REVIVAL TALK

Psalms 103:1-5 – “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me,  bless His holy name!   Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who  redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good  things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”             One of the first questions an applicant will ask a prospective employer is “what are the benefits to the employee?”   Do you have insurance coverage?   What are the retirement benefits?   In the study of scripture you learn there are many benefits available to the believer through the grace of God.             The word “benefit” is defined as “something advantageous or good; an advantage.” [i]   Psalms 103:1-5 lists the following benefits: Forgiveness of all iniquities – verse 3 Healing of all our diseases – verse 3 Redeems our lives from destruction – vers

John 11:38 – 39 - “Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.   Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been  dead four days.”             In John 11 John the beloved disciple gives an eye witness account of a great miracle of resurrection.   Lazarus, who was a dear friend of our Lord became sick.   His sisters, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus the one whom you love is sick.               Listen to Jesus response in John 11:4, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Jesus continued where he was for two more days. There is no alarm or sense of urgency.   After these two days He turns to His disciples and says, “Let us go to Judea again.”             When Jesus arrives Lazarus is dead and has been placed in the grave. The mourners are at the house to con

Psalm 122 is a Psalm of David.  In these scriptures he writes about the joy of going to the House of the Lord.  Verse 1 reads, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”  He continues in verse 6 with this admonition,  “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you.’” Why does the Bible encourage us to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem?”  Jerusalem was the one place among the twelve tribes of Israel that God chose to place His name.  Deuteronomy 12:5 reads, “But you shall seek the place where the Lord your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go.” The Lord promises blessing to those who are a blessing to His covenant people.  God spoke these words to Abraham in Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” The name Jerusalem means, “City of Peace.”  Its history has prove

Psalms 141:3 - "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips." The Bible teaches our speech should be holy.   The righteous will glorify God in their speech.   Our words are to be wholesome, holy, and filled with wisdom.   Psalms 34:1 reads, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth."   We learn in our study of the Bible we are to avoid speech that is harsh.   Harsh words are cruel words.   Words that inflict pain.   Revelation 12:11 reveals that the enemy is an accuser of the brethren and uses harsh words against the believer.   Words are a window into the heart of man.   Jesus taught in Matthew 12:34, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The Apostle James gives good advice about watching over our words.   He writes in James 1:19, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”   Too much talk can lead to sin.   Proverbs 10:19 read