We need a sweeping revival where people confess their sins and get right with God, where folks turn out in bigger crowds at the church house than they do at the ball game, and where the old-time religion still gets top priority! Shelton Smith
Evan Roberts, one of the key people during the Welsh Revival of 1904-1905, once asked his best friend, Sydney Evans, “Do you believe that God can give us 100,000 now?" Evan Roberts had a vision for souls that stretched beyond one church building.
Church Revivals are good. They are meetings, which take place usually for a week. Many times it has a guest preacher or Evangelist come in order to lead the meetings. People’s hearts are moved closer to Christ, and many make a first time decision for salvation. These are good and healthy for a church.
What we need in this world is much more. We need a movement of God that affects the hearts of millions. Some modern day revivals have affected thousands of people, but I believe God wants to move so mightily that millions go to their knees before Him. Millions of lives changed across the United States, Europe, Africa and the World.
I am asking you to believe and pray with me for God to give us 100 million souls; 100 million people falling on their faces in repentance. People turning from lives filled with selfish worldly ways and living for Christ alone.
I also challenge you to:
1. Confess all known sin
2. Deal with and get rid of anything ‘doubtful’ in your life
3. Be ready to obey the Holy Spirit instantly
4. Confess Christ publicly
If you agree to pray for revival and follow the four points above, I ask you to write a comment in this blog declaring your commitment to prayer for revival, and to follow Christ with your whole heart, mind and soul.
The four points of challenge are taken from the Welsh Revival.
Technorati Tags: revival, commitment, church, salvation, souls, prayer,
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
What Revival Should You Pray For?
Oh! men and brethren, what would this heart feel if I could but believe that there were some among you who would go home and pray for a revival men whose faith is large enough, and their love fiery enough to lead them from this moment to exercise unceasing intercessions that God would appear among us and do wondrous things here, as in the times of former generations. Charles Spurgeon
A groundwork of prayer is required for the inception of revival. Prayer for the birth of a revival cannot be answered by God until we pray. God desires to answer our prayers but too often, in relation to revival, we either do not pray, or we pray for the wrong things.
What kind of revival should we be praying for? A true revival is not going to be the same this time, as any other true revival from God. However, there are some factors in a revival which do remain constant. There are also many misguided ways to pray for a revival.
Whether you’re a Charismatic believer or a believer who does not believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, I hope we can agree that God is powerful, and that He does work in people's lives today. God does heal. He does work miracles. The Holy Spirit does speak to the hearts of men.
First let me talk about something I have seen in Charismatic circles. I have heard pastors urge their parishioners to pray for revival, something like this: “We need to pray for revival. We want God to come down in power. I want to see people who are ill or injured to be brought to the church first before being sent to the hospital. When people drive past our church, the Holy Spirit moves them to pull into our driveway and come to our service without understanding why they would do such a thing. I want God’s presence to be so powerful in our church that the dead would be raised to life.”
What is wrong with that? Actually, nothing is wrong in desiring God to work so mightily in a church. There are testimonies of these things happening in our modern day world. The problem lays not in the desire to see such power, but in thinking that this is a revival. It is not!
This is simply God’s power manifested in a very mighty way within a church. I believe God can do all those things and more, but if the hearts of believers are not brought closer to Christ, if non-believers are not brought into the saving grace of Jesus, than all the great signs of God’s workings are useless.
I do not care about seeing miracles or even someone brought back from the grave, if the souls of men are not changed. I know, seeing great miracles will change people's hearts. Someone raised from the dead can’t help but raise people's faith in God. The problem is that miracles, healings and great works of God are products of faith and not the other way around. We have to have a heart change before we have God working wonders in our midst.
Once we are seeking for God to bring the hearts and minds of men in line with His own, we will see lives consecrated to God. When people die to self and seek His will for their lives, we will see God’s might manifested in the more relatively minor ways of miracles and healings.
We want the thrill of seeing miracles. Every miracle and healing which Jesus did, in and of itself, was not as exciting or as life changing as one person who decides to accept Jesus’ death on the cross as the only way of salvation for him, and that living his life in selfless sacrifice to the Lord Jesus is the only fitting way to Love God.
Technorati Tags: Revival, church, charismatic, prayer, self, salvation
A groundwork of prayer is required for the inception of revival. Prayer for the birth of a revival cannot be answered by God until we pray. God desires to answer our prayers but too often, in relation to revival, we either do not pray, or we pray for the wrong things.
What kind of revival should we be praying for? A true revival is not going to be the same this time, as any other true revival from God. However, there are some factors in a revival which do remain constant. There are also many misguided ways to pray for a revival.
Whether you’re a Charismatic believer or a believer who does not believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, I hope we can agree that God is powerful, and that He does work in people's lives today. God does heal. He does work miracles. The Holy Spirit does speak to the hearts of men.
First let me talk about something I have seen in Charismatic circles. I have heard pastors urge their parishioners to pray for revival, something like this: “We need to pray for revival. We want God to come down in power. I want to see people who are ill or injured to be brought to the church first before being sent to the hospital. When people drive past our church, the Holy Spirit moves them to pull into our driveway and come to our service without understanding why they would do such a thing. I want God’s presence to be so powerful in our church that the dead would be raised to life.”
What is wrong with that? Actually, nothing is wrong in desiring God to work so mightily in a church. There are testimonies of these things happening in our modern day world. The problem lays not in the desire to see such power, but in thinking that this is a revival. It is not!
This is simply God’s power manifested in a very mighty way within a church. I believe God can do all those things and more, but if the hearts of believers are not brought closer to Christ, if non-believers are not brought into the saving grace of Jesus, than all the great signs of God’s workings are useless.
I do not care about seeing miracles or even someone brought back from the grave, if the souls of men are not changed. I know, seeing great miracles will change people's hearts. Someone raised from the dead can’t help but raise people's faith in God. The problem is that miracles, healings and great works of God are products of faith and not the other way around. We have to have a heart change before we have God working wonders in our midst.
Once we are seeking for God to bring the hearts and minds of men in line with His own, we will see lives consecrated to God. When people die to self and seek His will for their lives, we will see God’s might manifested in the more relatively minor ways of miracles and healings.
We want the thrill of seeing miracles. Every miracle and healing which Jesus did, in and of itself, was not as exciting or as life changing as one person who decides to accept Jesus’ death on the cross as the only way of salvation for him, and that living his life in selfless sacrifice to the Lord Jesus is the only fitting way to Love God.
Technorati Tags: Revival, church, charismatic, prayer, self, salvation
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
God Never Answers My Prayers
Some people think that prayer just means asking for things, and if they fail to receive exactly what they asked for, they think the whole thing is a fraud. Gerald Vann
Have you prayed to God and never gotten an answer? Does it seem that your prayers fall upon deaf ears?
What if, as you sit there reading this blog, you looked out the window and saw a famous billionaire outside your home. You run outside, introduce yourself to him and then ask, “Will you give me $5.00?”
What chance is there that he will give you the money? Probably, next to none. If he gave you the money he would be inundated with people asking him for money. He knows that, and most likely you will go away just as poor as you were before.
Now, let's say that while you're talking to the billionaire his son comes up to him and asks, “Will you give me $5.00?”
The son has an excellent chance that the billionaire will give him the money he asked for. What is the difference? Relationship!
The closer the relationship you have with God, the more likely you are to experience God answering your prayers.
Technorati Tags: revival, church, prayer, Jesus, Christ, God, Christianity
Have you prayed to God and never gotten an answer? Does it seem that your prayers fall upon deaf ears?
What if, as you sit there reading this blog, you looked out the window and saw a famous billionaire outside your home. You run outside, introduce yourself to him and then ask, “Will you give me $5.00?”
What chance is there that he will give you the money? Probably, next to none. If he gave you the money he would be inundated with people asking him for money. He knows that, and most likely you will go away just as poor as you were before.
