For A Time, Such As This- Day Four

For A Time, Such As This

Day Four

by Rocky Fleming

 

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,  treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”  (2 Timothy 3:1-5 ESV)     I’ve heard some people complain that they wish to do more for God but all they try to do seems to be frustrated and doomed for failure.  They look at their circumstances, the people in their life, and their lack of followers with their leadership, and pin the blame on anyone but themselves.  Could they be sincerely trying to serve God, but deny His power by using their own efforts?  The answer is yes, for I was once one of those guys.  How can this be with anyone who is really sincere with wanting to serve Jesus?  There are many reasons, such as ignorance of the work of the Spirit, pride in trying to do it on our own, routine and traditions, which is called “old wineskins” in the Bible, and several other reasons.  The thing in common with them all is man trying to do God’s work and failing in the process, instead of His anointing being on what they do.   Is this happening in many churches in this country?  Sadly, it is, and this is why many of our churches are anemic with their growth in making disciples and fulfilling the Great Commission.  Many are on life-support just going through the motions and waiting for the end.  If you are asking if I’m critical of churches let me be clear.  I think God’s churches are the apple of His eye.  He loves them, all of them, if they are truly His.  I feel Papa’s concern, and this makes me deeply concerned for them, for they are family.  I know some great churches and pastors.  My son is a pastor and my son-in-law is one as well.  As a ministry we are committed to coming along side churches and pastors, and those who know us, know our heart for churches.  But many churches in this country have lost their first Love and are asleep, and this is why we are praying for revival in the Church in this country.   In the passage above we see some key thoughts conveyed such as, “in the last days there will come times of difficulty, lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, slanderous, without self-control, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,” to name a few.  If there was a better description of the climate and culture of the world around us, I can’t find one.  As a Christian I can see those things around me, and it a world being under Satan’s dominion.  I get that.  However, the words that stand out to me and are true for the anemic church that I’m concerned about are these words, “having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.”  This connects back with my opening remark about some Christians and even churches who are giving it their best effort but are missing God’s power to affect change.  The fact is they are not doing their best for God, for they are trying to do it without His help.  What will turn this around for them?  It is what we will be praying for.  REVIVAL!   Some people think of massive conversions, such as in tent revivals they’ve heard about in the past, or something like the Billy Graham Crusades to be a revival.  There was a great work done then, using this form.  I’m afraid that those forms will be lost for apparent reasons, but true revival will not be lost.  True revival is not an outward expression, though I expect it to be a fruit of the revival I speak of.  The revival I speak of is an inward renewal, an awakening of our love for Jesus.  It is to no longer follow a form of godliness but rather to enter the life changing, community changing, world changing work of the Holy Spirit.  You see the Holy Spirit has always been the Author and Change Agent for producing revival from Pentecost, to the Great Awakenings of the past, and with the one we are praying for.  For revival to happen in the Church, we must seek Him and rely of His work to produce that which we pray for.  This is where humble reliance with a contriteness and sincere heart are needed to enter the wind of the Spirit.   I’ve often thought of the Spirit like wind for my sails that gives me power and direction.  Like any sailboat captain who understand, it is the power of the wind that moves the boat.  Likewise, it is Holy Spirit’s power and filling of my sails (life) that I must rely on.  For this reason, I have to raise my sails to catch His wind.  I have to put my humble and contrite life before Him to be filled by Him.  With this thought in mind, as we approach Holy Spirit this Friday with our prayer vigil, let us raise our lives up to Him to be filled by Him.  Let us no longer deny His power to create change in our lives and the Church who we pray for.  As I’ve said from the beginning of this campaign, “Lord send a revival to your Church, and let it begin in me.”  May this be the truth of what happens as we pray.