From the desk of Pastor Dave
Years ago I read a book that absolutely changed my thinking about walking with God in daily life. It was a book by E. Stanley Jones called the “Unshakable Kingdom and Unchanging person”.
The main thought of the book was the fact that revival comes in the heart when a person grasps the concept or revelation that the Kingdom of God is not just an “Ideal”, but real. How simple yet profound! Most people believe in God (and Jesus), but in our culture, He is an ideal, not real in their lives. They don’t live moment by moment considering God’s position on the matters of life and decisions they are making.
Luke 17:26-36
26 And as it was in the days of Noah , so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 “In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. 36 Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.” NKJV
Matthew 24:37-39
37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. NKJV
In Matthew’s rendering it says, “they did not know until the flood came”. I don’t want to wait until I am drowning to find out the water is real!
The difference between something being real or ideal in your life can be reduced down to simple obedience. You will obey what you really believe. There is a difference between acknowledging something and obeying it. Most of society acknowledges God… movie stars and sports heroes thank Him after their victories, politicians mention Him in their speeches, but how many actually govern their daily moments in life by His word and power?
How many people do you know who attend weekly church services and live carnally throughout their lives? I’m amazed at the politicians who demand the right to kill babies and redefine marriage, but also call themselves Christians! I want to live every moment of every day as if Jesus is coming in the next moment.
The wise preacher said it best, Live like He is coming today and plan as if He’s not coming for a thousand years. Wise words indeed. Oh He is coming, and it’s closer than yesterday. Will it be in my lifetime? I don’t know but I want to live ready!
Luke 12:35-48
35 “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; 36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 38 And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” 41 Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. 45 But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. NKJV
The time of revival is now! I hope you are availing yourself to the times of Revival in our church this week! The best encounters are yet to come!
Amen!
- Date - January 26, 2022
- Author - David Chisholm
