Post Revival Thoughts

We are grateful for the messages brought by Brother Danny Fudge, Missionary to Omaha, Nebraska.  The messages from God's Word were boldly proclaimed and in time, we will see if they bring about the fruit of real revival.  What is the fruit of revival?  Restoration and a reinvigorated commitment to the Lord resulting in real life change and transformation.  The fruit is also seen by lost people coming to Christ as a result of the impact upon the church.  That is because true revival is transformational to individuals, families, churches and communities.  Real revival endures.   Bible precedents reveal that the generation that experiences genuine revival sees the impact and effect of revival throughout their life time.  In other words, real revival isn’t transitory but lasting; reaching, influencing and  impacting generations.  So what took place at LBC?  We've yet to see the lasting impact but this we do know.  We enjoyed the fellowship of God’s Spirit as well as that of His people.  We heard the Word of God boldly proclaimed, and witnessed people responding to the Spirit.  Praise God for His immeasurable goodness!

From My Heart to Yours

God has, in Christ, provided not only for our forgiveness and redemption; but also for all essential to fulfill our purpose for the Kingdom Work.  God wants to be glorified in us.  As we abide in Him and in His Word, He makes us to be fruitful so that we become a living testimony to His love and grace.  Paul prays that the church at Ephesus might come to know more fully God’s grace, love, strength and knowledge. In essence, he prays that they might come to a fullness of God that will empower and enable them to do even beyond all that they can imagine.  Could it be that we have a myopic view for what God can do here at LBC and in the Anderson area?  God’s desire is that He might receive honor and glory in us and through us as we obediently and submissively trust and follow Him.  God has provided all that is needed.  We must be willing to trust Him and obediently follow His leading.

From My Heart to Yours

We can not live a Christian life in our strength, but only in the strength of Christ who is the Vine.  All necessary for life and fruitfulness is provided through Him.  There are times that I make the attempt to do the work of God in my strength and find myself discouraged and dissuaded rather quickly.  Despondency and despair attack many believers who strive to do God’s work and fulfill God’s purpose in their own wisdom, ability and power.  Paul reminds us that it is Christ who strengthens us; that the life we now live as Christians we are to live by the faith of Christ and in the power of Christ.  Revival is a work of God and if we are to realize it, then we must position ourselves to receive it and wait upon God to deliver it in His time and for His glory and purpose.  Love, joy and peace are to epitomize the attitude and life of the believer, but sin that is not confessed, or self dependency rather than God dependency will rob us of them.  

From My Heart to Yours

Too many are living under the influence of the flesh rather than the influence of the Spirit.  But what does that mean?  We’ve been talking about the need for Revival; praying that God will graciously send it down to us.  Yet too often we look for Revival without meeting the conditions.  Those conditions are spelled out for us in the Word of God.  We use that phrase quite often, but our actions often reveal an unwillingness to heed.  We hear what God is saying, but are we really listening.  Jesus told the religious leaders of His day that they were reading but not heeding the Word of God.  Daily reading and memorization are commendable, but useless unless we take their teaching to heart and make the life application.  The Bible is God’s Holy Word, and we need to be listening to what it is saying to the intent of putting it into action in our lives.  Until we are ready to do that, revival won't be realized. 

From My Heart to Yours... Sept. 25, 2011

It’s about priorities.  In a day when each of us is so busy, we are tempted often to think that busyness is unique to this generation.  And I’m sure that with all that we today can fill our day with, it would seem that this is true.  Yet the Patriarchs had twenty-four hours, just as we do today.  It’s not a matter of needing more time; it’s a matter of management and priority.  Jesus is calling the lost to be saved, and the saved to follow Him into the fields.  Even during the time of His earthly ministry, Jesus sought those who would faithfully follow Him into the Father’s work; to go into the field of the world with the message of God’s love for all mankind.  Then as now, there were many who gave reasons as to why they could not follow at that time.  There were those that desired to follow, but the priorities in their lives were obstacles to their immediate obedience.  The offer to follow and serve is still presented to those who will hear and heed it.  We pray for Revival, but revival, if God chooses to send it, causes us to reflect and reprioritize our life and seek His will above our will.   It calls us to submissive obedience by deferring our will to His.

September 18th 2011

From My Heart to Yours:  It isn’t hard to find hurting people in a world that is struggling on several levels.  Recent disasters and economic upheavals have people seeking for answers and peace.  Jesus came at a such a time.  The prophet Isaiah stated that the people that walked in darkness, in the shadow of death would see the light of the promised Messiah.  Today, people are looking for that light.  Jesus is the one who offers not only forgiveness, but love, peace and joy.  The world is crying out for answers, and Jesus is that answer.  We as a church need to be engaged in the work of the Great Commission.  We need to understand and realize all that we have in Christ, and then to be ready to share it with a world desperate to hear.  Our prayers for Revival are offered to place us in the position to receive it so that we can in turn, share it with those around us.  In a time of uncertainty, they need to hear of the unfailing, unchanging and loving God that seeks to save.  In a world that seems to be running from God, it is time that we stand in the gap and point them to Christ.  God is calling out, inviting us to look to Him; to come to Him and find peace, joy and rest.  Won’t you join Him to get the message out to a world desperate for Him?

