-
- Today's Program
- Today's Resources
- Podcast
- Past Programs
- Future Programs
- Listen in Your Area
- Seeking Him
-
- True Woman '10
- Nancy's Speaking Schedule
- Pure In Heart Conferences
- Women's Ministry Directors' Retreats
-
- The Gospel Story
- True Woman
- Topical Help
- Email Subscriptions
- 30-Day Challenges
- Printable Downloads
- Desktop Wallpaper
-
-
Join the Email FamilyRelated Products
Related Links
Get Nancy's teaching delivered directly to your Inbox Related Scripture |
Daily ProgramRevival and Repentance21 Series: We Need Revival! An Interview with Dr. Henry Blackaby Tuesday, July 18 2006  Leslie Basham: Where do people most need to repent? Capital Hill? Hollywood? How about the church? Here’s Dr. Henry Blackaby. Dr. Henry Blackaby: We cannot keep blaming everybody else for the condition of America. When it dawns on us that the condition of America is a reflection of the condition of God’s people, at that point we will then cry unto God, “O God, show us what’s missing from our life, and how do we return so that God will once again manifest His presence?” Leslie Basham: This is Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss for Tuesday, July 18th. I know so many people who have been deeply affected by the book Experiencing God. If you were with us yesterday, you heard from its author, Henry Blackaby. He described revival as the life of God influencing the people of God. Others then notice and want that life for themselves. Why doesn’t that happen more often? Dr. Blackaby is back to give you some ideas. Here he is continuing a conversation with Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Dr. Blackaby, there is, as you know, a lot of activity in the evangelical world today. There are mega-churches, mega-movements, media ministries, publishing. It’s not that there is a lack of activity. I’ve heard, even recently, some say that that means we really are in the throes of revival. But you’re talking about saying that we need to recognize that the presence of God, the manifest presence of God is somehow missing in the midst of all this. What’s the evidence of that? What is it that we’re missing? Dr. Blackaby: We’re missing the result of the presence of the holiness of God. You cannot have God in your midst and remain as you are as a people of God. You will come under severe conviction of sin. God’s people will feel the awesome presence of the holiness of God and expose their sin and will cry out unto God in repentance. Nancy: Now, we have though in our services. . . . I’m just trying to think in a frame of reference that many people are going to church week after week; they’re very involved. We go to our services. We sing praise songs about holiness, lift our hands, whatever the format is in your church. I think a lot of people would say, “What is it that we need to repent of? What is all this sin you’re talking about? We can see it out in the culture. We can see it in the world, but what is it in the church that concerns you that we need to be concerned about and that God is concerned about?” Dr. Blackaby: Let me give you a list. I think God’s people have removed repentance from their vocabulary for God’s people. If the word repentance is used in most evangelical churches, some are going to bow their heads and say, “O God, I hope there is someone here who is lost and needs to repent.” And God would say, “No, no, no. It’s you who need to repent.” You have divorce running rampant throughout the church, and nobody is doing anything. Nobody calls people to repentance because of divorce. There’s no grief reaction on the part of God’s people. Nancy: We’re just accepting it as the way it is. Dr. Blackaby: And the scripture says, “God hates divorce.” That’s a direct quote from Malachi 2:16. Nancy: You don’t hear that kind of preaching today though. Dr. Blackaby: No, and that’s probably what’s happening, and the people need to repent. There ought to be a profound grief of what we’ve done to God’s name, what we’ve done to the entire gospel. It’s a gospel of reconciliation. If God’s people can’t reconcile one with another, then we have sinned grievously against God. If the church doesn’t deal with it, then the church has sinned. We have broken relationships, and everyone feels that’s just okay. We lose members, and nobody pursues them because we have moved from relationship to religion. We assume that by actively practicing religious activity, that is relationship to God. Nancy: Well, there’s a lot of good feeling, a lot of emphasis on experience today, but it’s possible to be praising and singing and clapping and going to classes and sitting through services and not be right with God. Dr. Blackaby: Not even have a relationship to God. If you read Isaiah, chapter 1, he condemns all of that—including the raising of the hands and the prayers and all the rest and the sacrifices. He said, “They’re an admonination to me.” Primarily, because they had equated activity with relationship, but their hearts were far from