Revival always begins with burdens. Content people never experience a God-driven revival. Revival is always the result of God’s people praying and confessing sins. Revival comes when God’s people respond to God’s Word and authority.
However, unless revival produces true repentance in the hearts of God’s people, the world will never be affected. Revival is the work of God in the hearts of His people.
Knowing these things, we, as a church must seek God for revival this week. The evangelist will be prepared, but my question is: are we prepared to receive from God and obey His message of revival?
Here are some questions to ask yourself and to pray about.
1. Will I be committed to every night of revival?
2. What in my life does God need to change?
3. What must I seek from God during this
revival?
4. Do I fear God?
5. What am I doing to build up the Kingdom of
God?
6. Am I guiding people in the path of
righteousness through the model of my life?
7. Am I willing to let God do whatever He wants
in my life?
8. Am I willing to submit to the refiner’s fire
personally for cleansing and purification?
9. Will I surrender my agenda to God’s agenda?
10. Will I let God give me a new heart and a new
start in this week of revival?
Revival only comes when we surrender the church to God and our lives with it. If this is your prayer and wish for revival, prepare your minds and lives for action.
In Jeremiah 8:5,7 God came to His people and here is what He found.
1. They had turned away from Him.
2. They did not repent of wickedness.
3. They clung to deceit.
4. They each did what they wanted.
5. They refused to return.
6. They did not know God’s judgments
(requirements).
7. They did not say what was right.
Do any of these kinds of behaviors sound familiar today? You know they do. This is why we need revival. Revival occurs when God calls his people to repentance and they do it. Revival is moving from where you are to where God wants you to be.
Palms 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God you will not despise.”
See ya at Revival,
Bud
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverb 27:17
Everyone needs someone. Everyone can help someone else. Everyone has a purpose in life. Everyone brings the best or worst out in someone else, because everyone has influence.
Organizations rise and fall because of influence. Families build up or tear down depending on who has the most influence. When you visit a different town or state and see its condition, you know who has the most influence.
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit some countries in Asia. Thailand was a beautiful country. The roads were good, and the cities very clean. Beside the roads and in the parks were flowers everywhere. Every morning you would see trucks watering the flowers and also people weeding.
I asked the guide we were traveling with, why was Thailand so beautiful and why all the flowers? He said it’s because of our King. He wants our country to be beautiful and our people happy. You could see the influence of the King everywhere.
We also went to Burma to visit. What a difference. The roads are a disgrace. Everything and everywhere is hot and dusty. 60% of the people are unemployed. The people are discouraged and feel hopeless. Why? Because it’s a communist country, that leads by threats and fear. That is their leadership’s influence.
Which country would you want to live in, Burma or Thailand?
So what is the best way to use our influence? I believe we should always try to build the other person up, even if we must correct or rebuke them. Here is a thought:
“If you treat every person you meet as if he or she were the most important person in the world, you’ll communicate that he or she is somebody to you.”
It’s our attitude toward other people. The ticket is not to get people to like you, but get them to like themselves. Too many people are insecure and have low self-esteem. When you bring value to other people, you bring value to yourself.
Being in law enforcement is not an easy career. You constantly see the worst in people. Look for the good and, yes, deal with the bad, but don’t let it consume you. Use your influence to build your fellow officers up. Use your influence to make our department a great place to work. Use your influence to make our city a better place to live.
Iron sharpens iron. Who are you sharpening today? Who have you influenced and how have you brought value to their lives?
Think about these things today.
Chaplain Bud
The Christian Church at Cogan Station