From My Heart to Yours.  We as a nation are remembering the tragic events of ten years ago; when our nation was attacked by terrorists.  We want to commemorate the fallen.  Many of those who died were first responders, and the heroic passengers of Flight 93 who thwarted the efforts of the terrorist who had taken over control of the plane and kept them from hitting their target.  We very much want to respect their efforts and honor their lives.  Yet I find it puzzling that while we want to make effort to honor them, many have chosen to refuse clergymen and prayer to be a part of that effort.  The terrorist were acting on a misguided and mistaken faith that led them to take innocent lives in the name of their God.  Many were inspired by the cross made up of the twisted steel of what used to be the World Trade Center.  For the past ten years, our nation has been at war on various fronts.  As a church, we pray for our troops and for victory.  Our nation has also been in the midst of a serious economic downturn and as a church; we pray that things turn around so that the millions out of work and hurting will once again find their footing.  Yet our nation and some of her leaders choose to limit or restrict the people to pray in the name of Jesus.  So we as a church pray for our nation and her leaders.  We pray that they may they come to know Him and heed His Word and lead us according to His truth.

August 28 From My Heart to Yours...

We live in a day when we might just well quantify it as a mess; a moral, economic, societal mess that transcends borders to make it pandemic.  It is a pandemic mess!  And it is obvious that much of the world is antagonistic toward the message of Christ.  Why?  Because the gospel message of Christ transforms people and therefore, societies and cultures.  Those in power who embrace culture and traditions that empower them are not giving them up easily.  When the gospel turned the city upside down, the Silversmith Union rose up opposing Paul and the message.  When Peter healed the cripple and the city of Jerusalem was being turned upside down by the events of the cross and subsequent resurrection, the religious leaders opposed the apostles.  Rome opposed Christianity as well, as have countless other religions and pseudo Christian imposters who in the name of Christ or God became totalitarian and persecuted all who opposed their rule.  Yet today as then, God empowers and emboldens His people for the task to which He has called them.  As the early church prayed for boldness, so too we can pray for a fresh boldness and empowering of God’s Spirit to fulfill God’s purpose for us.

August 21 From My Heart to Yours...

Repentance and faith in Jesus Christ brings us to the place of forgiveness, salvation and eternal life. Repentance is also what is needed when we find ourselves in a desperate need for Revival and Restoration.  The problem too often is pride or selfish indulgence. Jesus in John 3:19-20 states; “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”   Some then refuse to repent and come to Christ because they embrace the sin in their life rather than turn from it.  Others refuse to admit their offence and choose to ignore it or rationalize it rather than confess it.  Salvation, restoration and revival come when we are willing to admit or confess our sin and turn to God.  Admitting our need and our guilt are necessary steps; they can’t be avoided or substituted with something religious or noble.  That places the problem in the realm of human pride.  If we truly seek to experience revival, then we must be willing to take the steps God has established in order to receive it from His hand.

August 14, 2011

Israel is God’s chosen nation.  Through this nation God has fulfilled and will fulfill His covenants.  Through Israel He has blessed and revealed Himself to all humanity in the promise of a Savior.  That promise was fulfilled in the Person of Jesus Christ and ratified by the blood He shed on the cross for our sin.  His death purchased our redemption and His resurrection secured our justification before God.   The Messiah has come from Israel, fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament.  Jesus was the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant that stated that his seed would be the source of blessing to all people in the entire world.


Jehovah God established the national covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai during their journey to the Land of Promise.  Israel was to be the nation God would use to reveal and preserve His Word.  It was also where He would place His throne in the capital city of Jerusalem, fulfilling the Davidic Covenant.  God promised to bless Israel and protect them.  He promised to provide for them too.  The nation of Israel would forever hold a special place and purpose in God's heart and plan.  They were and are a blessed nation indeed!


Despite all that God had done for them in choosing them, providing for them and protecting them from their enemies, the nation made the decision to replace God Him with false gods of their own making.  This happened in the days of the Old Testament prophets.  Jeremiah 2:13 states "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns,  broken cisterns, that can hold no water."  As a result, the relationship went from one of joy and fellowship, to one of grief and judgment.  When we see this nation, we shake our heads in wonder.  Yet just like the nation of Israel, there are many who through faith in Christ have entered into a personal relationship with God.  It too is a covenant relationship.  Yet it seems that there are many who forsake their love and loyalty to Christ, a relationship made possible by His death upon Calvary, to indulge themselves in other passions and pursuits; to follow after gods of their own making.  In light of Calvary’s cross, is this not also something to cause us to wonder?  Let’s examine our relationship to God and renew our commitment to Him.  Let us not repeat Israel’s error, but stay true to Him Who loved us and saved us from our sin by becoming our Substitute.  He is deserving of our love and our loyalty.  Lord send a revival!  

