Stop Holding On By A Thread

                                                 Break off the Ornaments

                         What a strange title to a thought about seeking for revival.

What a thought to someone who is seeking revival and then to realize the absolute guilt that is found when I examine the ornaments that I have attached myself to.

Let us look a little closer and see if we can discover the reason that what we associate ourselves with may hinder personal and corporate revival.

As we saw in the posting titled Go to where God Is, there was a time when a group of people were granted great opportunity to hear the voice and experience the very presence of the living God and yet turned away from all of it, in preference for self, and incurred the loss of fellowship with God and suffered the punishment that they had earned.

Tell the people to break off their ornaments, so that I will know what to do with them.

That is the word that was given to all of the wanderers in the wilderness.

The ornaments that they had constructed out of the wealth that they had been given on their way out of Egypt.

These ornaments were the images of things imagined, either for decoration or for a good luck emblem or even perhaps to be worshipped in the place of or in addition to the One God who had sustained them, protected them, and was leading them in the desert.

Have we ever truly considered the similarities of our lives to those who were enslaved in Egypt for a period of 400 years?

The toiled and struggled under the weighty hand of Pharoh all that time, just barely surviving, suffering loss of the rights of humanity, of the loss of the lives of family members, and of the loss of intimacy with their God, for an extended period of time.

As we are, born into the world and toiling the soil with the sweat of our brows, whatever that soil may be that you and I toil in, under the heavy hand of the law and of the tradition of man. All of us attempting to find a way of escape from the slavery of sin that we have been born into.

Gaining little of temporal value and next to nothing of eternal value, until that glorious moment, that through Salvation by the purchase of the Lamb of God, we realize that we do not belong to this world, and begin to have the knowledge of freedom and wealth of a different nature.

Some among the children of slavery in Egypt were crying out for deliverance from bondage, were crying out for mercy, were pleading for a release from their current condition.

They recieved this release after time and they also recieved recompense for their loss of 400 years as they left the land of Egypt and began their voyage into the promise.

Imagine the wealth that was heaped upon them, the gold, the silver, the rare stones, the brass, the fragrances, the lumber, the livestock, the family members long thought dead or sold into slavery to another people, as they began to gather together to find their places on the narrow road that would lead them into the land that had been promised to those who would seek Gods face and follow His direction.

Imagine the revival that was experenced by those who were finally free.

Imagine the revival that was experienced by all of those who now knew that they were going home, to that place that had been recalled to them so many times by those who remembered that they did not belong to this world but to another realm.

Imagine now the grief of that same God who was leading them as they began to look back and prefer the things of the world of bondage above the things of freedom, and hurried to make for themselves tokens of rememberance, ornaments to hang on their ears, in their noses, around their fingers, toes, ankles, or anywhere else that they thought the ornament would bring them the intended result.

One ornament for protection, one ornament for prosperity, one ornament for good luck, one ornament to celebrate their favorite athlete, one ornament to announce their heirarchy in whatever association that they were paying membership fees to, and another ornament for all around them to see and measure the wearer by.

Now let us look into the New Testament to see if we can find an ornament or two that was broken from the wearer.

In the book of Mark ch 5 we read a story of a man who was bound with the chain of demonic possesion, often times chained and fettered and always crying and cutting himself with the stones that he would pick up.......until the Christ arrives and the man realized that his help had arrived, as he ran toward the Christ worshipping, and asking what it was that Jesus would do for him.

Jesus asked the man what was his name and those things that had attached themselves to him and that he was identified by (ornaments) began to bargain with the Lord, who sent them into a herd of pigs. When the demonic influence was gone the man no longer was bound by the (ornaments) and was found in revival sitting at the feet of Jesus desiring to be in his presence.

However Jesus instructed the man to go and declare to others the new freedom that he had received.

                                  Revival is a fire that spreads.

All of us at one time or another have emulated someone else, or have declared that I would never be like that person, or have been reminded that we are what we are and have no reason to attempt improvement.

There is someone in every family or in every crowd who becomes the trap whose jaws have captured any one who tries to move beyond the past.

