If My People...

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
It has been a year since I first began this blog.  I want to thank those of you who have been on this journey with me, and encourage you to keep praying and seeking God for an awakening of the Church--not just in America, but all over the world. One thing that completely surprised me is that God is able to take His message all over the world (without my help). The words that I thought were meant for the Church in America ended up being read in Russia, China, Afghanistan, Germany, Latvia, Netherlands, Brazil and many more countries all over the world. Our vision is so small and God's is so large--he takes our tiny offering of a few fish and loaves and makes a banquet of it. I thank Him for letting me be His messenger.
The biggest lessons I have learned on this journey are that God wants and expects us to live holy lives--it's not optional, that it only takes a handful of people humbly seeking God to spark a fire, that God uses ordinary people--do not think because no one knows your name that you can't make a difference--God knows your name and that is what counts. Nothing is too hard for God--He is a covenant-keeping Father, and if we keep our part of the covenant (to humble ourselves and pray, and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways), He is bound to keep His word (to hear from heaven, forgive our sin and heal our land).
I leave you with these words from the book of James:
"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." James 5:16-18

God Never Stops Working

 

What to Fear

"The LORD has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. He said, “Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them. Make the LORD of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble. He will keep you safe." Isaiah 8:11-14 (NLT)

In these days, we can find much to fear--an increasingly unstable world, chemical and nuclear weapons in the hands of evil men, uncertain financial markets, the threat of terrorism. The world is looking for whatever will bring them peace. Will we react as the world does or will we take these words of Isaiah to heart. Don't think like the rest of the world thinks--don't fear what the rest of the world fears. Make God holy in your life--fear Him and He will keep you safe.

The Proper Perspective

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff."

“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing...

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom." Isaiah 40:21-27, 28 (NIV)

Rejected?

"For the LORD has rejected his people, the descendants of Jacob, because they have filled their land with practices from the East and with sorcerers, as the Philistines do. They have made alliances with pagans. Israel is full of silver and gold; there is no end to its treasures. Their land is full of warhorses; there is no end to its chariots. Their land is full of idols; the people worship things they have made with their own hands. So now they will be humbled, and all will be brought low—do not forgive them. Crawl into caves in the rocks. Hide in the dust from the terror of the LORD and the glory of his majesty. Human pride will be brought down, and human arrogance will be humbled. Only the LORD will be exalted on that day of judgment. For the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has a day of reckoning. He will punish the proud and mighty and bring down everything that is exalted. Isaiah 2:6-12 (NLT)

Has God rejected America? We once called ourselves "One Nation Under God". He rejected Israel for the very things we see in our country today. We are rich and powerful, we have made alliances with pagan nations and even allow practices from the east (yoga, for example) in our churches! Greed, prestige, and entertainment are just a few of the gods we worship. Will God not judge us by the same standards He applied to His own people?

America's Destiny?

"See how Jerusalem (America), once so faithful, has become a prostitute. Once the home of justice and righteousness, she is now filled with murderers. Once like pure silver, you have become like worthless slag. Once so pure, you are now like watered-down wine. Your leaders are rebels, the companions of thieves. All of them love bribes and demand payoffs, but they refuse to defend the cause of orphans or fight for the rights of widows. Therefore, the Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, says, “I will take revenge on my enemies and pay back my foes! I will raise my fist against you..."

"You will be like a great tree with withered leaves, like a garden without water. The strongest among you will disappear like straw; their evil deeds will be the spark that sets it on fire. They and their evil works will burn up together, and no one will be able to put out the fire." Isaiah 1:21-25, 30-31 (NLT)

Pay Attention, Earth!

God spoke through the prophet Isaiah to the rebellious people of Judah. He could easily speak the same words to America in these days--not just America but the church in America!

"Listen, O heavens! Pay attention, earth! This is what the LORD says: “The children I raised and cared for have rebelled against me. Even an ox knows its owner, and a donkey recognizes its master’s care—but Israel doesn’t know its master. My people don’t recognize my care for them. Oh, what a sinful nation they are—loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people, corrupt children who have rejected the LORD. They have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. Why do you continue to invite punishment? Must you rebel forever? Your head is injured, and your heart is sick. You are battered from head to foot—covered with bruises, welts, and infected wounds—without any soothing ointments or bandages."

“What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened cattle. I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to worship me, who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony? Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting—they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings. I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals. They are a burden to me. I cannot stand them! When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims. Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. "Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat. But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

Isaiah 1:2-6, 11-20 (NLT)

Faithful and True

"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. Revelation 19:11-13 (NIV)

Jesus is coming soon. This is not the meek and mild Jesus that returns to earth to rule and reign. This is the KIng of Kings, The Lord of Lords. He doesn't just demand our attention, He demands our submission. He is finished with patiently showing mercy and grace--He has been gracious for thousands of years. The notion that "God is Love" no longer applies. On the day of judgement, men will not be shown mercy. Their hard hearts and rebellious attitudes will be dealt with severely. It will be a tragic day for all those who have rejected Christ. Some of us who think we will escape the judgement are mistaken. According to Jesus, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21) What will it take to wake people up?

Hawaii 1835

"Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear." Isaiah 59:1 (NIV)

In the year 1835 Titus Coan landed on the shore belt of Hawaii. On his first tour multitudes flocked to hear him. They thronged him so that he had scarcely time to eat. Once he preached three times before he had a chance to take breakfast. He felt that God was strangely at work. In 1837 the slumbering fires broke out. Nearly the whole population became an audience. He was ministering to 15,000 people. Unable to reach them, they came to him, and settled down to a two years' camp meeting. There was not an hour day or night when an audience of from 2,000 to 6,000 would not rally to the signal of the bell.

There was trembling, weeping, sobbing, and loud crying for mercy, sometimes too loud for the preacher to be heard; and in hundreds of cases his hearers fell in a swoon. Some would cry out, "The two edged sword is cutting me to pieces." The wicked scoffer who came to make sport dropped like a dog, and cried, "God has struck me !" Once while preaching in the open field to 2,000 people, a man cried out, "What must I do to be saved?" and prayed the publican's prayer, and the entire congregation took up the cry for mercy. For half an hour Mr. Coan could get no chance to speak, but had to stand still and see God work.

Quarrels were made up, drunkards reclaimed, adulterers converted, and murderers revealed and pardoned. Thieves returned stolen property. And sins of a lifetime were renounced. In one year 5,244 joined the Church. There were 1,705 baptised on one Sunday. And 2,400 sat down at the Lord's table, once sinners of the blackest type, now saints of God. And when Mr. Coan left he had himself received and baptised 11,960 persons.

