It should be clear to every thinking Christian, that the social and
cultural changes which began in the “sixties and seventies” of the twentieth
century, have placed us in a spiritually different world. Through the power
of the modern media, captivated by virulent ideologies, we face a historical
twilight of truth.
Current virulently infected Americanized Christianity, liberal and
conservative, has produced a majority of intellectual/emotional “believers”.
Rather than a true life-transforming heart-experience, “Christian faith” for
many is little more than a religious opinion, an idea (which may or may not
induce feelings), heads full of information, hearts devoid of eternal
revelation. Little wonder many appear to be “dead while they live”.
1 Timothy 5:6.
Just as, in the words of writer Evelyn Waugh, “The spirit of the age
is made of the spirits of the age”, so the spiritual level of the Church is
made of the spiritual condition of the members of the Church.
If we accept Scripture on its own terms, and take Christ’s emphasis
in the Gospels seriously, and hope to address the spiritual causes of the
madness of this moment in history, the majority of present-day Christians
must prepare themselves to reverse their direction in many areas of their
lives.
Virus-laden Americanized Christianity, so widely preached and
practiced, conveniently dulls the minds and hearts of this-world-loving
believers to the key truth which alone can release God’s healing power;
first in His Church and only then in the land.

MORE POWERFUL THAN E=MC2
God has given His people a once-for-all, time-proven, formula, which
when fully received and wholeheartedly followed, has never failed to bring
His promised heart-transforming Presence and power back to His people. The
neglect of this oft quoted promise is precisely why the enfeebled state of
the Church is the default cause of the spread of death and destruction in
society.
Here is the Lord’s clear promise; often cited, recited and slighted.
“If my people, which are called by my name,
Shall humble themselves,
And pray, And seek my face,
And turn from their wicked ways;
Then will I hear from heaven,
And I will forgive their sin, and heal their land.”
II Chronicles 7:14

Here is the iron logic of “if”- “then”. If we meet His condition
then He will hear, forgive, and heal. If we ignore or refuse, then, as
Israel of old, we will get what we deserve, and have no one to blame but
ourselves.
We must stop the pious recitation of these words and cry to God,
first for the purifying of our heart-motives, and a compelling desire and
ability fully to satisfy each prescribed condition.

JUDGMENT MUST BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD*
What every true follower of Christ is challenged to do is clearly
spelled out. It’s not theologically complicated.
If our land is not being healed, who’s to blame? The politicians,
the U.S. Supreme Court, the news media, the entertainment industry,
professional educators, the scientific community, corporate leaders, Wall
Street? Clearly these are all part of the problem and obviously none has
real solutions.
But the crucial problem behind the problems lies in the hearts of
those who have been given the eternal solution and have themselves, by
deserved forfeiture, become shamefully culpable.
If a deadly plaque was sweeping the land and a certain group had the
cure and neglected to use it, who could measure their guilt?
* I Peter 4:17
The once-for-all clear Biblical priority is for total concentration,
by every true believer, on meeting God’s graciously offered conditions. The
healing of the land that God has granted in past great revivals was never
apart from the miracle of individually changed hearts.
Our calling has never been to “save the world”, reclaim America for
God, transform culture, or “revolutionize” the Church.
Working for and supporting these goals, as high-sounding as they
seem, is easier than dying to self. Too often they appeal to the
self-preservation motive lurking in the hearts of Christians who have
allowed themselves to be infected with the viruses of the world-system.
Here and there some of God’s people are beginning to hear a
purifying prophetic word deep in their hearts. And that word is calling them
to a willingness to make a conscious renunciation of giving their time and
energy to the pursuit of their own desires and goals and focus on God’s
purpose for which all who are truly born from above have been brought to
this time and place. As those hearing what the Spirit is speaking respond,
they must realize they are to become the vanguard of intercessors for the
rest of the Church.

“GIVE HIM NO REST”*
Only God can “throw the switch” and release His supernatural power
for a widespread ingathering of precious souls. But as always it begins with
individuals. On the basis of His promises, we must believe that those who
will “never hold their peace day nor night.and give Him no rest.” until His
“salvation cometh”, can move His hand.
* Isaiah 63:6, 7, 11.
Meanwhile it is our task to sow and water. We sow by living
and speaking the truth in love; we water through prayers (and tears?) of
intercession for the lost around us and among us, and for another season of
mighty harvest.
Whether or not He will be merciful and grant us another widespread
“movement” of redeeming grace, which will heal our land, we have the
privilege (and responsibility) to pray for, and expect, His Presence and
power in our personal lives and local ministries no matter how deep the
surrounding darkness.
The questions each of us should begin with should not be asked of
ourselves or each other, but directly and unreservedly to God.
“Lord Jesus, what must I do, or stop doing, that I may have the
promised fullness of Your Presence and power consistently working in and
through my life?
Lord Jesus, what must I do, or stop doing, that you might grant me
the dominant desire to take time for pure praise to you, and effectual,
fervent, prayer for your Church and our land?”