                                   Revival is a present and a future desire.

In the book of John ch 8 vs. 39-45 we see Jesus contending with a group of peope who had been taught that their assumed heritage was of value before God. " I speak that which I have seen with my Father and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father and Jesus saith unto them if you were Abrahams children, ye would do the works of Abraham.But now you seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God ; this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication, we have one Father even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me, for I proceeded forth and came from God, neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do you not understand my speach? Even because you cannot hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh, of his own,. For he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, you, believe me not."

Can we really believe that the ornament of heritage means anything to the Lord God?

Can we truly believe that just because we were born in a garage we are a Cadillac?

The book of Acts ch 10 vs. 34-35 states. "Then Peter opened his mouth , and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."

How can any of us believe the reasoning that we live in a Christian nation, therfore we are Christian as well. Can we believe that being born into a family of Christians, of God fearing, church going, folks, riding the bus to Sunday School a few times, and learning a few songs, that we are deserving of anything more than fearful judgement?

God respects no person above another, but He is measuring those who fear him and work righteousness.

Many of us if asked about our Chrstianity would readily give the answer that they were of one or another (ornament) of identification, one might say that they are a Baptist, another may say that they are Methodist, or Presbyterian, or Church of Christ or Church of God, or Nazarene or Pentecostal or Independent, or Catholic, or if they feel that they are knowledgeable enough to swerve the conversation they may state that they are Calvinist or Armenianist or the list goes on and on........with each of these being mere (ornaments) that are used as identifcation.

We read in the book of 1 Corinthians where the Apostle Paul is teaching that the ornament of identification is wrought with flaws. Ch. 1 vs. 10-13 "Now I beseach you, bretheren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my bretheren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say,. That evey one of you saith, I am of Paul and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas,; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?"

How would revival grow thru division?

                          Revival grows where unity flourishes.

                         Break off our ornaments of defiance, and of difference.

  Revival grows when we all seek and attempt to please the same God.

                                                           Eat The Word 

Famine is upon us, hunger hurts, our spiritual belly's are distended. We are weakened to the point of despair, the whitened fields seem as stubble to those who have no strength to help themselves, and all the more so to those who have never been offered the true bread of the Word of God.

Our nation, our homes and families, and our churches have storerooms that are void, the cupboards are bare and those who come to Bethlehem (the house of bread) are sent away further impoverished with the  leptin in our brains (hunger trigger) further exacerbated.

Administrators are elected, are chosen are hired, are ordained by the people with the purpose of help and leadership to the masses, and with few exceptions, those chosen to lead are either unqualified, or corrupt and headed for immediate failure.

                        We need Revival and we need Revival soon.

The Bible says in Ecclesiastes ch.1 vs 9, that there is “nothing new under the sun”, with one of the understandings being that mankind will find the same easy path to failure at every opportunity.

In the Old Testament Book of Hosea ch 10 vs. 12-13 we can find the children of Israel once again being warned of coming judgement balanced by the promise of available grace if only they would choose the right path. 12. Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he comes and rain righteousness upon you. 13. Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

Sowing of the field comes before the harvest, the harvest is done by reaping what has been sown in mercy, gaining the strength from the harvest and breaking up more good ground in which to sow ourselves in righteousness, all the while looking for the good things of God as evidenced by the rain of righteousness.

   That is a picture of Revival,,,,,it is something that comes with the working of prayer, of the stirring up of the hungry soul, and with the realization that something is happening spiritually that can only be from the hand of God.

And then we see that the children were no different in their day, than we are in ours. Their leaders had done wickedly, they had gathered the harvest of sin and had planted and eaten the fruit of lies, believing and teaching something other than the truth of God, which destroys the field and welcomes the famine that is sure to come.

I have had enough of the fruit of lies, I have had enough of the emptiness of a promise of Bread in the House, and yet upon examination the house is empty, with little to no truth of the Word of God being sown and no spiritual harvest being brought in.

In the New Testament we see the revealed Bread of Life, in the book of John ch 6 vs. 33. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 

The Christ says in the book of Matthew chapter 5 verse 6  "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled"

Hunger can be either physical or spiritual, to the many who are suffering it is all the same.

