THE NEXT GREAT REVIVAL

For years I have heard of the great revival that would happen before Jesus returns to earth in the rapture (first taught by John Darby in 1830) or second coming depending on what camp you believe. There are so many thoughts, theories, and assumptions out there: rapture, pre tribulation, mid tribulation, post tribulation it all will give you a headache if you try studying it. I honestly believe we need to live in the first 65 Books of the Bible and God will take care of the Book of Revelation. After we get past the third Chapter of Revelation the symbolism, type and shadow of metaphors and concepts are steeped Jewish lore one can really get off track and in the ditch as we see has happened with the whole Hebraic movement. Yes Jesus is coming back, why? Because He said so and that is good enough for me. When I do not know and I need no preacher or teacher to convince me of Jesus' return. If you are not convinced of the return of Jesus Christ my friend then there is a lack of understanding and doctrinal truths of the word of God you desperately need. I know Jesus is coming back not because someone told me oh no, but out from my communion with the LORD and me discovering the truths of God's word and I know in my spirit He will return. But in Luke we read, "I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8) and in 2 Thessalonians Paul talks about the LORD's appearing is at hand, "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;" (2 Thessalonians 2:3) Paul does not talk about a great revival (word not in the KJV of the Bible), but of a "falling away" and the revealing of "the son of perdition" some say is Satan, but the word "perdition" (Strong's G684) means wasters, destroyer, destruction. I really do not know or really care who "the son of perdition" is he is not my focus Jesus is my focus and if I can train my thoughts and spirit on Him that is enough. But today on Christian TV (which is a oxymoron) we hear of this great revival before the end of days that will sweep the world and billions of souls will be saved. Now do not get me wrong here I hope it happens. Oh how I hope it happens, I like the LORD wishes none to be loss no not one, but that is not what the Bible says. Jesus again in Matthew, "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:4-14) This huge end time revival is not the picture Jesus paints. I wonder why what Jesus said is not preached as much as the prosperity messages and seeker sensitive doctrines? I guess you cannot get a bunch of people to rally around your mega church with such doom and gloom even if it is the truth. Those today who preach and teach about the "end of days" and what will befall the earth in the future from the Books of Daniel, Ezekiel, and Revelations, in my opinion, have no clue and at best they are guessing. Christian TV is full (each denomination has their own special star) of these soothsayers and they say the LORD gave them this special understanding and if you buy their book or video you too can know what is going to happen after the rapture, during the millennial reign, or when we all get to heaven, well mule fritters! Well if the LORD gave everyone a special understanding why do they all disagree in doctrine and timeline? Someone is not telling the truth. Shame on these charlatans and shame on the people that get snookered. John had to be in the Spirit to receive the Book of Revelation and fell at the LORD's feet as dead and today we merchandise the truth of the word of God for money, power, control, and prestige . God please forgive us for our greed and presumption. This end time folly revival really intrigues me. Again I hope I am wrong a lot of money and time has been dedicated trying to make it happen. As I have thought about it I have come to the realization (and I am not sure if we can call it a revival or an awaking), but after the LORD returns (and He will He said so) I believe every church in the world will be packed 24 hours a day every day of the year. I will even go as far and say people will be killing people to get through the doors. What a contrast from today. After the rapture or the second coming (again what you believe) as the Book of Revelation unfolds people will know they missed it. They were told and they did not believe, but now that they missed it God has their attention and they know there will be things that will be happening where they might have a second chance to make it to heaven and shun hell. Make no mistake hope in a second chance after the rapture will be the only thing that will keep most people going. Their lives will have been shattered death and destruction is ever before the people and they will know they missed it and they also will know there is still hope. I do not believe God will take the precious Holy Spirit from the earth at this time. Jesus said I will NEVER leave or forsake you and He means this too. Gene Fowler visiting W. C. Fields shortly before his death found his ailing crony sitting in the garden reading the Holy Bible. Fowler asked, "what are you doing?" Fields explained shyly, "I am looking for loop holes." That is what these people will be doing they will be looking for loop holes looking for ways to miss hell and make heaven their home. And in God's grace and mercy He has provided ways for this to happen. Many Christians do not know many people will live through the great tribulation and make it to heaven, but John writes, "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them." (Revelation 7:13-15) I believe these could be the ones who had to give their lives for the Gospel. John again in Revelation, "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." (Revelation 20:4) Now I do not know how all of this is going to work out nor do I need to know. But I do know if you cannot stand for Jesus now when times are not really that tough how can you give your life? I do not know. Why Jesus Himself said, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Matthew 25:13) All I need to know is Jesus and His word and things will work out fine. Will there be a great end time revival I do not know, but I do know God has a made a way for us to spend eternity with Him and we now need to take Him at His word. My friend let us double our efforts now to reach as many people as possible. Written by David Stahl

WTFMT 54 FROM HGM ON 26 JUN 18

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-54 TEXT:

"Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee." (Song 8:5)

 

I. WE NEED THIS WAY

A. The wilderness is a part of our Christian development. It is necessary for our growth. It is God's method for getting His provisions to us and into us. It is that which the Lord uses to bring spiritual enrichment into our lives. It is a means God uses to develop faith and trust in Him.

