Flames of Revival.

Strangely, the strongest fire burns in my heart.

I'll never forget Saturday, the 1st of April.

That day i cried out to God when i saw the affliction that was on the church.

Yes, the church.

We've been talking so much about how this generation of youths is lost in a life of misery, of aimlessness, with no purpose in their lives but to eat, sleep, make money, and die. Youths living a lifestyle that would put Sodom and Gomorrah in shame. As i was pondering this thought, Ps Ben's sermon touched my heart, that this corruption has crept into the Church. I believe that many of us had this "Fortress Church" thinking, that sin can never possibly enter the church.

We were so wrong.

Some would feel uncomfortable talking about this. I will talk about it nonetheless.

The Church is in a sad state today in Singapore. We have grown by alot no doubt. According to stats, Christianity is on the rise among our population, never seen before in recent years ever since the 80's revival. We have rich, beautiful mega churches, we have good and modern bands playing top quality Christian music. We've grown into an idea that we are more than able to handle any situation, and that we are indeed blessed.

Blessings?

Are you sure?

I'm not whacking any churches here, i believe that the Church must be united, and i'm not talking about Revival Centre Church alone, but the united Church of Christ - from every tribe, every language, every culture or background. But to see material growth as a mark of growth, there's really something wrong. I've heard and seen many cases of Christian who profess their faith, yet live their lives sometimes even worse than pagans who do not know God. I was once guilty of that, and even now i struggle in certain areas.

Okie, fine, the Singaporean Churches are growing both in numbers and money, in quality and quantity. But are these things what really God wants? It sort of reminds me about the Church in ancient Laodicea...

"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. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."
- Revelation 3:17-20

Wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

The very words of Jesus. Sad, isn't it? That's the condition of some of us, the state of the Church.

And on the night of 1st April 2006, God showed me this.

How can we bring revival to our lost generation when we the people of God walk unfaithfully before him?

This very thought let me to an outcry.

"God! Have mercy on me! Have mercy on us! We are a wretched and perverse generation. Deliver us! Deliver us! Let your Judgment passover us! We want to walk blameless and upright before You!"

Like Israel, we have turned our hearts from the one true living God. We have followed and worshipped after idols that we have set up. Idols of Self, of materialism, of sexual immorality, shrines to honour our own power, own achievement, our own success even in the Church.

I don't know why, but this really breaks my heart.

It does.

And in that instance, my heart was set a flamed. I prayed that we will not yield ground anymore to the enemy. It echoes the same cry i made months back, that never again shall we be victims, but we will take the offensive and strike where it really hurts; not throwing empty daggers of words and theatrics at him, it's time we bring in the weapons of mass destruction.

The words of the Prophet Joel....

Let the priests, who minister before the LORD,
weep between the temple porch and the altar.
Let them say, "Spare your people, O LORD.
Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
'Where is their God?' "
- Joel 2:16

It's the same cry our Church made that night. The same cry made by all our forefathers. The same cry that resounded in the heart of a carpenter's son as He went to the cross not becoz of power or fame, but becoz of a simple love for you and me.

Repentance of sin was the mark of every revival outbreak. The time of the outpouring is at hand. It has never been so exciting to live in such a time like this. And i pray that the flames of revival that is burning in many hearts this day will continue to rage on, till He establishes His Kingdom on earth.

So mein brothers, we are called to be God's Flamethrower division, to set hearts on fire, to spread forth the flames of revival, and to vanquish the enemy's strongholds.

God speed.