SEND THE RAIN

            Rain to the Earth is what the Coming of the Lord is to the Child of God.

James 5:7, Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

            As we wait for the Coming of the Lord, we wait in great anticipation. That anticipation is what we call the Blessed Hope! The Blessed Hope of the coming of the Lord inspires us to finish and finish well! It provokes us to good works. It provokes us to share the Good News! It provokes us to make a difference in the communities we live in.

           Folks, Jesus is coming! As we wait with this anticipation of His coming, let us be about our Father’s business, telling others about Him. Morning, noon, or night; I don’t know when, where, or how but I do know why. It’s to get His Children! Are you one? If so, He’s coming back for you! If not, you will be left behind for that great and terrible day of the Lord. Please consider your standing before the Lord today, before it’s too late!  

RESOLUTION OR REVIVAL

            To know yourself, get into the Word of God. — O’Dell

Psalm 39:4, LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.

            Year after year we hear folks making New Year’s resolutions. They’ll last a few days but then slip right back in the same old routine. Instead of a resolution what they need is a revival! What they need is to learn who they are!

            One thing I have learned over the past 28 years that I have been saved is that I really don’t know myself as good as I think I do. How do I know? Well, the Word of God keeps revealing to me just who I am; a wretched sinner who was saved by the grace of God!

            Do you know who you are friend? Have you heard who God says you are? Today would be a great day for you to GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH to find out who you are, where you are going, and what you need to do to if you don’t know!

REVIVE US LORD!

Worship renews the spirit as sleep renews the body. –Cabot

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

            After David was confronted by Nathan the prophet, the Lord convicted him of his sin with Bathsheba. David cried out in this repentant song asking for mercy, forgiveness, and for his joy to be returned so he might proclaim the grace and mercy of God to those who have strayed off the straight and narrow and those who have never repented.

            David surrendered his will for the Will of God. When he did, we find David worshipping our Saviour in such as way he proclaimed: “O God, thou God of my salvation:” What a testimony for you and I! If we repent and ask God to forgive, He will! When He does- it is natural for us to worship!

            Aren’t you tired of running from God? When is the last time you trusted the Lord enough to ask Him to forgive you? When is the last time you repented of some sin that it brought you to the point of worship and it gave you rest?

REVIVAL WILL BRING A PROCLAMATION.

If revival comes to an individual, the individual will want to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel to a lost, hurting, and dying world.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8

            When the prayers have been prayed, the preaching has been proclaimed, and the purging of sin complete, there is the potential of the fires of revival beginning to burn, it will only be natural for the Gospel to be proclaimed. Sharing the Gospel has been described as one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. When we get right with God, we will see sinners in need of hearing the Gospel. From the pulpit to the pew, we will begin to share the Gospel freely with co-workers, family members, friends, and strangers on the street.

FIRST STEP OF REVIVAL—PRAYER

EVERY TRUE REVIVAL HAS HAD ITS EARTHLY ORIGINS IN PRAYER.—R.A Torrey

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

As you and I seek God’s face in prayer we ought to have reasons to pray. Just don’t sit down to pray frivolously! Have a written out prayer list or at least a list in your head. With our revival service beginning this Sunday, as the pastor of the church, revival has been constantly on my mind. I want to have the Lord speak to my heart and to the hearts of others! I want someone to be saved! I want someone to repent! I want a revival, so I’m praying for it!

What or who will you be praying for today? Don’t be shy, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6

I WANT REVIVAL!

Author S. D. Gordon said, “You can do more than pray after you have prayed but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.”

David prayed, “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?” Psalm 85:6 

If I want revival in my home, in my church, in my country, I must pray. I must beg God to send revival. I must pledge with Him to begin the work in my heart asking Him to humble me, to the point in which I weep over my sin, I repent, I confess, I forsake, and I give God the glory for what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do again!

Do you want revival? Then pray! Pray without ceasing for it!

GRASS IS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE…REALLY?

            Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Philippians 4:11

             In the instant gratification society we live in there is a break down on every corner. People change jobs like they change sheets on their bed…once a year. They change their marriages like they change houses…once every fifteen years. And change churches like they change cars...once every five years. This society promotes these changes by emphasizing the grass is always greener on the other side. The problem with that is it’s a lie!

            There is a cure for discontentment….repentance! Most of the time, we do not need to change our job, our church, or our spouse. What we need to change is us! Consider what Paul told Timothy; “But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6”