Do It Again

 Do it again Lord. This was a prayer heard offered by one person who remained behind after the funeral of William Booth, who founded the Salvation Army. After the crowds left for the cemetery, one person remained behind on their knees at the altar pleading with God to raise up someone to take William Booth's place. The Salvation is still going proof that God answered that prayer.

I find myself praying the same thing again. Praying that God would do it again. Last night He saved two more students. He saved one on the previous night and two others on the night before that. Several others came to declare, though they were saved, they never followed through on baptism. This Sunday we are traveling to Lake Meredith after our morning worship service to baptize several. We set a goal for 50 earlier this summer. So far we are short of that goal, but there are multiple candidates to be baptized. I have lost count. I told the church I will just keep baptizing the next one until there are no more. Someone else can keep count. I ask God to save many in the Sunday morning worship service. I ask God to even save some at the lake who wonder what all the commotion is about.

Enthusiasm is high as we watch God work. Make no mistake about it. It is God doing the work. He is using students to reach their friends, our children minister to reach children, and adults to reach adults. I am humbled to witness it. It is a movement of God. I plead for Him to keep doing it again and again.

Yet, I have the audacity to ask the Lord to do it again. To keep saving people. To keep drawing people to the Lord Jesus Christ. I keep asking the Lord to do it again in sending revival that sweeps through every church in town and all across the town spreading to other communities. I ask God to do it again in similar fashion to what we saw Him do in FBC Seminole 15 years ago in a revival move where 37 people were saved and the meetings lasted three weeks. Do it again Lord. Do it again.

We ask for more. We ask for more churches to be set ablaze by the fire of the Holy Spirit. We ask for more repentance among the people of God unclogging the hose of His power. We ask for more dedication of fervent prayer. We ask for more people to be rescued from eternal damnation and transferred into the glorious kingdom of God. We ask for more than just a trickle of God's power poured out. We ask for a torrential downpour of His presence and power like some of the rain showers we have seen this summer. In summary, we just ask God to do it again.

How Do I Describe

 How do I describe what happened last night? I can tell you thirty students showed up when we had not seen over six all summer. I can tell you they were energized in recreation. I can inform you they were enthralled in worship. Several singing with lifted hands, others eyes closed lost in praise of the King of Kings. I can tell you two teenagers were gloriously saved and others rededicated their lives. I can report our adults served with every ounce of their being putting their souls into the labor of love. I can tell you Eric was anointed as I have often experienced in our working together for thirty years. It was like a night at youth camp.

What I cannot describe is the heaviness of the Spirit of God at work last night. I can't describe the multiple little acts of kindness unnoticed by most, but noticed by Brenda and I. This is a special place and a special group of people. We see evidence of God working. We ask and trust Him for more.

I can report the spiritual warfare is intensifying on multiple fronts. I can report that fervent prayers have been lifted with fasting. I can tell you that we are engaged in the war of winning as many student's souls as possible. I can write to you this has been building all summer toward this coming Sunday where we celebrate baptisms at Lake Meredith after our morning worship service. We have asked God for 50 .

I come into tonight with great expectations. Believing for more students to come and to meet Jesus as their Savior. What an honor and privilege to get to point them to the One who died to justify them our Lord Jesus. [Rom 5:8-9] Justification is not a doctrine most would preach to students. It is where God impressed me last night. God gripped their hearts. He captured their attention. He drew them to Himself. What might He do tonight?

Accountability For Sin

 What happened to accountability for sin and your actions in local body of believers? One of the least favorite things I've had to do over the past three decades of pastoral ministry is to confront people about sin. There are those who are quick to point out Matt 7:1-5 about not judging others and taking the log out of your own eye before looking to take the splinter out of someone else's eye.

It is true we must first look at our own lives and deal with our personal sin. That does not mean that we are not supposed to hold one another accountable for sin. Our same Bibles contains passages like Gal 6:7-8 where God is not mocked. He holds people accountable for their sin. We also read James 5:19-20 where if fellow believers see someone straying from the truth, we are to turn them back. By doing so we may save that person from death, and cover a multitude of potential sins that could be committed if the sinner did not repent.

