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A Word from THE WORD

Good Morning Happy Church,

Today is Tuesday, March 8^th 2016. Today is the 68^th Day of 2016.

Today is Daniel Faulkner’s Birthday!

There are only 298 days left in this year; and, there are only 33 Days Left until Our Spring Revival Meetings Begin!

We will begin the Revival Meetings on Saturday, April 9^th with a Banquet and Sermon at 6pm.

Sunday, April 10^th, we will hear Bro Bobby at 10am and again at 6pm.

Monday and Tuesday, April 11^th and 12, we will hear Bro Bobby at 7pm each night!

Please clear your schedule to attend as many of these meetings as possible.

As I often say, “The two things you have to invest to be blessed are your Attendance and your Attention!”

Please be in prayer for Dr. Bobby and Sandra Boyles as they travel here and back.

Pray that God will pour out HIS SPIRIT on us as never before!

Pray for the salvation of the lost; repentance and renewal in the life of God’s people; new people to become part of our Church Family; the calling out of ministers and missionaries; a spiritual awakening in our area; and, for Jesus Christ to be glorified in all that we do!

The Solemn Assembly

Joel was a Prophet to Israel just after the end of the Babylonian-Media-Persian Captivity that ended around 516 BC.

The people had not completely turned back to Jehovah and HE responded to their continuing rebellion with continuing judgments – primarily through a devastating plague of Locusts. (Joel 1:1-2:11)

Again, God commands them through HIS Prophet to…

¹² “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; ¹³ and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
¹⁴ Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God?” Joel 2:12-14 (ESV)

They, like the United States in the 21^st Century, were a people very much in need of a revival!

Here is God’s inspired action-plan for revival:

¹⁵ “Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly;
¹⁶ gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.
¹⁷ Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep and say, “Spare your people, O LORD, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’” Joel 2:12-15

(1) “Blow the trumpet in Zion!”

(2) “Consecrate a Fast!”

(3) “Call a Solemn Assembly!”

(4) “Gather the People!”

(5) “Consecrate the Congregation!”

(6) “Assemble the Elders!”

(7) “Gather the Children, even Nursing Infants!”

(8) “Bring the Newlyweds!”

(9) “Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep and say, “Spare your people, O LORD, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

Let us commit ourselves to doing all 9 of these preparatory steps; and, let’s do them in biblical order beginning with #1:

“Blow a trumpet in Zion; Consecrate a Fast; Call a solemn assembly!”

Believing it to be the will of God, our Elders have set aside Saturday evening, April 9^th; Sunday morning and evening, April 10^th; and, Monday and Tuesday evenings, April 11^th – 12^th as a special time to gather for prayer, praise, and hearing the Word of God!

You have been notified over and over again about these meetings… That is the “Blow a trumpet” part!

As part of our pre-revival efforts, we will be asking that as many of us who can to set aside some time for fasting and prayer that God will bless us and our Church by a special visitation of HIS presence and power… That is the “Consecrate a Fast” part!

We have invited – as you know – Dr. Bobby Boyles to be our speaker for these 5 special meetings.

That is the “Call a Solemn Assembly” part!

The “Solemn” part comes in because of the dramatic nature of the meetings and the awesome possibility of experiencing real revival in our lives both individually and corporately.

“Solemn” does not have to describe the nature of the meetings; indeed, I fully expect them to a joyful time of sweet fellowship and worship!

But, the fact that we so desperately need them; and, the fact of how much hangs in the balance, makes these meetings a very solemn occasion for sure!

Again, this Morning, I want to “Sound the Trumpet!”

Our Revival Meetings begin in only thirty-three days!

Get ready now… set aside the time now… Start praying now… DO NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY to experience a great moving of God!

Revival CAN happen, it really CAN happen!

Will we really have revival?

We will soon see!

Carpe Diem!

A Word from THE WORD

Good Morning Happy Church,

Today is Monday, March 9^th 2016. Today is the 69^th Day of 2016.

Today is Kelly and Stacy’s Wedding Anniversary!

There are only 297 days left in this year; and, there are only 32 Days Left until Our Spring Revival Begins!

We will begin the Revival Meetings on Saturday, April 9^th with a Banquet and Sermon at 6pm.

Sunday, April 10^th, we will hear Bro Bobby at 10am and again at 6pm.

