If holiness preachers have no relevant and current holiness materials from which to preach and if the word “sanctification” is rarely uttered from our pulpits (read: we hear more sermons based on popular non-Wesleyan, megachurch pastors than from William Greathouse or Mildred Wynkoop) and if we never dedicate time for spiritual growth (read: no revival services) and if we don’t ever get away purely for the sake of growing our relationship with Jesus (read: no camp meetings and pastor and/or lay retreats) and if we rarely have extended times of prayer with other believers (read: no prayer meetings) and if young people don’t hear how the spirit is moving in individual lives (read: no testimony services) and if we don’t unplug ourselves from the corrupt world (read: No personal devotions) and if spend more time scrolling news feeds than reading our Bibles (read: minimal time in God’s Word) and if our holiness is not played out in the real world as we care for the sick, needy and the “least of these” (read: no compassionate, social  holiness displayed) and if we don’t talk to our neighbors about Jesus (read: evangelism seems offensive to many) and if we’d rather argue about immigration than love our neighbor (read: the fruit of the spirit is not evident in our lives) and if our political loyalties stir more passion than the Gospel of Jesus Christ (read: Jesus is not Lord) and if our kids’ sports schedules have priority over their spiritual development (read again: Jesus is not Lord) and if our in-person church attendance is spotty at best (read: seriously, Jesus is NOT Lord), then why are we surprised that…

• hearts are no longer being strangely warmed (sorry John Wesley) and 
• the Pentecostal fires are no longer burning (sorry Phoebe Palmer) and 
• our utmost is not for Highest (sorry Oswald Chambers) and 
• we are no longer called unto holiness (sorry Phineas F Bresee) and 
• we are not all out for souls (sorry J.B. Chapman) and 
• we aren’t mentoring anybody and no one is mentoring us (sorry Jerry Porter) and 
• our churches are too often dead, dead, dead they just haven’t had a funeral (sorry Jim Deihl) and
• the slow drift from holiness has become our reality.

The previous paragraph was one long sentence—372 words, to be exact. My English teachers are undoubtedly shaking their heads.

It was intentionally exhausting because, frankly, that’s how the state of holiness sometimes feels. It is one overwhelming pile of symptoms—a barf-o-rama of spiritual drift. None of these things alone explains where we are but taken together, they paint a sobering picture of hearts that have gradually settled for less than God’s best.

I don’t blame social media.
I don’t blame cable news. 
I don’t blame sports.
I don’t blame politicians, publishers, pastors, or church leaders.

This is our world. It’s our reality.

The culture has changed, and the church must continue finding fresh ways to communicate the timeless gospel. I’m not arguing for a return to the “good old days.” Some methods belong in the past. But the message never does.

Holiness never goes out of style.
Prayer never becomes obsolete.
Revival is not for history books.
We don’t need nostalgia.
We need is divine intervention.
We need Pentecostal Power.

We need the Holy Spirit to awaken sleepy hearts, convict complacent souls, condemn misplaced loyalties, rekindle holy love, and once again make us a people who look like Jesus. The call remains exactly what it has always been:

“Be holy, because I am holy.”

God still demands and still provides a way for people to be holy. 

We just aren’t there.
Revive us again, O Lord.
And if revival is going to begin anywhere, let it begin with me.