It grieves me that so many have lost the fear of the Lord. There are so few consequences for sin these days there seems to be no deterrent. People argue in theological circles about what constitutes sinful behavior. Morality lines have been redrawn. If God calls it sin in the Bible then it is still sin!

My eyes fell on Heb 10:31 today. "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God." The word terrifying means a fearful, terrible and frightening thing to fall into the hands of the living God who sees and knows everything. Sinners will never pull a fast one on God. Sinners who appear to have gotten away with great evil in their lives will have to contend with God in death. His judgment will be just, swift, and fierce for those who never received salvation through Jesus.

Make no mistake. There is also a judgment for believers. One where we will be judged on our works after salvation. A judgment about our faithfulness. There is accountability with God. There should also be accountability among believers. I have both been called out by trusted Christian brothers and sisters and had to call others out.

This does not happen frequently in many body of believers. People sin openly and church people just turn a blind eye to it, or worse they justify and defend the sin. The church is dirty and defiled. We need a cleansing from God and to be awakened once again to fear Him. This is not a popular message in days of hyper grace where anything goes. It is a needed message that I will shy away from declaring.

The Beautiful Sound of Intercession

 I taught on Sunday night, and then we did what we do each week. We break into small prayer huddles across the sanctuary and pour out our souls in fervent petitions. The group I prayed in had only three people with Brenda, our son Tucker, and me. We finished before some of the other groups. It was then that I heard a beautiful sound. One that captured my heart and was soothing to my ears.

The sound was men and women fervently praying out loud. The sound filled the sanctuary. Some people may have thought all those people praying out loud at the same time might have sounded chaotic. I thought it sounded beautiful. People praying for God to save souls and usher in days of revival. It sounded more beautiful than the praise and worship that morning. The echoed chorus of intercession.

I wonder how it sounded to God. Did is please Him? Did it bless His ears to hear His people humble themselves and ask for His help? Did it sound beautiful to God? Only He knows the answers to those questions. I know it sounded beautiful to me.

It makes me wonder what if all the community churches were doing the same thing beseeching God to send revival and spiritual awakening to their communities. What if enough churches did that across the nation. What might God do in response. I yearn to see it.

Brenda and I live in a small community in the Panhandle these days. We keep pointing people in the church and other pastors to create a prayer culture. One that permeates the different congregations as well as the whole community. Maybe one day you will hear about the Panhandle Outpouring. Until that day comes, there is much more praying to be done and many more prayer meetings to be held. May the beautiful sound of the people of God interceding multiply across the land.

Practicing Prayer

 There are no instant prayer warriors. To really learn to pray effectively and become one of God's prayer warrior takes time spent with Him in prayer. The temptation is to read about prayer, do prayer focused Bible studies and to even listen to messages about prayer. Those are all well and good. If you really want to grow in prayer, YOU HAVE TO PRAY! There are no shortcuts or substitutes.

I've devoted 40 years of my life learning about, preaching and teaching about, and writing about prayer. None of that is a substitute for actually praying. The joy I have shared with the Father and the Son is impossible to put into words. Countless hours spent alone shut up with God pouring out my heart. Untold hours spent doing nothing more than listening for His still small voice. It is the most important thing I ever do on any given day. The abounding answers could make a book.

Make no mistake about it. I have to fight for that time. Distractions abound. Something is always clamoring for my attention. Sometimes I have to leave the crowd when the noise become so loud it drowns out the voice of the Holy Spirit. I have a get away in the church I frequent to seek and listen to the Lord. No matter how much time I've devoted to prayer I feel little more than a novice, and know there is so much more to learn and experience. So I keep practicing prayer.

In [Matt 6:5-7] twice Jesus used the phrase, "When you pray." He always expected His followers would spend time alone with Him in their inner room, prayer closet, or secret place to pray. Jesus withdrew from the company of people to keep company with His Father. [Mark 1:35] We must follow His example. This is a lifetime commitment. The rewards of faithful praying will echo in eternity.

Firm Foundation

 We live in a world of tragedy and heartaches continually. It is part of the sin curse on this planet. It does not mean that our hearts do not break, and we do each face our own pain and paths of sorrows. Where do people turn to cope? Unbelievers turn to vain philosophies and sin. Sin can turn into addiction. They end up worse off than when they first began trying to cope.