God's Army

 

Wrestling

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:10-12

Wrestling with demonic spirits is a daily reality of spiritual survival. Spiritual warfare is not learned in our leisure time, but is thrust upon us as we begin to threaten the kingdom of darkness. In 1913-1914, James Fraser went through a time of deep spiritual oppression that forced him to deal with issues many would rather ignore. As Fraser reached out to the spiritually blinded Lisu, he became the object of an intense demonic attack. He found himself slipping into a paralyzing depression and despair. He soon began to question even the very foundations of his faith in God. "Deeply were the foundations shaken in those days and nights of conflict, until Fraser realized that behind it all were 'powers of darkness', seeking to overwhelm him. He had dared to invade Satan's kingdom, undisputed for ages. At first, vengeance had fallen on the Lisu inquirers, an easy prey. Now, he was himself attacked, and it was war to the death, spiritually."

Fraser was greatly helped in this spiritual struggle by the timely arrival of a magazine produced by Jessie Penn-Lewis called The Overcomer. "What it showed me," Fraser writes, "was that deliverance from the power of the evil one comes through definite resistance on the ground of The Cross. I am an engineer and believe in things working. I want to see them work. I had found that much of the spiritual teaching one hears does not seem to work. My apprehension at any rate of other aspects of truth had broken down. The passive side of leaving everything to the Lord Jesus as our life, while blessedly true, was not all that was needed just then. Definite resistance on the ground of The Cross was what brought me light. For I found that it worked. I felt like a man perishing of thirst, to whom some beautiful, clear, cold water had begun to flow. People will tell you, after a helpful meeting perhaps, that such and such a truth is the secret of victory. No: we need different truth at different times. 'Look to the Lord,' some will say. 'Resist the devil,' is also Scripture (James 4:7) and I found it worked! That cloud of depression dispersed. I found that I could have victory in the spiritual realm whenever I wanted it. The Lord Himself resisted the devil vocally: 'Get thee behind me, Satan!' I, in humble dependence on Him, did the same. I talked to Satan at that time, using the promises of Scripture as weapons. And they worked. Right then, the terrible oppression began to pass away."

From Awake and Go Global Prayer Network, biography of James O. Fraser. Written by David Smithers.

War

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

Many of us struggle, day in and day out, with opposition from the enemy. Some do not even realize who they are dealing with. I am not saying that every hardship or trial comes from Satan, but I think he is often overlooked as a source of trouble in our lives. Satan is the ruler of this world and he will not give up his strongholds without a fight. The Bible says that he has come "to steal, kill, and destroy". Whether it is personal awakening, or the revival of our neighborhoods, our cities, or our country, when we earnestly seek these things, he will be there to oppose us at every turn. As followers of Christ, however, we have the victory. The One in us is greater than the one who is in this world and, by the power of the cross, Satan is defeated!

Praying Through

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

"James O. Frasier, of the China Inland Mission, was one of those choice servants of God who was content to labor in almost total obscurity. This gifted man was a preacher, linguist, musical genius and engineer. He came to the Yunnan Province of China in 1910 with a heart longing for the souls of the forgotten Lisu tribal people. His success was not the result of his impressive talents or giant intellect. Mr. Frasier succeeded where others often fail, because he had learned how to touch God through prayer. To our shame, some of the most basic spiritual disciplines of our godly forefathers have become strange and unfamiliar to many of us. One of the most effective weapons of the praying saints of old was the discipline of, "praying through." J. O. Frasier both encouraged and practiced this powerful reality. Upon this subject Mr. Frasier writes, "We must be prepared for serious warfare, 'and having done all, to stand,' we must fight through, and then stand victorious on the battlefield. Is not this another secret of many unanswered prayers, that they are not fought through? If the result is not seen as soon as expected, Christians are apt to lose heart, and if it is still longer delayed, to abandon it altogether. You know the name they give to places in England when the building (or whatever it is) is abandoned, when only half of it is completed - So and so's 'Folly'. I wonder whether some of our prayers do not deserve the same stigma. Luke 14: 28-30 applies to prayers as well as towers. We must count the cost before praying the prayer of faith. We must be willing to pay the price. We must mean business. We must set ourselves to 'see things through' (Eph. 6:18, 'In all perseverance')."

From Awake and Go Global Prayer Network, biography of James O. Fraser. Written by David Smithers.

How Should We Live--Part Two

"Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. Philippians 3:17-21 ( NLT)

Are we patterning our lives after Paul and others who have exhibited godly character? This is how Paul describes an enemy of the cross of Christ--their appetite is their god, they brag about things they should be ashamed of, and they only think of this life on earth.

Are we living for Christ's return or living as an enemies of the cross?

How Should We Live?

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. "But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him." 2 Peter 3:10-14 (NIV)

"Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." 2 Peter 3:17-18 (NIV)

The Blessed Hope

"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for "the blessed hope"—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ..." Titus 2:11-13 (NIV)

Jesus is coming back to earth to set up His kingdom. This was the longing, the passion, the hope of the early Christians. Just before His crucifixion, His disciples asked Him, "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming and of the end of the world?" (Matthew 24:3) Jesus had prepared them to look for His return and they wanted to know the details! In the Epistles, the churches are continually reminded how they should live in light of Christ's return. The Christians of the first century lived as if He could return at any moment, and eagerly desired to see it!

This is the "blessed hope"--Christ's return to rule and reign over His kingdom. What was once the most eagerly looked-for event in the Church is barely mentioned today. That is shameful. Not only are we to expect Christ's return and look for it--we are to "live ready" as one author put it. That means turning our back on the world and all that it offers, and living godly lives while we wait.

Unity

"I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? 1Corinthians 1:10-13 (NIV)

As Solomon said in Ecclesiastes, "There is nothing new under the sun." Paul addressed the Corinthians about the need for unity. Apparently the people of Corinth were choosing sides--some liked what Apollos had to say, others preferred Paul's teaching, still others liked Peter. Some even followed Christ!

But Paul asked this question, "Is Christ divided?" Looking at the Church today, I think the answer is "yes". How can we be effective in ministering to the world if we can't put aside our denominational differences and work together? We agree on the important doctrines of the faith, but get hung up on the details. The enemy has convinced us that these distinctions should be magnified, rather than diminished for the good of everyone. Think how much more effective the body of Christ would be working together instead of against each other.

Jesus spoke these words about Satan's kingdom: "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand." Mark 3:24 (NIV).

Desperation or Desolation?

"When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people..." 2Chronicles 7:13 (NIV)

This is the verse that precedes "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

What can we learn from that verse? It tells me that God has to go to great extremes to get our attention. If you look at America and much of the world today, Biblical values are systematically being removed from society. The Church cries "foul" but takes no action. We experience "natural disasters" at an alarming rate, but no one dares to say that God is trying to get our attention. So--God has to turn up the heat a notch--what will be next?

