Some Saturday Thoughts on "Renewals" and Revivals"

"Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.  And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, 'My father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!'  So he saw him no more....He...took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, 'Where is the Lord God of Elijah?' (From 2 Kings 2:11-14)

My current reading has me observing the lives of Elijah and Elisha; what "power evangelism."  History reveals the answer to Elisha's question, that, "the Lord God of Elijah," was, "a very present help," in Elisha's life.  It is a sad state in Christendom today that all we can do is sing about them. 

I heard the other day of a 53 year old woman who died.  I have not heard yet the cause of death, but this woman was about 12 years old in the early seventies when she invited Jesus into her life and was baptized in the Holy Spirit.  It was not long after this, however, that she "fell away" from the Lord.   I have had virtually no contact with her for decades, but did learn that she had been on antidepressant drugs for years.  When I heard the news, I had a sick feeling.  What went wrong?  This young girl gave her heart to the Lord during the "peak" days of the the Charismatic Renewal.  Did she, as so many from that era and throughout Church History, as our text of yesterday says, just, "give up"?  

The Charismatic renewal saw mighty Elijah and Elisha-like "signs and wonders," many coming to Jesus and baptized in the Holy Spirit, not just in big ministries, but in small groups, house groups, among Catholics, mainline denominational groups.  Yet the renewal began to peter out some time in the mid eighties.  Did, "give up," overtake, "always... pray"?  My observation is that divisions, jealousy among "leaders" in various factions, failure to acknowledge the "Elijah's" which went before, and rejection of where our Lord Jesus was "taking" the renewal began to overpower childlike faith.  It was classic, "But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ" (2 Cor. 11:3, NASB)

Today I ask prayer for myself and you.  I ask that we pray, and with as much of an open, childlike heart as possible, we be open to really hear the voice of Jesus by the Holy Spirit, revealing to us Father's purposes.  The battle is with personal and groupie agenda and divided loyalties of so many variations.  This battle does not become easier with time.  On the contrary, it becomes more difficult, because time gives us a sense that we pretty much know what God is doing and saying and how He does it and says it.  Just as with the Charismatic Renewal, the so called "prayer movement," and "prophetic movement," have become, for the most part, institutionalized.  This is the end of all revivals in Church History.  

No, I am not depressed, discouraged, nor defeated today.  As Chambers said, those are just "another form of self love."  Breakthrough, revival is still possible.  Now I know that it is quite spiritual and worshipful and seemingly giving "all the glory to God" to say that it "all depends on God."  No it doesn't.  If it did, we would not recognize the world we would be living in.  It depends upon our obedience to the Living Triune God.  And when obedience overpowers every, "sin which so easily besets us," we can then sing the song I first heard in the African Congregation in Berlin, "Victory is Mine!"  

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that I will, "always pray and not give up."  Amen.   

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"APF VIDEO DEVOTIONAL"

APF VIDEO DEVOTIONAL PRESS IN!

So You Believe You're Praying?

"Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart....Because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me." (Luke 18:1 & 5)

The NASB says in verse one, "and not give up."  Another expression of, "lose heart," or, "give up," is, "What's the use?"  More Christians are defeated by this attitude than perhaps any other.  We need to fight this demonic reaction with everything that is in us.  This introduction to what Jesus is to say about prayer kind of says it all, "Men should always pray...."-------------- ALWAYS.  What have you stopped praying about?  Have you given up?  Remember George Mueller who prayed 52 years for one of his friends to come to Jesus.  The man finally did come to Jesus, but it was after Mueller's death!  

In Luke 18:1 Jesus tells us that we, "should always pray and not give up."  In verse 5, however, Jesus tells us how to pray.  The NASB footnote gives the literal translation of, "weary me," as, "hit me under the eye."  The NIV says, "so that she won't eventually come and attack me!"  The Interlinear gives the meaning of the phrase as, "bruise, worry, exhaust, strike under the eye, treat severely, molest, annoy, harass."  I have one question for you and me today: Does this describe our relationship with the Living Triune God?  Now some may say that this is disrespectful, or presumptuous.  I say, Well, just consider Him Who invites us to such praying!

