Sunday, 05 July 2009

• Praying for Revival

  I've been particularly affected by the writings of blogger naphtali_deer (Karen) ......who's been  writing alot about the need to pray for revival in the Church - especially here in America.   (I think I can lump Canada in that, as the USA isn't the only country in America!  ) Recently, I've felt convicted as well, and have been praying for the Revival of the Church of Jesus here in Canada, as well as all over the world.  Marantha! Come Lord Jesus!

  Today, we had a guest minister from our neighboring congregation in Langley preach this afternoon.   What a powerful reminder of the power of the Gospel!  The sermon was based on Acts 16.   This is where Paul and Silas end up going to Macedonia - (or Europe) after being prevented by the Holy Spirit from going to Asia and Bithynia.   The theme of the sermon was "The Gospel invades Europe in a surprising, diverse and powerful manner."   This was spelled out by the three events mentioned in this chapter - that of Lydia (a businesswoman), the slave girl who was possessed and of the Phillipian jailer.   In each circumstance, God showed the Gospel in different, diverse ways.  Lydia is already a "worshiper of God" - and by the power of the Holy Spirit, responds to the Gospel.    This, my friends, is divine illumination and peruasion of the Spirit - necessary for those who have been called to respond.   The LORD opened her heart!  (she didn't open her own heart).     Then, they encounter a slave girl who is possessed, and whom the annoyed Paul calls the spirit out of.     While Lydia's conversion may have been quiet and without fanfare, this was more than likely a very public, dramatic event.   We don't know if the slave girl  becomes a follower of Jesus though.   And lastly - there is the conversion of the jailer.  Paul and Silas are in prison (because of the slave girl event) - and they are singing and praying while chained (imagine that!) when there is a great earthquake .........and you know the rest.    The jailer - likely a burly fellow - not compassionate or kind,  asks what he must do to be saved.   He humbles himself, cleans them up, takes them home, feeds them ..........and Paul and Silas "spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house." .......and the jailer AND HIS WHOLE FAMLY was baptized.  Incredible!!    As the Pastor said in his sermon,  the gospel comes to Europe with a BANG - God's power is unstoppable, the Gospel is unstoppable --- He is not restricted by laws and chains.   (previous events in the book of Acts also show this in undeniable ways). The Gospel continued to move through Europe - and the growth in the Church of Christ Jesus was phenomenal.

  But now today, Europe is in bad shape, increasingly becoming immoral .....and the USA and Canada are not far behind.   The Gospel is advancing elsewhere now - the Lampstands are bright in places like China, South Africa, Brazil.   

  This particular pastor has had the privilege and honour of meeting with growing house churches in China. (we have relations with churches in China, helping them in their growth of the Reformed faith).    He related a couple stories that just left me speechless (as a matter of fact, I didn't take notes during this time I was so spell bound!)   He was meeting with a group of house church leaders and asked them how they came to know one another and work together.      Their response?   They met in jail and that was their connection.     Another story of a man who had been jailed several times for preaching the Gospel - and was expecting to be jailed soon.  The pastor said to him "you don't look very distressed".    And the man replied  that every time he was arrested he told his arresters that the only thing they were accomplishing by arresting him was to cause the Church of Christ to grow!  He'd meet converts in jail - and when he got out his church would grow!     How's THAT for the power of the Gospel?  For the unstoppableness (is that even a word?) of the Gospel?     Jesus' Church is growing by leaps and bounds in China and other places ........yet here, it seems to be stagnant.    And so we should be praying for a revival in our nations, our communities, our own churches!

  Canada itself is becoming more godless, more self-centered and more anti-Christ.  And like the pastor said today, "if Canada continues to go down this road of moral decay, let it not be because of us ...let it be in spite of us!"  We MUST let our lights shine!  We must not hide or lose our saltiness.    We must walk the walk AND talk the talk!  We need to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and His Salvation - for He only is the Way, the Truth and the Life!

  Let there be an INVASION of the Gospel here in Canada, in the USA and in Europe and may God's Kingdom come!  Pray for revival brothers and sisters!  Pray for the Church of Christ to stand up and shine in the darkness.

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