THE RIGHT VISION, THE RIGHT LEADER, THE RIGHT TIME- NOW!

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV)

Elvis was right: “It’s now or never!” Some things of great importance are so urgent there can be no delay. Joining with leaders with a God-sized vision for the soul of a nation is an urgent concern that should rally us to immediate action. The time for urgent, “extraordinary prayer” is NOW!

Our new SBC President, Dr. Ronnie Floyd, has issued a clarion call- an invitation loud and clear- that every Southern Baptist join him in “extraordinary prayer” for personal revival, revival in our churches, and national spiritual awakening. Early this morning, I committed to him the unqualified support of Hyde Park Baptist/The Quarries Church in this heart cry for our souls, our congregations, and our nation. How could we do otherwise? The time is NOW! (You can read Dr. Floyd’s urgent call here http://www.ronniefloyd.com/blog/7143/southern-baptist-convention/the-call-to-columbus-june-16-17-2015/)

Years ago, a prophetic voice in the music world, the late Keith Green, wrote and sang these alarming words of assessment about our times, “The world is asleep in the dark, that church just can’t fight- ’cause it’s asleep in the light!” I am praying the Body of Christ wakes up and I believe that it is already happening. But we are only at the beginning stages, much more remains to be done.

Our great nation is on a dangerous precipice and at a “tipping point.” If God does not intervene, the moral slide and the sins of our generation will escalate far beyond human control. In fact, we are already there and living by grace at this moment! How long will God delay judgment? Look around, it has already begun! It is past time for the Church to rise up on its knees to intercede as a Kingdom of Priests to pray for our own hearts, our homes, our churches, and the United States of America. The Apostle Paul insisted the Church is key to the healing of some of our world’s deep fears and frustrations. When the Church functions as originally intended and designed-as His Body- our decadent culture will get a glimpse of what it desperately needs, but cannot naturally recognize!  “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:19 ESV) The world may not know it, but it needs the Church to be manifested clearly as the Church!

In his book, “Heart Cry for Revival” the late Dr. Stephen F. Olford warned that if America doesn’t see ‘revival’, there will be no ‘survival’ for our great nation. I believe that, and the storm clouds of geo-political, economic, social, ecological, moral, and spiritual troubles are darker and more obvious than at any time before. But God CAN still save us!

The time is NOW. Even though this particular call is coming from our denominational leadership, this is not a denominational issue! As we have clearly seen in our own city, that the burden for revival and extraordinary prayer is already shared by churches of every kind. For the sake of our future as a people, for our children and grandchildren, we must put factionalism and denominational differences aside for this call to prayer and revival! What can be accomplished if we separate from other passionate, Bible believing Christians over petty differences, only to lose a nation as a result? No! We won’t do it! If Jesus is your God you are my brother! Let’s meet in the “prayer room”(so to speak) as the Body of Christ, His “house of prayer,” and claim this nation for Christ! It’s not too late! 

During these weeks of summer, I am prayerfully seeking God’s direction for our church and it’s ministries for 2015 and beyond. The theme and the burden of revival and prayer are not new to us as a church or to me as a pastor. These twin passions are the convictions of my life! In the days ahead, as I pray, these two lights will guide my planning and my focus: prayer and revival. Stay tuned, but start praying now for what God wants to do. THIS IS THE REASON WE ARE HERE NOW- TO PRAY FOR AND EXPERIENCE REVIVAL. WE ARE EITHER A ‘REVIVAL GENERATION’ OR WE ARE WITNESSING THE LAST GREAT HOPE FOR A GREAT NATION. I believe we are a ‘revival generation,’ but there is a price to pay. It is time to begin.

I love you. I love our church . I love our city. I love Texas. I love America. It is time for extraordinary prayer and revival. The time is NOW!
~jkb

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