Tag: Revival

40 Days of Prayer & Fasting: Day #19

by Dale, posted in 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting

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PRAYER ADVANCE!

What a name for a men’s gathering!!  One of the most exciting events of the year is the opportunity to attend the Men’s Prayer Advance in Goshen, VA.  As stated on the Christ Life Ministry website, “The Men’s Prayer Advance was started over 20 years ago by a burden to see God do a fresh work in hearts. The emphasis of the Prayer Advance is hot, revival preaching and heart-searching prayer times.”  The fulfillment of this goal is has left a real impact upon my life.  Every year we are reminded that this is an advance, not a retreat!

Just picture 600 or more men singing with all their hearts, hands raised in praise, shouts of joy ringing out as we sing, “In Christ Alone,” or “Come, Thou Fount,” or “And Can It Be,” or “It Is Well With My Soul,” or “Victory in Jesus”!!  Seriously, I believe it is a foretaste of Heaven.  Add in the Friday night men’s choir singing a song such as, “I’m Amazed that You Love Me” or one of the men singing “I Am So Blessed.”  That’s shoutin’ ground!!!  What preparation the music makes for the preaching of God’s Word that penetrates the heart and convicts us in such a way that we are moved to decisions for Christ!  The altar is full with men being transparent with the Lord and each other.

Another highlight of the Advance is the many, many opportunities to pray!  If the meetings are held in the large cafeteria, we are seated in folding chairs.  That’s important.  During the service after a time of singing, we may be asked to get into a circle and go to prayer.  The chairs are moved, men go their knees, and there is a unified chorus of intercession that takes place that I believe is an illustration of the praise around the Throne of God!  At any given time, we may have this opportunity as the leader of service calls us to prayer.  After the service, we are then able to go back to our bunkhouses, and there, we have another prayer meeting.  My, the honesty, the transparency, the crying out of broken hearts for lost souls and wayward children, the tears, the joy, the praise!  It is a bit of Heaven on earth!

The Advance begins Thursday afternoon and concludes Saturday at noon.  All we do during those days is sing, listen to Spirit-empowered preaching and enjoy excellent meals around a table of fellowship.  When we pack up to leave and head on down the highway, we can always say, “I have seen the Lord!”

I must admit, I long for this to be the norm at Boones Creek Bible Church.  Why are we so timid when it comes to praising our God?  Why are we so shy about One-to-One Bible reading with another individual in the congregation?  Why are we so slow to rise out of our seat when we are called to come to the front and pray for the salvation of lost souls?  And when we are gathered like that, why are we so quiet in prayer?  Why are we so timid about sharing a personal testimony of the goodness of God?  Why do we have to drive a distance to be in a prayer meeting, a singing gathering, a preaching service that you know God has touched down and is doing a mighty work in the hearts of His people?

Would you honestly consider the questions above in light of the following passages today:  Psalm 55:16-17; 95:1-3; 150:1-6; Acts 4:23-31; 12:5; Revelation 5:11-13.  If you are not a part of the Boones Creek Bible Church, reflect upon how you worship, pray, sing, testify, read, and listen in your local church, or for that matter, in the place you meet with the Lord in your home every day.  Are you advancing or retreating?

Believers, we need revival!  I will continue these thoughts tomorrow, but for now, will you join me in advancing and not retreating?

Reminder:  Our goal for these 40 days of prayer and fasting is that God would so revive and change us that we would both pray and act as the people of God for the glory of God!

40 Days of Prayer & Fasting: Day #18

by Dale, posted in 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting

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Speak Up!

Evangelist Tom Farrell often says, “The Bible is not a book of suggestions, but a mandate from God.”  That same thought can be rendered “The Great Commission is not the Great Suggestion.”  You and I have been given a directive, a calling, a mission, a purpose, a plan and a life from the KING OF KINGS AND LORD AND LORDS, Go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19).  What a blessed privilege to be a mouthpiece for Deity; to have clear direction for lives; to know what the Lord expects of us; to have a divine purpose; to have a reason to live!  The Gospel must be proclaimed by YOU.

