======================================================================== (CLIP) WHERE ARE THEY TODAY？ by Shane Idleman ======================================================================== Summary: This sermon emphasizes the importance of boldly shining God's light in the world, calling for a revival of passion and dedication to God. It challenges believers to step out in faith, pray fervently, worship wholeheartedly, and obey God's commands, reminding them of the powerful impact they can have when fully surrendered to God's will. The message urges a recommitment to God, a baptism of re-enlistment, and a call to embrace the holy fire of God for spiritual awakening and transformation. Duration: 6:48 Topics: "Boldness in Faith", "Spiritual Awakening" Scripture References: Isaiah 6:8, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Acts 1:8, Revelation 11:15, Revelation 19:11, Psalm 110:1, Philippians 2:10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This sermon emphasizes the importance of boldly shining God's light in the world, calling for a revival of passion and dedication to God. It challenges believers to step out in faith, pray fervently, worship wholeheartedly, and obey God's commands, reminding them of the powerful impact they can have when fully surrendered to God's will. The message urges a recommitment to God, a baptism of re-enlistment, and a call to embrace the holy fire of God for spiritual awakening and transformation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ What if we posted things on social media exposing the unfruitful works of darkness, but in a spirit of humility rather than remaining silent because of fear. Fire begins with prayer, it's fueled by worship, and it is sustained by obedience. I didn't expect to get too many claps on that one. But what I said, if I would have said, God's going to bless you beyond measure today. Whatever the soul of your foot touches, you're going to be blessed. That Mercedes you want, just go stop by the Mercedes dealer. You just go walk around that place like Joshua. Seven times you say, this is mine, this is mine. Oh, we have a standing ovation. But when it comes to the fire of God and wanting more of God, it penetrates the heart and we have to repent of our callous and coldness. Could powerless be the result of prayerlessness? Could powerless be the result of prayerlessness? Yes. Guys, why does this fire me up? Because we are living in dire times. Do you see the times we're living in? It still blows my mind. Why are prayer meetings full? Why aren't we calling for nights of worship? What? We just must not realize we're just living in this bubble. This is a call specifically to men, but women, you can listen as well. Men, did you know you can be an awful weapon in the hand of God? Women as well, of course. And I titled it, Where Are They? Where Are They? And it's from my book, If My People. And I threw this out to the congregation in Lancaster years ago. I still remember. I want to just throw out the challenge to you. And I wrote them down so you can see it. Let it penetrate your heart. Where are the Isaiah's and the Jeremiah's calling nations to repentance? Where are the Peter's and the Paul's who spoke with such authority that martyrdom did not silence them? Though they are dead, they shall speak. They still speak. Where are the Wycliffe's who stood so unyielding for the truth that he was called the morning star of the reformation? Where are the Tyndale's and the Huss's who were burned at the stake for simply declaring the truth? Where are the Luther's who said, I can do no other when he is asked to recount all of his works? Where are the John Calvin's who shaped the religious thoughts of our Western culture? Where are the John Knox's who cried, Give me the Scotland for the cause of Christ or I shall die. Who's saying, give me America for the cause of Christ or I shall die. Give me the Antelope Valley for the cause of Christ or I shall die. Listen, God really had to deal with, let's pause for a minute. God really had to deal with me for years ago, years ago. I didn't want to tell people where I'm from. How embarrassing for a Christian. Even now it's a badge of honor because I like it now. Palmdale, the meth capital of L.A. County? Lancaster? This? Have you checked this, the crime, this, this? Yes, I'm supposed to be a light in the darkness. Why aren't more people signing up to go thank the sheriffs in Lancaster and Palmdale? Church, where are we? Why does such a small amount of people do the majority of the work? Every week it blows my mind. Do people not see what's going on in the world? We should be the most energetic, filled with holy fire people on the planets. Where are the Whitfields who shook the continents? Where are the Hal Harris's, the Daniel Rowlands and the Griffin Jones who preach with such passion during the Welsh revivals of the 18th century that we still honor them today? I say again, where are they? Where are the John Wesley's who said give me a hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God and we will shake the gates of hell? Where are the David Brainers who spent so much time in prayer that even the great Jonathan Edwards was convicted? Where are the Robert Murray McShaney's who even though he died at age 29 was one of Scotland's most anointed preachers causing people to weep before he even preached a word? Where are the Spurgeon's who spoke with such authority that his sermons are read now more today than ever before? Where are the D.L. Moody's who brought America to her knees? Where are the Evan Roberts who during the Welsh revivals preached so powerfully against sin that people will cry out no more Lord Jesus lest I die? And where are the famous Puritans like Richard Baxter who preach I preach as a dying man to dying men? Where are they today? Guys, we need that holy fire. There's baptism for repentance if you need to finally repent and give your life to the Lord. Stop playing games with God. Now's the time to do that. But there's also a baptism I call a baptism of re-enlistment. I'm going to show you the picture someday but in 2000 I got baptized again and I was re-enlisted. I'm fully in, I'm surrendered. I was baptized as a baby, blah, blah, blah. I was baptized at five or six or seven, meant nothing. But I'm getting baptized, I'm re-enlisted. Re-enlisted, I'm on fire again. I want that fire of God. If you want to do that as well, let us know. We would love to baptize you. And then I want to end with this. They don't have it but I just pulled it in. Next week, next week as we read in 11, it's something very interesting. He says, and there was a loud voice in heaven saying, the kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign forever and ever. Oh, we need to remind ourselves of that. We are not defeated. We are in a position of battle right now but ultimately there is victory. The world, specifically the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord. See, never forget this. This is helpful. Jesus sits down at the right hand of the Father, right? The Bible says he's sitting down at the right hand. But at some point he's gonna stand up. But at some point he's gonna get up. And as we keep reading, it says he comes back with the armies of heaven and his eyes are like flames of fire and on his head are many crowns and out of his mouth goes a sword that he rules the nation. He treads those nations with the white press in the fierceness and wrath of almighty God. That's Jesus. And when he stands up, when he stands up, nations tremble. The earth splits when he puts his feet down. Even kings bow and armies flee from the presence of Christ. ======================================================================== Video: https://sermonindex2.b-cdn.net/J_Osy0dnlsw.mp4 Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/shane-idleman/clip-where-are-they-today/ ========================================================================