So many people complain that God does not answer their prayers, but I wonder if so much "unanswered prayers" are due to halfhearted praying.  The language Jesus uses in our text implies struggle, fighting, pressing in, won't stop until the answer comes.  Now many times we excuse unanswered prayers by saying, "Well, it must not have been God's will or timing"----------- or some other such rationalization.  I have no such excuse.  Yes, there have been times of great, intense praying.  I remember once that Dick Simmons and I prayed on Capitol Hill, right across from the Supreme Court Building, for 11 hours straight.  Another time I was in the Senate Gallery when they announced a circuit court's decision to eliminate "under God" from the American Pledge of Allegiance.  I got up, walked straight across to the Supreme Court Building and declared, yes, declared that such humanism would not rule in our land; it did not.

I am not suggesting to you today a certain "length" of time, or "intensity," or any other "how to" in prayer.  But we today need to remember, call to mind the times when such a fighting spirit was in us, when we would not leave "the Throne Room" until we got an answer.  I will continue this in a video later. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, there is no doubt that I, "have not, because [I] ask not," at least in the way You command me.  Holy Spirit, help me to, "always pray and not give up."  Amen.
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See how you can view the movie on America's involvement in the UN at:

www.jerberwash.blogspot.com

Unreached People Group of the Day:

www.apfunreachedpeoples.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"APF DEVOTIONAL"

APF DEVOTIONAL THE WINNING WAY

"And My Life"

"I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak.  And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (Acts 20:35)

As far as I can tell, we have no record in the Gospels that Jesus said this.  But we do know that our Lord Jesus spoke to Paul in other scenarios.  

The United States of America is making the same mistake as most of Europe, spending more money than it has.  The main reason for this is that unprincipled politicians know humanity is basically a "palms up" species, i.e., always wanting to receive while reluctant to give.  Most people who receive from the US Government give nothing to the US Government! 

Our text runs across the grain of human thinking and action.  Even most church-goers attend meetings to receive rather than to give.  This is the main reason for "church hoping."  I wonder what a day would be like if just Followers of Jesus woke up with the prayer, "What can I give today," rather than, "What can I get today?!?"

This is probably the reason so many church-goers do not tithe.  Tithe is giving; offerings are giving.  I could tell you testimony after testimony affirming from our experience the, "more blessed to give than to receive."  Some people think this verse speaks of feelings; "Oh, it feels so good to give."  Well, if that is the reason people give, it is little wonder that so few people are consistent givers.

Don't let feelings rule your obedience to Jesus Christ and His Law-Words.  There is a lot of good done in the world which does not have the accompanying, "Oh it's such a great feeling to give."  And giving is not just a financial thing; giving is a life thing.  I call your attention to the "signature" I use below.  When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that it is easier to give money than "my life."  But I press in to be a total "and-my-life" servant.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"To Him Who Laid Out the Earth Above the Waters...."

"To Him who laid out the earth above the waters, for His mercy endures forever...." (Psalm 136:6)

It is a peaceful, tranquil setting here, a constant sound of wind and waves, waves which continue to come ashore, a scene which has been repeating itself since creation.  Man comes and goes.  Two of the photos below are from a site of ancient Mayan ruins; they are only about 4600 years old.  The beautiful sight and sound of waves coming ashore, the refreshing breeze, birds flying, however, predate even the ancient Mayans.

The first part of Psalm 136 just extols the Great Hand of the Creator.  Most of the second part extols His mighty acts of deliverance.  I quoted from Psalm 24 in the wedding ceremony, "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.  For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters."  I told those present that what we could see around us as well as ourselves, "....is the Lord Jesus Christ's....He...founded it..,and He established it...." 

And so I remind you and me today, another day, a day 4600 years removed from the "inception" of an ancient culture, Jesus, "laid out the earth above the waters."  They are His, and we are His, even those who do not acknowledge Him.  They may be lost, without the forgiveness of sin, and bound for, "the Judgment," yet they nonetheless are among, "and all its fulness...."---------------------------- "for His mercy endures forever."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that I am Yours.  Amen.
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New Article at:     www.jerberwash.blogspot.com

Photos from May 27, 2012

The photos are from our place near Cancu, Mexico.  This is where our daughter had her wedding.
        "[You] have set your glory above the heavens!

"When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him?" "For He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the floods."