(every English word in the KJV NT bible linked to its Greek root with Strongs # – allows you to get some of the flavor of meaning without learning Greek)
If you want revival
If you want revival
You’ve got to ask God to come
If you want God to come, you need to have open windows of heaven
If you want open windows, you need to have the favor of God
If you want the favor of God, you need to have the power of the Holy Spirit
If you want the power, you need to be available to the Holy Spirit
If you want to be available, you need to offer yourself freely to the Holy Spirit
If you want to offer yourself freely, you need to empty yourself of your agenda.
If you want to empty yourself of your agenda, you need to deal with fear
If you want to deal with fear, you need to repent
If you want to repent, you need to address self-centeredness
If you want to address self-centeredness, you need to ask the Holy Spirit to help you
If you want the Holy Spirit to help you, you need to spend time in the Word and in prayer
If you want to spend time in the Word and in prayer, you need to examine your present condition
If you want to examine your present condition, you need to be seeking answers.
If you want to be seeking answers, you need to be dissatisfied and wanting change.
If you are looking for a change, then you have hope
If you have hope, it is because you know it exists
If you know hope exists, it is because you have seen it in action
If you have seen hope in action, you recognize love
If you recognize love, it is because eternity has been put in your heart.
So if you want revival…
A Birthday Toast
Twas never seen upon this land the babe that came to rest
Amid the straw in that dark cave a manger there was blest
Kindly held by mother dear as Joseph watched in awe
“Look at the peace, the sweet repose” whispered he and saw
A few shepherd trudging down the lane on that emblazoned night
Celebrated in heaven above by one solitary light
And dark the hate that hid men and satan’s forces entrenched
To thwart the grace and mercy of God: shall our hope be wrenched?
How fitting was the bread of heaven to lay amid the straw
Whose Holy Spirit feeds us still who thirst and drink in awe
I cannot speak of my own birth, or passing another year
Compared to One who then and now has invited us so clear.
Nor do I understand with what mercy He betide,
to share His love with one like me from the grace and mercy side
So now a toast to family and friends dear, my blessings do surpass
and show me some of heaven’s light until that that day hold fast.
Let’s meet without exception inside just to the right
Near Jesus side, with grateful heart He’ll unite us in His light.
Grace Dream
I was called to a transfer office by an old man. He was not frail. I never looked at his face so I don’t know what he looked like. But the voice was deep, very full yet quiet. He pointed to a series of bathroom stalls along the wall and said “go sit down”. I chose the nearest stall and sat down on one of the toilets. I don’t remember having to lower my trousers. Although the stall was not deep he stood facing me.
He knew the answer to anything I wanted to know and I knew he knew. So I took the opportunity to ask him the question I’ve wanted to know for ten years: “So, what was it?” meaning, what was the answer I had been looking for to unlock my situation. “Grace”, he replied. He then left the bathroom stall and walked away.
He walked to a counter and gave brief instructions to a lady and exited out a door. I noticed a few other people leaving out a door too. My traveling bag was on the lady’s counter and there was a small stack of paperwork already filled out for me. I was still sitting in the stall. Procedurally, all that remained was for me to stand up, grab my traveling bag and go through the door as well.
Instead, I started shouting “grace” at the top of my lungs. It rang through the office over and over. Somehow the atmosphere in the room changed. What was seen was now unstable. The air on top of the lady’s counter turned to a waterlike substance. My traveling bag under it melted away until it was completely gone. My paperwork did the same thing. The air stabilized again. I don’t remember stopping my shouting.
Spiritual Growth Cycle
This chart was developed in about two hours. I can’t do that but Holy Spirit can easily.
Sanctuary Dream
I stood at the top of some stairs in our church sanctuary and saw one of our elders directing traffic on the main floor area. I sauntered over to say “hi” glancing around at all the activity. Morton’s a tall guy and as I approached I looked up at him. But it wasn’t him but Jesus, standing four feet from me. Looking at me.
Robe. You know the one. Tall. Taller than me. Beard. Somewhat muscular. Not the five foot tall Jewish, or the sickly/wimpy ones suggested by others. No halo. I didn’t speak and He didn’t either. We looked at each other for at least a minute. Eye to eye. Face to face.
What first astonished me (perhaps that’s why I was speechless), was His perfect beauty. He radiated health and strength. I once tried to grab ahold of a good friend who pumps iron. He couldn’t be grabbed or moved. Solid. Like that. Hair curly flowing thick locks that women would give up all they had to possess.
The thing I slowly came to notice was that He was very faintly smiling.
I noticed He was at rest. The One who calmed the waves with a word, type of peace. If Bill Gates wants fresh Maine Lobster for dinner in four hours, he says the word and a couple of lobsters off the East coast say “whatthe?” five minutes later and head to wherever he is. Like that. Or Welches Grape Jelly and Laura Scudder peanut butter sandwiches with Lays potato chips sandwiched between evenly toasted squishy white bread. Now. All available in heaven or earth or under the earth. At His call.
I realized he saw my burdens, my cares, my failures. I don’t think He touched me or them at all. I was memorizing every line in His face. This was not the time for my stuff. I drank Him in somehow – standing there in resurrection power. I woke up with His face burned into my memory.
How can somebody go from vanquished to victor without a real change of circumstance? That I know Him. And He knows me. What else really is lacking to joy?
People can’t swallow the double command “rejoice in Lord always, again I will say rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance” because they haven’t understood or experienced with the eyes of faith the key to the verse, that “the Lord is at hand”.