Prayer Of A Minor Prophet - A.W Tozer

“O Lord, I have heard Thy voice and was afraid. Thou hast called me to an awesome task in a grave and perilous hour. Thou art about to shake all nations and the earth and also heaven that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. O Lord, our Lord, Thou hast stopped to honor me to be Thy servant. No man taketh this honor upon himself save he that is called of God as was Aaron. Thou hast ordained me Thy messenger to them that are stubborn of heart and hard of hearing. They have rejected Thee, the Master, and it is not to be expected that they will receive me, the servant.

My God, I shall not waste time deploring my weakness nor my unfittedness for the work The responsibility is not mine, but Thine. Thou hast said, “I knew thee – I ordained thee – I sanctified thee,” and Thou hast also said, “Thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command all that I shalt speak.” Who am I to argue with Thee or to call into question Thy sovereign choice? The decision is not mine, but Thine. So be it, Lord. Thy will, not mine, be done.

Well do I know, Thou God of the prophets and the apostles that as long as I honor Thee Thou will honor me. Help me therefore to take this solemn vow to honor Thee in all my future life and labors, whether by gain or by loss, by life or by death, and then to keep that vow unbroken while I live.

It is time, O God, for Thee to work, for the enemy has entered into Thy pastures and the sheep are torn and scattered. And false shepherds abound who deny the danger and laugh at the perils, which surround Thy flock. The sheep are deceived by these hirelings and follow them with touching loyalty while the wolf closes in to kill and destroy. I beseech Thee, give me sharp eyes to detect the presence of the enemy; give me understanding to distinguish the false friend form the true. Give me vision to see and courage to report what I see faithfully. Make my voice so like Thine own that even the sick sheep will recognize it and follow Thee.

Lord Jesus, I come to Thee for spiritual preparation. Lay Thy hand upon me. Anoint me with the oil of the New Testament prophet. Forbid that I should become a religious scribe and thus lose my prophetic calling. Save me from the curse that lies dark across the face of the modern clergy, the curse of compromise, of imitation, of professionalism. Save me from the error of judging a church by its size, its popularity, or the amount of its yearly offering. Help me to remember that I am a prophet; not a promoter, not a religious manager – but a prophet. Let me never become a slave to crowds. Heal my soul of carnal ambitions and deliver me from the itch for publicity. Save me from bondage to things. Let me not waste my days puttering around the house. Lay Thy terror upon me, O God, and drive me to the place of prayer where I may wrestle with principalities and powers and the rulers of darkness of this world. Deliver me from overeating and late sleeping. Teach me self discipline that I may be a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

I accept hard work and small rewards in this life. I ask for no easy place. I shall try to be blind to the little ways that could make my life easier. If others seek the smoother path I shall try to take the hard way without judging them too harshly. I shall expect opposition and try to take it quietly when it comes. Or if, as sometimes it falleth out to Thy servants, I should have grateful gifts pressed upon me by Thy kindly people, stand by me then and save me from the blight that often follows. Teach me to use whatever I receive in such a manner that it will not injure my soul nor diminish my spiritual power. And if in Thy permissive providence honor should come to me from Thy church, let me not forget in that hour that I am unworthy of the least of Thy mercies, and that if men knew me as intimately as I know myself they would withhold their honors or bestow them upon others more worthy to receive them.

And now, O Lord of heaven an earth, I consecrate my remaining days to Thee; let them be few, as Thou wilt. Let me stand before the great or minister to the poor and lowly; that choice is not mine, and I would not influence it if I could I am Thy servant to do Thy will, and that will is sweeter to me than position or riches or fame an I choose it above al things on earth or in heaven.

Though I am chosen of Thee and honored by a high and holy calling, let me never forget that I am but a man of dust and ashes, a man with all the natural faults and passions that plague the race of men. I pray Thee, therefore, my Lord and Redeemer, save me from myself and form all the injuries I may do myself while trying to be a blessing to others. Fill me with Thy power by the Holy Spirit, and I will go in Thy strength and tell of Thy righteousness, even Thine only. I will spread abroad the message of redeeming love while my normal powers endure.

Then, dear Lord, when I am old and weary and too tired to go on, have a place ready for me above, and make me to be numbered with Thy saints in glory everlasting. Amen. AMEN.”

AUGUST 7
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE…?
By Dave Lockard CRF Team

Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

In my marriage conferences I ask similar questions to the one above. How long did it take after you were married for things to start to change? What I mean is how long did it take before things started to “cool down” in this new adventure? Something that you both had waited and longed for finally happened, and two became one as the Bible says; but after the newness wore off reality sets in. The cooling down process generally starts sometime after the honeymoon is over and we get settled in our routines. How long did it take before your husband stopped opening doors for you? (the car door, the house door, or doors at the store?} How long did it take for you to stop meeting him at the door when he came home from work? How long did it take before you stopped taking romantic walks under the moon with your love? How long did it take for you to stop asking and start demanding from each other? How long did it take for you to stop having prayer time & devotions together?

