10 Commandments for Social Media (Commandment # 4)

        Perhaps as we start to focus on this fourth commandment, we need to be reminded again that in the “Ten Commandments” given us in Exodus 20 and then repeated often in scripture, that the first four center around our view, relationship and worship of God (hence, our OBEDIENCE to Him), and the last six are the out-workings of our relationship with God, as it is demonstrated in our treatment of other human beings. Also to remind ourselves that Jesus Himself, when answering the lawyer who came to question Him, in quoting “the greatest command,” did not state it without tying it together with “the second,” which is “like unto the first … thou shalt love thy neighbor, as thyself.” Jesus completed the lesson saying, “On THESE TWO commandments HANG ALL THE LAW & THE PROPHETS.” Wow, did you catch that statement? On these two hang ALL the rest of scripture! You could sum up the entire purpose of God as revealed in scripture in these commands – loving God with all your heart, soul, mind & strength … and then demonstrating that in everyday life by caring for the needs of others, as you care for your own needs. That is a sermon in itself, isn’t it!

        Reading and obeying this fourth command is hard for us today, especially in America … in our “busy” society, our “rush, rush” lifestyle, our “multi-tasking” activity.  I think this command is VERY HARD … to STOP … and REST … but GOD did! We think we “always have to be doing something!”  Even in that mentality, I personally think a lot of us are just “running.” Running from choices we’ve made, running from consequences of those choices, running from relationships, running from responsibility, running from ourselves, & yes, even attempting to run from God.

        When you think about it, doesn’t that sound absurd? I mean if God is Who He says He is (and He is), can you imagine any created being trying to “run” from God! I’ve often said, ‘to me, one of the funniest passages in all of scripture is Jonah 1:3’ – “But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.” Really Jonah … you are going to get away from the presence of Almighty God? So, Jonah … how’d that one work out for you? Maybe you should have read Ps. 139:7-12 before taking that adventure. “Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence?”… By the way folks, how many times can you think of where reading & grasping a better understanding of scripture (God’s Word for us) could have saved us a whole bunch of trouble?  

        We have become, at best, “Martha” Christians, when what we really need is to learn to be a “Mary” Christian. You do remember Mary & Martha don’t you, the sisters of Lazurus – the special friend of Jesus, the one He raised from the dead? Oh, to develop a “Mary heart.” Perhaps then we could rephrase with a different meaning a proverb, “A ‘Mary’ heart does good, like a medicine!” Believe it or not … there is a lot of truth in that statement! In all of Martha’s running & cooking & doing good things, thinking surely this will score me some “Brownie points” with Jesus … He instead spoke truth into her life,  “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Lk. 10:41,42 What was that good portion that would not be taken from Mary? She “sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard His word.” Oh dear people … to REST like that! What would that “do” for you?  Here is our fourth commandment for Social Networking:

  4)               Remember to set aside a day each week specifically for reverence & honor to God. Set apart one day as God did, to rest. (This doesn’t negate the fact that every day is the Lord’s (Rom.14:5,6), it only emphasizes the fact that you are supremely dedicating in a unique way, 1/7th of your time to focus on your Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ.)

 Exo 20:8-11  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

 

Wow … here are at least SOME of the key thoughts we should ponder:

1)     Remember that special day of each week …

2)     Keep it holy …

3)     On the seventh day, you shall NOT do ANY work … instead, rest & reflect …

4)     The Lord set the example in place during His week of Creation …

5)     He blessed & hallowed that day & set it apart … we are supposed to as well …

        Okay, let’s break this down a bit, take it out of the realm of theory and bring it into the world of practicality. Let’s put some “working clothes” on our Christianity! I will attempt to be brief, but give us a bit of a “handle” on each one … you can personalize it for you. Expand it, pray over it, ask God to make it real in your life. That’s the only way this Christian life becomes real … through personal obedience to God!

1)     Remember that special day of each week …

        I am finding that each of these parts requires a personal discipline on my part. This one is the mental faculty at work. Mark it on your calendar if necessary to remind yourself. Remember, “the part of us that works the best is our forgetters!” Get the help of others (accountability) by sharing with them that on this day each week, you will not be doing any “non-emergency” communications on Facebook or any other social media “toys,” oh sorry, I meant to say “tools!” (Until you try this one, you can’t imagine how hard it is! Remember Paul’s words to us in I Cor.9:26,27 -  So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.)

        This will be hard … to keep your fingers off the keyboard, to not turn that music on, to not pick up the remote control, to not respond to that personal note on Facebook today. Remember, UNLESS it is an absolute emergency! If it is … then answer. Jesus said to “get the ox out of the ditch on the Sabbath,” He also healed on the Sabbath didn’t He? (Maybe, if it’s not an emergency, you could just give them a “heads up” that you’re taking a day of rest from the messages and will be back tomorrow. Trust me … in most cases, it will be okay. The world will not fall apart without our thoughts or feedback on most subjects!)

2)      Keep it holy …

        Don’t be afraid of the word. Holy simply means in our context, something that is set apart, clean, dedicated or consecrated to, or sanctified. I look at it this way – “sanctification” means something that is set apart for God’s use alone. This one takes the mental and spiritual discipline of focusing ONLY on the things of God that bring glory to Him and will count for eternity.

        There are two aspects of making this work, much the same as a battery to start and run your car. There is a negative terminal and there is a positive terminal. BOTH must be connected to complete the cycle and accomplish its purpose. So it is with something “set apart” for God. There MUST be a separation from and a separation to in order for this to work. Or if you will, a “putting off” and a “putting on” as scripture reminds us in the New Testament (Eph.4:22-24 & Col.3:9,10).  This one obviously flows naturally into the next aspect, which should help put some “handles” on this for each of us.

3)     On the seventh day, you shall NOT do ANY work … instead, rest & reflect …

        So, here’s how this works for me. On this day in particular I must not give myself or my time to those things which I might otherwise enjoy doing or working on. This might mean not turning the television on! Uh oh … did I just lose you? Did you just decide to stop reading this article? Did you just feel your hair rising on the back of your neck & “claws” coming out from under your fingernails? Are you ready now to fight for & defend your television? LOL! No need … I like television as much as the next guy. I’m just saying, if we are going to take this command seriously, it is going to “cost” us something. It may be your video games, your computer games, your crossword puzzles, your music, your YouTube … whatever. Let’s allow God to personalize that one for you … I expect (from what I know personally of the Holy Spirit) He’s already done that.

        Here’s what this means … there has to be the removal of the normal activity of this day, in order to give that time instead over to learning God’s way of thinking about my life choices. So, in the removing of daily habits of “time – use,” now that time is for “rest & reflection.” I now use that time to fill my mind & heart with scripture (not that I don’t do that every day, but now there is more time – quality & quantity, given over to His mind as revealed in  scripture). This is also time given to reflect back on this week’s activities – things I did, things I wrote on Facebook, etc.. Go back & review what you wrote, what you shared from other’s sites, etc.. As you look at them now, in retrospect … do they fit the categories listed by Paul, under the inspiration of God, in Phil.4:8 – “whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely & of a good report?”

        Learn from this reflection. Maybe there are some things that need to be deleted (and if deleted, maybe an explanation in their place telling “why” you removed it – this is a way of keeping a clear conscience). Remember, if we are going to be involved in social media, it needs to be done in a way that it reflects well on the name and testimony of our God (refer back to Commandment #3). Use this, not only as a learning time personally but also as a teaching time for others that may follow your posts. This is part of our Christian duty with other believers “teach & admonish one another.” It may also be that this day of reflection & solitude to God will bring out some wonderful lessons to be shared with others in the coming week, even some things to be shared devotionally with your family or Core Group at church. Cultivate a lifestyle of proactive growth patterns in your life. Remove the rocks, dirt clods & weeds … work the soil … fertilize the good seed … water the field!

4)     The Lord set the example in place during His week of Creation …

        You do remember don’t you that we have been created in His image and after His own likeness? There are specific ingredients God put in us as His finest creation that are not found in either material things created or in the creature world outside of man. Use this time to worship Him, to wonder at His majesty, to pay Him homage for making you after His own image. After all, He did personally pay the price for my redemption with His own Son and His perfect, pure  & precious blood (I Pet.1:18,19)! Reflect on His goodness in your life, after all “He daily loads us with benefits!” Thank Him! Praise Him! Remember Him! Look back on His blessings! Count your blessings … name them one by one … count your many blessings … see what God has done!

5)     He blessed & hallowed that day & set it apart,we are supposed to as well …

        You know, there is a quality that comes into your life when you hallow that day to the Lord. There is a rest & peace … a “settled-ness.” When you think about it … a day of rest is very much like a day of fasting. You are doing without “natural things” to give yourself over to “supernatural” purposes. If you’ve ever taken a fast – whether it be from food, or from a favorite thing you like to do – maybe music, or t.v., or games, or sports of some kind, a personal pleasure … there are at least two things that become obvious.

        One is to discover how much “control” that particular delight had over you. The second is to discover a “gold mine” of other good things God has given to us – perhaps things eternal. Things that bring peace instead of turmoil. Answers instead of more questions (Jms. 1:5-8; 3:17,18). Spiritual “sowing” instead of “fleshly sowing” (Gal. 6:7-10). Health instead of disease (Pro. 17:22). Comfort instead of anxiety. Rest instead of hurry. Joy instead of “happiness.” Depth instead of shallowness. Maturity instead of childishness. Quiet instead of noise.