Scripture Passage:  Acts 26:1-23

1.  Do you live your life obedient to the mission Christ has given you?

2.  In your life right now, is it the Great Commission or the Great Suggestion, something you can take or leave?

3.  Do you think often about the lost condition of people who have never heard of Christ?

4.  Are you intentional in your witness for Christ and for His glory?

5.  Are your conversations guided by pointing others to the Theme of themes?

6.  Who are you building a relationship with today?  Who will you talk to today?

Reminder:  Our goal for these 40 days of prayer and fasting is that God would so revive and change us that we would both pray and act as the people of God for the glory of God!   To act as the people of God is to be His witness!

40 Days of Prayer & Fasting: Day #17

by Dale, posted in 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting

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What’s Your Title?

Acts 22 gives us the account of Paul preaching to the Jewish mob that had just tried to kill him.  While reading this passage recently, a descriptive title caught my attention.  As Paul shares his personal testimony, he mentions the stoning of Stephen and says, And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him (22:20).  Did you note the descriptive term for Stephen?  He called him your witness; God’s witness.  What a title to be known by!  A witness or also translated, “martyr.”  Are you a witness for Christ?  Would you be known as a “martyr” who dies to self and proclaims the message of Christ at any cost, any time, to anybody?

The past days have been an emotional roller coaster ride for us.  God in His grace spared the lives of our daughter and her fiancé in an auto accident Sunday night at 8:55.  A drunk driver was going the wrong way on the interstate and hit them almost head-on at 65 mph.  Andrew’s quick reaction to swerve to the left saved their lives. We are most certainly rejoicing in God’s protection.  Both cars were totaled, destroyed. There are many things about this event that stand out to me, but one of them is Andrew’s genuine concern for the souls of all who were around him.  He asked the state trooper, firemen, witnesses, other authorities, ER doctor and nurses, and folks at the towing company if they were sure of a home in Heaven.  While lying on the bed in the ER, he shared the gospel with the doctor, and she patiently listened.  Andrew was not driven by some adrenaline rush, although he was still under the trauma of it all.  This is Andrew, a man with a passion for lost souls.  The thought that occurred to me, “What would come out of my mouth if I were in a traumatic circumstance such as Andrew?” Now, I’m not setting Andrew up on a pedestal or making him out to be hero because he is my future son-in-law, but the truth is, I watched and heard him compassionately care for lost people in a time of near disaster. So much so, he is already praying about an opportunity to meet the drunken man who almost killed them.  Hence, I find myself saying what Paul said of Stephen, “Andrew, Your witness.”

Why do we need revival?  Because my title and your title needs to be,”(Fill in your name), Your witness.”  Our goal for these 40 days of prayer and fasting is that God would so revive and change us that we would both pray and act as the people of God for the glory of God!   To act as the people of God is to be His witness (Matthew 28:18-20)!!

Scripture Passage:  Acts 22

  • Note the boldness of Paul.
  • How will you turn conversations today to the Theme of themes?
  • What are your main fears about witnessing?  Talk to the Lord about them and trust 2 Cor. 9:8.

Let’s be the people of God today for His glory!!

40 Days of Prayer & Fasting: Day #13

by Dale, posted in 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting

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Focus on Christ:  Preparing to Worship.

We were created to worship God (Exodus 20:2-6; Psalm 29:1-11; 86:9-10; 99:1-9; 100:1-5; John 4:21-24; Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 4:8-11).  What an awesome privilege!  With every privilege comes a responsibility. We must be intentional worshipers! Our God is worthy, and He deserves our best adoration, praise and worship.  Since revived hearts desire to give Him the best, then we must be prepared to “enter into His gates” (Psalm 100:4) so we can be genuinely thankful and bless His holy name!  Last Sunday’s blog post (Day 7) gave some tips on worship preparation for Sunday morning before arriving at church.  Today, I want to share some ideas that will help you, your spouse and your family give God the best worship on Sunday by preparing on Saturday.

