Reviving the Dehydrated Church

(Updated from Truth for Today 12/24/2007)
“The present-day Church is dehydrated spiritually …suffering from all of the effects of dehydration: toxins in the body, confusion, and memory loss …”

It is evident throughout the Word of God that there are times when God judges His people through drought and famine. A close study of Amos 8:11-12 reveals another type of famine even more severe. There is a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.

Amos 8
11 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord GOD, “That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD.
12 They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it …”

The warning in Amos 8 not only became a reality for the people of the old covenant but has taken place at various times among Christians since the birth of the Church. It is probably more severe in the 21st Century than at any time in history.

The present day Church, as a whole, is in a severe spiritual famine; she suffers from an absence of pure biblical truth, and she most assuredly suffers from an absence of true prophets with true prophetic words from the Lord. The majority of Christians, especially those in the West, are not yet even aware of the problem, especially the seriousness of the problem. Many are comfortable with things as they are. They are much aware of worldwide problems but have not connected them with a famine of the words of the Lord. They need and want change economically, etc., but, spiritually, they are so geared toward and accustomed to things as they are that they neither see the need for change nor do they want things to change. Much of the Church, while engaging in various end-time prophecy teachings, either deny the existence of present day prophets of God or they are being overwhelmed with carnal and/or false prophets.

Results of Spiritual Famine
What are the results of this spiritual famine of the Word, especially the prophetic word? The primary result is that many Christians are spiritually dehydrated and are being tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. This problem is nowhere more evident than in the Western Church, and more specifically, in the Church in the United States. Too many Christians are dehydrated spiritually because of a lack of the water of the Word. They are suffering from all the effects of spiritual dehydration: toxins in the body, confusion in the mind, loss of memory of God and His Word of truth.

They cannot focus properly on God and others because their spiritual dehydration causes them to be focused on self—their needs, their desires, their plans, their interpretations and traditions, for the most part. If they reach out, it is often motivated more by ritualistic obedience and/or self-satisfaction, with the accompanying warm feelings and personal fulfillment that they receive, than by a true godly fulfillment of our Lord’s command to go into all the world as a witness.

Solution
What is the solution? Those suffering from spiritual dehydration need to wake up and become spiritually re-hydrated and then remain hydrated! How does spiritual hydration take place? It begins with true and prepared prophets crying out for repentance. The Jewish people were very familiar with 2 Chronicles 7:14, but God still sent John the Baptist to cry out, “Repent.” Jesus Himself began His public ministry by preaching repentance. He made the Word of God clear, precise, and specific. He will again try to awaken His people by sending His ministers in the midst of famine to point out the need for repentance.

After Christians hear the call and acknowledge their personal need for repentance, they often find that one of the major problems to overcome is a lack of knowing God intimately and His Word thoroughly. This has caused spiritually blindness in various degrees and has resulted in a lack of true spiritual discernment. Without discernment, they were subject to deception and falling for the wiles of the devil. For example, many Christians, including pastors, have in the recent past named a book titled The Shack as one of their favorite books. One pastor listed three books as his favorites, with the Bible and The Shack being two of them. He needs his eyes opened about certain things in the Bible because they would expose the lies and deceptions of The Shack. In his defense, I will say that most of us were really not trained that well in the 20th Century Church. He, along with many others, may need to hear a prophetic word from another minister besides the ones he has been listening to for his eyes to become fully opened. Note: Some ministers are being what they call “successful” and see no need for change.

If God has opened your eyes about certain things that were in error, thank Him for His mercy. It is alright to judge and/or discern that others need help, but do so in love and a spirit of restoration and not out of a critical, judgmental spirit or attitude. Be loving and merciful toward them as you move to open their eyes. Let the love of God be shed abroad in your heart! Pray for them, always remembering that we are not casting stones but are trying to awaken our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need each other!

What else is needed? For those with ears to hear, there must be a willingness to do some really serious soul searching leading to the acknowledgment that there is need of repentance; make 2 Chronicles 7:14 a reality. Those who are spiritually dehydrated may also need to put away some private interpretations of Scripture and traditions of men. To do so will require being sanctified by truth by being continually washed in the water of the Word.

Conclusion
In conclusion, God has prepared true prophets in the wilderness to bring restoration and revival to His Church. They will cry out for repentance and a return to the Lord and His truth. When those with ears to hear humble themselves, repent, and cry out to God with a heart that is serious and determined to walk in the Spirit, the Lord will hear from Heaven and will rain His Spirit and truth upon them.

Will all of the Church respond? No. There are many in the Church who will not respond. They have either fallen so far away from God and His truth that they are not willing to repent or even acknowledge the need to do so, or they are so captivated by man-made doctrines and traditions that they will hang on tightly to them. But there are many who will repent. Some of them will respond to truth when they hear it. Others will have to go through some shaking before they will really hear and respond, but they will eventually respond, thanks be to God.

Restoration and revival can begin with a few willing and dedicated disciples. What better time is there for forsaking all to follow Christ? Will you humble yourself and give your all to Jesus the Messiah? Will you yield to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to open the truth of God’s Word to you? Will you begin washing yourself in the water of God’s Word? As the Spirit opens God’s Word to you, will you in turn teach that Word to all who have ears to hear? God bless you as you do. Let’s do what will prepare us and many others for the future appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s replace famine with truth and see real and lasting “Restoration, Revival, and Awakening!”
_____________________________

Study this week: Jer. 5:20-25; Matt.13:13-16; Mark 4:10-12; Col.1:24-27; Isa.55:6-7.