How can we keep that internal flame of passion burning? Too often we have a short love affair with the object of our affection only to miss the real meaning, purpose and devotion of what love is. What safe guards can be put into place so that this passionate fire is not put out? We must guard our hearts from selfishness. We need to define what real love is and understand the dangers of lust. Lust is a selfish love for one’s own selfish desires. Sometimes lust is disguised as love but the end results leave you bitter and disappointed.

Are you still passionately in love with Jesus? He is with you. Have you left your
first love? What lie have you conceived that caused you to cool down? If you
find yourself in such a place today, mercy and grace awaits for you. Your return
to your first love is only a prayer away. You may have taken a thousand steps
away from the Lord but all it takes is one step towards him and He will meet you
there. Christ is able to re-new, rekindle and revive any cold relationship. We
must return not only to the object of our love but to the motive of our love and
examine the intentions of our love. Today’s scripture notes the idea of
leaving, abandoning, and deserting your first love but the following verse offers
hope and restoration. Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art
fallen, and repent.


Dave Lockard CRF Team

AND HE SHALL REIGN
By Bill Goetz CRF Team


It is difficult to consider the record of unspeakable and repeated cruelty and brutality of man to man throughout history. The never-ending accounts serve to dishearten and dismay. The staggering immorality and gross wickedness is mind-boggling.

And what seems even worse is the task of surveying our current culture with its ominous resemblance to the Age of Decline and Collapse in past empires. And there does not appear to be much prospect in the immediate future of a break in the dark clouds on the horizon – apart from intervention.

Individually, thank God, we can know Christ’s presence, provision and protection, but for mankind in general, the future looks exceeding bleak. Reflecting on these facts was weighing down my soul.

I attended a presentation of Handel’s Messiah by full orchestra and 200-voice choir at Prairie Bible College. Like sun breaking through clouds, the glorious truths of Scripture, set to the powerful music of Handel, bathed my soul and spirit in celestial light with the reminders of God’s sovereignty.

For unto us a child is born,
Unto us a son is given…
And the government shall be upon His shoulder…
He is the King of glory.

Then, finally, the majestic soul-stirring “Hallelujah Chorus”:

Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth…
And He shall reign forever and ever.
King of kings, and Lord of lords,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

As I stood with that large audience to honor the King Eternal, my heart soared, and I could not contain the tears of joy. I was reminded that He is, indeed, the Lord, the omnipotent Sovereign, the King of Kings. HE SHALL REIGN!

Later, as I reflected upon and basked in the truth that God is sovereign, that He is love and that we can trust the judge of the whole earth to do right, the words of a Southern Gospel song came to mind:

Ain’t no need to worry
If you’ve been born again.
I’ve read the back of the Book
And we win!

That’s a reassuring thought and a wonderful truth which will sustain us in whatever difficult days may lie ahead. However, if you’ve not been born again, that’s not an assurance. For you, there is no decision in all of life as important as the decision to admit your need of a Savior, repent of your sin and trust Christ for salvation. Do it today.

In the meantime, for every believer, it’s our responsibility and privilege to –

walk closely with our Lord in the power of His Spirit
hold loosely the things of earth, and
make every effort to snatch loved ones, friends and neighbors from the fate that awaits all those who do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

In other words – live a normal Christian life.

Bill Goetz from his book WHEN THE EMPIRE STRIKES OUT p. 209-211

Revival

Revival?

Churches often advertise “revival”. There are three problems – it is sad, it is presumptuous, and it is weak.

It is sad. Revival means to bring to life again and thus churches are (unwittingly) advertising they are dying, in need of life, backslidden, lukewarm, and in a bad way. To be in a dying condition is a shame. It does not seem like something to advertise. But maybe credit should be given for honesty.

It is presumptuous. The Spirit of God is unpredictable like the wind, John 3.8, and how does a church know that they will be revived as a result of some special meetings with some visiting preacher? If God does not arise and visit them, the special meetings will be of no effect and business will go on as usual.

It is weak. Historic revival is not some evangelistic campaign, but it is God coming to a church or to churches or to a community in a supernatural way with unusual power. It is divine fire and you don’t have to advertise a fire. Examples?
• In the Hebrides Revival of 1949, for example, God came in such a powerful way that communities were swept into the Kingdom of God almost overnight.
• The Canadian Revival of 1970 began in Saskatoon, SK, and in a matter of days the biggest building in the city could not handle the crowds. It spread and in Winnipeg returned stolen goods were so many that one department store had to designate a special building. Families were healed. Lives were changed.
• After much prayer the South African Revival of 1966 began when God came as at Pentecost with a “sound from heaven,” Acts 2.2. Dozens each day came uninvited to the meeting place under conviction of sin and asking for spiritual help.
This is revival; this is new life. May God do it again, even in our city.

Habakkuk 3:2 O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years.

Psalm 85:6 Will You not Yourself revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?