To those who are hungry the invitation is given to eat. 

To those who are weary the invitation is to come and eat. 

To the one who feels that he has been used up and thrown away the offer is given to come and eat. 

To the one who has suffered a famine of the Word in the place that they have been planted, the pleading is the same, come eat, come and be filled, come and gain the strength, that has been lost, while wandering in a place of dimming light.

Come and Eat. Eat of the Word, Eat of the goodness of a God, that does not measure a person in the same way that the sowers of lies measures.

To the poor, to the oppressed, to the famished, come with us, come and be renewed, come and experience the revival of spiritual strength that can only be found by eating (reading, hearing, learning, living) the Word of God.

To find a buffet of the Word, you can peruse through a recommended site at decision1.org

         

Not Both Ways

                                                 No Other GODs

There was a time when we knew, when we feared, when we honored, when we

acknowledged that there was only one.

One to whom we dedicated our lives, our thoughts, our efforts, our families, our overflowing baskets, and our words to promote as best as we understood.

Before the age of consumerism, before the age of idolatry towards sports figures, towards celebrity, and before that next shiny new item that we could afford, we had the time and energy to focus our hearts and our hopes on the One who created all and is in all.

The One that each of us will one day stand before and offer our reasoning for all that we did while in the life that He has given us.

To so many today, the interest has changed and all of our time and energy and wealth is dedicated to serving and worshiping the things of this world. 

Men and women alike have their bodies tattooed with the likeness of logos of products that they have either purchased or would sacrifice immensely to own.

We wear clothing that is printed with the names promoting more consumerism or idolatry towards acquirable things of this world.

Too much time is spent on social media of many types, entertainment has become demonic in nature and content.

  

Many ascribe to appear like, to acquire like, to parrot like their favorite celebrity, with no regards to the foolish emulation that they have given themselves over to.

Wealth and all that can be acquired by it, is the primary focus of so many folks.

Pharmaceuticals for entertainment and to take the edge off of a conscience that is telling us that in the battle to satisfy our needs for more, we are falling behind.

In the Book of Exodus ch 20 vs 3 we read where God tells Moses to instruct the children that “You shall have no other gods before me.”

The children were seeking and honoring the same types of idolatry and consumerism that is destroying us today.

They had given their hearts to the love of Gold, the worship of images, the desire for more than they were already enjoying.

Already the children of God were desiring and making other gods to take the place of the One God.

In or around the year 1450 BCE , God told his servant Moses that “You shall have no other gods before me.

In the approximate date of 733 BC, the same God told his prophet Isaiah to “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,”

Not much had changed over 700 years as the great God was still pleading with His children to forsake all those things that they were placing before our God Yahweh.

As we move forward another 730 years we are given insight into a struggle that was going on at that time among the “religious” and the One who they claimed to serve.

In the New Testament Book of John chapter 10 verse 30-33, we see God in the flesh of mankind telling those who questioned his authority “I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do you stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. ”

Elsewhere in the Book of John ch 8 vs. 58 we see a definative statement made by the Christ toward that same group of “religious” folks....”Jesus said unto them Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

Jesus said it, the naysayers heard it. “I and my Father are one.” “Before Abraham was, I am.”

The Jews knew exactly what they had just heard......I am....thou shalt have no other gods before me.......I am........the One that you claim to worship.......I am....the one who pricks your conscience and your hearts..... I am......the one who came to deliver you from your sin.......The Jews knew exactly what they had just heard.

The “religious” knew what they must do in order to follow their religion, they must stone the man....Leviticus ch 24 vs. 16 demands it.

The “religious” of our day, allow that we may have many gods, to name some of them and to anger some of the readers of this article is not the intent. 

We all know where our values lie. 

We all know that, society has made many gods, none of which can help us in times of need, or deliver us from the snare of the devour-er.

                                     There is no other True God.

                                     His name is Jesus, He alone is God.

                                     Honor Him.

                                     Revival will come when He is the only one we desire.

