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.