A Culture Changing Revival

Asa was one of the few Godly kings to rule the kingdom of Judah.  What makes this so remarkable is that his father was ungodly. (I Kings 15:3}. When Asa came to the throne, he purposed in his heart to lead Judah into a period of reformation and revival (II Chronicles14:2-4). He did what was good and right in the eyes of God. He removed the foreign altars and high places of idol worship. He cut down the Asherah poles which were used in worshiping the idol Asherim. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord. All that Asa did and commanded the people to do were the things that produce revival. America needs a culture changing revival today. Any form of idol worship must be destroyed and worshiping God must become a number one priority in our lives. What is idolatry? Anything that we put ahead of God in our lives is a form of idolatry (Job, Family, Recreation, Money, Fame etc.)  Charles Swindoll said, "I'm not often tempted to worship evil things, It's the good things that plague me.  It isn't as difficult for me to reject something innately bad or wrong as it is to keep good and wholesome things off the throne.  That's where most of our battles begin." In verse 4, Asa lead the people in seeking after God.  What does it mean to seek God?  Don Stamps in the Full Life Study Bible says, it means to desire and pursue earnestly the Lord's presence, fellowship, kingdom and holiness." May God help us to put Jesus first in our lives and seek Him earnestly. A God honoring revival is the only thing that will change the culture that we live in today. It is noteworthy that Asa did what was “right in the eyes of the Lord his God.” The power of this statement is evident when compared with Judges 21:25, “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”  The problem of our culture is that every man is doing that which is right in his own eyes. May God help us to do that which is right in God’s eyes. Lord, send a culture changing revival to the United States of America.

Many years ago, God visited the Welsh people with power from on high.  Revival fires were burning with white heat intensity throughout the land.  The people were getting right with one another and with God.  The lost ones were being saved.  Those coming from afar to the meetings would inquire of the policeman, “Where's the revival?" Snapping to attention, and with a glow on their faces, they would reply, as they pointed to their hearts, "Ah, the revival is here!"  That is where the revival we need, must start - in our hearts. (1,000 New Illustrations, Bryant, p. 182)