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                                                                                                |  Deceased  |
                                                                                                |       2018      |
                                                                                                |       Died       |
                                                                                                |      From       |
                                                                                                |     Apathy    |
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                                    REVIVAL
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                                                                                                 By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                                                 June11, 2018
     "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
     But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin,"   Hebrews 3:12-13.   
Introduction
     As I write, we are eleven days into the month of June.  51 years ago the Six Day War in Israel was winding down, and came to a halt on the 10th of June.  All of the "signs" the Lord Jesus told His disciples to "watch" for, which would precede the resurrection and rapture have already been fulfilled, or are right now looming on the horizon to be fulfilled.  But how many today, even "professing Christians," really care?  The great "falling away," [apostasia] which the Apostle Paul plainly stated would precede the revealing of the "man of sin," [the anti-christ], is here, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.   And again, who cares?   
The Blessings of God's Mercies
     I was born to Christian parents, who took their "Christianity" seriously.  My brother and sisters, and myself, were taken to church by my parents regularly and faithfully.  Then during the week we had Bible study and prayer in our home.    As I now look back, I thank God for my Christian parents, who loved me enough to care where I would spend eternity, and wanted to make certain that I would one day give my heart to Christ.  And I did!
Memories  
     I was only seven years old when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.  But I can still remember President Franklin Delano Roosevelt speaking over our old wooden dial radio, and announcing that America was at war.  Our entire nation back then was incensed; just plain angry, that the Japanese, without any provacation, had attacked our navy ships stationed at Pearl Harbor, and had killed over 3,000 of our American boys.  
     Draft boards were immediately set up in every little town in America to recruit men to enter the military and go to war.   One morning that same week, as my parents drove past that office, I saw men lined up for more than a block, waiting to sign up for military service, eager to defend our country. Patriotism, and love for our country of America, has never run  higher than it did at that time.  I also saw grown men come out of that office in tears and weeping, because they had been declared "4-F;" physically unfit for military service.  
     But I also saw something else; something wonderful.  I saw the churches of America fill up with grieving wives and sweethearts, and moms and dads, whose men were away at war defending our country.  I heard the prayers and saw the tears of those wives and mothers and sweethearts as they earnestly prayed for God to protect their men, and bring them home safely. That made quite an impression on the heart and mind of little seven year old boy.  
      And folks, as a young boy, I saw something that most readers have never seen.  I saw the churches filled to capacity, with people standing up around the walls, for there was no empty places in the pews for them to sit down.  And yes, there were times when the church windows were opened, and people were standing outside the windows to hear the pastor preach the Word of God, and exhort the people.   
     Well, the Lord God mercifully heard the prayers of the American people, and gave us victory in the war.  And the Lord God mercifully  brought a lot of  husbands and sons home safely, in spite of many who
had been killed in battle, and would never come home.  I stood at the gravesites of those whose bodies were shipped home in caskets, and listened to the final words spoken over their remains by the pastors in our little town, and heard the military escorts playing "taps" as a final farewell for that fallen American.   And yes, my young heart wept.  I was never more thankful for my country, and grateful for the mercies of God Almighty than I was back then.  
But Where is America's Gratitude?   
     Today, I see an entirely different scene in America.  The government in our country is now run by two-bit politicians, who have little or no regard for God.  The average church in America is mostly empty, even on the Sunday services.   After the war was over and the men returned safely to their wives and mothers and sweethearts, thousands of those women simply stopped attending church services, and church attendance began a decline which has never stopped right to this present day.  
      Hundreds of churches across America have closed their doors, given up the preaching of the gospel, and just plain QUIT.  Today, I see old church buildings which were sold, being "converted" to barns, sheds, garages, homes, various businesses, and even dance halls and bars.  Is this the way the American people show their gratitude to God for the blessings He has so abundantly  bestowed upon this nation and people?   
 World Wide Apostasy
     But it isn't just America!  
     According to what I read and hear and see in various publications, the situation in Europe is even worse than it is here in America.   During the great war, Europe was ravaged by the Nazis, with country after country being taken over by Nazi storm troopers, and thousands of people sent to concentration camps or executed.  But Europe seems to have forgotten how God intervened on their behalf.  As I write, I am particularly thinking of our mother country; the nation and people of England.
     England was one of the nations in Europe that Hitler's troops was never able to invade, even though England did suffer severe damage from being bombed by  Nazi war planes.
     I just read again the story of the Miracle of Dunkirk.  I have read it numerous times before, but each time I read it, I weep and praise the Lord for His mercies upon the sons of men.  If any reader is not familiar with this story, you need to obtain the book from your library that has the account in it, and read it for yourself.  
     In brief, during the Second World War one European nation after another fell to Hitler's German troops.  England had agreed to help France, it's neighbor across the English Channel, in their battle against the Nazis, and had sent thousands of English troops into France.  Hitler's troops broke through their defense.   English and French troops then retreated to the city of Dunkirk, hoping to be evacuated there.  THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND (300,000) English and French troops were surrounded and trapped by the German army at Dunkirk, and had no way of escape except by sea.  But then young Winston Churchhill, not even known as a religious man, went  on the Engliish radio and called on the English people to pray for God's mercies.  And pray they did!   Every church, synagogue, and even the Mosques in England filled up with praying people for several days.    
