10 Reasons Why We Need Revival — E.A. Johnston

The Need for Revival Amid Spiritual Indifference

Vance Havner once said, It seems everybody is holding a revival. It's about time somebody let loose of one. Oh, friends, how desperately we need revival in our day. I was preaching in a chapel at a Christian high school, and while I spoke, some of the kids smacked their chewing gum, and some of them giggled, and most of them seemed completely indifferent to what I had to say.

And afterward, the old pastor in charge of the school came up to me and said, I'm sorry these kids were not more attentive, but it breaks my heart because I really feel sorry for these kids because they don't know what it's like to experience the power of God in a meeting.

Then the old pastor got a faraway look in his eye and said, I remember years ago when I was young, and God was still moving in the land, and we teenagers would not want to leave the sanctuary because God was there.

And I saw a tear in that old pastor's eye as he reflected on those former days of glory. Now I know some folks today who are praying for revival. There's revival remnant all over this land, but they are in a minority.

Most churches feel they don't need revival because they are on the grow. Why mess up a building program with the alarming presence of a holy God? Well, I'm going to list ten reasons why we need revival today, friends.

Ten Reasons Revival Is Needed

You may want to get out your pens and paper and be ready to make a hash mark where you fall in as guilty as charged. Number one, we need revival when we are indifferent to the glory of God. Number two, we need revival when we are apathetic in our desire to experience more of God.

Number three, we need revival when we can't touch God in prayer. Number four, we need revival when we presumptuously indulge ourselves with sin. Number five, we need revival when we are not living for things of eternal worth.

Number six, we need revival when we are insensitive to the lost condition of those we know and have gotten lazy in our personal witness to those we don't know. Number seven, we need revival when Christ is no longer precious to us.

The luster's gone off the pearl a great price. Number eight, we need revival when we've lost our sweetheart love for Jesus. The thrill is gone. Number nine, we need revival when the excitement has worn off our Bible.

Number ten, we need revival when we think we don't need it. Let me ask you, friends, those of you who felt some conviction for your lack, do you think this sin-sick nation needs healing? Do you think our young people today need spiritual awakening?

Do you think our churches need a Holy Ghost revival? Then you can't complain about the state of these things if you're not willing to do something about it in your personal life and walk with God. Don't complain about how bad things are.

Personal Responsibility for Prayer and Holiness

If you're not willing to sacrifice the time to pray, don't complain about the moral downgrade in society. If you're not willing to share your faith with the lost around you, start stuffing some gospel tracts in your glove box, in your car, and hand them out to those you encounter during the day.

I got pulled over for speeding outside of Atlanta, and the Georgia state trooper showed me mercy and didn't write me a ticket. He just gave me a warning, and I looked him in the eye, and I asked him if I could give him something that would help me in my life.

He said yes. I handed him a little booklet on the Christian life with the gospel in it. He looked at it very seriously and thanked me for it. Why won't we share our faith? Why? That officer can end up with five bullets in him.

What if nobody ever told him about the one who came down here, so we can go up there? And, friends, don't whine about how bad things have gotten in the church if you aren't willing for God to make a change in you.

Revival Through Evangelism and Pastoral Self-Examination

The church is only an entity comprised of individual members, and if your church is at low ebb spiritually, brother pastor, then first go look in the mirror before you go to your knees in prayer. And, friends, are you concerned about our young people going to hell?

Why don't you go invite some awkward teenager to come to your home for some cake and a Bible study? When do we need revival? How about right now in an old-fashioned prayer meeting with you and the Almighty?

Let's get quiet before the Lord as we go to a time of confession and prayer. Let us pray.