Now, let's say that while you're talking to the billionaire his son comes up to him and asks, “Will you give me $5.00?”
The son has an excellent chance that the billionaire will give him the money he asked for. What is the difference? Relationship!
The closer the relationship you have with God, the more likely you are to experience God answering your prayers.
Technorati Tags: revival, church, prayer, Jesus, Christ, God, Christianity
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
The Foundation of Prayer
Every mighty move of the Spirit of God has had its source in the prayer chamber. E.M Bounds.
After I had left the Navy, I came back home to Iowa and joined a Baptist Church. I loved the Lord and wanted to serve him. I didn’t know much about how churches operated, but I was determined to do my best.
When they had something going on at church I tried to be there. I even went to the church business meetings. There were only a few at the business meetings, but those who were cared about the church and wanted what was best for it. I remember sitting there with these older Christians knowing that I was sitting with wiser and more mature Christians then me.
At one particular meeting, we were sitting around a table talking before the meeting actually started. We then began to talk about a problem which the meeting was to address and solve. The discussion went on for about 10 minutes after the time the business meeting was to begin. I then realized that even though we had not officially begun the meeting, in actuality it had started.
“Excuse me.” I spoke up in the middle of all the mature Christians, who were trying to solve this problem. “Shouldn’t we pray about this?”
The pastor looked at me with a scowl. “No! We need to find the solution to our problem and then ask God to bless it.”
That was the last business meeting I attended at that church.
I don’t care how smart you are, how much education you have, what experience you might have or titles you may possess. You are not as wise as God. Unless you are eternal, all knowing, all powerful and rule all of creation your resume will not come close to comparing to God’s. I would rather hear from Him on how I should live my life. He will have the best solution to any situations I might find here on earth. He is the one I want telling me what I should be doing and not anyone else, including me. If he gives me the solution to a problem, I know He will bless it. If I find my own solution, he will let me bless it with my own power, and if He does bless my solution it will be out of His Mercy. There is no guaranteeing of His blessing if we follow our own plans instead of His.
Prayer is the foundation of any work of God in our world. We can plan a revival. We can decide on what hymns and songs to sing. We can write our sermons, advertise the time and place of a revival, plan the food, drink, banners and even the color of choir robes to make the best impression on the hearts of the people. However, it is all for nothing if it is not founded upon prayer. Prayer that God guides in every detail, no matter how small. Prayer that puts Him before our own wisdom.
We are all fools compared to the wisdom of God. Do nothing under your own power, but give it all to Jesus. Rest in Him to carry the burden of how a revival should be. All revivals are God’s responsibility and not our own. We cannot bring revival. It is not in our power. The only power you have to bring revival is to present yourself totally before God and allow him to use you. Once you rest in His power and wisdom, allowing Him total control of your life, He can bring revival through you. He will bring you to your knees to pray for revival, for souls, for a movement of God in this world.
Technorati Tags: revival, prayer, church, sin, love, Jesus, Christ, Christianity
After I had left the Navy, I came back home to Iowa and joined a Baptist Church. I loved the Lord and wanted to serve him. I didn’t know much about how churches operated, but I was determined to do my best.
When they had something going on at church I tried to be there. I even went to the church business meetings. There were only a few at the business meetings, but those who were cared about the church and wanted what was best for it. I remember sitting there with these older Christians knowing that I was sitting with wiser and more mature Christians then me.
At one particular meeting, we were sitting around a table talking before the meeting actually started. We then began to talk about a problem which the meeting was to address and solve. The discussion went on for about 10 minutes after the time the business meeting was to begin. I then realized that even though we had not officially begun the meeting, in actuality it had started.
“Excuse me.” I spoke up in the middle of all the mature Christians, who were trying to solve this problem. “Shouldn’t we pray about this?”
The pastor looked at me with a scowl. “No! We need to find the solution to our problem and then ask God to bless it.”
That was the last business meeting I attended at that church.
I don’t care how smart you are, how much education you have, what experience you might have or titles you may possess. You are not as wise as God. Unless you are eternal, all knowing, all powerful and rule all of creation your resume will not come close to comparing to God’s. I would rather hear from Him on how I should live my life. He will have the best solution to any situations I might find here on earth. He is the one I want telling me what I should be doing and not anyone else, including me. If he gives me the solution to a problem, I know He will bless it. If I find my own solution, he will let me bless it with my own power, and if He does bless my solution it will be out of His Mercy. There is no guaranteeing of His blessing if we follow our own plans instead of His.
Prayer is the foundation of any work of God in our world. We can plan a revival. We can decide on what hymns and songs to sing. We can write our sermons, advertise the time and place of a revival, plan the food, drink, banners and even the color of choir robes to make the best impression on the hearts of the people. However, it is all for nothing if it is not founded upon prayer. Prayer that God guides in every detail, no matter how small. Prayer that puts Him before our own wisdom.
We are all fools compared to the wisdom of God. Do nothing under your own power, but give it all to Jesus. Rest in Him to carry the burden of how a revival should be. All revivals are God’s responsibility and not our own. We cannot bring revival. It is not in our power. The only power you have to bring revival is to present yourself totally before God and allow him to use you. Once you rest in His power and wisdom, allowing Him total control of your life, He can bring revival through you. He will bring you to your knees to pray for revival, for souls, for a movement of God in this world.
Technorati Tags: revival, prayer, church, sin, love, Jesus, Christ, Christianity
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Heavenly Violence by Resting in Jesus
Revival comes from heaven when heroic souls enter the conflict determined to win or die-or if need be, to win and die! "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Charles Finney
We are a peaceful people. We do not want violence. We want our lives to be filled with the quiet, restful tranquility of God’s Paradise. God is a God of love and peace. We are to rest in the lord.
Matthew 11: 28-30: 28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
To often we see resting in the lord as a method of quiet peaceful relaxation away from anything strenuous or violent. In reality, resting in the lord is the violent act of obedience to God. It involves spiritual battles which change the lives of men and destroys the strongholds of Satan. Without such violence revivals cannot exist.
Dick Speight, of Come Rest Ministries, in his book "Come Rest" says, “Jesus sees your weary heart. He invites you to stop striving and begin thriving. He offers Himself and three rhythms of rest for your daily lifestyle: Come to Him, take His yoke, and learn from Him. He wants you to live freely and lightly…. Rest is not “taking a break.” Rest is unbroken company with Jesus.”
That sounds pretty straightforward. Rest is simply unbroken company with Jesus. When was the last time you walked all day in unbroken fellowship with God? That means no sin, obeying his every word and leading, and not depending upon your own strength or wisdom in anything you do. You are completely dependent on Jesus and on him alone.
Resting in Jesus means violence to your own way of life. Wrestling control of your life away from self and giving it to Jesus. It is not easy and it is painful. It means constantly dying to your own will.
Resting in Jesus also means you don’t have to do everything yourself. Jesus calls on you to go to him with your problems. He will now take the load of burdens in your life. He offers his yoke to you so that you can labor side by side with him in the fields which are ripe with harvest. He will teach you and show you the best ways to accomplish the work he has for you. Resting in Jesus means never to have to labor alone again.
Resting in Jesus means that when we pray He will guide us in the areas to pray for. It also means that our prayers are the prayers of Jesus’ heart and not our own will. We can be confident of him working to accomplish our prayers.
1John 3:21-22: 21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
Revival begins with a Christian set apart to God, shunning the world and desiring God’s will in his life. He knows his fleshly desires are counter to God’s will and, under his own strength, he will fail. He goes to Jesus and lays all he is at Jesus’s feet. He then takes up Jesus’ yoke and together they labor as Christ guides and teaches the Christian in the ways to go. The Christian is called upon to pray for revival. This is when the greatest violence in the spiritual war begins. For now the Christian is storming the gates of Hell to bring those bound by Satan back into the safe arms of God.