Can We Just Stop For A While?

                                   Can We Just Stop For A While?

How many times as a child did we object to a loving adult as they tenderly attempted the removal of a splinter or a shard of glass shoved deep into the sole of a barefoot?

Being a youth raised in the country and allowed to run the woods and streams at will, I can remember many times when in my barefoot wonderment there would suddenly be a sharp deep pain as another thorn, or stem would find a place deep in the bottom of a foot. After the initial surprise of pain and the knowing that this will be an issue that I likely will not be able to resolve on my own, I begin to dig and squeeze in the hopes that it will be removed by willful stubbornness. I dig and squeeze and poke and dig some more,even as experience is telling me that I am only forcing it deeper into the flesh and the only thing that my futile effort is accomplishing is to make a painful wound, larger and deeper. Eventually, after a time of discomfort, of pain, of the realization of futility to continue on in my own effort , I sheepishly visit the one who I know without a doubt is very adept at meeting my need of the removal of an object which is causing my discomfort.

Lovingly and with a knowing look upon her face, she puts her glasses on her face, she goes to her sewing box, takes out her tweezers and a needle and begins the task of calming me down, before she excises the problem.

You have been there, and so have I, more times than I can remember. Be still, I would be encouraged, don't flinch, it will only make it worse, don't kick, don't shout, don't cry, don't move, because every time a physical objection would be made the discomfort of the action would be obvious.

Eventually, I would for just a moment close my eyes, and stop struggling against the one who was helping me, and suddenly the declaration was made, that there, it is out and look after all that, it wasn't that big of a splinter after all.

Somethings just don't change, do they?

In every stage of life, most of us, (well maybe just me) struggle to meet expectations that others have imposed, or likely just expectations that we have placed upon ourselves.

Expectations that are difficult to meet, and so the struggle begins again, being unsettled, unsatisfied with anything, either physically, emotionally, or spiritually. We begin again to strain, to tug, to pull, to think over and over again, that there is nothing that we (I) cannot handle on my own. To say foolishly, well; I got my self into this and I will get myself out of it. Only to be met with another failure.

Can we stop there and can we go to scripture and examine three records in which we are given instruction, in both warning and in remedy?

In the Old Testament we read in the Book of Isaiah in chapter 30 and verses 15 thru 18,

we see God talking again to those who are called by His Name.

vs. 15 For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength, and ye would not. 16. But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee; and; We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. 17. One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee; till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill. 18. And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you; for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

What have we just read? Israel is in need of help, in need of healing, in need of ministry, and the God whom supplies all of that and more is willing and waiting upon a people who have made the decision to do things on their own, because after all they have gotten themselves into this and can within their own power get themselves out of the mess that they are in.

In vs 15 we see that God has lovingly told them that in returning to Him shall salvation and revival come, in quietness and in rest will their problems cease, and yet even with this promise they would do neither. 16. The people had prescribed for themselves their own remedy, they would gather more and gather the best, for that will satisfy their predicament. 17. They are told that in so doing that they would be overwhelmed by those who had more and who had better, and that they would be seen as a visible and convenient target.

Its not easy to be the king of the mountain, as every one now has you in their sights.

The more that we struggle against the willingness of God to move in the midst of our problems, the more we find ourselves in problems that we should have never incurred.

In another passage in the Old Testament we read in the Book of Psalms ch 46 and verse 10, an invitation to find relief from our struggles and in return to find a revival of faith in our hearts.

vs. 10. Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

What a simple cure for all of our struggling for all of our objection to the application of good to our lives, to the failure of self sufficiency what an ease of the pain of a thorn embedded in our flesh and our psyches.

There is a word spoken in Hebrew which can be interpreted to mean, "to slacken, or to let down, or to cease." The same word "rapa" can be used to mean "to drop, to be weak, or to faint." The word 'rapa' is the word "BE STILL.

If we can only BE STILL. If we can only BE STILL. If we can only BE STILL.

What salvation, what healing, what revival would be experienced if we would only BE STILL and let Him remove our failures, heal our wounds, infuse our hearts with His Word.

