Dan Souza
For the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ
Local Church
Independent Baptist
Fundamental
Evangelist
Non-Compromising
Soul Winning
Kings James Bible

Why No Revival?

Brother Souza, we prayed, we worked, we did all we could for the revival yet it didn’t happen. Why?  What did we do or not do that God did
not send revival?
 
I can’t tell you how many times I have heard, thought and actually echoed those words in my own life. Why if God wants to send revival and
we want revival can’t we have it? The truth of the matter is in the Bible teaching -- We simply have not seen sin as sin nor do we see it as "exceeding sinful".
 
Every revival in the Bible or history always came when sin was exposed and through conviction of judgment brought repentance. Always
there was clear and plain preaching to bring forth a choice of whom a person will serve, "For no man can serve two masters". Elijah boldly asked "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him" (1 Kings 18:21) There HAD to be a choice in lifestyle, thoughts and heart. On this hinges all the hopes of revival and evangelism. What do you really want in your
life, who do you really want to follow?  A choice is always made.  Joshua made it clear for himself and his family when he said:

"as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15)

In today’s weak and flimsy pulpits we have "sinner friendly" sermons or as more common referred to "seeker sensitive" preaching. 
Tell that to John the Baptist who preached repentance or the Apostle Paul, who when standing before Felix proclaimed "righteousness, temperance and judgment to come" (Acts 24:25).  Hardly "seeker sensitive" preaching to this man who inquired about Paul’s faith! But it
was so powerful Felix trembled. Today we seek to comfort the sinner being careful not to harm his ego or cause him to feel any guilt for his
sin against Almighty God.
 
The foundation of salvation, revival and Godly living is the preaching of sin and God’s judgment upon those who walk and live in the ways
of the flesh. Before any sinner is ever saved, before any cold, dry and hard hearted backslider ever returned to faithful living, before
soul-winning zeal was ever restored there has always been hard and plain preaching of judgment. After all, why be saved if there is no
judgment, why seek revival if there is no harsh dealing of God’s hand upon us and why win the lost if there is no blood on our hands?
Someone will say, we should live out of love not fear and win the lost out of love not fear. But love of what? They say love for God. But love
for God for what? Our love for the Lord is based on His deliverance from sin and judgment. It is not that we love God because He feeds us and
takes care of us. For all that is just temporal and earthy. Our love goes far beyond that. He saved our souls from hell. We were under the condemnation of our sin. We should fear God because our very existence depends on Him. Consider:

Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

The joy of heaven can only be understood against the doom of the torments of hell. The love of God can only be understood when seen in
contrast to His righteous damnation:

2 Thessalonians 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Mark well the words "them that know not God" and "obey not the gospel". Why is it that the vast majority of people polled today profess
Christ as Savior yet do not live Godly lives. They say they are saved, born again or made a decision for Jesus, but even they are hostile to preaching against sin, hell and judgment. No wonder (as wrong as it is) many Pastors and Evangelists have gone to the "seeker sensitive" preaching of joy and happiness now rather than a conversion of the soul from eternal damnation. Where is the fire in the pulpit?
 
Lets suppose you are on a cruise ship and the deck host offers you a life preserver to wear because it  looks nice on you and will make your voyage on the waters more enjoyable. After a few hours you find it is not comfortable and actually is interfering with your pleasures and
activities aboard the ship. Also the others on the cruise say you don’t look good in it, make jokes about you and say you are out of touch with reality. So you take it off and go back to your more comfortable and familiar attire.  However, if the captain made an announcement that the
ship was sinking and you will die unless you put on the life preserver, you would not hesitate a minute. So the color is not to your liking, so it feels a bit uncomfortable and what if others are laughing at you, you put it on and keep it on because your life depends on it.

God told Jonah:

Jonah 1:2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

When Jonah finally obeyed and preached the judgment of God, look at the results:

          5  So the people of Nineveh believed God

9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way;

The city repented for fear of judgment.  Hardly any sugar coating here. If a person professed Christ only because it makes them feel better
about themselves or because they are promised a happier life they will turn back when the darts of the devil are hurled at them and trials,
troubles and persecution arise. 
It is much the same why with revival and evangelism. If we make it only appealing to men’s sin sick souls without the foundation of
repentance and conversion, men will soon discard it because of their false and baseless profession of Christ.  "Seeker sensitive" preaching
will produce "seeker centered" salvation rather than Christ centered glory.
Read the book of Acts. See the power in preaching the resurrection and coming judgment.  If we are to have a Holy Spirit revival there must
be preaching about sin as sin and exceeding sinful. Remember Jesus said:

Matthew 9:13 ... for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

There must be a warning:

Amos 4:12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

If sinners are to repent then they must see their sin and the consequence of unbelief, thus turning to God’s only begotten Son for salvation. If believers are to be revived they need to choose who they will serve and the folly of not living a holy Christian life. This can only be done when Preachers will Preach!!! 

Preach strong.            Preach bold.            Preach hard.

Preach the Word.