Seeking Revival

The Bible tells us in Acts about a prayer meeting in the early church: "And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness." Acts 4:31 (ESV) I long to experience the movement of the Holy Spirit just as the early church did. And this past Sunday, our church experienced the power of the Holy Spirit at work. The building was not shaken, but I would be no more amazed if it had been. Christians sat with tears of joy streaming down their face as they heard again of how Jesus died for them. Sinners were convicted of their sin and repented. Two people rededicated their life to the Lord. Another two were saved! Truly, how great is our God!

We read accounts of revivals that took place in the past in which God moved entire cities and nations to repentance. If God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, why do we not see these revivals in our own day? Friends, if God has not changed perhaps the problem is us. Let me urge you as brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for your church this Sunday. Pray urgently for your pastor that God would anoint him afresh with the Spirit that he might preach with a boldness and clarity he has never before experienced. And pray for every listener that God would open their heart to receive the gospel and to find forgiveness through repentance. And I ask every Christian that is reading this blog, would you stop right now and pray for me that God would fill me with His Spirit and empower me to preach the Word with the boldness and clarity of the early church.

To all who read my blog you are a great blessing to me. You are the reason I write each week. And especially to the churches in India who read this, you cannot know what joy and fulfillment you give me by using these articles. I long to come and see you soon. God bless you all.

Sink or Swim (Sermon: Acts 11:23-26)

A few years ago I was at a friend's birthday party. It was a pool party and the birthday boy was about 4 and had not yet learned how to swim. His parents had made him wear floats on his arms to keep him safe, but while they were distracted getting the cake and drinks ready he kept begging his grandfather to let him in the pool without the floats. "Sure, jump on in," said his grandfather. And so with eyes wide open in eager anticipation and excitement the young boy ran straight for the deep end of the pool and jumped in. He came to the surface, but only for a few seconds. Not knowing how to swim or even float, he immediately began to sink. I was the only other person in the water so I swam over and pulled him up and sat him on the edge of the pool.

When I think about that experience, it reminds me of how the church often treats new believers. They come to the church with an excitement and energy and they dive into the Christian life. What do we do as believers? Well, usually we just stand back and watch to see if they will sink or swim, but this should not be so. We are just as called to help make them disciples as they are called to be disciples.

Barnabas and Saul (also known as Paul) fully understood this and were committed to it. When they learned of the new believers in Antioch, they went and spent a year there instructing them and encouraging them to press on. If people join our church and then fade away, instead of doubting whether they were sincere, maybe we should ask ourselves what did we do to foster their growth. What did we do to encourage them? How did we instruct them and equip them?

The Christian life is too hard for anyone to try to live it apart from the help of the local church. When people are born again, they are babes spiritually and babes need our care. I want to encourage you today to invest your life in helping the new believers in your church to grow and mature. I believe ultimately that God will hold us accountable not only for whether we have shared the gospel with the lost, but also for whether or not we helped new believers to grow in Christ. May we each live our life so that on the day that we have to give an account we will not be ashamed.

Incognito Christians (Sermon: Acts 11:22-24)

When Barnabas went to Antioch to investigate what was happening among the Gentiles, he literally saw the grace of God. I believe what he saw was the work of God's grace in the lives of those Gentile believers. So here's the question we should ask ourselves now: "If Barnabas came to our workplace or to our home today what would he see?"

Many Christians today are what I call "incognito Christians." There is simply nothing in their lives that clearly communicates their faith and their salvation. If persecution breaks out today, they are in no danger of being singled out.

If the people that you live with and work with do not know beyond all doubt what God has done in your life, something is sorely wrong with your Christian walk. Let me challenge you today to live your life so that people look at you and see the grace of God!

God at Work (Sermon: Acts 11:19-21)

The church at Antioch is just one more example of God at work in the church and in the world. Who would have thought that the stoning of Stephen would cause a church to be born among a group of Gentiles, but that is exactly what took place. God used the persecution to get believers in place to serve as missionaries in Antioch and throughout the world. Out of the faithful witness of the believers from Cyprus and Cyrene, a Gentile church was born.

Not only is it amazing that a Gentile church was born, but this church grew rapidly and would soon be more than Barnabas alone could disciple. Further, the church grew to the point that they were financially helping the mother church in Jerusalem. Isn't it amazing how God works.

Could it be that God is working in our churches and in our communities in the same unexpected and unforeseen manner? Why not pray and ask God to move in your life and in your church? But be careful...you may get what you ask for!

The Pathway to Life (Sermon: Acts 10:44-11:18)

The church was amazed that "repentance that leads to life" had been granted by God to the Gentiles as well. Most people today would be amazed to know that it is repentance that leads to life. A quick glance at American culture today reveals a culture chasing all types of illusions in order to achieve life and happiness.

We hear statements like: "If only I had one more 'thing' my life would be better," or "If I made more money, I wouldn't have any problems." People who think or say these things are looking in the wrong direction for life. Our problem is not external, it is a problem of the heart. What we need is repentance. Our greatest problem, separation from God because of sin, has already been cured through Jesus' death on the cross. All we need to do is repent and accept God's forgiveness.

Yes, repentance that leads to life has been granted, but it is up to us to accept it. Is there any sin you could not trade for eternity in heaven? If not, repent and receive the life that God freely offers.

A Humble and Faithful Witness (Sermon: Acts 10:34-43)

In Acts 10, Peter goes to the Gentiles and delivers the good news of salvation through Jesus. As Peter arrives Cornelius actually falls to the ground and worships him. How easy it would have been for Peter to lose perspective, get caught up in the moment, and get off track. But he does none of these things. Instead, Peter instructs Cornelius that he himself is only a mere man and is not to be worshiped.


Peter had preached at Pentecost and thousands responded. It demonstrates true character on his part that such a response did not puff him up. Peter stayed the course. When he went to the Gentiles, he faithfully and humbly shared the good news that had been entrusted to him.

Peter gives us an excellent example of being a faithful witness. As believers we are called by God to be messengers not authors. And any glory that comes from delivering this message belongs to God not to us. We all need to follow Peter's example and faithfully and humbly pass along the gospel that has been entrusted to us.

How Do You Come To God? (Sermon: Acts 10:9-33

The Bible tells of a man named Cornelius. He was a devout man who was seeking God, but he was a Gentile. For Peter and the other Jews of this time, Gentiles had no place in the church. But thanks be to God, we don't come into the church based upon our ancestry, but based upon our response to hearing the Gospel. So when Cornelius sought God, God sent Peter to preach to him. And so Cornelius became a part of the early church, not because he was born into the right family, but because he listened with the right heart.

How do you come to God? The same way that Cornelius did. You seek Him and you receive His Word. You must believe with a child-like faith that has no doubts. The Bible promises: "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:9-13

May you embrace the promise of His word today and come to God.