Category Archives: REvival

Making Worship For Me Or GOD? Bible Ballistics: BBs #737

23 Wednesday Jun 2021

Posted by in All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Amazing Grace, Are You Ready, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, False Lives, Holiness, Holy Living, Holy Spirit, Repentance, REvival, Righteousness, Salt & Light, Salvation

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #737. Making Worship For Me Or GOD?

 

I may lose some of you today, but I must share the burden on my heart.  I am so grieved with the worldly things that are called ‘worship’ today; there was a time when holy things came out of the church to the world, but it seems to me, that many times now and in many places, the world has been invited into the ‘church’ to attract a crowd!  Let’s draw a crowd is the new “mantra” of the church in many ways, rather than lifting up Jesus, and calling people to repentance and faith, then “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you”!  (See Matthew 28:19-20). We spend way more time teaching people “books about The Word”, if we teach them anything, rather than teaching them “The Word of God” and how to apply it.

“Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see

the kingdom of God…

… 5 Jesus answered,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water

and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter into

the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh

is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again…

…14  And as Moses

lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man

be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.”   Portions of John 3:3-15

As Jesus told the crowds shortly before His death—for HE knew HE would give HIS life for our salvation– HIS CROSS was, is and ever shall be the only way to God.  Jesus gave HIS life for yours/mine; knowingly, willingly, lovingly—yet we think we can come with our pretty words and claim HIS salvation without cost! Yes, salvation is the “gift of God”, but we can’t hold on to our way and cling to the cross at the same time!

“And I,

if I be lifted up from the earth,

will draw all men unto me.

33 This he said,

signifying what death he should die.”   John 12:32-33

Jesus had a lot to say about the “cost” of following HIM; but we seem to have neglected that part of Jesus’ message.

“I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish…

… 5 I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3 & 5

Repent means to make a 180-degree turn, from my sin into the arms of Jesus, trusting in His substitutionary (in my place), atoning (making up for wrong), sacrifice (payment for my sin)!  And there’s even more!

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If

any man

 will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life

for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange

for his soul?”  Matthew 16:24-26

Yet the popular “t-shirt” philosophy of the day rules with total disregard for what Jesus said, I’ve seen several of late and it grieves my heart!  You fill in the blank, “I love Jesus, BUT_____”: I drink a little, I cuss a little, I fornicate a little, I lie a little, I steal a little, I disobey God a little (a lot really!)!  What kind of transformed life is this?  Jesus made it clear.

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”    John 14:15

We have so compromised the message of Jesus, that we have a culture—a church—which believes and preaches the love of God apart from the holiness of God; or that God calls those who come to HIM to take up their own cross, denying themselves to follow Jesus—not in our own power but in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  And my friend, if you don’t have the indwelling Holy Spirit, you DON’T have Jesus! Ouch!  Hard but true according to GOD’s WORD!

“But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God

dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you,

the body is dead because of sin;

but the Spirit is life

because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus

from the dead

dwell in you,

he that raised up Christ

from the dead

shall also quicken your mortal bodies

by his Spirit

that dwelleth in you.”  Romans 8:9-11

Paul also goes on in Romans 12 to call us to a holy walk, a holy life before God and the world.

“11:36 For of him,

and through him,

and to him,

are all things:

to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God

hath dealt to every man

 the measure of faith.”   Romans 12:1-3

What are you thinking?  Who are you seeking?  God, others or simply self?  We seem to have made the message, the music and the ministry of the ‘Church’ about gratifying the flesh rather than calling men to repent and asking God to send real heaven-sent, Holy Ghost “RE”vival!  When our music makes people want to do the ‘boogaloo’ dance instead of breaking our hearts for our sin and neglect of our Lord, and falling down before God Almighty, what do we expect?  Well, if you’ll pardon my ‘French’, I think we have gotten exactly what we’ve asked for: crowds with no conviction—people with no power—followers with no fire!  Oh, precious Lord, please send the convicting power of YOUR HOLY SPIRIT upon our hearts, that our churches may fall down before you in repentance, restoration and renewal to the Bible and The CROSS!  “There Is Power In The Blood” (written by Lewis E. Jones) and nowhere else.  May we truly sing “Revive Us Again” (written by Willian Mackay), and not “I’m Satisfied With ME” (instead of asking “Is my Savior satisfied with me?” from “I Am Satisfied With Jesus”, Written by B.B McKinney).