We must learn to be still and let Him do the work for us. He says that He wants to, He says that He will.

In the New Testament we read of an instance when God in the form of man, instructed a few of His followers to come with Him, alone.

Matthew 17 vs 1. And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart. 2. And was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun., and his raiment was white as the light. 3. And, behold, there appeared unto them, Moses and Elias talking with him. 4. Then answered Peter and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face and were sore afraid. 7. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

Revival starts with just a few, and a few is all that it takes to change the spiritual climate of a family of a congregation or of a nation. The few saw Him changed into a spiritual being and noticed that He was talking to men who had long been physically dead, proving that He is the God that was and the God that is,which surely means that He will be God in the time to come as well. As could be predicted, men who were struggling with self sufficiency decided that they must do something in order to validate themselves. Suddenly they were shocked into the realization that "rapa" should occur, they needed only to listen to the voice of Jesus, nothing more. "Rapa" did occur as they fell to their faces, knowing that any effort from this point forward would be in violation of the command of God. As they lay "rapa" the Christ touches them, encouraging them to now arise, and be not afraid.

In that moment of revival they saw no man, they only saw the reviver, Jesus.

I will no longer struggle, I will resist the urge to fight my own battles, monuments to man will be meaningless, and I will be thankful for all that I am learning, and I will BE STILL.

                                                Go To Where God Is

Could it be that the reason that we have not experienced true revival is that we have not positioned ourselves in the place where God is.

It seems that the organized Church in the Western World has moved away from instead of moving toward the place where God is.

While it is true that God is everywhere, it certainly does not imply that He is in approval of or active in all of our endeavors.

Once again we will look at Scripture from both the Old and the New Testaments of the Holy Bible and find a remedy for our longing for revival.

In the book of Exodus ch. 33 we look into a moment in time when a choice must be made by a chosen group.

Exodus 33 vs 5-10 For the Lord had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in moment, and consume thee therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee. 6. And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb. 7. And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp. 8. And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at this tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle. 9. And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. 10. And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door; and all the people rose up and worshiped, every man in his tent door.

Something has happened in the desert. 

Some folks have had enough of not having enough of the presence of God, even though His very presence was evident by the Cloud by day and the Fiery pillar by night.

In verse 5 We see that God tells Moses (who is the shepherd and pastor of that group of people) that He knows that the people who are following him are a bunch of stiffnecked (rebellious) folks. And warns Moses that He is about to diminish them greatly in number. He tells Moses to tell them to remove their symbols and ornaments of jewelry for He would treat them as He chose, based on what was in their hearts and not around their necks or hanging on their ears. 7. Moses removed the tabernacle, the place where God dwelt and moved it far away from a people who had removed themselves far from a desire to know the blessing of the presence of God. Only those who truly desired the presence of God, sought out and physically went to the place where God was. 8. Tells us that as Moses began to move toward the place where the tabernacle was, that a majority of the people rose up and stood still as Moses went out, instead of following Moses to the presence, they were content to let someone else experience the reality of God for them. 9. Incredibly as Moses entered into the place where God dwelt, that the Cloud descended and stood at the door, and talked with Moses. 10. When the people saw this they all stood and worshiped, from afar. (being distanced from the presence of God is not what we need, only those who sought His presence actually experienced it on that day)

I wonder if those who missed His presence were pricked in their hearts by the realization of such a great a loss, as missing out on the tangible presence of the Living God?

In the New Testament Book of Mark in ch 2 vs. 2-12 we read of a group brought their friend to the Master and all of them experienced a change

Vs. 2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door; and he preached the word unto them. 3. And they came unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was; and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 5. When Jesus saw their faith. He said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7. Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? "who can forgive sins but God only? 8. And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 9. Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 10. But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy).11. I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine own house. 12. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

Here are a few fellows who obviously know that to garner the benefits that only God allows we must go to where He is....either on our own or as guests of others and to let nothing not even the roof of a house impede our efforts.

