Focus: Spiritual Renewal
Destiny. The very word is pregnant with promise. There is destiny in revival. It is declared from the old Scriptures to the New Covenant. You will find the promise in a variety of terminology: outpouring, latter rain, in gathering, harvest, and “on all flesh.” Many metaphors declare an abundance of return on the investment for souls. Even Christ’s death was stated to be for “the sins of the world.” This is not a “high risk venture” or a Las Vegas gamble. Just as sure as there was a singular sacrifice there will be multiplied salvation. As sure as the Christ was crucified the sinner can be sanctified.
The ultimate price for the redemption of souls was the shed blood of Calvary. How many souls can be purchased by one man’s blood? When it is the blood one who owns the cattle on a thousand hills and one who uses the most precious metal known to man for paving material in his heavenly city, there should be no concern of an overdraft on the payment of the debt of souls. The purchase comes from the abundance of riches in his grace. Accept the payment and ... keep the change!
“Straight is the gate and narrow is the way, few there be that find it,” declared Jesus; but there are billions of souls living and millions more past and future. In the face of billions surely there are millions destined to be a part of the church called by his name. “Us four and no more,” must never be our view of the church or of God’s plan for the latter day revival.
We are an important part of a world wide church of power and evangelism. “The whole Gospel to the Whole world,” is our motto. A world view is our vision, dynamic growth is our dream. End-time revival is Holy Ghost assured. Call it fate, a stroke of good fortune, chance, or happenstance. Call it what you will... Revival is our destiny!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Saturday, April 19, 2008
The Reward of Revival
Focus: Spiritual Renewal
It was a dark day of sin. Moral guidance was abandoned and Israel did “that which was right in their own eyes.” Eli was high priest. His sons robbed the sacrifices before they were offered and committed immoral acts in the house of God. Worship was polluted. The tabernacle was desecrated. Spiritual vitality was at an all time low.
Then came Hannah, an insignificant player in the scheme of life until a prayer meeting at the tabernacle. In one fateful consecration this woman changed the course of a nation and gave the world Samuel.
In the midst of debauchery dedication was born. From the backdrop of carnality, came commitment. In contrast with the sacrilege, sacrifice. A barren woman mourned for motherhood and pledged the promised son to the work of the Lord. A mother’s prayer paved the road to revival, a revival of righteousness. Unity was restored to the fragmented nation of Israel, and the blessing of Yahweh in the place where Icabod was named.
If one burdened woman could give birth to revival in a nation, what could ten righteous souls have meant to Sodom, and what can the thousands of believers do in our nation and our world presently.
We can’t blame society, the economy, or the political process for spiritual barrenness. We can’t blame the terrorists, the communists, or the evolutionists. We can’t even blame the church. If Hannah could pray intercessory prayers in a tabernacle given over to selfish religion and immoral practice, there is nothing to prevent powerful prevailing prayer in the presence of spiritual apathy. We must pray Hannah’s prayer, “Give me a child and I will give him to the Lord!”
The Church is the mother of us all. It was the church that gave us birth and the Spirit that gives us life. Let the tearful travail of motherhood take us to burdened prayer places. Let desire and faith bring us to the birthing room of the Spirit.
Let revival begin with a burden, and let rejoicing be the reward of our travail!
It was a dark day of sin. Moral guidance was abandoned and Israel did “that which was right in their own eyes.” Eli was high priest. His sons robbed the sacrifices before they were offered and committed immoral acts in the house of God. Worship was polluted. The tabernacle was desecrated. Spiritual vitality was at an all time low.
Then came Hannah, an insignificant player in the scheme of life until a prayer meeting at the tabernacle. In one fateful consecration this woman changed the course of a nation and gave the world Samuel.
In the midst of debauchery dedication was born. From the backdrop of carnality, came commitment. In contrast with the sacrilege, sacrifice. A barren woman mourned for motherhood and pledged the promised son to the work of the Lord. A mother’s prayer paved the road to revival, a revival of righteousness. Unity was restored to the fragmented nation of Israel, and the blessing of Yahweh in the place where Icabod was named.
If one burdened woman could give birth to revival in a nation, what could ten righteous souls have meant to Sodom, and what can the thousands of believers do in our nation and our world presently.
We can’t blame society, the economy, or the political process for spiritual barrenness. We can’t blame the terrorists, the communists, or the evolutionists. We can’t even blame the church. If Hannah could pray intercessory prayers in a tabernacle given over to selfish religion and immoral practice, there is nothing to prevent powerful prevailing prayer in the presence of spiritual apathy. We must pray Hannah’s prayer, “Give me a child and I will give him to the Lord!”