Someone from Uganda once said the Christians there had to choose between desolation or desperation. God is bringing pain to cause us to be desperate for Him. Are we going to sit back and watch as desolation overtakes us or will we become desperate and cry out to God for revival?

Doing It God's Way

"He must increase, but I [must] decrease." John 3:30 (KJV)

Revival is a God-event--it is His presence, His power that saves souls and transforms communities, not an eloquent sermon or a persuasive altar call. It seems to me that man's only roll in revival is to pray and get out of the way! God puts the burden on people to pray, and it may be only a handful of people whose hearts are pure and whose hands are clean. They are people of great faith--they believe they have a promise from God and that He can do nothing less than keep that promise.

Unlike an evangelistic outreach in which some souls may be saved but the community remains unchanged, revival turns the whole community upside down. People are suddenly aware of God's presence and His holiness--they no longer pursue their sinful desires, but cry out to God for forgiveness and mercy. Bars close, gambling ceases, the police are hard-pressed to find anyone to arrest. The presence of God is so powerful that people do not need to hear a sermon to be saved, no invitation to receive Christ is necessary. Man's role is very small in true revival--that way, God gets all the glory!

The Prayer of Faith

"For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground:" Isaiah 44:3 (KJV)

Once again, we see that God is faithful to answer the prayer of faith. The men praying for revival on the Isle of Lewis believed they had received a promise from God--that He would "pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground...". They simply believed God--that He would do exactly what He said He would do. They prayed boldly, telling God that His honor was at stake. And God responded.

He will do no less for us today. He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. God says, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2Chronicles 7:14). If His people do their part then, as a covenant-keeping God, He is bound to keep His part of the bargain. Believe it!

Lessons Learned

"He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart...He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation." Psalm 24:4-5 (KJV)

So what can we learn from the Hebrides revival? The first thing that comes to mind is that it isn't the number of people praying for revival that impresses God--it's the quality. God responded to the prayers of two elderly sisters and a handful of men who were desperate to see God move in their community. They were willing to spend extended periods of time on their faces before God, with no thought of their own comfort or lack of sleep. I have to ask myself--am I willing to pray like these people prayed?

After praying for about five weeks with no results, it finally came down to this: one man stood up and read from Psalm 24, "Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart..." (Psalm 24:3-4) This was the key that opened the door to revival--"Search me, O God".

Not Just Words

"because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction." 1Thessalonians 1:5 (NIV)

"Of course, you understand, we make no appeals--you never need to make an appeal or an altar call in revival. Why, the roadside becomes an altar. We just leave men and women to make their way to God themselves--after all, that is the right way. God can look after His own. Oh, God can look after His own! And when God takes a situation in hand, I tell you He does a better work. He does a better work."

Duncan Campbell, When God Stepped Down

A Community Saturated With God

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9 (NIV

"Now, you might ask me, "What do you mean by revival"? There are a great many views, held by people today, as to what revival is. So, you hear men say, "Are you going out to the revival meetings?", "We're having a revival crusade", and so on. There's a world of difference, between a crusade, or a special effort in the field of evangelism. My dear people, that is not revival. As I already said from this platform, I thank God for every soul brought to Christ, through our special efforts, and for every season of blessing at our conferences, and at our conventions. We praise God for such movements, but is it not true that such movements do not, (as a general rule) touch the community? The community remains more or less, the same, and the masses go past us to hell, but in revival the community, suddenly becomes conscious of the movings of God; beginning with His own people. So that, in a matter of hours, (not days) in a matter of hours, churches become crowded. No information of any special meeting, but something happening that moves men and women to a house of God, and you'll find within hours, scores of men, and women crying to God for mercy before them that kneel at church."

Duncan Campbell, When God Stepped Down

The Last Holdout

"After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." Acts 4:31 (NIV)

Strangely enough, it was the "religious" people who opposed the Lewis revival. The town of Arnol, led by a group of ministers, was resisting the move of God. Duncan Campbell and a group of 30 men decided to get together and pray. He called on a blacksmith to pray--a man whose prayers had been greatly used earlier in the revival. This was his prayer:

"God, do You know that Your honor is at stake? Do You know that Your honor is at stake? You promised to pour water on the thirsty and floods on the dry ground and, God, You are not doing it." Now my dear people, could we pray like that? Ah, but here was a man who could. Here was a man who could. He then he went on to say, "There are five ministers in this meeting and I don't know where a one of them stands in Your presence, not even Mr. Campbell." Oh, he was an honest man. "But if I know anything at all about my own poor heart, I think I can say and I think that You know that I'm thirsty! I'm thirsty to see the devil defeated in this parish. I'm thirsty to see this community gripped as you gripped Barvas. I'm longing for revival and God, You are not doing it! I am thirsty and you promised to pour water on me." Then a pause and then he cried, "God, I now take upon myself to challenge you to fulfill Your covenant engagement!" Now it was nearing two o'clock in the morning.

What happened? The house shook. A jug on a sideboard fell onto the floor and broke. A minister beside me said, "An earth tremor." And I said, "Yes." But I had my own thoughts. My mind went back to Acts chapter 4 when they prayed the place was shaken. When John Smith stopped praying at twenty minutes past two, I pronounced the benediction and left the house. What did I see? The whole community alive. Men carrying chairs, women carrying stools and asking, "Is there room for us in the churches?" And the Arnol revival broke out."

Stories--too many to tell here--can be found at the following addresses:

http://www.revival-library.org/pensketches/revivals/hebrides.html

http://www.revival-library.org/leadership/rs_dcwhengod.php

A God-Given Vision

"For God does speak—now one way, now another—though no one perceives it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds," Job 33:14-15 (NIV)

There are many accounts of how God moved in the Lewis revival. Before revival broke out, no youth were attending church meetings. One of the two sisters that had been praying, had a vision that the church was filled with young people listening to an unknown speaker. The following account is from a transcript of an audio message by Duncan Campbell called Revival in the Hebrides:

"Over 100 young people were at the dance in the parish hall and they weren't thinking of God or eternity. God was not in all of their thoughts. They were there to have a good night when suddenly the power of God fell upon the dance. The music ceased and in a matter of minutes, the hall was empty. They fled from the hall as a man fleeing from a plague. And they made for the church. They are now standing outside. Oh, yes--they saw lights in the church. That was a house of God and they were going to it and they went. Men and women who had gone to bed rose, dressed, and made for the church. Nothing in the way of publicity--no mention of a special effort except and intonation from the pulpit on Sabbath that a certain man was going to be conducting a series of meetings in the parish covering 10 days. But God took the situation in hand--oh, He became His own publicity agent. A hunger and a thirst gripped the people. 600 of them now are at the church standing outside."

