Be revived Christian, be revived and well church body.

The Bible gives presents us with an alive church. "They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to [a]prayer.  43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all the believers were together and had all things in common; 45 and they would sell their property and possessions and share them with all, to the extent that anyone had need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to [h]their number day by day those who were being saved." Acts 2:42-47 nasb

When A Church Stops Breathing, It Ain't Well. Pray And Try Resuscitating It By Good Example With The Word.

Is your small group well? 

The surest sign a church is alive is not the size of its budget or the beauty of its building—it’s whether Christ is truly its Head (Lord and leading bibically. Col. 1:18), His gospel is clearly proclaimed (1 Cor. 15:3–4), His Spirit is obeyed (Acts 5:32), and His mission is pursued (Matt. 28:18–20). Where these are missing, the heart has stopped beating, even if the body still moves. Vance Havner once said, *“We are not going to move this world by criticism of it nor by conformity to it, but by the combustion within it of lives ignited by the Spirit of God.”*

Some churches die because they abandon the gospel and drift into being social clubs with religious music. Others still hold sound doctrine but lose their first love (Rev. 2:4)—content to “be right” while no longer burning to reach the lost. Still others fracture through division, with the result that Christ’s name is diminished, not magnified. 

The book of Acts gives the antidote: a church “continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42), ministering to one another, and reaching out until “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (v. 47). That’s not a quaint historical footnote—it’s God’s blueprint for every church today.

A Christ made alive and well church will major on five things:

1.) Worship & Prayer – Delighting in God, not merely singing about Him (Ps. 72:15).

2.) Biblical Learning & Application – Becoming like Christ by knowing and obeying His Word (2 Tim. 3:16–17).

3.) Fellowship – Genuine, sacrificial relationships that reflect heaven’s family (Acts 2:44–45).

4.) Service – Every believer discovering and using spiritual gifts to bless others (1 Cor. 12:4–7).

5.) Mission – near and far. Going, giving, telling, and praying to see the gospel reach every people (Matt. 28:19–20).

For the individual believer, the pattern is the same: daily Scripture, earnest prayer, real fellowship, and active witness at home and abroad. The Christian life was never meant to be a pew-warming hobby. Jesus Himself said He came “not to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45)—and He calls us to follow suit.

Churches that pray much, love deeply, serve gladly, and proclaim boldly will not just exist—they will pulse with the life of Christ. Anything less is maintenance, not mission. As the hymn reminds us:

God, you can do it again. Revive each of us again - fill each heart with Your Holy Spirit of love and truth! Yes indeed, may each soul be rekindled with fire from above.

Does it kind of seem like your ministry has died? Revive in Him.  

Why do some churches thrive while others die? 

The true church is one where Christ is acknowledged as its Head, the Bible is preached and taught, and the way of salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ’s death and bodily resurrection, the Holy Spirit is obeyed in the leadership and the people, and the Great Commission is being carried out. Churches that don’t have these characteristics are dead already because they do not have the Holy Spirit at work in the members through faith in Jesus Christ. There are many such churches today, both small and large, which are, sorry to say, just social clubs. The true Christ is not honored there, and although there may be a lot of form, there is no substance. The supernatural has been sapped from their fellowship. In some instances, churches once preached the gospel of Christ, but then as time went on, they no longer did so. Of course, this is also sad. They have become dead churches as well.

Then there are churches where Christ is honored and the Bible preached, but they are content in themselves just to be that way. They are just existing. Like the church of Ephesus in the Book of Revelation (2:1-7), they have left their first love. They have good doctrine, but they have lost their passion for Christ to reach out to those needing the Savior. In this sense they are dead. They are content to be Christians, but there is no sign of God at work in their lives. Sometimes a church dies because there is a split in the congregation. Too many people leave, and the church can’t continue. This is also a sad state of affairs, and God is not honored. Some churches die because of the area in which they exist. Smaller churches in rural areas have to close due to changes in the population. In some areas, where smaller churches exist, and they have the same beliefs, they have joined together to form a larger congregation.

* Individual born again Christian, you and I need Him MOST. You need 1) Daily Bible reading, 2) daily earnest prayer, 3) candid fellowship [upwards and out with believers] and here is the outgrowth from your spiritual growth, 4) witnessing (at home domestically, and in other Lands too).

At the same time, the size of the church is not the issue. What is going on within the fellowship is the key. The characteristics of an alive and growing church are found in Acts 2:42-47 where the believers “were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” They were serving one another, and reaching out to those who needed to know the Lord, and the Lord was “adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” This tells us that the church has five purposes:

These five areas describe what the true church of Jesus Christ should be about today. The Holy Spirit must be obeyed in the local church in the leadership and the people. Prayer must be a vital part of the church, for without prayer, a church only operates in the flesh. People need to know and use their spiritual gifts. There must be a ministering to one another in the fellowship, a caring and sharing. There must also be a passion to reach out to those needing the Savior, fulfilling the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20. Yes, the church must know why it exists and what it is about.

Does It Seem Like Your Church Stopped Breathing?”

