The Cry -- The Complaint
by Jodi Hill
More...more!! Satisfy my insatiable appetite. Feed me with the food You prescribe. No more...no less. Move in me... make me what You want me to be Change me, mold me... but don’t make me do anything. Give me meat... but don’t make me digest it. It’s too much work for me. The cry of the people is too hard to bear here’s my money send someone...else. I sit in my closet...(hidden) I pray for my nation. What?! You want to send me?! I have far too many responsibilities... my family, my job, my church, my house, myself. Well, here’s my money... send someone...else. I’ll pray for them in my closet.
*We are always praying for God to send someone to the nations but we are seldom willing to go ourselves.*
Honey, it's time to come out of the PRAYER CLOSET
You can only stay in the War Room for so long…eventually you have to get out into the battlefield and fight the battle. No…it's not with swords and spears…it's not against flesh and blood. (Ephesians 6:10-20 The Armor of God…Paul asks them to pray for him to have boldness to speak the Word of God. Really? Paul needed boldness?) This is a spiritual battle and the way we fight and defeat the enemy is through love, compassion and our witness. (Revelation 12:10-12, "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.")
The Era of Celebrity Ministry…It's Over! It's time for Grass Roots Move of God
We are in the last days. Joel 2 talks about in the last days the Spirit will fall on all flesh. But in Joel 3:9-13, it says, "Prepare for War! ...Call out your best warriors…hammer your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears…TRAIN EVEN YOUR WEAKLINGS TO BE WARRIORS…"
God gave us a taste in 2020 of how easily we could lose our liberties. Are you prepared to take church to home/coffeeshops/parks…etc. And without your Pastor to oversee you? Where do you get spiritual motivation? Is it only from church in the building on Sunday at 10am-Noon? We are the Eklessia…the Called-out ones…but for years now we've been the stay in ones. It's time we take the gospel out where it belongs…in the World that needs Jesus.
No more Rusty Prophets and Moldy Testimonies…We need Fresh Manna and New Wine. We need to come against the spirit of apathy (Read Revelation 2 & 3) that is worming it's way into the church. Backslidden Believers are not going back into drugs or sleeping around…it’s the sin of apathy. Although if not corrected it could lead to that.
It's not just about knowing Bible Verses and quoting the Scripture…you have to have it deep within you. It has to become part of your DNA. Spouting Bible Verses doesn't give you power and authority. Being the Living Word does. The Holy Spirit living within us and working through us is what brings the Word of God alive like it says in Hebrews 4:12.
What is Revival? Re-firing, rekindling, bringing back to life that which was dead.
In REAL LIFE what does that look like?
1. Repentance & Unity in the Body of Christ (1 Peter 4:17)
2. Renewed sense of purpose
3. Joy that transcends circumstances
4. Overflowing of love and compassion that moves you to take action
5. Anticipation and sensitivity of moving of the Spirit
6. Refuse to settle for less!
Seek God for unity in the body of Christ. Repentance within God's house comes first, then unity, then revival then harvest. As more begin to seek the face of God, he begins to move. I'm praying that he begins to stir up the church...I think he's doing that. When the human constructs of the church system crumbles and there's nothing left but God... Then we will see revival. Whatever can be shaken will be shaken, whatever can't be shaken will stand... God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:27-29)
What would you do differently to share the gospel with you community, neighbors, loved ones, co-workers, class/school mates?
How do we get back into doing the work God has called us to? JUST DO IT!!!
Ask God to open doors; to bring people in your path
Be open to getting your hands dirty
DO-SOMEthing (School of Ministry for Everyone)
You are important to the Body of Christ! WE NEED YOU!!!
You have purpose! Stir up the gifts… (2 Timothy 1:6-8) Paul told Timothy to stir up the gifts within him, not to let fear (cowardice) be in control. Be led by love, authority, strength and peace of Mind.
Remember in Ephesians 6:19-20? Paul asks for prayer to have boldness?
Well, in closing let's read Acts 4 and see what happens when we start to pray for boldness…
Acts 4:13, "The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus." (Interestingly in chapter 6, we read about another ordinary man…a guy who was waiting on tables…Stephen…who was stoned to death for his bold preaching…)
Verse 24, "All the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God…"
Verses 29-31, "And now, oh Lord, hear their threats and give us, your servants great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.
After this prayer, the meeting place shook and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.”
“Then they preached the Word of God with boldness.”