We will begin talking about prayer for revival next. Satan fears a righteous man who is resting in Jesus as he prays for revival. The Christian on his knees is the most powerful force on earth.
Technorati Tags: revival, church, violence, prayer, sacrifice, love,
Charles Finney
We are a peaceful people. We do not want violence. We want our lives to be filled with the quiet, restful tranquility of God’s Paradise. God is a God of love and peace. We are to rest in the lord.
Matthew 11: 28-30: 28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
To often we see resting in the lord as a method of quiet peaceful relaxation away from anything strenuous or violent. In reality, resting in the lord is the violent act of obedience to God. It involves spiritual battles which change the lives of men and destroys the strongholds of Satan. Without such violence revivals cannot exist.
Dick Speight, of Come Rest Ministries, in his book "Come Rest" says, “Jesus sees your weary heart. He invites you to stop striving and begin thriving. He offers Himself and three rhythms of rest for your daily lifestyle: Come to Him, take His yoke, and learn from Him. He wants you to live freely and lightly…. Rest is not “taking a break.” Rest is unbroken company with Jesus.”
That sounds pretty straightforward. Rest is simply unbroken company with Jesus. When was the last time you walked all day in unbroken fellowship with God? That means no sin, obeying his every word and leading, and not depending upon your own strength or wisdom in anything you do. You are completely dependent on Jesus and on him alone.
Resting in Jesus means violence to your own way of life. Wrestling control of your life away from self and giving it to Jesus. It is not easy and it is painful. It means constantly dying to your own will.
Resting in Jesus also means you don’t have to do everything yourself. Jesus calls on you to go to him with your problems. He will now take the load of burdens in your life. He offers his yoke to you so that you can labor side by side with him in the fields which are ripe with harvest. He will teach you and show you the best ways to accomplish the work he has for you. Resting in Jesus means never to have to labor alone again.
Resting in Jesus means that when we pray He will guide us in the areas to pray for. It also means that our prayers are the prayers of Jesus’ heart and not our own will. We can be confident of him working to accomplish our prayers.
1John 3:21-22: 21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
Revival begins with a Christian set apart to God, shunning the world and desiring God’s will in his life. He knows his fleshly desires are counter to God’s will and, under his own strength, he will fail. He goes to Jesus and lays all he is at Jesus’s feet. He then takes up Jesus’ yoke and together they labor as Christ guides and teaches the Christian in the ways to go. The Christian is called upon to pray for revival. This is when the greatest violence in the spiritual war begins. For now the Christian is storming the gates of Hell to bring those bound by Satan back into the safe arms of God.
We will begin talking about prayer for revival next. Satan fears a righteous man who is resting in Jesus as he prays for revival. The Christian on his knees is the most powerful force on earth.
Technorati Tags: revival, church, violence, prayer, sacrifice, love,
Friday, April 22, 2011
Don’t be Ashamed to Pay the Price
Revival, no matter how great or small in its ultimate scope, always begins with individual believers whose hearts are desperate for God, and who are willing to pay the price to meet Him.
Before you read any further, please watch this short video. It is not Christian but it has a message I want you to hear.
God has called you. Maybe you’re called to be the shirtless dancing guy who looks like a lone nut. Perhaps you are called to be the first follower who helps legitimize the person that everyone thinks is kind of crazy. One way or another God is calling you.
Be willing to pay the price for God. Never ever be ashamed to stand up and look crazy, or to stand up with someone who everyone thinks is disgraceful, when you're standing for Christ.
Jason was walking with his mother down the street. He was 8 years old, and his mother held his hand because of the heavy traffic of pedestrians on the sidewalk. He couldn’t help but notice people staring at his mother’s face, which was scared and deformed.
A little girl saw his mother and with wide eyes began to scream. “MOMMY! MOMMY! IT’S A MONSTER!!” The little girl’s mother tried to quiet her daughter but the little girl just cried and screamed all the more. Jason watched as the little girl disappeared into the crowd behind them.
He looked at his mother’s face and at how people were staring even more at her now. His stomach churned with shame. With a hard yank of his hand, he freed himself from his mother’s grasp and ran into the crowd. He had to get away from her. She was ugly and he didn’t want anyone to know that he was with her. He didn’t want to be known as the son of a monster who scared little children.
He could hear his mother calling out his name, but that just spurred him on faster. He had to get away from her. He ran as fast as he could, trying to dodge around the people he saw through tear filled eyes.
Hands grabbed him by the shoulders and halted his escape. Looking up he saw his Uncle Pete's face. “Whoa there Jason. Where you running off to so fast? Your mom is calling you. She sounds worried.”
Jason looked back towards his mother’s voice. Looking to his uncle he blurted out, “I don’t want to be with her. Everyone stares at her.”
Sadness washed over Uncle Pete’s face, and he nodded his understanding. Standing he waved towards Jason’s mother. “I have him here Katie.”
When she arrived she scolded Jason, who stood quietly with his head bowed down. Uncle Pete and his mother greeted each other, and then his uncle asked if he could take Jason for a soda while she went into the store. She said he could if Jason promised to be good.
Jason felt so relieved to be away from his mother. When they sat in the restaurant booth he said, “Thanks Uncle Pete. I knew you would understand how I don’t like being seen with mom.”
Uncle Pete stopped drinking his soda and looked Jason hard into his eyes. “I am ashamed of you. Do you know why your mother has those scars on her face and most of her body?”
Jason could feel Uncle Pete’s eyes boring into him as he slowly answered in a meek voice. “She was burned in a fire.”
Uncle Pete gave a heavy sigh. “Jason, your mom never told you everything because she never wanted you to feel any guilt, but I think you need to know the whole story.
“You were a year old when the fire occurred. It was night time and dad was at work. Your mother was sleeping soundly when she suddenly woke up. She always says it was God who woke her. She found that the house was on fire and smoke was quickly filling the rooms. The first thing she thought of was saving you.
“She opened her door to find the hallway full of flames. She could have easily gone out the bedroom window and escaped, but she was not going to leave you. She ran down the burning hallway to your room. She grabbed you and wrapped a blanket around you to help protect you from the fire’s heat and flames. She then ran back through the flames, holding you to her. She couldn’t see anything because of the smoke, but she somehow made it out of the house and collapsed just outside the door.
“Firemen arrived just as she escaped. They had to put out the flames of her burning clothes. She and you were taken to the hospital where they found that you were just fine because of your mother’s brave rescue. The doctors didn't think she would live long. I think the only reason she survived all the burns was because she loved you so much and wanted to be with you. She was in and out the hospital for so many surgeries that we all lost count.
Uncle Pete reached out to take Jason’s hand. “Boy, when you look at those scars, don’t you ever be ashamed. She bears those scars as proof of her love for you. Love so pure and rich that she would gladly do it all again.”
Just then Jason’s mother came into the restaurant. Jason saw her and with tears in his eyes, he ran to her. Wrapping his arms around her, he cried out, “Mommy! I love you. I am sorry I ran away from you. I’ll never run away again.”
People throughout the restaurant stared at his mother as he proudly walked beside her. Whatever they thought didn’t matter. He was going to make sure that they knew she was his mother, and he was proud to be with her.
Jesus’ scars are there because of his pure and rich love for you. If he had to he would do it all over again. Never be ashamed of him. If you look like a crazy shirtless fool dancing by yourself, so be it. If it means joining someone who everyone thinks is some kind of a weird idiot, so be it. God calls you to stop following the ways of the world. If you look like a wide eyed fanatical Christian fundamentalist, so be it. You stepping out to embrace Christ wholeheartedly, could be the first step in the salvation of your friends and family. It could be the beginning of a revival that will spread to thousands.
Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
Technorati Tags: Revival, Church, story, jesus, shame, Christianity,
| Del Fehsenfeld Jr |
Be willing to pay the price for God. Never ever be ashamed to stand up and look crazy, or to stand up with someone who everyone thinks is disgraceful, when you're standing for Christ.
Jason was walking with his mother down the street. He was 8 years old, and his mother held his hand because of the heavy traffic of pedestrians on the sidewalk. He couldn’t help but notice people staring at his mother’s face, which was scared and deformed.
A little girl saw his mother and with wide eyes began to scream. “MOMMY! MOMMY! IT’S A MONSTER!!” The little girl’s mother tried to quiet her daughter but the little girl just cried and screamed all the more. Jason watched as the little girl disappeared into the crowd behind them.
He looked at his mother’s face and at how people were staring even more at her now. His stomach churned with shame. With a hard yank of his hand, he freed himself from his mother’s grasp and ran into the crowd. He had to get away from her. She was ugly and he didn’t want anyone to know that he was with her. He didn’t want to be known as the son of a monster who scared little children.
He could hear his mother calling out his name, but that just spurred him on faster. He had to get away from her. He ran as fast as he could, trying to dodge around the people he saw through tear filled eyes.
Hands grabbed him by the shoulders and halted his escape. Looking up he saw his Uncle Pete's face. “Whoa there Jason. Where you running off to so fast? Your mom is calling you. She sounds worried.”
Jason looked back towards his mother’s voice. Looking to his uncle he blurted out, “I don’t want to be with her. Everyone stares at her.”
Sadness washed over Uncle Pete’s face, and he nodded his understanding. Standing he waved towards Jason’s mother. “I have him here Katie.”
When she arrived she scolded Jason, who stood quietly with his head bowed down. Uncle Pete and his mother greeted each other, and then his uncle asked if he could take Jason for a soda while she went into the store. She said he could if Jason promised to be good.
Jason felt so relieved to be away from his mother. When they sat in the restaurant booth he said, “Thanks Uncle Pete. I knew you would understand how I don’t like being seen with mom.”
Uncle Pete stopped drinking his soda and looked Jason hard into his eyes. “I am ashamed of you. Do you know why your mother has those scars on her face and most of her body?”
Jason could feel Uncle Pete’s eyes boring into him as he slowly answered in a meek voice. “She was burned in a fire.”
Uncle Pete gave a heavy sigh. “Jason, your mom never told you everything because she never wanted you to feel any guilt, but I think you need to know the whole story.
“You were a year old when the fire occurred. It was night time and dad was at work. Your mother was sleeping soundly when she suddenly woke up. She always says it was God who woke her. She found that the house was on fire and smoke was quickly filling the rooms. The first thing she thought of was saving you.
“She opened her door to find the hallway full of flames. She could have easily gone out the bedroom window and escaped, but she was not going to leave you. She ran down the burning hallway to your room. She grabbed you and wrapped a blanket around you to help protect you from the fire’s heat and flames. She then ran back through the flames, holding you to her. She couldn’t see anything because of the smoke, but she somehow made it out of the house and collapsed just outside the door.
“Firemen arrived just as she escaped. They had to put out the flames of her burning clothes. She and you were taken to the hospital where they found that you were just fine because of your mother’s brave rescue. The doctors didn't think she would live long. I think the only reason she survived all the burns was because she loved you so much and wanted to be with you. She was in and out the hospital for so many surgeries that we all lost count.
Uncle Pete reached out to take Jason’s hand. “Boy, when you look at those scars, don’t you ever be ashamed. She bears those scars as proof of her love for you. Love so pure and rich that she would gladly do it all again.”
Just then Jason’s mother came into the restaurant. Jason saw her and with tears in his eyes, he ran to her. Wrapping his arms around her, he cried out, “Mommy! I love you. I am sorry I ran away from you. I’ll never run away again.”
People throughout the restaurant stared at his mother as he proudly walked beside her. Whatever they thought didn’t matter. He was going to make sure that they knew she was his mother, and he was proud to be with her.
Jesus’ scars are there because of his pure and rich love for you. If he had to he would do it all over again. Never be ashamed of him. If you look like a crazy shirtless fool dancing by yourself, so be it. If it means joining someone who everyone thinks is some kind of a weird idiot, so be it. God calls you to stop following the ways of the world. If you look like a wide eyed fanatical Christian fundamentalist, so be it. You stepping out to embrace Christ wholeheartedly, could be the first step in the salvation of your friends and family. It could be the beginning of a revival that will spread to thousands.
Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
Technorati Tags: Revival, Church, story, jesus, shame, Christianity,
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Bend Me!!
I see no hope for a revival among God's people today. They are so enamored and so cluttered up with Hollywood and newspapers and magazines and parties and bowling alleys and camping trips and everything else. How in the world are they going to get still long enough to see anything from God?
Lester Roloff
Why is it that we don’t see revival more often? Have you wondered how a revival begins? I have found many people say that revival first begins with prayer. Sometimes people will pray for years before God sends a revival. While I do believe that prayer is vital, revival needs something else first. A committed soul to pray for the revival. A Christian who has died to self and allowed God to bend them to His will.
It is not just a prayer, or a million prayers, needed to bring revival. What is needed is a man who fulfills James 5:16 “Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
An example of such a man is found in Even Roberts.
He visited a meeting where Seth Joshua was preaching and heard the evangelist pray “Lord, bend us”. The Holy Spirit said to Evan, “That’s what you need”. At the following meeting Evan experienced a powerful filling with the Holy Spirit. “I felt a living power pervading my bosom. It took my breath away and my legs trembled exceedingly. This living power became stronger and stronger as each one prayed, until I felt it would tear me apart. My whole bosom was a turmoil and if I had not prayed it would have burst…. I fell on my knees with my arms over the seat in front of me. My face was bathed in perspiration, and the tears flowed in streams. I cried out “Bend me, bend me!!” It was God’s commending love which bent me… what a wave of peace flooded my bosom…. I was filled with compassion for those who must bend at the judgement, and I wept. Following that, the salvation of the human soul was solemnly impressed on me. I felt ablaze with the desire to go through the length and breadth of Wales to tell of the saviour”.
Copied from Revival Library Electronic Copyright © 2009 Tony Cauchi, Used with permission from Mr. Cauchi
It was at this point that Evan Roberts began to pray that the Lord would save a hundred thousand souls. It was after he had allowed God to bend his will to God’s will. After Evan Roberts had died to self. He had told God that there was nothing in this life which could compare to doing God’s will.
That is where every revival needs to begin. People willing to be the first seeds of faith for a revival. People willing to die to self so that God can grow a revival from the deaths of their selfish will. Christians dying to the things of this world, dying to their own desires and comforts, so that God can work with them to do great things by their lives.
God is looking to and fro for such a person. I challenge you to spend time with the Lord everyday and seek His will for your life. You might be the seed God is looking for, to start the next revival. You might find God driving you to your knees, weeping streams of tears as you cry out to God, “Bend me, bend me!!”
Lord, here am I. Send me.
Technorati Tags: revival, church, materialism, selfishness, Godlyness,
Lester Roloff
Why is it that we don’t see revival more often? Have you wondered how a revival begins? I have found many people say that revival first begins with prayer. Sometimes people will pray for years before God sends a revival. While I do believe that prayer is vital, revival needs something else first. A committed soul to pray for the revival. A Christian who has died to self and allowed God to bend them to His will.
It is not just a prayer, or a million prayers, needed to bring revival. What is needed is a man who fulfills James 5:16 “Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
An example of such a man is found in Even Roberts.
