2 Chronicles 7:13-14
Without question, even on a precursory level, as one picks up the history books and begins to read the accounts of past revival, you will be met with a common pattern again and again. Before the sound of the mighty rushing wind, the prayers of God’s people were heard! “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:1-2). What were they doing gathered together with one accord in one place? The same thing they were doing previous to this, “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren” (Acts 1:14). The first business of the first Church of Jesus Christ was prayer!! Quite literally, the Church was birthed in prayer. When they hit upon hard times, they didn’t gather to deliberate and strategise, they held a prayer meeting and poured out their hearts to God!
Search the history books and show me revival which was not preceded by prayer, I know of none! May God be pleased to stir your hearts through this third sermon part to the end that you might seek His face in prayer to see a heaven sent revival in our day.
Acts 2:37-38
Before every divine visitation, God begins to awaken the consciences of His people first to the possibility of revival, and secondly to the need for revival. How can a thirst for revival begin in the hearts of God’s people unless there is a conviction that such a work of God is even for today? Perhaps the greatest hindrance to God sending revival amongst the so-called remnant Church in this land is the sin of unbelief. Simply put, we do not believe that such a work of revival is possible today. Just mention the word “revival” and with a disheartened look of disapproval, you will be pointed to the headline news which daily announces the moral and spiritual decadence of our nation. But look, Biblically and historically, revival has always come out of moral lows. When God’s people get burdened over the spiritual rot in their own lives and the lives of those around them, then they begin to cry out to God if perhaps He might do something about it!!!
This sermon is part 2 of a 3-part mini-series, looking at revival.
Acts 2:37-38
My dear Brothers and Sisters, you don’t need me to tell you that we are living in a dry and thirsty land! A land that once flowed with milk and honey is now a barren wasteland. Once the Church of Jesus Christ stood as a bastion of faithfulness and a pillar of truth decrying the spiritual bankruptcy of a fallen world. Once it stood as a blazing lighthouse, warning the wicked of their pending danger, guiding them into the Gospel harbour of saving grace. But now? Now it has made the world its bed-fellow, drinking from the same polluted cisterns, and eating from the same soiled troughs. Rather than it being the “ekklesia” - the salt and light of the earth, the Church of Jesus Christ has joined hands with the world and is marching in sync to the same humdrum tune. Horatius Bonar - that great Scottish light; in a day when giants still roamed the land, summed it up so well when he said; “I looked for the Church and I found it in the world; I looked for the world and I found it in the Church”. If that could be said 150 years ago, what can be said of this generation? Let’s just be honest, spiritual indifference plagues the Church! The Word of God has been side-stepped, the prayer meetings abandoned, the pursuit of holiness replaced with the pursuit of pleasure, and godly discipline has given way to entertainment. Where’s the brokenness? Where’s the mourning? Where’s the sorrow over sin? My dear people, I ask you in earnest, what are we to do? By what means shall we recover to ourselves this dying corpse? Without hesitation I tell you; there’s only one hope for this backslidden nation and the dying Church that lingers within it. REVIVAL!!
This sermon is part 1 of a 3-part mini-series, looking at revival.
Luke 15:11-32
Jason Wright brings an expository exposition of a parable that is so well-known to all of us. May the Lord bless you as you hear the heart of our Heavenly Father!
Exodus 40:33-38
If I were to ask you to tell me what the single greatest glory was attending the children of Israel as they wandered in the wilderness, I wonder what answer you would give? Would it be the miraculous wonders — fresh manna by morning; the rock which was clave in two? Would it be the glory of the gold which adorned the holy furniture in the tent of the congregation? Would it be the precious stones that decorated Aaron’s breastplate or the two that rested upon his shoulders? I’ve no doubt that each of these glories were wonders to behold, yet the glory that I have in mind exceeds the splendour of each of these as heaven exceeds the glory of the earth!! You say, Brother, tell me, what is in your opinion, the single greatest glory that for 40 years attended the children of Israel as they wandered in the wilderness? Without question, it was the pillar of cloud that led them by day and the pillar of fire that led them by night! Brothers and Sisters, the single greatest glory that attended the children of Israel in their wandering journeyings was the very presence of God in their midst, leading them in the way that they should go!
