This week’s post on revival is about why people don’t get God, or should I say don’t want to get God.  I had an interesting conversation with someone this week about our church.  They were concerned about a certain issue.  I explained where we stood on that issue and that I thought it was important for the church to take a stand on what is right and wrong.  The person disagreed with me and thought the church should not take stands.  Then Wednesday night there was the first Republican primary.  Many issues came up, but a certain one came up.  In the after show it was mentioned, by a conservative host (a famous one) that yes, this issue is dear to the Republicans, but if the republicans are to win, they must go more to the middle on that issue.  The host referenced our state of Pennsylvania, that as a consequence of holding to a set of values it cost them in the last election. 

God is about absolutes.  This is wrong and this is right.  The world wants to blur those lines.  I think ideally the world wants people to think nothing is really wrong, it is just how you look at it.  Everyone can’t be right.  This has now trickled down to the church.  Many denominations have decided to go against what the Bible says.  Many say we live in more enlightened times and the Bible needs to change.  There are other denominations that now say the Bible is not the authoritative word of God.  Some every say that traditions of men should trump what the Bible says. 

What does this do?  It undermines the need to live a holy life.  God expects and wants us to strive to be Holy.  I Peter 1:15-16 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”  We will never be perfect, but we are to strive to be holy.  As we do God then as a good father blesses and encourages us.  When we begin to question God’s Word or try to make it fit into this world, what do you think God thinks?  Wonder why God is not moving like He did in the book of Acts, here is the reason.  God is not going to bless compromising behavior.

God wants us to take a stand for His Word because it is THE TRUTH.  This is hard.  Jesus said in Matthew 10:22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.  Jesus knew this would not be easy, and Jesus knows mankind will take the easier way.  But nonetheless Jesus is looking for people to stand.  Ezekiel 22:23-31 sure seems like it is written for today.  In verse 30 God is looking for someone to stand up.  No one does.  Bad things then happen to the people of God.  God is still looking for people to make a stand.  The good news is it doesn’t have to be many.  God plus one is always a majority. 

Standing for the real thing can be dangerous when you think you are outnumbered, but here is the thing the truth is the truth!  John 8:36 says the truth will set you free indeed.  But it is scary, yes, it is, but standing for God makes all the difference, because when you do God has to act on your behalf.  Mark 16:17-18, and these signs WILL follow those who believe.  Why because God knows you are out there, and He must rise to defend you.  It is what God did time and time again for the early church.  Here is the thing, when we don’t stand, which is so much easier to do.  Then guess what God has no reason to stand and do the miraculous for you.  It is why revivals are so amazing because of the power that is behind them.  God never wanted you to not have that power.  He wants to do amazing things all the time.  That is the point of the Book of Acts.  It is a blueprint.

When we don’t make those stands then false doctrines come up, like cessationism (most of the gifts are no longer active).  I have questions for those who believe that.  Is the devil and evil still at work?  Was not Pentecost a gift to the church to deal with that?  If evil and the devil are still doing their thing, why in the world would God ever stop blessing His people?  The answer is He wouldn’t.  

God wants to save the whole world.  That is what God says is winning.  But God needs the people in the church to make a stand and say this is what God says is right and wrong.  This is what it means to be holy.  Yes, we won’t be perfect at it, but are trying to get better all the time.  Then God will move on His people with power and wonders that defy imagination.  Why?  To validate those who are willing to take a stand.

In Ezekiel 22:23-31, God was just looking for one, and God can do a lot with one, but what if there are two, then three, and so on.  Imagine what God can do to change the whole world, including your world and those around you. 

Read God’s Word on your own, ask questions when you don’t understand why Pastors, teachers, evangelists, apostles, and prophets are given to the church, and then do what God says no matter what the popular opinion is, and God says you will win in the end all the time! 

Then people will see the difference in your stand, see God move in your life, and then they will get the love God and that God is there for them too. 

When people see someone take a stand, and then see that stand vindicated, they then go this is real. Then they are open to revival in their lives. When that happens watch out, and watch the revival fires burn uncontrollably across the world.

Remember Jesus loves you and cares for all of you, I love and care for all of you, and you are all awesome!

I was asked this question last week by a young person. Can anyone come to church. I said absolutely yes. They then said doesn’t the church turn certain people away? I said a church should never do that. The person then said why do people say the church hates certain people. I then knew where they were going with their questions. For revival to happen and last and do amazing things, we must love every single human being as Jesus loves them. We cannot turn anyone away, but the key here is loving them the way Jesus loves them.

