Four Obstacles to Revival
The vision of Revival in Our Time has never wavered. We seek to bring ministries together to bless one another in a collaborative effort to bring revival to American and around the world. God gave this vision to our founder, Don Haley, and Don has imparted it to our Board and our 120 prayer warriors.
But revival never comes easily. There are some reasons for that. This week, let’s briefly consider four obstacles to revival.
- Unconfessed sin – The late George T. Stephens declared, “There is just one thing that hinders God’s power and stands as an obstacle to revival. That is unconfessed and hidden sin in the hearts of Christian people.” The fact is, sinners in the world never hinder revival; sinners in the church do. But we have this promise – “If we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
- Unforgiveness – An outbreak of revival has never been birthed in unforgiving hearts. Pastor John Kilpatrick wrote, “Releasing those who have hurt you will release you to progress in God’s plan.” We read in the Sermon on the Mount, “If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14). Before God can bring harmony on earth, there must be harmony in the body of Christ.
- Lack of desperation – God shows up big when we want him big. The problem in the church today is that we only want a little bit of God. We lack desperation. A.W. Tozer once wrote, “Revivals come only to those who want them badly enough. The average Christian is too contented.” I love the story of the man who was paralyzed for 38 years. Before Jesus healed him, he asked him one question: “Do you want to be well?” (John 5:6). The word “want” implied desperation. It is when we get desperate that God gets busy.
- Modernism – Douglass Small, founder of Project Pray, observed, “This is the age for experimentation.” Because the church is too enamored with appearing relevant and open, she has become closed to the supernatural flow of God. Revival will only come today as it has always come – “when God’s people who are called by God’s name, repent and seek his face” (2 Chronicles 7:14).