God. Nancy: “They honor me with their lips, . . . Dr. Blackaby: . . . but their hearts are far from me” (Isaiah 2:13). When God was about to destroy Israel, they were at their height of their religious activity. They would say, “We’re keeping the law; we’re doing the sacrifices.” But their hearts had departed, and they were now worshiping other idols. They never saw anything wrong with that. As long as they were worshiping God, they felt they could do both. As long as God didn’t immediately discipline them, then God was okay with what they were doing. It was the religious leaders that never got the message. When He came to Jerusalem and Judah, it was the religious leaders of God’s people who never got the message. So God said, “I’ll send my son; they’ll listen to him.” But the religious leaders of the people of God in Jesus’ day not only refused the message, but they crucified the Son of God. Now, Nancy, it may not be popular to say, but as I go across America, the religious leaders of our day are no different. God’s people are still full of sin. As long as there is sin in the life of God’s people, families broken. . . . There are some places in Texas I heard where they have safe houses for abuse in family life. The largest majority of those who come are wives of church leaders. I talked to the person who directed it for all of Texas, and she was hesitant to say that to me. I’d say we have such brokenness in our churches, but nobody is repenting. Prayer meetings are not being conducted with great intercession, with proper focus on prayer. What is it that we pray about? When you pray for revival, do you pray, “O God, send revival.” Or do you say, “O God, bring repentance profoundly to our congregation. Lord, we don’t even know what we should repent, but you do. We’re not seeing the manifest presence and activity that is Yours in our church, O God. Would you – no grief and no praying, no Gethsemane experience in the life of the churches. When God’s people don’t pray and pastors don’t pray with their staff and deacons don’t pray significantly. . . . I realize it’s a generalization, and there are exceptions. But when I go across the nation, I do not see a significant change in the prayer life of God’s people. But we’re the salt. Nancy, what did Jesus say happens to the salt when it loses it’s saltiness? It’s good for nothing but to trod under the foot of men (see Matthew 5:13). I see America treading under their feet the evangelical community. We are not influencing the nation. We could speak, and they couldn’t care less. But it didn’t use to be that way. It used to be that if some evangelical leader spoke, the whole nation took note. Leaders would think twice about doing some things. Nancy: The pastors were the prophets in those days. Dr. Blackaby: They were. But today, they can speak and nobody listens. They just sort of yawn or say, “Well, that’s just them again.” Nancy: We’ve lost our credibility. Dr. Blackaby: We’ve lost our spiritual credibility. Now, should we then repent? We better. We cannot keep blaming everybody else for the condition of America. When it dawns on us that the condition of America is a reflection of the condition of God’s people, at that point, we will then cry unto God, “O God, show us what’s missing from our life and how do we return so that God will once again manifest His presence?” But I’m afraid we have become content to live without the manifest presence of God, and that is fatal. Nancy: I wonder if most people even have a concept of what that would be like, to have the presence of God. Have we gone so long without it, not having witnessed it, that we think this is normal? Dr. Blackaby: Yes. If we feel something exciting, it must be God. I’d say this generation has almost no reference point to an incredible presence of God. We have no reference point. We don’t know what it would look like. We cry unto God, “Show us what we need to do so that You can once again manifest Yourself in the midst of Your people.” But I tried to prepare them. When people say, "We’re praying for revival." I said, “Has anyone ever prepared you for such an encounter with the holiness of God?” “Well, no, we’re just praying for revival.” And I said, “I think if revival came, many of you would be so shocked at the experience some of you would respond immediately knowing it was God, the remnant. But others would try to shut it down because this is not seeker friendly.” We’re far more concerned with what the world thinks about us than we are of what God thinks about us. But we’re a covenant people of God. Our first concern should not to be how the world sees us, but how God sees us. We need to see our lives as God sees us. Nancy: He’s addressed that whole need for a greater sense of God’s holiness in the church and a need to hear preaching on some of those tough subjects like the judgment of God, the need for repentance in the church. I guess the question we have to ask is what difference can I make? How do I need to change? What