      Do these “gifts” (peace, answers, health, comfort, rest, joy, depth, maturity, quiet) sound inviting?

Put God to the test!

Go ahead … He’s up to the challenge!

He will bless & hallow your day!

In the words of Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof” …

Good Sabbath!      Shalom!  

Posted: Feb 22, 2012

10 Commandments for Social Media (Commandment #3)

 

            I must confess, I am excited to be able to “dive into” this one! Not merely because it is going to address “head on” the issue of language used by professing believers in our land, but because of the positive, pro-active opportunity it provides for us in our hearts to “honor Christ the Lord as Holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” as Peter exhorts us to do in his first epistle (I Pet.3:15 ESV).  Wow, did you get that message? You & I have the opportunity to magnify the reputation of God in our conversation to others … both saved and lost alike!

            I thank God that He has given men the knowledge to be able to invent such social media tools as we have available to us today. Now granted, you & I both know how damaging and “relationship-breaking” these tools can, and have been used. But I do not believe the instrument “in and of itself” is the problem, but rather the avenue through which ungodly men (and also many “fleshly” believers) have chosen to display the lusts of their own hearts. After all, the corruption in this world came as a result of the lusts (evil desires) of men. (Eph.4:22;   II Pet.1:4; I Jn.2:15-17)

 “in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as Holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”

             So, if God gives men the ability to design tools of communication that make the world a smaller place (and that certainly is the case today), should not we as His ambassadors avail ourselves of those tools to spread the good news of the gospel? We can either ignore a world that is heading “full speed ahead” into eternity without Christ, or we can “step up to the plate,” learn how to use these tools properly and do ALL we can to fulfill the Great Commission of Mt.28:18-20, even on the internet! However, we must remember that “to whom MUCH is given, MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED.” (Lk.12:48) As much of a blessing as the social media CAN be if used correctly, it will equally be a curse if we as Christians exercise no better sense in its use than lost people do. I guarantee you … lost people ARE reading, they ARE watching, they ARE looking for answers … (even if they don’t know it)! So, let’s get to it!

 3)     Do not use God’s name & reputation in a flippant manner to “cover your own backside,” or to excuse a self-centered lifestyle.

Ex. 20:7 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain.

                John Gill in his commentary explains this commandment in this way: “You are not to ‘make use of the name Lord, God or any other name of The Divine Being, in a light or trifling way, i.e.- without a show of reverence & affection to Him; … the name of God ought never be mentioned except in a grave and serious manner, and with an awe of the greatness of His majesty upon the mind.” I must “confess” to you that I have a pet peeve … do you have any of those? Well this is mine … okay, one of mine!

            Have you noticed that one of the favorite terms people like to use these days is the word “awesome?” And they will use it for almost anything … a funny story they hear, a new idea someone came up with, a slam dunk on the basketball court, a new outfit some girl is wearing, an interception and touchdown in a football game, etc.. Well, could I suggest that the word “awesome” should be preserved & limited in its use, or it will quickly lose its true meaning. This word, I believe, should be preserved for God & His miraculous works – period! We should only really “stand in awe” of His greatness, His might deeds, His creation, His character and nature. So, if you want to use that word to describe a sunrise or sunset, the grandeur of the mountains, the beauty of fresh fallen snow, or the power of the crashing waves on the shore … then absolutely, go for it! Or if you are describing a fresh move of God on the hearts of His people, or the wonder of a child created in His image, or the joy of a brand new “baby” Christian who has just been born again … then I say, “Yes” absolutely … these things are indeed “awesome,” and worthy of our praise to our God! Stand in awe of Him … Him alone! Okay … I’m done with expressing that pet peeve … I think! My point is, let the word “awesome” be preserved for God and God alone – this would of course include His creative skills being displayed for His glory!

      The Jewish writers all agree: “this command forbids all profane oaths; imprecations, and curses by the name of God.” They further caution, “swearing by the ‘name of the Lord’ ought not to be used but for the confirmation of a thing, and putting an end to strife.” The second part of the verse reminds us of serious consequences when taking His name in vain, “it is strictly forbidden, it is severely punished by the Lord,” … “for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain” 

          It seems that in recent days in Youth Conferences for our modern, American “Christianity” as it might be called, that the “hip” or “cool” thing to do is to curse (yep, you heard me right) – cussing in the message to use the “shock” method & to be “relevant” and draw in lost people & “seekers.” As unbelievable as that may seem, I am told it is happening. I personally have never been in a conference or service where this has happened, but I can tell you without hesitation, if it ever does happen while I’m there – I am getting up right then and walking out (even if I might be on the platform as one of the speakers)! There is absolutely NO place for that in Christianity! I don’t know about you friend, but that is one of the first things Jesus took out of my life when I got saved … and for the most part, no one even had to tell me what were curse words. I knew … and so do these guys that are doing it! You should be ashamed if indeed you are a follower of Jesus … and you should stop immediately!

        I’ve even watched some interviews on YouTube in which the speakers attempt to justify doing this, with statements like … “we’ve got to show the world that we are real and authentic and that we struggle with things just like they do.” Are you kidding me? [I am also glad to report to you that some of the other younger speakers, who have a strong following have put out a plea to these speakers (also on You Tube and other Social Media avenues) to say to them, “we don’t think this is the right approach.”] I’m not sure that the Social Media avenue is the way we should be handling these issues … I know many see it and that may be good, but in reality, if we want to follow the scriptures, someone who knows these men and has a relationship with them, should be going to them privately and rebuking them and appealing to them to repent. [I also believe, according to the scriptures their repentance & confession should be public … their sin (and that is exactly what it IS) was public and made a mockery of the God they claim to love and follow, and therefore their repentance should be just as public.]

        When are we going to stop hiding behind our profession of “love for Jesus,” and our “freedom in grace” to talk that way?  And when are we going to stop hanging out at the bar and drinking with our lost buddies … all under the guise of saying “Jesus was accused of the same things?” “The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’”  Was Jesus a friend of tax collectors & sinners? Absolutely, and we should be too … but it doesn’t mean we have to live like they do! I agree that Jesus was accused of this, but there is not one shred of evidence that Jesus did what they said! After all, if he had been “a glutton,” would that not be a sin? And of course, we know Jesus NEVER sinned!  For such an High Priest became us, Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;          Heb. 7:26 

            The second thought interestingly is that the scholars warn us not to “use the name of the Lord as a cover-up” or as an excuse for our “own” interests. In other words, we should be careful of using the phrase, “God told me to!” Certainly we are very guilty in this age of expressing that “God led us” to do something. We seem to use this phrase as a means of silencing any and all questions from observers. I cannot tell you how many times in counseling, over 35 years, that I’ve had someone tell me “God led them” to do something, when what they did is in reality directly forbidden by scripture! Especially in this age of tolerance, where many say “there is no absolute truth” and “who are you to force your opinion on another believer?” People actually think you are being judgmental or self righteous to challenge them Biblically on something they’ve done, supposedly, “in the name of God.”

            This is not to say God does not lead us as His children, He most certainly does, but to use this phrase or similar, as a means of not having to give account of our actions, is nothing less than a “cop-out!” This statement “for the LORD will not hold him guiltless” is given more as a warning to remember that the reputation of God is more important than us positioning a situation to make ourselves look good. In other words, we must stop hiding behind the name of God to “cover our own backside.” Don’t “blame God” for your own thoughts or your own foolishness or impetuous behavior.

        John Wesley said, “It is the duty of Christians to give the world a right opinion of God.” To that thought, I give my own hearty “Amen!” This is our challenge in this commandment … to give a glorious reflection of God & His glory to those who are viewing our lives or reading our reactions on the social networks!

“It is the duty of Christians to give the world a right opinion of God.”       John Wesley

There is one thing that is “near & dear” to the heart of God – that is His own glory, His own reputation, His own “name’s sake.” He wants to “be known,” both by His people and by those who thus far have chosen to reject or resist Him.

Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth’s sake. Psa 115:1

      Over and over again, we see in scripture that God moves and works for His own name & kingdom’s sake. Here are just a few examples taken from the Psalms … you can investigate this for yourself and see throughout the Bible, God moves for His glory:

  • Ps. 25:11  For Thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
  • Ps. 31:3  For Thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for Thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.
  • Ps. 79:9  Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for Thy name’s sake.
  • Ps. 109:21  But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for Thy name’s sake: because Thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.
  • Ps. 143:11  Quicken me, O LORD, for Thy name’s sake: for Thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

             To follow up this line of thinking a bit further, God makes Himself known, so that people will find no room to doubt His reality, His power, His existence, and the fact that He is Sovereign & in control.

  • The Lord, for example, told Moses, I have hardened Pharaoh’s heart “so that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord.”
  • He commanded Joshua to set the stones from the riverbed of the Jordan River in Gilgal as a testimony “so that all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty.”
  • David told Goliath, “This day will the LORD deliver you into mine hand; and I will smite you & … the Philistines this day … so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.”
  • Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar, Seven years will pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men.
  • God spoke to Cyrus, as the king (who did not know God) and explained to him, “I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides Me there is no God; I established you, though you do not know Me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides Me; I am the LORD, and there is no other.”

