September 30
Revival: No Limit to What God Could Do
But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." --Acts 17:6
There is no limit to what God could do in our world if we would dare to surrender before Him with a commitment like this:
"Oh God, I hereby give myself to You. I give my family. I give my business. I give all I possess. Take all of it, Lord-and take me! I give myself in such measure that if it is necessary that I lose everything for your sake, let me lose it. I will not ask what the price is. I will ask only that I may be all that I ought to be as a follower and disciple of Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen."
If even 300 of God's people became that serious, our world would never hear the last of it! They would influence the news. Their message would go everywhere like birds on the wing. They would set off a great revival of New Testament faith and witness.
God wants to deliver us from the easygoing, smooth and silky, fat and comfortable Christianity so fashionable today. I hope we are willing to let the truth get hold of us, even at the cost of rejection or embarrassment.
The faith of the heavenly overcomers cost them everything and gained them everything. What of our faith? Jesus Is Victor!, 116-117."
Oh God, I hereby give myself to You. I give my family. I give my business. I give all I possess. Take all of it, Lord-and take me! I give myself in such measure that if it is necessary that I lose everything for your sake, let me lose it. I will not ask what the price is. I will ask only that I may be all that I ought to be as a follower and disciple of Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen."
Today's "Insight for Leaders" is taken by permission from the book, Tozer on Christian Leadership, published by WingSpread Publishers.
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Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Revival: We Need a Revival!
September 10
Revival: We Need a Revival!
And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry." But God said to him, "Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?" So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. -Luke 12:19-21
We need a revival! We need a revival of consecration to death, a revival of happy abandonment to the will of God that will laugh at sacrifice and count it a privilege to bear the cross through the heat and burden of the day. We are too much influenced by the world and too little controlled by the Spirit. We of the deeper life persuasion are not immune to the temptations of ease and we are in grave danger of becoming a generation of pleasure lovers.
Any who disagree with these conclusions are within their rights, and I would be the last to deny them the privilege. But in the name of a thousand struggling churches and disheartended pastors, may I not plead for a little more loyalty to the local church during this season of difficulty?
May God raise up a people who will consult their pleasures less and the great need more. God Tells the Man Who Cares, 159-160.
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This Insight for Leaders devotional is also available in a print-friendly format here on the LMI web site.
Today's "Insight for Leaders" is taken by permission from the book, Tozer on Christian Leadership, published by WingSpread Publishers
Revival: We Need a Revival!
And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry." But God said to him, "Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?" So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. -Luke 12:19-21
We need a revival! We need a revival of consecration to death, a revival of happy abandonment to the will of God that will laugh at sacrifice and count it a privilege to bear the cross through the heat and burden of the day. We are too much influenced by the world and too little controlled by the Spirit. We of the deeper life persuasion are not immune to the temptations of ease and we are in grave danger of becoming a generation of pleasure lovers.
Any who disagree with these conclusions are within their rights, and I would be the last to deny them the privilege. But in the name of a thousand struggling churches and disheartended pastors, may I not plead for a little more loyalty to the local church during this season of difficulty?
May God raise up a people who will consult their pleasures less and the great need more. God Tells the Man Who Cares, 159-160.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Insight for Leaders devotional is also available in a print-friendly format here on the LMI web site.
Today's "Insight for Leaders" is taken by permission from the book, Tozer on Christian Leadership, published by WingSpread Publishers
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Our Great Hope!
With so many people talking bad about this great city which Jesus loves, its easy to lose hope and start to doubt the promises we know God has made about this city and the people in it! However, I have just experienced something that has stirred me to new levels of faith and excitement concerning God's purposes for Reading!
Several months ago, God gave us (the Reading House Of Prayer) a heart to set aside a week for nonstop, night and day prayer. The scripture that accompanied this was the famous 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and heal their land."
I love this scripture, because God sounds so sure of Himself...If my people do this...then I will do this!
Sunday August 17th, 7PM we launched a prayer meeting that did not end until Sunday, August 24th at 9PM. This was an incredible time in our prayer room! Every hour someone new would knock on the door and take the "torch" of prayer!
There was such a sense of community and common purpose among the people of the 12 churches who sowed into these prayer times!
This is amazing, that people from many denominations and groups would come together without recognition from humans, and stand in the night for our city!
I have new faith that the saints in Reading are answering the conditions of 2 Chronicles 7:14! I have a deep conviction from scripture, and church history that if we as a city become a people of corporate worship and prayer, then God will "show up" and bring transformation!
If you were a part of this week of prayer, please post a testimony of what God did or said while you were in the prayer room, or of answered prayer!
If you would like more information on the ministry of the Reading House Of Prayer, visit us at www.rhop.net
Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!
