We do not need a "revival", we need a transformation of the souls of those who claim to be Christians but were never born again.
To revive something means it was alive, then died, and was brought back to life. When there was never life to begin with, there is nothing to "revive." Deadness has been in the church for many years now, no life ever existed among those who entered the church without a born-again experience.
We live in a culture that thinks just "saying" what others want to hear to be a member of a club is equal to salvation. It has nothing to do with salvation.
We are living as in the days of Noah in which people are going along comfortable with their false religion they call Christianity, tainted more with paganism and psychology than with Bible truth.
Many churches claim they are Bible-believing but in fact, do not follow the Bible, they follow their pastors, their psychologists, the cultural standard of our apostate day and argue against the Bible often.
Those who wish to bring the thinking back to the Bible, using Scripture to explain things are rejected by churchgoers, refusing to hear the truth, silencing anyone who does not say and do what the churchgoers like to hear.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"
2 Timothy 3:1-5
Difficult Times Will Come
3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times (ragingly insane) will come. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these."
We are told how terrible the attitudes of people will be in these last days, even in the church. God commands us in verse 5 to avoid them. Often this means it will be rare to find a church gathering that is obeying the scriptures even though they say they do, they do not.
Do not be discouraged by this, God warned us to help us place our trust even more fully in Christ and not in any man or system of man.
Proverbs 3:5-6
"5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight."
People will attempt to silence you when you bring scripture to bear in a discussion. When they do this walk away and speak to those who will listen. If no one will listen then be content to be alone a lot.
What does Christian fellowship really look like according to the scriptures?
2 Timothy 4:2
"Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction."
We are to be discussing things openly, encouraging when things are spoken of in truth, and correct and rebuke those who are in error. We are to love as we do these things as well as not back down when treated shamefully for our dedication to God's Word.
A true friendship is an open one without secrets and love and enjoy honest discussions using the Scriptures. Those who resist the truth of the Bible while refusing to discuss things according to the Bible are in rebellion lacking good sense. All these people are interested in is their own opinions and pleasure. Often they care only about being seen as right or superior, not in being correct according to God's Word.
