I completely understand your reluctance in accepting or agreeing with my following assertions, but they are all consistent with God’s Word.  If you can show me where they are inconsistent, I will be gladdened both by the humility it brings my spirit and the fact that you took the time to read God’s Word enough to find evidence with which to convict me.

Can you stand on the side of the river of worldly events and rationally deny the current is speeding up, perhaps even channeling toward rapids or an unseen precipice?  What manner or level of denial, avoidance or escapism does it take to refuse the facts of a “coming storm” upon the horizon?  Are you willing to investigate why we as a church or as individuals would hold so strongly to an ideal, wishing it to remain, desperately wanting our lives to be undisturbed by the radical throws of Biblical predicted change.  If we are unwilling to serve God’s call upon our lives, are we then serving God or are we serving another master?  There are only two sides in this battle.  Do not consider yourself the only person capable of sitting on the fence.  Christ is coming and though you may argue His return may still be a number of years off, you will not argue that the time prior to His return is nearing its end.  The question then becomes what should we doing during this remaining hours, days, weeks, months or years?

I see no revival in our future.  I see no revival mentioned in the Bible.  Yet I hear men saying that is what we need.  I totally agree, but God’s qualifications for revival require that Christians, “Those who call themselves by my name”, go through true repentance as a precursor to our humble cries being heard by God.  I see no such repentance.  I see churches concerned about church business, fellowship, raising money for fellowship halls, child care, buildings, salaries, furniture and programs.  I do not see churches, individuals or even myself investigating God’s call upon our lives and obeying out of love, humility and a sense of obedience.  James is very clear that if a man knows what is right to do and doesn’t do it then that is sin.  Taking my own medicine I must then ask myself what God is calling me to do right now that I am refraining, reluctant or out right disobedient in doing?  What the Bible indicates is that we will not be humble enough to begin a necessary revival but instead this world, which the Bible says is a wicked generation will not turn its face back to God but almost demand His retribution, wrath and tribulation.  God will give this world the tribulation it requests because He loves us enough to provide the devastating impetus sufficient to waking us from slumber, ignorance, pride or disobedience and driving us back to crying out to Him for Mercy and Grace.  Who would argue against this having always been God’s intention for introduction of calamity so that His glory and love may be revealed?

The Lord called us to be Holy.  So, am I keeping myself Holy?  Am I voluntarily allowing accountability in my life by others to keep me on the path to Holiness?  Am I voluntarily allowing the Holy Spirit of God to convict me and change me, sanctifying me in preparation of meeting a Holy and Righteous God?  The Lord calls me to be ready.  Am I studying His Word relentlessly?  Am I preparing my spiritual understanding, my spiritual gear and my spiritual health for the day when I will be called upon to be ready for the battle that rages in the heavenly’s as we speak?  The Lord calls us to make disciples through the use of our testimony, His Word and His Love.  Do I understand in a practical sense the use of those assets to bring the lost, lame, wounded or captive to the cross for a meeting with a Holy God?  Am I loving people enough to go out where they are in the interest of demonstrating that loving care or am I simply waiting around, unprepared, unprayed, hoping that God doesn’t really have any work to do through me.  Am I in continuous prayer with the Lord?  Let me say emphatically, I fall short in this area and I believe that I pray a lot.  Most of my friends beat themselves up about their prayer lives, yet I don’t see them praying more.  Isn’t that sin, this lack of prayer in our lives, especially since we know consistent prayer indicates our reliance, dependence and trust in God?

This past month God has been showing me my inherent spots of wickedness.  I have cried openly, regretting my current state of unholiness.  It has been both effective and good for my walk with Jesus, because it has again shown me that I am no longer full of darkness but now spotted with darkness, a darkness that the Holy Spirit is currently and consistently removing from my spirit.  I am being made Holy by a Holy Spirit because I volunteered to the Hands of the Master Potter.  Unfortunately, He isn’t done and He needs to show me the remaining works yet to be completed, so that I remain in humility, a necessary state for a Holy relationship with God.  I am not worthy, but that is the point of His having died for me.  I am not capable, but that is exactly why He may use me as a vessel for His capable hands.  I have no power, but that is why when I do works of great power His Glory is inescapably evident.  I am exactly where He needs me to be, now I need to get about doing exactly what He has called me to do and leave the rest to Him.  This is belief, sponsored by love leading to repentant, consistent and true actions of obedience to God.  In Jesus’ name I pray.