In verse 2 we see that many were gathered into one place and that place was where He was. 3. They brought a visitor who couldn't bring himself. 4. They let nothing get in the way of reaching Him. 5. Because of their faith the visitor was healed, which allowed him to develop faith or to increase the faith that he may have had.. 6.As always where someone is growing closer to God there will be naysayers who question what is occurring. 7. Even in the presence of God in the flesh, there will be those who doubt that sins can be forgiveness or that faith can be built or that revival can occur unless those things happen on the doubters terms. 8.They knew that their lack of faith had been exposed. 9. Jesus declares that He can do all things. 10. Jesus declares that He has been given authority. 11.Jesus declares that He is healer. 12. The sick got up, and declared his victory to all that could see or hear him, further confounding those who wanted their terms met.

Some came to where God was and some stood in the tents gawking.

                                                 Go To Where God Is

Revival is where God is, Revival is found in a tent in the desert, Revival is found in a house full of people, Revival is found on a sick bed let down into a room through the roof top,

Revival is found in the heart of one who has come to where God is.

                                                    WE NEED REVIVAL

What the individual needs, what the Family Structure needs, what the Church needs is Revival.

Not a revival of the Economic Systems, not  a revival of a Political System, not a revival of the madness of Military might, and not a revival of the many religious systems that could be mentioned.

                                                       WE NEED REVIVAL

Most of those who would call themselves Christ followers have never experienced a true revival of the Church that those of years past were fortunate to experience. A true God inspired, Jesus Christ as Savior and Redeemer, Soul saving, Spiritual heart healing, life changing, family restoring Revival.

We have spent too much time and energy praying and seeking for our own comfort, entertainment, and wealth to have devoted the time individually and corporately to do as Holy Scripture instructs, in order that we might see Revival in our time.

Scripture gives us many indications of how we may seek and receive true Revival, so we will take two, one of them from the Old testament and one from the New Testament and look at them individually and together as they really are of one inspired Breath.

In the Old Testament book of 2 Chronicles ch 7 vs. 12 thru 16, we see that God is talking to Solomon and is giving Solomon the order of Revival, and speaks to Solomon in a blunt, and frank fashion, not allowing the questions of relativism to have any space.

12. And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. 13. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people: 14. If my people which are called by name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. 16. For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

In these few verses, we read where God has spoken to Solomon, who is the King over a people group whom God has called His chosen.

Let us examine these verses to see if they tell us the same today as they did approximately 3015 years ago.

Verse 12 tells us that God can come in the night ( a quiet time when we may least expect His presence) and spoke directly to Solomon (yes it is true! You can personally hear His voice) and has chosen for Himself a house ( not a physical dwelling as it was in the time of Solomon, rather it is the house of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that all that have truly been soundly, scripturally,  Born Again into the family of God, comprise)
Verse 13 is warning us, of the things that we see if we are truly looking, and indicating that they are not just something that happens, yet are things that are divinely allowed to happen to draw the attention of His children back to Him.
Verse 14, Who is the people who are called by His name? It is the people who have experienced that moment of being Born Again and who have that indwelling of the Holy Spirit (know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit) and have that same Holy Spirit to make intercession for them in the things that they do not know how to pray fully. How do we learn to humble ourselves, when we are only taught that we deserve more, so that those who are teaching can get their share? It is those who seek His face and not His hands ( for what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his very soul?) if we seek His face, then we will know His will, and purposes and our souls will not be in jeopardy.
If we turn from our wicked ways we will have to admit that there is still a standard of holiness that all of us must cling to, and cast off the idea of hyper grace that has derailed many who have innocently been lead into the ditch of failure.
If we can do these things then the promise is that God will hear from Heaven (yes, He still reigns from the Heaven that is His creation) He will heal our land and our sins will be forgiven (national sin, and generational sin, yet not personal sin for that is dealt with in another manner).
15. He promises that His eyes will see us and His ears will hear our pleas that are made in this place (the place of the indwelling of His Spirit).
16. For now He has sanctified, (made Holy) His residence and is there personally and forever.