Our God wants to be known in this world. It’s quite simple … He has left us here to be mouthpieces for His kingdom, His power & His glory!

       Does this not make you stop and wonder, “How much of my ‘venting’ on social media would be different if I only took the time first to think and consider the reputation of God displayed in my words?”We are told in I Corinthians 10:31 – “Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or WHATSOEVER you do, do all to the glory of God!” This is our purpose … that everything we do, should bring glory to God. So, here is the challenge of this command – before we write, or share, or vent, or whatever else you choose to call your social expressions … we must ask ourselves this question, “How will this reflect on our God, His name, His reputation, His glory!

Remember:

You are not your own. For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.  1Cor. 6:19, 20

Posted: Feb 14, 2012

10 Commandments for Social Media (Commandment #2)

            Solomon tells us in his words of wisdom, “Death & life are in the power of the tongue”(Pro.18:21). This morning as I was reflecting on this whole issue, I could not get away from the warning James gives us concerning our words. James, as you may know, is considered by many to have written “the Proverbs of the New Testament” since his letter is filled with such practical wisdom for everyday life. I don’t think I’ve ever read chapter three in his epistle without coming away convicted in my heart about my own personal need. I want to review a few of those verses, let them soak in our spirit & see if God may use them in your heart as he does in mine. I’ve abbreviated them (taken out portions that you can of course read for yourself) in order to highlight the special warning to our hearts as we “speak” through social networking with others & for the Lord. Spend a few minutes, not just reading but meditating (chewing) on God’s Word:

 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect (mature) man, able also to bridle his whole body … So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. The tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is … setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell … no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. (Jms.3:2-10 abbreviated from English Standard Version)

            You may remember that in this passage, James parallels control over the tongue to a bit in a horse’s mouth, a rudder on a ship & a fire that burns up the forest. All of those are preventable choices … we use the bit to turn the horse, the rudder to turn the ship and know better than to strike the match that sets the forest on fire! Have you ever been guilty of saying (writing) something in an e-mail, a comment line, a thread in Facebook, etc., sent it, and as soon as you did, know that it was too spontaneous … too “off the cuff,” too reactionary, without being thought or prayed through? I must confess … I surely have.  And then had to spend the next hours (or even days) trying to clean it up, clear my conscience and ask God to bring healing to my heart or others. I assure you … that is NOT fun! As you know, if you read my last blog, I am approaching this subject through the Ten Commandments which God gave us in Exodus 20 & often repeated throughout the Old & New Testament. So, the Lord willing we will discover together the importance of applying the principles taught in these 10 commandments to our use of the social media. If you’re ready, let’s tackle #2!

 1)     Guard your heart against idols – do not make, bow down to, or serve any “graven image” of ANYTHING God created.

 Exo 20:4-6  You shall not make unto you any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep my commandments.

            Wow! This is “a biggie” you might say, and we certainly won’t sufficiently cover this subject in one article. Perhaps we can at least tackle two parts of this commandment. One would be to perhaps define “what is an idol?” Then we will note the specific warnings given in this passage of “attraction to” an idol. Many times, revival came to God’s people when they tore down the “high places” and removed “the groves” … these were of course the places set up for idol worship. I do hope you realize however, that this is not just an Old Testament issue. As a matter of fact, I have often mused over the last warning that John gives us in his first epistle, “Little children, keep yourself from idols.” (I Jn.5:21) Wow John, I think you said “a mouthful” in that little closing!

            Let’s look at it in its context to see if we can understand why this man of God, so in love with Jesus, has a concern of idolatry for his listeners.

    We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him(self), and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.   1Jn 5:18-21 

 

So, can we “bottom line” and capture a “take away” from John’s warning here:

1) We have an enemy – Satan

2) The whole world lies under his power (Here is what John Gill writes in his commentary about “the world” -  the men of the world, the greater part of the inhabitants of it, who are as they were when they came into it, not being born of God; these are addicted to sin and, wickedness; the bias of their minds is to it, they are set upon it, and give themselves up to it, are immersed in it, and are under the power of it: or “in the wicked one”; they are under Satan, the god of this world; his influence, and led according to his will, and they are governed by him, and are at his beck and command; and this is known, by sad experience, it is easy of observation)

3) We possess “truth” in the person of Truth Himself – Jesus Christ & His Word (Jn.17:17)

4) We must apply the truth of His Word to the temptations of the devil & his domination of the world 

5) We must refuse to surrender any part of our being to “the world, the flesh & the devil.”             (I Jn.2:15-17)

             [This is a subject for another time, so I will just mention it and move on, but do you realize that we ALL worship something? We were created to worship … it is our DNA & of course God’s purpose for creating us was that we might be wholly, entirely surrendered to worshipping Him! (Rev.4:11, Eph.1:3-14) So, as I said, that theme is for another time, but please understand … you are going to worship something or someone!]

            One thing we can quickly learn in studying about idols is that they may be an actual object, or they may be a figment of our imagination – something “set up” in our mind or heart. Idols are something that we give value, time & attention to. Someone simplified the definition by saying, “it is anything in life that you devote your money & time to more directly than you do your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.”  By using this simple definition, I must confess that there are things that immediately come on my radar screen that I have to reflect on & ask myself to be honest … is that an idol in my life? Certainly one of the greatest problems in the people of God today (beginning with that guy I shave in the mirror each morning) is to relegate truth merely to our minds, thinking that because I KNOW a truth, therefore I am LIVING that truth. And as the saying goes, (and as we know) “nothing could be further from the truth!” This study will do more harm than good, UNLESS we obey whatever God shows us personally.

            So, an idol could be an object – either something created by God, or something designed by man. Or it could be an idea or philosophy exalted in our lives or society. Wow … there’s a lot out there, isn’t there? We could “worship” a person (including ourselves or our own body), a pet, a statue, a T.V. program, a sport (or sports team), an artist (including Christian musical artists). There is a reason, you know, why they call the show American Idol! It could be even a performer or a comedian or a reality show that you just HAVE to see and follow every week, after all we ARE SO entertainment oriented in America today (even in the church). It could be an author (including Christian writers or theologians), or dare I say, even a “doctrine” can become idolatrous? (I know some Christians who are more in love with their “Calvinistic doctrines” than they are their Savior! I expect that will raise some eyebrows … but it is true, nonetheless. Many of us have witnessed the intellectual pride of contention over a doctrinal position cause factions & division within a body of believers. When Paul addressed it in Corinthians, he said that when they are followers of Paul, Peter, Apollos, etc.[add your own favorite teachers’ names in America] that they were carnal and acting like lost people.                   I Cor.1:12-13; 3:3-6,22-23;4:6)  

            Now, our second consideration is this, an idol according to the second commandment is something WE 1) make, 2) bow down to (worship) & 3) serve. If you are familiar even on a casual basis with the Old Testament – you remember the illustrations and the warnings about idolatry. [Exodus 34:12-17; Num.25:1-11; Deut.7:1-6,12:1-9; Isa.44:8-22; Psa.115:3-11; 135:15-18] Over and over again God’s people were told – do not take them unto yourself (remember Achan – Josh.6:18;7:1,10-13,20-26), because when you do, then you WILL bow down to them & serve them.

Here is where we must pray (again) the prayer of Psa.139:23,24 – “Search me, O God.” Caution, do not “search yourself” that is dangerous because our hearts are “deceitful & desperately wicked” & inevitably, we will leave things uncovered, unconfessed & therefore unchanged & still imbedded in our hearts. Again, perhaps we need to consider the subject matter of our media networking, our conversations, our postings of “our favorites” (movies, music, add-ons, likes & dislikes, maybe even our political leanings). If at this point, we find ourselves becoming defensive or reactionary, we need to ask ourselves “Why” are my emotions so heated or elevated? Is there something on your Facebook (or whatever other media avenues you use) that reflects negatively on the reputation of God and His followers? Have you chosen “a hill to die on” that you are unwilling for God to remove from its place of high influence in your life?

            Anything … anything that we are hesitant to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives has undoubtedly become an idol in our lives. We do not want to hear God say of us, as He did of Ephraim in Hosea 4:17, “Ephraim is joined to idols, leave him alone.”

Please Lord, do not leave us to ourselves!

Little children (of God) … keep (guard) yourself from idols!

Posted: Jan 3, 2012

10 Commandments for Social Media (Commandment #1)

In recent days I have become increasingly burdened over some of the uses (or should I say misuses) of the social media avenues available to us. I am a firm believer that we as Christians should use every tool placed in our hands to get the gospel out to the world, but I also believe that it should be done in a way that honors God and brings glory to His name. As Paul exhorted us in I Cor.10:31 – Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do, DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD!  For that reason, as I was praying over this issue, I thought, why not approach this through the ten commandments which God has already given us … written with his own hand! I’m sure you’re probably already aware of the two headings of those commands. The fact that the first four are in conjunction with our relationship to God and the last six are in conjunction with our relationship to man. That’s why Jesus tied them together as the first commandment “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind & strength,” and the second which is“like unto the first, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Would to God we could see clearly that the demonstration of obeying the first commandment is evidenced in obedience to the second!