Practical Preparations [The purpose of the practical preparations is to limit distraction and decrease tension in the home, which often results in irritations and conflicts.]

1.  Prepare Sunday’s meals. Have breakfast made and table set. Perhaps choose simple self-serve breakfasts such as muffins or fruit bread, yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, etc. Avoid a high sugar, high carb meal that may lead to drowsiness. Prepare the noon meal as well.

2.  Gas up the car

3.  Pick out clothes and take care of needed ironing

4.  Find Bibles (and shoes!) and lay them out

5.  Set aside your offering (2 Cor. 9:7)

6.  If you wear hearing aids put in fresh batteries.

7.  Teachers: make final lesson preparations

8.  Have children take baths

9.  Get to bed early. Avoid late night Saturday activities as much as possible. Avoid television, video games, and fluffy books.  Avoid anything that trivializes, or tends to put your mind in neutral. God’s thoughts are deep (Psalm 92:5).

Personal/Heart Preparations [The purpose of these personal preparations is to sensitize your heart and mind to meet the Lord in corporate worship. The goal is to go to bed with the Lord on your mind.]

1.  Delight in the Word.

2.  Read Psalm 32 or 51 and spend time in confession.

3.  Read some Scripture about worship (E.g. Hebrews 12:18-29; Psalm 95-100).

4.  For communion Sundays: read a Gospel account of the crucifixion; resolve interpersonal conflicts, seek forgiveness where needed (Matt. 5:23-24; 1 Cor. 11:23-34).

5.  Read a chapter from a solid devotional-style book such as The Knowledge of the Holy (A.W. Tozer).

6.  Devote yourself to prayer for tomorrow’s worship service and all participants: ushers and greeters, Scripture readers, musicians, choir, and songleader, preacher, nursery workers, Bible class teachers, visitors, unbelievers who may be present.

7.  Bible teachers: pray for your students, other classes and fellow teachers.

8.  Discipline your mind with song. Fill the house with worshipful music. Sing some hymns.

You know, the above suggestions can fit into the definition of fasting as you give up some things to remove the distractions. Just as we sing at Christmas, may our heart’s passion be, “O, come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!”  Looking forward to Sunday!!!

40 Days Goal of Prayer & Fasting:  We want God to so revive and change us that we would both pray and act as the people of God for the glory of God!

(Hat tip to Paul Tautges for help with these ideas.)

40 Days of Prayer & Fasting: Day #12

by Dale, posted in 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting

Focus on Christ:  Destination

Yesterday afternoon, my wife and I headed up the hill behind our house.  The higher we went, the deeper the snow.  The trek is further than you think.  We kept on going because we had a destination in mind; we were going to enjoy sledding in the freshly fallen snow!  Now, we could have sat in our warm home, for which we are sincerely thankful, and said, “Sure is pretty outside.  Wish we could go sledding.”  Or, we could do as we did.  We put on our winter attire and headed out!  We had a blast!  What an adventure trudging through the snow, making a path, sledding down the icy hillside road and laughing all the way!  You know why?  Because we had a destination in mind and took the necessary action steps to accomplish it!

Jesus, too, had a destination, a purpose.  Read His very own words in the following passages:

Matthew 17:22-23  And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.”

Matthew 20:28  The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

John 6:48  For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

John 10:17-18    “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

Jesus clearly knew His destination.  He fully understood the reason for His incarnation.  His purpose was as He said, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His conly begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:14-17).

When it comes to your spiritual life, your relationship with Christ, where are you headed?  What is your desired destination?  What actions will you take to arrive at your destination?  You can sit in your house and wish for spiritual growth or you can take some action steps to arrive at your destination.  The wonderful truth is you have all the grace you need to accomplish what God has in store for you (2 Cor. 9:8; 2 Peter 1:3-11).

Prayerfully answer the following:

1.  Where does God want you to be spiritually in five years?  One year?  Next month?  Next week?  Today?  What is your destination?

2.  What action steps does the Lord desire for you to take to arrive at your destination?  For example, “by this time next month, I will have memorized Psalm 34.”