do others need to see in my life? We often pray for revival in our churches, but it’s easy to forget that the church is made up of people and individuals—you and me. So when we talk about deficiencies we see in the church or the church’s need for revival, that means we need to take a hard look at ourselves because we make up the church. So I need to ask myself, am I being the salt, the light that God wants me to be? Am I a repenter? Do I see my life as God sees it? If you’ve been touched by the things Dr. Blackaby has shared today and the Spirit of God has been working in your heart, then I want to encourage you to join me in praying. Lord, would you please send a revival? Our world needs it; our church needs it; my family needs it, but Lord I need to be revived. Would you please revive my heart? Help me to see my life as You see it and fill me with Your Spirit so that others can see You in me, amen. Leslie: If that’s your heart and you’re praying for revival with Nancy Leigh DeMoss, would you send us an e-mail and let us know. You can e-mail us by visiting www.ReviveOurHearts.com. Follow the directions there, or you can post your message on our listener blog. Look at today’s transcript, scroll to the bottom, and add your comment. You can read other listeners comments as well. When you’re at Revive Our Hearts, please get a copy of Nancy’s workbook, Seeking Him: Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival. The chapter on repentance will help you understand what the Bible says about the topic. It will also help you apply the truth to your life and your behavior. Seeking Him will help you recognize revival not just as an emotional high or a series of meetings. It will help you see how revival can transform every area of your life with discussions on humility, honesty, forgiveness, and purity. To get Seeking Him, along with the series on CD which includes more conversation than we had time to air, visit our website. Yes or no. According to Dr. Henry Blackaby, we’re saying one of those two things to God every time we encounter Him. Find out more tomorrow on Revive Our Hearts. Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss is an outreach of Life Action Ministries. All Scripture was taken from The New International Version. Note: Special offers available only during the broadcast of the radio series. 
Read and post comments about: Revival and Repentance*The following comments do not necessarily reflect the views of Revive Our Hearts. We reserve the right to remove comments which might be unhelpful, unsuitable, or inappropriate.
 Tina (on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 1:26 AM)
"I have been seeking a closer relationship to God for a long time and was feeling so distracted by the daily "frustrations" of life with relationships , seeds of bitterness & resentment popping up, "busyness" at work and home, etc. I recently had surgery and a 2 month recovery at home and spent that time in hours of Bible study and prayer, literally on my knees ! What a blessing God had in store... the actual process of kneeling before our Holy God and reviewing all His names and attributes day after day, totally overwhelmed me with His love and grace. Repentance is the central theme for me now with surrender and obedience. How else can I even approach our holy God or expect any good to come from me except through Him who loves so completely. Thank you for your encouragement to continue seeking Him." Marcia (on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 7:57 AM)
"I've joined those who want personal revival. I prayed that prayer with you this morning as I listened to your program on WRVL. Dr. Blackaby's comment that the state of America is because of the state of Christians is heartbreaking, but I believe true. Please include m in your prayers." Norma (on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 9:44 AM)
"I agree complelely with Dr. Blackaby. I attend a mega church in Louisville, Ky. and our church has always preached the Word, evangelized the lost, be a conscience in the community and has stood up publically against abortion, marriage one man and one woman , and preach and pray for repentance to the extent that our minister( who just retired) received death threats, and needed a body guard etc. Dr. Blackaby has talked to our congregation. A lot of us who attend Southeast Christian church are persecuted, even by other christians in the community. Sarah (on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 10:19 AM)
