November, 2007
In case you were wondering - Tonight I am sitting in a hotel room in Kansas City, KA. I just finished a day of meetings with the Board of Paradise, as well as about 50 or 60 leaders from around the U.S. who are supportive of the vision of Paradise. Let me encourage you to go to their web site and have a look - Paradise. The vision for the Paradise gathering is not the result of some large organization deciding it would be good to have one more “event.” A youth leader had the idea for this gathering sparked in his heart during a series of morning worship times in the fall of 2006. He then placed that vision before 18 others whose lives are marked by concerted prayer. The 18 included many of the major streams of the church and diversity of gender and ethnicity. With one mind that group sensed that this was something the Lord was doing, and so it began. Paradise is not attached to or indebted to any denomination, or group. (more…)
Posted by Scott on November 28th, 2007 in Revival | No Comments »
Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones writes: “We can define it as a period of unusual blessing and activity in the life of the Christian Church. Revival means awakening, stimulating the life, bringing it to the surface again. It happens primarily in the Church of God, and amongst believing people, and it is only secondly something that affects those that are outside also. Now this is a most important point, because this definition helps us to differentiate, once and for all, between a revival and an evangelistic campaign.
An evangelistic campaign is the Church deciding to do something with respect to those who are outside. A revival is not the Church deciding to do something and doing it. It is something that is done to the Church, something that happens to the Church.
So then, what is it that happens? The best way of answering that question is to say that it is in a sense a repetition of the day of Pentecost. It is something happening to the Church, that inevitably and almost instinctively makes one look back and think again of what happened on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2.
The essence of a revival is that the Holy Spirit comes down upon a number of people together, upon a whole church, upon a number of churches, districts, or perhaps a whole country. That is what is meant by revival. It is, if you like, a visitation of the Holy Spirit, or another term that has often been used is this–an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.” (more…)
Posted by Scott on November 27th, 2007 in Revival | No Comments »
Isaiah 63:15 - Where is the passion and the might you used to show on our behalf? Where are your mercy and compassion now? This was part of the prayer Isaiah penned more than 50 years before the Babylonian Captivity. I believe that it also stands for us as a template for how we should be praying for revival. We are in a time of pressing in to lay hold of the Lord, like Jacob wrestling with the Angel of the Lord, we cannot let go until the Lord blesses as He promises he will (blessing is, after all at the core of 2 Chronicles passage 7:14). (more…)
Posted by Scott on November 25th, 2007 in Revival | 2 Comments »
Here is an article, which I found to be a blessing.
Tears have a language just as definite and emphatic as smiles or gestures. Words do not constitute the only language we speak, for everywhere there are many languages spoken by every human being. There is a language in our gait, our tones of voice, our eyes, smiles, gestures, and our physical movements, in our laughter, facial expression, and in our tears. (more…)
Posted by Scott on November 25th, 2007 in Revival | 1 Comment »
I found this a challenging, and useful meditation on revival. Please consider it.
A true revival is preeminently the work of the Holy Spirit, and the depth and magnitude of the work depends largely on the number of people who are in perfect union with the Holy Spirit. In times of revival all spiritual forces come to a crisis, both good and bad. Satan is on hand to muster all his children against a thorough work of grace. He will also be busy in society, devising all sorts of social matters against revival. He will influence all weak, half-hearted believers in every way against a thorough work. He will do everything to discourage workers. He will make them sick or cripple their zeal, or tempt them in some way to grieve the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is more frequently grieved by hidden things than by things that are outward and visible. In times of revival it is almost impossible to get six persons out of a large community, who in heart perfectly agree. There may be an outward profession of unity, and no one may detect any definite sign of disharmony, yet the human heart is so deceitful, and the interior conditions of perfect harmony require such utter unselfishness and transparency of spirit, that very few persons ever comply with them in the sight of God. The following are some of the things that grieve the Holy Spirit and hinder Him in revivals: (more…)
Posted by Scott on November 24th, 2007 in Revival | 2 Comments »
I went to see this movie called “Lars and the real girl.” It is a story about this guy, Lars who is a bit of a recluse and a social misfit. He lives in the garage of his brother and sister-in-law’s house. He has a sort of vanilla folder job and he’s incredibly socially inept. He is a gentle soul, but underneath there is something wrong, something out of order.
He is a church goer by the way, and appears to take his faith pretty seriously. Everyone in the town seems to have a bit of a soft spot for him. Then, for no apparent reason he develops a delusion. He orders a “real-life” doll, and begins introducing her around town (beginning with his brother & sister-in-law) as his new girlfriend. The thing is he is deadpan serious. Now this is quite funny in the beginning, but then when he doesn’t stop it becomes a dilemma for this entire town. What in the world do they do about Lar’s “synthetic” girlfriend. (Whom, by the way he has stay at his brother’s house to avoid any appearance that they are behaving inappropriatly.)