B. The wilderness is an essential part of the Christian life, whether we like it or not. He brings us to the wilderness so that we may see His glory moving in this particular unlikely and unpleasant place.

C. Let us look for the glory of God in the wilderness. Let's not look at other things. If we do, we will miss the cloud and the glory.

D. Certainly the difficulties and the giants will be there, but looking at them as insurmountable problems and unconquerable enemies will lead us to defeat.

E. Let us lift our eyes from the ground and look heavenward. Helen H. Lemmel expressed this well in her hymn, "The Heavenly Vision" Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.

F. "Turn your eyes upon Jesus." That's the best advice or counsel we shall ever receive under any circumstance. Once we have our blessed Lord in proper view, everything else falls into proper perspective. Then the whole realm of Heaven and abundant provisions come into clear and correct focus. We see the victory before it comes.

G. All that we shall ever need is in Him. Come, let us follow our Beloved into the wilderness. There we shall come under sheltering wings and draw from His endless provisions.

H. There a thousand needs will be met. There we shall behold His wondrous beauty and glory. And from there we shall go into even broader blessings, brighter, and grander glory.

I. God brought the Children of Israel into the Wilderness of Paran for two main reason, one to show His most beloved His glory and beauty. And two, commence the conquest of a promise He made over 435 years ago, the fulfillment of the Promised Land.

J. But they never got to see all of the glory and beauty of God He wanted to show them. They saw some glory, but not the glory God desired to show them and work in them. Why? Because they were looking at the situations and circumstance.

K. Many Christians desire to see only a little of God's glory and beauty. God is wanting many Christians to go forth and eat of the bounty of the promised land, but sadly they have no stomach for the conquering giants or spending time in the wilderness to learn the lessons and gain the strength required to overcome.

L. Many Christians are content to eat the manna and the quail in the wilderness and drink water when God does a miracle. But these lessons that God uses to build faith and trust in Him, not the miracles.

 

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

 

A. So instead of moving into the promised land, the Children of Israel moved into the next wilderness. Forward they moved farther away from what God had for them. But forward into progress, forward and eastward they moved, farther and farther away from God's glory and beauty.

B. If we do not move into what God has for us, now, we too are moving farther and farther away from God's glory and beauty. We then will have to progress eastward.

