Revival in Indonesia 1964

As we pray for Revival in Ireland I am inspired by both scripture and the history of the church.
Lord send a revival.


Colossians 1 : 8-12

8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

The church was in decline, so the people started to pray...and the Spirit moved. 

The Presbytery in Timor examined the impact of revival on their nation in the first year; between 1964 and 1965, they found that:

• 80,000 people were converted to Christ; 40,000 were previously Communists and the rest were heathen
• Some 15,000 had been permanently healed
• Church attendance grew phenomenally, some churches which only had 30 people attending their Sunday service experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and had congregational growth of up to 500
• A wave of repentance and sanctification swept through the former waning church.
• More the 100,000 idols had been brought out by repentant people and destroyed.

What a contrast to the previous year! In 1963 congregations complained when the Pastor/Minister preached for more than 2 hours. However during the revival, Christians did not allow some pastors to leave the pulpit until they preached for 7 or 8 hours in a stretch. 

Christians in Revival lost all sense of time, hunger, and thirst, and the value of money. The first year of the revival saw the birth of 72 evangelism teams that a travelled throughout the area preaching the Gospel and equipping others in evangelism. Yet they received with little or no financial help.  Class divisions faded. At the end of the third year of revival, those who were converted had risen to over 200,000. 

Here's a wee story from the revival:

Another interesting conversion is that of a radical Muslim youth who participated in acts of terrorism. One day, he smashed the windows of a church as well as the windows of its minister’s house. When the minister did nothing to retaliate, the youth asked the minister why. The pastor answered, “God loves you and therefore we love you too. Christians don’t repay evil with evil!” 17 The youth was stunned by the response and, sometime afterwards, purchased a Bible. He wanted to be able to refute both the Bible and Christian faith. However, instead of refuting Christian faith, he converted to it. He changed his name to Timothy and began telling his friends about his new faith. He enrolled in the Bible College in East Java and, upon completion, left to do missionary work on the island of Sumatra.

God answered their prayers and brought a great victory in Jesus name.

'Lord God of heaven and earth, send such a revival to Ireland.'

Jesus is the hope of the World.

Jesus is the hope of the world.

Not your church, not your denomination, not your tribe, not your strategy, not your home group and not your amazing way of getting everybody to follow you. 

Jesus is the hope of the world. Get that wrong and you are stuffed! Put your hope in anything other than the resurrected Jesus Christ and you will be disappointed. People will let you down, church will let you down, denominations will let you down, but Jesus will never let you down. 

Everything around us changes. People change, projects change, worship songs will change, that model of church will change but Jesus does not change.

Hope can be a dangerous thing when we pin it to the wrong things. Unexpected disappointments come, unfulfilled dreams and deep hurts rise because our hope was not anchored.

Now we can hope in a lot of things and sometimes those things will disappoint us but you and I can have a confident hope... indeed today we can rejoice in this confidence hope..

‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.’ 1Pet 1:3

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the HOPE of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.’ Rom 5 1-5 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Rom 15:13 

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12 

So today make him your cornerstone nothing else.

I don’t preach church, I preach Christ. 

HE IS THE HOPE OF THE WORLD.

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

But wholly trust in Jesus' name

Christ alone; cornerstone

Weak made strong; in the Saviour's love

Through the storm, He is Lord

Lord of all

When Darkness seems to hide His face

I rest on His unchanging grace

In every high and stormy gale

My anchor holds within the veil

My anchor holds within the veil

A brief personal reflection on Reformation day

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10210671660044057&set=a.4868935797650.1073741825.1124988481&type=3

#reformation500 #reformation #reformationday. 

Today I will reflect upon my own personal reformation, celebrate the faith, mourn the divisions within Christianity and hope for a new reformation. 

The Reformation contributed significantly to the end of medieval Christendom and sparked reforms that are foundational to Protestant traditions and modern Catholicism. That we must all celebrate.

I have a dream; that the church may be one. That all those who know and love the Lord can share communion together. Until that day we must mourn. ‘I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.’ John 17:22. 

‘I think that the intentions of Martin Luther were not mistaken. He was a reformer... he made a medicine for the Church.’ #PopeFrancis 

We would all do well to drink that medicine again. We should reflect upon and hammer that thesis upon our minds. 

Finally, today I will hope for a day when His church #Catholic (Universal) is filled with both the word and Spirit.

#maranatha 

#solascriptura📖 #soladeogloria #solafide #solachristus #solagratia

Amazing Iceland for the World Cup!

Thought for the day:

For a moment forget the #GAWA

Iceland became the smallest nation ever to progress to a World Cup after beating Kosovo to win their qualifying group for Russia 2018. They have a population the size of Belfast!

Yip, about 335,000ppl.

