Evidently, the devil must possess some kind of wisdom. Consider how effectual are the devil's methods, to deceive and to enslave. The devil knows a lot about human nature, and he knows how to use that knowledge to his own advantage: which is a kind of "wisdom," though it be used for evil purposes. Let us consider, then, a particular manifestation of the devil's wisdom ~ and how that relates to Revival.
I've occasionally heard it said (in fact, I've said it myself) that if Christians were as dedicated to do door-to-door evangelism and street ministry ~ as the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses (and other cults) are dedicated to that, then the Christian Church would grow phenomenally. Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses have not the Holy Ghost to aid them; nor do they have the power of the living Word of God to persuade their hearers. Nevertheless, their efforts are successful to win converts to their strange ideologies. The devil has his people out in the streets and going door-to-door to make proselytes ~ because, it works! Yet, the Church has practically abandoned all such efforts. As proof of that, I will submit that I cannot recall when was the last time that anyone (unknown to me) approached to speak with me about the condition of my soul.
Satan knows that selling is largely a numbers-game: and the devil is all-out for souls. Why are Christians not all-out for souls? I recall how that many years ago, churches of most denominations conducted regular visitation programs amongst the respective communities they served. Door-to-door evangelism ~ if that was not enthusiastically undertaken by every church, at least it was not something uncommonly seen in any given neighborhood. Little more than 100 years ago, the Salvation Army, for one example, became a worldwide movement, mostly by taking the ministry of the Church into the streets.
Between the early-eighteenth century and the late-nineteenth century, several waves of "Great Awakenings" occurred throughout America and parts of Europe. Great Revivals swept through whole cities and regions like a prairie fire. The accounts of ministers such as John and Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, Charles Finney, Dwight Moody, Billy Sunday, R.A. Torrey, George Jeffreys ~ and many others, abound with testimonies of Revivals which produced converts numbering in the tens- to hundreds-of-thousands. Very often there were not buildings large enough to handle the crowds that attended those services. George Whitefield is reputed to have preached to as many as 30,000 people at once, in the open fields.
Today, the true Christian Church is confronted with what appear to be unique challenges related to evangelism. There is, firstly, the fact that both the public schools as well as the media are dominated by secularists; thus, the channels of mass communication, for use by true Christians, are severely limited. Secondly ~ but no less important, the vast majority of churches are apostate: which, in my judgment, is by far the greatest hindrance (spiritually speaking) to evangelism. So-called Christian media (television, radio, etc.), by and large, is worse than useless, for it is poisoning the culture with false teaching. Not only then are all of the major channels of communication off-limits to those who would preach the pure Word of God. But the ratio of genuine Christians, to the general population in America, is almost certainly lower than it has ever been in the history of this nation.
How then can the true Church hope to evangelize this nation? How can we experience a move of God in Revival which may be capable to produce a great End-time harvest of souls ~ if we have no means whereby we may reach large numbers of people?
But are we, really, without any effectual "means?"
The early Church in many ways was no less limited than is the contemporary Church. Throughout 1,900 years since the time of Christ, the Church had no mass media outlets. Throughout nearly all of the Church's history, there were neither newspapers, television, radio, nor Internet. Christians have never (as far as I know) been able to utilize the power of government, or of some large-scale public education system, for the purpose of evangelism. Significantly, the Church has always had at first to spring up in the midst of cultures which were (or yet are) wholly given to paganism and idolatry. In sum, at no time in its history has the Church been favorably positioned, in terms of worldly power and ability, to evangelize.
Therefore, we must do what the first Christians did, that is: 1) we must seek God earnestly in prayer, until that we may be endued with power from on high; and, 2) we must return to the old-fashioned means of evangelizing ~ that is to say, we must get back to door-to-door witnessing and to other forms of "street" ministry. The most important aspect of which, modes of outreach, has really to do with our repenting, and returning to embrace a mindset which joyfully renders our submission and obedience to fulfill the "Great Commission."
One of the most deleterious effects of the Apostasy has been wide-ranging discouragement, which has deadened our hope of Revival. Many Christians have thus been hindered in their prayer life, and they have become lackadaisical in their efforts to evangelize; to the point that the Christian Church in America has become largely ineffectual for God. Moreover, the desire of many, for Christian fellowship, has withered on the vine as the result of our fruitlessness, our barrenness. Many sincere Christians feel isolated and alone ~ in the midst of a culture much given to religious ritual and hype (but which is strongly opposed to the truth of Christ).
So, the need to Covenant together for prayer with likeminded believers (though they may be few in number); also, to labor together with the same, in the work of evangelism: this, it seems to me, is the most Biblically sound approach whereby we ~ whose eyes have been opened, by God's mercy and grace, to perceive and to refute the Apostasy and its adherents ~ may return to God, and He to us, as we come together to seek the Lord for a gracious outpouring of His Spirit.
Meanwhile we must be conscious of the fact that the Holy Ghost is given not to work for us, but to work with us, in the ministry (Mark 16:20). God does not substitute His efforts for ours; rather, God uses and supplements and thus blesses our efforts, by the administration of His omnipotent power.
Not to excuse our shortcomings (to put it mildly); but, it is meaningful to recognize that we (through God) have fought long and hard to extricate ourselves from the deadly grip of the Apostasy. Now, we must help others to break free from that; which is certain to make us targets of criticism ~ or worse. But "breaking free" from the influences of the Apostasy entails much more than merely identifying and correcting wrong thinking. Right thinking (renewing of the mind) is meant to produce right believing; and, right believing should result in right behavior ~ which has everything to do with one's obedience to the Word of God. Christians are commanded in Scripture: to love Christ supremely; to take up one's cross daily; to pray without ceasing; to go into all the world, to teach and to make disciples of all nations. The Great Commission is still in force. God still stands behind that mandate, with all of His power and resources.
We can yet have Revival ~ if we are willing to pray, and to work for that.
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