Revival

It is not headline news to state that North America desperately needs a revival. Yet many Christians today are focusing everywhere else. The economy as well as the US and Canadian elections are capturing everyone’s attention. Politicians promise that, if elected, they will solve the nation’s ills. Political and economic pundits discuss on television the answers to the enormous problems people are facing. It seems paradoxical that having such an abundance of people with answers for our problems that things seem to only be getting worse!

God has a way of exposing the futility of trusting in anything or anyone but Him. When people in Elijah’s day began trusting in Baal, the god of the storm, God exposed the idol for what it was. The farming nation of Israel believed that if you kept the storm god happy, he would send rain, abundant harvests would result, and everyone would enjoy prosperity. God could have done many things to prove the weakness of Baal, but the method God chose was filled with irony. He sent a drought that lasted for three years (1 Kings 17:1). How humiliating for a storm god to be unable to produce so much as a heavy dew in three years despite all of his worshippers’ pleading! It was only after the nation acknowledged on Mount Carmel who the true God was that God sent rain once again (1 Kings 18:41-46).

What has been the god for many Americans? Money. Money provided for their every whim and pleasure. It intoxicated them and led to ever increasing levels of greed. So what did God do? Sent an economic downturn. Money evaporated. Despite the efforts of the nation’s best economists, solutions continue to be illusive. God is seeking to gain His peoples’ attention! It ultimately took the nation of Israel three years of drought and then a spectacular display of fire coming down from heaven before they grudgingly acknowledged God’s supremacy. What will it take for America? God’s people ought to be praying fervently.

Travel

It has been encouraging to meet people all over the country who are asking God to do a fresh work in their lives. During the month of September I enjoyed speaking to pastors in Mauldin and Hilton Head, South Carolina. Since I have moved to South Carolina, I have certainly been delighted to meet so many wonderful pastors serving in the state who want to see God work mightily in their midst. I also had the privilege of speaking at a prayer conference in northeastern North Carolina. I also spoke at a Promise Keepers conference in Fort Lauderdale, FL and at Hot Springs Baptist Church in Hot Springs, Arkansas. I also spoke at the Founders Day Chapel at North Greenville University where two of my kids are enrolled (MY daughter was mortified that I might embarrass her in front of the entire student body!). I’d certainly appreciate your prayers in October as it is very full, including a trip to Korea and Hong Kong.

Reading

Presently I am reading The Life and legend of Jay Gould by Maury Klein. It is an interesting and timely read about huge ambitions and even larger doses of greed on the stock market that occurred in the 19th century. It is a compelling reminder that greed on Wall Street or among people in general is not a new thing! Age old sins find new heroes, models and technology but remain the same old sins.

I pray that during these tumultuous days in which we live that you are rising up to be a spiritual leader who makes a difference.

Posted by Richard Blackaby at 4:16 pm