When God Stepped Down--Part Two

"Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart..." Psalm 24:3-4 (NIV)

From When God Stepped Down, by Duncan Campbell

"The praying, and the meetings continued for several months. Until one night, a very remarkable thing happened. There, knelling amongst straw in the barn, the barn of a farm house; when suddenly, one young man rose, and read part of psalm twenty-four: "Who shall ascend into the hill of God? Or who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord". He shut his bible, and then looking down at the minister, and at the other men who were kneeling there, he said this, (rather crude words, not so crude indelicate), but this is what he said, "It seems to me just so much humbug. To be praying, as we are praying, to be waiting as we are waiting, if we ourselves, are not rightly related to God. Oh, my dear brethren let's take that to heart." He began to pray, "God, are my hands clean? Is my heart pure?", and that dear man got no further. He fell on his knees, and then on his face among the straw, and with in a matter of minutes, three of the elders fell into a trance. Now, please don't come to me at the end of this meeting, and ask me, "What I really mean by men falling into a trance?" I cannot answer that question. All that I know is this, that when that happened in the barn, (now it's happened in the Jonathan Edward revival; remember that. Not peculiar by any means to Lewis. It happened in America, it happened in the fifty-nine revival in Wales, not the nineteen-hundred revival, but the fifty-nine revival) this I can say, the moment that, that happened in the barn, a power was let loose that shook the whole of Lewis. I say shook Lewis! God stepped down. The Holy Spirit began to move among the people, and the minister (writing about what happened the following morning) said this, "You met God on meadow and moo land. You met Him in the homes of the people. God seem to be everywhere"."

When God Stepped Down

"For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground:" Isaiah 44:3

The following account of the 1949 revival in the Hebrides Islands was delivered as a sermon by Duncan Campbell, a minister who was greatly used by God during that awakening.

"When God stepped down, suddenly men, and women all over the parish, were gripped by the fear of God. Now, how did it happen? This to me is an interesting story, and I want to tell it in full. One evening, an old woman, eighty-four years of age, and blind; had a vision. Now, don't ask me to explain this vision, because I cannot, but strange things happen when God begins to move, and this dear old lady, in the vision saw the church of our Fathers crowded with young people. crowded with young people, and she saw a strange minister in the pulpit, and she was so impressed by this revelation, because a revelation it was. She sent for the minister, and told her story. The parish minister, was a God fearing man, a man that longed to see God working. Oh, he had tried ever so many things to get the youth of the parish interested, but not one single teenager attended the church, that was the situation. Well, heart to this dear old lady to say to him, I'll tell you what she said, "I'm sure Mr. McCie, that you're longing to see God working. What about calling your office bearers together, and suggest to them that you spend two nights a week; waiting upon God in prayer. You've tried mission, you've tried special evangelists, Mr. McCie have you tried God?". Oh, I tell you this is a wonderful old woman. So, he meekly obeyed, and said, "Yes, I'll call the session together, and I will suggest that we meet on Tuesday night, and Friday night, and we'll spend the whole night in prayer". I told you dear people, here were men that meant business. The dear old lady said, "Well, if you do that, my sister and I will get on our knees at ten o'clock on Tuesday, ten o'clock on Friday, and we'll wait on our knees till four o'clock in the morning". I tell you, this puts us to shame. So, they went to prayer, and I want to mention that they had, but one promise from God, and that promise was, "For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground:" –Isaiah 44:3a. That's God's promise, and in their prayers (according to the minister), they would say again, and again, "God you're a covenant keeping God, and you must be true to your covenant engagements".

More to follow,,,

Seeking God's Face

"I will pour water on him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground." (Isa. 44:3, KJV).

In 1949, the tiny island of Lewis, off the coast of Scotland, was the God-chosen spot for revival. Watch the following video to see how God responded to the prayers of two elderly sisters.

 

Evan Roberts

"Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory..." Psalm 115:1 (NIV)

In 1904, Evan Roberts was just 26 years old and a college student, when God began to move in his heart. After hearing a preacher named Seth Joshua pray for God to bend His people, Evan Roberts prayed "Lord, bend me." God gave him a simple message for his home church: confess any known sins, put away doubtful habits, obey the spirit promptly, and confess your faith publicly. Only 18 people heard this first message, but soon the crowds grew, and revival began to sweep over Wales.

 

God's Idea--Pray

"The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray." 1Peter 4:7 (NIV)

It was not a good time for churches in downtown Manhattan , and the North Dutch Reformed Church on Fulton Street resorted to creative measures, hiring a businessman named Jeremiah Lanphier as a sort of outreach minister. He knocked on doors in the neighborhood and distributed pamphlets and Bibles, but response generally was dismal.

“One day as I was walking along the streets,” Lanphier wrote in his journal, “the idea was suggested to my mind that an hour of prayer, from twelve to one o’clock, would be beneficial to businessmen.” The idea blossomed: a weekly prayer time open to anyone, bankers to broom-pushers. Come when you can, leave when you must. Handbills advertised the first meeting - at noon on September 23, 1857.

Lanphier waited for the first attenders. No one showed up for the first thirty minutes. Then one man straggled in, then another. The hour ended with six men present, praying. The following week there were twenty, the next week forty. Soon a hundred. Rooms were packed. The church had to ask another church to handle the overflow. When churches ran out of room, the prayer meetings moved to theaters.

By March, 1858, the New York Times could report that Burton ’s Theater on Chambers Street was packed as famous preacher Henry Ward Beecher led a crowd of 3,000 in prayer. Some estimate that up to a million people became Christians in the 1857-58 revival.

What caused such immense interest in prayer? A stock market crash might have had something to do with it. Business leaders enslaved by money were suddenly seeking a more reliable master. But when he started his humble prayer time, Jeremiah Lanphier had no way of knowing about the impending financial collapse. He just knew people needed to pray.

William J. Petersen, 100 Amazing Answers to Prayer

Everything is Possible

"Everything is possible for one who believes." Mark 9:23 (NIV)

Are you struggling to believe that God can bring revival to a nation that has turned it's back on Him? Jesus spoke these words--"Everything is possible..." Do we think our sinful, idol-worshipping nation is the one exception? It may be that we are the hindrance to revival. Do we persevere in prayer until we hear from God on the matter? If God has spoken to us through His Word or through the Holy Spirit, we must believe that He will do it!