Followers of Jesus turn to Him and to the word of God to find comfort, strength, and a shelter in the difficult times. [Ps 46:1] The people of God build our lives on the solid rock foundation of His word. [Matt 7:24-29] The same storms of life slam against us as well. The only difference is that our foundation remains steady, while those who build on shifting sands crumble.

What is the foundation you build your life on hoping it to remain solid in the storms. Finances. Riches are shifting sand. So is success. It can all crumble quickly. So can fitness and health. So can relationships. So can popularity. It all can be wiped out in no time.

Jesus remains. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. [Heb 13:8] His word remains forever. [Ps 119:160] Those who love that word will have great peace. [Ps 119:165] Keep clinging to Jesus and His word as the birth pangs continue since our redemption draws closer.

Faithful in Service

 I just finished reading about John Wesley. A zealous evangelist, tireless worker, and tremendous administrator. He is credited with founding the Methodist denomination. Wesley spent much time in prayer. He preached a salvation by grace available to the masses. The common people without pedigree were welcomed to attend his meetings. 

This did not set well with the religious establishment of the day. He was banned from preaching in any of those pulpits. He started preaching outside drawing crowds of thousands as early as 5:00 a.m. He often preached three times a day. He traveled by horseback and did not consider retirement when he reached his seventieth or eightieth decades. He worked at winning souls and organizing the growing Methodist denomination in his day. Even back then Methodism spread far beyond England to other nations like Scotland, Ireland, and the American Colonies. 

When he was 86 years old, he did a nine week preaching tour across Ireland. He preached 100 sermons in 60 different towns and villages on that tour. No slowing down for this warrior for Christ. Six of those sermons he preached outdoors. No retirement for this flaming soul devoted to God. 

In February of the following year, at 87 he preached to a large crowd outdoors calling people to repent. A couple of weeks later he preached at a chapel in London and then preached at a friend's house the following day. Suddenly his health began to fail. His eyesight dimmed. His strength faded. He died not long afterward. 

Wesley rode on horseback over 250,000 miles preaching. To better understand the magnitude of that, it is the equivalent of circling the globe ten times. It is estimated that he averaged traveling on top of a horse around 5,000 miles per year. He preached over 40,000 times. That averages out to over a sermon a day if you include his childhood years. The average is higher if you take into account he probably did not start preaching until he was 20 something. He published more than 5,000 sermons, books, and pamphlets. This man was faithful in his devotion and service to God. 

None of us can be John Wesley. I have good news. Nobody is supposed to be. God had a unique calling and purpose for Wesley just like He has for each of us. We are called to be faithful where He planted us and doing what He purposed for us to do. Faithful service is what God desires from all of us. 

90 Plus and Going Strong

 I did some pastoral visiting yesterday to a couple of unique ladies. One is 94. She still teaches a class on Sunday mornings. She survived the death of her husband at 40 years old leaving her a widow to raise their three children. Much later one of her sons was murdered. She still radiates the joy of Jesus. Even though she lives alone, she does not feel lonely. It is her ongoing communion with the Lord Jesus Christ that keeps her from being lonely.

I visited another lady who is 93. She still mows her two and half acre place. She told me recently about weed eating her ditch. She is filled with life and energy. I felt like I was talking to a woman at least twenty years younger. She lost her husband seven years ago. She is not overwhelmed with grief, but filled with the joy of the Lord.

I never would have guessed either of these two ladies are in their nineties. They certainly do not act that way. They are vibrant. Active. Tough. Survivors. They inspire me. I am a youngster compared to them. Just because we age does not mean we are useless. God can still use us in our twilight years. We can still maintain joy no matter how old we are. We can still be of service. We can still be active and still keep living the abundant life.

Earlier in the week, I met with a man who is 94. His mind is still sharp. He battles health issues, but I did not detect bitterness or a sour disposition. His wife of 71 years died five years ago. He misses her, but he is not without hope. He trusted Jesus as his Savior at the age of 12. He knows what awaits him in eternity. He is resolved to cling to his faith all the way home to heaven.

