theology

You’re Making Revival

“Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what He has done for my soul.” Psalm 66:16

Every so often, I venture out to grab a cup of coffee and read God’s word in a different setting.  The past few times I’ve gone, though I have chosen a different location each time, I have sat across from fellow believers who likewise are studying the word!  This morning, I heard a young man, assumedly in high school or college, discipling a younger boy (about junior high aged), and was filled with joy!

Over the last few weeks, I have seen young people seeking out and studying who God is all over!  This generation is eager to know Him and He is moving everywhere.  This might be a dark time in our nation and in this world, but He is still working all around us.  I’ve seen so many people of my generation professing the gospel and teaching it to those around them!  Like the verse in this Psalm, we should be telling those around us what the Lord has done!  Believing, showing, proclaiming that Christ is enough.

We may feel far from persecution, but our brothers and sisters—our church—is strongly being persecuted.  Some of my favorite verses are found in John 16; in this chapter, Jesus explains the Holy Spirit to His disciples and tells them that He will soon leave them.  Knowing their hearts, He said “You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy” (John 16:20).  Later, verse 22, He mentions that they will see Him again and they will have joy that “no one will take.”  Jesus affirms that He will return to the Father soon and the disciples react saying “Now we know that You know all things and do not need anyone to question You; this is why we believe You came from God” (John 16:30).  Jesus informs the disciples that they will be scattered and assures them that the Father is with Him (John 16:32).  The chapter concludes with Jesus saying “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world, you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  Time has passed on, and not all suffer as the disciples did, but persecution still exists and new persecutors, namely ISIS, have come to invoke fear from believers as they terrorize our body of Christ.  But they cannot stop our God.  Job declared “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2).

In Acts 4, Peter and John defend that they “cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).  After that, they prayed for boldness to speak of the Lord (Acts 4:29), and so they did.  Their faith, and others of the time, gave us the 27 books of the New Testament, and now faith has spread around the globe!  Today and these past few weeks I have been able to watch Christians fall in love with God in coffee shops across America!  As I learn more about Him I continue to grow in my love for Him, as do those studying with me!

Our generation is eager and searching for God, and our lips utter His glory, we should exclaim “Come and see what God has done: He is awesome in His deeds toward the children of man,” (Psalm 66:5) as the generations before us did.

I am encouraged by this revival awakening in my generation.  No matter what, “When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat” (I Corinthians 4:12-13).  God is moving, and we can choose to follow and serve Him, or we can choose to “shrink back” out of fear.  Either way, God’s will shall endure, and Christ will be victorious.

 

For Further Reading:

II Corinthians 4:8-12

Hebrews 10:39

Romans 8:19-27

Isaiah 48:10-11

I Thessalonians 5:18

Micah 6:8

You Taught, I Listened

This year I’ve had the privilege to listen to world-famous speakers such as Pastor Alistar Begg, Pat Williams, Brian Kilemade, Pastor David Nasser, and so many others.  I’ve also been able to listen to our wonderful pastors Grant Ethridge and Tim Whitney, Chip Dean and my dear friends Tyler LeClear, Zachary Goodwyn, and Joel Austin preach the gospel!  These men continually allow God to use them to teach many people about His glory.  I have hundreds of pages of notes on messages from these men and many other men and women.

I’ve been traveling quite a bit lately, and I love the plane rides because I have so much time to study!  On these past few trips, I’ve been reading through my most recent book of notes which started March 30th.  I wrote down a theme from each message and found four prevalent themes: Leadership, Communication, Adversity, and Serving.

Dr. John C. Maxwell taught that “Leadership is nothing more than influence.”  A grand leader must be characterized by integrity, communication, boldness, having the competence to learn from failure, and defined as a servant.  It is a struggle to live out one’s life for the Lord.  As He shows love and grace, so we must also.  There is no strength or growth without faith and struggle.  We are ambassadors for Christ (II Corinthians 5:20), showing and leading the world towards Him.  Pastor Tim Whitney asserted “Our actions can change peoples’ opinion of God.”  What seems like a daunting statement—and it is a serious matter—we aren’t on our own in this.  Regarding Ephesians 2:10, my friend Tyler simply stated: “God has already created the good works, all we have to do is live them out.”  Each day we should strive to lead others to Christ in “such a manner that others could get saved” (Pastor Chip Dean).

Communication influences just about every situation.  Something I find difficult to learn is the ability to be vulnerable.  It’s uncomfortable to share what your deepest thoughts are, but often it is that which is needed.  It’s okay to ask for help.  Chris Deaton, an RD at Liberty University, spoke saying that one must “understand that we are flawed, troubled people, and that God designed us to have deep, genuine relationships.  This process of becoming vulnerable takes patience, as I’m learning.  Patience in oneself and patience with others.  It takes courage to show this type of love, and it is worth it.”  Vulnerability brings people closer, creates an authentic relationship, and sharing our weakness can help others understand how you can grow together and serve God to your best abilities.  Author Annie Downs defines courage as “the quality of spirit the mind is in while enduring fear.”  It is these little acts of bravery and endurance that can change relationships tremendously.

The products of suffering are praise, glory, and honor.  The delayed gratification we must endure produces boldness.  No matter what, our God is King.  In times of hardship, we must remember that God’s truth holds us.  Christ has given us peace (John 14:27), which is the “inner wholeness in the presence of Christ” (Pastor David Nasser), and, because of this, we can have joy, “delight in God for God” (Pastor David Nasser), amidst the trials of this life.  “For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly” I Peter 2:19.  This struggle is God’s grace being displayed in your life.

Through these times of conflict and times of peace, we must serve the people God has placed in our lives.  As Christ came to serve, we must do likewise (Mark 10:45).  Pastor Tim stated that pretending someone did not hurt you is not a product of forgiveness; we must behold “extravagant forgiveness” and bless those who have hurt us (Matthew 5:43-46).  God has gifted us beyond what we deserve, and Pastor David Stone reminds us that we can serve using our spiritual gifts, personality, abilities, and experiences to spread God’s love and His grace.  Pray to the Lord; give and give thanks, for He is a merciful God.  Serve and give love.  Give mercy to those hard to love and remember who has shown you great mercy.  Persevere when it is hard and you feel as though you have accomplished nothing.  “What we do does not go unnoticed by God.”—Tim Whitney.  Serve faithfully.

Be aware of the influence you have.  Take risks to show the love of Christ.  Never give up on the ones who you pray for—a task I find somehow hard to continue.  Prayer is powerful.  Open up to those around you and join me in the pursuit of becoming vulnerable.  Endure the hardship and trust in the Most High God.  Make your mission to serve Christ and His people.  Give and forgive.  Make serving come naturally, and allow the Lord to work in you.

 

For Further Reading:

I Corinthians 9:24-27

I Peter 4:8,10

Romans 5:1

Ephesians 4:1-2