Posts Tagged ‘revival’

What Does Holiness Look Like?

Monday, November 22nd, 2010

This morning I read a short article by Chuck Colson in which he trumpeted a call for the North American church to repent. He noted that many believers are wringing their hands at the state of current affairs. He says we’re blaming the liberals, the gays, and the pro-abortionists when, in reality, we ought to be looking in the mirror. He says we’ve tried so hard to fit in with our neighbors and our society that we’re no longer salt and light, and it’s time to turn things around.

Sadly, Colson’s insights are nothing new. Ezekiel bore the same message a long, long time ago. He called God’s people to forsake their idols, to stop intermarrying, to refuse anything ceremonially unclean. He called for them to live in holiness and to establish their laws based on God’s regulations (Ezekiel 44, 45).

The essence of Colson’s message to believers today is much the same. Repent—change one’s thinking, make a U-turn, and walk in God’s ways. In day to day living, here’s what that looks like:

  • Forsake idols—anything that’s robbing from God the love He deserves. (ie: Money, our home and furniture, our job, physical appearance, a relationship, even ministry.)
  • Fill our minds with what’s pure and holy. Say no to movies, magazines and books that cause us to fantasize and lust. Say no to entertainment that promotes violence.
  • Remain faithful to one’s spouse. Run from temptation! No “innocent” flirting or emotional affairs.
  • Seek to control the tongue. No backbiting, no gossip, no yelling, no lies. Speak the truth in love. Speak words that encourage and promote life.
  • Love others unconditionally. Yikes! That one seems a little much, don’t you think? Sorry. No excuses.
  • Exercise integrity. Keep your promises. Be a person who’s trustworthy at all times.

 

These are just a few examples of how God expects His kids to live in today’s world. We’re to live this way not because we get eternal Brownie points for being good but because God is holy and we’re to reflect Him. We’re to live above compromise and to shine as lights in the darkness around us.

Thankfully He doesn’t expect us to accomplish this on our own. As we walk in a love relationship with Him, He works in us to make us holy: “God, the Father, knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:2).

One of my prayers is that God will teach me to walk in moment by moment revival. That means being willing to repent of careless words or inappropriate actions or thoughts. I want to shine for Him. I want my life to be spiritually salty so others will thirst for Christ. I pray that the same desire will be true in your life. Together, we can make a difference in the world around us as we walk in God’s ways.

What does holiness look like to you?

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Peer Pressure

Monday, May 11th, 2009

As a kid, did you ever succumb to peer pressure? I did. I remember hiding in the bushes, stealing puffs on cigarettes in eighth grade – trying hard to impress the most popular girl in my grade. I wanted to be like her, so I was willing to play the game of life by her rules, at least until doing so landed me in trouble at home.

This morning I discovered a verse that says the Israelites succumbed to peer pressure, too. “We want to be like the nations around us,” they said, referring to their desire for a king to rule over them (1 Samuel 8:20). Psalm 106:35 adds, “They mingled among the pagans and adopted their evil customs.”

Guess what happened? They landed in big trouble. “They worshiped their idols, and this led to their downfall” (v. 36). The following verses describe the specifics. Take a moment to read…I dare you.

In all honesty, I read these verses and the passages around them and think, Wow – sounds like North American Christianity. We, too, have succumbed to peer pressure, even within the last generation. Marriages of Christians are falling apart at the same rate as those who do not profess to be believers. More than ¼ million Christian women abort their babies annually. Same-sex marriages are being sanctioned by church leaders. Pornography has infiltrated the pulpit, and abuse is no stranger to Christian homes. In many ways, the Church has adopted the evil customs of those around it.

It’s time to take a stand and say, “No more compromise. We want to be salt. We want to be light. We want to walk in the ways of the Lord, following His truth rather than our emotions or whatever society says is okay.” It’s time to pray for an all-out revival, for the Holy Spirit to visit the Church as never before in history. It’s time for us to pray with the Psalmist, “Oh Lord our God, save us! Gather us back from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Let all the people say, ‘Amen!’” (Psalm 106:47,48)

Let’s say goodbye to peer pressure. Let’s choose now to shrug off the desire to be like those around us, especially if those folks are living lives that dishonor God. Instead, let’s choose to worship the true God and please Him alone.

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Journal Entry for April 3-5

Friday, April 10th, 2009

Friday morning marked the beginning of our annual staff conference. What a treat to see our International Messenger family gather from Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Slovakia! Couples, singles, families – more than 100 folks showed up to encourage and be encouraged.

Each day we enjoyed two worship services. The music – led by a band of five young men – moved my heart to focus on Jesus Christ. And seeing these musicians – an American fellow who came to Poland especially to serve the missionaries in this way for the weekend, three IM teenagers, and a Romanian fellow who’s interning with IM in Ukraine (whose smile lit up the room as he sang and played the keyboard) – thrilled me beyond words. These fellows represent the next generation of spiritual leaders. God bless them as they use their gifts for Him here, and as they begin stepping forward to pursue career ministry in Eastern Europe.

One song contained a phrase that has taken on new meaning for me: “You are the Lord, the famous one, the famous one. Great is Your name in all the earth.” Indeed, my role as writer, speaker, and missionary, is to help make Jesus famous throughout the earth. The instant my attention or motives point toward me rather than Jesus, the ministry loses focus and effectiveness.

The daily messages reinforced the lessons I’ve been learning lately and also gave me new material to think about. I think my favorite was the one about Christ’s humility as illustrated in Philippians 2. Imagine – Jesus Christ existed in the form of God but didn’t regard equality with God a thing to be grasped. Instead, He emptied Himself and became a servant, even to the point of death on a cross. That thought boggles my mind. It’s the opposite of what society teaches – to stand up for our rights and demand what we deserve. Where is that attitude condoned in God’s Word? Nowhere, I’m afraid. Rather, as Christ’s followers, we’re to empty ourselves and serve others sacrificially.

At the end of the last session, silence fell across the room – a holy, awe-inspired quiet. God’s presence felt tangible, and no one dared move or speak for what seemed forever. Then one person prayed. A second person followed, and then a third. Someone led in a worship song, and then another. Words cannot justly describe the reverence in that place. Oh, I long for my brothers and sisters in Christ to experience the same in North America. Sadly, I think we’re too often controlled by the clock, or by fear of what might happen if we let the Holy Spirit take over our meetings. “God, bring revival to our hearts!”

The music and messages filled my spiritual tank, and fellowship with other IM women filled my emotional tank. I was blessed to have the opportunity to speak at a special session just for them. I based my message on Hebrews 12:12,13 which refer to taking a new grip with tired hands and strengthening shaky legs so those behind us who are weak and lame will not stumble and fall but be strengthened. Darlis Anderson then gave each woman a bookmark with the theme verse, and a package of Mary Kay skin products donated by a generous friend in the U.S.

These missionary gals are truly amazing. Some are North Americans who have been in Eastern Europe for many years. They’ve borne their children there and are fluent in the language, well-adapted to the challenges of cross-cultural living. Others are North American empty-nesters who have recently sold their possessions, said goodbye to kids and grandkids, and followed God’s call to pursue career ministry here. We have single gals of all ages – early 20s through 70s. Several IMers are North Americans married to Eastern European men. And about half are Eastern Europeans, born and raised here. What a glorious mix! Together, we’re sisters in Christ, and we have much to learn from each other.

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