He visited a meeting where Seth Joshua was preaching and heard the evangelist pray “Lord, bend us”. The Holy Spirit said to Evan, “That’s what you need”. At the following meeting Evan experienced a powerful filling with the Holy Spirit. “I felt a living power pervading my bosom. It took my breath away and my legs trembled exceedingly. This living power became stronger and stronger as each one prayed, until I felt it would tear me apart. My whole bosom was a turmoil and if I had not prayed it would have burst…. I fell on my knees with my arms over the seat in front of me. My face was bathed in perspiration, and the tears flowed in streams. I cried out “Bend me, bend me!!” It was God’s commending love which bent me… what a wave of peace flooded my bosom…. I was filled with compassion for those who must bend at the judgement, and I wept. Following that, the salvation of the human soul was solemnly impressed on me. I felt ablaze with the desire to go through the length and breadth of Wales to tell of the saviour”.
Copied from Revival Library Electronic Copyright © 2009 Tony Cauchi, Used with permission from Mr. Cauchi
It was at this point that Evan Roberts began to pray that the Lord would save a hundred thousand souls. It was after he had allowed God to bend his will to God’s will. After Evan Roberts had died to self. He had told God that there was nothing in this life which could compare to doing God’s will.
That is where every revival needs to begin. People willing to be the first seeds of faith for a revival. People willing to die to self so that God can grow a revival from the deaths of their selfish will. Christians dying to the things of this world, dying to their own desires and comforts, so that God can work with them to do great things by their lives.
God is looking to and fro for such a person. I challenge you to spend time with the Lord everyday and seek His will for your life. You might be the seed God is looking for, to start the next revival. You might find God driving you to your knees, weeping streams of tears as you cry out to God, “Bend me, bend me!!”
Lord, here am I. Send me.
Technorati Tags: revival, church, materialism, selfishness, Godlyness,
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Unless Revival Comes
There is a growing conviction everywhere, and especially among thoughtful people, that unless revival comes, other forces will take the field, that will sink us still deeper into the mire of humanism and materialism.
Duncan Campbell
Duncan Campbell was a fiery preacher from the Mid 20th century Hebrides Revival in Scotland. In the above quote, he spoke of people sinking deeper into humanism and materialism, unless revival came to halt it. That threat is even more pronounced today than it was in his day.
When I look at the people around me, even among Christians, I see dependence upon man and not upon God. Moral problems such as abortion, homosexuality, greed, drugs, pornography, violence and many others are solved by passing laws. When those laws don’t work we vote out the politicians and let new politician pass more laws which they say will help. The result is our giving the government more and more power which should be given to God.
Today President Obama fights to enact more laws to give the government power to improve people's lives. The Tea Party and the Republican Party are both fighting against him, in hopes of solving our problems by giving the power to the people and not the Government. Who is fighting to give God the opportunity to solve our problems? Why aren’t Christians standing up and saying “This is a spiritual problem, not a political problem.”
We Christians are focused upon ourselves and not upon God. We talk about God, but our lives scream “ME!” We are dependent upon our jobs, our money, our strength, our education, our wisdom and our possessions. Any problems which occur in our lives, we solve it ourselves, or if that is impossible we will turn to God as a last resort. We are lukewarm believers as long as we delegate God to being our final desperate attempt at solving our problems.
Christians today have been tainted by the world view that man can rule his own life without God’s help. Christians find their fulfillment in what they own and their personal activities, but not in God. They go out golfing on Sunday mornings to worship God in the beauty of the world He created. They give money to the Church, but never go to a bible study or prayer meeting which would require some time away from the TV. Their comfort is more important to them than the souls of the lost.
Come lord Jesus, wrench our hearts from the miry dark depths of self. Save us from ourselves.
Technorati Tags: revival, humanism, materialism, Christianity, church,
Duncan Campbell
Duncan Campbell was a fiery preacher from the Mid 20th century Hebrides Revival in Scotland. In the above quote, he spoke of people sinking deeper into humanism and materialism, unless revival came to halt it. That threat is even more pronounced today than it was in his day.
When I look at the people around me, even among Christians, I see dependence upon man and not upon God. Moral problems such as abortion, homosexuality, greed, drugs, pornography, violence and many others are solved by passing laws. When those laws don’t work we vote out the politicians and let new politician pass more laws which they say will help. The result is our giving the government more and more power which should be given to God.
Today President Obama fights to enact more laws to give the government power to improve people's lives. The Tea Party and the Republican Party are both fighting against him, in hopes of solving our problems by giving the power to the people and not the Government. Who is fighting to give God the opportunity to solve our problems? Why aren’t Christians standing up and saying “This is a spiritual problem, not a political problem.”
We Christians are focused upon ourselves and not upon God. We talk about God, but our lives scream “ME!” We are dependent upon our jobs, our money, our strength, our education, our wisdom and our possessions. Any problems which occur in our lives, we solve it ourselves, or if that is impossible we will turn to God as a last resort. We are lukewarm believers as long as we delegate God to being our final desperate attempt at solving our problems.
Christians today have been tainted by the world view that man can rule his own life without God’s help. Christians find their fulfillment in what they own and their personal activities, but not in God. They go out golfing on Sunday mornings to worship God in the beauty of the world He created. They give money to the Church, but never go to a bible study or prayer meeting which would require some time away from the TV. Their comfort is more important to them than the souls of the lost.
Come lord Jesus, wrench our hearts from the miry dark depths of self. Save us from ourselves.
Technorati Tags: revival, humanism, materialism, Christianity, church,
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
The Visitation of God
Revival is the visitation of God which brings to life Christians who have been sleeping and restores a deep sense of God's near presence and holiness. Thence springs a vivid sense of sin and a profound exercise of heart in repentance, praise, and love, with an evangelistic outflow.
Author: J.I. Packer
Source: Your Father Loves You, Shaw Publishing, 1986, Page for May 30.
Individuals are convicted by sin and come into alignment with God’s will all the time, but these micro-revivals are not the widespread, mass revivals which change nations. A true revival will send political and social shock waves throughout the world. People’s lifestyles will change and their priorities will be turned around to glorifying God instead of themselves.
In my previous post, that is what happened to me. My whole life was changed the day I surrendered to God. In a revival this happens with thousands and millions of people in a short time. God moves the hearts of nations to repentance and obedience to His word.
During the spring of 1904 a young Welshman named Evan Roberts was repeatedly awakened at 1:00 a.m. He met with God until 5:00 a.m. The Welsh revival followed. Churches were packed for prayer meetings. In a prayer meeting for young people, Pastor Joseph Jenkins asked for testimonies. A young girl named Florrie Evans, who had only been a believer a few days, rose and with a trembling voice said simply, "I love Jesus with all my heart." The other young people's hearts were melted. A powerful spiritual awakening that brought 100,000 people to Christ was under way. Copyrights reserved: Source: International Revival Network: www.openheaven.com
A young man prays. A young girl gives a simple, heartfelt testimony. God moves in peoples’ hearts and revival begins. 100,000 people come to know Jesus as savior. 100,ooo souls saved from Hell. God comes down and touches the hearts of men and revival springs forth. Life sprouts from the grave where sin 0nce ruled. This is true revival.
Technorati Tags: repentance, revival, church, Welsh, sin, Christianity,
Author: J.I. Packer
Source: Your Father Loves You, Shaw Publishing, 1986, Page for May 30.
Individuals are convicted by sin and come into alignment with God’s will all the time, but these micro-revivals are not the widespread, mass revivals which change nations. A true revival will send political and social shock waves throughout the world. People’s lifestyles will change and their priorities will be turned around to glorifying God instead of themselves.
In my previous post, that is what happened to me. My whole life was changed the day I surrendered to God. In a revival this happens with thousands and millions of people in a short time. God moves the hearts of nations to repentance and obedience to His word.