The church today has compromised so many things in the name of fitting in. Many churches no longer hold to the Bible as the standard. Consequently, churches that do hold to the Bible are labeled as haters, intolerant, not loving. They then say that certain people are not welcome at our church because of that. That is simply not so.

Many define love as accepting people just as they are. If they think differently their version of love says let them be who they want to be. Respect the other person. I have a question for those who say this is love. What if the person you say you love is doing something that will harm themselves and you have the information to help them? For example the one you love wants to walk across the street. They can’t see around the corner, but you can from your position. You see an 18-wheeler coming at full speed, if they cross the street, they will get run over. You say to the person don’t cross the street and they go, I am going anyway, do you respect that decision, or do you do anything you can to save that person that you love from dying. I hope you would. They may not want you to stop them, they may think you are keeping them from where they want to go, but they need you to or they would die. Love in this instance is stopping them, even though it is not their desire to be stopped.

In the church anyone should feel welcome and loved. One of the ways love is shown is by letting them know the path they are going in, is not from the Lord, and we don’t want to see them in hell. Jesus wants everyone with Him in heaven, but there is only ONE WAY to get there.

The problem is in many churches one of two things happens. We lower the bar and hope Jesus is OK with that because it makes sense to us. Guess what Jesus will not lower His standard, no matter what man will say. The other thing is we go way over the top when telling people what Jesus wants. In the old days it was called fire and brimstone or soapbox preaching. With fire and brimstone, you scare someone to Jesus, but that is not what Jesus wants. And if someone accepts Jesus because they were scared, did they really accept what Jesus did for them? And soapbox preaching is fun, but all it does is make the other side dig their heels in further.

Why are people trying to change the Bible or say this is, OK? Why do people feel they can do what God says you shouldn’t do? Because they are looking for something that is real, and they have not found it.

A relationship with Jesus is what really works, and we need to pursue the lost is a way that helps them find that truth. So yes, we should accept anyone who comes through the door. We should go up to them and tell them we love them. We should endeavor to have a relationship with them. All the while showing them in a loving way what Jesus says, so they can come to the point where they find out on their own what the right way is. There is only ONE right way. That means we may have to put up with some things while they are coming to Jesus. It does not mean we accept sin in any way, but we love the sinner and try to help them realize they need a savior and show them that in love.

That is love, accepting them as a person who God created, who needs Jesus, and respecting them at the same time, by showing them the truth in a loving way. Saying Jesus loves you, but He does not want this for you. Hopefully then they will see that you are not criticizing them or hating them, but that you genuinely care for where they end up. They will then see your life and see the need for them to change. Then when they do change, the change is real, the change is permanent. Why, because they came to Jesus on their own terms and found out that He is most definitely real and loves them and they in turn want to love Jesus and follow Him.

When I first came to New Beginnings Church, I said in one of my first sermons. I can’t wait for the day a stripper comes to church in all her glory and we treat her with the love of Christ, and she feels welcome and finds what she is looking for. Then you will see change that is organic and wonderful, that not only changes her life, but the lives of those around her, along with the church as the church sees a real salvation change in real time in real life. Wow!

Revival once again is all about souls. God gives us revival in our souls, so we are motivated to go out and win souls to the Lord in mass quantities with real love!

Back to the original question, yes, yes, and most definitely YES everyone is welcome in the church, especially New Beginnings Church in Punxsutawney. We love everyone, but we will share with you the truth in love because we not only care about your life now, but where you will be for all eternity!

Remember Jesus loves you; I love you, and you are awesome!

I love revival, but during revival, things will happen. Feelings will get hurt. Misunderstandings will take place. Why, because the devil wants to use anything, and usually the dumbest things to get us off track. One of those is allowing things to make us upset with one another or with what is going on, many times over trivial things.

I hope that you read the five things from yesterday on how to deal with anger. Today, I want to concentrate on the most important one that we need to take to heart so that revival does not fade over something dumb. Do not let the sun go down on your anger, Ephesians 4:26.

This does not mean that you have to have a resolution to the problem, person, or situation before you go to bed, because you cannot control the other person. situation, etc. God is asking, can you release it from your mind. What you go to bed thinking of will affect you all night. Ever heard of the phrase, woke up on the wrong side of the bed. If anger is your last thought, it will eat away at you all night, and then things can develop in our powerful subconsciousness and change us in ways we do not want.