Monday and Tuesday, April 11^th and 12, we will hear Bro Bobby at 7pm each night!

Please clear your schedule to attend as many of these meetings as possible.

As I often say, “The two things you have to invest to be blessed are your Attendance and your Attention!”

Please be in prayer for Dr. Bobby and Sandra Boyles as they travel here and back.

Pray that God will pour out HIS SPIRIT on us as never before!

Pray for the salvation of the lost; repentance and renewal in the life of God’s people; new people to become part of our Church Family; the calling out of ministers and missionaries; a spiritual awakening in our area; and, for Jesus Christ to be glorified in all that we do!

The Work of the Law in Reviving the Soul

Psalm 19:7

“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul…”

Two things…

First, I have pointed out in many of these revival devotions that the Word of God plays a key role in revival.

There are many ways by which the Hebrew word for “Word” is translated in the Old Testament. All are based on one Hebrew word. The different way of translating it comes from how it is used in the context of the sentence of paragraph.

In this passage, it is the aspect of God’s Word as HIS Law Code that the psalmist has in mind.

God forbid that we forget that God’s Word is Law!

The Word expresses HIS will and it is our sincere obligation to obey HIS will.

A clear aspect of revival is when HIS people who are not living obedient lives begin AGAIN to live obedient lives!

Second, please note the role of the SOUL in revival.

It is important to distinguish between body, and soul, and spirit when considering the life of a person.

The body is easy. It is the material part of a person. It is basically an, “earthsuit” in which we must live while we are in this present world.

However, the SOUL and SPIRIT are often confused…

The SPIRIT is that eternal, “imago dei” or “the image of God” in people where our spiritual nature is formed.

It is in the human spirit that the HOLY SPIRIT lives when HE comes into a person at the time of regeneration. The spirit is manifested by the mind, the emotion, and the will of a person.

The soul is the “BEINGNESS” of a person. It is the life force within the person. It is the center of the five senses and the personality of an individual.

The psalmist tells us that it is not just the spirit (mind, emotion, and will) that are revived, but, the soul itself is revived by the Law of God!

Of course, a genuine experience of revival will affect our spirit; but, it will also bear an impact on our soul.

The five senses, (how we physically experience life) and our personality will be impacted by the SPIRIT OF GOD when we experience revival.

All are tied to seeing God’s Word as Law to be obeyed.

When we become; or become again; “doers of the Word” the Law of God will revive our soul!

Will we be revived? We can be!

But, will we be revived?

Revival CAN happen, it really CAN happen!

Will we really have revival?

We will soon see!

Carpe Diem!

A Word from THE WORD

Good Morning Happy Church,

Today is Saturday, March 5^th 2016. Today is the 65^th Day of 2016.

There are only 301 days left in this year; and, there are only 36 Days Left until Our Spring Revival Begins!

We will begin the Revival Meetings on Saturday, April 9^th with a Banquet and Sermon at 6pm.

Sunday, April 10^th, we will hear Bro Bobby at 10am and again at 6pm.

Monday and Tuesday, April 11^th and 12, we will hear Bro Bobby at 7pm each night!

Please clear your schedule to attend as many of these meetings as possible.

As I often say, “The two things you have to invest to be blessed are your Attendance and your Attention!”

Please be in prayer for Dr. Bobby and Sandra Boyles as they travel here and back.

Pray that God will pour out HIS SPIRIT on us as never before!

Pray for the salvation of the lost; repentance and renewal in the life of God’s people; new people to become part of our Church Family; the calling out of ministers and missionaries; a spiritual awakening in our area; and, for Jesus Christ to be glorified in all that we do!

Some time ago, the Men’s Bible Class did an extended study of Psalm 1. I heard lots of great things about that study, so, I want to use this passage for a few devotional ideas about revival in general; and, our upcoming revival meetings in particular!

Psalm 1:1-6
¹ “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
² but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
⁴ The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
⁶ for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

How to Perish

In verses 5 and 6, the writer gives a heart-breaking picture of the final judgment of the wicked.

Here, again, is why we need to be revived over and over again.

Because wickedness is the “default” position of the human spirit, it is all too easy to fall back into old patterns of walking with the wicked; standing with sinners; and, sitting with the scornful.

When we do, there is ONE way out. A refreshing and restoring move of the Holy Spirit upon our life!

