Will this Election Launch Revival?
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The fervor surrounding this election has broken the scale. The church seems to have been awakened to the responsibility to cast their vote. Lines of cars heading to polling stations led to lines of people willing to wait for hours in some locations. This is very good.
It would seem the passion for righteousness is suddenly spiking and hopes for a mighty move of God are trending upward. Then again, maybe not.
Five Reasons Revival Should Not Be Expected – Yet.
ONE: Where are the lines?
I'm not talking the lines to pull the lever and vote. I'm referring to the lines to the prayer rooms. While intercession has been on the increase over the last several years, a culture of fervent, strategic prayer has not overtaken most of our churches. Fiery prayer must be the primary activity of every Believer. The pastors and the leaders who promote this in their churches will be key catalysts of authentic revival in the nation.
TWO: Who cares?
I hear more about how the election will effect Bitcoin than I do revival. I've been a raging, desperate revivalist for nearly three decades, and I'll never forget the sad epiphany I had near the beginning of my ministry journey. I discovered almost nobody cares about revival. It's not something they think about. It's not on their grid. They don't pursue it. They don't care.
THREE: Why would it?
I agree that having a wicked leader leading a nation can result in a weeping church that cries out night and day for God to intervene. In that regard, yes, a national election can impact revival. Aside from a negative stimulus and other nuances in the grand scheme, we have to understand that secular politics have little to do with spiritual awakening. Spiritual awakening, on the other hand, will have a mighty impact on the politics of America.
FOUR: Is it a priority?
Obviously, if few care about revival, why would we presume strategic pursuit of it would be a priority? For too many, the focus is not on awakening. People are paying close attention to other important yet lesser issues such as the economy and national security.
Of course, some of the policies we are campaigning for like the ending of abortion are at or near the top of the list. I do not mean to minimize desperately critical issues. What I am attempting to communicate is simple. For most, revival is near the bottom of their list of priorities, if it's on the list at all.
FIVE: Have we paid the price?
It's clear we haven't prayed the price. Sadly, few have paid the price either. They have not counted the cost and shifted their life sufficiently to have any expectation of revival coming to America. The price is too high.
The benefits of revival are nuclear in power, invaluable beyond measure. Any price is worth what this nation, our churches and our families would experience should a supernatural outpouring visit us. Dramatic miracles, healings, encounters, freedom from demons, moved mountains and a massive harvest of souls is held back by a quasi-interested church.
REVIVAL IS ON GOD'S AGENDA
As many have said, we aren't waiting God. He's waiting on us.
Let me make it clear with a shout from the rooftops! I believe a planet-shaking, supernatural outpouring of the Holy Spirit is coming. I sense it can come much sooner than later should the remnant church take it up about a hundred levels.
Revival is simply defined as biblical normalcy. We are supposed to be living in revival at all times. Jesus has done all that needs to be done for us to initiate revival, to live in it, to minister in it and to invite a dying world into it.
Winning an election does little to cause a sleeping church to start doing what must be done for revival to break out. The prerequisites are nonnegotiable and few have even started on them.
Intense prayer, determined growth, active faith, radical surrender and locking into a church that is giving itself to nonstop advance toward city-wide and national revival are critical first steps.
A politician can't do that for us.
Yes, a righteous leader can promote righteousness in a deeply wicked nation. There is much good that can come which is why our vote is so important.
But the day after election day, our responsibility shifts. It's time to fill the prayer rooms, to contend for revival and to cry out for God to move powerfully in America.
The level of our celebration or depression following the election is directly related to the level of our pursuit of revival.
If we prioritize a move of God more than the appointment of a politician, we'll be as invigorated and focused after the votes have been tallied as we were before.