The devil then uses this. Something happens or someone does something and it irritates us. It usually is something little and then it grows. We go to bed instead of enjoying what God did in the day, being upset by something or someone. Now yes this will happen, we are human, we are not perfect. The question is, will you allow it to eat away at you all night?

When you release it, once again, you may not have come to a resolution. The other person may still be at odds with you, but that is OK. You cannot control the other person. You can only control yourself. Can you say, God I release this to you, and then allow good thoughts to come in. Jesus can speak to you. You can then allow Jesus to work on the problem while you sleep. If you don’t obey this command, Jesus is not working to help you. In Proverbs 22:24, God says to not make a friendship with an angry man. I think God takes His own advice.

But I am just so angry, and God understands that. Getting angry is not a sin. God gets angry. Read the book of Hosea. With Moses, twice God wanted to start over with a new group of people. So, God understands we will get angry. God is so smart. He allows you to vent, to get mad, to go through your process whatever it is. He says you have the entire day. But when the sun goes down, let it go! God gives you an entire day to have a temper tantrum if you so choose. And let us be honest, we often do.

God just says, then let it go so God can speak with you and so God can deal with what made you mad. It allows God to deal with the situation without you butting in. It also allows God to deal with the root issues. Sometimes, you may not like this, our anger is misplaced, and this gives God time for us to be open to hearing that, so we do not inadvertently stop what God is doing.

Now here is the thing, do you have to wait till you go to bed to let it go? No! I would suggest the sooner you can let the anger go, the better. If you go an entire day mad, it will be hard to turn that switch at night and just release it. God gives you grace to be you, but there is a time limit on how long you can stay angry. He truly does understand us. So let the anger go, and let God do something amazing while you sleep, so you won't wake up on the wrong side of the bed.

Anger never produces anything good. Peace of mind always benefits us. Let us let God give us that peace of mind daily and nightly and not let the devil have anyway in to stop what God is doing.

Remember Jesus loves you; I love you, and you are awesome!

How does Revival start? Many people are praying for revival, but many times we miss it, because we are looking for it to start in the wrong places and wrong ways.

Revival does not typically start in a church or even among a group of believers. It first starts with a person who is sold out for Jesus. A person who wants nothing more than to be used by Jesus. This person proves this in a couple of ways. (1) They are waiting in God’s presence. Nothing may be happening, but they are just waiting on God. God wants to see if we are willing to wait on Him. Are we willing to be patient? Yes, we want God to move now, but God wants to know how bad you want it. He is watching to see if you are serious. Something to consider, we do not really understand time see 2 Peter 3:8.  What we think is a long time, is really nothing compared to all of eternity.

(2) Are you looking for God in unexpected ways. Are you actually saying God I am willing to do anything, anyway you desire. Many times, we think it starts with worship, or some testimony, or some wonderful thing Jesus does. I am reminded of 2 Kings 5 when Namaan is healed. Namaan goes to Elisha and says heal me, and the man of God tells his servant to tell Namaan to go wash seven times in the Jordan river. Namaan goes away mad because he expected the man of God to come out and do some mighty act. On the way home one of Namaan’s servants says to Namaan, if the man of God asked you to do something mighty you would have done it, why not do this simple thing and see what happens. Namaan does it and he is healed. He then takes God back to his country and a revival starts. A true revival from the Lord will usually start in an unexpected way. Why? Because then we know it is of God and not manufactured by ourselves. Be open to anything the Lord would have you do, do it, and then watch and see what God does with it.

Then the revival will spread to others, who are doing the same thing. Waiting on God and doing whatever God asks, especially in unexpected ways. When these people then come together a fire is lit between them because they both recognize God doing something amazing by what happens to each other. Then the powder keg ignites. Then worship is awesome, the Word comes alive like never before, and Mark 16:17-18, signs that follow a believer show up in amazing ways. Then everyone is excited and the lost come in because of the excitement and find Jesus.

But first it starts with one who is willing to wait and do the unexpected. Asbury started with one college student who would not leave the altar, the revival of 1906, at AZUSA street in LA where the Assemblies of God comes from, started with one man, William Seymour crying out to the Lord for the people. He just would sit there, or lay there, saying repent, repent and that was it and thousands came to Jesus, and today the AG has seen hundreds of millions come to know Jesus around the world and is still growing to this day.

Why because Williams Seymour waited and did the unexpected and God moved!

You can be used just like that too!

Remember Jesus loves you; I love you, and you are awesome!