Oswald J. Smith said, "Faith is the key that unlocks the door of God's power. 'By faith the walls of Jericho fell down.' And in revival work one of the indispensable prerequisites is a living, vital Faith."

Praying in Faith

Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24

Faith is a requirement for God to act. Manley Beasley was a great man of faith. This is part of his testimony:

I began to realize that God was waiting on me to act on His revealed truth because faith is acting on the word of God. I must not only believe He can meet a need; I must begin to act as though the need has been met, even though I might not be able to see it, feel it, smell it, taste it or hear it. I must begin acting as if it is so, when it is not so, in order for it to be so, because with God it already is so.”

I believe this means that, when we have a promise from God through His word, we need to pray and act as though God has already done it because He has (Mark 11:24). It may not look as though He has, but we are to believe that we have that thing we have asked for (1John 5:14). God already considers it done and He will bring it about in His timing.

The Prayer of Faith

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24 (NIV)

Do we have the spiritual stamina to persevere in prayer, or do we grow weary after just a short time? What if we prayed for years and died without ever seeing the results? If God has put it on your heart to pray for revival, don't quit because it seems that nothing is happening. God wants us to "always pray and not give up" (Luke 18:1)

"The story is told of an invalid who formed the habit of praying for a Revival, daily, for some thirty towns and communities, and from time to time made this entry in his diary: "I was enabled to pray the prayer of faith for----- today." After his death Revivals swept over each of these thirty places, almost exactly in the order he had noted them down. God had spoken, and though he did not live to see any of the answers, yet he was given the assurance that he had been heard.

Oswald J. Smith, The Revival We Need, p73-74

The Power of a Holy Life--Charles Finney

"He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace." 2Timothy 1:9 (NIV)

From Charles Finney, Autobiography, English version, p154:

"The next morning, I went into the factory, to look through it. I observed there was a good deal of agitation among those who were busy at their looms, and their mules, and other implements. On passing through one of the apartments, where a great number of young women were attending to weaving, I observed a couple of them eyeing me, and speaking very earnestly; and I could see that they were a good deal agitated, although they laughed. I went slowly towards them. They saw me coming, and were evidently much excited. One of them was trying to mend a broken thread, and her hands trembled so that she could not mend it. I approached slowly, looking at the machinery, as I passed; but this girl grew more and more agitated, and could not proceed with her work. When I came within eight or ten feet of her, I looked solemnly at her. She was quite overcome, sunk down, and burst into tears. The impression caught almost like powder, and in a few moments nearly all in the room were in tears. This feeling spread through the factory Mr. W——, the owner was present, and seeing the state of things, he said to the superintendent, “Stop the mill, and let the people attend to religion; for it is more important that our souls should be saved than that this factory run.” The gate was shut down, and the factory stopped; but where should we assemble? The superintendent suggested that the mule room was large; and, the mules being run up, we could assemble there. We did so, and a more powerful meeting I scarcely ever attended. It went on with great power. The revival went through the mill with astonishing power, and in the course of a few days nearly all in the mill were hopefully converted."

 

 

How to be Filled with the Spirit

"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:13 (NIV)

How may we be filled with the Holy Spirit? Here is a brief summary of what R.A. Torrey says in his book, Power-Filled Living:

Openly confess belief in Jesus and renunciation of sin. Acts 2:38

Renounce any sin in your life. Be specific. He is the Holy Spirit--you cannot have the Holy Spirit and sin.

Be willing to obey Him. Acts 5:32

Intensely desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit. John 7:37,38,39

Ask to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Luke 11:13

Have faith that God has done what He said He would do. 1 John 5:14,15

This is not a magic formula. It's the condition of your heart that God looks at. Do not rely on some physical manifestation as evidence of the filling--many experience no such thing. The key is to have faith that God has done what He promised. I highly recommend reading in depth about the Holy Spirit's filling, being sure to test everything by God's Word. Two excellent books are:

Power-Filled Living by R.A. Torrey

How the Holy Spirit Filled My Life by Bertha Smith

 

Living Water

"On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. John 7:37-39 (NIV)

As we are set free and set apart for God's purpose, He wants these rivers of living water to flow through us to touch the lives of all those with whom we have contact. In her book, How the Holy Spirit Filled My Life, Bertha Smith says that most Christians are full of themselves and the Holy Spirit. This happens because some are not willing to give up their old, fleshly desires in order to let the Spirit fill them. But many today don't understand what the Bible says about being filled with the Spirit. In her book, she gives a word picture of what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit:
"Suppose you have a pitcher of coffee and want a pitcher of water. If you empty half the coffee and fill up the pitcher with water, what do you have? A pitcher filled with coffee and water. If you leave one sip of the black liquid in the pitcher, you still have a pitcher of coffee and water. Only when you empty out all the coffee and wash the pitcher can you have a pitcher full of clear water."

Freedom in Christ

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners..." 
Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)

"This is how it feels to be free". The Brooklyn Tabernacle Singers performed this song at Angola Prison in Louisiana. What a fitting background for a song about freedom. People  in that prison can have freedom in Christ regardless of the fact that they are incarcerated. Many of us who are outside the prison walls, however, are still in chains. Jesus came to set the captives free, as it says in Isaiah 61. The world, the flesh and the devil can have no power over us, except that which we willingly surrender. 

We are set free to be set apart!

http://youtu.be/C_tbv76Pu2g

What It Means To Be Set Apart

"You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own." Leviticus 20:26 (NIV)

The following is a quote taken from The Wake Up Call by John Mulinde and Mark Daniel:

"People sometimes ask me what it means to be set apart for Christ. Simply put, being set apart means releasing myself into the hands of God and not believing that I have to be a victim to sin, to the world, or to the prince of the power of the air. As I give myself to Christ, there is victory in him, power in him, and authority in him. I do not have to submit to these things as though I am their slave. Being set apart is choosing to be free in Christ!"

God gives us victory, power and authority over sin so that we may serve Him effectively. As we surrender our lives to God, we want to run the race unhindered by sin. He is able, and more than willing, to give us victory over those things that keep us from being set apart for His purposes. Freedom in Christ means we are free to serve Him, and to turn our back on the world, our flesh, and the devil.

God's Plumb Line

"And the LORD said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" I answered, "A plumb line." And the Lord replied, "I will test my people with this plumb line. I will no longer ignore all their sins." Amos 7:8 (NLT)

God was fed up with His people. He had given the prophet Amos visions of destruction, but  Amos' earnest pleading convinced God to relent. Nevertheless, God would no longer show grace to His people. He would set a standard (plumb line) that the people must follow or face destruction. Do you think this can be applied to our world today?
The sins of Israel were no worse than our sins. We have turned to idols and forgotten the true and living God. We have allowed the world to influence us rather than influencing the world for God. Is He any more pleased with us than He was with the people of Amos' time? I doubt it.