3.  Remember, you must be intentional in your action steps.  Write them down.  Have someone hold you accountable.  What will you do next?

40 Days Goal:  We want God to so revive and change us that we would both pray and act as the people of God for the glory of God!

40 Days of Prayer & Fasting: Day #6

by Dale, posted in 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting

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Focus on God:  Action

As you have gazed upon the beauty of God this week, and remembered His grandeur and greatness, and have spoken to yourself and others about Who God is, what affect has that revelation and knowledge had on your daily actions?  For instance, none of us should have a problem with low self-esteem when you know you are eternally connected to the God you read about in Isaiah 40 and Psalm 103!!!  You need not live in fear when you know you are a forever child of the God displayed in Psalm 27!!!  Because of Who God is, and his revelation of Himself to you every day, we should live with purpose, act with purpose, and be daily revived!! 

If we are to be revived and changed so that we have the courage, conviction and clarity to step forward and to both pray and act as the people of God for the glory of God, we must act with purpose.

Complete the Following:

1.  A good example of daily actions with purpose motivated by Who God is can be seen in the well-known account of David and Goliath.  Today, read 1 Samuel 17:17-54.

2.  Take note of the actions and words of David based solely upon what He knew to be true about His God.  List them in your journal.

3.  Who or what do you base your actions upon?  Are your actions today a reflection of your time gazing and remembering Who  God is?

Pray: Use 1 Samuel 17 as a prayer guide to praise God for Who He is, as a prayer guide for your fellowship with Him and as a prayer guide for your petitions.

Meditate:  Put into a sentence what God has revealed to you about Himself that you can meditate on today.

Note:  Posting on Saturdays and Sundays for the 40 days

40 Days of Prayer & Fasting: Day #5

by Dale, posted in 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting

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Focus on God:  Speak

Do you talk to yourself?  I’m sure you do.  What you say to yourself is really important.  Why? You listen to yourself more than anyone else. Therefore, you had better speak truth to yourself.  You need to talk to your heart and remind it of God’s beauty (Day 2) that you have gazed upon (Day 3) and remembered (Day 4).  As I have heard Ken Collier at The Wilds say, “You do what you do because you think what you think, and you think what you think because of what you believe about your God.”  And may I add, what you believe comes from what you know about God, and that is in proportion to the time you spend gazing and remembering.

So, what have you been saying/speaking to yourself already this morning?  Truth or humanism?  Have you been Ken Ham or Bill Nye this morning? For today’s reading in Psalm 42, I want you to note how David talked to himself.  Use the questions below as you study this psalm and meet with your God.

If we are to be revived and changed so that we have the courage, conviction and clarity to step forward and to both pray and act as the people of God for the glory of God, we must learn to speak the truth to ourselves (and to others).

Read:  Psalm 42

Answer the following:

1.  What did David say to himself?  Who was on his mind?  When and why did he talk to himself? Make sure you take note to the slight, but very important change of words between verses five and eleven.

2.  Note the honesty of David’s words, but make sure you also note the truth in response.

3.  Make sure you use your journal to record your findings.  You will want to look back over the past days when we get to Day 7.

4.  Be sure to speak the truth to someone today besides yourself.  Tell others how great is our God!

Pray: Use Psalm 42 as a prayer guide to praise God for Who He is, as a prayer guide for your fellowship with Him and as a prayer guide for your petitions.

Meditate:  Put into a sentence what God has revealed to you about Himself that you can meditate on today.

Note:  Usually, my blog is posted Monday-Friday, but for this  40 Days of Prayer and Fasting, I will be posting everyday.  So, be sure to join us tomorrow and Sunday!

