We do not intend for the church to be revived and the lost saved.
If we did, we would make a plan to work toward that end (at all costs) and would work the plan.
We would not give up or give in.
We would persevere until we saw the revival come and the lost being saved and then we would work diligently to keep that move of God alive. This only comes through prayer and the Word, faith and obedience.
If the church intended to be revived she would take the steps necessary for her own reviving and revitalization (after all God has surely already taken His steps which are necessary for us to be revived).
Furthermore, if the church intended that the lost be saved we would invest time and money and people in order that it would be accomplished. But as it is, the church does not intend to be revived or to lead lost people to Christ for she is too busy with being busy. She is too busy trying to figure out her purpose. She is too busy fighting with herself. She is too busy majoring in the minors. She is too busy tending to temporal matters. If the church were serious about being revived and making disciples she absolutely has all power and authority, blessing and privilege, tool and resource, Word and Spirit available right now, from the Lord Jesus Christ, for it to happen. The question is whether or not we want it. (And why do we want it, and at what cost?)
Furthermore, the reality of revival is that it only comes with confession and repentance and a pursual of that which is clean, pure and holy. Revival only comes with a pursual of love. Revival only comes with self-denial and with faith unto obedience and with pursuing fruit that keeps with repentance. Revival only comes by pursuing the Lord and taking Him at His word regarding ALL things. If we as individuals and as the church of God, the bride of Jesus Christ, intend to see revival we must begin by repenting. We must unashamedly, unreservedly turn our back on the things that are sinful, unholy, unclean and impure. God would not call us to do something that we could not do, and therefore we know that His prevenient, saving, sanctifying, reviving grace is already present to enable us to repent.
In conclusion, it must be said that we as Christians do not actually intend that lost people get saved by the witness of our words or the ministries we offer or the worship services we lead. For if we did we would set out that people be saved and we would take every step and make every effort for us to come into contact with lost people and for lost people to come into contact with the gospel. We would make sure our words, actions, ministries and preaching all included the presentation of the gospel and the willingness and readiness of the Lord Jesus to save right now. We would ask people of the condition of the souls and we would share the hope of the gospel. We would pray for lost people, and we would pray with lost people.
May this reminder awaken those who sleep (especially if we are the ones sleeping!) and may we set out with our faces resolute and our hearts steadfast that the church be revived and the lost be saved.
O Lord forgive us! O Lord help us!
Pastor Michael Johnson 