Several months ago, God gave us (the Reading House Of Prayer) a heart to set aside a week for nonstop, night and day prayer. The scripture that accompanied this was the famous 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and heal their land."
I love this scripture, because God sounds so sure of Himself...If my people do this...then I will do this!
Sunday August 17th, 7PM we launched a prayer meeting that did not end until Sunday, August 24th at 9PM. This was an incredible time in our prayer room! Every hour someone new would knock on the door and take the "torch" of prayer!
There was such a sense of community and common purpose among the people of the 12 churches who sowed into these prayer times!
This is amazing, that people from many denominations and groups would come together without recognition from humans, and stand in the night for our city!
I have new faith that the saints in Reading are answering the conditions of 2 Chronicles 7:14! I have a deep conviction from scripture, and church history that if we as a city become a people of corporate worship and prayer, then God will "show up" and bring transformation!
If you were a part of this week of prayer, please post a testimony of what God did or said while you were in the prayer room, or of answered prayer!
If you would like more information on the ministry of the Reading House Of Prayer, visit us at www.rhop.net
Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Removing the Pressure
Read Ezekiel 36:1 through 39:29
Devotional brought to you by God's Word For Today.
God's Word For Today is available from Gospel Publishing House.
How does spiritual transformation take place? The prophecy in Ezekiel 36 delivers good news: It does not come from you. God makes those changes. Relax—the pressure is off of you.
God does not call us to come to Him changed. Instead, He calls us to come to Him as we are and allow Him to make the necessary changes in our lives.
Note how often “I”—meaning God—begins sentences in Ezekiel 36. God puts the action on Himself.
God does the purifying. God provides the new heart. God places the Spirit within us. God does not expect us to do those things, but often we place those expectations on ourselves.
After God tells Israel what He will do, He then tells them what they will do—return to live in the land He had already blessed them with and be His people (Ezekiel 36:28).
Our responsibility is to simply decide to return to the relationship with Him that He designed for us to enjoy. Within that relationship, changes occur. And within that relationship, the presence of the Holy Spirit motivates us to obey God’s commands.
It’s that simple. So relax!
Thought for Today: Make your relationship with God your top priority and allow Him to direct your life.
Devotional brought to you by God's Word For Today.
God's Word For Today is available from Gospel Publishing House.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Have we arrived?
So, we have one Revival service under our belts. What an amazing time it was!
Does that mean that we have arrived? I say NOT!
Then we can't walk around with the attitude of "it's just another day". Where is our passion? Where is our fever? Where are our requests in diligently seeking God's face to CONTINUE to bring His revival here to Reading?
We're launching our 2nd REVIVAL service in less then 3 weeks...are we seeking His face? Are we petitioning Him to bring His promises for this appointed day?
Remember, it starts with us. We've been digging into that aspect of who we are in Christ to know that if we're not moving, how can we ask Him to do the great and mighty? (He's is God and will do what He will, but I want to make an impact. USE ME LORD!!) We have to be seeking REVIVAL in ourselves...and then ask Him to drop it down from heaven on all the rest.
Are we doing that....or have we arrived? Are we settling for "yesterdays blessings" and satisfied with those results?
I say we press in....Harder, Deeper, Consistently, Continually....with PASSION! Get raedy for REVIVAL!
Does that mean that we have arrived? I say NOT!
Then we can't walk around with the attitude of "it's just another day". Where is our passion? Where is our fever? Where are our requests in diligently seeking God's face to CONTINUE to bring His revival here to Reading?
We're launching our 2nd REVIVAL service in less then 3 weeks...are we seeking His face? Are we petitioning Him to bring His promises for this appointed day?
Remember, it starts with us. We've been digging into that aspect of who we are in Christ to know that if we're not moving, how can we ask Him to do the great and mighty? (He's is God and will do what He will, but I want to make an impact. USE ME LORD!!) We have to be seeking REVIVAL in ourselves...and then ask Him to drop it down from heaven on all the rest.
Are we doing that....or have we arrived? Are we settling for "yesterdays blessings" and satisfied with those results?
I say we press in....Harder, Deeper, Consistently, Continually....with PASSION! Get raedy for REVIVAL!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Prayer Alert for Reading
Grace and Peace All Watchmen,
I just noticed, in the Reading Area Merchandiser a “Schedule of Events for the Pagoda Centennial Celebration” this weekend. It includes a “Japanese Zen Buddhist Blessing/dedication with Japanese chanting and a pilgrimage to the bell” AND “A Lenape Indian Blessing for the Mountain” this Friday, 8-8-08!