So, the Lord willing we will discover together the importance of applying the principles taught in these 10 commandments to our use of the social medias. Let’s get started! 

1) Remember “you are not your own” – keep a single eye to God’s glory & His reputation alone. I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.

ABOVE ALL ELSE is this – to recognize that all you do or say reflects on God. If you are His and claim His name as your own, then you are responsible to see to it that everything you do reflects His nature, His character, His reputation – goodness, righteousness & truth (Eph.5:9). We are told to “let our light so shine, that others may see (or in this case – read & observe, witness) our good works & thereby glorify God who is in heaven” (Mt.5:16). Is it not true that obedience to this one principle alone would wipe out at least half of what is displayed to the world on the profiles of professing Christians?! When will we learn, in reality, that “it is not about us?”

What Would Jesus Do? This phrase has become so commonplace on our lips or symbolized on a necklace, bracelet, a bumper sticker (or dare I even say tattoo) that it has lost its significance as proven by our actions. But in reality – this IS “what it all boils down to” as the saying goes. How much am I governed by His Lordship (ownership) over my life? If I go to church and close my eyes and raise my hands (as a picture of homage, worship & surrender) to Him, then should not someone expect to be able to see that reflected the rest of the week in my actions, my words, my value system? And, by the way, are they not right in looking for that evidence according to scripture … should not my walk match (or exceed) my talk? Are they asking too much? Are they being “unfair” or expecting more from me than that which God desires to see in my life? I think not. “Do you suppose, O man–you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself–that you will escape the judgment of God?” (Rom. 2:3) You then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (Rom 2:21-24)

Doesn’t that last phrase place an incredible responsibility upon us as believers, as followers of Christ? If you are going to claim the name of Jesus, then live up to His reputation, His honor. Do not live a lifestyle (even in social networking) that reflects negatively on His glory! Does He not “lead us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake?” (Ps.23:3) Do you remember Nathan’s words to David when facing him with his sin against God with Bathsheba? “By this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme.” In other words your behavior gives ammunition to the enemies of God to bring ill repute on His name. So the question we must ask ourselves is this: As I let people into my “private life” through a social network, do they see a consistent, reputable testimony of God’s ownership over my life? How about my information page, my profile, my photos, my likes & dislikes … do these reflect and magnify in a positive way the name of my Redeemer, the one who led me out of captivity & bondage? I often tell teenagers, “I used to say, let me walk into your bedroom at home and look around for 10 minutes and I can tell you what you are “in love” with … the posters on your walls, the magazines, the music, the cleanliness (or lack thereof), & the clothes in your closet. All of these reveal where your value system really lies. But, I don’t have to visit your home anymore to discover this, do you know why … because you are my friend on Facebook, and I can now enter anytime, anywhere!”  It is usually at this point that things become very quiet & reflective in the room!

It’s true, our value system is revealed through the “windows” of our profile on Facebook. How does it reflect on the reputation of God, when we claim to be “sold out to Jesus Christ” and then write the junk we put on FB? Oh, the broken hearts … because “my boyfriend hurt me” … but then two hours later, when we’ve made up again, we have a mended heart and all in the world is well again! How silly, how 7th grade-ish (I know, I just made up a word)! But let me hasten to say, it’s not just junior high age that does this. I know some adults who are constantly telling to the world how their day is going … point by point, line by line, verse by verse. Really?! Do you really think the world needs to know that you’re having a sappy day or that you’ve got lots of laundry to do & don’t know if you’ll ever catch up! Really! I have a recommendation … get off of the computer and “git ‘er done” as they say! Come on, we have time to tell the world all our feelings today, but not enough time to get things accomplished (which will, by the way, in and of itself, many times, take care of those wimpy feelings).

I recommend a personal inventory. Go back, open up your info, your pictures, your likes & dislikes, your attachments, etc. and ask yourself, “Does this reflect well on the name of God?” Is this “what Jesus would do?” Do these pages allow others to “see your good works” and thereby “glorify your Father, who is in heaven?” Do people looking into the window of your life and testimony (through Facebook & other social media avenues) see a good, Godly, wholesome, convicting & challenging image of your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.(Col 4:5,6) Does your speech through the social medias have “grace, seasoned with salt” to make others thirsty for what you have, or does it make them say, “If that’s Christianity, I want nothing to do with it?”

 A final question befitting the first commandment: Does my reputation (revealed voluntarily through social media) testify that I take seriously the first commandment – to have NO OTHER GODS before Jesus? Maybe in order to be objective in this search we should begin by doing two things: One – pray (& mean it) the prayer of Ps. 139:23,24 – Search me, Oh God … , and Two – ask others (Godly, wise advisors) their thoughts as they look on our profile (Pro.18:17; 12:15; 21:2). Do these two things seem a bit “scary” to you? If so, then I would say perhaps that is God’s way of letting you know already in your conscience that there are some things that need to be cleaned up or perhaps removed all together.

Oh, and let’s remember … this is only commandment #1. One down … nine to go!                Blessings,  Tim

Posted: Dec 17, 2011

Blessed Assurance – Jesus is Mine!

   Have you ever taken a walk through an old cemetery? (I love to do this!) If you do, take time to read the headstones and observe family history within a row of markers. In some places, without any prior knowledge of people personally, you can, in a matter of minutes, find yourself caught up in the sufferings and hardships others have gone through. You realize that in past generations people seemed to be more conscious of the realities of life and death – suffering, loss, loneliness and the haunting realization that life is uncertain … death is sure … and eternity is where we are all headed! It is here, among these reminders of truth and reality that, if we are quiet, we hear in our spirit that inner voice that calls us to be ready, to be sure we are prepared for the inevitable … an unavoidable encounter with the Living God. It is toward this appointment that the apostle John devotes much attention in his first epistle.

   The beloved disciple John is a very intentional writer, and he desires his readers to clearly know his purpose for each letter. In each of his books we find somewhere in his personal remarks his reason for writing. Whether it was to praise a faithful brother, or to expose a professing believer who had misrepresented the gospel, or to assure his “children” of his love for them and his joy in hearing that they walk in truth.
   In John’s gospel account, his purpose is for us to know (to comprehend and understand by faith) the deity of Jesus Christ, and find that through believing in Him (firmly clinging to, relying upon and totally trusting His faithful sacrifice on the cross) we may inherit eternal life (20:31). When he writes the epistle of I John, he addresses in several passages his intended purpose for these writings, and then sums them all up in 5:13 saying, “these things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may KNOW that you have eternal life.” In other words, the gospel of John was written so men could be saved and the epistle was written so that we could know we have been saved!
   John’s literary technique is to use contrasts. Throughout the letter he is comparing — light to darkness, truth to error, life to death and you see the earmarks of what it means to be born of God. These patterns along with the phrase “we know” give us the foundation for the doctrine of assurance.
   As we approach this most important of all subjects, facing the realities and certainties of death and life, let us ask God to search our hearts. After all, the answer to these questions determines our destiny for all of eternity and therefore requires our utmost attention and honesty. Let’s take earnest heed to Paul and Peter’s warnings in their writings:

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.  II Cor.13:5

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure II Pet.1:10

   When I ask someone to complete this project, I encourage them to get alone with God with a notepad, pen and their Bible. To begin by praying, asking God to clearly reveal to them either through conviction that they have never settled their eternal destiny with Him, or to confirm and give confidence to them through the scriptures that they have indeed been “born of God.” To realize that through the Word of God and the witness of His Spirit they can have confident assurance of their relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom.5:1). Keep in mind, no human being is capable of giving us this assurance since only God can see our hearts. But indeed God can, and I believe longs to, give you that blessed assurance that Jesus is yours and you are His!
   Could I encourage you, as you investigate the fruits or evidences of eternal life mentioned in I John, to open your heart to God and ask Him the following question …
Is this true, or has this ever been true in my life?

Remember this foundational truth:

Spiritual birth produces spiritual life which produces spiritual fruit!

It may not appear to the same degree in each of us, Jesus said, “some thirty … some sixty … some hundredfold” … but there will always be fruit where eternal life has been granted. Church history reveals that our Christian forefathers were not hesitant to ask of professing believers that there be “credible evidence of regeneration” in their lives.

   Keep in mind as you seek God that the Bible does not tell us to examine our testimony (i.e. – what I did, or said, or where I was at the time, or what I prayed – these are all past tense) but the Bible does exhort us to examine ourselves – present tense. In other words, you should be able to put your life “under the microscope” – the light, scrutiny and magnification of God’s Word and see “life” – credible evidence of regeneration. Clear evidence that you have indeed been born of God, translated out of the kingdom of darkness and into His glorious light, transformed from death into life, regenerated by the quickening power of His Spirit into sons and daughters of God.

As you read, ask yourself this question: Is this true, or has this ever been true in my life?

A child of God lives a life patterned by obedience.