Beloved, the measure of a church’s life is not in its crowd size, its programs, or its budget. The measure is this—Is Christ truly the Head? Is His gospel boldly proclaimed? Is the Holy Spirit obeyed? Is the Great Commission pursued with fire? Where these are missing, the lights may be on, but the power is gone.

Some churches have traded the gospel for good manners, becoming social clubs with hymns. Others have sound doctrine but no burning love—just like Ephesus in Revelation 2, they’ve left their first love. Still others have split apart, leaving behind wounded hearts and empty pews.

Church, It’s Time to Breathe And Live Well Again

The question isn’t, “Is our church busy?” The question is, “Is our church alive?”

Christ—not tradition—is the Head of the church (Col. 1:18). Where He is not honored, the heart stops.

The gospel—not self-help—is our message (1 Cor. 15:3–4). Without it, we are just a religious club.

The Holy Spirit—not human strategy—is our power (Acts 1:8). Without Him, we can’t move an inch.

Some churches have form without fire. Others have doctrine without love. Some split and never recover. And some simply fade away because they stopped reaching the lost.

Jesus is the only one that saves the soul but we have a part in prayerful witnessing.

Years ago, a little church in Wales was down to twelve members. The roof leaked, the pews were dusty, and the offering barely kept the lights on. But one old deacon said, “Let’s pray until God moves.” They met every night for weeks—no gimmicks, no guest bands, just prayer. One Sunday, a young man walked in, trembling under conviction. He was saved. Then his friend came. Then their families. In a year, the church was packed—and the town was talking about Jesus.

Acts 2 says they devoted themselves to the Word, to prayer, to fellowship, and to reaching the lost—and the Lord added daily to their number.

So I ask you—will we be a body aka church that survives… or a church that breathes? 

. Does it kind of seem like your ministry died? Why do some churches thrive while others die? Answer: The true church is one where Christ is acknowledged as its Head, the Bible is preached and taught, and the way of salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ’s death and bodily resurrection, the Holy Spirit is obeyed in the leadership and the people, and the Great Commission is being carried out. Churches that don’t have these characteristics are dead already because they do not have the Holy Spirit at work in the members through faith in Jesus Christ. There are many such churches today, both small and large, which are, sorry to say, just social clubs. The true Christ is not honored there, and although there may be a lot of form, there is no substance. The supernatural has been sapped from their fellowship. In some instances, churches once preached the gospel of Christ, but then as time went on, they no longer did so. Of course, this is also sad. They have become dead churches as well. Then there are churches where Christ is honored and the Bible preached, but they are content in themselves just to be that way. They are just existing. Like the church of Ephesus in the Book of Revelation (2:1-7), they have left their first love. They have good doctrine, but they have lost their passion for Christ to reach out to those needing the Savior. In this sense they are dead. They are content to be Christians, but there is no sign of God at work in their lives. Sometimes a church dies because there is a split in the congregation. Too many people leave, and the church can’t continue. This is also a sad state of affairs, and God is not honored. Some churches die because of the area in which they exist. Smaller churches in rural areas have to close due to changes in the population. In some areas, where smaller churches exist, and they have the same beliefs, they have joined together to form a larger congregation. 

Our choices matter.

* Want to grow up into full spiritual maturity in Jesus Individual Christian? It's your decision. You need Him most, and 1) Daily Bible reading, 2) daily earnes prayer, 3) candid fellowship [upwards and out with believers] and here is the outgrowth from your spiritual growth, 4) witessing (at home domesticly, and in other Lands too). 

 At the same time, the size of the church is not really the issue. 

What is going on within the walls of that church fellowship is the key. 

Is it Christ-honoring? Is it biblical? 

The characteristics of an alive and growing well church are found in Acts 2:42-47 where the believers “were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” They were serving one another, and reaching out to those who needed to know the Lord, and the Lord was “adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” This tells us that the church has five purposes: 1) Acceptable Biblical Worship/Prayer In Jesus' Name – We were created to give God praise and to have a personal relationship with Him through prayer (Psalm 72:15). 2) Learning the Bible & How to wisely apply truth – We were designed to become like Christ by seeking Him daily in His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 3) Fellowship upsards & outwards with other sold-out believers - We were formed to be part of God’s family (Acts 2:44-45). 4) Service of Jesus and dlcor other to meet needs as a witness/blessing – We were shaped to have a ministry within the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:4-7). 5) Mission Outreach – We are commanded to go (sent by a Christ & a local church to a people group) share God’s love and gospel (Matthew 28:19-20). These five areas describe what the true church of Jesus Christ should be about today. The Holy Spirit must be obeyed in the local church in the leadership and the people. Prayer must be a vital part of the church, for without prayer, a church only operates in the flesh. People need to know and use their spiritual gifts. There must be a ministering to one another in the fellowship, a caring and sharing. There must also be a passion to reach out to those needing the Savior, fulfilling the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20. Yes, the church must know why it exists and what it is about. Any church, large or small, honoring Christ, preaching and teaching the Bible, in tune with the Holy Spirit to minister to the congregation as well as to reach the community and the world, will be a vibrant church for Jesus Christ. A true follower of Christ can’t be a pew-warmer or a spectator. Christ came not to be served but to serve. We must do the same.

