The Empty Tomb

"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.
In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!"  Luke 24:1-6 (NIV)

May God bless you as you celebrate the Truth--that Jesus is alive and powerfully working today, just as He was over two thousand years ago!

Producing Fruit Without the Tree

"Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Acts 2:41-42 (NIV)

Being set apart for God's purpose and allowing Jesus to live His beautiful life through us is what will lead to a great harvest of souls. When unbelievers see something different about us--something different in our attitudes toward money and the things that money can buy, something different in the way we face adversity and show love to our enemies, they will be drawn to the Christ in us. They will recognize that there is a power at work in our lives that they cannot explain, yet they are drawn to it. Not only that, but we will want to share what we have with others. Today, our focus in the church is on the wrong thing. Vance Havner said it this way:

"If the time, money, and effort spent in trying to work up evangelism in lukewarm churches were spent in calling the churches themselves to repentance, confession, cleansing, and empowering, evangelism would be the natural result. We are trying to produce the results without the cause, the fruit without the tree. The New Testament epistle writers concentrated not on stirring up Christians to evangelize but rather on developing healthy Christians through spiritual food, rest, and exercise. Healthy Christians are naturally soul-winners, by life and by lip."

Quotation taken from Repentance as a Church Priority by Vance Havner. For more information on the author, visit www.vancehavner.com.

Glory to God

"Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. Let the priests, who minister before the LORD, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, "Spare your people, LORD. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?' Then the LORD was jealous for his land and took pity on his people." Joel 2:15-18

The prophet Joel has some instructions for God's children--how they can appeal to God, receive His forgiveness, and avoid His wrath. We would all do well to heed those instructions because God is not pleased with America. Joel's first order is to call a serious prayer meeting. This meeting isn't just for the faithful few--he wants everyone to participate: not even the children are excused, or those getting ready for a wedding. Next, the priests are to lead the people in repentance--to humble themselves and seek forgiveness for their sins as well as those of the people. They are to come to God weeping, broken over their sin. Joel then tells the priests just exactly how to pray--how to persuade God to show mercy when they really deserve judgement. What is the final petition that moved the heart of God? It's about His name. He wants the nations to know Him. The mercy He shows to His inheritance will bring great glory to His name.
We should pray the same way--that revival in our church, our community, our nation will bring great glory to God and no one else!

Living Up to That Name

How can we, as set-apart Christ followers, bring honor--not shame--to the name of Jesus? Paul gives us the answer in the book of Philippians:

"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Philippians 2:1-13 ( NIV)

Set Apart

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—" Romans 1:1 (NIV)

When you think about the early church, what was it that made them so effective in reaching their world? They had no seminary degree, no special evangelism training. In fact most of them were just ordinary men. Peter preached and 3,000 were saved. Today we rejoice if one person makes a decision for Christ. Just as Paul was set apart for the gospel of God, so were the other disciples of that time. What does it mean to be set apart? It means that you have turned your back on the world and the things of the world. You are dedicated to God's purpose for your life. It means that you have crucified your flesh and that Jesus now lives his life through you. You no longer rely on your own strengths but on the power of the Holy Spirit.

How can one person make a difference in today's world? By being set apart for God's purpose--by being different from the world. That means trusting God in difficult circumstances, having peace when others are panicked, demonstrating love to those who curse you, experiencing joy in the midst of pain, refusing to compromise on what you know to be true, showing Christ's love to a hurting friend, giving your best in every situation. In other words, let Jesus live His life through you. There's nothing attractive about someone who is living their life for their own selfish gain, most of the world is doing that. But to let Jesus shine through you brings light into a dark world. He is the power source!

Pleasing God

"Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:7-8 (NIV)

God has a complaint against Israel--they have forgotten His goodness toward them. In response, they give some outrageous suggestions as to how they might get back in His good graces. Are they being sarcastic, as if they knew there was nothing they could do to please Him? God's answer is both simple and profound--in fact, they already know what is good. This is what God requires:
 "To act justly"--just do what's right. Treat people as you want to be treated, honor the law, be fair.
 "Love mercy"--don't just show mercy, love it. When we realize God's mercy toward us, we will love showing mercy to others.
"Walk humbly with your God"--when we really grasp our need for forgiveness, when we have a correct view of who God is and who we are, we will desire to walk with God and we will do it humbly.
Three simple things--that's all it takes to please your Father. It's really not asking too much.

Believe

"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" Jeremiah 32:27 (NIV)

Laying the foundation for revival through prayer is a work of faith--it takes time and commitment. But when God does break through, it brings Him great glory. Watch the following video and believe!

http://youtu.be/hbddQNQ91SA 

Be Encouraged

"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him." 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NKJV)

It's easy to become discouraged when you have been earnestly praying for something and God is just quiet. Our human nature wants to see results. His silences are always for our good--to teach us patience, perseverance and faith. We all know that God is always working, whether we see it or not. Prayer lays the groundwork for powerful movements of the Holy Spirit--it is the firm foundation on which God can build a lasting work.

Our God is a God who sees--El Roi is His name. Just picture His eyes searching the whole earth to show Himself strong on your behalf!

Wake-Up Call

"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five of them were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep."
Matthew 25:1-5 (NIV)

 

Jesus tells this story to illustrate what it will be like at the time of His return. Not all will be prepared for that hour. In fact, those waiting for His return will fall asleep when He takes longer than expected. When the bridegroom's arrival is announced, they wake up. Everyone looked like they were ready, but looks can be deceiving. Half of them had the Holy Spirit (oil) and half did not. Those who did went in to the wedding banquet. Those who did not were rejected by the bridegroom.

