Revival

Revival is an outpouring of God’s love through believers that travels into unbelievers.

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”  Colossians 3:16 (NASB)

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Let this be a time of worship to God.  Pray each prayer and add your own personal message to God.  Read each scripture as though reading it for the first time – listen carefully for the voice of God.  Listen to each song paying close attention to the lyrics provided.  These songs were carefully chosen.  Even if the music is not your favorite style of music, know that the musicians performing are sincerely making music to the Lord.  Try to feel the passion in their words and their musical expression.  Give thought to the message presented and confirm the truth therein by opening your Bible and taking some time to do your own personal study.  May you be greatly blessed.

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Let’s Pray Together

Almighty Creator of the universe, watching over us all, we praise your holy name.  Guide us toward your approaching kingdom as loyal followers of your every desire.  Thank you for all that you provide in our lives.  Bless us Father with your goodness and mercy, as we stumble our way through this life, and provide us with the ability to bless others in the same manner.  Keep our minds ever vigilant to the disruptive powers of the evil one.  Guide us on a path that avoids destruction.  You alone are our protector and deliverer.  We ask these things in the Holy name of Jesus.  Amen.

Revival

Those who have trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, by placing their faith in his death and resurrection as payment for their sinful nature, are granted eternal life in the kingdom of heaven.  That’s the simple message of Christianity.  Beyond salvation, is a life lived here on earth as a follower of Jesus.  On our way to the kingdom of heaven, we have to travel through this life in preparation for our eternal existence with God.  The purpose of our time spent in this life is spiritual development.  God has given us this life in order to grow in the Lord – in knowledge and in experience.

This life is where we learn the difference between good and evil.  To that end, God has populated this world with believers and unbelievers.  As believers, our goal is to guide the unbelievers into the footsteps of Jesus.  Sometimes we can do that with words, but the most effective tool for bringing the lost to the saving knowledge of Jesus is through our actions.  Revival – a great awakening of unbelievers – is not likely to materialize as a result of wonderful sermons or well written evangelical messages; revival is more likely to come about as a result of Christians demonstrating their love of God by serving others with that same love.

“We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.”  1 John 4:19-21(NASB)

Jesus was the ultimate servant who walked the earth serving others, eventually giving up his life for all humanity.  When believers demonstrate that same servant’s spirit, unbelievers see the life of Jesus reflected and seek to know him as well.  People find hope in the loving spirit of Jesus brought to life through sacrificial service to others.  When help arrives, fear is diminished.  When we stand together helping on another, we have unlimited strength.  Revival will be born out of service to others.

When Jesus returned to Jerusalem on his way to the cross, the crowds welcomed him shouting “Hosanna” which is a cry for salvation from God.  They knew Jesus was declaring himself to be the Messiah and they were calling on him to deliver them from their Roman oppressors.  At this point, they did not fully understand how far Jesus was willing to go on their behalf.

Let this song lift your spirit.

Hosanna – Paul Baloche

Praise is rising, eyes are turning to You, we turn to You

Hope is stirring, hearts are yearning for You, we long for You

‘Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day

In Your Presence all our fears are washed away, washed away

Hosanna, hosanna

You are the God Who saves us, worthy of all our praises

Hear the sound of hearts returning to You, we turn to You

In Your Kingdom broken lives are made new, You make us new

‘Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day

In Your Presence all our fears are washed away, washed away

Hosanna, hosanna

You are the God Who saves us, worthy of all our praises

Hosanna, hosanna

Come have Your way among us

We welcome You here, Lord Jesus

‘Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day

In Your Presence all our fears are washed away

Hosanna, hosanna

You are the God Who saves us, worthy of all our praises

Hosanna, hosanna

Come have Your way among us

We welcome You here, Lord Jesus

Surrender to God

The world we live in has a way of turning unbelievers against God.  Sometimes unbelievers feel they are in a battle against a God that is trying to force them into a lifestyle they don’t understand.  The truth is, there is no battle with God; the battle is with the evil forces of this world and the spiritual world beyond.

