WE NEED REVIVAL

RENEWAL

Call it what you like, restoration, renewal, clarity of spiritual vision, or revival.

It is all the same thing.

There are times in the life of all Christians when we become stale, empty, hungry, dissatisfied with the condition of our spirit or uncertain as to our position for service in the Kingdom. Thankfully our inner spirit at this time cries out for a closer relationship with the Savior.

We feel like a dried up twig, in a desert of despair. We long for the moisture of the water from the Spirit.

It is evident at those times that we are in need of revival.

Before the fires can come corporately, we must be consumed personally by the fire from above in the form of the Holy Spirit.

It is evident that when we have those longings that we are in need of a revival.

There are human tendencies that point to the need for revival, and if we are honest with ourselves we may see that we are guilty of one or more of the indicators mentioned below.

WE NEED REVIVAL ::::

When it become easier to stay home than to go to church.

When it is easier to work than to worship.

When it is easier to be critical than kind.

When it is easier to shirk God given opportunity than it is to do it.

When it is easier to support the civic organization, than it is to support the Church.

When it is easier to sleep in church than to stay awake.

When it is easier to grumble than to praise.

When it is easier to condemn souls than it is to pray for their salvation, and to deliver to them the truth that leads to Christ.

When it is easier to hold grudges than to forgive.

When it is easier to be worldly than it is to be holy.

When it is easier to withhold out tithes and offerings---and spend them on worldly trinkets of time than to invest them in the diamonds of eternity.

Don’t suffer from guilt or hunger spiritually.

When we recognize any of these in our life, confess it immediately and ask the Lord as David did “ Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24

And then remember the precious promises found in 1 John 1:9 “ If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

TESTS ARE COMING

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

WE ALL WILL BE TESTED

 

 

Ending His great teaching that we call the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus used a very simple illustration about two men who built two similar houses, with the only difference being the foundation that the house was laid upon. Matthew 7:24-27

In brief , His admonition to all Christians is this, At some point God will thoroughly test your spiritual condition.

Why?

Because He wants to know what kind of Christians we are, doers of His Word, or hearers only, wise or foolish believers, prepared for adversity or unprepared, over comers or succumbers.

Later in Matthews Gospel, Jesus unflatteringly implied that in the last days a large percentage of those who claim to be His will be “foolish”- thoughtlessly unprepared for His appearing- and the other part “wise” Matthew 25:2.

This is not just a casual prediction. It is the infallible foretelling, the final and authoritative, prophetic Word of the all knowing Master.

Although humbling, it is a very accurate picture, of the current body of Christians worldwide. When combined with His earlier warning, it presents a very timely and disturbing message to all of us.

Thus says the Lord to His last-day church: As these two houses were tested, so your spiritual construction-the spiritual house of character you are building daily, will be tested.

God will send powerful storms to “beat upon that house.” and Luke adds “vehemently.”

Just what will “beat” upon us? Jesus described the assault in detail. The “rains” are seasons of trouble, which will temporarily block the sunshine of peace and prosperity.

The floods” are sudden, and overwhelming personal losses or defeats, or rebellious uprisings against our authority.

The “winds” speak of the demonic “powers of the air,” the “wicked spirits…rulers of the darkness of this world,” who are set to bring down everyone who seeks and shares the Light of the world and the light that is His Word.

They “beat” upon us every time they prompt a fresh downpour, wave, or gust, of the troublesome resistance to strike the “house” of our marriage, family, ministry, or body.

Are we heedful or heedless of Jesus’ warning?

The state of our foundation will reveal this.

Are we prepared for a test of our spiritual construction, or are we procrastinating?

Are we incredulous or intrepid, disbelievingly ignoring the prophecy of Jesus, or are we fearlessly building our spiritual foundation?

Do we actually practice or only profess, all of His teachings?

Are we seeking, studying, praying, interceding, worshiping, giving, loving, suffering, forgiving, and thanking only God in all of these circumstances?

Or do we shamefully avoid the secret place, leaving Bible study to others, praying as little as possible, withholding tithes and offerings, harboring ill-will, crassly appeasing people to avoid the crosses of rejection of mankind, and complaining every time things don’t go according to our fleshly desire?

If the former is true of us, we’ve got a rock solid foundation and at the end of testing will be approved.

But, if the latter is true, and we build upon the shifting sands of the doctrines of men or of demons, then we will be found lacking and all that we have sought will be lost.

DAMNABLE HERESIES

BEST SELLER

FALSE TEACHINGS ABOUND

Last night, out of boredom, I was scanning the T.V. for some entertainment and I came across a program on T.B.N., which bills itself as the largest, most viewed, worldwide, Television Network, featuring only Christian programming.