How does that happen?

Let me give 5 reasons:

They show fierce loyalty to their country with T.V viewing figures watching the national team is one of the highest percentages in the world. 

They have the shortest football season in the world. Allowing players to rest and recover.

Over 110 Icelandic schools have artificial mini-fields  , 7  having indoor pitches. (My sons primary school in Belfast didn’t even have grass to play on!)

From as young at 6 years of age the children are coached by qualified paid coaches.

They don’t play football for fun so much as play to win. They are very competitive and passionate about sport.

Let sum that up:

loyalty, avoid burnout, provide excellent facilities, invest in their young people and passionate about what they do. 

Flip! You could plant a church on those principles! 

Reflection: your church may be small numerically  (so is Iceland) but imagine what you can do if you invest in what you have.

Well done #Iceland.

Not thinking, not feeling, not doing; but being.

Many people believe that if they invest their years improving how they think, how they feel and what they do life will be better.  For the christian however,  it goes much deeper than this. It’s about who we are. Our thoughts, feelings and actions are important but they do not define us. We are defined by who we are...the reality that we are created in the image of God, broken yet reborn through amazing grace.

Once you begin new life with your identity found in Jesus Christ; perspectives change. It’s not so much about the number of years we live on the earth but how we live them in light of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Most evenings as I drift off to sleep I pray a short simple prayer and give thanks for my family. I will then pray these words ‘Lord use me or take me home.’ Those 7 words are a frightening yet potent prayer. In truth some evenings I think, if I were God I’d just bring me home! There are better people for the task than me. I’m not doing a very good job... yet each morning as I awake my spine stiffens. The Lord has kept me alive for a reason. I’m alive in Him and this truth propels me forward in confidence to finish the mission and fulfil the upward call. The very creator of the universe has answers my prayer and chosen to keep me alive for a purpose.

Some years ago I decided to build my life around three purposes. They help me to focus on clear objectives each day:

1, To accelerate the mission of God.

2, To give my family the best experience possible.

3, To keep myself reasonably fit. 

Today I will set these before me once again. Remembering that what I think, feel or do does not define me or measure my success; It’s about being. I am alive in Christ Jesus. 

My pray for each of you is that you will enter into the truth and knowledge of Jesus Christ and be found in him. 

Psalm 139

1 You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. 5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. 13 For you

The Christian Church in action

The Christian Church in action

If I had the money to fund and co-direct a movie it would be on this glorious topic. It would be an alarming contrast to the pathetic atheistic world-view that all religion is poisonous. 

Truth: The Christian church is the unsung hero again, and again and again.

This morning at 5am the first e-mail of the day arrives in my inbox. From Fire Fighters for Christ calling for a second emergency response team to Hurricane Harvey relief. These teams are formed from firefighters around the world who assist after earthquakes, hurricanes and other emergencies. By 8am I had further 2 e-mails giving updates on christian aid around the world. 

Indeed if we took time to look at the response of the church and christian mission both historically and now we would be astonished at the immense difference it makes.

The church (universal) is the biggest operation in the world. It has more ‘outlets’ that any other organisation and continues to be the major source of social services like schooling, medical care, disaster relief, food and water aid and moral and spiritual wellbeing.

It is estimated that the Christian church gives $45 billion to oversees mission and aid each year, not to mention the  local support in summer clubs, drop-in cafe’s etc. 

In the U.K even a brief look at the incredible impact and support of para-church organisations such as FOODBANK (who gave out over 1 million emergency food parcels last year) and CAP (who help over 20,000 people each year with free debt help, job clubs etc) lets us see what a remarkable community for good the church is. 

For those who feel the world would be a better place without the church: think again. The Church feeds more hungry people, cared for more orphans, frees more slaves, opens more water wells, visits more sick people than any organisation in the world.

Though chaplaincy support in prisons, universities, sport, military, schooling, emergency services etc the church offers support and wellbeing to billions; yes billions of people around the world.

Importantly we encourage, educate, mobilise and inspire a whole new generation of young people to help those in need. In our own ministry (Crown Jesus), we have inspired young people who responded by giving tens of thousands to feed the hungry, support anti-slavery, sponsor children in poverty, dig water wells, set up small business in the rural villages in India etc.

How many young Christians from Northern Ireland served communities at home and around the world in the summer months? I would suggest 10,000 and more! 

Recent research (Wilson and Csikszentmihalyi) States that on average, religious believers are more social, feel better about themselves, use their time more constructively,  engage in long term planning better that non-believers. On a moment by moment basis, they report to being more happy, active, sociable and involved. 

On a humorous note Christians tend to have more children than atheists (doesn't bode well for their evolutionary theory that the strongest survive).

