REAL REVIVAL

"Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly, And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice." - Jonah 2:1-2

Here in America, most churches organize and host "revival services," that are typically scheduled for three nights or more.  Sometimes they can become protracted services.  At any rate, the "revival" is typically scheduled for specific dates with a guest speaker and even special singers. 

Often the purpose of these scheduled meetings is to gain converts.  Evangelistic preaching and tear-jerking invitations are usually the norm, with the expectation of seeing people come forward and making professions of faith.

To be rather honest, genuine revival often takes place after a pattern we find in the book of Jonah.  Revival is a sovereign act of God, designed to bring His people to the point of spiritual renewal.  This act of God is often unplanned by humans and sometimes begins on an individual basis.

That was the case in the book of Jonah.  Before wicked Nineveh could hear God's message, the preacher himself had to get right with God.  Jonah's heart was selfish and sinful.  He had deliberately disobeyed God, demonstrating a rebellious attitude.  God had to get his attention and change this stubborn preacher.

At the end of Jonah chapter 1, God caused a great fish to swallow Jonah.  Now, in the belly of this fish, revival was about to erupt in the heart of Jonah.  God had gotten his attention.

For the first time since God called him to preach at Nineveh, we find Jonah praying.  Jonah had to be humbled before God would use him.  The same is true for us.  I hate to say it, but most Christians seem to be rather arrogant and proud.  Churches seem to have a competitive spirit about them.  Revival doesn't come to the proud, only to the humble.  When we humble ourselves, we become candidates for a blessing.  James wrote, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."

God had stopped Jonah's disobedient run from Him.  Now, in the belly of a fish, Jonah couldn't run. 

The whole experience had humbled Jonah and now he prayed.  He sought forgiveness for his rebellion.  Furthermore, he promised to obey God and go to Nineveh.

Obedience is the key issue that determines the state of your spiritual health.  I find that too many Christians are simply giving lip service to God.  They are playing games at the foot of the cross.  They talk a good talk, but their walk doesn't match their talk.  Some are living in willful disobedience while playing the role of a "good church member."  Jonah was like that, too, but it caught up with him.  Like it or not, God is not fooled by such play-acting. 

When Jonah got right with God, his situation changed immediately.  The great fish vomited Jonah up on dry ground.  Jonah probably looked and smelled awful.  Sin had left him a mess, but at least he was out of the fish.

It is hard to tell what God can do with a man or woman that will get right with Him and obey Him explicitly.  Such people are rare to find.  But why can't that be you?  Why shouldn't you get right with Him?  Why shouldn't you repent of your disobedience and rebellion? 

Quit complaining about the sins of others.  Stop rendering judgment on other disobedient church members.  The real issue is not your neighbor or another church member.  The real problem is you. 

Perhaps like Jonah's situation, God has arranged a series of problems in order to get your attention.  Maybe you're at the bottom of the barrel right now.  When you reach rock bottom, it is good time to look up.  Look up to the Lord.  Get right with Him.  Repent of your stubborn will, selfish attitude and rebellious heart.  Sell out to the Lord right now.  Surrender to Him and His will.

It could be that revival will erupt in your life today!

THE RUNAWAY PREACHER

"But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD." - Jonah 1:3

For many people, the book of Jonah is an outrageous story about a man who is swallowed by a great fish.  As you read the Bible, you realize that the story of Jonah is more than just hyperbole or an allegory.  Jesus Himself made reference to the story of Jonah and spoke of it as a true story.  We should do the same.

It is wrong, however, to think of the book of Jonah as just a fish story.  Certainly, a fish has an important role in the book of Jonah, but we would be amiss to focus solely on that aspect of the story.

The book of Jonah is the story of God's mercy towards a sinful city.  Some would read this book of the Bible and argue that the city of Nineveh was not worthy of God's mercy.  Certainly that is true, but who is worthy of God's mercy?  The fact is that none of us deserve His mercy.

God called Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach to them.  It is interesting that the message he was to bring was not a positive message.  These days, some preachers refuse to preach anything but a positive message.  Some seem to go out of their way to avoid preaching on subjects like sin, repentance and judgment.  Yet the message Jonah was given was simple:  Because of their sinfulness, the city of Nineveh would be destroyed in forty days.

Rather than aggressively obeying the Lord, Jonah chose to disobey the Lord.  He chose to run in the opposite direction from God's calling.  Have you ever done something like that?  

Why did Jonah run from the will of God?  Jonah resisted God's call because he wanted to see the people of Nineveh perish.  Jonah feared that if he went to Nineveh that the people may repent & God would have mercy and save them.  He didn't want that.  You see, Jonah was a Jew and he had a problem with God showing mercy to Gentiles.

Racism is nothing new.  Even preachers can be guilty of racism.  Jonah was. 

We know why God wanted a message preached to Nineveh, but why did he choose Jonah?  Was the Jonah the best preacher he had available?  Hardly.  You see, the people of Nineveh needed God's message ... but so did Jonah.  The evangelistic call was part of God's work in the heart of a stubborn preacher.

So Jonah ran.  It is a foolish thing to run from God.  Where can you go?  If you flee to another state, He is there.  If you fly to another country, He is present.  If you crawl into a deep mine, you'll find that God is there.  If you ride a space shuttle, God is still near.  You can't run from Him.  But many people are like Jonah, foolishly running from God. 