God wants us to measure ourselves by His plumb line--no other measurement will do. We can't compare ourselves to others, or say that we're better than we used to be. The time is now for taking God seriously. He wants us to be set apart, as Noah was. If we want others to turn to God because of the holy life that we lead, we cannot measure ourselves by any other standard. His plumb line is His Word. That is our only way to measure righteousness and it is the only measurement that counts in His eyes.

How We Live Matters

"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith." 

Hebrews 11:7 (NIV)

 How we live matters. That was the topic of discussion In our Life Group on Sunday. The lesson compared the life of Noah with the life of Lot, and it was all about being set apart and the effect it has on our families. Think about it--God asked Noah to prepare for a flood by building an ark. At that time, there had never been rain on the earth. The people of that time knew nothing about rain or floods. No one had even heard of a boat or ark, let alone seen one being built. I can imagine people ridiculing him as if he were out of his mind. Yet Noah was faithful to God, regardless of what people said about him. He was singularly focused on obeying God, no matter what anyone else thought of him. Hebrews 11:7 says that he did this "to deliver his family" and that is exactly what happened--because of his faith, his children chose to enter the ark and were saved from the flood.

Lot, on the other hand, was laying low. He didn't want to draw attention to himself. Instead of standing for God in Sodom and influencing others to live holy lives, he chose to blend in to his community. That wicked city influenced him, rather than the other way around. When Lot warned his family about God's judgement, they acted as if he were joking. His warning carried no weight because he had not lived a godly life before them.

God has given us a message of impending judgement. Jesus is coming back soon. The stakes are too high to live as Lot lived. The Bible says that in the time of Noah, everyone was going about business as usual--just like today. I want my children, family and friends to hear what I have to say and climb aboard the ark.

Testing...

"Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Revelation 3:21 (NIV)

We all have them. Ears. Why is it, then, that people are not hearing what the Spirit says to the churches? Has God stopped up our ears? In each of the letters to the seven churches in Revelation, Jesus gives the same orders--"whoever has ears..." In other words, pay attention to this, this is important! Yet, in most churches today, it is business as usual--as if we had never heard of the Book of Revelation, as if the return of Jesus was just a myth. Pray that God will burden pastors over the condition of the church as God reveals it in Revelation. Pray, too, that God will remove all spiritual deafness and give the church ears to hear what the Spirit is saying.

A Tough Assignment

"He said, "Go and tell this people:  'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed. Then I said, 'For how long, Lord?' And he answered: 'Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged, until the LORD has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken.'  Isaiah 6:9-12 (NIV)

This was a tough assignment for Isaiah--a tough assignment for any preacher. Essentially, God is saying, "go and preach to a people who will not respond to anything you say". Who would want to waste their time doing that? Yet God thought it was important. In fact, when Isaiah asked how long this assignment would last, God told him he would have to stick it out to the bitter end--til there was no one or no thing left to preach to.

Is this what is happening in America today? Or in the world? This is no job for the faint-hearted. If you have answered God's call to speak out for revival, let Him encourage you--don't expect others to do it. They may not be able to hear.

Running in God's Race

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)

Think about the great cloud of witnesses that surrounds us--Abraham, Noah, Moses, Rahab, Joseph, and many others who lived out the life of faith. They are our examples and encouragement to finish the race well in spite of everything that is going on around us. God has given each of us a unique race to run and He doesn't want us to be hindered by extra weight--we are to get rid of everything that slows us down. Some of those weights are mere distractions, but others that trip us up, He calls sin. There are plenty of distractions around--family, jobs, hobbies, even good works. What sins are we unaware of, or unwilling to give up, that may cause us to stumble and be disqualified? Just picture a runner at the starting line, with heavy chains draped around his neck and dragging on the ground, iron weights on his hands and feet--what are the chances he will finish that race? How much lighter and stronger he will be if he throws off those weights and keeps his focus on the one who ran the greatest race of all!

Glory to God

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them? For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."  Romans 11:33-36 (NIV)

Dear Friends,

God has spoken--we will not be purchasing the property for the church in Sulphur Springs. He has another assignment for us which has yet to be revealed. We praise Him and thank Him for His sovereignty in our lives. God's ways are often mysterious and unexplainable, but we are convinced that they are always good. "To Him be the glory forever! Amen."

It happened in a most unusual way (another indication of God's involvement). The owner of the property decided to pay all the tax liens and redeem the property himself. So there was no sale to the highest bidder. The sale was simply called off. Thank you all for your earnest prayers on our behalf. We know that nothing that is offered to God is ever wasted--please join us in thanking God for His great plan for all of our lives.

A Prayer Request

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24 (NIV)

Dear Friends:
On Thursday, June 6, sometime after 10:00 am EST, my husband and I are asking and believing that God will show himself mighty in Tampa, Florida. For over a year now, we have believed that God wanted to give us a certain building in our neighborhood (a poor community, notorious for drug deals and violence) for the purpose of starting a church. We have a passion for preaching the message of repentance and Christ's soon return. We believe that God wants to bring a revival to this neighborhood that will make all of Tampa, all of Florida, maybe all of the United States, wake up and see that God is still on His throne. We want God, and God alone, to receive the glory when this happens--we want nothing for ourselves except the privilege of making His name great in our community and the world. This building will be sold to the highest bidder the morning of June 6. Several friends and churches are investing in this opportunity, and while we do not have a large sum, we believe that God will give us what we need. Would you join us in praying that He will be glorified in the sale of this property, that this will be the beginning of a great work of God in Sulphur Springs that will bring many to trade their hopeless condition for the honor of serving The True and Living God? God bless you and thank you for each prayer offered on behalf of this endeavor.

Turning Off the Ringer

"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them."  James 4:17 (NIV)

Maybe God isn't asking us to do something. Maybe He's asking us to undo something. Maybe there is sin in our life that needs to be confessed, forgiveness that needs to be asked for, or given. Whatever the reason for God's call, He wants us to answer the phone. When we consistently ignore the calls from God, some of us just decide to turn off the ringer. James says this is sin--knowing that God wants us to do something but refusing to do it. Maybe we are dealing with  distractions in our life and it's just not a good time--we'll get back to God later. Sometimes we use those distractions as excuses for not doing business with God. We need to be honest with ourselves, and with God, about the things that keep us from fully obeying His call. What things do we stubbornly prefer to hold on to, rather than going to the next level with God?