“If I regard iniquity in my heart,

the Lord will not hear me:”  Psalm 66:18

James made it very clear that we will give an account.  So, those of us who claim the name of Jesus, and especially those of us in positions of leadership, I pray that we fall down before our God and ask HIS forgiveness as we repent and humbly seek HIS face!  May we truly take James’ advice and humble ourselves “in the sight of the Lord” asking that HE “shall lift you up”!  Oh, Jesus may it ever be so—today!

“From whence come wars and fightings

among you?

come they not hence,

even of your lusts

that war in your members?

2 Ye lust,

and have not:

ye kill,

and desire to have,

and cannot obtain:

ye fight and war,

yet ye have not,

because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask,

and receive not,

because ye ask amiss,

that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not

that the friendship of the world

is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore

will be a friend of the world

is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,

The spirit that dwelleth in us

lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.

9 Be afflicted,

and mourn,

and weep:

let your laughter

be turned to mourning,

and your joy

to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:1-10

May we not be like Cain, bringing the fruit of our own hands, expecting to please God doing “our own thing”, building on the sand and not the “Rock”! Jesus still saves lives today!

“For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God;”   Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”   Romans 6:23

Please Lord, have mercy on us today.  Amen and Amen!!!

Will I Pray Like Daniel??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 03

04 Sunday Oct 2020

Posted by in All Sufficient God!, Daniel Prayed--Will You?, Daniel's Prayer, Humility, Repentance, REvival

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 03   Will I Pray Like Daniel???

 

I don’t usually do an article like this, but there are times when God’s Word needs no commentary other than to ask that we do that which Jesus calls us to do in the Book of The Revelation.  And that is the question that I want to ask us today, as we consider Daniel’s prayer in Daniel chapter 9.  I simply share this question with you and pray that we will get it.

“Blessed is he that readeth,

and they that hear the words of this prophecy,

and keep those things

which are written therein:

for the time is at hand.”  Revelation 1:3

May we all:

Read it—

Hear it—

Keep it—

For surely “the time is at hand”?

My heart breaks as we see around us the same hearts of rebellion and disregard towards God that Daniel saw around him; but will we identify with Daniel’s heart for his people (and us for ours) or will we be “rude—crude—and unkind” as we throw verbal rocks at those around us rather than praying for God to touch our hearts with a burden like Daniel had for revival of his nation!  I share only one other caveat about our own attitude’s part in it all.

“Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,

The spirit that dwelleth in us

lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore

to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.

9 Be afflicted,

and mourn,

and weep:

let your laughter be turned to mourning,

and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:5-10

May we ponder these words of Daniel, seeking God’s face, and asking God to use you and me to make a difference in our world.

“In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes,

which was made king over the realm

of the Chaldeans;

2 In the first year of his reign

I Daniel understood by books

the number of the years,

whereof the word of the LORD

came to Jeremiah the prophet,

that he would accomplish

seventy years

in the desolations

of Jerusalem.

3 And I set my face unto the Lord God,

to seek by prayer

and supplications,

with fasting,

and sackcloth,

and ashes:

4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God,

and made my confession, and said,

O Lord,

the great and dreadful God,

keeping the covenant

and mercy

to them that love him,

and to them that keep

his commandments;

5 We have sinned,

and have committed iniquity,

and have done wickedly,

and have rebelled,

even by departing from thy precepts

and from thy judgments:

6 Neither have we hearkened

unto thy servants the prophets,

which spake in thy name

to our kings,

our princes,

and our fathers,

and to all the people of the land.

7 O Lord,

righteousness belongeth unto thee,

but unto us confusion of faces,

as at this day;

to the men of Judah,

and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,

and unto all Israel,

that are near,

and that are far off,

through all the countries

whither thou hast driven them,

because of their trespass

that they have trespassed

against thee.

8 O Lord,

to us belongeth confusion of face,

to our kings,

to our princes,

and to our fathers,

because we have sinned

against thee.

