I have spent more time in prayer this week than I have in a long time, maybe more than ever. The focus is on Revival. I believe that people have seen us as Christians live “powerless” lives for far too long. They have watched as our prayers go un-answered and at times when we manufacture our own answer to our prayers. They have watched as Christians we live defeated, addicted, love-less lives. This has to stop, it all has to change, there has to be the presence of God. There has to be Holy Spirit Power that shakes us to our knees.
God has convinced me of several things this morning as I prayed and ran just over 5 miles. Without the Joy of God, nothing will ever satisfy. Cars, boats, relationships, campers, motorcycles, golf, money, power in this present world, none of these will ever make us happy for very long. Seek after God’s presence in your life, make it your priority, make it your passion, run after His presence with everything in you.
Keep your focus on Christ and His promises, do not get sidetracked and focused on your perceived problems.
No Revival ever lasts without the Power of Holy Spirit. Pray for the filling of the Holy Spirit. I was praying on the run this morning and told God, “I don’t ever want to preach without your power and your presence, there is nothing I can do that will change lives with lasting impact without the Power of Holy Spirit. I don’t want to live this life any longer in my own strength,I don’t want to do church anymore just to do church. The people need to see a move of God that is unmistakable, a move that is truly life changing, to see things happen that only God can make happen.
Look at these verses from I Peter Chapter 4 NLT
1 So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. 2 You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. 3 You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.
4 Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. 5 But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead. 6 That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit.
7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.
10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
14 So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 15If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. 16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!
17 For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? 18 And also, “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?”
“My Commentary”
Verse 17 means that as God’s people, we are to submit to God’s ways. We are to practice the things that we already know, we are to believe in what we say we believe in, God and His ways.
Be Ready to Suffer
Don’t Spend Your Life Chasing “Your Desires”
Do not participate in evil, Godless things
Be “disciplined” in you prayers
Show Deep Love for Your Brothers and Sisters In Christ
Remember and Thank God for the Privilege of being called a Child of God
I am praying and asking that you will join me. Come to the service on Sunday morning prayed up and expecting a Mighty Move of God. If we do not expect our prayers to be answered then we may as well not pray.
Revival is Upon Us!
Pastor Ronnie
Amen, Bro. Ronnie! Pray it, live it, preach it!