The following article is largely based on a posting by Andrew Strom on our 'Prophetic' Email Discussion List.
Let me place this question before you: Is there one dominant, over-riding LIE that the devil has sold the Western world in the last thirty years or so, that greatly hinders men and women coming to God? And could it be that if this particular 'Dominant Lie' is uprooted and destroyed, then the way will be cleared for massive Revival? I believe so. And in fact, this is exactly what God has been speaking about to a number of us. Let's talk about these 'strongholds' (which one could call "dominant lies") that the devil has established, and which hinder people today from believing the gospel. A man wrote to me today and mentioned that we can't preach "sin" these days, because many young people hardly know what Sin is any more. The man is absolutely right. (And of course, this totally strips the gospel of it's historic power). But since when has this been the case? Well, there was a long lead-up, but the "watershed" or actual "revolution" occurred in the late sixties. Let's concentrate on this 'Lie' or Stronghold that the devil established in the West at that time. Here is what it amounted to (particularly amongst the youth):- "Sin" as a concept was suddenly abolished. Moral absolutes were thrown out. Everything became no longer black or white, but varying shades of grey. "Be happy, feel free, do what you want, cast off the shackles of outmoded morals and values. Be liberated. Do what you feel..." etc. And so it still is today. A completely 'non-judgemental' (ie. no right or wrong) approach to everything. So long as you don't "hurt" anybody, you can do as you please. You can sleep with anyone (of any sex), you can abort your babies, you can taste any pleasure, you can believe in any 'god' (including yourself). As many commen- tators have noted, today the worst sin you can be accused of is being "judgemental". (And then will come the storm: "How dare you apply your value system to ME? How dare you call what I'm doing 'wrong'??") Thus in many ways, 'Sin' has almost ceased to exist in people's thinking and beliefs. (Please think about this - it's true!!) Now the Gospel has a major problem here. (And the devil is laughing). If you wipe out the concept of 'Sin', then you wipe out a massive part of the basic gospel itself. FOR THE ONLY REASON JESUS HAD TO COME WAS TO DEAL WITH MEN'S SIN. If there is no consciousness of Sin, then the gospel ceases to make any sense. Why do I need forgiveness? Why do I need to repent? Why did Jesus die in the first place? The cross is made of NO EFFECT without a consciousness of Sin. This is why all the great Revivalists emphasised Sin, and the only remedy - Jesus. If you feel you have little sin, then you will feel little need of Jesus. And then the gospel is severely undermined. The devil knows this. He has seen many Revivals, and he knows if he can stop people becoming convicted of their sin, then he can stop them from responding to the gospel in significant numbers. Why do you think there is hardly any conviction of sin amongst today's generation? Because in the previous generation, the whole concept of it was virtually abolished (and still is). It's as simple as that. Now, if we wish to see massive Revival amongst today's generation, what is the first thing we need to do? REFUTE THIS DOMINANT LIE. If we can't go back and prove that it was wrong to abolish sin, prove that it has done untold damage, then we can never refute it. For it is ingrained into the very fabric of today's society. And the youth have it ingrained into them also. But if, under the anointing of God (and it would take almost a 'Revolution' to do it) we can show them the terrible harm it has done, then it is possible to refute the lie, and re-introduce and preach the concept of "sin" again. Thus the whole, powerful gospel can be preached again, and we can expect a true, worldwide Revival. As you know I have studied church history, and I know the level of conviction of sin needed for people to repent in large numbers. No consciousness of sin - no Revival. For what is there to repent of?? The gospel almost entirely loses it's power without this. (Not to mention the concept of "holiness", etc). What the devil did in the late sixties was to pull the rug out from under the gospel. We have no "foundation" from which to preach it in power any more. I hope you can see what I'm saying? So why do we need to expose the wrongness and error of those days to destroy this lie? Because it was in those days (the late sixties) that this lie truly became dominant, and we can see the fruit of it by looking at what occurred then and why. What were the results of throwing away all morality and restraint? What were the results of 'free love' and "if it feels good, do it"?? It is all there for everyone to see. The fact is, this lie is so dominant and so ingrain- ed, that it will take a literal "revolution" against it to topple it. It utterly dominates today's Christianity, as well as the world. But this Revolution is coming! And I am convinced, that although many Baby Boomers will be involved, there will also be thousands of young people involved in this Revival / Revolution. (Remember, it is very hard to see the problem with clarity if one's peers and oneself have been immersed in it for so long. Young people may have a better chance). Only then, after this dominant 'Stronghold' in the West has been truly destroyed, will true Revival preaching and a massive world- wide outpouring of God's Spirit be possible. This is something that God has very clearly shown a number of prophetic people. The coming Revival will involve massive conviction of sin and deep repentance - right out in the streets and the fields, where the people are. Glory to God! I can't stress enough how significant God has said this truth about the 'Dominant Lie' is. It really is one of the very major keys to the coming Revival. (There is some discussion of it in my book, "The Coming Great Reformation", also). - Andrew Strom.
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