On the Ulster Revival (1859)

“The revival spread out across the whole land family by family, village by village, and town by town. Within weeks 10′000 were converted. When this Revival hit Ballymena it was dramatic and sudden. One minister who was away for only two days from the town returned to find a great stir. Many families had not gone to bed for two or three days. Everything seemed at a standstill and the noise of people crying for mercy or the singing of praise came from many homes night and day. One Minister said that “The difficulty used to be to get the people into the church, but the difficulty now is to get them out.” Large open air meetings were held everywhere. God was raising up a humble army of new converts ablaze with His Spirit to witness again to Christ’s resurrection.”

What a report! Sounds like real Holy Ghost revival to me. Is it possible for such a thing to happen today? I am convinced it can be because the same God that moved then has not somehow changed and is no longer concerned about souls being saved. I believe  that we could also see a similar move of God. The question is just how much do we want to experience it?

The Ulster Revival was the result of passionate and persistent prayer that began when one man was stirred about the reality of personally knowing God. He wanted to know that he was saved and after seeking God he had a personal revival. After praying and seeking God another joined him in praying and soon there were two more. These four men began to pray every Friday for revival to come to their corner of the world. It took three months of praying for their first convert to come in but in one year’s time 100,000 people came to the Lord to be saved. The revival spread like wildfire across the region.

“The life changing and society changing results were very evident. A great blow came to the drinking houses of the land as drunkards were convicted and saved. Even whole distilleries were closed. Crime dropped by half within months as the land came under the influences of Gods workings.”

This revival moved beyond just the four walls of the church but infected and affected the entire region. What a testimony to what can take place when God’s  people get burdened for the lost and the glory of God. I for one am encouraged to not lose heart but to seek the Lord like never before. Will you join me?

Brother Jesse

My Notes From “Urgent Prayer For Revival”

One of the most powerful prayers recorded in the Bible comes from the lips of Daniel, who confessed his sin without reservation (Dan. 9:1-16) and then boldly urged God to respond. All the ingredients of great and confident praying are found in that cry of Daniel: an honest confession of sin and a total lack of confidence in himself are contrasted with Daniel’s conviction that God must respond to defend His great name and honor.

“In the first month of the first year of his reign, [Hezekiah] opened the doors of the temple of the Lord and repaired them” (2 Chron. 29:3). The fact that this was the first recorded action of his reign shows that he made it a priority. Opening the doors of the temple was his way of re-establishing his relationship with God, and that of the people, because the Holy Place was in the temple, and it was there that the high priest brought the prayers of the nation before God.

You cannot read far into the story of a revival without discovering that not only is prayer part of the inevitable result of an outpouring of the Spirit, but, from a human standpoint, it is also the single most significant cause.

Those whom God uses in revival are men and women of prayer. That is their great priority.

If we really want God in revival, we must ask for it.

When the Holy Spirit saturated the 120 on the Day of Pentecost, they had been in desperate prayer. And I use that word “desperate” carefully. Our Lord left them alone for what must have seemed an eternity; they were terrified of the Jews and Romans, and on this particular occasion were locked in the upper room. That was the position God wanted them in. He wanted them at an end of their own devices and without any confidence in themselves. They must have been praying in desperation. This was the moment God came.

Only when we realize and admit our true condition will we long for revival. Praying for revival is not enough: we must long for it, and long for it intensely.

But prayer cannot be left only to the leaders. Churches must pray also. Joel 2:15-17 is a vital passage for us to come to terms with.

It is not always clear when prayer meetings are part of the revival itself or are preceding it. But the distinction does not matter too much. Prayer is both the cause and result of the coming of the Spirit in revival.

Prayer for revival should never be self-centered. If we long for the glory of God then we will be ready to invest prayer time that others too will receive the Spirit of God in revival. We should never be parochial and long for the touch of God only for ourselves; we must pray for those churches that do not pray for themselves, as well as for those that do.

Prayer for revival must surely be one kind of preparation that is never wrong; it is essentially God-centered and not man-centered. It tells God we are at an end of ourselves.