The program that I stumbled across was apparently what T.B.N. considered to be the highlights of the year 2006.

Sitting in a chair and being interviewed by Paul Crouch Jr., was a women named Ann Coulter, she is a political observer, columnist, and best selling author of at least one book.

The latest being entitled, GODLESS-The Church of Liberalism.

During the interview, Ms. Coulter made certain that her interviewer , Mr. Crouch , fully understood that she, was Christian. She further stated that she was born into the role, and had never been anything but Christian.

Her logic and explanation was that because of the religious mixture of her family, one side Catholic, and one side Christian, that at the moment of her physical birth she was Christian, as she talked she further insisted that she had never undergone a “Born Again” experience.

This denial of a “Born Again” experience is a denial of Christ.

And yet the son of the founder of the most watched Christian Television Network in the world said not one word to help her understand the lost state that her own words had testified to.

In the Book of John chapter 3 verse 3, the Son of God, whose name is Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

If Jesus said we must experience a re-birth, then it is must be so and there can be no other way to receive your salvation, and the entitlement of the name Christian.

Ms. Coulter is misguided, as are so many others, even in the Church of the latter times.

The best selling author will convince many that she is correct, all the while, not directing others to read, the real truth, the Holy Bible, which gives perfect instruction.

PLEASE READ----2 Peter chapter 2.

It is as follows.

2 Peter 2

1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

3And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

4For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

5And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

6And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

7And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

8(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

9The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

10But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

11Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

12But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

13And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

14Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

15Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

16But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

17These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

18For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them wholive in error.

19While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

20For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

22But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

What are your thoughts?

There is a place on this page to make comment, please use it if you feel the desire.

THE LORD WILL HOLD YOUR HAND

FIGHT OR FLIGHT

 

The adrenaline rushes through your veins as the lion stalks around you seeking the weak spot where he can come in and conquer you physically.

You must remain still and calm and be prepared to defend yourself in the manner that you have been trained, and with the weapon that you have been given to be victorious over this assault.

There are times when being still demands more strength than to flail about striking at the air and weakening your position by unwisely using the resources available to you.

Your composure is the highest result of the power within you.   Isaiah 41:11-13   

 

Whenever Jesus was accused and unlawfully charged of crimes that He did not commit, He responded with deep, unbroken silence, and His ability to do so further inflamed the pack mentality of His accusers.

Whenever we are unjustly and wrongfully accused, it will take a tremendous amount of strength to keep silent and allow God to do battle for us.

The Apostle Paul was at times during his ministry, beaten, stoned, falsely accused, hated, cast out of communities, cast into the animal den, and imprisoned for the message that he delivered, and even so was able to say that “None of these things move me.” Acts 20:24

Paul did not say “none of these things hurt me.”

It is one thing to be hurt, it is another thing to be moved, from your belief.

Matthew 10:28

Paul was a man that was able to shed tears for those he loved, for those he had never met, for he knew that they had need of a Savior and someone had to bear the truth of the Good News of Jesus to them, for without it they would perish in a sinners hell.

Yet we never read of Paul crying for himself, his concern was for others.

The Apostle had determined not to be moved from what he believed to be true, even if it damaged him physically, and financially.

Paul was concerned about one thing above all, the unchanging message of God, which is that all men are sinners and in need of a savior, and His name is Jesus.

John 3:16-17

The Apostle was not overly concerned about the approval of man, he had been given a mandate by the Son of God and therefore his only concern was the approval of a smile from his Savior.

Matthew 25:23

Be honest with yourself, what matters most , the approval of man or the approval of God?

THE UNDESERVED GIFT

A REAL LIFE CHRISTMAS STORY

 

A mother of two had just spent a week of frantic searching and shopping for just the right gifts for her family and friends.

The crowds had been thick and rude, the lines were long with tremendous times of frustration, the stores and shops were cluttered with the disarray of inventory that had been rummaged through unendingly and not placed back on the shelves in a manner that was presentable. The two children one eight and one four were tired, and unruly, and behaving badly, more so as mother became frustrated and disenchanted at her seeming inability to find a moment of rest and comfort in the seasons rush.

As the final day of shopping came to an end, and as the reality of the madness screamed in the ears of the mother, she finally reached the car that was some distance from the shopping center, and was able to get her children comfortably seated in the car, she let her emotions overwhelm her, with one long sigh and a few tears.

The Christmas joy that she once knew had escaped her and her regret was evident.

Upon noticing the anguish of the mother the eight year old inquired as to what was wrong.

The answer that the harried mother gave was this, “I don’t know who started this whole mess but they out to take him out and shoot him.”

The eight year old was taken aback by the remark, but responded, “ Mom they already know who it was and they don’t have to shoot him, because they nailed Him to a tree.”