40 Days of Prayer & Fasting: Day #4

by Dale, posted in 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting

40 Days for Web

Focus on God:  Remember

Often the Children of Israel were called to remember the displays of God’s power, holiness, provision and beauty (Deuteronomy 6:20-25; 15:15; 16:3; 24:18).  They were not to forget that He had chosen them to be His special possession, His people; that He done marvelous works on their behalf. Today, as you read Psalm 103 and continue to gaze upon God and His beauty, remind yourself that He has chosen us in Christ to connect us to His beauty.  You may be Joe Smith, plant engineer, living in Jonesborough, TN, married and the father of three children, but what really identifies you is your position in Christ that connects you to the beauty of God!  Therefore, be reminded of such today and let it revive your heart as your again gaze upon your awesome God!

Read:  Psalm 103

Answer the following:

1.  As you gaze upon God in Psalm 103, record in your journal what you are to remember of His beauty and of His works toward you.

2.  As you write in your journal, be reminded that the grace of God connects you to this beauty, and it is your identification.

3.  So far this week, have you been faithful to “behold the beauty of the LORD, and inquire in His temple” (Ps.27: 4)?  What has changed in your life so far this week as you have gazed upon the beauty of God?

4.  Be sure to share with someone today what God has revealed to you about Himself.

Pray: Use Psalm 103 as a prayer guide to praise God for Who He is, as a prayer guide for your fellowship with Him and as a prayer guide for your petitions.

Meditate:  Put into a sentence what God has revealed to you about Himself that you can meditate on today.

40 Days of Prayer & Fasting For Revival: Day #3

by Dale, posted in 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting

40 Days for Web

Focus on God:  Gaze Upon Him

Yesterday morning, the sunrise as seen from our upstairs front window was spectacular!  I immediately retrieved my camera and starting taking shots of God’s handiwork.  I did not want to waste any time because the awesome scene in front of me was changing moment-by-moment. Later on, the thought came to my mind, “That’s how I should be when I behold the beauty of God.  Although He is immutable, His beauty, His ways, and His words should leave us awe-struck with wonder longing for the next glimpse of His glory. What an awesome God Who reveals Himself to us day-by-day (Psalm 19:1-6).

That’s the challenge today.  Read Isaiah 40 and gaze upon the Lord as though you were watching the sunrise in these beautiful mountains and countryside of East Tennessee!

Our goal, our heartbeat, our motivation, our joy for these 40 days is that God would so revive and change us that we would both pray and act as the people of God for the glory of God!

Read:  Isaiah 40

Answer the following:

1.  Record in your journal the snapshots of God that you have gazed upon in Isaiah 40.

2.  Just as we do on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, share your “snapshots” with someone today. Perhaps it will be one who does not care about our God.

Pray: Use Isaiah 40 as a prayer guide to praise God for Who He is, as a prayer guide for your fellowship with Him and as a prayer guide for your petitions.

Meditate:  Put into a sentence what God has revealed to you about Himself that you can meditate on today.

40 Days of Prayer & Fasting: Day #2

by Dale, posted in 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting

40 Days for Web

Day #2: Focus on God – Behold His Beauty

Did you see the beauty of God’s power yesterday as you meditated on Psalm 29?  What display of His power in Psalm 29 stirred your heart?  Were you left in awe of Him? If we are to have revival today and in days to come, we must have a fresh view of the beauty of God! 

Yesterday while listening to the preaching of Paul David Tripp, God convicted me deeply of letting my hard heart, ministry and people dim my awe of God.  Folks, may I simply encourage you today to read Psalm 27 and do what David did (27:4)?  Consider this.  When David was faced with the awful actions of his wicked enemies (27:2), what was his response?  Where did he want to go?  What did he seek more than anything else?  That’s the point of this whole challenge for Day 2.

Read:  Psalm 27

Answer the following:

1  Record in your journal the beauty of God of seen today as you have read and meditated on Him.

2.  Has your view of God become dim? If so, what’s the cause?

3.  What do you need to confess and repent of to God as a result of not seeing Him in His beauty?

4.  Who will you tell today about the beauty of God?

Pray: Use Psalm 27 as a prayer guide to praise God for Who He is, as a prayer guide for your fellowship with Him and as a prayer guide for your petitions.

Meditate:  Put into a sentence what God has revealed to you about Himself that you can meditate on today.