There are many words to describe the various aspects of our Christian experience that is our daily walk with Christ in relationship with our Heavenly Father through the power of the Holy Spirit. Some of those descriptive terms include putting off and putting on, retreat and rest, keep on keeping on, press toward the mark, be zealous, and many others.
Last week I saw the word advance come to life. A group of ladies from our church attended a conference in Roanoke, Virginia, known as Ladies Prayer Advance. The gathering began on Thursday at 1:30 with a general session which included singing, prayer groups, more singing, and powerful preaching from the Word of God. This was followed by workshops and then a supper break.
The evening service began at 7:00 p.m. with singing, prayer, choir ministry, and the preached Word. The first evening session is followed up by one of the most important events of the conference, prayer meetings. Ladies gather with their group and follow the prayer prompt of what is known as CPR, Confession, Praise, and Requests. As they go around their circle in at least three rounds of prayer, the Holy Spirit moves in, hearts are convicted and broken. Honest and transparency abounds. The conference really begins here. Prayer meetings have been known to last all night.
My wife returned to her room somewhere between 11:00 and midnight.
Needless to say, when the Prayer Advance began again the next morning at 9:00, there were some tired ladies. Instead of listening to their fatigue, they pressed on through a whole day of preaching and workshops followed by another service after supper and more prayer time. Before lunch is one of the great highlights of Friday’s events called Sweet Hour of Prayer where you find a quiet place and pray for one hour.
Then Saturday morning rolls around with an 8:30 start for a workshop and then the final session at 10:00.
I have attended several Men’s Prayer Advances and have been the van driver for the past two Ladies Prayer Advances, and the same thing happens every time. By the time the Friday night service rolls around, the conference participants are pumped, excited, expectant, full of praise, clean before the Lord and walking close to their God.
This same spirit escalates into the Saturday morning final session, and my friend, I will tell you, it is a bit of heaven on earth!!!
Why does it happen this way? One word describes it . . . Advance! Although our earthly bodies through fatigue, excuses, fears, laziness, and unconfessed sin calls us to slow down, quit, go take a nap or various other backward responses, the grace of God through praise, prayer, and preaching causes you to advance. As each session and workshop moves along, the ladies are moving closer to the Lord! They are advancing! And of course, that is the way it is supposed to be as we read in James 4:6-8, But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
I promise you, no believer has ever regretted drawing closer to God, advancing toward God and the things of God.
Yes, there are times when we need to retreat and rest, but advance should be a term to describe our relationship with God on a daily basis. Grace is sufficient even when we are tired, tempted, and tested.
There’s a song we sing in our church that describes what I’ve tried to convey in this blog post. Listen to it and . . . ADVANCE!
(Text by Chris Anderson; Tune by Greg Habegger)
I run to Christ when chased by fear
And find a refuge sure.
“Believe in me,” His voice I hear;
His words and wounds secure.
I run to Christ when torn by grief
And find abundant peace.
“I too had tears,” He gently speaks;
Thus joy and sorrow meet.
I run to Christ when worn by life
And find my soul refreshed.
“Come unto Me,” He calls through strife;
Fatigue gives way to rest.
I run to Christ when vexed by hell
And find a mighty arm.
“The Devil flees,” the Scriptures tell;
He roars, but cannot harm.
I run to Christ when stalked by sin
And find a sure escape.
“Deliver me,” I cry to Him;
Temptation yields to grace.
I run to Christ when plagued by shame
And find my one defense.
“I bore God’s wrath,” He pleads my case—
My Advocate and Friend.
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From A Pastor's Heart 