9 To the Lord our God

belong mercies

and forgivenesses,

though we have rebelled against him;

10 Neither have we obeyed the voice

of the LORD our God,

to walk in his laws,

which he set before us

by his servants the prophets.

11 Yea, all Israel

have transgressed thy law,

even by departing,

that they might not obey thy voice;

therefore the curse is poured upon us,

and the oath that is written

in the law of Moses the servant of God,

because we have sinned against him.

12 And he hath confirmed his words,

which he spake against us,

and against our judges

that judged us,

by bringing upon us a great evil:

for under the whole heaven

hath not been done

as hath been done

upon Jerusalem.

13 As it is written in the law of Moses,

all this evil is come upon us:

yet made we not our prayer

before the LORD our God,

that we might turn

from our iniquities,

and understand thy truth.

14 Therefore hath the LORD

watched upon the evil,

and brought it upon us:

for the LORD our God

is righteous in all his works which he doeth:

for we obeyed not his voice.

15 And now, O Lord our God,

that hast brought thy people forth

out of the land of Egypt

with a mighty hand,

and hast gotten thee renown,

as at this day;

we have sinned,

we have done wickedly.

16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness,

I beseech thee,

let thine anger

and thy fury

be turned away

from thy city Jerusalem,

thy holy mountain:

because for our sins,

and for the iniquities

of our fathers,

Jerusalem

and thy people

are become a reproach

to all that are about us.

17 Now therefore, O our God,

hear the prayer of thy servant,

and his supplications,

and cause thy face to shine

upon thy sanctuary

that is desolate,

for the Lord’s sake.

18 O my God,

incline thine ear,

and hear;

open thine eyes,

and behold our desolations,

and the city

which is called by thy name:

for we do not present our supplications

before thee

for our righteousnesses,

but for thy great mercies.

19 O Lord, hear;

O Lord, forgive;

O Lord, hearken

and do;

defer not,

for thine own sake,

O my God:

for thy city

and thy people

are called by thy name.”   Daniel 9:1-19

May it be so dear Lord?  May our hearts be moved to seek Thy face?  May we truly fulfill your call:

“If my people, which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves,

and pray,

and seek my face,

and turn from their wicked ways;

then will I hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin,

and will heal their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:14

Amen and Amen!!!

What Price Revival??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 01

20 Sunday Sep 2020

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, Remember, Repentance, REvival

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 01    What Price Revival???

 

It’s been a long week at our home, but God’s still God, God’s still good and I still trust Him.  While I don’t always know what God wants to accomplish in my life, I do know that if I will but wait, listen and seek to obey, He will reveal what I cannot see, in HIS time.  What about you?  I’d like to share some things that I pray will help us each draw near to our Savior and Lord, Jesus in these difficult days!

“But they that wait upon the LORD

shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings

as eagles;

they shall run,

and not be weary;

and they shall walk,

and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

God is ever doing HIS work in us, because when we are born again—we are His children, and HE is working to make us more and more like Jesus.  But we must remember whose we are!  We live in such a “me” culture that it’s often hard to not get caught up in its focus on self!  Much like the church at Corinth, we need to be reminded that we belong to God!  (Also see Romans 8:28-29)

“What? know ye not

that your body

is the temple of the Holy Ghost

which is in you,

which ye have

of God,

and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought

with a price:

therefore glorify God

in your body,

and in your spirit,

which are God’s.”   1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Did you get that?  We are to glorify God, because we are “bought with a price”!  We must reject the popular idea that we can claim Jesus saving power and give Him no allegiance!  We will never truly experience the power of God in our lives, until our lives are truly yielded to Jesus!  We must recognize the priority of Jesus’ authority in my/your life!

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

And we can accomplish this seemingly impossible task only when we depend upon the power supplied by the redeeming work of Jesus at Calvary through HIS Holy Spirit within us!

