Class hadn’t even started and Daniel was already asking a question. “If I know how to get “saved” will you give me ten dollars?”
That was the subject of our last class. I include a dose of it often while teaching. And as I teach about salvation, my ultimate objective is for the students to understand salvation and to desire their own experience of committing their lives to following Jesus.
On a white board I had written keywords, explaining the getting-saved process. Listed where: (1) Faith—believing the unseen. (2) Recognize—your sin/separation from God. (3) Repent-with remorse, turning away from your sins. (4) Receive—Jesus’ gift to pay for your sins; His death on the cross. (5) Confess—speak from your mouth what is happening through faith. (6) Lord—make Jesus lord, master, boss of your life.
Now Daniel had made the self-initiated effort to learn each of these keywords. So he figured the effort should be worth ten dollars.
Daniel is not saved. He knows it. He’s told me. As well, his behavior reflects a disinterest in making the commitment. I keep praying for him and thank God he attends church.
To him, getting ten dollars was more valuable. Daniel likes money a lot. Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who trust riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.”
What’s your price? Ten dollars? Ten million dollars? How much will you sell your soul for and miss Heaven. Having money is not evil. Having a love for money is. This is a subtle, alluring, destructive force. And it’s never fully satisfied!
Jesus paid a price. He died on the cross. The cost to you? Free--it’s a gift waiting for you to accept.
11/24/07
11/19/07
IS THE REVIVAL TRAIN COMING?
“Revival, revival, revival.” I’ve heard the talk regarding an impending, sweeping revival for years. Many highly-respected, well-known Christians have made these proclamations.
One Sunday morning my pastor was all excited. The evening before he had been listening to a favorite song on a repeat loop. A portion of the lyrics say, “I can hear that thunder in the distance. Like a train on the edge of town. I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit. Revive us. Revive us.”
Sunday morning our song leader, unknown to my pastor, had selected the same song. Pastor Gordy referenced the train-on-the-edge-of-town lyrics as a parallel to his sensing that a significant revival was near.
So is there a massive revival arriving in the near future?
There’s a train track twelve miles from my home. I hear the train early in the morning. It’s on the move. But it’s never coming to my house.
Like the train, intense passion for God is always on the move somewhere. People who vividly sense God is right there with them everywhere they go, are always alive. Love for God and love for people flows distinctly from some people. The hallmarks of revival are always rumbling.
God says, “Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you.” God desires for you to be vibrantly near Him; much nearer than you’ve ever been. Your desire must be the same towards God.
Hearing revival rumblings in the distance isn’t good enough. Draw near to God. Far, far near than you’ve ever been. Go after God with more tenacity than you ever have. God promised He would then come close-- magnificently close to you. You’ll be revived.
Then you’ll be on board. And this will stir others with a passion to also draw near to God.
It’s your move.
One Sunday morning my pastor was all excited. The evening before he had been listening to a favorite song on a repeat loop. A portion of the lyrics say, “I can hear that thunder in the distance. Like a train on the edge of town. I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit. Revive us. Revive us.”
Sunday morning our song leader, unknown to my pastor, had selected the same song. Pastor Gordy referenced the train-on-the-edge-of-town lyrics as a parallel to his sensing that a significant revival was near.
So is there a massive revival arriving in the near future?
There’s a train track twelve miles from my home. I hear the train early in the morning. It’s on the move. But it’s never coming to my house.
Like the train, intense passion for God is always on the move somewhere. People who vividly sense God is right there with them everywhere they go, are always alive. Love for God and love for people flows distinctly from some people. The hallmarks of revival are always rumbling.
God says, “Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you.” God desires for you to be vibrantly near Him; much nearer than you’ve ever been. Your desire must be the same towards God.
Hearing revival rumblings in the distance isn’t good enough. Draw near to God. Far, far near than you’ve ever been. Go after God with more tenacity than you ever have. God promised He would then come close-- magnificently close to you. You’ll be revived.
Then you’ll be on board. And this will stir others with a passion to also draw near to God.
It’s your move.
11/5/07
SCORCHED CORNFIELD PRAISE
“It would be hard to be standing out in our cornfields and praise God,” Tom said. Extreme lack of rain had parched his crops. He attempted a half-smile: “It’s bad, really bad.”
“How long since it’s been this dry Tom? Ten years?” Every trace of a smile washed from his face: “Maybe a hundred years.”
Tom’s big shoulders were sagging. All of his income is derived from farming. Standing in his scorched cornfields could be depressing. A devoted, faith-filled Christian; Tom admits this challenging struggle.
Another man once told of some of his desperate situations. Apostle Paul said, “To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless…up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth…”
A few sentences later he writes: “Therefore, I urge you to imitate me.”
What! Imitate a man who has just crowned himself, “Scum of the Earth.”
Apostle Paul also said, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
He then reveals the secret: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Dry seasons will come; the make-it-break-it point will arrive. Is our trust in Jesus Christ? Do we believe He can revive our situation?
Yes. Yes. Yes. Focusing on Jesus turns a scorched cornfield into an opportunity for God to show His power.
Apostle Paul finished the job God had for him. And is now esteemed as one of God’s greatest men of all time. For Tom? His faith held firm. He focused on Jesus. The rains came a few days later.
For you? Imitate their secret. Trust Jesus to give you the strength for the journey through your scorched cornfield.
“How long since it’s been this dry Tom? Ten years?” Every trace of a smile washed from his face: “Maybe a hundred years.”
Tom’s big shoulders were sagging. All of his income is derived from farming. Standing in his scorched cornfields could be depressing. A devoted, faith-filled Christian; Tom admits this challenging struggle.
Another man once told of some of his desperate situations. Apostle Paul said, “To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless…up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth…”
A few sentences later he writes: “Therefore, I urge you to imitate me.”
What! Imitate a man who has just crowned himself, “Scum of the Earth.”
Apostle Paul also said, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
He then reveals the secret: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Dry seasons will come; the make-it-break-it point will arrive. Is our trust in Jesus Christ? Do we believe He can revive our situation?
Yes. Yes. Yes. Focusing on Jesus turns a scorched cornfield into an opportunity for God to show His power.
Apostle Paul finished the job God had for him. And is now esteemed as one of God’s greatest men of all time. For Tom? His faith held firm. He focused on Jesus. The rains came a few days later.
For you? Imitate their secret. Trust Jesus to give you the strength for the journey through your scorched cornfield.
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