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
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
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
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
Monday, October 5, 2009
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
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
Thursday, October 1, 2009
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
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
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