That is the Revival that we seek, the Revival that shouts live here oh Lord, move here our God, save our souls you Lamb of God, and speak to us with your very breath, that we would as a spiritual building do those things that are pleasing to you alone and that our Families, our Churches, and our Nation would reap the benefits of your manifest presence.

In the New Testament book of Revelation ch. 3 vs. 14 thru 20, we are witness through the written Word that God in the form of Jesus Christ is speaking to another man; John with warnings of judgment, balanced by a promise of reward if we will only do as instructed.

14. And to the angel of the church of Laodicea write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would that thou wert cold or hot. 16. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17. Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see. 19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20. Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

It is stunning to realize that the same God that spoke to Solomon individually now is speaking to the entirety of His dwelling.

14. For those who may not know, the Church at Laodicea was a group of worldly individuals who felt that the wealth and prosperity that they had accumulated was an emblem of favor before God.
15. But God saw that prosperity in another manner however, declaring that the comfort that they had gained had allowed them to become lukewarm (not having much fervor) being neither completely cold (spiritually dead) nor hot (being on fire and in love with the God they named).
16. Because of their lack of fire they were to be spewed (vomited) out of His mouth.
17. The reasons of their lack of strength is noted and shamefully named.
18. The Church is invited to return, with the true wealth of the riches of His grace, cleansed again and clothed with repentance, looking upon His face and not upon His hands.
19. The Church is reminded that He can and will send a rebuke and chastisement (in the form that He chooses, maybe the loss of wealth, the loss of identity, or worse) but as always the warning is balanced by the promise of grace upon repentance.
20. The Lord Jesus is a gentleman, as He stands patiently outside the door of our Churches waiting to be invited back in (the Cross is being preached in fewer houses than ever before) yet He will return and walk the isles, move amongst the pews, and ministering to those whose Churches will heed His knocking.
He will also come into the house (spiritual dwelling) of any man who will hear His knocking upon the door (heart) of that individuals soul.

This is Revival when a lost, or wounded soul, will seek His face, will repent (change his mind about sin, or false teaching) will call upon Him to forgive his sins, and will begin to live for Him alone.
When this Revival begins the person or group that is revived must not keep it to themselves but must understand that all have been commanded to follow that call to "take the good news of the gospel to every creature."

True Revival will change a sinner, will cause a family to find that place of love and compassion again, will cause the brick and mortar Church to desire to once again be the place from which  the world is told the truth, and will cause a Nation to turn from the perversions, of the export of abortion, pornography, pharmaceutical addiction, and thoughtless murder.

May the Trumpet not go Silent

During World War 1 and prior, veterans noted in thousands of letters and journals the memories that music had played during the wars.

 Drum beats and fife tunes were commonly heard, but as war progressed, the bugle became the instruments of choice because it enabled soldiers to hear over musket and artillery fire. Buglers were required to memorize all the calls not only for the telling of time and duties in camp, but also to guide the actions of troops in battle. In short, they became the mouthpiece for the general. Those in command kept the bugler by their sides at all times so that orders could be issued for the sounding of calls. However, this made the bugler a strategic target for the enemy as cutting off lines of communication was an essential objective.

Such was the case in the battle of Camas Creek on August 20, 1877. During a raid by Nez Perce Indians on a U. S. Army encampment, only three of the troops were killed. However, one of them was 1st Cavalry, Company B bugler, Bernard Arthur Brooks. Bernard was riding immediately behind his commanding officer, Captain Jackson, when he was shot and killed. Now, without a means to communicate orders, three companies of U. S. Cavalry were in disarray and went into retreat which led to their defeat.

 As one surveys the landscape of American social, business, political, and religious life, it is quite obvious that we are living in some strangely backward times. 

Lies have become truth. 
Wrong has become right.
Darkness has become light. 

We are in a delirious state of confusion because there are so many mixed signals. 

We have the opinions of experts, the formulas of scientists, the rhetoric of politicians and even a weekly dose of sermons. But, lost in the debate is the clarion call of the trumpet of God. In 1 Corinthians 14:8, Paul wrote, “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?”

