"For from you the Word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything." (1 Thess. 1:8)
Stephen Bullivant, professor of theology and the sociology of religion in St. Mary's University in London, recently wrote, "Christianity as a default, as a norm, is gone, and probably gone for good, at least for the next 100 years." America is fast approaching this.
What a contrast is today's text, "....from you the Word of the Lord has sounded forth...in every place." Many reading this can remember the days when people were surrendering their lives to Jesus at a "revival-rate." Some years ago I met a pastor of a congregation in Eldersville, PA., a village just 2 miles from the West VA., border. Eldersville was our first assignment after I graduated from seminary. When I told him that I was a pastor in that community from 1970-1973, he said, "O, then you were there for the revival." I remember thinking, "What?" Then I remembered that in about a two year period, we had over a hundred people surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. That was the "revival" he was talking about, and apparently people were still talking about "it."
As I read our text this morning, a sense of conviction came over me, a sense of, "What's happening in my life now?" Conviction is not the same as condemnation, so I want this to be an exhortation as well as an encouragement. Let me tell you what "drove" that "revival" in Eldersville, PA. People were, yes, sharing their testimony. But as I recall, most were just inviting neighbors, relatives to meetings, and in those meetings there was a very Jesus-Centeredness, worship in "simplicity," laying on of hands, healings, deliverances (my spell-check does not like these words). I am wondering if there is a "word" to the Church today similar to Paul's caution to the Corinthians, "But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your mind may be corrupted from the simplicity/purity that is in Christ."
The question for me today is, "So now what?" I don't know. But I can tell you that I am praying for whatever Father, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit was doing in those "glorious years," He would do again in all our lives. Many believe that the Church is praying and worshipping more in these days than every before. I can tell you: That is simply not true. I was praying as much, if not even more, then as now. Likewise, we were worshipping every bit as "powerfully" then as we are now, and as any I have witnessed or hear about now. Maybe there is another, "Word of the Lord," we should recall today, "But call to remembrance the former days....Do not cast away your confidence....For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise...."
Will you pray with me? Father, in Jesus' Name, we pray for what someone stated years ago, "Another wave rolls in." Show us where we have changed. Convict us of anything which hinders many people surrendering their lives to You. Holy Spirit, we ask for conviction, a renewed empowering, as we need so much to walk in obedience to Your Word. Lord Jesus, You said that we would receive, "power from on high." "Mercy drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead." Amen.
Stephen Bullivant, professor of theology and the sociology of religion in St. Mary's University in London, recently wrote, "Christianity as a default, as a norm, is gone, and probably gone for good, at least for the next 100 years." America is fast approaching this.
What a contrast is today's text, "....from you the Word of the Lord has sounded forth...in every place." Many reading this can remember the days when people were surrendering their lives to Jesus at a "revival-rate." Some years ago I met a pastor of a congregation in Eldersville, PA., a village just 2 miles from the West VA., border. Eldersville was our first assignment after I graduated from seminary. When I told him that I was a pastor in that community from 1970-1973, he said, "O, then you were there for the revival." I remember thinking, "What?" Then I remembered that in about a two year period, we had over a hundred people surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. That was the "revival" he was talking about, and apparently people were still talking about "it."
As I read our text this morning, a sense of conviction came over me, a sense of, "What's happening in my life now?" Conviction is not the same as condemnation, so I want this to be an exhortation as well as an encouragement. Let me tell you what "drove" that "revival" in Eldersville, PA. People were, yes, sharing their testimony. But as I recall, most were just inviting neighbors, relatives to meetings, and in those meetings there was a very Jesus-Centeredness, worship in "simplicity," laying on of hands, healings, deliverances (my spell-check does not like these words). I am wondering if there is a "word" to the Church today similar to Paul's caution to the Corinthians, "But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your mind may be corrupted from the simplicity/purity that is in Christ."
The question for me today is, "So now what?" I don't know. But I can tell you that I am praying for whatever Father, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit was doing in those "glorious years," He would do again in all our lives. Many believe that the Church is praying and worshipping more in these days than every before. I can tell you: That is simply not true. I was praying as much, if not even more, then as now. Likewise, we were worshipping every bit as "powerfully" then as we are now, and as any I have witnessed or hear about now. Maybe there is another, "Word of the Lord," we should recall today, "But call to remembrance the former days....Do not cast away your confidence....For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise...."
Will you pray with me? Father, in Jesus' Name, we pray for what someone stated years ago, "Another wave rolls in." Show us where we have changed. Convict us of anything which hinders many people surrendering their lives to You. Holy Spirit, we ask for conviction, a renewed empowering, as we need so much to walk in obedience to Your Word. Lord Jesus, You said that we would receive, "power from on high." "Mercy drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead." 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.'"
Hebrews 12:2