"Lately I have been really wondering WHY when I pray. It seems that my mind just wanders and I can't concentrate. Why is that? It has felt like my heart wasn't there, but I so wanted it to be. My prayers are genuine as are my needs, but my mind just goes and goes about other things. I found myself thinking of other things in the middle of my prayer. Today I turned on the radio and changed from the country station to the Christian station, not really knowing what I would hear. As I listened to the program God told me the answer to my question of WHY. It is because my heart isn't there. I need a revival of my heart and I need it fast. I realized that maybe, for whatever reason, I am just going through the motions. Like Isaiah says, I am professing with my lips, but my heart is far from God. I didn't do this intentionally, and I don't know how it hapend. I did pray with Nancy this morning, and I am so glad that God led me to turn on the christian radio instead of my normal radio. It's wonderful that God always knows our hearts and our hurts. He knew I was hurting becuase of how I felt when I tried to talk with him, so he showed me how to take the pain away and be near him again. Tammy (on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 10:35 AM)
"I have noticed something over the last 5 yrs or so. Whenever I hear 2 Chronicles 7:14 quoted (even by preachers), they leave out the phrase: "and turn from their wicked ways". Look it up; it's in there. Sadly, I find this quite revealing. It's easy for us to do things in the name of "seeking God", but we are unwilling to turn from OUR wicked ways. Mary (on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 10:41 AM)
"Thank you! Thank you! for your interviews with Dr. Blackaby. I know this is God's perfect timing in my life. I read his book when it first came out and the Holy Spirit guided me to re-read it with last couple of weeks. Wow! now I really underdstand it having one through my own spiritual revival within the last year. But what God had to do to get me there was beyond description. Nine years in the desert and wilderness after rebelling against God. I came to know God dramatically and served Him for 17 years with much fruit. But there was something in my HEART that had to come out. I prayed 10 years ago for God to get it out after me doing everything rigorously to get rid of it on my own. Well, the way God does things and the way we do things is radically different. But God had to show me what was really in my HEART. It's all about the HEART. Whatever is in there will come out. I was like a stubborn mule and horse resisting God (but not really realizing it). I was doing EVERYTHING good on the outside, and some good things on the outside, but when God chooses us, some is not enouth. He wants ALL OF OUR HEARTS. What is inside will come out. We get turned inside out and outside in. The pain, suffering, discipline, judgment are beyond description, but God gets us through it if we desire to follow Jesus. Our consciences will not allow us to continue in our crooked ways, and ONLY God can get us out. We have to die to self, and that is painful. But the joy of a renewed Fellowship with God is pricelsss. I am re-reading "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life" by Donald S. Whitney and it is so exciting. Freedom comes in being disciplined. We want freedom and we think it comes through no restraints, but it is just the opposite. If we are truly born from above, God is still guiding us even though we don't know it. I was so rebellious and disobedient, I thought I even lost my salvation. It was horrible to have had a relationship with Jesus and then be out of fellowship with Him. But God kept me and was guiding me even though I didn't even know it. God wants us to grow, and He will do whateve it takes for us to be Holy like He is Holy. Never give up, because God will never give up on you. SEEK GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEARTS." Maria (on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 10:48 AM)
"Thank you! What an encouragement! When I share with other Christians that things that need to be taught in churches are not being taught, a lot of times I am told I am being too hard or critical, but there is more to teaching God's Word than "God loves you". That is an essential message, yes, but it is not the whole message. Marita (on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 11:57 AM)
"Dear Nancy, Lily (on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 12:50 PM)
"I am deeply touched everytime I hear Dr. Blackaby speak as I sense that he is not just giving me more information but speaking from having sat listening to the still, quiet voice of God. How my heart longs to know God in a deeper way. I have grown up in the church in a supposedly Christian home, but our family is miserable with many unresolved conflicts. God has clearly shown me that we are not much different than most "Christian" families in the United States. My heart is heavy with sorrow over my own need for revival and my deep concern that if the church in America does not repent soon we may suffer the same fate as unbelieving Israel and be led into capitivity by a godless nation. I pray that whatever happens I will be faithful and not deny the God who has been forever faithful to me. Please pray for me, my family and our nation. God gives my heart reason to hope when I focus on Him and not myself. The God who loves our nation tells me that discipline must happen if there is not a turning from our sin. We only learn obedience through suffering and our prosperity has made us forget our deeper spiritual needs. May God have mercy on us,as He continues to work all things after the counsel of His will." Christine (on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 1:19 PM)