“I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come that they might have life,

and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep.”  John 10:9-11

While Jesus spoke these words before His passion, He knew what HE would do for His sheep, and He told us before that HE would give us not only eternal life, but life here and now, “more abundantly” than we could ever know without Him!  We can have this life today, and tomorrow and each day of our lives if we will but walk in the light of His Spirit.  And when we will yield our lives to that leading of our Shepherd, we can be a part of seeing a move of God about us!  As many of us have prayed for revival for a long time, it is a prayer that still wafts heavenward from my own lips!  And in light of that prayer, I’d like to take some liberty with a familiar passage and break it down into bite-sized pieces to consider things that we may have missed.  I pray that this will touch your heart and mine and bring us humbly to HIS cross that alone can save, transform and renew lives, as well as recharge HIS own!

“If

my people,

which are called by my name,

shall

humble themselves,

and pray,

and seek my face,

and turn

from their wicked ways;

then

will I hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin,

and will heal their land.”   2 Chronicles 7:14

When we consider the context of this much quoted verse, we are brought to see that it is not only God’s promise to hear and answer when His people returned to Him, it is a reminder from God that they would rebel again (as they had ever since Moses led them out of Egypt) and that HE would judge them because of it.  But the comfort and assurance that we find here, is that HE told them HE would (much like the father in Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son) be ready to hear, forgive, restore them to favor, and heal their land, (which He would judge because of their sin); for it would take His judgment upon them to get their attention!  Sound familiar?  We still suffer from the same spiritual forgetfulness, and I pray that we will remedy this trait in our own hearts today and each day ahead.

So, back to the verse—let’s ponder its value:

If—supposing or based on a condition (you do…I do…)

–whosoever will…(See John 3:16)

–no other name….(See Acts 4:12)

My people—a promise to those who belong to GOD…

–not a blanket promise to all mankind…

–a principle for believers…

(See Jn. 10:26-28 & Jn 3:16; Acts 4:12)

Which are called by MY name—the regenerate…

–those born again by God’s Spirit..

(See John 1:12-13 & John 3:3,5,16)

–bought with a price…

(See 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Shall humbles themselves—bow to/yield to God

–We are called to humble ourselves…

–Not to be puffed up..

–Not arrogant..

–Not self-satisfied..

 –To be like Isaiah before God…

(“Then said I,

Woe is me!

for I am undone;

because I am a man

of unclean lips,

and I dwell in the midst of a people

of unclean lips:

for mine eyes have seen the King,

the LORD of hosts.

6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me,

having a live coal in his hand,

which he had taken with the tongs

from off the altar:

7 And he laid it upon my mouth,

 and said,

Lo, this hath touched

thy lips;

and thine iniquity

is taken away,

and thy sin

purged.

8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord,

saying, Whom shall I send,

and who will go for us?

Then said I,

Here am I;

send me.”  Isaiah 6:5-8)

Shall—

humbles themselves,—

and pray,—

and seek my face,—

and turn

from their wicked ways; –REPENT…

–of self…

–of prayerlessness/self-dependence…

/independence…

–of neglecting to seek God’s face…

–of embracing wickedness freely…

(We must practice the fruit of The Spirit…

rather than the fruit of the flesh!!!

(See Galatians 5:18-24)

THEN–God’s response to our “IF” we do the above…

Will I hear from heaven–

God sees and knows, ever ready to respond…

(See Psalm 11:4, 34:15; Proverbs 15:3)

              God hears the prayers of the righteous…

(See James 5:16)

And will forgive their sin—

The sins of HIS own when we confess…

(See 1 John 1:8-10; Matthew 6:12)

And will heal their land—restore from judgment…

The preface—verse 7:13

***“If I shut up heaven

that there be no rain,

***or if I command the locusts

to devour the land,

***or if I send pestilence

among my people;”  2 Chronicles 7:13

Our choice is to hear and obey God or reap the consequences!  There is hope of God’s provision when we will return to HIM, but we can’t be presumptuous and continue to disobey on the expectation of God’s forgiving grace without consideration of HIS judgment.  I’ll simply close with a somber reminder from Paul, and I pray that you will ponder these things—I pray that we who are HIS will stand in the gap for a nation in desperate straits!  What are you sowing?  Where are you bowing to?  The choice is yours but remember there is a test!

“Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh

reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit

reap life everlasting.”  Galatians 6:7-8

Amen and Amen!!!

What May Be Hampering Revival??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 07

19 Sunday Apr 2020

Posted by in Amazing Grace, REvival, SIN, Speaking The Truth In Love

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Bible Ballistics:Vol. 15 No. 07 What May Be Hampering Revival???

