Scripture

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.

~Acts 2:1-2, NLT

Quote

When the Holy Spirit takes over, everyone is aware of His divine presence and power.

~Martyn Lloyd Jones

Seldom does a day go by that I do not think of REVIVAL. I am reading Martyn Lloyd Jones’ daily devotional, WALKING WITH GOD, and for the entire month of June, he has been addressing the subject of REVIVAL. His June 28th entry was excellent. The word “suddenly” {af’-no} is used only three times in the NT. The Greeks have two words for suddenly {an adverb}. Both Greek words mean not only quickly, happening in an instant but they convey the idea of surprise. Something happening in an instant that is unexpected. God can do more in an instant than we can do in a lifetime. The Holy Spirit fell on the church at Pentecost and no one was expecting Him. He did not simply show up, He showed out. He didn’t take part, He took over. The Holy Spirit overwhelmed, overshadowed, overcame, overruled and everyone present was aware of His presence and power. I do not know who was presiding over that meeting but he got to take a seat because the Ruach Hakodesh took over. This is what happened on the Day of Pentecost and this is what happens when we experience REVIVAL. As long as we are presiding {in control}, it is not REVIVAL and we can explain everything that happens. I remember Wayne Penn talking about such a moment; the Spirit fell, the altar filled and people began confessing. Wayne said, The LORD said to me, “sit down, shut up and watch me work.”

Now there is a phenomena, an occurrence, circumstance, or fact that was perceptible by the senses. In the case of Pentecost, it was the wind and it made a roaring sound. The worshippers could not see the Spirit {Ruach} but they heard the sound with their ears and they saw the winds effects. I have never seen wind, but I have seen tree tops swaying because of the wind. The phenomena is always present in a REVIVAL. At Mount Carmel all the Israelites suddenly fell on their faces and cried out, “Yahweh is God.” Elijah prayed, the fire fell, the people saw {the consuming fire} and suddenly went to their knees. Thousands of hard headed Israelites on their faces, shouting “Yahweh is God.” They were responding to the phenomena. We can plan meeting, get a preacher and a place, sing and pray but none of us can produce the phenomena, the mighty wind and the consuming fire. Do we need reviving? Most certainly. I think REVIVAL is our only hope. Can the best preacher in America preach up a REVIVAL or prayer one down? NO! REVIVAL is a heaven sent gift from a sovereign God. We will never have REVIVAL unless He sees mercy to send it. Would it help if we prayed? Yes, I believe it would. The disciples had been praying for ten straight days. They prayed ten days, Peter preached ten minutes and thousands came to Christ in repentance and faith. As bad as things are in America, I do not see a burden to pray among believers. This fact is almost as heartbreaking as the fact that evil is destroying this nation.

Extra

Mrs. Willowdean Sandlin is not doing well. She has been in hospital at CRMC and returned to Summerfords yesterday. There are some problems but Mrs. Willowdean does not want treatment. She had been bed fast for over a month now. She has my full support. I do not blame her one bit. Mrs. Edith Bennich is scheduled to go back to the Cottage on Monday.

Heat wave coming: three consecutive days of 100 degree weather {Thur-Sat} and Sunday is predicted to be 97. I will be somewhere in the shade, LORD willing. Have a great day and thanks for reading the blog.