"How refreshing to hear the truth! "And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." Praise the Lord there are still Esther's and Daniel's today that will not compromise! I thank God for you and may you be encouraged IN HIM! Martha. " Martha (on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 3:34 PM)
"I was so excited to hear your radio program today. It is uplifting always, but today a man's voice came on talking about some issues I've struggled with in my own church. I haven't heard the word "repent" from our pulpit. I don't know if I ever have and we've been members there since 1996. My pastor verbally admitted one night that "On one comes to the revivals, so why have one?" I'm entertaining the idea of giving him this transcipt of yours and Mr. Blackaby's to read. Of course, before I become the hypocrite, I need to search my heart and pray and confess and repent myself. Our congregation is not united. We have some Southern Baptist doctrinal issues which remain unknown to the majority of the members. Many of us are split on some aspects of the Bible. Even without that, we have problems. In a nutshell, the world has come through the door of our church: pride, self-centeredness, lack of hatred of sin and lack of humility and grievance over sins. Everyone is afraid that they will offend someone. I'm not saying my pastor is this way, but many of them are afraid to preach the truth, sin, hell and repentance, for fear they will make someone mad, and especially those who give the church a lot of money. The way I understand my relationship with God is I can have one with Him through Jesus Christ as my Savior. He doesn't want me to sin because He hates sin. If I do sin, I should repent from it. My pastor has been known to say that we do not need to confess our sins because we did that when we were saved. Anyway, I better go. thank you for your program. I pray for you sometimes. Lauri (on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 3:48 PM)
"It's so good to hear from the remnant!! Stand firm in the truth of God's Word and it will set you free!!! Jennifer (on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 3:55 PM)
"God be praised...someone actually talking about "true" revival...Nancy...God has used your ministry to cause me to "revive my heart" everyday. His anointing is definitely working within you and those who labor with you. God we repent and turn from our evil ways...amenrnrnPraising Him in Dayton OH" Darrell (on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 4:29 PM)
"This has been such a great conversation/teaching today that I have been checking to see when new comments come in. God be praised indeed!, Darrell. And it was super to hear Jennifer speak of the "remnant". You don't hear much about those who make up that body of believers. I have a question though about who comprises it. Is it everyone in the Body of Christ, those walking with Him or not (is it possible to just have "fire insurance"?)? Lauri made comment about not hearing about repentance being preached from their church's pulpit since they have been there, since 1996! Whoa! And how about the preaching of Christ's Second Coming? I hear a few pastors/preachers on the radio and TV tackle that subject. Nancy, you and Dr. Blackaby addressed Israel's not wanting to truly worship God ("in Spirit and in Truth"), but only pay Him "lip-service" since their hearts were far from Him, alas. This message has certainly brought to light the need for all of us to let Holy Spirit do His sancitifying work of conforming us to Jesus Christ's image. Thank you both so much for "speaking the truth in love", because the "love of Christ constrains" you. It is so sad that people don't/won't receive the Truth, "Christians" especially, but this brings up an entirely different subject - the "wheat and the tares". Those who have commented on the pride, etc. seen in the churches, if lovingly confronted those who "oppose" them, might just be persecuted for it. It happens. Jesus said we should expect that there will be those who will kill (the remnant) thinking they are doing God a favor. The prophets and the Greatest Prophet Himself were slain for witnessing of the truth. But someone also pointed out that we should be most concerned with pleasing and honoring God, rather than man. Amen to that! And praise God if He has delivered you from that awful bondage! Heavenly Father, we are SO thankful that You have considered us Your children/people. May we live to please,honor and obey You, always and forever. In Jesus' Name, Amen!" Sister (on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 6:42 PM)