Additionally in his book ‘Is faith Delusional?’, Professor Andrew Sims states ‘The advantageous effects of religious belief is one of the best-kept secrets in psychiatry and medicine generally. If the findings of the huge volume of research on this topic had gone in the opposite direction and it had been found that religion damages your health, it would have been front page news in every newspaper in the land. 

The effects of the christian church is continually correlated with well-being, happiness, life-satisfaction, hope and optimism, purpose and meaning of life, higher self-esteem, better adaption to bereavement, greater social support, less loneliness, Lower rates of depression, faster recovery from depression, lower rates of suicide, less anxiety, less psychosis, lower raters of alcohol and drug use, less delinquency and criminal activity and greater marital stability. 

That doesn't sound like lazy, self indulging, manipulative trouble makers that would be better off in the history books? 

In closing: 

Two points: 

1, The church isn't perfect: It’s made up of imperfect people who have made terrible mistakes (I’ve mentioned this in a recent post) and there is no defence. But lets be clear: The Christian church when it follows the teaching of Jesus does an immense amount of good. 

2, I didn’t become as christian to join a social revolution. I become a christian because a believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died on the cross for my sin and through believing in Him I can be born again finding meaning and purpose in life.  Almost 25 years on I am more convinced than ever that Jesus is the son of God and immensely blessed to be part of His local church. 

Truth: My faith in Jesus is not motivated by me getting from earth to heaven but bringing heaven to earth.

Jesus Christ calls the Church to action. Let’s finish the mission!

It's Friday but Sunday's coming.

It’s Friday, Jesus is arrested in the garden where He was praying. But Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday, the disciples are hiding, Peter is denying, Judas is betraying. But Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday, Jesus is standing before the high priest of Israel, silent as a lamb before the slaughter. But Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday, those six trials by night have been a sham, and the king of Glory is weary and tired. But Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday, Jesus is beaten, mocked, and spat upon. His beard is torn from his face. But Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday, those Roman soldiers are flogging our Lord with a leather scourge that has bits of bones and glass and metal, tearing at his flesh. But Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday, the Son of man stands firm as they press the crown of thorns down into his brow. A scarlet robe placed upon has torn back as the mock the King of King. But Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday, see Him walking to Calvary, the blood dripping from His body. See the cross crashing down on His back as He stumbles beneath the load. It’s Friday; but Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday, see those Roman soldiers driving the nails into the feet and wrists of my Lord. The agony is beyond words. Hear my Jesus cry, “Father, forgive them.” It’s Friday; but Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday, Jesus is hanging on the cross, bloody and dying next to criminals. But Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday, the sky grows dark, the earth begins to tremble, and He who knew no sin became sin for us. Holy God who will not abide with sin pours out His wrath on that perfect sacrificial lamb who cries out, “My God, My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?” What a horrible cry… but Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday and at the moment of Jesus’ death, the veil of the Temple that separates sinful man from Holy God was torn from the top to the bottom because Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday, Jesus is hanging on the cross, heaven is weeping and hell is partying. But that’s because it’s Friday, and they don’t know it, but Sunday’s a coming...

It’s Friday, the earth trembles, the sky grows dark, my Jesus absorbs the wrath of God for the sins of the world and dies, but Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday, hope is lost, death has won and Satan’s justlaughin’. But he don’t know, Sundays comin’

It’s Friday, Jesus is buried in a tomb, the stone is rolled over the entrance and two soldiers stand guard. Fear, regret and worry grips what is left of his followers. But Sunday’s comin’.

People… It is only Friday. Sunday is a comin’!

It’s Friday…But let me tell you something Sunday’s comin’

 

Today is Friday and many people will go on with their busy lives, they will accept the holidays from work, the chocolate eggs and party invites yet they will pay little or no attention to Jesus death on the cross. They will shrug their shoulders at his death; perhaps it has no relevance to them, maybe they will accuse him of being a mythical figure, a delusional Jewish boy or merely a good man or prophet. Some will just avoid the truth that they know deep inside because they are afraid of change; they might as well be made of the same chocolate they enjoy eating...

 

What about you? Show some courage today. Just stop for a moment to read and reflect upon the most significant three days in the history of the world. No politician, army, nation or religious leader has affected the world like Jesus. The very date on your newspaper points to his life, death burial and resurrection. IF this Jesus is the son of God you cannot ignore him any longer. He deserves more. 

You will never understand the significance of Friday until you embrace the power of Sunday. If Jesus did not rise from the dead then our faith, our hope is lost. So let me remind you… Sunday’s comin’. Show up at a bible believing church and discover the peace, the joy, the glory, the liberty, the hope, the love, the power of Sunday.

 

 

…Sunday’s comin’. 

 

Church Membership?

Why should you consider church membership? 

