REVIVAL TALK

  Leviticus 27:30 – “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord.” The tithe is holy to the Lord.  This is the portion of our income God requires us to return to Him.  Some would argue the tithe was only under the law of Moses.  In Genesis 14:20 Abraham tithes to Melchizedek some six-hundred years before God gave the law to Moses.  We must be careful not to mishandle holy things.             In Genesis 28:10-22 Jacob stops in Luz and sleeps on his journey.  He dreams of a ladder with its top reaching into heaven.  There are angels ascending and descending the latter.  At the top of this ladder was the Lord. He identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, and Isaac. He identifies Himself as the Covenant God of Jacob’s f...

Malachi 3:6 – “For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.”             We serve a God who does not change. When everything around us is changing, He does not change. James the half-brother of Jesus writes in James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” Note the words, “with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” The New Living Translation says, “He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”                     The governments of men rise and fall. The economies of the world experience increases and decreases, but the God we serve never changes. People may fail you, but God will never fail you. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” He is an ...

Isaiah 9:6 – “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”             Jesus is a powerful Savior. The prophet Isaiah prophesied that He would be called “the Mighty God.” He is not just powerful, but He is all-powerful. All powerful means He is a force of unlimited authority and influence, unrestrained and infinite in power. Mighty means, valiant, powerful, strong prevailing, champion, and unmatched.  Bill Bright writes, “God uses His power purposefully. God has unlimited power within Himself and does what He wants with it. God is not a tyrant or a monster God. He is a Father God, a wise God. He uses His power to fulfill His purpose in us and in the world.” The woman with the issue of blood experienced His power when she touched the hem of His garment. Mark...

  Ephesians 2:1-3 – “ And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”              Salvation is the pathway of life. Ephesians 2:1 says, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins. When we experience salvation, we are born again. In John 3:3 Jesus reveals, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”              When we are saved, we experience a resurrection. Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “Bu...

  Acts 16:25-30 – “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, ‘Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.’ Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved’?” Paul and Silas were beaten, unjustly imprisoned, and locked in the inner chamber of the prison. What was their response? At midnight they were praying and singing hymns to God. They were not murmuring and complaining but giving praise to God. I Thessalonians 5:18 ...

  Psalms 26:7  - “That I may publish (proclaim) with voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.” We are entering into a season of praise and thanksgiving.  In the coming days we will gather with our families and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving.  People will travel great distances to gather around the table and share a meal of thanksgiving.  This is a wonderful holiday and we should enjoy our time with family and friends.   Worship involves a number of elements.  Two elements that are closely related are thanksgiving and praise. Though they are similar there are differences.  Praise is a powerful weapon to be used against the enemy of our soul in spiritual warfare.  Praise nourishes the soul, prepares the heart to become pure, and builds us up in faith.  The twin sister of praise is thanksgiving.  These two elements of prayer look alike, perform alike and come from the sa...