Despite collapsing morals, declining baptisms and signs of God’s judgment currently seen in the United States, there is hope for this nation, said Gregory Frizzell, prayer and spiritual awakening specialist with the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.
That hope is revival, he said. Whether America sees a new move of God sweep across its land is up to those within the church, not outside of it, he added.
And it all comes down to prayer, Frizzell said as he took about 90 minutes during the morning session of the Alabama Baptist Pastors Conference to outline three specific items that must happen for revival to come.
First, individual believers must have an intimate quiet time with God, he said.
After reading James 5:16, Frizzell asked the audience, “Do you notice that deep confession and humility have to come before the power? That’s always the pattern of God. … It’s the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man — someone with a broken, yielded heart.”
Prayer was the center of Jesus’ life and He is our example, he said.
At this point, Frizzell led the audience in a directed prayer to further embed the message in listeners’ hearts.
Second, he emphasized the urgency of leading one’s family into a deeper prayer life.
“We can’t lead anyone else into revival if we’re not doing it with our families,” Frizzell said. “Our first ministry is to them.”
Third, once believers have their personal and family’s prayer life renewed, they can help facilitate corporate prayer and repentance, he said.
These two elements of revival can be seen in the New Testament church, which understood that corporate prayer and repentance were paramount to demonstrating power, he said.
Thinking that Christians can achieve their full potential with topical prayer is not in line with the New Testament, and topical prayers will not pull the United States out of moral quicksand, even coupled with innovative activities, according to Frizzell.
“Deep, periodic Spirit-led house cleaning and corporate prayer are what bring in revival,” he said. “We don’t ever outgrow that.”
Ultimately a deep love relationship with God is what produces revival, Frizzell said, emphasizing that God’s grace is what enables any Christian to be a catalyst for true revival.
“God has non-negotiables. Either we live by them or we do without His power,” he said. “Ask Him for more demonstration of His Spirit; He can use you. It’s not too late.”
Frizzell finished his time by leading those present in a second directed prayer to demonstrate his last two points.
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