Called and Sent

 Nationally, we are in the grips of a battle for the soul of America; an ideological battle that is driven by passion on each side.  We see that in the fiscal debate that has taken center stage in our nation.  But what is at stake is more than just our economic well being as a nation, but our national moral and spiritual well being as well.  Adam’s race always seeks to do what they consider right in their eyes.  The problem is that we are not all wise and all knowing.  People ought to seek out God who is all of that and more.  That He has our best interest at heart is seen in the fact that He has sent prophets and teachers to show us the way; and in the end, He sent His Son to make the way.  It is His passion and purpose to save us from ourselves.  If we are to prosper, then we must seek and apply His wisdom and walk in His way.  That God is all knowing is seen in His call of Jeremiah.  It is a call we see in the lives of others in Scripture whom God chooses to use to reach the lost of humanity, and to right the course of a nation. 

Reformation or Transformation?

Reformation is not necessarily indicative of real Transformation.  You can have a semblance of a reform but it is a pseudo reformation and not real transformation.  But where you can have a semblance of reform without real transformation, you can’t have real transformation without reform.  Jesus within our hearts will always manifest outwardly through life reformation.  Too many today try to reform without the transformation that comes from knowing Christ.  They try to squeeze themselves into the norm of the Christian form but never truly succeed.  For that reason, Jesus will say to them, “Depart from me workers of iniquity for I never knew you.  (Emphasis mine)   We have all seen many that have made a profession of faith only to see them falter and quit.  Some even go so far as to renounce their faith altogether.  These were never really saved at all, but merely sought to have reformation of their life and situation apart from the real transforming power of God that comes by faith in Christ and the enabling presence of the Holy Spirit.  Are you transformed or merely reformed?

April 10th From My Heart to Yours...

What a great day to worship the Lord.  Too often we lose sight of the awe and wonder of worship.  Consider that the God of all Creation become a man and died for you and me.  He rose again, purchasing and procuring our salvation and redemption and is preparing a place for us in Heaven to be with Him.  Now that is reason to Worship; that is reason to Praise! 

This coming Sunday celebrates what was the Triumphal Entry.  As the nation heralded the coming of the Messiah the religious leaders told Jesus to command that He stop them from shouting and carrying on so.  Jesus replied that if the crowds hushed their hosanah's, that the very rocks would cry out.  Why is that?  Because this was the fulfillment of a prophecy we find in Zechariah 9:9.  It was a sign given to identify and authenticate that He was indeed that Messiah that would come.  John the Baptist proclaimed Him to be the Son that takes away the sin of the world.  The message of Easter is about the King of Kings who came to die as a sacrifice and payment for the sins of all humanity.  His resurrection is the basis for our justifcation and redemption.  This is why we sing and celebrate Easter.

We are preparing for Friend Day on April 17^th.  I hope that you are inviting all your family, friends, fellow students and coworkers to join us.  Begin even now to pray that this outreach will result in people being saved and encouraged to serve the Lord.  

Be Transformed...

We come to that time of year when we make resolutions to become better people.  We strive to be better in health, better in our mindset and attitude as well as in our relationships and citizenship.  We want to change our ways.  The problem is that we see a need for conformity to our plan of action.  But conformation, bringing the process of one thing into accord with another, isn’t what we’re to strive to achieve.  Rather it is transformation that is needed.  Conforming is outward whereas transformation is an inward process.  The caterpillar changes because of its inward makeup, not because it makes a willful decision to look like a butterfly and be the butterfly.  As Christians, we are born again, or anew.  We are a new creation and the Holy Spirit begins our transformation into Christ likeness.  That’s what real faith does.  It leads us from just outward show and conformity, to transformation; a metamorphous into something different.  We need to make sure that we aren’t getting in the way of the Spirit’s work by resisting or quenching the Spirit.  We are to submit to the transformation; this work of God in us that brings us to look, think, and act like Christ. 

A Ready Faith

Many desire to be used of God in order to make a difference. The problem is that we get bored with waiting or fearful when confronted with a daunting task or situation. When we look in the Bible at the people God used to make a difference and impact the world for Him, we see commonalities. We see unquestionable faith, reliance and sub-mission to His leadership and will for their lives. People like Joseph, Daniel, the servant girl who told her master about the prophet that could heal his leprosy; or a slave who became a Prince of Egypt who would later reject that path to follow God’s plan to lead Israel from bondage. Moses became a great leader, but not without heartache or ruin. If we want to have that kind of influence upon the world for Christ, then it means having a focused faith as well as a courageous walk. It also means to be alert and aware of opportunities to step up when called. We, as servants, need to be ready.


