Revival has come and gone in our church again this year. We had a good one, the speaker and music were great. Motivation and joy reigned supreme. Now, 3 weeks later? We are back to the same old routine same old service.
Sometimes I wonder why we are like this. Do we want the name and blessings without actually doing the work? Have we gotten so that the only ones who can do the work of the Lord are the ones with a degree? Pastors, evangelists, etc? "That is their job, mine is providing for my house my family"? Or "I worked so hard this week and Saturday I have to get things done around the house and Sunday is my only day for me"?
We have been blessed by past generations and their hard work and their faithfulness, we are riding their blessings and losing sight of the fact that God's blessing on this nation is contingent on our faithfulness to Him.
We have gotten to the point in this nation where we want the name Christian but do not want to have to do anything to actually earn it.
There are a few examples in the Bible of those who wanted the name and the power but did not know Christ.
Acts 19:11-16 KJV
11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
Paul was spreading the Gospel, preaching the Word. Several people wanted the fame and the glamour without actually knowing what it was all about. Paul was humble, the sickness and diseases that were healed through The Power of God working in Him, he never sought credit for. He did it all in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Paul was about spreading the Word, saving souls, and working for Christ no matter the cost.
These men paid a price for their pride. They wanted a shortcut to the glory and failed miserably, the demons knew Paul, they knew Christ. They know a true follower of Christ. They know who is working in and of God's power. They knew. These men were shams.
Another instance of this is Simon, a man who was a sorcerer, who bewildered the people into thinking he was a great man. Then he saw Philip doing great miracles through the power of the Holy Ghost.
ACTS 8:18-24KJV
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
Simon tried to use his money to get the blessings of God and the Power of God. He tried to buy his way to the power. Not understanding what it truly is. Then, and this part is the kicker, when Peter told him to pray He asked Peter to pray for him! He was a believer in the power and the miracles, but he had no understanding that God works Through you. There is no power of our own.
There are no shortcuts to the power and Glory of God, There is no easy way to the blessings He has for us. There are preachers and teachers who know the true power of God in their lives due to their complete dependence on God. There are also those who have no idea what it means to have the power of God, they are going through the motions, Not in the Spirit.
There is an old saying " in the throne room of your heart when Christ is on the cross, self is on the throne. But when Christ is on the throne, self is on the cross."
We need to get away from comfort and security and convenience and start sacrificially serving. Start scheduling time for God, and then the rest of our day around His time, not the other way around.
We need men and women of God who will get out and serve for the joy of serving, for the Glory of God and not just when we have time.
If we start making time for God, making it a priority and not just a when I have time thing, then maybe God will bring true REVIVAL to America. Revival that will spark a great awakening. Revival to speak to the hearts and minds of a lost and dying nation. One that has no hope, no power, and apparently none concerned.
Sometimes I wonder why we are like this. Do we want the name and blessings without actually doing the work? Have we gotten so that the only ones who can do the work of the Lord are the ones with a degree? Pastors, evangelists, etc? "That is their job, mine is providing for my house my family"? Or "I worked so hard this week and Saturday I have to get things done around the house and Sunday is my only day for me"?
We have been blessed by past generations and their hard work and their faithfulness, we are riding their blessings and losing sight of the fact that God's blessing on this nation is contingent on our faithfulness to Him.
We have gotten to the point in this nation where we want the name Christian but do not want to have to do anything to actually earn it.
There are a few examples in the Bible of those who wanted the name and the power but did not know Christ.
Acts 19:11-16 KJV
11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
Paul was spreading the Gospel, preaching the Word. Several people wanted the fame and the glamour without actually knowing what it was all about. Paul was humble, the sickness and diseases that were healed through The Power of God working in Him, he never sought credit for. He did it all in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Paul was about spreading the Word, saving souls, and working for Christ no matter the cost.
These men paid a price for their pride. They wanted a shortcut to the glory and failed miserably, the demons knew Paul, they knew Christ. They know a true follower of Christ. They know who is working in and of God's power. They knew. These men were shams.
Another instance of this is Simon, a man who was a sorcerer, who bewildered the people into thinking he was a great man. Then he saw Philip doing great miracles through the power of the Holy Ghost.
ACTS 8:18-24KJV
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
Simon tried to use his money to get the blessings of God and the Power of God. He tried to buy his way to the power. Not understanding what it truly is. Then, and this part is the kicker, when Peter told him to pray He asked Peter to pray for him! He was a believer in the power and the miracles, but he had no understanding that God works Through you. There is no power of our own.
There are no shortcuts to the power and Glory of God, There is no easy way to the blessings He has for us. There are preachers and teachers who know the true power of God in their lives due to their complete dependence on God. There are also those who have no idea what it means to have the power of God, they are going through the motions, Not in the Spirit.
There is an old saying " in the throne room of your heart when Christ is on the cross, self is on the throne. But when Christ is on the throne, self is on the cross."
We need to get away from comfort and security and convenience and start sacrificially serving. Start scheduling time for God, and then the rest of our day around His time, not the other way around.
We need men and women of God who will get out and serve for the joy of serving, for the Glory of God and not just when we have time.
If we start making time for God, making it a priority and not just a when I have time thing, then maybe God will bring true REVIVAL to America. Revival that will spark a great awakening. Revival to speak to the hearts and minds of a lost and dying nation. One that has no hope, no power, and apparently none concerned.
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