Fire is Breaking Out!

There is a fire breaking out in America!  Isaiah 43:19 declares that God is doing a new thing and asks, "do we not perceive it?"  If you haven't heard about what is happening at the Asbury College revival and the spreading to other colleges, it would be worth your time to check it out.  God has promised to revive His church, and this is one of many things He is doing to awaken His church.  He is no respecter of persons which means He is also willing to revive each of us wherever we are.  The prophetic word from people like Chuck Pierce, Tim Sheets, Gina Gholston, Dutch Sheets (Give Him 15) and many others is that God is not through with America, but rather will in amazing ways renew and restore His people to fulfill His original purpose for this nation. Let's keep praying for another "Great Awakening."  

Many people do not realize the godly foundation and the commitment that God's people made in the establishment of this country.  (The liberal anti-God agenda is to wipe out all memory of God being the center or how this nation was formed.)  Therefore, as we celebrate President George Washington and Abraham Lincoln on President's Day, it is beneficial to focus on the convictions of the founding fathers. 

We thank God for those men and women who sought God and committed America to the Lord and the spread of His Gospel.  The people on the Mayflower declared their faith toward Almighty God as they placed a cross on the shoreline and released this prayer and prophetic declaration:  We do hereby dedicate this land and ourselves to reach the people within these shores with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to raise up godly generations after us, and with these generations take the kingdom of God to all the earth...from these very shores, the gospel shall go forth, no only to the New World, but the entire world. 

Notice this same awareness of God and the purpose of this country in George Washington's comments.  He stated, "It is impossible to govern a nation without God and the Bible."  He also understood, "It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor."  Washington also showed great wisdom in his vision for our future, stating, "The future of this nation depends upon the Christian training of our youth."  

Likewise, consider Abraham Lincoln’s statement on honoring God, “My concern is not whether God is on our side, my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” Lincoln endorsed the Word of God, “I believe the Bible is the greatest gift God has given to man.  All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book.” 

Consider what Psalm 67 declares about why God blesses us.  "God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, (Selah) that Your way may be known upon the earth, Your salvation among all nations."  In short, God reveals Himself and His goodness to us so that we can make Him known to the whole world.  

Yes, God is not mocked, but will surely fulfill His promises and purpose for us and for our nation.  We rejoice for the fire that is breaking out, and humbly submit ourselves, "Here I am, Lord, send me."  May this fire and fresh blessing of God continue to grow so each one of us will be a true witness of Him and as a result cause many to come to know God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The Spirit and the bride say, Come, Lord Jesus!  Burn, Fire of God!  

 

Do What is In Your Power

Anyone overwhelmed by the frontal assaults of the enemy on God's standards for life?  

The very foundations of the purpose of life, such as existence of God, His creating everything, the primary call to know and serve God, the authority of God's Word as truth, the role of marriage, sex, and gender that He established, and His command to love one another, etc. are being openly mocked and deliberately overridden by the new "man-made rules."  How clearly Psalm 11 describes this drastic situation, "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"  We are seeing a bad tree bearing bad fruit, much like what happened in Judges when "everyone did what was right in his own eyes."  Man's rebellion leaves the world in a desperate condition.

However, God is not mocked.  This degradation of mankind and the rebellion against God's standards did not take the Lord by surprise.  Notice how Jesus addresses this challenge in John 16:33, "These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Not only has Jesus overcome the world, but He has passed the victory torch to us.  This is revealed in 1 John 5:4, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that overcomes the world--our faith."  When we were born again and filled with the Spirit, we literally are "Christian" or "little Christs" that walk in the same overcoming life and power of God as Jesus did.  This awesome gift is completely because of what Jesus has done, and has nothing to do with our being good or holy enough to do this. Just as Paul explained to the Romans that those who "receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ."  The torch of overcoming power has been given to us.  What are we going to do with it? 

