If you have heard me preach very much in the last 10 years then you have heard me ask for "100% response in the altar service by every one that is physically able." I am always pleading with people in revival services to respond to the preaching of God's word by coming to the altar to pray.
I say it over and over and over. I have Never seen a revival with lasting results in the lives of the people AND empty altars. Empty and neglected altars Never result in real lasting revival.
I understand that not everybody is physically able to come forward. Not everybody that is able to come forward can physically kneel at the altar. That is not the point. God blesses those that respond as they are able. God honors those that honor His Word enough to pray about it.
It is not the brilliance of my preaching or the cleverness of my phrasing or the emotion of my plea that I am asking folks to acknowledge. None of those things will matter ten minutes after the sermon even IF they were present in the sermon, which is doubtful.
What is worth acknowledging, accepting and responding to is the Word of God! The Word of God will speak to every person in every pew and in every situation of their life. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God and faith will demand some type of acknowledgement. Preaching of the Word of God demands a response.
I realize that altar services have been out of style in many churches for decades. Walking the aisle and kneeling at an altar is too country, simple, spiritually immature and completely unnecessary in some people's view. They do not want to be seen as pushing people for a response. Besides they can pray while seated in their comfortable pew or when they get home.
But churches that incorporate an altar service at the end of the sermon and stress its importance, still see people's lives totally and radically changed. Men and women are saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost, healed, uplifted and encouraged when they respond by faith to the preaching in the altar. Churches that avoid altar services also avoid talking of such experiences.
It is evident to me that they are not receiving the same blessings while sitting in their pew or praying about the sermon when they get home. I believe that once they exit the door of the church without responding to the preaching the wicked foul of the air is likely to pluck that seed out of their heart. Mark 4:4,15
Preaching demands a response. God's Word demands a response. Are we too spiritual to spend a few moments joining with the saints to pray about what we have heard? Are we too proud or lazy or stubborn to humble our hearts when God has been speaking to us? Are we too carnally minded to hear and acknowledge God is speaking to our hearts?
"Wait, preacher," you say. "If God was speaking in my church I would respond. I would get right down on my knees and ask Him to help me hear His Word and do His Word."
But preaching IS God speaking.
Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
God is speaking to us today through preaching.
You have time for one more scripture passage about preaching?
I Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Wow! That is a perfect description of our attitude today. Our world is so wise and prideful in our own wisdom. We are caught up in what we know and the next big thing we can learn.
But God sends a preacher equipped with nothing but the Word of God, preaching the cross and the whole world can be saved through that preacher's message! Praise God! The world thinks preaching is foolish. The modern church may think it is foolish as well. But unto us that are saved preaching is the power of God. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Believing demands a response!
What brings this up today?
Most of the time I am asking for 100% response from those that are physically able and I receive about 50% response instead. I am thrilled when 70-80% of the people come to the altar in response to my preaching. Most of the time I am ready for the rapture when all but a handful of people come to the altar to pray.
I do not think I have every had 100% response to the preaching any where but on the mission field... Until the last two nights in Sweeny, Texas. Both nights we have had 100% of the people come forward into the altar to seek God in response to the preaching!
Based on that fact alone, I believe they are about to have revival in Sweeny, Texas. We may not see the complete fruit of it while I am here but God is going to honor folks that will honor Him. Hallelujah! I am believing that God is going to save, heal, bless and deliver in this place, even this week!
I am going back to church tonight with a great expectation that God is going to move in this place. I may not get to preach. That is OK. I do not have to do one thing. But I believe these folks are going to respond again and that God will meet with them as a result!
When is the last time you got up out of your seat and responded to your Pastor's preaching? Do you run for the drinking fountain, grab the nearest baby or ease out to be the first one to the buffet or McDonald's? Turn around. Go the other direction. Spend some time praying with others about the Word of God you just heard. You will be amazed how God will work in your life and the lives of your family when you take preaching to heart every time.
Make a habit of contributing to 100% response 100% of the time.
Davy