Tell me, in this dispensation of grace has anything changed? Doth not He that led His people then, still lead His people now? Ah, the visible column of cloud and fire might no longer be visible but does that mean that He no longer leads His people? He leads, the question is, will His people obey?
Philippians 3:12-15
As each of you begins this New Year, I wonder this morning how much of 2023 you’ve allowed to stick? How much of last year has come across as unwanted baggage into this year? Do you know that for many a soul, their future has been mapped already for them by events that lie in the past? The child who all their life was told, you’ll amount to nothing finds that those wretched words follow them into adulthood!! The infant that falls from a tree and breaks a leg, in their later years rediscovers that old injury as it returns to bite with vengeance!! I’m no skeptic, but the facts on this one speak for themselves!! To a large extent tomorrow’s future is shaped by yesterday's past; this year by the years preceding it, Brethren, if we’re not careful, we can become victims of past failings, prisoners of yesterday’s woes — serving a sentence that we’ve allowed to be imposed upon us when the text of this Holy Book states that Christ came to set us free!
This sermon is a call to leave the past behind and to reach forward to those things that lie before!
Jeremiah 5:31
Many today are happy to live in an echo chamber where the only narrative they ever encounter is the one they want to hear. You all know what an echo chamber is, don’t you? Have you ever shouted from inside a cave? What do you hear back? More of the same!! That’s an echo chamber, and Brethren, if we’re not careful we can find ourselves living in one!!
This sermon is an earnest call for Christians to walk in truth and reality with God. As I begin a New Year, the desire of my heart more than ever is that I might deal honestly with the One who deals honestly with me!! Lord, if my heart’s not right, I want to know!!! If my heart’s motivations are jaded, Lord reprove me! If I’m veering off track, show me O Lord!!!
Hebrews 4:12
Once upon a time the preacher hastened fearlessly to climb the stairs of the pulpit, burdened with a message from heaven, armed in hand with a open Bible. Book, chapter and verse was his modus operandi and for the unction of God He pleaded!! Brothers and Sisters, it is the last part of this statement that has become my soul’s burden over the last number of years — O for the unction of God upon the Word!!! It is simply not enough to have the letter of the Word, we need the Word and the Spirit. The preaching of God’s Word in the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit. Paul understood this and saw the mighty effects of it in Thessalonica. What does he say? “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power (Lit. force), and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake” (1 Thess. 1:5).
This sermon is a plea to surrender! A call to yield! “Today if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts”
Overcoming the Fear of Man – Paul M. Williams
Proverbs 29:25
There are over 500 recognised phobias in our world today For the most part, the fears that we experience as we walk through life are not good. Rather than serving to be of benefit to us, they serve to be a hindrance. Of all the fears I could list that are common to man, there is one fear in particular that has proved to be his downfall repeatedly. You say, Brother Paul, what is this fear? It is the fear of man!!! King Solomon writing some 3000 years ago put it like this; “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe” (Prov. 29:25).
In this sermon, we look at how to overcome the fear of man.
Genesis 12:1-4
It would seem on paper that man has more time on his hands than ever he had since time began. Please don’t misunderstand me, there are no more hours in a day — the same 24 that have always been are the same 24 available today — yet the sheer amount of what can be accomplished in a single hour is breathtaking!! One study concluded that modern technology is saving the average man, two weeks each year!! Despite all the innovations and successes in technological breakthroughs, give a man an extra hour you can guarantee, he’ll find something to do with it and thus what you find is rather than becoming less busy, society becomes more busy.
On every hand, I find myself having to fight to preserve what matters most in life. There are ONLY 24 hours in a day and if you have not got a priority for what matters most in your life you will be swallowed up by the system and spat out ruined!