Putting God on Hold

"As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, 'I will follow you wherever you go.' Jesus replied, 'Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.' He said to another man, 'Follow me.' But he replied, 'Lord, first let me go and bury my father.' Jesus said to him, 'Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.' Still another said, 'I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.' Jesus replied, 'No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.'"  Luke 9:57-62 (NIV)

What is your response when God calls? Is it "Yes, Sir! Right away, Sir!" or is it "I'll get back to you on that."? Hard to imagine that we would put God on "hold" but it happens all the time. Maybe He's not asking you drop everything and go to Africa--maybe He's just asking you to talk to your neighbor about Jesus. It doesn't really matter if it's a big request or a small one, God expects our obedience when He asks, not when we feel like it. We have plenty of excuses, things we have to do first, just as these men who were called to follow Jesus did. But notice Jesus' response to those excuses--when it comes to serving in the Kingdom, delayed obedience disqualifies us.

The Power of Obedience

"Have you noticed how much praying for revival has been going on of late - and how little revival has resulted? I believe the problem is that we have been trying to substitute praying for obeying, and it simply will not work.  To pray for revival while ignoring the plain precept laid down in Scripture is to waste a lot of words and get nothing for our trouble. Prayer will become effective when we stop using it as a substitute for obedience." - A. W. Tozer

"A revival is nothing else than a new beginning of obedience to God." -Charles Finney
 

Enemy of God

What part of James 4:4 don't we understand?

"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."  (NIV)

"You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God." (NLT)

"Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."  (NKJV)

"You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way." (The Message)

No matter how you say it, God's people and His church are committing adultery with the world. Do we think that God is just going to sit back and allow that? It's hard for me to imagine that God is looking the other way. He sees it all. It is time for repentance in our personal lives and especially in the life of the church. By engaging in questionable activities, the church is leading many away from God and into sin. There will be a price to pay!

Interfering with the Holy Spirit

"Do not quench the Spirit."  1Thessalonians 5:19

Have you, or someone you know, ever tried to comfort a person who was under conviction by the Holy Spirit?  Maybe you said something like this:" You don't have to feel bad--God has forgiven you." Maybe you've even heard a pastor say a similar thing during a time of invitation. Our natural inclination is to comfort them--it's uncomfortable seeing someone in distress--but is that the godly response? It's the Holy Spirit's job to convict people of their sin. He is doing His work, who are we to interfere? Many times, when we try to stop people from hurting, we quench the work of the Spirit in their lives. God cannot bring revival without true repentance. We need to get out of the way.

Idols II

"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty."  Zechariah 4:6 (NIV)

"If revival is being withheld from us it is because some idol remains still enthroned; because we still insist in placing our reliance in human schemes; because we still refuse to face the unchangeable truth that, 'It is not by might, but by My Spirit."  These words were spoken by Canadian missionary, Jonathan Goforth who, in the early 1900's, brought a great revival to northern China. They could not be more true today. Our idol can be our own self-reliance, our confidence that we can make things happen.

Why is it we would rather do almost anything than pray? Let us organize a meeting, write a "how to" manual, preach a fiery sermon--anything but pray! Prayer is humbling--we come to God acknowledging that He has the power, not us. It means relying on the Holy Spirit to accomplish the work, rather than our own capabilities. We usually have to wait for results and we DO NOT like to wait. In our culture, waiting is synonymous with doing nothing, yet God teaches us in times of waiting. In the spiritual realm, it's prayer that moves the hand of God.

Idols

 "Therefore speak to them and tell them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When any of the Israelites set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block before their faces and then go to a prophet, I the LORD will answer them myself in keeping with their great idolatry. I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted me for their idols.' Therefore say to the people of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!"  Ezekiel 14:4-6 (NIV)

What does it mean to have idols in your heart? It means that there are things in your life that you love more than you love God. Many of us are not even aware of them--what or who could we possibly love more than God? They have become such a part of our life that we don't see they are in direct competition with God for our time and affections. Sports, shopping, children, grandchildren--all seem like good things until you have to choose between them or God. If God has asked you to do something and you repeatedly put Him off to do other things, chances are you are an idol worshipper. If we worship something or someone other than God, we will obey that call rather than the call of God.
As we pray for revival, God wants us to be totally set apart for His purposes--this leaves no room for idols. Ask God to show you the things that compete with His call on your life. Make a list. Add to that list as The Lord shows you. If we will allow Him, God will help us to turn from our idols and turn back to Him.
"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them."  James 4:17 (NIV)

Whitewashed

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."  Matthew 23:27 (NIV)

Hypocrites! Jesus exposed the very people that should have been set apart for God. They looked good on the outside, they knew how to act the part. But the one who searches the hearts of men could see right through them and it wasn't pretty.  Could he be talking about us? Are we guilty of trying to appear better than we really are? Do we spend most of our time trying to make ourselves look good to others when the part of us that really matters, our heart, is "full of hypocrisy and wickedness"?  How can we expect God to answer our prayers for revival under such conditions? 1Samuel 16:7 says," man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." He is one person we can't fool!

God's Perspective on World Affairs

"The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.  Psalm 33:10-22 (NIV)

Understanding the Times

Wisdom from Vance Havner:
"The children of Issachar had understanding of the times and knew what Israel ought to do (I Chronicles 12:32). With all the news media of today there is plenty of knowledge of the times, but little understanding. Such understanding will not be gained from news analysts and political experts. It must be based on God’s Word and it produces a practical knowledge of what “Israel,” God’s people, ought to do. We must know the times, we must understand them, and we must know what to do."

Pray Like Daniel

"I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: "O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands. But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations. We have refused to listen to your servants the prophets, who spoke on your authority to our kings and princes and ancestors and to all the people of the land."
"Lord, you are in the right; but as you see, our faces are covered with shame...O LORD, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you."
"But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him. We have not obeyed the LORD our God, for we have not followed the instructions he gave us through his servants the prophets."
"O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and your city bear your name." Daniel 9:4-10,19 (NLT)

Wrath and Mercy

"LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, LORD. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy."  Habakkuk 3:2 (NIV)

Throughout the Bible, we read of the mighty works of God on behalf of His people. He didn't stop there, however. More recently, the great revivals of the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries have been well documented. God still lives and moves among His people. He tells us in the Book of James that "the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." As in the day of Habakkuk, God's people today deserve wrath. But we can also pray like Habakkuk, that in His wrath, He will remember mercy.

