A pastor was visiting another church with the possibility of taking a call there.  Inside the church he found a stirring bright banner on the wall.  "Come Holy Spirit!" declared its huge words, and over them was a picture of a fire burning, representing the Holy Spirit.  The pastor was interested in what the banner meant, especially when he realized it was hanging right above a fire extinguisher.  During the sermon his wife raised her hands and responded to the pastor's comments by saying, "Praise the Lord!"  An usher tapped her on the shoulder and said, "Sorry Ma'am, but we don't do that here."

          Well then, what does one do in churches, if not praise the Lord?  Are churches serious about the Holy Spirit, or do we keep a fire extinguisher handy in case the Spirit gets out of hand among God's people?

          The theme for today's worship service is "Revival in America."  When you hear the word "Revival," what comes to mind?  Tent meetings with sawdust floors, booming preachers and emotional conversions?  Does "Revival" remind you of special services to bring back drifting Christians, or a series of meetings to bring non-Christians to faith in Jesus?  Most of us don't include ourselves in thoughts of "Revival."  It is a foreign concept to most Lutheran Christians.

          However, today, there is a growing awareness of the need for biblical "Revival" in the Christian church itself.  The church is in urgent need of revival.  A quick look at our society reveals something is desperately wrong.  How did our nation end up so secular as it is today?  This past week a Supreme Court Justice retired and Washington, DC is getting ready for the war of words it will take to confirm a new justice.  Many are saying the condition of our society is due largely to the condition of the Christian church in this country.

          Let's be clear on a few things:  The Lord God has called all people to believe in Jesus.  Not everyone does, but many do, and those He calls must be part of the Church.  Church members are to be "in" the world, but not "of" the world.  God's Word is given us for the dual purpose of telling the Gospel and explaining Christian living.  We live in two kingdoms: the Kingdom of power and the Kingdom of Glory.  Some call them the Kingdom of Law and the Kingdom of Grace.  One deals with things of earth and the other with the things of heaven.

          Some people believe Christians are to be the spiritual and moral preservative of our society.  We are to be the light, guiding people to the Lord and His way of living.  That's a good and laudable purpose for the church, but it's not the main purpose.  The church exists to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, and whatever its followers do to better the world will let the light of the Gospel shine forth for all to see.

          But it's no secret the Church has lost its spiritual and moral influence.  The reason for this is fairly simple: the Christian Church in the United States and in other parts of the world has been influenced by the philosophy and standards of the world.  Surveys and polls show there is little difference between Christians and non-Christians in their values and behavior.  On this Independence Day weekend, not just the nation, but also the Church needs revival.

          Revival means believers in the Lord becoming spiritually alive once again.  Revival is individuals and congregations trusting in Jesus Christ once again.  Revival is the Lord cleansing His people.  Revival is God reforming His people for His purposes.  So how does God want this revival to come?

          In 2 Chronicles chapter 7 Solomon had just finished the temple and it was magnificent.  Thousands had gathered in Jerusalem and had prayed during the dedication.  The fire of God came down and consumed their offerings and sacrifices.  It was a powerful and mighty day when the Lord showed His presence at the temple dedication.

          That night the the Lord appeared to Solomon and gave him a blessing and a curse.  "Follow Me," He said, "and life will be okay.  But follow the ways of wickedness and there will be trouble."  First, God said, "If my people, who are called by my name..."  Are we still God's people?  Are we still called by His name?  Solomon lived in a theocracy where God ruled the nation.  Today that's not the case, nor can it be.  The Church is God's theocracy.  In the Church He is obeyed worshipped.  The nation is ruled by laws and maintains order.  The Church rules our hearts.

          God continues, "If my people…will humble themselves and pray..."  Humbling yourself is lowering yourself before God.  It is kneeling, even falling prostrate before God, inwardly and perhaps even outwardly.  Humbling yourself means acknowledging the greatness of God.  Today we stand before God, or we may sit, but we rarely kneel.  Maybe our church should have kneelers.  We kneel at the altar rail.  We bow our heads and admit our sins and our need for forgiveness.  Throughout the week we can humble ourselves before God in prayer.  But we must do it!  I don't pray like I once did.  We all need to humble ourselves more.  Prayer is more than a spiritual vending machine.  It is worship, telling God and our self that we need Him.  Prayer is the spiritual air we breathe, not the air of sin and depravity.  If we will pray, let's pray for what matters, not just more things that don't.

          "If my people…and will seek my face..."  To seek God's face is to focus on God through His Word in the Bible.  For that to happen, we dust off that Book of books.  We must open the Book of Life and see what it tells us about God.  We must hear its message and believe it is from God.  I get a magazine called "Biblical Archeological Review."  Its articles are all about the Bible and its times, and rarely do I find any article that says the Bible is the Word of God.  You and I must seek the face of God in His Word, the face that shows itself best in Jesus Christ.  When we seek God's face in His Word, life changes.

          "If my people will… and turn from their wicked ways..."  Here's the tough one.  Wicked ways are in vogue now.  In the name of freedom people do all kinds of wicked stuff.  We invent new ways to sin, but the bold and new is just old sin under a different name.  In the 1970's we called it the "new morality," but it was really just old immorality in a new disguise.  Today we don't even like to talk about morality because somehow "imposing your beliefs on others is wrong."  But it does no good to deny reality  - a life change is needed.  What do we need to change in our attitude or our lifestyle?  Or are we just fine the way we are?

          God now shifts from us to Himself.  If we do our part, then He will do His part.  2 Chronicles 7:14 continues, "...Then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."  God does hear our prayers.  He does forgives us, and He can heal our land.  He may not remove all our problems, but He will answer the humble heart.  You and I only see things in part.  One day we will see everything as a whole, like God does, and it will all make sense.

          Our Lord Jesus came to this earth seeking us.  He took our sins upon Himself and through Him God our Father freely forgives us.  The risen Lord helps us do the impossible - He helps us admit it and then change it.  As we seek His help He will free us from the evil around us.  As God brings revival to the church, so He will bring revival to America, and perhaps even to the world.  Meanwhile, we must keep the faith and trust in God.

          I'm one of those dinosaurs who still stop to pick up a penny.  Some laugh at this and others find it foolish.  Have you looked at one recently?  What does it say?  "United States of America?"  "One cent?"  "In God we Trust?"  Isn't it amazing that in this secular society the name of God shows up on every coin in our pocket.  'In God We Trust' is on every single US coin minted, but we never seem to notice it!  God tells us to trust Him every time we see a coin.  When I see a coin on the street, I pick it up, and then I put that penny together with many others and give them away.  When you or I see a penny lying on the street, maybe it's the Lord's way of reminding us to trust in Him.

          On this Independence Day weekend, let's not forget to honor the living, our brave men and women who have placed their lives in harms way to protect our liberties.  And let's not forget to honor the dead.  As Gen. George Patton once said, "When you hear of a soldier who has died, give thanks to God that he lived."  Christ died for our sins, and today we worship Him without fear.  Thanks be to God for all who have died protecting our right to worship God as we choose!

          Revival in America begins with revival in each one of us.  It means trusting in Christ, trusting that God will revive His people.  Revival is getting ready for His great second coming.  God grant that we "...who are called by His name, will humble ourselves and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways.  For then God will hear from heaven and will forgive our sin and will heal our land."  Amen

Copyright © 2005 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.