Scriptures: 1 Kings 18:21-40, 16:32-35, Psalm 115:4-7
When we look at the challenges facing our culture, we are naturally led to pray for a spiritual awakening. Indeed, the greatest need in our churches, our homes, and our nation, is not men, money, might, machinery, or methods. The greatest need is for the fire of revival to fall on the pews of the church, the desks of the schools, the hallways of congress, and the oval office in the White House. Without question, North America indeed has experienced the corrupting flood of a revolution away from God's Word and ways. What we need now is the cleansing fire of revival. In this message, Dr. Merritt passionately lays out the biblical mandate and means for spiritual revival.
"Do you know what people who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ need? They not only need to know the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, they need to see the dynamic of the Holy Spirit alive in us. People will turn from a false god when they see the evidence of the true God living in us. The real test of a great church is not fame, how well it is known, not finances, how big is its budget, not figures, how many people attend; the real test is fire. Is the Holy Spirit on fire in us and is our church on fire for the Gospel of Jesus Christ?" --Dr. Merritt
Keywords: fire, revival, Holy Spirit, Elijah, prophet, infidel, Christians, prayer, fanaticism, ablaze, idols, altar, sacrifice, Lord
Pastors Edge provides Bible preachers and teachers with ready-to-use resources and materials based on the preaching of Dr. James Merritt, Senior Pastor at Cross Pointe Church in Duluth, GA and host of the international broadcast ministry Touching Lives.