There can be no excuses.

      For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgement.
     Psalm 51:3,4 ESV

     I work at a place that employs about 135 people. It always amazes me how many individuals have excuses for their mistakes. If something is broken, or something is made wrong, there is always an excuse. Often someone else is blamed for what is done. Seldom does anyone just admit they did it wrong, they have nothing else to say, they were wrong.
     It works the same way with repentance toward God. There can be no justifying of sinful actions, no excuses, no blaming others, no sugarcoating of sin. We must take the blame for our sin. We must admit that God is right, we are wrong. Repentance sees sin for the first time the way God sees it, vile and offensive. Instead of arrogant excuses, the truly repentant soul humbly confesses its sin to God with a broken heart, and turns from it.
   

Reconciliation.

     "Behold I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.
     Malachi 4:5,6 NASB

     God has ordained the family to be a place where love abounds. We are to care for one another, look out for each other, fellowship with each other, and spur one another along towards righteousness.
The home is to be where God is honored, His word proclaimed, and put into practice.
     Sadly, a vast number of homes are broken for various reasons. Family members are estranged to one another. There is no fellowship, no encouragement, no love. What is even more tragic, is that this condition affects many in the church. The church today is filled with individuals who are outcasts in their homes. Even worse, many in the church treat family as outcasts. this is displeasing to God, and according to these verses we are in danger of a curse. It is no wonder that so many are spiritually weak and powerless.
     The good news is that reconciliation is possible. A sure sign of revival is individuals getting right with one another. Children reconciling with parents, and parents reconciling with their children. When the presence of the Lord comes in, people begin to get right with each other, as they get right with Him. Bitterness, hatred, unforgiveness, and strife all must go if Christ is to be enthroned in the hearts of His people. God is love, and those who are filled with Him walk in love.
     We need a revival today! God desires to be exalted in our congregations, homes, and in individuals. He wants our family relations to be restored, to be pleasing to Him once again.










    

What if Jesus came to Church?

What would happen if Jesus suddenly came into one of our services today? What would He do, and how would we react?

     http://contendforfaith.blogspot.com/2011/12/what-if-jesus-came-to-your-church.html

We need to press in!

     Exodus 33:7-11.

     We read that Moses set up the tent of meeting outside of the camp. Anyone who desired to seek the Lord could go and meet with Him there. Moses would go and meet with God often. The people would watch him leave, they would stand at the door of their tents, and watch him enter into the presence of God. They would then worship the Lord from the safety of their tents. They did not want to get too close. It was good enough for them to have Moses go. After all he was their leader. He could receive guidance from God, and share it with them!
     Too many are like this today as well. It is ok to go to church. We want our pastors to be close to God, so they can instruct us. It is ok to see others pursue God with a passion, while we content ourselves to sit back and worship from a distance.
     Things did not go well for Israel at this time. Moses was on the mountain with God for forty days and nights. People began to look for something to worship in his absence, and made a golden calf. They paid a great price for this sin. It was a reflection of their lack of devotion to God, an unwillingness to get into His presence and hear from Him.
     Moses would have to leave the presence of God, to come back and relate to the people what God had for them. On the other hand, this portion of scripture closes by mentioning Joshua, Moses' young assistant. He would remain in God's presence long after Moses had left. This is the man who years later led Israel into the promised land.
     We need to be like Moses, and Joshua. God wants to meet with us. We need to experience Him for ourselves, and not depend on the experiences of others. We need to draw near to Him for ourselves. Do not be a worshipper who only worships from a distance!

If your presence does not go with us, we won't go!

     I think about Moses, and when God was angry with Israel after they made the golden calf. God said go into the promised land, I will drive out the people before you, I will send an angel to go before you, but I will not go with you. This is when Moses said he would not go if God's presence was not with them.
     I feel the same way about church. If God is not there, why go? I wish this would be considered by pastors, teachers, worhip leaders,etc. If God is not here in presence and power, let's stop. No singing, no teaching, no preaching. Let's get on our faces before God, seek Him, find out why He is not here, repent if need be, and wait for Him. Without His presence it is all an empty formality. It is in His presence where lives are touched and impacted. This is where worship thrives, where our purpose is found. It is about Him and for Him. Amen!

One thing.

     One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.
     Psalm 27:4 ESV

     A hunger for God, a desire to live in His presence in a very real and tangible way, to know Him intimately, is presented in this verse.  The apostle Paul had the same hunger. He said "One thing I do" (Phil 3:13). His life was not scattered into many pursuits. He did not preach, plant churches, travel, pray, make tents, etc. He did one thing only,pursue Christ! His ONE desire was to know Christ, and all else flowed out of this singleness of purpose.
     We are too divided. Our pursuits have us running all over the place. Like Paul, we need to clean house, get rid of anything that hinders knowing Christ more and more.
     All David desired was to  dwell in the temple all the days of his life. He did not mean a physical building. He was not talking about shutting himself within a church. He was speaking about the glorious presence of God. All that he desired and pursued was swallowed up by this one great desire, to know God intimately.
     Paul accomplished more for Christ than most people ever have. All of this flowed from his pursuit of God, his singleness of purpose. Likewise, if we also would pursue God with all of our hearts, with a passion that swallows up everything, we would truly find Him, live in His presence, and carry His glory. We have been chosen to be temples for the LORD, a place for Him to dwell. Let Him come and fill you with His presence.

