This month we saw a tremendous Revival. The touch of God’s Spirit was seen in many areas of our Church. The messages from Ken Freeman were anointed by God. People came and were moved by God. Our Church pitched in and helped in every way that was needed from setting up to follow-up.
As I thought about what makes a Revival great one thing that kept coming to mind was how great the attendance was. Not only did our people support the Revival, we also had groups from at least four other churches, and each of them also reported many decision. Attendance is a major factor in the freedom of God Spirit at work among us. It matters if we come to church, not only for us, but for everyone who is there with us. A big group that is focusing on God experiences God in a big way.
This reminds me of a story.
He was a math teacher in my High School and I took geometry from him my sophomore year. He drove a brand new Volkswagen Beetle. He was so proud of it that he did not want to take any chances with it in the parking lot. That was the reason he parked everyday between two trees overlooking the football field. He thought it was safe there from bumps, dings, and scratches. That was true until a bunch of football players figured out that the length of his Beetle was exactly the distance between the trees. A group of them surrounded his car, picked it up, and turned it with each bumper touching a tree.
When the prank was discovered he was initially upset but then had to admire their accomplishment. He also had to offer pardons in exchange for their help. The only way he could get his car out was to get the same group of young men to lift up his car and set it right.
It was a lesson in what can be done when everyone shows up for a common purpose. Jesus said in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name I am there in the midst of them.” Jesus fed thousands with one lunch in the presence of great crowds. He also was kept from doing miracles in His home town because of their unbelief, (Matt. 13:58)
You have heard me say often that there is no substitute for time spent in a relationship with God or with others. In Revival, there is no substitute for time with God and others. When we stay away we rob others, and ourselves, of a blessing from God. God is here. He is just waiting for us to get here to get the meeting started.
Bro. Robin
Showing posts with label Revival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Revival. Show all posts
Monday, April 14, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The Power of Touch
Remember the telephone commercials that invited you to, “Reach out and touch someone?” I enjoy my phone but it is never the same to talk on the phone as it is to sit down with someone in person and have a conversation. This week we saw some of our kids in person and some we saw on webcam. We went to the zoo with the ones who came to visit in person. The webcam is a wonderful invention but it cannot replace a day at the zoo with your family.
We read of the many times Jesus touched someone and healed them. He was personal. He did not send letter or call on the phone. Even when He healed at a distance He was personal with the person who came to Him and requested the healing. Even when a woman touched Him for healing His power was there available for her as He responded to her touch.
One of my favorite stories of Jesus was the story of the blind man who needed to be touched twice. (Mark 8:22-25) With the first touch Jesus restored his sight but not his focus. With the second touch he saw all things clearly. I think this miracle is a parable about the way God touches many of us. We see Jesus, we have been touched by Him and know we have eternally life, but we have no focus. We see men as trees walking. The people around us might as well be trees because to us they are just objects in our world. We need to see people. We need to see them clearly. We need to see the world as Jesus sees them, a world of people for whom Christ died. We need to reach out and touch someone with the touch of Jesus.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could phone in all your responsibilities? You could take care of your spouse and children with a phone call. Some people work over the phone, or internet, so, why not? If you need glasses can you get your eyes checked over the phone? You can make the appointment over the phone. But if you want to see clearly you will have to see the doctor in person.
Some things have to be done in person. Jesus did not command us to sit down and write a letter. He commanded us to, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone.” (Mark 16:15)
A Revival is an opportunity for us to get a second touch from Jesus. We have Sight. But we still need Focus. You can only get that in person. I will see you there.
Bro. Robin
We read of the many times Jesus touched someone and healed them. He was personal. He did not send letter or call on the phone. Even when He healed at a distance He was personal with the person who came to Him and requested the healing. Even when a woman touched Him for healing His power was there available for her as He responded to her touch.
One of my favorite stories of Jesus was the story of the blind man who needed to be touched twice. (Mark 8:22-25) With the first touch Jesus restored his sight but not his focus. With the second touch he saw all things clearly. I think this miracle is a parable about the way God touches many of us. We see Jesus, we have been touched by Him and know we have eternally life, but we have no focus. We see men as trees walking. The people around us might as well be trees because to us they are just objects in our world. We need to see people. We need to see them clearly. We need to see the world as Jesus sees them, a world of people for whom Christ died. We need to reach out and touch someone with the touch of Jesus.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could phone in all your responsibilities? You could take care of your spouse and children with a phone call. Some people work over the phone, or internet, so, why not? If you need glasses can you get your eyes checked over the phone? You can make the appointment over the phone. But if you want to see clearly you will have to see the doctor in person.
Some things have to be done in person. Jesus did not command us to sit down and write a letter. He commanded us to, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone.” (Mark 16:15)
A Revival is an opportunity for us to get a second touch from Jesus. We have Sight. But we still need Focus. You can only get that in person. I will see you there.
Bro. Robin
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Cold Snap
It is amazing what a little cold weather can do. I was really enjoying this spring. All the flowers and trees were budding out. The leaves on my Japanese Maple were really looking like this would be the year for it to come into its own. Then the cold came. Like many of you, I covered as much as I could with drop cloths and sheets, night after night. But it was just too cold too long. That which started out beautiful is now wilted.
The experts I read and hear are saying that we should wait and see what the plants will do. The damage is done and trimming or feeding the plants could cause more damage. It is sad but there are limits to what we as humans have control over. When we reach those limits we have to let God do what God can do.
I thought about our spiritual lives and how this cold snap relates to us. We too can be doing so well in our Christian walk and one cold incident can set us back. It can be something outside our control like an illness or tragedy, or something to someone close to us. It can be a lapse in our behavior, giving in to temptation, anger, or some other bad habit of the flesh. Like the cold weather on the plants it can take the glow of Christ off our faces, drag us down, and lead to something worse if we do not take important precautions.
What can we do? We can cover ourselves against the cold just like the plants. Instead of drop cloths and sheet we cover ourselves with prayer and bible reading everyday. If the cold lingers we need to get to church for worship and fellowship. We then need to apply these coverings in the way that God directs for each of us. He has a plan that puts us in the center of God’s purpose and will.
Cold winds blow, on plants and people. That is why Paul said, “Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11)
Dr. Robin
The experts I read and hear are saying that we should wait and see what the plants will do. The damage is done and trimming or feeding the plants could cause more damage. It is sad but there are limits to what we as humans have control over. When we reach those limits we have to let God do what God can do.
I thought about our spiritual lives and how this cold snap relates to us. We too can be doing so well in our Christian walk and one cold incident can set us back. It can be something outside our control like an illness or tragedy, or something to someone close to us. It can be a lapse in our behavior, giving in to temptation, anger, or some other bad habit of the flesh. Like the cold weather on the plants it can take the glow of Christ off our faces, drag us down, and lead to something worse if we do not take important precautions.
What can we do? We can cover ourselves against the cold just like the plants. Instead of drop cloths and sheet we cover ourselves with prayer and bible reading everyday. If the cold lingers we need to get to church for worship and fellowship. We then need to apply these coverings in the way that God directs for each of us. He has a plan that puts us in the center of God’s purpose and will.
Cold winds blow, on plants and people. That is why Paul said, “Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11)
Dr. Robin
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