 

I for one, have prayed for ‘revival’ to come to America (and me personally) as many of you have; yet I see many things that may be hampering true revival, and what saddens me is that many of these things are not only present, but sorely prevalent among those that claim the name of Jesus!  What is real revival?  Firstly, revival is not for the ‘lost’ but for those who are God’s own, and have, if you would, have allowed themselves to be drawn away from the fire of God and have cooled in their ardor for their Lord! And almost always we will find sin at the heart of our lack of ardor in our love for God; sometimes blatant, public sin, but just as often the hidden sins of our heart.  Paul gives a good standard to use in comparing the fruit (and there is no ‘s’ in that word that Paul uses) of the Spirit that should be evident in our lives (And I ask that we—you and me– might take some time going over this list of the works “of the flesh”, and ask God to “search my heart o God”—that we might truly hear God’s voice to our hearts—and repent and humbly bow before our God and our King!)!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust

of the flesh.

17 For the flesh

lusteth against the Spirit,

and the Spirit

against the flesh:

and these are contrary

the one

to the other:

so that ye cannot do the things

that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit,

ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest,

which are these;

Adultery,

fornication,

uncleanness,

lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry,

witchcraft,

hatred,

variance,

emulations,

wrath,

strife,

seditions,

heresies,

21 Envyings,

murders,

drunkenness,

revellings,

and such like:

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit

the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit

is love,

joy,

peace,

longsuffering,

gentleness,

goodness,

faith,

23 Meekness,

temperance:

against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”   Galatians 5:16-24

We are called to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit which God has given to us when we are saved, and when we walk in “The Spirit” we will “not fulfil the lust of the flesh”!  And Peter also reminds believers that we are to not walk in the way that the world does, but we are called to reflect the character of our Father God and The Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober,

and hope to the end

for the grace that is to be brought

unto you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts

in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.

17 And if ye call on the Father,

who without respect of persons

judgeth according to every man’s work,

pass the time of your sojourning here

in fear:

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed

with corruptible things,

as silver

and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition

from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb

without blemish

and without spot:”   1 Peter 1:13-19

We can and ought to walk in the light of what our Lord Jesus did at Calvary; we can live victoriously because of His blood that cleanses us “from sin”!  Jesus saves us “from sin” so we don’t have to stay “in” our sin.

“Seeing ye have purified your souls

in obeying the truth

through the Spirit

unto unfeigned love

of the brethren,

see that ye love one another

with a pure heart

fervently:

23 Being born again,

not of corruptible seed,

but of incorruptible,

by the word of God,

which liveth

and abideth for ever.”  1 Peter 1:22-23

Even as Joseph was told before Jesus’ birth!

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.”   Matthew 1:21

When we come to Jesus in repentance and faith we are born again by the Spirit of God; and God will never leave us where He finds us—He transforms us into “the image of His Son”!  Our part is to yield to Him in obedient love and devotion—not obeying, or living holy lives to be saved, but obeying and living holy because we are “born again” by God’s Spirit.

“He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them

that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”   John 1:11-13

And as Paul makes clear to us in his second letter to the Corinthians (the second one of the recorded letters) God is ever at work in His own.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us

to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us

the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit,

that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world

unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses

unto them;

and hath committed unto us

the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors

for Christ,

as though God did beseech you

by us:

we pray you

in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin

for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made

the righteousness of God

in him.”   2 Corinthians 5:17-21

One thing I want you to know is that when I speak of revival, I am not drawing anyone to “be like me”—for like every other Christian, I am a “sinner” saved by grace; but that doesn’t mean I say ‘my’ sin is ok, and yours is not!  What I want us to recognize, is that God hates sin—any sin—all sin—every sin.  HIS Son paid for those sins with His precious blood; why would those who know Him by saving faith and grace want to cling to those things which put my Lord to death?  We ought to be clinging to our precious Lord and walking in the power of His Holy Spirit and not our flesh…for He came to “save his people from their sins”!  As Paul said, in more than one place in the scripture, we are to die to ourselves and live unto Jesus who saved us from our sin!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed

to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.”  Romans 12:1-2

“I am crucified

with Christ:

 nevertheless

I live;

yet not I,

but Christ

liveth in me:

and the life

which I now live

in the flesh

I live

by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself

for me.”   Galatians 2:20

Even Jesus addressed this issue of dying to self!