“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”  Ephesians 6:12 (NASB)

Those “spiritual forces of wickedness” have a great deal of control over this world.  Their main weapon is deception.  They convince unbelievers it’s best to turn your back on God or aggressively resist him at all cost.  When Christians demonstrate God’s love with a servant’s heart toward unbelievers, they will begin to realize their real fight is with the devil.

“Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  James 4:7 (NASB)

Revival will take hold when Christians live their lives filled with the fruits of the spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).  In so doing, unbelievers will see the dramatic contrast between this world and the life of a follower of Jesus Christ.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”  Romans 12:2 (NASB)

Revival begins when unbelievers lay down their weapons and surrender to God.  Believers move closer to God when they give all of their life to Jesus by living as a servant to others.

Let this song speak to your heart.

White Flag – Chris Tomlin – Passion 2012

The battle rages on

As storm and tempest roar

We cannot win this fight

Inside our rebel hearts

We’re laying down our weapons now

We raise our white flag

We surrender

All to You

All for You

We raise our white flag

The war is over

Love has come

Your love has won

Here on this Holy ground

You made a way for peace

Laying your body down

You took our rightful place

This freedom song is marching on

We raise our white flag

We surrender

All to You

All for You

We raise our white flag

The war is over

Love has come

Your love has won

Your love has won

We lift the cross

Lift it high lift it high [x8]

We raise our white flag

We surrender

All to You

All for You

We raise our white flag

The war is over

Love has come

Your love has won

We raise our white flag

We surrender

All to You

All for You

We raise our white flag

The war is over

Love has come

Your love has won

We lift the cross

Lift it high lift it high [x4]

Walk in the Light

When we trust Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are given a newly awakened spiritual and eternal life.  All the darkness found in this world is fully illuminated when we begin a relationship with Jesus.

“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”  John 8:12(NASB)

Believers are transformed by the light of Jesus; when this transformation is fully matured, that light is reflected in the good deeds done in service to others.  The recipients of those good deeds are also washed in the light of Jesus.

“You were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.”  Ephesians 5:8 (NASB)

This light is the true source of revival.  It is the light of Jesus that will bring about a great awakening of unbelievers.  His light shining down from heaven, through believers, and into the lives of unbelievers is the generating force of revival.

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”  James 1:17(NASB)

Revival is an outpouring of God’s love through believers that travels into unbelievers.  This can be accomplished individually, as a group, or through an entire church congregation.  God’s love is flowing through the hearts of every believer and his light is shining in the darkness for all to see.  It’s up to those of us who have trusted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior to share his love and light with the world.

Let this song lift your spirit.

God Of Brilliant Lights – Aaron Shust

Come and break through the darkness

Come and break through the darkness God

Your love is like an ocean

Sing it out, shout it loud

Cover all the earth

Let the sound of the saints

Everywhere be heard

Praise the God who has come

To cure every broken heart

He is lord over all

His reign will never end

Through the fire and the flood

He draws his children in

He’s the light of the world

Brighter than the brightest star

The god of brilliant lights

Is shining down over us

Breaking through the darkness

Covering all the earth

Oooh, his love is like an ocean

Oooh, forever overflowing

The god of brilliant lights is shining over us

Sinners come to the cross

And lay your troubles down

At the feet of the one whose mercy will abound

He’s not afraid of our filth

He will never turn away

The god of brilliant lights

Is shining down over us

Breaking through the darkness

Covering all the earth

Oooh, his love is like an ocean

Oooh, forever overflowing

The god of brilliant lights is shining over us

Is shining over us

Like the morning rises

God your light is shining

Shining over us

Is shining over us

Like the morning rises

God your light is shining

Shining over us, shining

Is shining over us, shining

Like the morning rises

God Your light is shining over us

The god of brilliant lights is shining down over us

Breaking through the darkness

Covering all the earth

Oooh, His love is like an ocean

Oooh, forever overflowing

Oooh, His love is overtaking

Oooh, we’ll never be forsaken

The god of brilliant lights

Oh, the god of brilliant lights

Is shining over us

He’s shining over us

Thank you for spending this time worshiping God.

His door is now open to you.  You are in God’s presence.  Don’t leave without Him.  Keep Him with you throughout your day.

Go in peace.

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Thinking About God