…. we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. I Jn. 2:3-4

   This wonderful word, to “know” Him means to know and to be known. It involves a two way perception because of a relationship. It represents the most intimate level of knowledge and is used as a Jewish idiom for the deepest level of physical intimacy between and a man and woman. Adam knew Eve his wife. Gen 4:1

• Do you know Jesus and are you known by Him? Is this demonstrated through a lifestyle of obedience to the scriptures? Yes ___ No ___

• Are you known as one who walks in the light – that is, you attempt by God’s grace to live up to what God has asked of you as His child? Yes ___ No ___

A child of God demonstrates a genuine desire to do the will of God through a God centered, separated lifestyle.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it: but he who does the will of God abides for ever. I Jn. 2:15-17

We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. I Jn. 5:18-19

   Have you made a clean break with your past? The scriptures teach that one who is born of God becomes a new creation in Christ. Do you find yourself still in love with the same old things? Has there ever been in you a repentance from dead works, a turning away from the things of this world that so dominate the value system of unregenerate men?
   Has there been in you a change of mind that brings about a change in lifestyle and choices? That is what repentance is. John the Baptist, when speaking, was not afraid to ask for and give examples of repentance in the lives of those who would claim to follow God. Change is what he called for … “if you have more than you need, give some away. When doing your job as a tax collector treat people with equity. As a soldier, don’t treat people violently, don’t falsely accuse, and be content with your pay.”(Luke3:8-14) In the very culture in which they lived, John said their lives should be different than their culture, not conforming to the rest of society, but being transformed by a different way of thinking. Repentance will be evident in one’s life.

• Is new life evidenced in you by the things you spend your time with and your money on?         Yes ___ No ___

• Has knowing and doing the will of God, even if it costs you friendships and changes in lifestyle and activities, become of utmost importance to you? Yes ___ No ___

• Can you honestly say there are no habits that control you that you would not eagerly give up should God ask you to? Yes ___ No ___

• Can you say that you are grieved by the wickedness of the world and no longer live under the sway of the devil? Can you say that you have separated from those things that hinder a walk of holiness and are now set apart for God’s use alone? Yes ___ No ___

A child of God is capable of knowing and receiving the truth as taught by God.

But ye have an anointing from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I John 2:20
But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you: I Jn. 2:27

   One of the wonderful blessings of being born of God is the ability to understand spiritual truth. God will actually teach you truth from the Bible because He is the author of the scriptures and takes upon Himself the duty of leading you into truth. Jesus said the truth will set you free! When you are born of God, He places the Holy Spirit in you to be your teacher. He indwells you in order to reveal Christ to you in the scriptures, to lead you into all truth, and to glorify Christ through your life. (John 16:13-14)

• Can you say that you know what it is for the Holy Spirit to be your teacher? Can you read and understand spiritual truth in the Bible that unregenerate men cannot? (I Cor.2:14-16)                 Yes ___ No ___
• Do you know what is to have a desire to read the Bible? Does God show you areas of need and give answers for your spiritual life because of what you read in His Word? (I Pet. 2:2)       Yes ___ No ___

A child of God practices righteousness (right living before God), and is capable of living an upright life by God’s power within?

If you know that He is righteous, you know that every one who practices righteousness is born of Him. I Jn. 2:29

• Can you honestly say that you delight in living an upright life that is different than what you desired and fulfilled before coming to Christ? Would others who knew you “before Christ” in observing you now be able to give witness that there is an unexplainable difference in you?           Yes ___ No ___

A child of God lives a purified life because
of his hope in God.

… we know that when He (Jesus) is revealed, we shall be like Him … And every man who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as He is pure. I Jn. 3:1-3

   One of the first evidences that someone has come to faith in Christ will be a God–given desire to be pure. Peter urges us to add to our faith, first of all, virtue. It was virtue that came forth out of Jesus and brought healing to those in need. Everyone who comes to Christ, no matter how clean their life may have been before, is in need of an ongoing purifying work that only God’s Spirit can bring. The realization that we will soon be face to face with The One called Faithful and True, Who in righteousness will judge and make war, Whose eyes are like a flame of fire (Rev.19:11-12). This realization sets before us a standard to be purified even as He is pure!

• Can you say that you possess an inherent desire to be pure in your daily behavior? Are you quick to confess sin whenever God reveals it to you? Yes ___ No ___
• Do you know when God’s Spirit is convicting you of impure thoughts, wrong motives, and attitudes toward people and situations that are displeasing to your Heavenly Father?            Yes ___ No ___

A child of God does not continually, habitually practice sin.

Whoever has been born of God does not sin; for His seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God …  I Jn. 3:9-10

   What an incredible blessing it is to not be able to “get away with sin!” Can you recall those wonderful times when God gave you such a sensitivity to wrong that you could not live with sin reigning in your body? Does sin bother you quickly after being committed or perhaps even while in the midst of it, or do you seem to not really be troubled much about it until a preacher declares it to be wrong, or until someone else comes long and points it out to you? Because God is holy, He will not tolerate that which is unholy in the lives of those He has redeemed.

• Can you honestly say there is no sin habit that you cannot get freedom from? Is there an urgency in your spirit to be done with sin? Do you find it is a grievous thing to continue in sin? Yes ___ No ___

• Knowing that our Heavenly Father “chastens every son that He receives,” are you convicted by God and chastened by His loving hand when you disobey? (Heb. 12:6-8)    Yes ___ No ___

A child of God has a genuine love for the brethren that is demonstrated through undeniable selfless service.

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. …
Whoever hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. I John 3:14-15

• Can you say that by your heart motivation as well as your actions that you demonstrate a genuine love for God’s people? Do you readily “lay down your life” in practical everyday ways to minister to the needs of other believers? Yes ___ No ___

• Do you live in such a way as to put the interests and needs of others ahead of your own and are you quickly convicted when your life demonstrates selfishness versus the God-like quality of serving others? Yes ___ No ___

A child of God is indwelt by the Spirit of God.

And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. I Jn. 3:24
By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because he has given us of His Spirit.      I Jn. 4:13
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. Ro. 8:16

• Can you say that as you consider the scriptural evidence required by God of being born again that you have a perfect peace in your heart? (Rom. 5:1) As the Holy Spirit sits upon “the witness stand” of your heart to testify of the condition of your heart and life, does He indeed bear witness with your spirit that you are a child of God? Yes ___ No ___

A child of God openly confesses Jesus Christ to be Lord, the Son of God.

And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.               I Jn. 4:14-15
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God … I Jn. 5:1

   We are living in a day in which it is not “politically correct” to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the only way to God. There are many who would even say that you are being divisive to state such a thing. However, Jesus Himself was very clear in stating, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father, except through Me.” (Jn. 14:6) It is very clear in scripture that only through confessing Jesus Christ to be the Lord can anyone be saved. (Mt. 10:32-33; Rom. 10:9; Phil.2:11; I Jn.4:3)

• Can you say that you freely and without apology confess Jesus Christ to be the Lord of your life and the only begotten Son of God? Do you firmly believe in your “heart of hearts,” as Jesus Himself declared that He is the way, the truth, and the life … that there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby you can be saved? (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) Yes ___ No ___

A child of God experiences personally the overcoming power of God.

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. I Jn. 5:4

• Would it be true of you that you know the overcoming power of God in relation to the influences of the “world,” the lost community around you? Can you say that the effect of the cross in your life has broken the draw of the world system for you? (Gal. 6:14) Yes ___ No ___

• Is there in you a pattern that reflects the fact that you are a stranger and pilgrim in this world and that by faith, you live for another world? (I Pet. 2:11-12) Yes ___ No ___

A child of God lives with a deep inner confidence and assurance that he possesses eternal life.

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. I Jn. 5:13

• Can you say as you take this examination that you have that deep inner confidence only God can give that the one true and living God has redeemed you and lives in you right now giving you the assurance that you belong to Him? Yes ___ No ___

If these things are true in you, then rejoice and praise God with assurance that you can testify together with John:

He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.               I Jn. 5:12
And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
I Jn. 5:20

If these things are not true in you, then remember:

Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved. Rom. 10:13

Dear Friend, you can cry out to God in prayer wherever you are for salvation and forgiveness of your sins. God will hear, He will forgive, Jesus will become your Savior and Lord!  If you do this, or God gives you assurance of eternal life through this journey,  please let us hear from you! We would love to rejoice with you in your own …                                            Blessed Assurance that Jesus is Yours!

 * Note – All scripture references are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

Tim St.Clair  -  tim@aaarm.org
AAA Revival Ministries

Posted: Nov 10, 2011

Why No Change in Professing Believers?

We live in a day where what we claim with our lips, seems to be contradicted by our lives. Unfortunately in much of American “Christianity,” no one seems to challenge that. We have so catered to the spirit of tolerance, that even in the church, we very rarely “hold each others feet to the fire.” If we are honest, we would have to admit that several things hinder us from practicing Biblical Christianity – of obeying the “one anothers” of the New Testament. We are commanded to exhort one another, pray one for another, confess our faults one to another, admonish one another, forbear one another, forgive one another, be kindly affectioned on to another, love one another, edify one another, bear one anothers burdens, have the same care one for another, etc.. So what hinders us from “getting into each others lives” – caring, encouraging, challenging, reproving, considering one another to provoke to love and good works?

