness, He'll have to repent for destroying Sodom and Gomorrah.