Context: This was intended as a little handout for our connect group at CFC. We thought we would post it as a helpful resourse to others. 

 Amanda and I both believe that church membership is something every Christian should prayerfully consider. 

Many people switch off to the idea and are quick to point out that Jesus never spoke about membership, neither did the apostles. Whilst this is true we must remember that we are looking at a church in its infancy. As it matured there is clear evidence of membership in early Christian writings. It’s worth noting that the first Christians were Jews and thus already were “members” of the Jewish faith and Christianity was not considered a separate religion.  “Becoming a Christian” was for them a matter of belief and baptism—believing that Jesus was  the promised Messiah of Israel and identifying with him.   The Jews already had a strict behavioural code; they needed no instruction on the existence of one God or even on how to respect authority, give of their time, money, energy and prayers—in many ways the Jewish lifestyle was stricter than the Christian standard would be.  As the Church expanded so did the challenges of engaging new cultures. Evangelists to the Jews had it easy when it came to behaviour—most Jews already behaved, or at least knew how to behave.  The gentile “dogs” were very different.  They were called dogs by the Jews because they had the morals of a wandering dog. It soon became clear that there was a need for some mechanisms for instruction and support as these new Christians where baptised and joined the local church… it is here that early evidence of membership began to develop. By 200 A.D church membership programmes where in operation in preparing new converts for baptism. 

Amanda and I moved church for the first time in 2014. It was not an easy decision and one that took months of prayer and conversations. We knew it was not a matter of God calling us out of a church but God calling us to a new church family and a new chapter. We had been members of our previous church since we had come to faith around 20 years ago. When we finally made the decision to join C.F.C. (October 2014), we became members within a matter of weeks.  Why? It was a natural response from our hearts to say… we belong here, this is our new home.  

Here are a few thoughts and reasons why Amanda and I think you should consider church membership.

1, it is a wonderful tool to assist in your discipleship. Christianity is not a spectator sport or activity you participate in in isolation. Your discipleship develops best when belonging to a community.

2, it makes a statement that you are committed to your local church, its leadership, vision and values.

3, it allows you to identify yourself clearly and publically to your church. It’s a public declaration that says ‘this is my team, my family.’ 

4, it improves communication within the church. There is often  a channel of communication which can only be accessed by members, it is for good reasons and helps with levels of confidentiality. When you join any organisation, including the church, channels of communication should become much clearer and more accessible.

5, it creates more opportunities for you to serve in the Church. Service should not be exclusive to members however responsibilities such as leading home groups, eldership, home visitation/pastoral care is best kept to those members who are committed to the vision and values of the church. 

6, your commitment as a member helps the church leadership plan for the future.  It’s impossible for a leadership to plan if no one is committed to the vision and values. If everyone avoids responsibility and commitment no team or organisation can thrive.

7, membership has little or no special privileges other than the privilege of responsibility. One of the greatest dangers in the church today is the crazy gang of freelance Christians who hop for church to church and display none of the characteristics of a ‘good and loyal solider.’ (2 Tim 2:3). Taking up responsibility is to keep rank, show loyalty, play your part in the battle and help carry one another’s burdens. (Gal 6:2). Membership carries expectations and responsibilities that we should not shrink back from. Many do not become members because the want to avoid these two words and yet they are the essential building blocks of spiritual maturity.

8, just as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her (Eph 5:25), so should we love her and give ourselves to her. Too many people today ‘date the church’, some even ‘date’ two churches at once. They attend one church in the morning and a different one in the evening. They get the best of both churches but no church community gets the best out of them. Membership is a little bit like a marriage, it gives us an opportunity to say ‘This is my church, I feel responsible for her. I am committed to her mission, vision and ministry. I want to serve God here and grow in my faith.’

9, the church is the body of Christ. Membership brings a connectedness to the body which helps us function in our gifting and support others exercise their gifts.

10, church is a family and membership says to everyone in the family, I love you; I want to be identified with you as my brothers and sisters. It places value on individuals by demonstrating acceptance to each other and saying ‘I want to journey with you’.

11, by becoming a member you are presenting four gifts to the church: Time, money, energy and prayers. I can’t think of better way to spend these gifts than into the local church. 

12, Accountability: membership to a local church places us in a healthy place of accountability. Honouring the authority of the lead team and living in community with them, agreeing to live by certain established godly principles and standards will safeguard us from bad doctrine and choices. It honours what God has already established and demonstrates our commitment to each individual as well as the bigger organisation. 

As you consider membership please remeber it  is not about exclusivity, superierity, position or  rights; it much more about responsibility, service and commitment. 

The next course on exploring mebership  is on Monday 22 February at 7.30pm in the Ark Room, CFC East Belfast.

https://thisiscfc.com/activity/exploring-membership/