America: Revival or Ruin?

Main Scripture Focus

Amos 3–4; 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)

“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3)

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways…” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

I. Remembering an America That Once Was

A. A Nation With a Moral Compass

Hollywood had censors

Politicians had a conscience

Sin was called sin, not a social disorder

Hemlines were lower, morals were higher

B. A Culture of Integrity and Responsibility

Strong work ethic

Honesty in business

A handshake was as good as gold

C. A Society Shaped by Biblical Influence

Prayer in public schools

Ten Commandments displayed

Churches held authority

Fear of God was present in the land

D. A Church Powered by the Holy Ghost

Prayer meetings were attended

People prayed loudly, long, and with tears

Preachers proclaimed the blood, the cross, and the reality of hell

II. America’s Present Crisis: Revival or Ruin

A. Christianity Has Become Cultural Instead of Counter‑Cultural

The early church clashed with pagan society

Today the church walks side‑by‑side with the world

Worldly influence has corrupted the house of God

B. Remedial Judgments: God’s Wake‑Up Calls

God sends judgments to call His people back

America has ignored these warnings

9/11 was a wake‑up call, but the nation went back to sleep

C. The Critical Hour

If America does not turn back to God, there will be no nation left

Ancient Rome fell despite its military might

America is not immune to collapse

III. The Message of Amos: God’s Remedial Judgments

A. The Call to Agreement With God

1. Amos 3:3 — Walking With God Requires Holiness

“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

Israel preferred sin over God

Many Christians today believe God tolerates their sin

2. Elijah’s Challenge on Mount Carmel

“How long halt ye between two opinions?” (1 Kings 18:21)

1 Kings 18:21 KJV 1900

21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

You cannot have one foot in the world and one foot with God

Jesus must be Lord, not merely fire insurance

B. The Judgments of Amos 4

1. Judgment #1 — Famine

“I have given you cleanness of teeth… and want of bread…” (Amos 4:6)

Amos 4:6 KJV 1900

6 And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, And want of bread in all your places: Yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.

Response: “Yet have ye not returned unto me.”

2. Judgment #2 — Drought

“I have withholden the rain from you…” (Amos 4:7)

Amos 4:7 KJV 1900

7 And also I have withholden the rain from you, When there were yet three months to the harvest: And I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: One piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.

Response: “Yet have ye not returned unto me.”

3. Judgment #3 — Blasting and Mildew

“The palmerworm devoured them…” (Amos 4:9)

Amos 4:9 KJV 1900

9 I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: When your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, The palmerworm devoured them: Yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.

Financial collapse

Response: “Yet have ye not returned unto me.”

4. Judgment #4 — Pestilence and War

“Your young men have I slain with the sword…” (Amos 4:10)

Amos 4:10 KJV 1900

10 I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: Your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; And I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: Yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.

Removing young men removes a nation’s future

Response: “Yet have ye not returned unto me.”

IV. Historical Responses to God’s Judgments

A. The 1755 Boston Earthquake

Pastors preached repentance

Sermon text: Psalm 18:7

“Then the earth shook and trembled…”

B. National Calls to Humiliation and Prayer

In 1798, the President called for fasting and prayer

America once feared God

C. Today’s Failure of Leadership

Many pastors refuse to acknowledge God’s judgment

The blind are leading the blind

V. The Church’s Condition: Children at Play

A. When Harmless Things Become Idols

Leonard Ravenhill’s story of a man consumed by stamp collecting

Let me tell you what can happen to a church. Things can get between you and God. Leonard Ravenhill used to tell a story about a friend of his who was on fire for God. Every time Ravenhill got around this man he was more thirsty for Christ and things of eternal worth. Do you know people like that, people that make you thirsty of God? Well, this man was like that. Every time he got around him he wanted to talk about Jesus and winning souls. Then one day he began collecting stamps. As his collection grew, so did his enthusiasm for stamp collecting. Leonard Ravenhill said, “This man called me up one day and said, ‘Come on over and I will show you my new stamp collection of British colonials that cost me 50,000 dollars.’”

Ravenhill said that pretty soon this man no longer wanted to talk about Jesus nor the things of God. He just wanted to talk about stamps. A harmless little thing like a stamp drew that man away from God.

Harmless hobbies can steal affection from Christ

B. The Church Reflects Its Members

A church influences its community only if its members influence God

Worldly Christians produce worldly churches

C. A Sad Illustration

A once‑great church now marked by a sign: “Caution: Children at Play.”

A traveling preacher was passing through a certain city and he wanted to go by and visit a historic church that had a long reputation for doing good for the Lord. But when he got into town he stopped at a local restaurant to grab some lunch and ask directions to that famous church. The owner of the restaurant was well familiar with that church and when the traveling preacher went on and on about all the great things that church had done, the owner of the restaurant looked at him strangely and commented, “Yes, it used to be that way some time ago.

If you want directions to that church, go up the road a piece and turn right at the next stop sign. Then go up a hill and at the top of the hill there will be a sign telling you the way to that church.” “What does the sign say?” asked the traveling preacher? The man paused and with a sad look said, “The sign says, ‘Caution, children at play.’”

Many churches today fit this description

VI. The Call to Eternal Priorities

A. Redeeming the Time

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand…” (Romans 13:12–14)

Many believers waste their lives on trivial pursuits

Golf: “Golden Opportunities Lost Forever”

B. What Will Your Obituary Say?

Most obituaries highlight hobbies, not holiness

Rarely do they say: “He had a passion for God.”

C. Only What’s Done for Christ Will Last

Dr. Stephen F. Olford: “Only one life, ’twill soon be past…”

Will your life shine like gold or burn like hay?

VII. The Coming Persecution and the Hope of Revival

A. The Spirit of Antichrist Is Already Here

Darkness increases daily

Persecution is coming to America

The chaff will be separated from the wheat

B. Revival Is Still Possible

God gives a pathway to revival

2 Chronicles 7:14 is the divine prescription

VIII. The Pathway to Revival (2 Chronicles 7:14)

A. Four Requirements for God’s People

1. Humble Themselves

2. Pray

3. Seek God’s Face

4. Turn From Wicked Ways (Repentance)

Few are willing to repent

God will not move until repentance occurs

B. God’s Two Promises

1. “I will hear from heaven.”

2. “I will… heal their land.”

IX. Revival Under King Hezekiah

A. Hezekiah’s Command

“Sanctify now yourselves… carry forth the filthiness…” (2 Chronicles 29:5)

2 Chronicles 29:5 KJV 1900

5 And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.

B. The Cleansing of the Temple

“They brought out all the uncleanness…” (2 Chronicles 29:15–16)

2 Chronicles 29:15–16 KJV 1900

15 And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. 16 And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron.

Idols were removed and burned in the brook Kidron

C. The Result

God sent a mighty revival

Hezekiah “did that which was right in the sight of the Lord.”

X. The Final Plea: Revival or Ruin

A. The Church Must Clean House

Remove idols from sanctuaries

Remove idols from hearts

B. Crucify Anything Displeasing to Christ

Revival requires death to self

God moves when His people get serious

C. A Call to Fall on Our Faces Before God

America is at the brink

Only a heaven‑sent revival will save this nation

Conclusion

America: Revival or Ruin? The choice lies with God’s people. God says: “Return unto me, and I will return unto you.” (Malachi 3:7)

Malachi 3:7 KJV 1900

7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

Will we heed the warnings? Will we repent? Will we seek His face?

God help us if we don’t.