Go see the movie, if your inclined toward the quirky. I really liked it.
But it also touched off some thoughts (more…)
Posted by Scott on November 19th, 2007 in Revival | 1 Comment »
I don’t know how many know that I am up in Boston, MA preaching five times over the next few days. I will begin tonight at the “Youth Congress” being held at New Life Baptist Church in Medford, MA. I will preach tonight at 7, tomorrow night at 7, twice on Sunday and conclude with a message on Monday night. I am here, by the grace of God preaching on revival, the Kingdom of God and the Fatherhood of God.
The last week of November I head off for a few days to Kansas City, KA to be with David Bryant, the board of Paradise and leaders from around the U.S. assembling for a special meeting related to Paradise, the gathering to exalt Jesus Christ planned for next Memorial Day. Now you might be asking yourself the question: What’s the Black Dwarf doing at that thing? Isn’t he a rather obscure fellow? And I have an answer for you - I don’t know how or why I was asked to be there - I’m just along for the ride.
Sunday evening Dec. 2nd I was invited to go and speak at West Essex Baptist Church in Livingston. I am most honored to be given a chance to go and share my heart with what has become a sister church to Lamb of God. Now you may ask the question - What in the world is the Black Dwarf doing? Is he blowing his own horn? Is he so starved for recognition that he must tell everyone what he is doing?
The answer is no to those questions. However, there is a reason. God, quite apart from any assistance from me, is opening doors that are new, and these are doors I did not seek. God, for reasons that are mysterious to me is beginning to call me out to new things, to new places and to new opportunities. Recently a young prophetic lad (and I mean young) came to me and told me that a “shift” is coming to Lamb of God, and a “release” is coming to me. I frankly do not know what that means. It is really up to the Lord to manage these matters. I consider myself very blessed to be associated with Lamb of God. Lamb of God is my family, and that has less to do with being the pastor and more to do with the dear, sweet lifetime friendships that God has so graciously given me over these past 20 years.
Anyway, I sound like an old man. I guess it because I am away, and I miss you all very much. You are in the very capable hands of Todd Polyniak, or “Little Todd” as they call him in Brazil (he is preaching on Sunday). I will return to Jersey on Tuesday morning (I hate missing the Tuesday prayer meeting, pray on lads!)
Peace in the name of Jesus
as Gregorio says so well - revival is my food and drink…
“the black dwarf”
Posted by Scott on November 16th, 2007 in Revival | 1 Comment »
After seeing this (in my email) up here in Boston, I thought it ought to be on the web site….
“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” John 15:9-12
As a lucky few of us have been learning in Lon’s theology class, “holiness” isn’t simply another word for righteousness. To be Holy is to be sanctified or set apart. The “otherness” of the God we serve is best summed up in the whisper and thunder of this word that has been spoken throughout the ages: “HOLY!” (more…)
Posted by Scott on November 16th, 2007 in Revival | No Comments »
I came across this wonderful fairly brief message by Jim Cymbala from Brooklyn Tabernacle. This is a message he gave as part of a conference conducted last year at Billy Graham’s retreat center called “The Cove.” It’s wonderful and will encourage you; if you have a heart for seeing revival.
In this video message, Pastor Jim encourages the church to pray for revival by telling the story of his prodigal daughter and how the Lord brought her back to himself. It is powerful!
Follow this link and the video should begin: “Reminding God.”
Posted by Scott on November 13th, 2007 in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
5 Kinds of Christians
Understanding the disparity of those who call themselves Christian in America.
A new national survey co-sponsored by Leadership. Reported by Helen Lee
Jennifer Hua identifies herself as a Christian. A 35-year-old former attorney studying Christian counseling at the Wheaton College Graduate School (Illinois), she has gone to church all her life and is a lay leader in her suburban Chicago congregation. She furthers her spiritual development by daily Bible reading, prayer, listening to and singing worship songs, and interacting with other Christians. And every few months, she carves out time for a silent retreat. “I do all of these things because I know from past experience I need to recalibrate my mind and my heart to be in tune with God,” she says.
James Smith also identifies himself as a Christian. He attended church as a child, but his attendance was minimal as a young adult. He believes in God, occasionally attends Redeemer Presbyterian in Manhattan when his time-consuming job in the finance district allows, but he does not often participate in other activities to further his spiritual life. He has a Bible but rarely opens it; what leisure time he has he spends with friends, most of whom are of different faiths, and he does not necessarily believe that his God is any different from the one his Muslim friend worships.
“I don’t think that God would be a God who would shut others out of heaven because they don’t use the word ‘Christian’ to describe themselves,” he says.
(more…)
Posted by Scott on November 7th, 2007 in cultural relevance | No Comments »