I Never Knew You

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)

These may very well be the saddest verses in the New Testament. Some of us, some of our loved ones, are deceived in believing that we are in right standing with Jesus--the one to whom we must one day give an account. There are people who call Him "Lord" who will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Maybe you sit next to them in church on Sunday. Some have even prophesied and done miracles in His name--but that does not guarantee their salvation. What is the evidence of an authentic relationship with Jesus? Our obedience says that we know Him, and are known by Him.  Read what God says through Jeremiah:

"Thus says the LORD: 'Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;  let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD.  Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NKJV)

The Middle Road

"There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death."  Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV)

It seems that there has been an oversight. God forgot to mention, in the book of Matthew, that there is another road that people can travel. If the narrow road is too confining, but you're just not comfortable on that broad road, try the middle road. You can learn all about it in this brief video from Francis Chan.

 http://youtu.be/ZQj6rEvQb44

The Narrow Road

"But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."  Matthew 7:14 (NIV)

This statement scares me. Most people in this world, it seems, are not interested in finding the narrow road that leads to life--they prefer that broad, comfortable road that leads to destruction. Why is that--what's wrong with the narrow road? For one thing, it must take some work to locate it because only a few "find it". Once you get there, you have to stay on the path--there's no room for wiggling or wandering off-- God wants you to follow His directions. It can be a lonely path--there is no large crowd of travelers sharing the journey-- but you are never alone because the One who cleared the path is walking with you.

The Broad Road

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." Matthew 7:13 (NIV)

God says we have two choices in this world--two roads that we can follow--which way do we go? Even though He tells us up front which road to choose, the wide gate is still the popular choice. Why is that? There's lots of company on that road--many have chosen to travel on the broad road. It's easy to just follow the crowd. You're not confined on the broad road--plenty of room for every belief and philosophy of life. There's lots of freedom--everyone is pursuing their own selfish desires--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
If you find yourself wandering aimlessly with a large crowd of people, you might want to check your GPS.You won't find God on the broad road--He doesn't go there and He doesn't want you to go there either, because it leads to destruction.

Light in the Darkness

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them." 1John 2:15 (NIV)

Whether it's gross disobedience or incomplete obedience, it's still sin. These sins--big and small-- keep us (and the church) from being effective in today's world. Jesus said we are to be in the world, but not of it. We are to be the light in a world that is getting darker and darker. To be holy is to be set apart for God's purpose. If we have the same appetites and desires as the world, we have nothing to give. People need to see something different about us--that we love God enough to follow Him and obey Him--that we do not love the world or the things of the world. We find our satisfaction in Him. Most of the people today are trying to fill an empty place in their heart with things, and things never satisfy. We can show them the better way.

Day of Prayer

Billy Graham's Prayer For Our Nation:

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done.
We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem.
We have abused power and called it politics.
 We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from sin and Set us free.
Please. Come back and rule our nation, be number one in our nation.
Amen!'

Partial Obedience

"Although he did not remove the high places from Israel, Asa's heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life."

 2Chronicles 15:17 (NIV)

Asa's obedience to God was almost perfect, but not quite. He failed to tear down the places of idol worship that had been used by previous kings. Our obedience matters to God--it should be instant and complete. In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers put it this way:

"Beware of ever thinking, "Oh, that thing in my life doesn't matter much." The fact that it doesn't matter much to you may mean that it matters a great deal to God. Nothing should be considered a trivial matter by a child of God...You say, 'I know I am right with God--yet the "high places" still remain in your life. There is still an area of disobedience. Do you protest that your heart is right with God, and yet there is something in your life he causes you to doubt?"

A Little Yeast

"But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked person from among you."  1Corinthians 5:11-13 (NIV)

God wants his church to be holy and pure. He expects our obedience in this matter. It gives God a bad name when His people knowingly live in sin. Paul also tells the Corinthians that a little yeast will leaven the whole batch of dough--in other words, sin in the church only grows. See what Francis Chan has to say in this brief video:

http://youtu.be/L6IX3opKF4A

Sowing and Reaping

"I said, 'Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.'"

"But you have cultivated wickedness and harvested a thriving crop of sins. You have eaten the fruit of lies—trusting in your military might, believing that great armies could make your nation safe." Hosea 10:12-13 (NLT)

God is speaking through the prophet Hosea to Israel--it could very easily be America. What kind of seeds are we sowing? Greed, immorality, hatred, violence, abortion--just to name a few. Our nation has believed the lie that we don't need God. We can take care of ourselves. How is that working for us?
"Now is the time to seek the LORD". We break up the hard ground of our hearts by letting God examine us, and by confessing our sin. Sin in the church is the major obstacle to revival. We can't expect anything from God until we've dealt with it!

A Sober Warning

"Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you—when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
"Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD. Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm." Proverbs 1:23-33 (NIV)

The Correct Response

"Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. The LORD did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the LORD our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him." Daniel 9:13-14 (NIV)

What is America's response to disaster? Relentlessly pursue and bring to justice the guilty party (this, of course, does not work in the case of natural disasters!) and vow to rebuild whatever has been torn down. No one suggests that God's judgement might be the cause and that repentance would be the proper response. More and more Christians are thinking it's true--that God's judgement has fallen on America, but very few will come right out and say it. What are we afraid of? That people who are already hostile to God won't like Him if we say that He is not only a God of love, but also a God of judgement? That those same people will think we are radical lunatics to preach such nonsense in this "enlightened" age of reason?

God has called us to be His witnesses. If the ship is sinking, shouldn't someone sound the alarm? How will people know the proper response if they don't understand what's happening?

Return to Normal?

"Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'and I will return to you...' "  

Zechariah 1:3 (NIV)

After the latest act of terror in Boston, officials of the government keep talking about when things will "return to normal". One of the suspects is dead, the other in custody. We can all go back to life as usual, right?

The answer to that question is "no". We cannot go back--to go back would be burying our heads in the sand, pretending as if this tragedy never happened. There are lessons to be learned, not the least of which is our need for God. America has abandoned God, so God has taken His hands off America. We no longer have the benefit of His wisdom, His guidance, His hand of protection. Does that mean that God wants nothing more to do with America? No--He is always calling people to repentance--but that involves swallowing our pride and admitting that we have done wrong.

Our country is obsessed with materialism--our possessions are just a diversion that keep us from focusing on what really matters. Things never satisfy the deepest longing of our heart. That is why we frantically keep acquiring more--trying to fill an empty space that only God can fill.

Adding new security cameras, hundreds more police officers, or detailed background checks will not make us safe. There is a sickness in our country that only God can heal. His law was given for our good. Without God, our country is morally bankrupt--do whatever seems right in your own eyes. That is exactly what these terrorists are doing.

Go back to business as usual? That will not be possible for those who have been personally affected by this tragedy--those who have lost limbs, or those who have lost loved ones. It should not be possible for the rest of us. If we don't learn something from this crisis, if we are not personally changed, then the enemy has won.