     Within hours the surface of the English Channel, which even today is usually so choppy that small boats cannot safely be used in it, became as still as glass.  And the sky over the channel became covered with thick clouds, so the German planes which had been bombing and strafing the troops trapped in Dunkirk, could not even see their targets any longer.  The commanders of the troops at Dunkirk called on England to send boats to rescue the troops trapped at Dunkirk, and take them  across the channel to England, and to safety.  The English people responded immediately.  More than 800 boats came across the channel from England.  I mean "boats."  They came in Tug boats, motorboats, rowboats, canoes, kayaks, rafts, fishing boats, and anything else that could float and carry a soldier to safety. , Within a few days all of the  troops, facing imminent death at the hands of the Nazi storm troopers, had been rescued and were safe on the English shore.  
     And how has England showed their appreciation to God for such a miracle?   The same way America has showed their's.  All across England today there are church buildings, many of them not even being used, just abandoned and left to rot to the ground.  Many others have been converted into barns, cattle sheds, horse stalls, and homes and businesses, including dance halls and "pubs."  It was actually reported on the TV news recently, that the average English citizen attends church services once a year.  I heard the report with my own ears, and I cried out to God for mercy.  
      From time to time, I hear simple minded "professing Christians" today claiming that God will never destroy America!   Why they claim, this country has sent missionaries all over the world, and this country is a friend to Israel, so America will never be destroyed.   Emotional hogwash!  God destroyed the nation of His own chosen people, when they turned away from loving and serving Him.  What makes some Americans think they are so superior, that America will escape the judgment and wrath of our offended God?   Well...??
     Yes folks, the Lord God is merciful, and hears the sincere, earnest, prayers of His people.   But the Lord God is also a God of  righteousness, justice, and judgment, and absolutely will judge and punish sin, and wickedness, and unrighteousness, and apostasy.  America's day of judgment is looming on the horizon, even as I write.  
Revivals
     I have no idea who first came up with the idea of a church having a "revival" effort every Spring, or at least once during the course of a year.  But I sure do remember the revival services the churches of America used to have, mostly every Spring.  
     Well, dear readers, here it is the 9th day of June, and I haven't seen a single announcement by any church in this town or local area for a forthcoming revival effort.  Not one!  
     Every little town in America used to have a town newspaper, and come Spring those little papers would be filled with announcements of revival efforts being held at different churches, the dates for them, and sometimes the name of the visiting evangelist.  Today the little town newspapers have been put out of business by the monoply held by the papers in the large cities.  Of course the churches do not normally advertise in the large papers, for the ads are too expensive, and many in the local community would never even see the ad.  However, in times past some churches compensated for their lack of advertising, by printing up leaflets on their old mimeograph machines and passing them out all over the area.  I haven't see a one of them in years.  
     But remember, America is "progressing."  Sic!   If we look at the picture from a spiritual viewpoint, our so-called "progress" here in America is nothing but a greased slide into Hell for thousands of unbelieving and ungrateful  American people.
Conclusion   
     During the many years I have been in the Lord's ministry, I have been called upon to preach in revival efforts all over this nation. I have preached in such efforts in churches from coast to coast, and from the Canadian border to the Mexican border.  I have seen hundreds come to a saving knowledge of Christ over the years,  and several men I personally know of, who surrendered their lives to the Lord to serve in His ministry.   Glory to God!
    I have also had a few pastors of churches become offended at me, as by their own invitation, I preached a revival effort in their church.  Why?   Because many of their own church members were getting saved.  In fact, most of the people I have seen saved over the years have been lost church members.  This is not a new problem, for our text Scripture for this study is still in the Bible, and so is  2 Peter 1:10-11.
     But such revivals in America are dead! Killed by the apathy and indifference of the American people.  America has been the greatest, and most prosperous nation on earth.  But the American people have shown their gratitude to God for these blessings, by burying any real spiritual revival in this country, and the proof of it has never been more glaring than it is today.  For individuals and for nations, Galatians 6:7-8 is still in the Bible.    
       Such revival efforts are now over in America.  I know they are over, for I seldom ever see an announcement for a revival effort from any church.  
      As for me preaching any further revival efforts, I am physically unable to travel anymore, or even to preach with the fervor and zeal that I once preached.  About all I can do today is sit at my computer, and write out the great truths of God's Word, for God's people and for lost seeking souls.  And, as in this study, I can exhort true believers to stand true and faithful to our Lord, for we don't have much time left  to wait and "watch" for our Lord's coming for us.   It is my greatest joy that I am still able to do this much for my Lord, whom I love and serve in truth.  Praise the Lord!  Ten years ago I thought my ministry for my precious Lord and Savior was over, but the Lord had other plans for me.  In writing all these Bible studies I have been privileged to write over the past ten years, I hope they have served as an exhortation to God's people to remain faithful to the Lord, and keep sharing His gospel with others, right until the day [or night] we hear the sound of the Trumpet, saying to us, just like the Lord spoke to John, "Come up hither," Revelation 4:1.  
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     Dear readers,  one of the most religious peoples in the world, was once told, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord," Acts 3:19.  If any reader of this study is unsaved, then I would recommend you apply this Scripture to your own situation through humble, and sincere, prayer.  Read also John 3:3-7; 3:16-18; 3:36; 5:24, 14:6.  Please meet me in glory when our Lord comes for us.
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