Commenting upon Zechariah 12:10 – “I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication…” – the Puritan Matthew Henry remarked, “When God intends great mercy for His people, the first thing He does is to set them a-praying.” Similarly, John Wesley was convinced that “God does nothing but in answer to prayer.”

No church can ever expect revival unless it is praying for it.

We say that we long for God to forgive our sin and heal the land, yet we seem to have forgotten that He has set His own conditions for doing just that: “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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place” (2 Chron. 7:14-15).

Amen. Pour it out Lord!

Cry Out America – Sept 11

DeLand, Fla. – Christians nationwide will unite together in prayer on 9/11 at county courthouses across all 50 states to pray for their community and for the spiritual condition of our nation.

In 2001 extremist enemies assaulted America with the terrorists attacks of 9/11.  These acts of aggression signaled a physical wake up call for our nation as we entered the new millennium. Our lives were changed forever—millions of Americans fell to their knees in prayer.

Now eight years later, as part of the Awakening America Alliance (wwwawakeningamerica.us), Christians are issuing a spiritual wake call through CRY OUT AMERICA, a historical, nationwide prayer gathering, on September 11, 2009.

 America has been and continues to be the world power of our generation. Yet, the influence of our financial, political, and moral authority is in decline as evidenced in daily news across the world and by current statistics which show that only 17% of Americans attend church on any given Sunday and America as the third largest mission field in the world.

“Our stated goal for CRY OUT AMERICA is to claim this day of prayer to fully awaken America to return to the Lord and to mark this significant day in its history with POWERFUL prayer for EVERY STATE, EVERY COUNTY, and EVERY HEART. With the hundreds of gatherings being planned this year we believe that 9-11 will be an extraordinary day of united prayer across the nation. Extraordinary and united prayer has ignited every great awakening in American history. Our hope is that CRY OUT AMERICA will help awaken the American church to our need for repentance and position us for a return to God’s favor,” stated Billy Wilson, Executive Chairman for Awakening America. “The sobering reminder of what happened on September 11, 2001 should help us remember in this critical year that we are a nation in need of God. We believe a fresh season of deep, transforming revival is on the way,” he concluded.

In the classic study The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, Edward Gibbon gave at least five internal causes as to why Rome fell: rapid increase of divorce, spiraling taxes and government spending, a craze for pleasure and brutality, failure to see the moral erosion as an enemy and the decay of religion leaving people without guidance.

In response to the apparent, current spiritual condition in America, the Alliance encourages your local churches, ministries, parachurch ministries, Christian leaders and men and women of God from every walk of life to gather at the Volusia County Courthouse (historic location – Indiana Ave.) at 12:00 noon and join the nationwide cry for a spiritual awakening in the United States of America.

Thursday Night in Astor

The Higgins

Last Thursday night’s CARE group meeting in Astor was powerful. It seemed that God came down and filled the Higgin’s home and we had “church.” They are as always very gracious hosts. I appreciate very much the leadership of Brother and Sister Higgins and the Astor CARE group. It is why we had such a powerful time of ministry there to be sure.

The meeting was characterized by our praying for each other. I felt led to do the “hot seat.” This is where we have each one take a turn sitting in a chair while we all stand around them praying for them. What a blessing each received as the brethren extended their love and faith towards each other! God showed up! I am so thankful for the Lord’s grace and power.

If you are not involved in a CARE group you need to be! CARE stands for Caring, assimilating, reaching and encouraging. That is what the meetings are all about. Make your plans to attend one near by next week. You will be glad you did.

Brother Jesse

Time To Seek The Lord!

Hos 10:12
Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.

What a service last Sunday! God blessed and it seems He is on the move here at ALF. That is what is on my mind this morning as I start my day. God on the move. I have learned that when He is stirring it is time to seek the Lord. I am thankful He mercifully nudges us to get us going. What is He up to? Well we need to find out and there is only one way to do that. Pray!  Get close as possible to God and listen. I know He has a Word for us. He wants to bless. He wants to save, heal and deliver. That is still the business He is in. It is up to us to now. He will move and do His thing if we will get in position to receive and be used of Him.

Brother Jesse

Super Sonday

On August 2 we will be having our monthly Super Sonday and this time we will be having Singspiration. As a special treat we will be featuring the Welch Family. This family has been an important part of the life of this church from the beginning. Come and enjoy all the good singing and we will be eating after as usual.

Brother Jesse

In God We Trust

Ps 33:12

What does it mean? To say it requires that we mean it. I believe it implies that we should do at least three things as a nation.

1. Reverence God

This nation was founded on Biblical principles. Listen to what our founding fathers said:

John Adams wrote:  “Statesmen, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone, which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand.”

Benjamin Franklin: “God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel”

Andrew Jackson said, “That book, sir, {the Bible} is the rock on which our republic rests.”

George Washington put it this way: “It is impossible to righteously govern the world without God and the Bible. . . .”

Our coins say “In God We Trust.”  In our pledge of Allegiance we say we are  “One nation under God.”  Our Constitution expresses our belief in God.  Our fathers founded this nation: (1) For the glory of God.  (2) Based on rights given to them by God.  (3) Seeking the blessing of God.  America inaugurates its presidents with a hand on the Bible and asks them to pledge “So help me God.”  You simply cannot remove the God of Judaism and Christianity from the institutions of this nation.

We are a nation of free people because we are a people who believe the Bible.  Consider what living in Saudi Arabia, China, Afghanistan is like. Islam, Buddhism nor Hinduism work because they lead to enslavement and intolerance in a nation.

Today we are getting away from our founding faith.  If we believe this nation was founded on distinctly Judeo-Christian principles, how can it prosper if those principles are ignored or rejected? Consider these recent legal decisions:

1. Prohibited the reading of Scripture in public school.

2. Prohibited prayer in public school.

3. Prohibited a Christian manger scene during Christmas in public places.

4. Prohibited the posting of the 10 Commandments (Alabama State Court House).

5. Prohibited the teaching of Creation in public schools along with evolution.

America is turning away from recognition of Christian holidays, Christian worship and Christian symbols.  America is turning away from recognition of God as Creator and embracing atheistic  evolution.  America is turning away from recognizing our Christian heritage, while turning to those who are re-writing history to exclude any reference to the influence of God or the Bible in our past.

How can we say In God We Trust if we outlaw the expression of Christianity in our public life?

2. Depend On God

Our forefathers depended on God’s help. Time after time. The following story is one example:

God Bless America

In 1776, during the Revolutionary War, British commander William Howe took 30,000 veteran British soldiers to take New York. Gen. George Washington only had 18,000 inexperienced troops to resist him. The British troops outflanked Washington in their attack and threatened to surround him. Washington lost 1,000 men and two top Generals and his troops were discouraged. Without  any reason British halted their troops and began to dig in for a seige. Had they kept on pressing in they would have destroyed Washington and troops. Yet still the Americans were trapped on Long Island. Their only route of escape was the treacherous East river. The weather was very bad and it seemed impossible to cross. What did Washington do? He called for a prayer meeting to ask for God’s guidance and help. It was decided to attempt to cross the river even in the storm.  Then suddenly at 11 pm the wind died and the rain stopped. The river was as smooth as glass. They started crossing and a gentle breeze came up behind them to push them along. Even with this miracle it still seemed that it would be impossible to get all the troops across to Manhattan Island before daybreak but just before daybreak, thick fog draped over them and hid them from British troops. When the fog lifted British commander Howe was shocked. Washington’s troops had escaped. Washington and his men recognized that God had delivered them.

No doubt this is why as Washington resigned his commission as Commander of the Continental Army on December 23, 1783 he said, “I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last solemn act of my official life by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God and those who have the superintendence of them into His holy keeping.”

3. Hope In God

I believe that to say that In God We Trust implies that our hope would be in God. Our nation faces enemies from within and without. We should be looking to God like never before. We need Him to help us because I don’t believe we will find it anywhere else.

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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.

During the Civil War, Senator James Harlan of Iowa, whose daughter later married President Lincoln’s son Robert, introduced this Resolution in the Senate on March 2, 1863. The Resolution asked President Lincoln to proclaim a national day of prayer and fasting. The Resolution was adopted on March 3, and signed by Lincoln on March 30, one month before the fast day was observed.