We no longer hear the piercing sound alerting us to our post, but rather the sweet tunes of the flute leading us to do those things which are right in our own eyes. While the battle for truth, decency and  the soul of a nation rages, the trumpet has gone silent. The trumpet no longer sound in the public square nor in the halls of government. The trumpet is muted in our educational systems and even muffled in the house of God.

Is it any wonder our children now march to the cadence of their won drums. George Orwell said, “During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.” We are losing a sense of purpose and direction because the sounding calls are missing amidst the fog of war.

We are desperate for those with courage to sound the trumpet while all around them are sounding a retreat.

 What would be the signals we must look and listen for?

We must sound the trumpet of wonder.

In 2 Chronicles 13:12, King Abijah called out, “…behold, God Himself is with us for our Captain, and His priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you..” At the sound of trumpets being blown in war or worship, God’s people are filled with confident assurance of His presence with them. It was a way of reminder to remain captivated and concentrated on Him. As we face the issues of our day, there is a tendency to “stare drive” and become focused on the events and the decisions. The longer we stare the more deeply we are filled with offense, bitterness, and anger. Soon thereafter we are fighting in the strength of the flesh and have lost a fresh sense of the wonder of God.

Stephen Olford said, “Any form of irreverent familiarity in holy things is the evidence of stagnation and backsliding. God have mercy on us if and when things of the Spirit fail to fill our souls with wonder!” There is nothing that confronts us, in any greater need of repair than our view of God. He has been engaged with these foes and battles since the dawn of time. And by way of reminder, He has never lost a skirmish or battle!

We must sound the trumpet of wisdom.

In Joshua 6, Joshua gave detailed instructions as to how the city of Jericho would be conquered. He said in verse 5. “..and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city shall fall down flat…” The sound of the trumpet was a sign of obedient and decisive leadership that trusted the counsel of God. Over the past few years we have come to find that our nation is struggling to find competent and capable leadership in nearly every arena of life. We search intensely for leaders who know how to set the sails and chart a confident course. We are desperate for uncompromising and unafraid leaders capable of steering the ship in the storm. The challenges we face are so complex that it is like trying to unravel a box of a thousand strings of Christmas lights. However, Scripture never leaves it to men to figure out solutions to the things God already has the answer for. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, “Surely the essence of wisdom is that before we begin to act at all, or attempt to please God, we should discover what it is that God has to say about a matter.” Wisdom is always found in truth. It would serve us well to remember that truth is what God has said, not what we think about what God has said. It is those lives that are in tune with the Word of God that give the sound to the melodies that  are always wise, right and best.

We must sound the trumpet of warning.

In Ezekiel 33:2-3, the prophet writes,”…take a man,…and set him for a watchman. If when he sees the sword come upon the land, he blows the trumpet, and warns the people.” The watchman had one duty and that was to sound the trumpet when danger was approaching. I am convinced and convicted that most of the difficulties we face in our land lies at the doorways of the church. We have abandoned the post of our duty as spiritual watchmen and are reveling in pleasures as the world burns around us. We have become highly skilled in the art of negotiation to the point of allowing things to happen on our watch that would cause our forefathers to roll over in their graves.

  It has been a long season since why have brought a startling and arresting Word from the Lord to our people. Our nation deserves better from us and it should be demanded of us.

 It is not more politicians that we need. 

It is not more vain words from so called “prophets” who prophesy from their own vanity , saying “it is well and only can get better.” 

We need spiritual statesmen.

A politician only worries about the next election, but a statesman is worried about the next generation. While we will never stop the incredible train wreck that is coming, we can at least save as many as we can from the wreckage.

Vance Havner said, “It is later than it has ever been before, and the smartest thing any man can do is to set his watch by God’s clock.”

 How can we remain in silence when so much is at stake?



Tucked away in a brief Old Testament book are these powerful words in Amos 3:6-7..”Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid?”. Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servant the prophets.”

I wonder to whom God is speaking? 

Is there anyone that can hear anymore?

Perhaps someone will stand tall and sound the trumpet so all can hear above the cries of pain and pleasure.
If someone does not play reveille soon, the next sound we hear may just be the sound of Taps.