AKA: Revival!

While a believer does not need to fear that we can lose our salvation and perish in the same way that an unbeliever will perish, we do need to fear that our witness and our value in the LORD’s Kingdom work will perish.

This is a Psalm of contrast. Good versus evil. Wickedness versus righteousness. Spiritual prosperity versus perishing.

None of us want to stand before the LORD with handfuls of chaff to offer HIM as the fruit of our life.

What’s past is past; but, what is ahead is still ahead!

We cannot change the past; but, we can change our future because we can be changed!

We can allow the Holy Spirit to renew and refresh our spirit and our living.

We can.

But, will we?

Revival CAN happen, it really CAN happen!

Will we really have revival?

We will soon see!

Carpe Diem!

A Word from THE WORD

Good Morning Happy Church,

Today is Friday, March 4^th 2016. Today is the 64^th Day of 2016.

There are only 302 days left in this year; and, there are only 37 Days Left until Our Spring Revival Begins!

We will begin the Revival Meetings on Saturday, April 9^th with a Banquet and Sermon at 6pm.

Sunday, April 10^th, we will hear Bro Bobby at 10am and again at 6pm.

Monday and Tuesday, April 11^th and 12, we will hear Bro Bobby at 7pm each night!

Please clear your schedule to attend as many of these meetings as possible.

As I often say, “The two things you have to invest to be blessed are your Attendance and your Attention!”

Please be in prayer for Dr. Bobby and Sandra Boyles as they travel here and back.

Pray that God will pour out HIS SPIRIT on us as never before!

Pray for the salvation of the lost; repentance and renewal in the life of God’s people; new people to become part of our Church Family; the calling out of ministers and missionaries; a spiritual awakening in our area; and, for Jesus Christ to be glorified in all that we do!

Some time ago, the Men’s Bible Class did an extended study of Psalm 1. I heard lots of great things about that study, so, I want to use this passage for a few devotional ideas about revival in general; and, our upcoming revival meetings in particular!

Psalm 1:1-6
¹ “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
² but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
⁴ The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
⁶ for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

The Way of the Wicked

The writer now contrasts the way of the wicked as opposed to the way of the righteous.

He simply states that “the wicked are not so.” Everything that the LORD has stated about the righteous is not true of the wicked.

This is one of many places where the Bible gives us this classic juxtaposition between the righteous and the wicked.

After listing all of the blessings of the righteous, God gives another reminder of what it is like to be lost.

Israel around the time of this Psalm (about 1,000 BC) was largely an agrarian society and they would clearly understand the meaning of being “like chaff that the wind drives away.”

A believer living like an unbeliever – living a life made up of chaff – needs one thing immediately… Revival!

Of course this poetic language. Unpleasant poetic language.

All too often, we let our spiritual lives become filled with dust and debris… chaff.

May God blow HIS Holy Spirit across us and our church… may we all experience a “Fresh Moving” of the Spirit of God…

May we all experience Revival!

Revival CAN happen, it really CAN happen!

Will we really have revival?

We will soon see!

Carpe Diem!

A Word from THE WORD

Good Morning Happy Church,

Today is Thursday, March 3^rd 2016. Today is the 63^rd Day of 2016.

There are only 303 days left in this year; and, there are only 38 Days Left until Our Spring Revival Begins!

We will begin the Revival Meetings on Saturday, April 9^th with a Banquet and Sermon at 6pm.

Sunday, April 10^th, we will hear Bro Bobby at 10am and again at 6pm.

Monday and Tuesday, April 11^th and 12, we will hear Bro Bobby at 7pm each night!

Please clear your schedule to attend as many of these meetings as possible.

As I often say, “The two things you have to invest to be blessed are your Attendance and your Attention!”

Please be in prayer for Dr. Bobby and Sandra Boyles as they travel here and back.

Pray that God will pour out HIS SPIRIT on us as never before!

Pray for the salvation of the lost; repentance and renewal in the life of God’s people; new people to become part of our Church Family; the calling out of ministers and missionaries; a spiritual awakening in our area; and, for Jesus Christ to be glorified in all that we do!

Some time ago, the Men’s Bible Class did an extended study of Psalm 1. I heard lots of great things about that study, so, I want to use this passage for a few devotional ideas about revival in general; and, our upcoming revival meetings in particular!

Psalm 1:1-6
¹ “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
² but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
⁴ The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
⁶ for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

The Fruit of Revival

Verse 3 gives a graphic and happy picture of what the life conditions of the one who does not walk with the wicked; who does not stand with sinners; and, does not sit with scorners – but, who delights in and meditates on the Word of God…

The writer of this Psalm, who is not named, gives a clear illustration of what the person whose behavior is described in verses 1 and 2 is like; that is, their character.

Of course, behavior and character cannot be separated since one’s character is what determines their behavior.

And what a happy picture this is!

In the desert and arid lands of the Middle East, what a happy circumstance it is to be near water! This tree, unlike many others, is blessed to be where it is.

Likewise, the godly believer is blessed to be where we are.

This illustration points out another happy truth. Not only is the one who lives this way blessed to be where they are, they also bring forth fruit.

Now here is a picture of blessedness… a prosperous and fruitful life!

If we are not walking like this one, not delighting like this one, not meditating like this one, not bearing fruit like this one, then, maybe – just maybe – we need revival!

Revival CAN happen, it really CAN happen!

Will we really have revival?

We will soon see!

Carpe Diem!

A Word from THE WORD

Good Morning Happy Church,

Today is Wednesday, March 2^nd 2016. Today is the 62^nd Day of 2016.

There are only 304 days left in this year; and, there are only 39 Days Left until Our Spring Revival Begins!

We will begin the Revival Meetings on Saturday, April 9^th with a Banquet and Sermon at 6pm.

Sunday, April 10^th, we will hear Bro Bobby at 10am and again at 6pm.

Monday and Tuesday, April 11^th and 12, we will hear Bro Bobby at 7pm each night!

Please clear your schedule to attend as many of these meetings as possible.

As I often say, “The two things you have to invest to be blessed are your Attendance and your Attention!”

Please be in prayer for Dr. Bobby and Sandra Boyles as they travel here and back.

Pray that God will pour out HIS SPIRIT on us as never before!

Pray for the salvation of the lost; repentance and renewal in the life of God’s people; new people to become part of our Church Family; the calling out of ministers and missionaries; a spiritual awakening in our area; and, for Jesus Christ to be glorified in all that we do!

Some time ago, the Men’s Bible Class did an extended study of Psalm 1. I heard lots of great things about that study, so, I want to use this passage for a few devotional ideas about revival in general; and, our upcoming revival meetings in particular!

Psalm 1:1-6
¹ “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
² but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
⁴ The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
⁶ for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

The Second Lesson from this Psalm is, Revival is Based on Obeying the Word of God!

First, an authentic spiritual revival will produce a “delight” in “the Law of the LORD” (the Bible) in the person who is revived.

I know that anything we do day in and day out; day after day; everyday; can – and sometimes does – become more of a burden than a blessing. I know because I fight this myself!

BUT, spiritual renewal will renew the freshness of God’s Word to us and reading and studying it will become a blessing again!

Second, we are to meditate on the Word of God! I have shared this before; but, it is too cute to pass over…

The Hebrew word translated “meditate” is the word for an animal chewing the cud.

The same way that a cow, for example, will eat, chew, swallow, regurgitate, and then chew its food again is used by the LORD to show how HIS people ought to think about HIS Word.

We ought to take it in; think about it; bring it back to mind; and, think it about again, and again, and again!

Meditate. Not mindlessly emptying the mind and humming… but, filling our mind with God’s Word and thinking about how to apply it to our life again and again and again.

This is another clear picture of revival.

One who does not read, memorize, think about; then re-think about the Word begins to do just that – and, then – Revival!

I have said much over these past weeks about the relationship of the Word to our being renewed in our spirit; and, I have done so over and over because the Bible makes this connection over and over.

Blessed is the person who delights in God’s Word!

Blessed is the person who meditates on God’s Word!

Revival CAN happen, it really CAN happen!

Will we really have revival?

We will soon see!

Carpe Diem!

A Word from THE WORD

Good Morning Happy Church,

Today is Tuesday, March 1^st, 2016. Today is the 61^st Day of 2016.

There are only 305 days left in this year; and, there are only 40 Days Left until Our Spring Revival Begins!

We will begin the Revival Meetings on Saturday, April 9^th with a Banquet and Sermon at 6pm.

