From Faithfulness to Faltering: The Urgent Need for Revival in America
Isaiah 5:4, 7:9
What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
Today, I would like to pull from this text certain principles which can be applied to the church. One of my greatest concerns is the increasing number of churches throughout our land which have either reached a plateau, or who are in a decline, due to a desperate need for genuine revival! It is sad but true that many, if not most, churches in America today have more than any generation prior to us, and yet still do less for God than the same! I think of 2 Timothy 4:3-4, which says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” The word I’d like to emphasize is the word “heap”.
It is as if we’ve heaped to ourselves not only teachers of our personal preference, but we’ve also heaped to ourselves all of the modern bells and whistles which supposed to help a church most effectively impact her community like never before! Please do not take me wrong, as I am not against using modern tools and equipment to further the cause of Christ! If you want an effective radio ministry, internet ministry, or some other type of media ministry, that’s totally ok! If you want nicer buildings and padded pews, then by all means make it happen! Just don’t make the mistake of depending upon all of your stuff to replace what only the power of God can do!
I believe God would ask the church what He asked Israel so many years ago, “What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?” Child of God, what are you waiting on? I’m convinced that God has already given us everything we need to succeed in fulfilling the great commission, but what I’m also convinced of is that many are still waiting on something else or someone else to come along before they get engaged in the fight! Church, we have no excuses! We have more tools and resources at our disposal than any generation in history, but what good are they if we have no passion for Christ?
When we get passionate about Jesus again, that’s when we can turn the world upside down for Him, with or without our stuff! We don’t need money or buildings or people near as much as we need Him!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
Today, I would like to pull from this text certain principles which can be applied to the church. One of my greatest concerns is the increasing number of churches throughout our land which have either reached a plateau, or who are in a decline, due to a desperate need for genuine revival! It is sad but true that many, if not most, churches in America today have more than any generation prior to us, and yet still do less for God than the same! I think of 2 Timothy 4:3-4, which says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” The word I’d like to emphasize is the word “heap”.
It is as if we’ve heaped to ourselves not only teachers of our personal preference, but we’ve also heaped to ourselves all of the modern bells and whistles which supposed to help a church most effectively impact her community like never before! Please do not take me wrong, as I am not against using modern tools and equipment to further the cause of Christ! If you want an effective radio ministry, internet ministry, or some other type of media ministry, that’s totally ok! If you want nicer buildings and padded pews, then by all means make it happen! Just don’t make the mistake of depending upon all of your stuff to replace what only the power of God can do!
I believe God would ask the church what He asked Israel so many years ago, “What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?” Child of God, what are you waiting on? I’m convinced that God has already given us everything we need to succeed in fulfilling the great commission, but what I’m also convinced of is that many are still waiting on something else or someone else to come along before they get engaged in the fight! Church, we have no excuses! We have more tools and resources at our disposal than any generation in history, but what good are they if we have no passion for Christ?
When we get passionate about Jesus again, that’s when we can turn the world upside down for Him, with or without our stuff! We don’t need money or buildings or people near as much as we need Him!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill