2016 has been….an interesting year.
To say the least.
But of all the interesting things in 2016, I think that it has been a pivotal year for the church in America. A revealing year. As I’ve stated in previous articles, the heart of much of the American Church was radically exposed.
And all it took was two (2) vehemently horrible presidential candidates to get that revelation….for some.
Since the results of the election on November 8, 2016 I have been seeing calls for unity and revival…oddly enough it’s coming largely from none other than the ones who were calling people divisive, arrogant, looney, Hillary supporters, and a whole slew of other names – simply for refusing to comrpromise morals, principles, and the Word of God to justify a vote in fear.
Make no mistake: I want unity.
Make no mistake: I want revival.
But we have to realize that an important aspect is missing in this equation. An aspect that, with out it, there is no revival. Without it there is no unity. And we can find that equation here in 2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV:
“if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Let’s break down the equation:
- Humility
- Prayer
- Seeking the face of God
- REPENTANCE of wicked ways
This four (4) part equation requires humility, it requires prayer, it requires our seeking of Gods face, and…here is the spark….REPENTANCE of our wicked ways. And it is at THAT moment, and only in that moment, that the Word of God says God will hear them, forgive them, and heal their land (their country).
If we are looking for the fires of revival to ignite – but have not brought the spark of repentance to the equation, why are we going to act surprised that revival has not yet come? That unity is still a distant dream? That we continue to go down the path of destruction?
Church, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, we are under judgment. The results of the election revealed one thing – we have chosen Saul over God. We wanted a king. Just not THE King. We have chosen our own path rather than trusting God in His path.
This election was not a victory for the church.
It was an embarrassment.
It was a tragedy.
And this is where we are in the church. Calling for revival and unity but we have, for some reason (be it the fog of delusion over the church, pride, arrogance, confusion, whatever it may be) we have left the spark of revival at home. We are refusing to repent of the sin we have engaged in. We have refused to repent of the sin we have endorsed. The sin we have encouraged. The sin of justifying our own sin. The sin of moral relativism. The sin of situational theology and ethics. The list could go on.
We are not right with God.
And the sooner the church of America awakens to this reality, and puts into practice 2 Chronicles 7:14, the sooner we might see a true fire of revival break out through our land and see America truly blessed, not because of herself, but because she chooses to honor God.
No sooner.
God is a God of second chances. He’s giving us another chance to repent. Will we take it? Or will we let the “false victory” swell us with pride and further our delusion and lead us further away from God?
I’m praying it isn’t the latter, but so far my confidence in that is not very great.
Right on target!