Just like us.

     The bible tells us that Elijah was a man with a nature just like us. There was nothing extra special about him. God chose to use him, and he yielded in obedience.
     This should encourage us to step out in faith and let God use us as well. Who knows what He may do through you?

Faith that obtains the blessing.

     Jacob wrestled all night with God, and obtained the blessing. He said " I will not let go until you bless me". He found favor with Esau, and God's chosen people, through whom the covenant of grace would come, were preserved.
     Elisha persisted in following Elijah every step of the way. He desired the double portion of Elijah's mantle, and would not leave his side. He knew that to lose sight of Elijah, when he was taken to glory, was to lose all. He persisted and received the double portion.
     Joash the king, was half hearted, and it cost him a full victory over Syria.
     What will time say of us?

Refiners Fire.

     "Behold I send my messenger and he will prepeare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fuller's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and siver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. Then the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
     Malachi 3:1-4 ESV

     The Israelites, God's chosen people longed for the appearing of the Messiah. They were warned by the Prophet Malachi however, that when He appeared, it would not be what they expected. They held many misconceptions about the Messiah. They desired His appearing, but in reality their hearts were far from God.
     Many in the Church today long to see the return of Christ. They are sick of this world and want to get out of it. Many, like the people in Malchi's day, have hearts that in reality, are far from Christ! For many, the day of His return will be a shock.
     We long for revival, but if Christ came to our churches in power and glory, it would be a shocking surprise for many. As the text says, He will come as a refining fire and fuller's soap. Before we can share in the glory of God, we must be refined, and cleansed! God is looking for a Holy people, a Church without spot and wrinkle, and He will purify His Bride!
     Revival brings with it the presence of God. Conviction, awful conviction, soul searching, and deep repentance must come before we can experience the times of refreshing that come from the presence of the Lord! Sadly, like Malachi said, "But who can endure the day of his coming?". The line is drawn in the sand so to speak. Many leave, they can not endure the presence of God. Those who yield to the working of the Holy Spirit find refreshing. They experience God in a new fresh way. Their lives are clean and pleasing to God once again. They walk in power and victory. They have an intimate fellowship with Jesus that they never knew before.
     It takes a refining fire...

"This is Revival"

     I read this quote, and thought that it was worth sharing. This is the kind of revival that we need today.

     “This is revival! When men in the streets are afraid to open their mouths and utter godless words lest the judgment of God should fall; when sinners, overawed by the presence of God, tremble in the street and cry for mercy; when, without special meetings and sensational advertising the Holy Ghost sweeps across cities and towns in supernatural power and holds men in the grip of terrifying conviction; when every shop becomes a pulpit; every heart an altar; every home a sanctuary and people walk softly before God—this is revival.” —Quote from Rev. Owen Murphy (When God Stepped down from Heaven)
Walters, Kathie (2000-06-12). Bright and Shining Revival: An account of the Hebrides Revival 1948-52 (Kindle Locations 878-919). Good News Fellowship Ministries, Inc. Kindle Edition.

     There have been recent activities called "revival" in churches today, that come no where near to this. You can drum up emotions and excitement, you can get all kind of signs and manifestations, but at the end of the day, if people are not returning to Christ in true repentance and faith, if no lives are transformed, was it revival?

Entire Consecration.

     Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also.
     John 12: 24-26 ESV


    
http://contendforfaith.blogspot.com/2010/12/entire-consecration.html
    

The open door.

         "I know your works. Behold I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name."
     Rev 3:8 (ESV).

     When I read this verse, I am reminded of Joshua, when he was about to lead Israel into the promised land (Josh 1:1-9). God had given him the ground his feet walked on. He promised to go with him and give him victory. He promised to never leave him or forsake him.
     All this depended upon the obedience of Joshua. He was to be strong and couragous, not turning aside from the word of God. You can see how this played out in the history of Israel. As they faithfully followed God, He was with them and prospered them. When they turned from Him in disobedience, trouble always came.
     The Church in Philedelphia (Rev 3:7-13) had God's promise of an open door. God's favor was upon them. He was leading them in victory. Once again we see the importance of obedience. This Church was weak but yet strong. their strength was found in Christ, as they remained faithful to Him and His word. In a time of intense persecution they did not deny Him, they patiently endured. This Church was living in the love of God, and He was not going to forsake them.
     The same can be true today. God desires His people to be faithful to Him and His word. He desires us to stand firm in spite of what arises against us. He promises to never leave or forsake us. He has great things in store for His church. He wants to lead us into a place of victory. He has promised an open door to those who obey Him.