Robert Jennings, co-pastor
Hwy. M Chapel

Heart Cry

Single-Minded Revival Heart Cry?

by Dan Erickson

Everyone who wants to glorify God should apply the Book of James. In my search of the Scriptures as to why there has been no heaven-sent revival and spiritual awakening across North America since 1905, I came across James 1:5-8. There we are told that the Lord will not find fault with our request for wisdom. Wisdom could be defined simply as knowing what is right to do and doing it – maybe a simple definition of revival. His problem is with the state of the minds and the attitude of the hearts of those making the request.

Ministries like CRF have worked for decades and are working today to help point the way to "praying ground" by helping God's people deal with sin, self and the Holy Spirit. Lots of people have subsequently been exposed to what God has done in the great outpourings of history and left with the challenge to stay on praying ground (live holy, obedient lives) and pray for Him to do it again. But what happens then?

We make one of three choices:

Choice 1

Personally, we can wish God would act BUT choose to doubt that He really wants to or is even able to send outpouring in our day. "We've gone too far" and "God has waited too long and now He can't do it in a society like we have today" is seldom said right out but is inferred by what we may say and do. We may even ask God to make "Ishmael" ministries stand before Him - man-made solutions from unbelief. (See Genesis 17:15-19). This position denies Acts 3:19, which literally says that time-after-time, right through to the end of the age of grace, God will send times of refreshing. Even a brief study of the dark times in the past and how God sent His outpourings (in answer to the prayers of those who would believe) would further confirm His unchanging ability and perfect timing.

Choice 2

We can believe that God wants and is able to send outpouring, BUT we really don't want Him to do so. It might change things from the way we like them.

Choices 1 & 2 both suggest a "double mind." James 1:6-8 warns, "…Let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord." It's no use to pray for something we either don't believe God will do or really don't want Him to do.

Choice 3

We can take the "no BUTS" approach. God answered a gushing spirit of prayer around a pastor by the name of Bill McLeod who was willing to prime the pump by his own single-minded heart cry. This choice is ours to make today.

Dan Erickson
CRF Member

The Prophetic Warnings Part Two

By Bill Goetz CRF Team

SECOND: BELIEVE

Then, believe that God does not want you to perish eternally in the torment of hell because of your sin. Believe that God loves you so much that He provided a way whereby He cold still be a just, holy and righteous God and yet pardon you – a sinner.

Believe that God did not just overlook sin, but that He sent His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to provide salvation by personally paying the penalty for sin.

Believe that Jesus Christ, whose life, death, burial and resurrection is the best-attested fact of antiquity, did come to earth to live, die, rise again and ascend to heaven in order to provide justification and salvation for all who trust Him.

Believe that He, and He alone, can save you because He has fully satisfied the just demands of God. Believe that you can’t become righteous in God’s sight by your own effort.

Believe that He wants to save you and that He will save you.

The Bible provides a solid basis for such belief:
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise … He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

For God so love the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

But God presented him (Jesus Christ) as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished – he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies the man who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:25, 26

I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you … that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures

The Prophetic Warnings

A B C Part

By Bill Goetz CRF Team

What should you do to avoid making the eternally fatal mistake of failing to heed the prophetic warnings God has given? Ho w do you ensure your eternal salvation? What action should you take? The answers to those questions, which are the most important anyone could possibly face in a lifetime, can be summarized from the Bible in ABC fashion.

In order to accept the offer of God’s grace and His salvation you must take the steps of:

1. Agreeing

2. Believing

3. Calling

FIRST: AGREE

First, agree with God in all that He says in His Word, the Bible, about the fact that you are separated from God by your sin. Admit that you are a sinner who has broken God’s righteous laws.

Agree with God that sin deserves His punishment, because He is a just, holy, righteous God. Admit that you are properly under that sentence and that you fully deserve it in all its awesomeness.

The Bible makes these facts very clear:

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Habakkuk 1:13a

Nothing impure will ever enter it (heaven) nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful. Revelation 21:27a

All wrongdoing is sin. I John 5:17a

For the wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23a

The Bible describes three kinds of death; physical death (the state experienced when life leaves our bodies); spiritual death (spiritual separation from a holy God caused by our sin. A person can be alive physically but dead spiritually Ephesians 2:1; and eternal death (the fixed state entered into by the individual who dies physically while he is dead spiritually).

It is eternal death, in particular, which is the horrible result of receiving the wages of sin. The Lord Jesus Christ frequently described such a death as being eternal (without end) in a destiny which He called hell. He described hell as a literal place of judgment Matthew 13:42; a place of everlasting fire Matthew 18:8; a place of torment Luke 16:24, 28; a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth Matthew 13:50; a place of remorse Mark (;44-48; of bitter memory Luke 16:25,and a place originally prepared for the Devil and his angels Matthew 25:41. In fact, Jesus more often warned about hell than He spoke about heaven. It is not God’s will to desire that any person should be consigned to perish in hell 2 Peter 3:9, but rather that all should come to repentance.

But God’s justice requires that “the soul who sins is the one who will die Ezekiel 18:4.

So, agree with God, admitting that you are a sinner under God’s just condemnation for that sin and that you are in need of His salvation.

Bill Goetz CRF Team fro his book APOCALYPSE NEXT p 371-72