By the President of the United States of America. A Proclamation.

Whereas, the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the Supreme Authority and just Government of Almighty God, in all the affairs of men and of nations, has, by a resolution, requested the President to designate and set apart a day for National prayer and humiliation.

And whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.

And, insomuch as we know that, by His divine law, nations like individuals are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war, which now desolates the land, may be but a punishment, inflicted upon us, for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole People? We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!

It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.

Now, therefore, in compliance with the request, and fully concurring in the views of the Senate, I do, by this my proclamation, designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th. day of April, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer. And I do hereby request all the People to abstain, on that day, from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite, at their several places of public worship and their respective homes, in keeping the day holy to the Lord, and devoted to the humble discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.

All this being done, in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the Nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings, no less than the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided and suffering Country, to its former happy condition of unity and peace.

We should get back to that kind of hope in God and His ability to help us. Our greatest need today is a revival because I still believe that Jesus is the answer. He is the answer to crime… race problems… immorality.

A French political philosopher visited our nation to uncover the secret of why we were so great. He traveled from town to town in this nation and interviewed hundreds of people. When he returned to France, he wrote: “I searched for America’s greatness. I found it, not in her fields and forests. I found it not in her mines and factories. I found it no in her Congress or tribunals..” “It was only when I entered her churches and heard her pulpits thundering against sin and preaching righteousness, that I discovered the secret of her greatness.” Then, he added, “America is great because America is good. If America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”

America is a great nation because of a great God. Let us never forget it. He is the hope of this nation. And not only is He the hope of a nation He is your hope. Do you now the Savior?

Freedom isn’t free. The red that we see on the flag represents the blood of those who have paid the ultimate price for it. When we see the Cross let us remember it represents a price paid for our spiritual freedom. Jesus Christ our Savior was crucified on Calvary’s Cross so that you and I could be free from our sins. He has purchased our freedom and let us be thankful today for it.

Brother Jesse

The Heresy of Conversion?!?

Read this: The Bishop Discovers Heresy?

“…the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church openly lamented a focus on evangelization that would seek conversions for such a focus would divert the attention of her church from ecological, economic, and other political imperatives.”

And they wonder why people are leaving the Episcopal church (and all the other liberal ones as well) in droves. If the Bible doesn’t matter to these people why even pretend to believe in it. I say they should merge with the Unitarians.

BroJ

Living In The Light of Eternity

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NLT)
For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

You have a lot of choices to make in this life. There are only two when it comes to eternity. With God or without Him. Heaven or hell. If you choose to live without Him on this earth you will live without Him in eternity. If you will not be bothered with Him here, then you will not be bothered by Him there. There are two kinds of people in this world… those who say to God “Thy will be done” and those to whom God says, “Thy will be done.”

Once you become aware that this life is not all there is you will live differently. As you come to the realization that life here is preparation for the life there, you will deal with everything differently. This is called living in the light of eternity. What was once considered unimportant becomes all important and what once seemed important now is unworthy of attention.

Philippians 3:7-8 (NLT)
7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 
8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 

Living in the light of eternity will cause your values to change. Relationships and character become of greatest importance.

How you face circumstances…
What goals we have…
What we do with time…
How we spend our money…
…will all be markedly different because of our understanding of eternity.

If this life on earth is all there is then you really have no reason to do anything to stop you from “living it up.” You would not have to worry with consequences. Selfish, self centered living would be completely acceptable.

But this life is not all there is. Death is not your termination but is a transition. There are eternal consequences to everything you do. What you do here will be faced there.

1. How does knowing that you will live forever change the way you approach life now?

2. How are you preparing for eternity?

The Sexual Revolution Continues

Check this out: Calvin Klein ‘threesome’ billboard in SoHo too sexy, say some

Let me get this straight… a picture that gives the impression that a very young lady is having relations with not just one but three guys may be too “sexy?”  I can’t even fathom that the issue is even danced around in these terms. This is totally irresponsible. I think it is criminal.

And our answer to teen pregnancy and STD epidemics is condoms and sex ed. What are we doing to our youth? God help us!

BroJesse