Sunday, April 10^th, we will hear Bro Bobby at 10am and again at 6pm.

Monday and Tuesday, April 11^th and 12, we will hear Bro Bobby at 7pm each night!

Please clear your schedule to attend as many of these meetings as possible.

As I often say, “The two things you have to invest to be blessed are your Attendance and your Attention!”

Please be in prayer for Dr. Bobby and Sandra Boyles as they travel here and back.

Pray that God will pour out HIS SPIRIT on us as never before!

Pray for the salvation of the lost; repentance and renewal in the life of God’s people; new people to become part of our Church Family; the calling out of ministers and missionaries; a spiritual awakening in our area; and, for Jesus Christ to be glorified in all that we do!

Some time ago, the Men’s Bible Class did an extended study of Psalm 1.

I heard lots of great things about that study, so, I want to use this passage for a few devotional ideas about revival in general; and, our upcoming revival meetings in particular!

Psalm 1:1-6
¹ “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
² but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
⁴ The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
⁶ for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

(1:1) WE NEED A REVIAL OF WORTHY WALKING!

Of course, “Blessed” speaks of being spiritually prosperous.

In this verse, we are given a picture of one whose “spiritual vitality” is winding down. Note the progression downward…

“walks… stands… sits…”

Note that the cause of his, or her, downward progression is the crowd with which they are following:

“wicked… sinners… scoffers…”

Exactly the kind of people we need to avoid!

I do know, of course, that sometimes these types of people are hard to avoid; especially when they are family, co-workers, schoolmates, or neighbors.

But, if we are to be “Blessed” we need to NOT “walk” with them; “stand” with them; or, “sit” with them.

A truly life-changing revival will turn us away from such error and turn us back to walking with those who lead holy lives; those who shun sinful behaviors; and, those who have a positive rather than negative attitude toward life!

That is a pretty good definition – and picture – of real revival!

Revival CAN happen, it really CAN happen!

Will we really have revival?

We will soon see!

Carpe Diem!

“Understanding Ephesians” Sermon #8

(2:11-22) God’s NEW Thing

¹¹ “Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—
¹² remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
¹⁵ by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
¹⁶ and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
¹⁷ And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
¹⁸ For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
²¹ in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
²² In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

Change is hard; BIG Change is really hard; and, here we have the Apostle Paul revealing one of the key purposes of the Letter to the Ephesians – God is doing a NEW thing, and they are part of it!

After 3,000 years of working almost exclusively with the Jews, God is creating a new Body made up of both Jews and Gentiles in that ONE BODY.

Paul calls it, “The Church.”

Understanding this correctly is absolutely necessary to rightly interpret and understand prophetic passages in the Bible.

The Church is a NEW thing.

The Church is not seen in the Old Testament anywhere, and it is not seen in Revelation after Chapter 4 where we are taken up to Heaven.

The Church was born in the Upper Room the evening before Pentecost and it will be removed from this world at the Rapture.

It is a NEW, and very different, thing that anything God has done before.

Jew and Gentile in ONE BODY – the Church.

Paul reminds the Ephesian Christians, who were mostly Gentiles, of what their situation was before they came to believe in Jesus Christ.

He describes how the LORD brought them to saving faith and the new – and happy – situation in which they find themselves as members of the Church of God.

At the end of this Chapter, Paul reveals one of the key purposes of the Church: to be a Temple for the LORD – a dwelling place for HIS Spirit.

There is (as always) lots of theology here… and we will work our way through it next Sunday as the LORD allows.

As Pastor Tom Rains always says… “I hope to see you Sunday with a smile on your face, your Bible in your hand, and your family and friends by your side.”

Amen, Pastor Tom, that is good preaching.

A Word from THE WORD

Good Morning Happy Church,

Today is Saturday, February 27^th, 2016. Today is the 58^th Day of 2016.

Today is Krisia Hector’s 15^th Birthday!

TOMORROW we will be led in worship by our GREATEST COMMON FACTOR Youth Group!

This is going to be GREAT!

There are only 308 days left in this year; and, there are only 43 Days Left until Our Spring Revival Begins!

We will begin the Revival Meetings on Saturday, April 9^th with a Banquet and Sermon at 6pm.

Sunday, April 10^th, we will hear Bro Bobby at 10am and again at 6pm.