All of this is under the heading, “Celebrating the History – Imagining the Future”. This is IDOLATRY being welcomed by our officials! Please pray:
1. That Jesus would be acknowledged as Lord in Reading – The honor of the saints is to “execute on them the written judgment” (Psa 149:9) – Jesus paid for Reading with His own blood! Our prayer is for the gospel of the Kingdom to increase and prevail over all that is false and counterfeit – “So the Word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed” (against witchcraft, occult activity and false religion – Act 19:20).
2. That “the Word of the Lord may have free course (‘run swiftly’) and be glorified” (2 Thess 3:1) in our day and our city
3. For our city and county officials according to 1 Tim 2:1-6. Pray that God would turn their hearts to do right, because “GOD DESIRES ALL MEN TO BE SAVED AND COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH” (V.4-6).
4. For the regional church – are we to mobilize any last minute prayer initiative? We need to hear the LORD for His invitation and Divine wisdom.
5. That we learn to have a ‘radical’ and authentic love (agape) for ALL PEOPLE while we contend, IN MEEKNESS, for righteousness and truth (Psa 45:4-7) in our city and region. We love people while we hate the false systems that hold them in bondage and darkness. God is not willing that any perish!
FOR HIS GLORY,
Ken Eberly
Reading House of Prayer
Executive Advisor
http://www.rhop.net
.
I just noticed, in the Reading Area Merchandiser a “Schedule of Events for the Pagoda Centennial Celebration” this weekend. It includes a “Japanese Zen Buddhist Blessing/dedication with Japanese chanting and a pilgrimage to the bell” AND “A Lenape Indian Blessing for the Mountain” this Friday, 8-8-08!
All of this is under the heading, “Celebrating the History – Imagining the Future”. This is IDOLATRY being welcomed by our officials! Please pray:
1. That Jesus would be acknowledged as Lord in Reading – The honor of the saints is to “execute on them the written judgment” (Psa 149:9) – Jesus paid for Reading with His own blood! Our prayer is for the gospel of the Kingdom to increase and prevail over all that is false and counterfeit – “So the Word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed” (against witchcraft, occult activity and false religion – Act 19:20).
2. That “the Word of the Lord may have free course (‘run swiftly’) and be glorified” (2 Thess 3:1) in our day and our city
3. For our city and county officials according to 1 Tim 2:1-6. Pray that God would turn their hearts to do right, because “GOD DESIRES ALL MEN TO BE SAVED AND COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH” (V.4-6).
4. For the regional church – are we to mobilize any last minute prayer initiative? We need to hear the LORD for His invitation and Divine wisdom.
5. That we learn to have a ‘radical’ and authentic love (agape) for ALL PEOPLE while we contend, IN MEEKNESS, for righteousness and truth (Psa 45:4-7) in our city and region. We love people while we hate the false systems that hold them in bondage and darkness. God is not willing that any perish!
FOR HIS GLORY,
Ken Eberly
Reading House of Prayer
Executive Advisor
http://www.rhop.net
.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
The Forgotten Cross
Is it possible to walk in Revival without the Cross?
Sounds like an oxymoron. "A Christian without his Cross"
They synoptic gospels are very clear about taking up our Cross in order to be a fully devoted followers of Jesus the Messiah.
Have you picked up your Cross today?
Maybe it's difficult to answer that question when we have forgotten the Cross.
Here's a reminder from A.W. Tozer
"The cross is the symbol of Christianity, and the cross speaks of death and separation, never of compromise. No one ever compromised with a cross. The cross separated between the dead and the living. The timid and the fearful will cry "Extreme!" and they will be right. The cross is the essence of all that is extreme and final. The message of Christ is a call across a gulf from death to life, from sin to righteousness and from Satan to God." (The Set of the Sail, 35,36.)
Is it possible that if I pickup my Cross daily you will stop seeing me and start seeing the Jesus in me?
To walk in spiritual renewal with my Cross, my goal for today!!
Pastor CJ
Living Word Fellowship Reading, PA
Sounds like an oxymoron. "A Christian without his Cross"
They synoptic gospels are very clear about taking up our Cross in order to be a fully devoted followers of Jesus the Messiah.
Have you picked up your Cross today?
Maybe it's difficult to answer that question when we have forgotten the Cross.
Here's a reminder from A.W. Tozer
"The cross is the symbol of Christianity, and the cross speaks of death and separation, never of compromise. No one ever compromised with a cross. The cross separated between the dead and the living. The timid and the fearful will cry "Extreme!" and they will be right. The cross is the essence of all that is extreme and final. The message of Christ is a call across a gulf from death to life, from sin to righteousness and from Satan to God." (The Set of the Sail, 35,36.)
Is it possible that if I pickup my Cross daily you will stop seeing me and start seeing the Jesus in me?
To walk in spiritual renewal with my Cross, my goal for today!!
Pastor CJ
Living Word Fellowship Reading, PA
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