I think many things hinder us, but perhaps to mention a few: a fear of man, a lack of love, being consumed with ourselves, a lack of obedience to the scriptures, perhaps an ignorance of our responsibility within the body of Christ. In any case, the current spirit of indifference within the body of Christ has caused a powerless form of religion under the guise of being called “Christianity,” allowing many attendees who’ve never had a transformation in their lives and lifestyle to feel comfortable in our churches. Church history will tell you that our Christian forefathers did not hesitate to call for “credible evidence of regeneration” in the lives of those wanting to join the church – today, you can join our churches as easily as you can join the Rotary, or Moose lodge or AARP!

I think the primary reason for this is the lack of a call for repentance — either in the lives of unbelievers, or in the lives of believers. As I study the scriptures, I find that repentance is not only something you do when you come to Christ, but something that is to continue in our lives until the day we see Christ face to face. I challenge you to examine in the scriptures and show me one person, who repented, whose life was not different afterward. Think of the New Testament – can you think of one person who encountered Jesus that was the same afterward, as they was before? Most all were changed to the good, only a few met Jesus, and decided to follow a different road — Judas Iscariot, and the rich young ruler — who went away very sorrowful because he had great “riches” and would not surrender them to Jesus, though he claimed he had been following all the commandments “from his youth up”. On the other hand, the prodigal son, when he repented knew that his return to the father would involve “a change of mind that brought about a change of life.” Some American theologians in our day try to take the power out of repentance, by saying that the word really only means “a change of mind.” The only problem with that proposition is that the overwhelming evidence of scripture is NO ONE was the same after meeting Jesus – being “a new creation” was not merely a positional truth, it was backed by a changed life — every time!

When John the Baptist called men to “bring forth fruits worthy of repentance,” and they asked him what that would look like in their lives, he gave them tangible “handles” for that change. He said, if you have two coats — give one to someone who has none, if you have extra meat, do the same. The tax collectors said, “What shall we do?” He said, do not collect more than you are supposed to (don’t line your pockets with their money because of your authority). The soldiers said, “What about us?” To which he said, “Do violence to no man, don’t accuse any falsely, and be content with your wages.” Now, I ask you, could He possibly have been more down to earth in addressing people right where they live? In essence John was saying, if you follow God, your life will be diffferent. In other words, be sure your life demonstrates what you claim with your lips.

Just one more thought about repentance. The Greek word, metanoia is a combination of two parts — meta (change) & noia (mind) — thus the loose interpretation — a change of mind, however — you need to know that the root of the word is CHANGE! This is not the only use of this root in the New Testament. You are familiar with New Testament words like: transformed, translated, transferred & transfigured. Each of these words begins with the same Grk. word — meta. The word itself involves two key thoughts — change and movement. All the words you know involving that prefix have in them the same idea – something that is moving, something that is changing. Transportation, transmission, transpose, transact, transplant, transfusion – these all involve action, movement, change from one place to another. So, why are we afraid to call for change in the lives of professing believers?

Rom.12:2, says we are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind – the word - metamorphosis means Christians are to be different than the world. The J.B. Phillips translation of that verse says, “stop allowing the world to squeeze you into it’s mold!” We are to be metamorphosized — you know the most recognizable illustration of that word is the transformation of a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly! Oh the amazing difference between a worm crawling to advance his progress and a butterfly at liberty to fly! When the prodigal son returned to his father (which by the way, the entire of chapter of Luke 15 is about repentance) he knew numerous things would have to take place. While in the pig pen, “he came to himself” ( a change of mind), he said, “I will arise” (activated his will), “will go to my father” (return from the place of rebellion), and “will say to him” (repentance involves confession), “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against thee” (conviction over sin), and “am no more worthy to be called your son” (attitude of unworthiness), “make me as one of your hired servants” (obedient heart to do the father’s will).

I believe it is time again for us to call for changed lives if someone is going to claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ. The real power of God is demonstrated through a changed life. One reason why there has been no national revival in America for over 150 years is because we have stopped preaching for change! In times of genuine revival, the world sits up and takes notice because believers lives are different. Their lifestyle is uniquely noticeable, calling attention to itself, not because it is “like” the lost people around it, but because it knows the power of surrender and separation. A true believer lives for a different cause. Not money, not popularity, not worldy gain, not the deceitfulness of riches, not a lustful, never satisfied, covetous heart. A repentant believer talks differently, lives differently, gives differently, and is controlled by different viewing and listening habits. In the “unrevived” state of the church in America, we have spent millions of dollars & thousands of man-power hours trying to convince a lost community around us of their need for Jesus — much without power and to little avail. Church history records that in the revived state of the church, lost people will “climb over Christians” in an effort to get to God for salvation! 2000 years of Church history proves that the greatest times of regeneration of lost souls have come, not as a result of a direct evangelistic effort, but because of genuine revival in the lives of born again Christians. After all, the word “revive” means to live again. In order for something (or someone) to live again, they must have had life to begin with. Revival is NOT lost people getting saved, that is regeneration. Spiritual awakening (lost people coming to Christ) is a result of revival! Oh Lord, wilt Thou not revive us again, that Thy people may rejoice in Thee!

Posted: Nov 23, 2010

The Satisfaction of Seeking God

You shall seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with ALL YOUR HEART. (Jer.29:13) That really is the issue, isn’t it? ALL your heart. We should not, in essence, be seeking revival … we should be seeking God. It is while seeking God, that revival WILL come. You may ask, is this Biblical, is this New Testament theology? I believe it is, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God, for he that comes to God must believe that HE IS, and that HE IS A REWARDER OF THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.” As Leonard Ravenhill said, “The one main reason why there is no heaven-sent revival in America today, is because we are content to live without it!”

What really is involved in “Seeking God?” Is this something that is done individually, as a family, or corporately as a church, a community, or as a nation? The answer to that question is undoubtedly … YES! It incorporates all these levels – and as you look at church history – it has started at different times in each of those settings. Sometimes revival seems to begin TOTALLY as a Sovereign pursuit by God to us, however … it also cannot be denied by any honest church historian, that at times, it was out of the desperation of men’s hearts, that God moved in answer to their cries. Oh, I know that ALL OF THAT IS GOD’S IDEA … for every good and Godly desire we’ve EVER had, began in the heart of God and was implanted in our hearts by the Spirit of God Who lives within us as believers. So now that we’ve settled this thing of God’s will versus the freewill of man (like that is ever going to be settled this side of eternity LOL), let’s move on to OUR responsibility in SEEKING GOD. There are SO many verses and exhortations for us to seek Him, that I cannot quote them all here, you can do your own search with a good commentary, I just want to give you the bottom lines, and then say to YOU … GO FOR IT! SEEK HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART, FOR THE REVIVAL WE SO DESPERATELY NEED.

1) Seek Him first! Let God be our first stop and not your last. How many times do we only draw near to God when we want something? Our motives sometimes in this Christian life are so fleshly and self centered. Mt. 6:33 – Seek you first the kingdom of God … Zech. 8:21,22 – Let us go SPEEDILY to pray before the Lord, & to seek the Lord of Hosts … many people & strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of Hosts …

Many of the kings urged and led the people in seeking God - David – I Chr.22:9, Solomon – II Chr. 7:14, Rehoboam – II Chr. 11:6, Asa – II Chr. 14:2,4,7, Jehoshaphat – II Chr.20:3,4, Uzziah – II Chr. 26:5, Hezekiah – II Chr.30:19; 31:20,21, Josiah – II Chr. 34:3.

2) Seek Him early. Oh God, Thou are my God, early will I seek Thee. Psa.63:1. in their affliction, they shall seek Me early – Hos.5:15. Psa. 53:2 – God looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were ANY that DID understand, that DID seek after God … take a minute to ponder that thought … the implication is that IF we understood, we WOULD seek. Understood WHAT? The heart of God? The purposes of God in eternity? The desire of God for YOUR life? The depth and richness of God? Whatever is means … IF WE UNDERSTOOD … WE WOULD SEEK. I think the essence of what this phrase means -early (quickness, speed, urgency, determination, intention and deliberateness – all in the original meaning) the bottom line is this – I think it means SEEKING GOD out of conviction, rather than out of crisis.

3) Seek THE LORD, not an experience. We are such a feelings oriented society today, especially in our “American christianity.” We have almost demanded of God, that He give us a good feeling, an experience. So many of our services are geared toward getting us a “quick fix” so we can go on another day. And what happens if we don’t get our “fix,” we start to question the integrity & reality of God. If God really “loved me” or if God really “cared for me” He would make me feel better, or meet my financial “needs” or “bless me.” Only in America do we equate the blessing of God with money and things! I have often told people, “God would do YOU an injustice if every time you met with HIM, He made you feel good.” Then you would begin to relegate your relationship with God to good feelings. Then, your faith would be based upon feelings and experience, rather than faith! Without FAITH it is impossible to please Him … the just shall live by FAITH … now FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things NOT SEEN. He that comes to God must BELIEVE that He is, not feel that He is.