During the spring of 1904 a young Welshman named Evan Roberts was repeatedly awakened at 1:00 a.m. He met with God until 5:00 a.m. The Welsh revival followed. Churches were packed for prayer meetings. In a prayer meeting for young people, Pastor Joseph Jenkins asked for testimonies. A young girl named Florrie Evans, who had only been a believer a few days, rose and with a trembling voice said simply, "I love Jesus with all my heart." The other young people's hearts were melted. A powerful spiritual awakening that brought 100,000 people to Christ was under way. Copyrights reserved: Source: International Revival Network: www.openheaven.com
A young man prays. A young girl gives a simple, heartfelt testimony. God moves in peoples’ hearts and revival begins. 100,000 people come to know Jesus as savior. 100,ooo souls saved from Hell. God comes down and touches the hearts of men and revival springs forth. Life sprouts from the grave where sin 0nce ruled. This is true revival.
Technorati Tags: repentance, revival, church, Welsh, sin, Christianity,
Monday, April 18, 2011
My Personal Revival
Revival begins in the individual's heart. Let it begin with you on your face alone before God. Turn from every sin that might hinder. Renew yourself to a new devotion to the Saviour.
Author: Lee Roberson
Ok, I admit it. I am slow. Sometimes it takes me years before some simple fact can sink through my thick head bone and reach my brain. For example, I heard the joke “What’s black and white and red all over?” when I was a little kid probably 6 or 7. I never got it. I would laugh because I knew it was a joke, but I had no idea why it was funny. I think I was somewhere in high school before finally it dawned on me. “READ all over.”
I grew up in church. In fact, I grew up in a lot of churches. I think I went to every protestant church in our area at some time in my life. During those years, I would swear I never heard the word “revival”. I don’t think it was even in their vocabulary, so it should be no wonder that no revival of any kind ever happened in them.
My first experience with any kind of revival was when I went to a week of meetings at a church. We sang, prayed, listened to sermons and left revived. We were now ready to go out and do God’s work in our lives. Two days later, we were back to normal and doing the same things we had before.
To me that was a revival. I didn’t know any better, and I dare say neither do most people in churches. The days of Pentecost, as in Acts chapter 2, are past. God does not come down with tongues of fire to alight upon people’s heads. Miracles, tongues, healings, and such things left this world when the last apostle died. The Holy Spirit does not move like that now. He is quiet, dignified and sensible today. He mostly sits back and watches us in this world to see that we are obeying His commandments.
Don’t you believe that? I did. I thought that all my life, until God set me straight. It took me a while to learn it but He is patient and I finally did learn. My first lesson on revival was when I was still a young Christian. He arraigned for my own personal revival. He showed me that He can work in peoples lives today if we will let Him.
I was stationed on the USS Lloyd Thomas, home ported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. I enjoyed the beautiful island beaches, going swimming in the ocean, and looking at girls in their skimpy bikinis. The list was not necessarily in that order at the time.
In spite of living in paradise, one day I found myself depressed. I had been out on the beach with a friend of mine from the ship, and a couple of girls. We swam, talked and enjoyed the day but afterwards I felt so empty. I had not done anything wrong or sinful, but I still felt like I was somehow missing the whole point of life. I had just had an almost perfect day in paradise and I was depressed? That didn’t make sense.
I had trouble sleeping that night and got up early in the morning to try to figure out what was wrong. I walked around the base looking for an answer. I didn’t know what I was looking for or how to find it, but something inside me moved me to search for an answer. I saw a quonset hut and heard singing coming from it. I had not occurred to me until then that it was Sunday and this was where the base chapel was. I peeked into the window saw people filling the chapel. I didn’t want to go in there. I just wanted to be left alone, so I walked on.
I don’t know how far I walked, but as I was walking back to my ship, I passed that chapel again. It was quiet now so I opened the door and went in. I had been a Christian for a few months at this time, but I had not gone to church since boot camp. Going into the quiet sanctuary I noticed a man on his knees praying. Slowly, I walked over to a pew opposite of him and sat down. I bowed my head and probably for the first time since I had become a Christian, I truly prayed my heart to God.
“God, I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I feel like I am missing something. I accepted you back in boot camp. I know I am saved because you promised to take me to Heaven, and I believe you. You keep your word. I guess I need to be a better Christian, but I don’t know how to do that. I have always been to church but that’s not the same. God you have to show me how to be a Christian.”
I raised my head and noticed that the other guy was gone. I stood up and walked out of the chapel, still not really sure where I should go or what I should do. As I walked out the door, I saw about six guys talking and laughing around the doorway area. I stood there a moment and, being the curious guy that I am, asked “Hi. What you guys doing?”
“Hello.” One of them answered. “We’re having a prayer meeting. You want to join?”
I knew about prayer meetings, and I thought they were boring, boring, boring. Sit there with your head bowed, eyes closed and speak in King James English. “Oh Lord, thy servant cometh before thee to bequest thine assistance to doeth thy will.”
Before I could answer “No” the thought came to mind of what I had just prayed. “God you have to show me how to be a Christian.” I nodded my head. “Yeah, I would like that.”
I found that I actually enjoyed praying with these men. They were doing a discipleship program using the Navigator system. From them, I learned about prayer, bible study, scripture memory, witnessing and having fun with Christian brothers. God had answered my prayer.
Wait a minute. Where were the tongues of fire? Why wasn’t I slain in the Spirit? How can that be a revival? Revival has to be a large movement of God in the world.
The revival we all want to see has God moving in masses of Christians to bring them back into His will, and moving non-Christians to accept Jesus as savior. The details of that movement of God can be different depending on the time, place and need of the revival. There is one thing I think we many times forget when we talk about revival. A mass revival is made up of single people who God has revived individually. God cares about each person and he touches their lives to meet their needs, whatever that might be at the moment.
For me at that time, I needed him to answer that prayer immediately because if He had waited, I might not have seen my need for Him later. I saw the emptiness of my life without Him in control. He had brought me to that emptiness, and once I finally surrendered myself to Him, He could work with me.
In a nutshell, that is revival. Seeing our need for God and surrendering to Him.
Technorati Tags: Revival,, Church,, Christian,, Navigators,, Christ,, Jesus,, Navy,, Prayer
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Revival
Today in Church I was only half listening to the sermon. As Pastor Steve spoke, I started to think how what he was saying really tied in with revival. Then my mind started to wander as I thought about what revival was and how do you bring about true revival.
I have heard sermons on revival, people teach about revivals and read a bit about them, but I still don’t really know what makes a revival tick. I have some ideas about it, but I think there are many misconceptions about true revival. I know I could have a few of them.
So starting Monday, I am going to start writing about revival. If you have input on the subject, I want to hear from you. I am only someone searching for the truth, and if you have it, I want to hear it.
Technorati Tags: Revival, church, Jesus, Christ, growth, Christianity, God,
I have heard sermons on revival, people teach about revivals and read a bit about them, but I still don’t really know what makes a revival tick. I have some ideas about it, but I think there are many misconceptions about true revival. I know I could have a few of them.
So starting Monday, I am going to start writing about revival. If you have input on the subject, I want to hear from you. I am only someone searching for the truth, and if you have it, I want to hear it.
Technorati Tags: Revival, church, Jesus, Christ, growth, Christianity, God,
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Why Did God Let Them Die?
I was a US Navy sailor on board the USS Goldsborough, DDG 20. On December 19, 1972, we were making a night time gunfire strike off the coast of North Viet Nam, when we found ourselves being the target.
I was an operations specialist and my post during our gun strikes was in Combat Information Center (CIC), at a table covered by a sea chart. Petty Officer Taggert and I plotted our course on the chart, and read range and bearing to the target for input into the computer. Once the computer could calculate where the target was on its own, the guns would be fired.
That night the Commodore and Executive Officer were there as we fired upon our first target of the night. We were with two other ships as we made a run in towards the shore further north than we had ever been before. It was the first mission of two we were scheduled to do that night.