Monday and Tuesday, April 11^th and 12, we will hear Bro Bobby at 7pm each night!

Please clear your schedule to attend as many of these meetings as possible.

As I often say, “The two things you have to invest to be blessed are your Attendance and your Attention!”

Please be in prayer for Dr. Bobby and Sandra Boyles as they travel here and back.

Pray that God will pour out HIS SPIRIT on us as never before!

Pray for the salvation of the lost; repentance and renewal in the life of God’s people; new people to become part of our Church Family; the calling out of ministers and missionaries; a spiritual awakening in our area; and, for Jesus Christ to be glorified in all that we do!

Luke 15:11-24

¹¹ “And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.
¹² And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.
¹³ Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.
¹⁴ And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.
¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
¹⁶ And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
¹⁷ “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!
¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’
²⁰ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
²¹ And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
²² But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
²³ And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.”
²⁴ For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”

Confession!

Verse 21 of this famous passage gives us another key element in the story of the Prodigal Son’s return to the Father.

He simply says to his Father, “I have sinned…”

Easy for him to say! Hard for us.

ὁμολογῶμεν (homologomen) means “to say the same word.” “Homo = same” “logo-men” means “say a word.”

So, “homologomen” means to say the same word. The New Testament translators render it as “confess.”

If we tell a Judge that what the Police Officer is exactly true, we have just said “the same words” as he said.

Confession!

God has a lot to say about our sins.

Sometimes, we fall into sin; sometimes we drift off into sin; sometimes – like the Prodigal Son – we dive into sin.

However we get into sin; sin is still sin.

Once we have determined that “I will arise and go to my Father” we must SAY THE SAME WORDS ABOUT OUR SIN THAT HE SAYS ABOUT OUR SIN.

That is confession; the one true demonstration of sincere repentance.

THEN, there is NOT condemnation, but a Celebration; but, that is for the next devotional thought!

Confession. Saying to God what HE has already said about our sins.

Revival CAN happen, it really CAN happen!

Will we really have revival?

We will soon see!

Carpe Diem!

A Word from THE WORD

Good Morning Happy Church,

Today is Friday, February 26^th, 2016. Today is the 57^th Day of 2016.

There are only 309 days left in this year; and, there are only 44 Days Left until Our Spring Revival Begins!

We will begin the Revival Meetings on Saturday, April 9^th with a Banquet and Sermon at 6pm.

Sunday, April 10^th, we will hear Bro Bobby at 10am and again at 6pm.

Monday and Tuesday, April 11^th and 12, we will hear Bro Bobby at 7pm each night!

Please clear your schedule to attend as many of these meetings as possible.

As I often say, “The two things you have to invest to be blessed are your Attendance and your Attention!”

Please be in prayer for Dr. Bobby and Sandra Boyles as they travel here and back.

Pray that God will pour out HIS SPIRIT on us as never before!

Pray for the salvation of the lost; repentance and renewal in the life of God’s people; new people to become part of our Church Family; the calling out of ministers and missionaries; a spiritual awakening in our area; and, for Jesus Christ to be glorified in all that we do!

Luke 15:11-24

¹¹ “And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 

¹² And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.
¹³ Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.
¹⁴ And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.
¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
¹⁶ And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
¹⁷ “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!
¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’
²⁰ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
²¹ And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
²² But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
²³ And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.”
²⁴ For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”

EUREKA!

When James Marshall found gold in California in 1848, he reportedly called out, “Eureka!” which is the Greek word for, “I have found it” as in I have discovered the solution!

Since January 21^st, I have written to you almost every day about revival. I have looked a multiple verses and made every application I can find in those verses.

And now today… I have found it!

I have found the KEY to revival!

It is right here in Luke 15:18, the Prodigal Son says, “I will…”

Revival is certainly possible. It may even be likely.

But, whether or not WE experience revival will depend on this one question: will WE?

Will we pray?

Will we adjust our schedule?

Will we attend?

Will we seek God’s will?

Will we do what God convicts us to do?

Will we repent?

Will we do whatever is necessary to experience revival?

Will we?

The Prodigal Son was turned around because he determined that he would do what he had to do.

He did.

Will we?

If we come to the place where we will say “I will” to God, we will experience revival.

One more time; will we?

Revival CAN happen, it really CAN happen!

Will we really have revival?

We will soon see!

Carpe Diem!