This story is a wake-up call for all of us who have been sleeping. Most people in our churches have lamps but we don't know if the person sitting next to us has oil for his lamp. That is why it is so important for us to let people know the bridegroom is coming soon!

In verse 13 Jesus says of His return: "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."

Business as Usual

"As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Matthew 24:37-39 (NIV)

The world today is experiencing most, if not all, of the signs of the Last Days mentioned in Matthew 24--wars and rumors of wars, uprisings, famines, earthquakes, an increase in wickedness, false prophets and persecution, just to name a few. Yet in many churches it is business as usual. The pastor is preaching about love and peace while half the people in church are not prepared for Christ's return. There is no talk of the signs that are everywhere, no urgency to share the gospel with the lost, no repentance on the part of believers. The Bible says that the people of Noah's day were completely caught off-guard and were destroyed.  Jesus tells us that it will be the same when He returns to earth. Is this not scary?

Itching Ears

'Don't say such things,' the people respond. 'Don't prophesy like that. Such disasters will never come our way!' Should you talk that way, O family of Israel? Will the LORD's Spirit have patience with such behavior? If you would do what is right, you would find my words comforting...Suppose a prophet full of lies would say to you, 'I'll preach to you the joys of wine and alcohol!' That's just the kind of prophet you would like!"  Micah 2: 6,7,11 (NLT)

 

The children of Israel rejected the message God sent through the prophet, Micah. They refused to believe that God would punish their rebellion. Micah points out that, if they would face the truth about themselves, they would not have to fear what God had to say to them. But, in their disobedience, Micah suggested that a prophet who preached "the joys of wine and alcohol" would suit them perfectly.

Does this sound familiar? Read what Paul said to Timothy on this very matter:

" For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."  2Timothy 4:3-4 (NIV)

Many people today prefer a softer message--something uplifting. The call to repentance is often viewed as harsh--preachers don't like preaching it and church members don't like hearing it. Yet this is exactly what is needed. Pray for our pastors to have the courage to confront sin, even if it means offending some of their members.

Don't Make Me Come Down There

"Attention! Let all the people of the world listen! Let the earth and everything in it hear. The Sovereign LORD is making accusations against you; the Lord speaks from his holy Temple. Look! The LORD is coming! He leaves his throne in heaven and tramples the heights of the earth." Micah 1:2-3 (NLT)

Do you remember a time when one of your parents said, in frustration, "Don't make me come down there!"  It was the last straw--your disobedience pushed them over the edge. Here we see the children of Israel and Judah are in serious trouble with their Father. Their rebellion runs deep throughout Israel, all the way to Jerusalem. Micah says that their wound "is too deep to heal."  God has been warning them about their disobedience through the prophets, but the prophets get no respect--the people do not believe them. Now the LORD, himself, is coming down to bring judgement.
What about God's children today? His Word warns us of the consequences of rebellion. He says we are to "be holy, because He is holy".  Are we responding to the message of repentance we find in the Bible? Do we fear God or do we think we can get away with our disobedience? Hebrews 10:31 says, "It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Forgetting How to Blush

" Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush."  Jeremiah 6:15 (NIV)

What are the things that should cause us to blush? Do the  things that made us blush ten years ago, have the same effect on us today? Are we continually putting ourselves in situations where we should be blushing but aren't? God wants us to live holy lives--he chose us and set us apart for His purposes. Do the places we go, the movies and TV that we watch, the words that we read, honor God, or should they make us blush? Would we be comfortable having Jesus right there with us as we watch an R-rated movie? Because He is there--we take him everywhere with us. Even our thoughts are known to Him, whether we speak them or not. Ask God if there are some places He'd rather not go with you, some conversations He'd rather not be a part of, some books He'd rather not read. Maybe we need to remember how to blush.

The Ancient Paths

"This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)

 

What are the "ancient paths"? The NLT says they are the "old, godly ways". They are the truths of the Bible. In our churches, and in our own lives, the ancient paths may be overgrown with weeds while the world's path looks like a super highway. Almost everyone is traveling the super highway today--not just the world. It's so easy to find because it's wide and well-traveled, and you don't have to search for it, or clear away the brush and weeds along the way. What are these weeds that are choking the ancient paths and making it hard for us to find the "good way"? The weeds represent our sins that have separated us from God--it is impossible to travel God's path without clearing them away. Many just prefer to take the highway.

Matthew 7:13-14 says, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Ichabod

"She named the boy Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel..." 1Samuel 4:21 (NIV)

These were the dying words of Eli's daughter-in-law as she gave birth to a son. She named him Ichabod which means "The glory of the Lord has departed from Israel."
Israel decided to take the Ark of the Covenant into battle against the Philistines, thinking it would give them victory. But they were overwhelmingly defeated and the Ark was captured. The Ark, the symbol of God's presence, was like a good luck charm to them. They had lost sight of the fact that only the God of the Ark could save them. The Ark itself was powerless without the presence of God. The glory of The Lord had, indeed, departed from them and they didn't even know.
Today, we are engaged in a fierce battle with the enemy of our souls, but many of us do not realize that God is not with us. What is it that causes God's glory to depart? Isaiah 59:1 says,"Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God." It is repentance that will bring about the return of God's glory to the church and to our individual lives.