ANOTHER GENERATION

In Judges we read, "And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. 9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. 10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel." (Judges 2:8-10) I thought how could this happen? How could there be, "another generation after them, which knew not the LORD?" even in America. All that God has done for America and yet most children know not much of God. After all the Children of Israel went through in the wilderness and beyond how could this happen? After all God commanded the people to teach their children; every generation was to teach their children and the next generation their children who God is and what He has done in the past for the people. Moses writes, "Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.? (Deuteronomy 4:10) Ah yes sadly I can see how this is happening in America and around the world in Christian homes. My friend answers to our questions from the LORD are often found in the strangest places if we have a heart to look for them. All of our grand kids came for a visit. What a wonderful time we had. I remember how I would feel when we would drive out of my father's drive way with our kids in tow and now I feel worse (I guess I know what my father felt) when I see our kids pull out of our drive way. But while they all were here they were singing songs I have never heard, well one said, "Pap do you know the words to these songs?" And I replied, "no." To be honest they were not really Christian songs more secular for this present generation. Now I love our kid s and our grand kids, but these songs were from a different generation, from an another generation of things and ways that I purposely do all that I can to avoid. I purposely do all that I can to stay away from technology. I see the danger of technology, not fear on my part, but danger to my walk with the LORD. I purposely do all that I can to stay away from social media. I purposely do all that I can to stay away from movies (last movie we saw was "Broken"), TV programs, and music that glamorize this world. I purposely do all that I can to stay away from and even resist any worldly concepts and thinking that comes into conflict with the way I was raised and especially in conflict with the things of God. The more we go towards technology the less of God will be in us and the less of the Christians values my parents and others has instilled in me. I see how easy these values and Godly principles can be displaced by something new that affects our flesh, something shiny, bigger, brighter, something that captives our thoughts and thinking. Again I love our kids and grand kids very much and even understand the draw and pull of this world on them, but it is the responsibility of all Christian parents and grandparents to turn our children away from the things of this world so they would not follow after the ungodly things that this world daily serves up. Music, movies, computer games, social media all captures the heart, mind, and spirit of young people and enslaves them into wrong thinking that will oh so subtly drive them down a road to ultimate destruction. I am really confounded how churches use Facebook with all of its confusion and even the selling of personal information as a means to communicate information and news within the church. I hear many pastors say, "oh it is convenient, everyone is on it (not everyone) so we will use Facebook too." Well one thing I have learned is if the world is running after it God is NOT. Oh many say what harm is the singing of a few little worldly songs? Well that is the slippery slope of the world we all wrestle with. What part of, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15) do we not understand? The Scripture is quite clear my brother. To love or not love the world neither the things that are in the world" is not a request or good idea from the LORD, but a command. Yet we wink and nod at God's word and wonder why we get caught up in all of these areas in our lives. The answer is clear, we really love the world and the things in the world. And yes I can find myself here if I am not careful. I must say no to the things that draw me away from God. What part of, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2) do we not get? Why are we transformed by the world? Because we have not allowed the Holy Spirit to renew our minds. The renewing of our mind is not God's or the Holy Spirit's job, but ours. We renew our minds as we displace thoughts and hungers of the world from our hearts and mind by the things of God, those "good, and acceptable, and perfect will" things of God. The overriding need of the Church is not more influence, money, ministry, power, but is to discharge its obligation to the rising generation to a leadership that is: Authoritative. People love to be led by one who knows where they are going and who inspires confidence. They follow, almost without question, the person who shows himself wise and strong, who adheres to what he believes. Next it must be Spiritual. Leadership that is unspiritual, that can be fully explained in terms of the natural, although ever so attractive and competent, will result only in spiritual fruitlessness, corruption3 and immorality. Lastly it must be Sacrificial. Modeled on the life of the One who gave Himself a sacrifice for the whole world, who left us an example that we should follow His steps. It is the binding duty of those in positions of leadership to face-up-to the situation and do all in their power to see that the torch of a truly spiritual leader is passed on to the younger generation. Leadership is often viewed as the product of natural endowments and traits of personality, intellectual capacity, force of will, and enthusiasm. These God-given talents do greatly enhance leadership beyond question, but those are not the factors of paramount importance in the spiritual leader. The real qualities of leadership are to be found in those who are willing to suffer for the sake of objectives great enough to demand their wholehearted obedience. Spiritual leaders are not made by election or appointment, by men or any combination of men, nor by conferences. Only God can make them. Simply holding a position of importance does not constitute one a leader, nor does taking courses in leadership or resolving to become a leader. The only method is that of qualifying to be a leader. Religious position can be conferred by bishops and boards, but not spiritual authority; which is the prime essential of Godly leadership. That comes, often unsought, to those who in earlier life have proved themselves worthy of it by spirituality, discipline, ability, and diligence, workers who have heeded His call. Spiritual leadership is a thing of the Spirit and is conferred by God alone. When His searching eye alights on a servant who has qualified, He anoints him with his Spirit and separates them to their distinctive ministry. Samuel Logan Brengle, a truly great spiritual leader of the Salvation Army, outlined the road to spiritual authority and leadership in these challenging words: "It is not won by promotion but by many prayers and tears. It is attained by confession of sin, and much heart searching and humbling before God; by self surrender, a courageous and uncomplaining embracing of the cross, and by an eternal, unfaltering looking unto Jesus crucified. It is not gained by seeking great things for ourselves, but rather, like Paul, by counting those things that are gain to us as loss for Christ. That is a great price. but it must it must be unflinchingly paid by him who would be not merely a nominal but a real spiritual leader of men, a leader whose power is recognized and felt in heaven, on earth and in hell. The highest positions are reserved for those who have qualified in secret. It is that element of sovereignty that begets awe and a great humility in those to whom leadership is entrusted. The Church is painfully in need of leaders. I wait to hear a voice and no voice comes. I love the back seat in conferences. I would always rather listen than speak, but there is no clarion voice to listen to." The Prophet Joel knew of the importance of teaching our children about the LORD and keeping our hearts far from the world. "Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? 3 Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. 4 That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten. 5 Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth. 6 For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.? (Joel 1:2-6) Sounds like today my friend except for the teaching of our children. It is the previous' generations duty to tell the next generation the things of God to press them on the heart and souls of the young and tell of the things the LORD has done for them. Sadly the "Baby Boomers" (those born after World War II my generation) have miserably failed in their Godly calling to prepare the next generation. And why? Most have spent their time and interests on themselves and their desires, seeking pleasure and have raised kids who seek greater pleasure than their parents. God and His will is nowhere in the picture. So too the "church" has failed in instructing the next generation. They mix the truth with lies, but of greater damage is their lack of leadership and guidance. In the past as I grew up in the church I remember great men of God who really cared for their people their focus was not what they wanted, but had a real heart for the people and what God wanted for them, They really knew God it was evident in their talk, their life style, and in the word of God they delivered from a broken and contrite heart. Not so today. Where are the dedicated men of God? Today most pastors are so self focused in what the people will say. They have little to no inward strength and why? They have not allowed God to build in them an inward quality. Oh they have been to Bible School, they have completed the denominational paperwork to be ordained, and they think that qualifies them to be a pastor, but not so in God. God requires much more to be able to speak for Him. And at the heart of their ministry is their rice bowl. Their concern is for their job and their good name in the community. Who will teach the next generation about God? I can speak for our family that will be Karen, I, and our kids. Written by David Stahl