Isaiah 9:2-7 and Isaiah 53:1-12

HIDDEN IN MY HEART

DON’T SWING A WOODEN SWORD

A gladiator in ancient Rome was a slave who lived only for the entertainment of others.

He had no rights of his own, other than the right to die a bloody death to the cheers of a decadent crowd.

If a gladiator was quick enough and was able to defend his life long enough, the emperor may in time grant the slave his freedom.

In such an instance the gladiator would be brought before the Caesar with great pomp.

He would then kneel before Caesar and be touched on the shoulder close to the neck with a symbolic wooden sword.

The gladiator would then receive the wooden sword as a sign to all that he was now set free.

The wooden sword was useless in battle. It was attractive, it was symbolic, but it had no function other than to point to the decree of Caesar.

It was the decree and not the sword, that freed the gladiator from the arena of entertainment by death.

Too many Christians today treat their Bibles-the written word of God- as if it were the gladiators wooden sword.

Many have been freed from the bondage and guarantee of death in the slave market of sin, by the preaching of justification by faith.

But Christians who have been freed from the arena of sin, are not given a wooden sword as a token of their freedom.

They are given the word of God in the form of a bible, it is not a talisman to carry around and point to the edict of the Caesars of the world.

The bible is the sword of the Spirit.  Ephesians 6:17-18

It is both our offensive and defensive weapon---we must learn to use it.

The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit.

The Word of God living in us must become our only weapon.

God the Holy Spirit gave us the Word, He gave us His Book, and He wields that Word through the lives of every Christian, to pierce even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit,  Hebrews 4:12

God has promised in; Isaiah 55:11 that the word which comes out of His mouth “shall not return unto me void, but it will accomplish that which I please.”

It has the power to pierce the hardened heart of man and bring forth the “new creature.’

Each believer in America can obtain a copy of the Holy Bible.

That is not so in many parts of the world.

Carefully study the Word, prayerfully consider its content, apply it to your life

One day each of us will meet an enemy that will require skillful use of the Sword.

Perhaps the enemy will be betrayal- a dear friend or relative who plays a Judas Iscariot.

When sacrificed on the alter of greed of another, you will not be able to stand unless you are skillfully wielding that Sword.

Perhaps the enemy will be disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, or perhaps something even more terrifying.

Can we like the apostle, say “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

There is no fear in the warrior who trusts the two-edged Blade of God.

God is in control, I am His- I trust in Him alone- in whom shall I fear?

DONT WALK--RUN!

TRADING WEAKNESS FOR STRENGTH

Isaiah 40:27-31

The prophet Isaiah begins by telling of a believer who is totally exhausted, wrung out, spent and discouraged due to an extreme burden of ongoing injustice and now given the weights of doubt, despair, and the weakness that comes with hopelessness.

Weary in faith and physical strength, he cries out “My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God.". vs. 27

Isaiah then reminds the discouraged one that , unlike him , God who created all of heaven and earth, and still retains full creative power, never gets tired, discouraged, or faint: “Hast thou not known, or heard, that the everlasting God the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?” vs. 28

The difference is obvious, the believers strength is exhaustible, but Gods is inexhaustible.

And God is willing and ready to impart His strength to every weary believer: “He giveth power to the faint; and to those who have no might he increaseth strength” vs. 29

Isaiah goes on to explain that we must receive these fresh impartation of strength, because everyone of us, even the strong, will at times grow weary with the injustices, difficulties, delays, and labors that try us and find ourselves ready to fall or fail: “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall” vs. 30

We can see that human strength no matter how great will eventually fail under the rigors of divine testing.

We need to be receptive to the inexhaustible strength of God.

Only by sitting in Gods presence daily, by meditatively feeding on the bread of His Word, drinking of the living water that is His Spirit in prayer, and worshipping Him with loving adoration, with a life of thanksgiving and with song, in our hearts and from our mouths.

As we wait in Gods presence something supernatural occurs. The inexhaustible God refills His exhaustible servants with His unfailing strength: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…vs. 31

A supernatural exchange takes place when we wait upon the Lord.

Strength is renewed, faith is restored, and our vision increases as we rise in ever higher spirals upon the warm breath of the Holy Spirit….”they shall mount up with wings like eagles.” vs. 31

An eagle has the ability to recognize the warmth and strength of the currents of air and can ride that breath to ever higher boundaries leaving the weak and exhausted behind to seek new realms and through their success encourage others in the knowledge of how to exchange the weak, for the limitless supply of strength..

“they will run and not grow weary, and walk and not faint” vs. 31

What has happened? Nothing short of an ongoing miracle.

By receiving Gods graciously proffered strength, we've become more like our heavenly Father: inexhaustible