I am thankful for the opportunity I had to visit with each of them. Very inspiring. We do not have to grow old and sour. We can still find joy in living even after facing sorrows, trials, and tribulations. May we be like those three in their nineties.

24+24 Equals 100

 I know. You did the math and I got it wrong. I would agree with you if I was talking about a simple addition problem. I am not talking about math. I'm thinking of people. 12 men and 12 women equals 24. I am also thinking about 24 hours in a day. That is the number of people who committed to an ongoing 24 hour prayer vigil every day of the week and then each day of the month. They started this prayer effort August 27, 1727 in Germany. 

They prayed faithfully. They did not do it to draw attention to themselves. One man and one woman were designated to pray for an hour for the entire 24 hours. Those prayers did not last a week or even a few months. They continued this prayer focus for a solid year. They did not stop. Not all the way into the second year. Believe it or not that 100 number stands for the continuous prayer meeting among that group of believers. Obviously some of the original members died and were replaced with a fresh group of prayer warriors. Continuous prayer for 100 years. That is simply mind boggling to me. 

Today, we have trouble getting people to pray for 20-30 minutes much less an hour. Many who do that are not disciplined enough to do it consistently. I read this story about the Moravians 100 year prayer meeting this morning. I was convicted and humbled. I'm not saying I'm out to start a prayer meeting lasting for 100 years. I do not want to be devoted to prayers like that group was. 

Can you imagine what that type of focused and consistent prayer might do for churches, communities, and  the country? Fractured families could be healed. Those stuck in addiction could be set free. Peace could reign in troubled communities. Sexual abuse could be stopped. In summary, it would transform society. May we pray in our little corner of the world asking God to do something mighty among us. 

Surprised by Grace

 I was up and had a plan to get to the office early. I got ready and had Brenda do a mobile order for a Wendy's sausage biscuit. It was to be ready when I got there. On the drive I got immersed in the radio. One of the on air personalities teased listeners with something he wanted to talk about after the next song. I was intrigued as I announced my mobile order at the drive through. 

I got my food and headed back to Fritch. The guy talked about Buckees. Who doesn't love Buckees. You can find clean restrooms, snacks galore, real food, and even do some shopping of all sorts of things. He talked about how much time a person can spend in Buckees. He commented about spending so much time there that his coffee got cold and he asked to refill it with hot coffee. I was mesmerized by the conversation until I saw a familiar sight that snapped my attention. 

Coming in the opposite way down Highway 136 toward Borger was a motorcycle police officer with his red and blue lights flashing. My heart sunk when he turned around and I realized he was coming after me. The speed limit stays 55 mph for a good way outside of town. I was guilty. I immediately pulled off on the shoulder and started getting things in order to give the officer. He informed me I was speeding. I had no excuse. I handed him my driver's license only it was not my license. It was my debit card. He joked that I probably grabbed that one by habit. I reached back in and gave him my license. He looked everything over and I prepared for the worst. Instead of justice he offered grace and said he would give me a warning. I certainly did not deserve it. I did not speed intentionally, but I did exceed the speed limit. I deserved a citation, but he gave me grace. 

I thanked God and asked if the officer had a church home. He did. He asked me to slow down. I did. Then I reflected on the incident and thought about the grace of Jesus to forgive sins. My stack of sins before Jesus was great. I did not deserve forgiveness. I deserved condemnation. I picture it like this. I sat in the courtroom of God and my list of trespasses were listed. God listened intently and prepared to bring the hammer of judgment on me. That is when Jesus stepped up and told the Father that by faith I trusted Him to forgive me. Jesus paid the debt for my sin on the cross. I deserved judgment but He extended grace. Surprised by grace is an understatement. I have never gotten over it. Grace is such a wonderful gift. 

None of us deserves grace. It is not something we earn. It is the compassion and love of God to extend surprising grace to us. Ps 103:12 says that God casts our transgressions from Him as far as the east is from the west. If He had said as far as the north from the south that would mean there was a definite fixed point where forgiveness stopped. There is a North Pole and a South Pole. There is no end to east and west. It is surprising grace. Like John Newton wrote hundreds of years ago, it is Amazing Grace. Offered to those who believe Jesus and ask Him for it. May all be surprised by this gift of grace. Oh by the way, slow down too.