Are you running from God?  Perhaps God has been on your trail about getting saved, yet you have run as fast as you can from Him.  Maybe, like Jonah, you're running from the will of God.  Perhaps God has laid something on your heart to do & rather than obey Him, you avoid Him. 

Running from God is an exercise in futility.  If you are running from God, you are doing so at your own peril.

For Jonah, problems followed him as he ran.  Eventually, God had to bring him to the very depths of despair in order to get his attention. 

Perhaps that is what is happening in your life.  Maybe God has been trying to get your attention.  What's it going to take for you to listen?

Rather than running away from God, it is time to turn around and run to Him.  

A TRIBUTE TO MY MOM

"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." - Proverbs 31:30

This Sunday (May 13, 2018) is designated as "Mother's Day."  It is a special day in which each person is expected to honor his or her mother.  I thought I'd dedicate my blog message to my Mom on this weekend.

My Mom is a very special person.  I know that most children say that about their mother, but I know it to be a fact about my mother.  I've noticed that many women look to my Mom with great respect and honor.  Mom's life has been an example of godly living. 

Here are just a few things that I admire about my Mom:

1.  SHE LOVES THE LORD

First of all, and most of all, she loves Jesus.  She has always been a pillar of faith in our family.  Regardless of the uncertainty that has come, she always has a strong faith and confidence in the Lord.  She reads her Bible daily.  She is a praying woman.  She is at church every time the doors are open.  She is not ashamed to speak about the Lord to others. 

2.  SHE LOVES HER FAMILY

Secondly, Mom loves her family.  She loves her siblings.  She especially loves her husband of over 56 years.  She loves my brother & I.  Her love is an agape love, a sacrificial love.  She has done without so that others could be helped.  She continues to be a caregiver to my Dad, especially on his bad days.  She considers it a privilege to help him and serve others. 

3.  SHE LOVES HER FRIENDS

Mom has friends at church that she loves.  She has counseled women on the phone and helped many.  The women at church look to her for wisdom and faith. 

4.  SHE LOVES HER CHURCH

Mom has been involved in the church since her teenage years.  When she married my father, she probably didn't know that she would eventually become a preacher's wife.  She has supported him in his ministry.  Anytime we have dinner at church, Mom prepares a huge amount of food.  She serves in a number of ways at church, without a title or position.  She never receives praise for her efforts, despite the enormous amount of work she provides.  She does it all because she loves the Lord, she loves the church, and she loves others.

5.  SHE LOVES TO SERVE 

Finally, Mom loves to serve.  She has a servant's heart.  She is not satisfied unless she is doing something for someone else.  She is a sacrificial giver.  She is a blessing to many.

Proverbs 31:30 states, "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised."  Mom is a woman who fears God.  Because her life testifies of this fact, others (including myself) respect her greatly.

In Proverbs 31:10, the question is brought:  "Who can find a virtuous woman?"  I'll answer that question.  I have found a virtuous woman.  I call her Mom.

I love you, Mom!

FROM HERE TO ETERNITY

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." - Psalm 23:6

The Christian life is a journey leading from here to heaven.  The road we must travel is sometimes difficult.  It seems like the closer we get to glory, the more difficult the road becomes.

Years ago, I had to go to Atlanta on a business trip.  On the way back, I traveled some great super highways.  The roads were fairly straight and easy to navigate.  I could travel at a high speed on these highways.  The closer I got to home, the worse the roads were.  The super highways eventually were reduced to a two-lane road.  The two-lane road eventually became a dirt road.  I didn't mind the change in road conditions, though.  The dirt road was the road that led me home.

The same is true in life.  The closer we get home, the worse the road seems to be.  Despite the road conditions, the goodness of the Lord remains the same.

David wraps up the twenty-third psalm by describing the rest of the journey.  From here to eternity, God is leading and blessing.  David wrote, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."

Consider two things that David addresses in this verse:

1.  THE HERE-AND-NOW

First of all, David wrote, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life..."  Notice that David did not say, "Surely good health and earthly riches shall follow me all the days of my life."  That would be the message that some would like to hear, but it isn't true.  Instead, David focused on two things:  the goodness of God and the mercy of God.  God's goodness and mercy will follow me the rest of my life.  I must confess that God has been good to me --- and I don't deserve it!  God is good ... and He is good to His people.  Remember that He is the GOOD Shepherd.  Secondly, His mercy is extended to me each step of the way.  The Good Shepherd mercifully tends His flock and leads them along the way.  David wrote that goodness and mercy will follow him, "... all the days of my life."  Goodness and mercy follows him, but not just on happy days, but ALL the days of his life.  The same is true for you and me.

2.  THE HEREAFTER

Finally, David wrote, "... and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."  Our journey will soon come to an end.  We'll get home before long.  The Lord has a house and it will be our home.  David wrote that he would, "dwell in the house of the LORD."  It will be more than just a short visit.  Like David, we will dwell there.  We will stay there.  It is our home.  Finally, he specifies the duration of our stay: "forever."  We'll be at home with our Lord forever.   

From here to eternity, we are His.  From here to eternity, God is leading us.  Ultimately, we'll be at home with Him eternally.

Now that's a true story with a happy ending!