(Clip) Where Are They Today？ — Shane Idleman

Prayer, Worship, and Obedience Kindle Holy Fire

What if we posted things on social media exposing the unfruitful works of darkness, but in a spirit of humility rather than remaining silent because of fear? Fire begins with prayer. It's fueled by worship and it is sustained by obedience.

Repentance Over Prosperity

I didn't expect to get too many claps on that one. But if I would have said, God's going to bless you beyond measure today. Whatever the sole of your foot touches, you're going to be blessed. That Mercedes you want, just go stop by the Mercedes dealer.

You just go walk around that place like Joshua. Seven times you say, this is mine, this is mine. Oh, we'd have a standing ovation. But when it comes to the fire of God and wanting more of God, it penetrates the heart and we have to repent of our callous and coldness.

Prayerlessness and the Need for Revival

Could powerless be the result of prayerlessness? Could powerless be the result of prayerlessness? Yes. Guys, why does this fire me up? Because we are living in dire times. Do you see the times we're living in?

It still blows my mind. Why aren't prayer meetings full? Why aren't we calling for nights of worship? We just must not realize we're just living in this bubble. This is a call specifically to men, but women, you can listen as well.

The Call to Men to Become Weapons in God's Hand

Men, did you know you can be an awful weapon in the hand of God? Women as well, of course. And I titled it, Where Are They? Where Are They? And it's from my book, If My People. And I threw this out to the congregation in Lancaster years ago, I still remember.

I wanna just throw out the challenge to you. And I wrote them down so you can see it. Let it penetrate your heart. Where are the Isaiahs and the Jeremiahs calling nations to repentance? Where are the Peters and the Pauls who spoke with such authority that martyrdom did not silence them?

Historical Voices Who Continued to Speak for Truth

Though they are dead, they shall speak. They still speak. Where are the Wycliffs who stood so unyielding for the truth that he was called the morning star of the Reformation? Where are the Tyndales and the Husses who were burned at the stake for simply declaring the truth?

Where are the Luthers who said, I can do no other when he was asked to recount all of his works? Where are the John Calvins who shaped the religious thoughts of our Western culture? Where are the John Knoxes who cried, give me the Scotland for the cause of Christ or I shall die?

Who's saying, give me America for the cause of Christ or I shall die? Give me the Antelope Valley for the cause of Christ or I shall die. Listen, God really had to deal with, let's pause for a minute.

God really had to deal with me for years ago, years ago. I didn't want to tell people where I'm from. How embarrassing for a Christian. Even now it's a badge of honor because I like it now. Palmdale, the meth capital of LA County.

Lancaster, this, have you checked this, the crime, this, this? Yes, I'm supposed to be a light in the darkness. Why aren't more people signing up to go thank the sheriffs in Lancaster and Palmdale? Church, where are we?

Why does such a small amount of people do the majority of the work? Every week it blows my mind. Do people not see what's going on in the world? We should be the most energetic, filled with holy fire people on the planets.

Revival Preachers Who Shook Their Nations

Where are the Whitefields who shook the continents? Where are the Hal Harris's, the Daniel Rowlands, and the Griffin Jones who preach with such passion during the Welsh revivals of the 18th century that we still honor them today?

I say again, where are they? Where are the John Wesley's who said, give me a hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God and we will shake the gates of hell? Where are the David Brainerd's who spent so much time in prayer that even the great Jonathan Edwards was convicted?

Where are the Robert Murray McShaney's who even though he died at age 29 was one of Scotland's most anointed preachers causing people to weep before he even preached a word? Where are the Spurgeon's who spoke with such authority that his sermons are read now more today than ever before?

Where are the Dio Moody's who brought America to her knees? Where are the Evan Roberts who during the Welsh revivals preached so powerfully against sin that people would cry out, no more Lord Jesus lest I die?

And where are the famous Puritans like Richard Baxter who preach I preach as a dying man to dying men? Where are they today? Guys, we need that holy fire. There's baptism for repentance. If you need to finally repent and give your life to the Lord, stop playing games with God, now's the time to do that.

Baptism of Reenlistment and Renewed Surrender

But there's also a baptism I call a baptism of reenlistment. I'm gonna show you the picture someday that in 2000, I got baptized again. And I was reenlisted. I'm fully in, I'm surrendered. I was baptized as a baby, blah, blah, blah.

I was baptized at five or six or seven, it meant nothing. But I'm getting baptized. I'm reenlisted. Reenlisted, I'm on fire again. I want that fire of God. If you wanna do that as well, let us know. We would love to baptize you.

The Kingdoms of the World Become Christ's

And I wanna end with this. They don't have it, but I just pulled it in. Next week, next week, as we read in 11, it's something very interesting. He says, and there was a loud voice in heaven saying the kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever.

Oh, we need to remind ourselves of that. We are not defeated. We are in a position of battle right now, but ultimately there is victory. The world, specifically, the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord.

Christ's Return and the Final Triumph of His Kingdom

See, never forget this. This is helpful. Jesus sits down at the right hand of the Father, right? The Bible says He's sitting down at the right hand. Oh, I'm gonna sit down. But at some point, He's gonna stand up.

But at some point, He's gonna get up. And as we keep reading, it says He comes back with the armies of heaven and His eyes are like flames of fire and on His head are many crowns. And out of His mouth goes a sword that He rules the nation.

He treads those nations with the white press in the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. That's Jesus. And when He stands up, when He stands up, nations tremble. The earth splits when He puts His feet down.

Even kings bow and armies flee from the presence of Christ.