  • Experience must flow out of relationship, and not vice-versa. Rom.5:3-5
  • Experience must always be subject to the Word of GOD. Heb. 4:12 (Today, people are throwing off doctrine for that sake of their experience - “I don’t care if it’s Biblical or not … I know what I experienced!”) That is very dangerous! I actually saw a t.v. preacher tell about his experience to an audience, then mockingly say to them, “so you ask me, where is that in here”(mockingly holding up his Bible), then continue by saying, “it ain’t in there” as he took his Bible and threw it across the stage! What did the crowd do? Did they rebuke him, did they walk out, did they in shock gasp at his actions? No … they applauded and went right along with his blasphemous actions! How sad, how grievous! We, as fleshly, casual, CARNAL (at best, if saved at all) as American believers are going to have a lot to account for in judgment!
  • Experience must not become the standard of comparison for others. II Cor. 10:12 (some “push” their experience on others, and even whether or not that person is “spiritual” on whether or not they’ve had the same experience you’ve had)
  • Experience must never be raised to the level of inspiration. II Tim.3:16; Heb.1:1,2; II Pet.1:16-21 Some today in America have elevated to their experience to the level of inspiration -“you may not find it in the Bible, but I know what I experienced … and you cant tell me it was not ‘of God’ “
  • Experience must validate itself through visible change in one’s life. II Cor. 4:2; 6:3,4
  • Experience must be open to challenge and Godly counsel. Acts 11 (even though Peter had encountered God on the rooftop while God was opening the gospel to the Gentiles – when he went to give account to the brothers in Jerusalem – it was validated through proper channels -there was prayer, a vision, a voice, it was confirmed three times, the Spirit commanded, it was witnessed by these 6 men, the Holy Spirit fell upon them as on us at the beginning, then I remembered the Word of the Lord. All things were done decently and in order.
  • Experience must not become a determiner of doctrine. Eph.4:13-15 – grow up and stop being children swayed by every wind of doctrine!

 4) Seek Him in the Word of God. This one should be obvious, but many times today, people will seek everywhere it seems BEFORE they get into the Word. Do you want to SEE Jesus … do you want to KNOW Jesus? Then get into the Book!

 5) Seek Him wholeheartedly!

  • Herein is the promise of finding Him : You shall seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jer.29:13; Psa. 119:2; Deut. 4:29; II Chr. 15:5
  • Herein is the place of rejoicing: Let all those that seek Thee, rejoice and be glad in Thee… Psa. 40:16; Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord … Psa. 105:34

6) Seek His face, not His hand! The scriptures are filled with word pictures that help us in “seeing” God, as He is. Those pictures many times relate to different parts of our body, as human beings, in essence to reveal to us different traits within the nature of God. The theologians call these anthropomorphisms – that is the attributing of human characteristics to “non – humans” (which of course certainly fits God). We are told in scripture to seek His face for revival – II Chr. 7:14. Too many times we seek His hand instead. We use God in essence as our Santa Claus … gimme’ … gimme’ … gimme’! We want power, we want provision for our earthly needs … but we do we really want His face to be known? His face is synonymous with His favor, His pleasure, His smile. Psa. 105:4 – Seek His face evermore.

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. I Pet.3:12

Do we really want the favor of God? His face is inherently tied together in scripture with fearing God and righteous living. Hos. 10:12; Mt. 6:33; Zeph.2:3; Isa. 51:1; II Chr. 7:14 – seek My face and TURN from their wicked ways.

7) Seek Him continually. Seek the Lord, and His strength, seek His face continually. I Chr. 16:11. Seek His face evermore Psa. 105:4

Will you set your face to seek the Lord? What if revival never comes in your lifetime? Will you still continue throughout the rest of your life to seek Him in behalf of our nation … in behalf of His kingdom. Do you remember where God said, I looked and wondered that there were no intercessors! Isa. 59:15,16; 63:5 Will you “follow hard after God” Psa. 63:8

Do you remember where God says, Seek ye the Lord WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND, call ye upon HIM, WHILE HE IS NEAR! The implications of this verse are astounding. There seem to be certain times when God is “near.” Oh, don’t let your theological mindset ignore or deny this truth. There are certain times when God draws near and draws near the hearts of those who are seeking Him. Oh, dear people, DO NOT MISS THIS! Even Jesus, while walking on this earth was looking for earnest seekers, those who would not give up on seeking and searching (Jn.4:23 – the Father seeks such to worship Him) … those who were great in faith to pursue Him until their prayers were heard and their need was met. In Mt. 15 & Mark 7, Jesus leaves the Sea of Galilee area in order to go to the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, a roundtrip of somewere between 70-100 miles. There he meets a woman, a Greek, a Syrophenician whose daughter was demon possessed. She begs him to heal her daughter, he ignores her (answered her not a word), his disciples ask him to send her away, and even when she begins her plea he compares her to “a dog,” and yet she worships at His feet, reasons with Him, and he grants her request, and states, “Oh woman, great is your faith!” Are you “okay” with this? Does your view of a “kind. loving, gentle Jesus” allow for Him appearing to ignore and deny this womans initial need? Please don’t miss this … He was wanting to find out if she would follow hard after God! She did … and her need was met. From the text of Matthew and Mark, it appears that this was the only “project” Jesus took care of while in the coastal region of Tyre & Sidon – he then returns to the Sea of Galilee. I am convinced He went that 100+ miles specifically to meet this woman and daughter’s need … but it would only happen if she diligently sought Him. The same for blind Bartimaeus – had he listened to the crowd instead of continuing to cry out to Jesus, he would still be blind. I think Jesus heard him the first time he cried out, I believe He was waiting to see if Bartimaeus would listen to the crowd or get to God! Would he “follow HARD after God.”

What will you do with this truth? Will YOU follow hard after God. Will you seek Him with ALL YOUR HEART? IT IS TIME TO SEEK THE LORD, TILL HE COMES AND RAINS RIGHTEOUSNESS UPON US! Hos. 10:12

Posted: Jun 12, 2010

God’s Select Order for Revival

Leonard Ravenhill, whom I had the privilege of hearing in person and meeting with for questions and answers on several occasions stated it plainly, “The one main reason why there is no heaven sent revival in America today … is because WE ARE CONTENT TO LIVE WITHOUT IT!”

I wonder how much that is true … I wonder how often that is true in MY own life. Though I have carried a burden for revival for 35 years now, and seen it on numerous occasions … how often am I content to live without it! I am convinced that THE GREATEST NEED in America is REVIVAL. Some are even uncomfortable with the word – they would rather talk about restoration, or renewal, or refreshing … all good words, and all a PART of genuine revival … but they are by-products and not the ultimate need. Psa. 51 would make it clear that they are all needed, but it seems we don’t want to admit WE NEED REVIVAL. The other ideas “seem” a bit more positive, and we are more comfortable to say we need refreshment & renewal … but we need to admit we are in many ways dead! We need to LIVE AGAIN. That is what revival means – God breathing LIFE back into the souls of His children.

I am firmly convinced that 2000 years of church history reveals that THE GREATEST TIMES OF LOST, UNREGENERATED PEOPLE COMING INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD, CAME, NOT AS A RESULT OF AN EVANGELISTIC EFFORT, BUT AS A RESULT OF REVIVAL. I spent 30 years of my life with Life Action Revival Ministries – where at that time (and as far as I know still) we stated our purpose for existence as a ministry was this – “To glorify God, through a revival among God’s people, resulting in a spiritual awakening among the lost.” I think there are several key things stated in that missions statement.

1) To glorify God – this is the ULTIMATE purpose for your life and mine while on this earth. It is not “soul winning” as vital as that is; it is not to build a large church building so people can come once a week for a couple of hours – then go out the rest of the week and “live for themselves”; or to be sure we have the best entertainment available in our community. Our purpose is, “whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do, DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD.” I Cor.10:31

2) Through a revival among God’s people – the very word revival means – to live again. I submit to you, that in order for something (someone) to live again, they must first of all to have possessed life. REVIVAL is for God’s people. Are you hungry for new life to be breathed into you? Into your value system, into your choices, into your words, your use of time, your use of the finances entrusted to you, your morals, your viewing habits, your priorities. Can you think of any of those areas in which you need God to “breathe new life into it?”

3) Resulting in a spiritual awakening among the lost – certainly in our country we need moral reformation, we need character restoration, we need political replacement, we need historical return to the Judeo – Christian foundation that this nation was, without a doubt, founded upon … but undergirding all of that … we need millions of people in America to come to God through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Once they are truly regenerated – they will begin to understand the need morally, politically, spiritually, socially in our land. Think of this – the last great revival that SO impacted the world took place in Wales in a 14 month period in 1904 – 05. Think of this – what if God were to move in America in just the same approximate level that He moved in Wales during that time … we would witness over 30 million people getting saved in 14 months in our nation. Remember – He is able to do exceeding ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL (the name of this ministry) we can ask or think! How does He do that – through the power that works in us (believers) – what power – resurrection power. The same resurrection power that He demonstrated in raising Jesus Christ from the dead (Eph. 1:19) He longs to demonstrate through us (Eph. 3:20) in revival.

So what are those ingredients in chronological order (which is important, since God outlines it as He did) II Chronicles 7:14 – we must:

1) Humble ourselves

2) Pray

3) Seek God’s face

4) Turn from OUR wicked ways.

I will expand on those at a later time (though, if we are honest, we probably don’t need someone to expand because the Holy Spirit in every believer is able to clearly expose to us, if we are listening, the specific needs in our own life).

