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Shane Idleman, lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Leona Valley, California, says desperate times call for desperate measures. And with what is going on in America right now, he says, nothing less than desperate measures will fix the situation.
But what are these “desperate measures” that Idleman speaks of?
“The only hope for our nation right now is another spiritual awakening. People are talking about a red wave in 2022, but we need the crimson blood of Jesus Christ right now,” Idleman told Faithwire’s Billy Hallowell recently. “… There is only one solution to what is going on in our nation, and that is deep humility and repentance.”
And how does that start? It begins with events like Rend the Heavens, a six-night revival full of worship, prayer, fasting and preaching at Westside Fellowship Church. It is the second year that Westside has hosted Rend the Heavens, which begins tonight—Halloween night—and runs through Saturday, Nov. 5.
Idleman says the idea for Rend the Heavens was born out of Isaiah 64:1, where the prophet says, “Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that though wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence.”
“If the prophet can say that, then we can say that,” Idleman says. “There is just something about meeting and pressing in every night. It’s seeking the heart of God and being desperate for more of him. And really, if it doesn’t matter to us, it doesn’t matter to God.
“The church has to start being the church again. Bible, prayer, fasting … that’s the only thing that’s going to change our nation. We launched this last year on Halloween night—as good a time as any, right?—and we’re doing it again this year.
“We had to open up the balcony, and the altar was full. We saw more breakthrough in a night of services that week last year and we saw in a ton of regular Sunday services. We saw people set free, marriages restored, addictions broken. It’s pretty amazing. People came then and they will come now because they are hungry for more of God.
“We’ve got to get back to that desperation. We shouldn’t look to Washington and we shouldn’t look to Hollywood. He wants us to seek His face and turn from our wicked ways. Revivals often happen in dark moments, and this is a dark moment. I’m excited about this.”
Idleman admits that he is angry with what is happening in America right now. But, instead of taking out his anger on anyone else, he’s got different plans for it this week.
“I am so angry that I’m going to pray and fast,” Idleman says. “I am so angry that I am going to go to church every night. I am going to fight my battles with my face on that altar. That’s what we’re supposed to do with anger, take it to the Lord and let Him propel us to make a difference.
“You have a lot of spirit-filled believers out there who are hungry for God and the them of revival is burning in their heart. I’m trusting in God and not people. I’m trusting God when He says if you humble yourself, if you come with a contrite and broken spirit, I will hear your prayers and answer them. That’s awesome.” {eoa}
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Shawn A. Akers is the online editor for Charisma Media.
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