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life

for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?”   Matthew 16:24-25

So as we think of living holy lives I’d simply like to share some food for thought—not throwing stones but rather sharing things for each of us to consider what is happening, not only in the world around us, but considering how many of these issues have we allowed to creep into our worldview, or even into our homes and lives.

“Marriage is honourable in all,

and the bed undefiled:

but whoremongers

and adulterers

God will judge.”  Hebrews 13:4

“Mortify therefore your members

which are upon the earth;

fornication,

uncleanness,

inordinate affection,

evil concupiscence,

and covetousness,

which is idolatry:

6 For which things’ sake

the wrath of God

cometh on the children

of disobedience:”  Colossians 3:5-6

“Let him that stole

steal no more:

but rather let him labour,

working with his hands

the thing which is good,

that he may have to give

to him that needeth.”  Ephesians 4:28

“Let no corrupt communication

proceed out of your mouth,

but that which is good

to the use of edifying,

that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,

whereby ye are sealed

unto the day of redemption.”   Ephesians 4:29-30

“But godliness

with contentment

is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world,

and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment

let us be therewith content.”   1 Timothy 6:6-8

“That we henceforth be no more children,

tossed to and fro,

and carried about with every wind of doctrine,

by the sleight of men,

and cunning craftiness,

whereby they lie in wait

to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love,

may grow up into him in all things,

which is the head,

even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body

fitly joined together

and compacted

by that which every joint

supplieth,

according to the effectual working

in the measure of every part,

maketh increase

of the body

unto the edifying

of itself in love.”                  Ephesians 4:14-16

And in closing a passage from Paul and one from Isaiah, may they prick our hearts and bring us to our knees, that revival may start ‘in me’; for if I don’t seek revival, I am not likely to experience revival.

“See that none render evil

for evil unto any man;

but ever follow that which is good,

both among yourselves,

and to all men.

16 Rejoice evermore.

17 Pray without ceasing.

18 In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus

concerning you.

19 Quench not the Spirit.

20 Despise not prophesyings.

21 Prove all things;

hold fast that which is good.

22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

23 And the very God of peace

sanctify you wholly;

and I pray God

your whole spirit

and soul

and body

be preserved blameless

unto the coming

of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

24 Faithful is he that calleth you,

who also will do it.”  1 Thessalonians 5:15-24

“Behold, the LORD’S hand

 is not shortened,

that it cannot save;

neither his ear heavy,

that it cannot hear:

2 But your iniquities

have separated between you

and your God,

and your sins have hid his face

from you,

that he will not hear.

3 For your hands are defiled

with blood,

and your fingers

with iniquity;

your lips

have spoken lies,

your tongue hath muttered

perverseness.

4 None calleth

for justice,

nor any pleadeth

for truth:

they trust in vanity,

and speak lies;

they conceive mischief,

and bring forth iniquity.”   Isaiah 59:1-4

And as I have mentioned often of late, may we pray that our nation will bow before God, and as the old hymn says may we truly pray:

“….Lord send a revival….and let it begin with me”!                             (Written by B. B. McKinney)

May we be willing to “humble ourselves…pray….seek God’s face…and turn from our wicked ways…” that our God will “hear…heal…and forgive” our land—our churches—ME!  May we find anything that is “separating” us from God!

“And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night,

and said unto him,

I have heard thy prayer,

and have chosen this place

to myself

for an house of sacrifice.

13 If I shut up heaven

that there be no rain,

or if I command the locusts

to devour the land,

or if I send pestilence

among my people;

14 If my people,

which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves,

and pray,

and seek my face,

and turn from their wicked ways;

then will I hear

from heaven,

and will forgive

their sin,

and will heal

their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:12-14

Lord, please send your revival fires upon your own, and may we hear the “still…small…voice” of your Holy Spirit breaking our hearts for revival, and repent of our sins—and receive your touch!  May the world see YOU in us!