DEAR FRIENDS … we must humble ourselves. Shhh … go … get quiet … listen to the Lord … and let us agree with God, pray, seek His face and repent. Seek the Lord … till He comes and rains righteousness upon us!

Posted: Mar 16, 2010

Pricetag for Revival

Revival – real revival is always costly. I think of Covington, Indiana. When we began the meetings, little did we know what God had in mind (of course, we never do). During the first days, the revivalist’ wife miscarried their next child. That was hard to go through.

When the meetings began, just a few days into the week, there came a huge snowstorm which so blanketed the area, that it became “against the law” to drive anywhere in the city (‘stay off the roads’ was the message). The blessing hidden in this was that the church happened to have a radio station broadcasting right out of their facilities – a Moody affiliate. When it became impossible to have the regular services – as we prayed, it was determined to take the meetings to the airwaves – so we did. There was a small room in the broadcast area, which we set up for services, we asked the people in town who could walk to the church to come on and we would hold services in that room – we had the team sing, and we continued our services of teaching Family Revival principles and Personal Revival principles, set up a Prayer Room and continued on, watching God work. Only now, it was not just for First Baptist Church, it was going out to the entire station coverage area! Once the snow was cleared, it was determined that we should continue the services on the radio, because so many people were listening in and obeying the Lord. When the services were moved back to the main sanctuary, there were many attending who did not even normally attend that church. The Spirit of God used this to impact within a 30 mile radius of the church, extending at least over into Danville, Il.

People began obeying the Lord – sin was confessed and repented of, marriages were being restored, one lawyer went ‘on the air’ saying he had been making a living off of peoples tragedy in divorce cases and under the conviction of God he would no longer take divorce cases – but would do all he could to salvage troubled marriages. A former chairman of the deacons testified that he had stood by during a tragic split which had occured in the church five years before and watched people leave ‘in mass,’ and his response had been ‘good riddance’ we are better off without them – he was convicted he had done nothing to stop the split – he had not been a ‘peacemaker’ – that is, one helping others make peace with God.

A man invited me one day to go with him to work out at the YMCA in Danville, when we finished our workout, as I was finishing up in the locker room, I noticed across the room a man looking curiously at me – he opened the conversation saying, ‘I don’t recognize you, are you new to the area?’ I explained I was part of a revival team holding services in Covington – 30 miles away. He had been listening to the services – when I mentioned that, he began to cry and said, “I thought so … I just knew it … I need your help!” Long story short – he was deeply under conviction about an adulterous relationship he had been involved in for 14 years! Not only that – he was a pastor! I walked through that process with him over the next few weeks as God put his marriage back together & gave he and his wife a new marriage. In the process of those weeks, he also came to realize he had never been saved – A Pastor! Trained in seminary, working in ministry … and lost. He was gloriously saved and God gave a new beginning to his life.

The strange thing in the meetings was that the more people testified of being freed up by God from their sin and bitterness and unforgiveness, etc., it seemed that the pastor of the church became more uneasy. Somehow, with all this ‘junk’ being confessed and repented of, he took it personal – as if it were a reflection of his ministry being ‘a failure’ – his pride was being confronted, and God was tryiing to bring him to the cross. The ‘free-er’ the people became – the more bound up he became. One Sunday afternoon, while at home, he called his Head deacon and said, “if the church is in this bad a shape, my ministry is a complete failure and I want to offer you my resignation!’ The deacon knew his pastor, just like all the rest of us, was struggling with “coming to the cross, humbling himself through brokeness and obedience, and acknowledging his own need.” The deacon merely responded – “pastor, if you believe that is what God wants, then I will meet you later at the church and accept your resignation.” This is not what the pastor expected – he fully expected the deacon to try to talk him out of it, and tell him what a great pastor he was, etc.. When the pastor got off the phone, by his own testimony later on, he went into a angry rage in the privacy of his own home – again, his pride being crushed and eventually, when he saw it, he fell on his face in his dining room, weeping like a baby under the weight of his own stubborn, prideful heart – crying out to God. His wife witnessing what had just happened, came into the room where he was laying on the floor, just fell right over his body, and began to pray for her husband – asking God to break him and reveal to him what was really going on in his heart and set him free! This happened and when that pastor stood before his people that evening in the service … he was a free man – his countenance was different – instead of reacting negatively to the ‘broken – new found freedom testimonies,’ he could finally enter in and rejoice in what God was doing in peoples lives.

On the third Sunday morning when the Chairman of the Deacons testified about his bitterness, he asked the people to forgive him and then stated that on Monday evening, he was going over to the new church (started by the split) and stand before those people and seek their forgiveness. (That church ‘just happened’ to have revival meetings of their own going on at the time!) We then asked if anyone else needed to join him on that venture – to our amazement over 80 people said they needed to be a part of that reconcilation meeting. What had been happening inside this church was now about to begin impacting the entire community! One deacon in this small town, after that reconciliation meeting confessed that “he had not driven on a particular street in that town for five years because Deacon ‘so & so’ lived on that street, and he had been one of the folks who had left the church during the split – so he would never drive again on that street because of the bitterness he felt in his heart toward that man.” When God set him free from that bitterness and his relationship with that man was restored, he said, “Yesterday I got in my car, and for three hours … all I did was drive up and down that street – rejoicing and praising God for freeing me up from my bitterness!”

Oh the joy of a people set free by God! There is nothing more powerful than God’s people walking on in obedience. God’s people walking in revival opens the door to share the gospel in a whole new way, with power and a clear conscience. Lost people in the community listen with ‘new ears’ because NO LONGER are the lives of professing believers standing in the way of their coming to Christ for salvation. The question then, which we all must ponder is … am I a catalyst for revival or a hindrance to it coming? Oh, may God’s power be unleashed in a free, broken, surrendered, holy people!

Posted: Nov 29, 2009

Genuine Revival – Never Got Over It!

It started with a prayer meeting early Thursday morning, (that none of the students knew about). Then while the revival team was out of town (30 miles away) God’s presence invaded – a spirit of conviction began to spread into the classrooms at the Christian school. Students began asking teachers (who were teaching their normal subjects) if they could say something. “I do not mean to interrupt, but could you please pray for me … I need Jesus!” These pleadings spilled over into the schedule of the pastoral staff because students were lined up outside their offices and down the hallwaysdoing eternal business with God!
No one preached a sermon, no one told an emotional story, no one was presenting a Christian concert … God just began placing conviction on the hearts of the students; they were not prepared to meet God, and they could stand it no longer! It went from classroom to classroom; it was happening out on the athletic field, and even in the locker rooms in the gym.
(IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT PEOPLE WILL SHOW UP AT CHURCH FOR TWO THINGS … A FIGHT … OR A FIRE! THANK GOD … THIS WAS FOR A FIRE!)
By the time the evening service began, in a meeting where only 30% of the church had been involved (including students who were required to be there), now suddenly, in one day, that number had doubled! On this evening there were about 3,000 in the services! Word had begun to spread about town as to what God was doing in the Christian academy that day! That night as opportunity was given to testify about the work of God in the school, there seemed to be a lingering question in many hearts. In a crowd of 3,000 +, will any young people have the boldness to share? The aisles were flooded with volunteers! By the time the evening service was drawing to a close,over 50 teenagers had testified – and when the invitation was given, as hundreds found their way into the Prayer Rooms, over 90 adults had encountered God in genuine salvation!

When I returned to the dormitories that evening, I could not sleep! I just lay in bed rehearsing all that God had done the last 14 hours on campus. It was amazing! Since I obviously was not going to be able to sleep, somewhere around 2:30 a.m., I got dressed and went down to the lobby of the dorm (an old downtown hotel we had converted into a dorm), only to discover there were others who could not sleep either … 400 hundred of them! They were not partying … not just hanging out … they were all praying and crying out to God to “not let up!”

Later that morning our chapel service began around 10:00 a.m., like normal … but it was anything but normal! At 2:30 that afternoon, we were still going (we had continued right through all the lunch periods and no one seemed to notice or even care)! At that point, the president of the college stood to announce, “There will no classes the rest of the day … we are calling everything off in favor of God!” We knew without a doubt we were in the midst of something not contrived by man, but sent from heaven! It was a divine encounter that no one could deny!
What happened in the Christian school, college and church that first 48 hours began to spill over into the community and a one hour television program that went out live on hundreds of stations on Sunday morning. By the time those days of revival were completed, there had been almost 700 people (683 recorded) giving their lives to Christ in genuine salvation (many of them had believed they were already saved … until they witnessed the great power of God in conversion of multitudes around them) and then eventually, a book written (“Glory in the Church” by Dr. Ed Hindson [Thomas Nelson Publishers]) to record and testify the goodness of God in revival.
To this day, as I reflect back, as I ponder, as I dream … I find myself asking … why do we continue to settle for less? Why do we not as believers, once again, bombard heavens gates with our heart crys …“Oh God … do it again!” Will you join me in that passionate cry to heaven? Oh God, give us intercessors … God gives us a holy dissatisfaction for “business as usual” and an insatiable desire for Your holiness and glory to once again be known in the church which you purchased with your own blood! Lord, send a revival … a REAL revival … and, let it begin in me!

Posted: Nov 14, 2009