Gems from Johnston
E.A. Johnston emphasizes the urgent need for genuine revival through powerful preaching, fervent prayer, and a renewed commitment to Christ's lordship and repentance in the church and nation.
In 'Gems from Johnston,' E.A. Johnston passionately calls the church to recognize its desperate need for revival amid growing godlessness. He challenges pastors and congregations to embrace fervent prayer, bold preaching, and a renewed commitment to Christ's lordship and repentance. Johnston highlights the spiritual decline of both church and nation and urges believers to become catalysts for transformational change through God's power.
Full Transcript
The reason why churches don't see a need for revival is because they need revival. Our pulpits lack power. Our pastors lack authority.
Our congregations lack godliness as our nation sinks into godlessness and moral anarchy. Get a man full of God, who's wholly sold out to God, and turn him loose in a room full of sinners, to preach the full counsel of God under the anointing of the Spirit of God. And a combustion will occur as sparks begin to fly, which will result in either a subdued brokenness and repentance over sin, or rebellion in a further hardening in sin.
But either way, there will be smoke and fire one way or the other, and God will get the glory. The reason we have so little burdened prayer is because we are little in prayer. Revival is when Christ is preeminent in the sanctuary of the church and prominent in the lives of the church.
When a nation grows more wicked and the church grows more cold, then the devil grows more bold while heaven groans. The two doctrines killed off in the modern church in the last sixty years are the two doctrines the church needs the most in these last days. They are the lordship of Christ and man's duty of repentance.
We need God-called men to perform the God-sized task of reaching our godless communities with a God-centered gospel of the Son of God. The dinosaur of the church is the old-time prayer meeting. If we do have one, it is more like a doctor's waiting room with personal pleas for pains and needs, rather than a hospital delivery room where new life is birthed from bended knees.
We need pastors today who fear God more than men, who can touch God in prayer for men, and who will preach what others will not to reach men who need God.
Sermon Outline
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I
- The church's need for revival is evident in its lack of power and godliness.
- Pastors must be fully surrendered to God to ignite true spiritual awakening.
- Revival results in either repentance or rebellion, but always glorifies God.
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II
- Prayer is foundational to revival but is currently insufficient in the church.
- Christ must be preeminent in the church and prominent in believers' lives.
- The growing wickedness of the nation contrasts with the church's coldness.
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III
- The doctrines of Christ's lordship and repentance are vital but neglected.
- God-called men are needed to preach boldly and reach godless communities.
- Old-time prayer meetings must be revived as powerful spiritual birthplaces.
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IV
- Pastors should fear God more than men and pray fervently for sinners.
- Preaching must confront sin boldly to reach those in need of salvation.
- True revival brings glory to God through transformed lives and communities.
Key Quotes
“Our pulpits lack power. Our pastors lack authority.” — E.A. Johnston
“Revival is when Christ is preeminent in the sanctuary of the church and prominent in the lives of the church.” — E.A. Johnston
“We need pastors today who fear God more than men, who can touch God in prayer for men, and who will preach what others will not to reach men who need God.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Commit to regular, burdened prayer that seeks God's intervention for revival.
- Embrace Christ's lordship fully and live a life marked by repentance.
- Support and encourage pastors who preach boldly and live surrendered to God.