After firing upon our target, we started to receive counter-battery fire. We steered in a zig zag pattern and fired chafe. Instead of losing them, the explosions increased. The shore batteries had targeted the center ship, the Goldsborough. The explosions could be heard outside of CIC as shrapnel fell on the metal walls and deck above.
We kept trying counter measures but nothing worked. We fired at suspected artillery sites, but nothing seemed to diminish the shells falling down around us. We heard a shell explode fairly close to us. Taggert looked up at me. “We’ve been hit.”
He was right. One of the shells had struck the ship on the 01 level killing HTC Donald Dix and BM1 Robert Dow instantly, as they sat directly below the explosion in the After Chief’s Quarters. Six others were wounded and one of them, HT2 Gary Boyce, died later at the Air Force Hospital at Clark AFB in the Philippines.
We finally were able to get out of range of the shore battery, to attend the wounded and begin repairs on the ship. Thankfully, we were only lightly damaged but, after being struck by the artillery shell, we did not go on to our second mission of the night.
My best friend on board was a Christian, who questioned God about the deaths. Why would God allow three of our shipmates to die? He had prayed for protection of the crew. He had called upon God to post Angels at the bow and the stern of the ship to protect us, but he said that God had failed and allowed the three men to die.
Why had God allowed them die? Why does God allow death to occur even when we pray and believe that He will answer our prayers? Doesn’t God care? Isn’t he capable of protecting us? I am sure He does care, and that He does answer prayer. Let me tell you how I think God answered my Christian brother’s prayer that night.
After we had been hit the ship went out further from shore where a helicopter came and picked up two of the crew that had been badly hurt. We were at General Quarters for hours as we pulled ourselves together again in the aftermath.
As I stood there waiting with everyone else in CIC, one of the senior petty officers pulled back the chart we had been working on and showed me what was underneath. There was the chart for our second mission. It showed our planned course and targets. I stared at it in shock. Our next mission had been to make a run on Haiphong Harbor.
What would have happened if we had attacked Haiphong Harbor? We knew about missile boats being there. I am sure that if we had struck the North Vietnamese there, shore batteries and Migs would have been after us as well. The likelihood of us being hurt worse, than we had been on that first mission, would have been extreme. I am no expert about such things, but if we had done the second mission, there is a good chance we may not have come back at all.
If we had been hit on the first mission and no one had been killed, we would most likely have attempted the second one. I firmly believe that those three men were sacrificed to save the rest of us. I cannot prove that this was what God did; however, I believe it was not God’s desire for those men to die, but He was willing to lose them so that hundreds of others might live. It was sinful man’s decision to put men’s lives in danger, not God’s.
There are times in our lives when God allows disaster to happen, and we wonder, “Why God? Why did you allow this?” Can God really be a God of love and still allow such things?
He does not desire tragedy in our lives. He wants us to have an abundant and fruitful life. Man, however, works his sinful will in this world and brings death. Man, not God, is the author of death and pain.
Whatever tragedy is in your life you can trust one fact absolutely. God is there with you. He cries with us and tries to comfort us if we will let Him. When man causes adversity God will sometimes allow such misfortune to occur so that something far worse would not happen.
Rest in Jesus and know that He loves you. Trust that whatever happens in your life, God allows it for good and not evil. We may not know why a tragedy occurs in this life, but God does, and we can trust in His love.
Technorati Tags: war, death, tragedy, Nam, Navy, destroyer, Goldsborough, battle, God, Jesus, Christianity, sorrow, , pain, wounded,
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
The Most Spectacular Artist Quiz
My father was an art teacher. My mother enjoys painting. My favorite class in High School was Art. I guess art is something that is in my blood. I always enjoyed creating something different from what anyone else would create. I was sitting at my computer this morning when a thought came to me. Who is the most spectacular and imaginative artist?
This is probably a pretty easy quiz, but one that I think you will enjoy. Just click on the name of the person you think is the most spectacular artist and view some of his work.
Leonardo da Vinci
Michelangelo
God
So which artist is the correct answer? All three go to a video showing a small portion of some the artist's greatest works. I know whom I choose. I chose the one whose canvas is the universe. He is the also the same one who is the designer and builder all we see in nature. Oh yeah, He is also the designer of Michelangelo and Leonardo De Vinci. Anything they did was because the Master Artist fashioned it within them.
God also designed you for a purpose. A purpose which can be eternally more beautiful than Michelangelo's or Leonardo's works. What great wonders has he implanted within you to accomplish?
Photo Credit: Artist Studio by Seem-ing Lee
Video Credit: In The Land of the Northern Lights by Ole Christian Salomonsen
Technorati Tags: Art, quiz, God, Michelangelo, da-Vinci, creator, creation, painting, nature, Christianity,
Monday, April 11, 2011
Jehovah-Jireh
I remember the first time I saw God provide to someone who was crying out for God to provision. I was in the Navy, stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. It was 1972 or 73, and I was a young Christian, who was just learning about God. I had never heard about God’s name, Jehovah-Jireh (The Lord, who provides).
One night, at a prayer gathering, a young man named Scoop asked that we pray that God financially provide for him. Scoop believed that God had called him to fly to California, and witness to someone he knew about salvation through Jesus Christ. Everyone gathered around Scoop and laid hands on him and prayed.
God said He wanted to talk to me. I turned around, walked away from the group praying for Scoop and out the door. I stood at the top of a wooden deck and looked out at the starry sky and listened. God told me He wanted to provide for Scoop through me, and I agreed to obey Him.
I didn’t have any money at that time but the next Saturday night, I went to a Christian coffee house where I knew he would be. Going up to Scoop I asked if I could talk to him in private. We walked outside and I handed over to him $140. The amount God had told me to give to him.
For a moment, he just stood there in shock as he looked at the money in his hands. Scoop then leaped into the air with a shout. He praised God and thanked me. He was not only overjoyed with receiving the money but astonished at how God worked so precisely.
He explained that just the day before his landlord, who was a Christian, handed Scoop two dollars. “I don’t know how two dollars are going to help much with buying that airline ticket but in my quiet time I felt God telling me to give it to you.” Scoop took the money and praised God for providing the two dollars.
Scoop looked excitedly at me as he explained. “My ticket will cost $142.”
That was my first experience with Jehovah-Jireh, but it was not my last. God does provide and he does it perfectly. One of the wonderful and exciting things about God is that he does things His way and in His timing. When we are doing his will, He will not abandon us.
If God tells you to go to college, don’t make excuses that you don’t have the money. Jehovah-Jireh
If God tells you to start a ministry. Jehovah-Jireh
If God says to give to someone in need. Jehovah-Jireh
Trust Him. Rest in His Love and His promises.
Photo credit: Starry nighttime sky in my backyard by slworking2
Technorati Tags: God, Jehovah, Jireh, provision, money, help, prayer, Jesus, Christ, ,
Saturday, April 9, 2011
An Imaginative God
“The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.” Revelation 21:21
Everyone talks about the streets of gold, but how often do you hear about a gate made from a single pearl? This has to be one huge pearl. This chapter is talking about the New Jerusalem and says it is about 1400 miles by 1400 miles in area. The walls are 200 feet thick. There are only twelve ways into this city and each way in is through a gate made of one pearl. I don’t know how much traffic is going in and out of the city, but since there are only 12 ways in and out there has to be a lot going through each gate. So these gates have to be huge and the pearls just as big.
I think seeing those gates will be impressive, but what I really want to see are the oysters that grew those pearls. I want to go diving into the crystal sea and hunt out those oysters and marvel at how huge they are. If the pearls are just 200 feet in diameter (the thickness of the walls) than the oysters have to be at least a couple thousand feet across.
This picture is a small version of what must live in the crystal sea, in Heaven.
I look around at what God has created in this world and how imaginative He must be. It helps make you realize how awesome our God really is. When we get to heaven I believe there will be even greater sights, and even then we will only begin to understand how imaginative He really is. He can create such huge oysters just for building gates. There is nothing beyond His imagination or His ability.