VERSE OF THE WEEK:  My Heart is fixed, O God, My heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise!  Psalm 57:7

Share the Christmas Message

The Christmas message is one of hope and joy. God has provided the means and way of salvation. What sinful man could not do, God has done. He has provided the means and way to Heaven through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is good news indeed. Had He left us in the state in which we were, then there would be no hope of eternal life; no hope of Heaven. But because God took upon Himself our sins, He has redeemed us and forgiven us from our sins. When we trust Jesus and claim Him as Savior, we are forgiven and headed for Heaven. The proclamation is to go out. Just as the angels sang the night that Jesus was born, so too are we to sing out the message and praise of salvation. God invites us to come to Him; the angels of God beckon we come to Him and we who are saved are to call out to the lost that they might consider and turn to Him. How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!



VERSE OF THE WEEK  The Lord hath laid bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.  

Isaiah 52:10

Be Proactive: Taking it from the Pew to our Place of Influence

We looked at the unspeakable gift of God last week and discovered that it was to be the foundation and basis for our life and giving.  We are to mirror the grace of God and His desire to reach out to those in need.  Although we do not have the resources to feed all the hungry or to give to all the poor and needy, we do have it in our capacity to help one.  And in helping the one, we can make a difference in that one’s life which results in rebounding, resounding praise to the Father.  As we look deeper into the Gift that is Christmas today, we need to reflect upon just who that Baby was, born just over 2000 years ago in a small town just outside of Jerusalem.  That night, God’s Love was made manifest, and the good news was shared with shepherds and kings.  What was His purpose?  His purpose was and is to save us from our sins and sins consequence.  This is the reason we celebrate His birth.  This is the reason we sing.  Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners!  Hallelujah, I’m saved; forgiven, and redeemed.  Praise God!  Sing!  Let all that has breath, give praise!

The Motivation for Giving

We call this season, the season of giving.  This isn’t because of the exchanging of gifts; that is what it has come to mean.  The “Spirit of Giving” comes from a loving and merciful God who gave His only Son.  Apart from that gift, there would be no salvation; there would be no peace or joy; there would be no evidence of goodwill but only holy and righteous judgment from a Holy and Righteous Judge.  That God cared enough, loved enough to sacrifice Himself is testimony of His love and compassion for us.  Judicial holiness must be satisfied and that satisfaction came at the sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross.  That is why this is the season of giving.  And although there are many people and things that detract our attention away from such focus, the reality is that the focus of the season is Christ, God’s wonderful and priceless gift to humanity.  It is our responsibility to take and share this gift with the world.  It’s amazing that as Jesus looked unto fields full of ripe grain, His prayer was not for the harvest, but for laborers.  God is calling us to work with Him in sharing His love to a lost and dying world.  Let’s get busy being about sharing Christmas.

One Tree; One Light; One Gift

A hindrance to growth we’ve found is an apathy or antagonism toward God and His purpose and will for our life.  That apathy or antagonism can be combated with an appropriate view toward the Gift’s God bestows upon us.  It begins with salvation, but continues though the sealing and gifting of the Holy Spirit and the sure hope that sustains us through tough times.  There are many who are searching for peach and purpose.  True peace and purpose can only be found in Christ.  Many are focused on the purchasing of gifts and deals proffered by the many stores offering discounts and sales.  But none compare to the gift of Christ.  Christmas is about One Tree, One Light, and One Gift.  As we go about this busy time of year, giving and exchanging of gifts, let us reflect with an attitude of gratitude for that One gift.  It is that gift that is to impact and direct or living and our giving.  Paul reminded the church at Corinth about that truth.  This season is a time to focus on that unspeakable gift; Jesus.  Through Him we have forgiveness, redemption and salvation.  It came at a great cost paid upon a rough tree, wrapped in grace and love.

Independance versus Ultradependence

One of the greatest hindrances to our growth, to fulfilling our purpose and renewing our passion is a mindset of independence.  We were woefully inadequate and impotent when it came to saving ourselves.  Only God could accomplish that.  We are also woefully inadequate in our own strength to grow and serve God apart from Him.  Jesus said that apart from Him we can do nothing.  (John 15:5)  So why is it that we seem to pride ourselves on our independence?  What we need, individually and corporately, is ultradependence upon God.  We need to move away from self-centered thinking and power, to a focus on the Holy Spirit and His enabling and empowering work.  It is God that works in us to will and to do His Will.  (Phil 2:13).  So it behooves us to follow the leadership of His Spirit.  But too often, rather than obediently following, we resist; and it is that resistance to the Holy Spirit that causes not growth, but spiritual atrophy.  If we would grow and serve God, then we must listen to His voice and follow His direction, both individually and as a church.