The Church is the mother of us all. It was the church that gave us birth and the Spirit that gives us life. Let the tearful travail of motherhood take us to burdened prayer places. Let desire and faith bring us to the birthing room of the Spirit.
Let revival begin with a burden, and let rejoicing be the reward of our travail!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
The Wind of Restoration
Focus: Spiritual Renewal
The morose scene of scattered skeletons, bones long since dried in the summer sun and weathered by the wind, tell the sad story of a defeat in battle. The awesome sense of lonely despair filled a valley of lost hopes and dashed dreams. In this loathsome landscape the Spirit of the Lord spoke to the prophet in a question, “Can these bones live?” Only daring to hope, his cautious faith is reflected in a guarded response, “O Lord GOD, You know” (Ezekiel 37:3).
The natural and logical answer would doubtlessly declare, “NO WAY.” These are merely strewn skeletal remains of what was once a routed host. It takes more than positive thinking to create hope in this desperate scene of defeat. Only faith views the impossible and speaks of things that are not as though they exist. It is not the concoction of our wishes but our reliance on the ability of God.
As the prophet prophesied, the wind of the Spirit blew life and restoration on the remnant of past defeats. Bones were rejoined, muscle and flesh returned to the slain, and life filled their lungs. The body of believers has suffered defeats and deaths. Intense battles of spiritual conflict have left the scattered remains of casualties. But, the winds of restoration are blowing again!
Some who have fallen, died, and dried, are now experiencing the stirring of life and the gentle breeze of resurrection. Revival has come. “Can they live again?” Our response may be the measured response of cautious faith like the prophet of Scripture, “Lord, you know,” but nurtured faith will grow to the firm declaration, “Lord, I believe!”
“With God all things are possible,” must become our firm conviction; “Nothing shall be impossible.” Faith will unleash the awesome power and ability of God and bring the latter day restoration of revival we have long desired!
May the hot breath of spiritual renewal continue to blow across the Tri-valley!
The morose scene of scattered skeletons, bones long since dried in the summer sun and weathered by the wind, tell the sad story of a defeat in battle. The awesome sense of lonely despair filled a valley of lost hopes and dashed dreams. In this loathsome landscape the Spirit of the Lord spoke to the prophet in a question, “Can these bones live?” Only daring to hope, his cautious faith is reflected in a guarded response, “O Lord GOD, You know” (Ezekiel 37:3).
The natural and logical answer would doubtlessly declare, “NO WAY.” These are merely strewn skeletal remains of what was once a routed host. It takes more than positive thinking to create hope in this desperate scene of defeat. Only faith views the impossible and speaks of things that are not as though they exist. It is not the concoction of our wishes but our reliance on the ability of God.
As the prophet prophesied, the wind of the Spirit blew life and restoration on the remnant of past defeats. Bones were rejoined, muscle and flesh returned to the slain, and life filled their lungs. The body of believers has suffered defeats and deaths. Intense battles of spiritual conflict have left the scattered remains of casualties. But, the winds of restoration are blowing again!
Some who have fallen, died, and dried, are now experiencing the stirring of life and the gentle breeze of resurrection. Revival has come. “Can they live again?” Our response may be the measured response of cautious faith like the prophet of Scripture, “Lord, you know,” but nurtured faith will grow to the firm declaration, “Lord, I believe!”
“With God all things are possible,” must become our firm conviction; “Nothing shall be impossible.” Faith will unleash the awesome power and ability of God and bring the latter day restoration of revival we have long desired!
May the hot breath of spiritual renewal continue to blow across the Tri-valley!
Saturday, April 5, 2008
An Obsession for Revival
Focus: Spiritual Renewal
Revival is born of desire. Never does it come to the uncaring, unconcerned, and unmotivated. It will not intrude upon the seclusion of a satisfied soul. There must be a rebirth of spiritual appetite, a hungering and thirsting for the heavenly bread and the living water of complete satisfaction. Revival is the bringing to life again the dead in sin, or the renewing in the Holy Ghost of the soul drifting from salvation.
“Desire” is a positive passion where “lust” usually has a negative connotation. Lust is a synonym of desire, but denotes a stronger feeling of passion. Without being crude or resorting to gutter lingo, can I say, “Let there be a holy ‘lust for revival’ in the church.” May it be the driving obsession of our lives, to feel the power of God and be saturated in its overflow, to be so inundated with “Holy God” our lives become completely holy, and to be infused with a divine unction to share the “good news” with everyone we have opportunity to meet.
If desire can prevail over apathy, if the desire for the miraculous becomes stronger than our yearning for natural food, if the desire for spiritual intimacy drives sleep from our leaden eyes, if desire for communion conquers complacency, then we will arise to our spiritual challenge defeating the enemies of evangelism. Revival will be our mantra and spiritual conquest our chorus of victory!