Consider two defintie instructions that give direction.  First, fight the good fight of faith.  If you remember Jesus, after sharing the parable about the persistent widow seeking justice in Luke 18, asks the question, "when the Son of Man comes,will He find faith on the earth?"  So clearly there is a definite need to"build yourselves up on your most holy faith" (Jude 1:20).  We live by faith, not by sight; by what Jesus has done instead of how strong we feel.  Faith, of course, comes from hearing and hearing from the Word of God. It is not a little thing to take time each day and give attention to the Word of God.  Come to Him with a hunger and thirst for a "rhema" word like you have to have it or you will die.  There is more truth in that comment than our flesh wants to admit.  We must have faith to please God. 

Secondly, there is a principle with God stated in Proverbs 3:27, "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so."  In other words, do what is in your power.  We can't do everything may be true, but it is not an acceptable excuse.  We can do something.  

We have been given authority in the name of Jesus to destroy enemy strongholds.  We have the blood of Jesus and the word of testimony that overcomes Satan.  We can declare the Word of God and let God confirm His truth.  We can submit to God and resist the enemy causing him to flee.  We are not helpless, but rather fully equipped to stand and see God "crush Satan under our (your) feet!"   

Often the "something" we can do is to be faithful in the "little" things so God can do the much.  Pray, read the Word and release His power by declaring His truth.  Put on the armor and stand, taking authority in the name of Jesus over the powers of darkness that you see working.  Unite with other Christians.  There is great power in being one in heart and mind "when two or three agree."  Do not let yourself be weary in well doing, but be refreshed in His presence,  Do what is in your power and see the salvation, or overcoming victory, that the Lord desires and deserves.  He is worthy.                                                                                                           

 

Strengthen the Foundation

"The nets will not be able to contain them." is one description of how many souls will come into the kingdom in the coming great harvest.   We live in an awesome day, in which Hebrews 12:27-28 warns that everything will be shaken so that what is unshakeable can remain.  However, Jesus encourages us "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. (Luke 21:28)   Obviously, God is exposing the sinking sand of man's ways and drawing people into trusting the solid rock of the Lord Jesus and His saving work on the cross.  Multitudes are in the valley of decision. 

This should not surprise us if we hear the word of the prophets.  Great servants of God such as Smith Wigglesworth, William J. Seymour, Maria Woodworth-Etter, David Wilkerson, Kenneth Hagin and a myriad of current prophets have declared that there would be a great move of God's Spirit, a third great awakening, in this critical period of history.  Already great things are happening in many parts of the world. For example, one Middle East ministry reported that 30,000 Muslims are coming to Jesus Christ  everyday. Other sources share that China now has the world's largest population of Christians, over 100 million, in spite of severe persecution.  Revival fires have hit South America and parts of Africa.  God promises that the knowledge of God will cover the whole earth.  It is coming.

Two things are necessary for the church at this time.  One, since Jesus warned that in the last days many will fall away, we need to make sure we know and stand on a sure foundation.  The Holy Spirit is moving Christians to fresh anointing as they take time in prayer and the Word.  The joy of our daily relationship with the Lord is our strength.   A house built on the Rock will survive as the storms blow through.

Secondly, there is going to be a great move of God where the Word will be confirmed with healings, signs, and wonders.  Several people have predicted stadiums filled with worship and preaching that will rock cities.  Many will come to the Lord.  However, unless someone begins to teach and disciple these converts in the faith, they will be like the seed that fell on the shallow ground, fading in the heat of the day.  We need to have enough understanding of God's truth and plan to be able to instruct and nurture these new believers. .Follow me as I follow Christ.   

Hear the Word of the Lord.  Get on solid ground.  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you strengthen your relationship with the Lord.  Since having a sure foundation is paramount to standing and being available to change the lives of many, we will go through the foundation doctrines of Hebrews 6:1-3, Hebrews 11:6 and 2 timothy 2:19 in future posts.  Laying the foundation allows us to mature, "if God permits."