"Right ON! Wow! If we as God's people are not in a perpetual state of revival/repentance/renewal, then we either fossilize or blend in to the culture. Its unavoidable. If God's words are not flowing through our veins and affecting our actions and our words, we are just "playing church," and repentance is definitely in order. If we are not constantly seeking to lead others to the knowledge of Christ, then we are in error. "Seeker friendly" is not the same thing!" Bob (on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 9:06 PM)
"I was definitely meant to hear Nancy's program of Tuesday, July 18. I heard the entire program during the workday when I was running an errand in the car, and then I heard it again on the way home from work. Phil (on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 9:09 PM)
"If you want revival, first you need to say you're sorry for being the kind of person that needs reviving. Personally or collectively, if you want the manifest presence of God and a pillar of fire to show up, you probably ought to repent that you blew out the last pillar He sent. We've all had chance after chance to be radically transformed and chosen the easy, ear-tickling way instead. We're spending 95% of all the Church's money on ourselves and our own comforts. We're not feeding the poor, we're not caring for each other. We've chopped the Body of Christ up into 37,000 denominations and then put a sign over His head claiming before the "world" that this bloody, beaten, dysfunctional mess is an accurate representation of the King of the Jews. I don't understand why the sidewalks aren't lined with Christians on their knees crying their eyes out for the mess we've made! There's a lot of darkness out there and the CHURCH was supposed to be the one to take the light to them. We didn't. And we won't until we repent. Please start doing Isaiah 58 before it's too late." Doug (on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 10:37 PM)
"I have to respond to Doug - great admonition, brother! You are gifted of the LORD to speak truth to the body - even a strong word of admonition and exhortation. I believe that part of the church's problem today, is that not all the members are functioning. Man's organization in the church (in general) doesn't allow the "regular people" to flow. Most leadership is too full of themselves, their titles and positions - requiring others to get acredited in the same ways, before they can function. o LORD! Mary (on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 4:12 PM)
"Praise the name of our Lord and risen savior Jesus Christ. God bless you Nancy for having the courage to be obedient to God's command to air these programs. Dr. Blackaby has been a great voice of encouragement to me. His is the voice as of one calling in the widerness. We had our administrative board meeting this past week and I was given the opportunity to address the board. Three months ago God laid upon my heart Isaiah 1 to be read in the assembly but I did not know when or how this would take place. Well, when asked to attend the board meeting I began to seek what God wanted me to say. Immediately the Holy Spirit spoke Isaiah 1 into my spirit and I knew this was the message God had for our church - REPENT. God has used your program to confirm the voice of His Holy Spirit in my life. God bless you!" Jerry (on Thursday, July 20, 2006 at 7:34 PM)
"God has just recently called me to preach his word,I am most grateful and priveledged to have God choose me.My prayer life has dramatically changed since,and I feel the Holy Spirit moving me to preach the unpopular message,the messages that most of God's churches have put on the back bunner so to speak,hell, sin repentence,error in the church.I must preach these to be obedient,my question is how do I preach these messages for correction with Love" Randy (on Friday, July 21, 2006 at 4:31 PM)
|
MP3
Windows Media
Podcast
"I have just recently begun reading your website and found the programs running a blessing. Today, having read what Dr Blackaby has spoken on, I realise that the condition of God's church even across the world over here in Asia is similar, where we are so consumed by activities and have forgotten that it was never the 'activity'/sacrifice that God desires but a broken and contrite heart. It is a worrying point that we have often gotten lost in the doing (even as I write, it's again a strong reminder to myself as I am too guilty of the same sin) and not the entering into and humbling oneself in the presence of our Holy God, being still and listening to Him. In encouragement (as I am encouraged), I just wanted to share that there are still God's faithful over here preaching the Word of sin and repentance in churhces amidst of so many distractions and deception, deaf/itching ears and etc, but His faithful children like yourselves, is perservering in faith in the victory of Christ and is continuing to strive towards the same upward call as yourselves. God bless the both of you and His faithful servants everywhere :)"