Desire is the “want to” in the midst of apathy. It is the “go to” in adversity, and the “have to” in the face of futility. Whatever we covet, we strive to attain. We energize all our resources to accomplish those things we desperately desire.
Why not make revival the objective of our obsession?
Revival is born of desire. Never does it come to the uncaring, unconcerned, and unmotivated. It will not intrude upon the seclusion of a satisfied soul. There must be a rebirth of spiritual appetite, a hungering and thirsting for the heavenly bread and the living water of complete satisfaction. Revival is the bringing to life again the dead in sin, or the renewing in the Holy Ghost of the soul drifting from salvation.
“Desire” is a positive passion where “lust” usually has a negative connotation. Lust is a synonym of desire, but denotes a stronger feeling of passion. Without being crude or resorting to gutter lingo, can I say, “Let there be a holy ‘lust for revival’ in the church.” May it be the driving obsession of our lives, to feel the power of God and be saturated in its overflow, to be so inundated with “Holy God” our lives become completely holy, and to be infused with a divine unction to share the “good news” with everyone we have opportunity to meet.
If desire can prevail over apathy, if the desire for the miraculous becomes stronger than our yearning for natural food, if the desire for spiritual intimacy drives sleep from our leaden eyes, if desire for communion conquers complacency, then we will arise to our spiritual challenge defeating the enemies of evangelism. Revival will be our mantra and spiritual conquest our chorus of victory!
Desire is the “want to” in the midst of apathy. It is the “go to” in adversity, and the “have to” in the face of futility. Whatever we covet, we strive to attain. We energize all our resources to accomplish those things we desperately desire.
Why not make revival the objective of our obsession?
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Alive in Christ! – No More Death!
Come Alive! A Celebration of Easter!
“Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him” (Romans 6:9).
Jesus demonstrated His power over death by raising the dead back to life during the course of His ministry. On at least three occasions Jesus challenged the finality of death by bring individuals back from the other side. In each of these occasions the recipient of this miracle eventually died again.
One of the most phenomenal signs after Christ’s resurrection was the appearance of previously dead saints walking the streets of Jerusalem (Matthew 27:50-53). How incredible that must have been to witness. There must have been a huge buzz in the city to see the formerly deceased walking down the street. For those who denied the possibility of a bodily resurrection this would have been very difficult to explain!
In every occasion of those brought back to life, they again died and were once again interred. Though they enjoyed a span of extended life, the claim of death was again exercised and they returned to the grave to await the final resurrection.
Jesus was the only one who has ever been raised from the dead and escaped the power of death, “Death no longer has dominion over Him!” Rather than return to the grave He ascended on high and is alive forevermore! Jesus said, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death” (Revelation 1:18).
When Jesus defeated death He made a promise to destroy death. Though we suffer the pain of death and dying in this world there is a promise of a time to come when there will be no more death. In the second resurrection there will be a glorious reunion with Jesus Christ who has all power in His hand. A part of the eternal package He has promised is that “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Those who came alive at Christ’s resurrection died again! Lazarus died again! The young girl and the widow’s son died again! But, we shall have a resurrection that is forever; because He lives there will be no more death!
“Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him” (Romans 6:9).
Jesus demonstrated His power over death by raising the dead back to life during the course of His ministry. On at least three occasions Jesus challenged the finality of death by bring individuals back from the other side. In each of these occasions the recipient of this miracle eventually died again.
One of the most phenomenal signs after Christ’s resurrection was the appearance of previously dead saints walking the streets of Jerusalem (Matthew 27:50-53). How incredible that must have been to witness. There must have been a huge buzz in the city to see the formerly deceased walking down the street. For those who denied the possibility of a bodily resurrection this would have been very difficult to explain!
In every occasion of those brought back to life, they again died and were once again interred. Though they enjoyed a span of extended life, the claim of death was again exercised and they returned to the grave to await the final resurrection.
Jesus was the only one who has ever been raised from the dead and escaped the power of death, “Death no longer has dominion over Him!” Rather than return to the grave He ascended on high and is alive forevermore! Jesus said, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death” (Revelation 1:18).
When Jesus defeated death He made a promise to destroy death. Though we suffer the pain of death and dying in this world there is a promise of a time to come when there will be no more death. In the second resurrection there will be a glorious reunion with Jesus Christ who has all power in His hand. A part of the eternal package He has promised is that “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Those who came alive at Christ’s resurrection died again! Lazarus died again! The young girl and the widow’s son died again! But, we shall have a resurrection that is forever; because He lives there will be no more death!
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