When I look at problems here in this world, personal situations or worldwide problems, I see huge obstacles standing in the way of what I believe is a good resolution. Health issues, financial problems, marriage conflicts, and any other problems we might have in our lives are infinitesimal situations to God. He is all powerful, all knowing and has an imagination that has created a universe of trillions of galaxies with billions of different wonders in each one. Never doubt his imagination to find the right solution for your problem.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Serving God for Whose Sake?
Some day, and not too far in the future, I will get to see Heaven. I will walk through those gates, which are each made from one single pearl. Coming from the gate, I enter that eternal city and stroll down those streets of purest gold. I will open a large blue door and with a smile enter my new mansion.
My mansion will be so marvelous that human mind could never have imagined such beauty and workmanship. Exhibited, for all to see, will be trophies and crowns awarded to me by God for my good works. I will have angels serving me and bringing my messages. I will eat from the tree of life and visit anywhere in the universe I desire.
There will be no sickness, no sadness, no death and no fear. Anything I want, will be provided to me. I will have God’s power at my beck and call. Miracles will be normal. All knowledge will be but a thought away. How much greater can life be?
Nothing, absolutely nothing, which I said above is about heaven. It’s only about a place which actually exists and where someday I will live forever but all those things do not make Heaven truly Heaven. Streets of gold do not make it Heaven. Mansions do not make it Heaven. Even doing miracles or living forever does not make it Heaven. The only thing which is important and makes Heaven, Heaven, is that Heaven is where God lives.
If God is not there, Heaven is not where I want to be. You can keep it all. If God is on some barren rock out in cold space, I want to be there. If He gives me a corner of a shack to live in and He is there, than I have a mansion and I want to be there. I don’t care about anything else. Keep your rewards, keep your gold and mansions. Just give me Jesus.
Even eternal life is not worth living without Jesus. What would be the purpose of living if I did not have Jesus in my life? Andrae Crouch wrote a song which says, “If heaven was never promised to me, neither the promise to live eternally, it's been worth it just having the Lord in my life.”
I would rather live a few short years in this life and know Jesus, then to live all of eternity and never meet him. He is my reason for living. He is the reason I do anything which is good. My next breath is a waste of energy if somehow my life does not bring him glory.
Someday I will get to Heaven, and I will live eternally as God has promised. I will be given lavish rewards, but they are all dross compared to simply getting a glance of my saviors face.
My mansion will be so marvelous that human mind could never have imagined such beauty and workmanship. Exhibited, for all to see, will be trophies and crowns awarded to me by God for my good works. I will have angels serving me and bringing my messages. I will eat from the tree of life and visit anywhere in the universe I desire.
There will be no sickness, no sadness, no death and no fear. Anything I want, will be provided to me. I will have God’s power at my beck and call. Miracles will be normal. All knowledge will be but a thought away. How much greater can life be?
Nothing, absolutely nothing, which I said above is about heaven. It’s only about a place which actually exists and where someday I will live forever but all those things do not make Heaven truly Heaven. Streets of gold do not make it Heaven. Mansions do not make it Heaven. Even doing miracles or living forever does not make it Heaven. The only thing which is important and makes Heaven, Heaven, is that Heaven is where God lives.
If God is not there, Heaven is not where I want to be. You can keep it all. If God is on some barren rock out in cold space, I want to be there. If He gives me a corner of a shack to live in and He is there, than I have a mansion and I want to be there. I don’t care about anything else. Keep your rewards, keep your gold and mansions. Just give me Jesus.
Even eternal life is not worth living without Jesus. What would be the purpose of living if I did not have Jesus in my life? Andrae Crouch wrote a song which says, “If heaven was never promised to me, neither the promise to live eternally, it's been worth it just having the Lord in my life.”
I would rather live a few short years in this life and know Jesus, then to live all of eternity and never meet him. He is my reason for living. He is the reason I do anything which is good. My next breath is a waste of energy if somehow my life does not bring him glory.
Someday I will get to Heaven, and I will live eternally as God has promised. I will be given lavish rewards, but they are all dross compared to simply getting a glance of my saviors face.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Are you a Samson?
Samson was one of the most renowned judges of Israel. His long hair, immense strength and his encounters with the Philistines are legendary. He was also infamous for his lustful desire of foreign women. In the end, that desire for a woman brought him down. God did, however, bless him in spite of his short comings.
Have you noticed anything strange about pictures of Samson? Take a look at the picture below and think about what he would have looked like. If you had been in Israel during his day, what would you have seen? Would this be a good representation of the person you would expect to see?
Nope, that is not the person I would expect to see as Samson. Look at him! This guy has muscles. He has a lifetime pass to the Gold’s Jerusalem Gym. You would find him everyday in the weight room pumping iron. This guy is has enough muscle to make two of me. Ok so that wouldn’t be hard to do, but still, he has huge muscles.
“Well duh!” You say. “Samson was strong! He carried the city gates, and their two post, on his back up to the top of a mountain. He killed 1000 Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. He knocked down the temple of Dagon and killed 3000 Philistines. This guy has some muscle.”
I don’t think so. Samson was not strong. Not saying he was a weakling, but I doubt that he possessed a lot of muscle. He probably looked pretty much like anyone else. He didn’t walk around bare chested and flex his muscles for the women to oooh and aaah over. If he did look so muscular why did everyone wonder about where he got his strength?
Judges 16:4-5 “4 Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. 5 The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.”
Would you be asking where Samson’s strength comes from if you could see huge muscles bulging out everywhere? Of course not. It would be obvious where he got his strength from then. He must have looked pretty normal but still exhibited great strength.
Has God called upon you to exhibit great strength? Maybe He called you to tell a neighbor about him or to lead a Bible study. Did God call on you to do something which you did not have the talent, knowledge or experience to do? You heard the call but answered, “Oh Lord, you know I would love to do that for you but ….” and you gave him a list of why you were too weak to fulfill his call upon you.
Samson could not perform any acts of strength on his own. His power was manifested in him because God was his strength. There was nothing physically special about Samson. NOTHING!!! What was special was that God used him. God was the power within him, who gave him that great strength.
God is the power within you that gives you the great strength to fulfill the plan He has for you. If He calls on you to be a preacher of the Gospel then rest on His strength. He will make you strong enough to fulfill His work of you becoming that preacher. He will lead you in the training, the wisdom, and the power to be what He calls you to be. There is nothing too big that His power cannot overcome.
Be a Samson. Let people wonder how someone so ordinary can do such extraordinary things.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Jehoshaphat Fasted
Prayer is reaching out after the unseen; fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal. Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God.
Andrew Murray
The first thing Jehoshaphat did, upon learning of the impending attack on Judah, was to call upon a national fast. He did not call upon them to pray but to fast. Shouldn’t he have appealed to the people to pray?
I use to think of fasting as the magic ingredient that somehow changed God to be more benevolent and give me what I sought after. If I desired something bad enough I would express that desire by fasting. Wrong! Fasting does not change God. Fasting changes me.
When fasting, we are putting aside our flesh and allowing God to work on our spirit. We are crucifying the old man and letting him die, so that Christ can live and control us. As we become more Christlike by fasting, we are allowing the power of God to flow through us in a more powerful way.
By proclaiming a fast among the people of Judah, Jehoshaphat was calling upon the nation to draw nearer to God. He knew that in order for their prayers of salvation to succeed, the flesh had to die, and God’s righteous lifestyle must be manifested.
God desires to work in your life. He wants to do great things with you and through you. He has great plans for your life but, unless you are willing to be like Christ, he cannot move within you as he desires. Fasting helps to kill self and allows God that opportunity of working His power in and through you. Because of the nation of Judah fasting, God could move within the people and fight for them. He can do the same with you, if you’re willing.
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