REVIVAL: Blow on the embers!

"LORD, I have heard the report about You and I fear. O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years, In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy."

Habakkuk 3:2

When I lived in a cabin in the mountains above Santa Cruz, California, I had a fire in my fireplace all day, virtually everyday; the ash would build up over a few days. Eventually, I’d let the fire die down, then take the ash out to dump it.

I always left a few pieces of burned wood and some embers in the fireplace. When I came back in I’d put some dry sticks and shredded paper on it, then blow on the embers a little … poof, fire and heat!

How God must wish we’d be more like the embers in my fireplace. A little of the Holy Spirit on what’s left after the ash of our lives is discarded and poof, fire and heat!

Christianity, Illustrations,
Religion, Revival

REVIVAL: The people's gospel stew!

LORD, I have heard the report about You and I fear. O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years, In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy.

Habakkuk 3:2

Revival is like putting last night's stew on the stove. What you have is something which was real good yesterday but has been in the refrigerator since. Now it’s cold, thick, chunky and feels too heavy to eat.

First, the flame from the burner begins to chase away the chill. Then the stew begins to lose its lethargy and starts to warm and thin. Soon, with some stirring, it becomes a warm, fluid, consistent source of nourishment and strength, as it was intended to be.

Churches are like that. Our faith is like that. Once in awhile God needs to put us on the stove of chastisement and stir us up, so we’ll be as we are intended to be.

Stephan Olford defines revival as “the sovereign act of God, in which He restores His own backsliding people to repentance, faith, and obedience.”

Christianity, Illustrations,
Religion, Revival

RENEWAL: A Permanent-Fresh!

“but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ”

1 Corinthians 6:11

Not too long ago, we were fascinated with the development of “permanent-press” fabrics; now, thanks to a major advance in textile technology, we will soon have “permanent-fresh” fabrics.

While this sounds like more frills on an already materialistic and pampered society, it is in fact quite an advance. Gang Sun, the developer, said, “Anti-microbial fabrics have great potential for … hospitals to prevent the spread of drug-resistant diseases ….” Hospital gowns, bedding and dressings will be adapted to reduce the spread of disease-causing bacteria and viruses.

Consumers would “charge” the permanently-fresh apparel by laundering it in a mild mixer of chlorine bleach. The garments would then be periodically “recharged” (much like rechargeable batteries) through rewashing.

This new technology solves the single greatest problem facing anti-microbial materials – durability. Scientists found it easy to attach the new chemicals to the fabric’s fibers; but keeping it there had been another matter. Typically, the chemicals were thrown out with the bath water.

In contrast, the new N-halamine coating thrives on laundering, being recharged with fresh chlorine atoms at each washing, recharging the garments to 100% of original potency. [“A new idea that doesn’t stink,” The Washington Times; August 30 - September 5, 1999, p. 2]

Because man has the Law written in his heart [Romans 2:14-16], most feel a strong need to do well; he’s tried every avenue he can think of to save himself. Yet the world assaults him, washing away whatever righteousness he has developed on his own. Doing what they believe is good is not the problem, the problem has been to get it to stick unto salvation [Romans 3:23 (see also 3:10-18)].

Those who are washed in the Blood of Christ have been made permanently-new [Romans 11:29; 2 Corinthians 5:17]. Not only is the original washing good for all eternity, it’s recharged to 110% with each washing [1 John 1:8-2:2].

Christianity, Illustrations,
Religion, Renewal

MARRIAGE - Two rivers come together as one!

BILLBOARD WEDLOCK [Mark 10:2-9]

A Pennsylvania bride-to-be coveted an elaborate, therefore expensive wedding. But her want exceeded her supply. So she and her fiancée decided to get some help paying for the fancy affair. The couple decided to sell advertising. They offered various space on their invitations and as well as displays at the ceremony itself ... instead of saying, “I do,” the bride said, “Did somebody say McDonalds?”

Divorce is a major problem for the church; the divorce rate among Christians (in Western, developed nations) is tracking that of the non-Christian world. With this we know for certain the institution of marriage is in big trouble. Marriage is not respected as it once was; it has become a fashionable but temporary convenience for many.

A parallel problem is the intrusion of the world into the church. One would expect the world to conceive of advertising at a marriage ceremony but who would anticipate a man of God performing such a service while invoking the name of God?

[The Sacramento Bee, 18 August 1999]


TAKE A SEAT! [Genesis 2:24; other topics - love; relationships, renewal] (added 28 January 2006)

Rebecca was looking through the family photo album with her grandmother, she was fascinated with the sepia-style pictures and old-fashioned clothing. As she leafed through the pages, her grandmother identified various family members and friends.

Rebecca noticed there were no photographs of her grandparents standing together, they were always seated. When she asked why this was, her grandmother explained, "I was six inches taller than your grandfather and he was sensitive about it.

"Grandma," Rebecca asked, "how could you have fallen in love with a man six inches shorter than you?" "Honey," she said, "we fell in love sitting down, and when I stood up, it was too late."

Rebecca's grandmother instinctively pointed out a fact relative to romance and marriage: we really do fall in love sitting down. In other words, early in a relationship, it is easy to overlook our partner's shortcomings.

If, in your current relationship, you and your partner are figuratively standing up, you probably don't recall the things you regarded as important when you first fell in love, things you now take for granted. This is probably true of the relationship as well. So, why not just sit down? You never meant to drift apart, it just happened.

Day boaters on the Niagara River, above the famous honeymoon falls, are warned -- there is a point of no return. There is a point on the river, beyond which, you will be swept over the falls. You won’t be able to recover your course. In marriage, the same is true. What are you waiting for, the point of no return?

If you and your partner are standing and the things which divide you are more apparent than the things which bring you together, sit down and reflect on what brought you together.

[Adapted from “The Duet” by David Sisler in Agape Press, February 7, 2002]