Breaking Point: Revival Or Wrath

One of the greatest revivals in American history happened right here in Kentucky. Perhaps you’ve heard of the Cane Ridge Revival that took place not too far from here in Bourbon County in the early 1800’s. It has been described as the largest and most famous camp meeting of the Second Great Awakening. It was a large camp meeting held by ministers from various congregations including Presbyterians, Methodists, and Baptists. Most estimates indicate that between 10,000 – 20,000 people were in attendance. During the meetings, several ministers would preach at the same time at different locations throughout the camp area. This is often credited as being the setting for the birth of the Restoration Movement and the Independent Christian church we’re a part of today.

Today I want to talk with you about what I believe is our great need for a revival in our generation. I believe that America is a nation on the brink of judgment. Let's take a look at just a few of the signs of the times that lead me to feel that way...

ABORTION -- Since Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973, over 56 million babies have been murdered. That’s more than the total population of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona! We have sacrificed a generation of children on the altar of convenience and called it the “freedom of choice.”

SEXUAL IMMORALITY -- We’re now roughly 30 years into the sexual revolution that began in the 1960’s. (Adultery) The Kinsey Institute estimates that, during their married lives: 37 percent of American males will prove sexually unfaithful to their wives. 29 percent of American wives will commit adultery. (Pre-marital sex) These type of statistics are inexact, but most experts in the field agree that somewhere over 60 percent of American teenagers have had sexual intercourse by the time they finish high school. We've seen times like this before, church. Listen to the words from Paul's letter to the church at Rome. Romans 1: 24, “Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.” (Homosexuality) In recent decades, we’ve seen homosexuality redefined. A growing number of people no longer consider it a sin to be repented of, but rather an alternative lifestyle to be embraced and accepted. Today, our Supreme Court is debating the idea of legalizing gay marriages. Again, church, we've seen an empire deal with this symptom of moral breakdown. Romans 1: 26 – 27, “Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received within themselves the due penalty for their perversion.” I could go on and on delving into specific sins that plague our nation today.

Another phenomenon America is experiencing today is that we are materially rich, but spiritually destitute.We often don’t think of ourselves as wealthy. When I say “wealthy,” you probably picture the people that make a little more than you do. But, compared to the rest of the world, even many of our poor are considered wealthy. Most of us in this room don’t really know what it’s like to trust in God for our daily bread -- because we’ve got a roof over our heads, food in the fridge, and money in the bank. Now that’s good to be a wise steward of the resources God has blessed us with. But, if we’re not careful, we can begin to overly trust in material things instead of God. We claim we can’t afford to tithe to the Lord while we perpetuate a lifestyle that we’ve come to regard as normal in America. Our thoughts become preoccupied with how we can spend, consume, and accumulate rather than how we can serve the Lord

We've seen this problem before as well. This was the problem with the church at Laodicea. Revelation 3: 17, “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.” We not only become selfish with our money, but it also shows up in our time. We’ll give God an hour on Sunday, but don’t ask for anything more. One of the problems with having an abundance of provisions is that they can mask our need for God and daily dependence upon Him. Perhaps that’s what Jesus was talking about when He said… Matthew 19: 23, “… I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.”

We are increasingly becoming a nation that is rejecting God. Last week, I shared with you about the rising number of people who profess no faith in God. Increasingly, we see a movement underway to remove our nation’s Christian heritage and moral foundation. It's as if the "one nation under God" that cried out to God for help in forging this nation through the American Revolution and looked to God for strength through two World Wars and the "Greatest Generation" of Americans," finally said to God, "Thanks, we've got it now. We can do it on our own." Not only do we seem ungrateful today, but we seem bent on removing all mention of God from the public arena. I don’t think that I really need to say a lot today to convince you that our nation is facing a serious moral crisis.