---

When a Church Stops Breathing
The surest sign a church is alive is not the size of its budget or the beauty of its building—it’s whether Christ is truly its Head (Col. 1:18), His gospel is clearly proclaimed (1 Cor. 15:3–4), His Spirit is obeyed (Acts 5:32), and His mission is pursued (Matt. 28:18–20). Where these are missing, the heart has stopped beating, even if the body still moves. Vance Havner once said, “We are not going to move this world by criticism of it nor by conformity to it, but by the combustion within it of lives ignited by the Spirit of God.”

Some churches die because they abandon the gospel and drift into being social clubs with religious music. Others still hold sound doctrine but lose their first love (Rev. 2:4)—content to “be right” while no longer burning to reach the lost. Still others fracture through division, with the result that Christ’s name is diminished, not magnified. 

The book of Acts gives the antidote: a church “continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42), ministering to one another, and reaching out until “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (v. 47). That’s not a quaint historical footnote—it’s God’s blueprint for every church today.

For the individual believer, the pattern is the same: daily Scripture, earnest prayer, real fellowship, and active witness at home and abroad. The Christian life was never meant to be a pew-warming hobby. Jesus Himself said He came “not to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45)—and He calls us to follow suit.

Churches that pray much, love deeply, serve gladly, and proclaim boldly will not just exist—they will pulse with the life of Christ. Anything less is maintenance, not mission. As the hymn reminds us: “Revive us again, fill each heart with Thy love; may each soul be rekindled with fire from above.”

---

Breath again. Don't Stop. 

But Acts 2 gives the prescription: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.” They served one another, reached the lost, and the Lord added to their number daily. That’s not nostalgia—that’s God’s blueprint for today.

The living church will breathe in worship, breathe out prayer. It will feast on the Word, not just snack on it. It will love one another with costly fellowship. It will serve, not sit. And it will go with the gospel to the ends of the earth.

And you, child of God—this is your call too: Daily Scripture. Earnest prayer. Real fellowship. Active witness. You are not saved to be a pew-warmer; you are saved to serve. Jesus Himself said, “I came not to be served, but to serve.” Look at the Word--Focus! 

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• Ephesians 5:14 says, "Wake up, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you". This verse calls believers to a state of spiritual wakefulness and rebirth in Christ.
• Colossians 2:13-15 explains that God "made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins... by nailing it to the cross". This highlights the new life believers receive through Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection.
• Acts 3:19-20 instructs, "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord". This shows a link between turning to God and experiencing spiritual refreshing and renewal.

You can't be revived from you alone, Sport. God does that. Just make the decision to repent, to believe all His promises. Awaken, if you have never been born spiritually.. I mean, awakened from the dead spiritually. All the way, God's way.

• New Birth is a free gift from God: Like the Prodigal Son who was "dead and has come to life again," believers are given new life through Christ.
• God gladly gives Times of Refreshing: Spiritual refreshment and revival can come when one turns to God through repentance.
• It's via Christ's Resurrection Power: Through Jesus' resurrection, believers are given new, everlasting life and are made spiritually alive, fulfilling God's promise of new life.

---

Church, it’s Time to Breathe and Live.. cuz You are Called to Life in Christ as Lord.

The question isn’t, “Is our church mere busy?” The question is, “Is our church alive and making an impact?”

Christ—not tradition—He alone is the Head of the church (Col. 1:18). Where He is not honored, the heart stops.

The gospel—not self-help—That is our Message (1 Cor. 15:3–4). Without it, we are just a religious club.

The real Holy Spirit—not human strategy—is our enabling power to witness (Acts 1:8). Without Him, we can’t move right even an inch.

George Barna reports that 42% of practicing Christians haven’t shared their faith in the past year. Friends, that’s not revival—that’s survival. Sadly, many have settled into spiritual spectator mode.

Some churches have form without fire. Others have doctrine without love. Some split and never recover. And some simply fade away because they stopped reaching the lost.

Again, Acts 2:42–47 shows us what a living and well church looks like:

Devoted to teaching. Devoted to prayer. Devoted to fellowship. Devoted to mission. And God added daily to their number.

A.W. Tozer said, “If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95% of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If He had been withdrawn from the New Testament Church, 95% of what they did would stop and everybody would know the difference.”

So let me say it plainly:

If prayer is missing—we’re gasping.

If the Word is neglected—we’re starving.

If fellowship is shallow—we’re drifting.

If service is absent—we’re idling.

If mission is ignored—we’re dying.

You, believer—this starts with you. Daily Bible. Earnest prayer. Real fellowship. Bold witness. D.L. Moody said, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to Him.”

The living church will…

Pray until the fire falls so to speak.
Love until the walls fall down.
Preach the Word until the lost are found.

I really want it truthfully said of us—“The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Are you awake and like breathing spiritually?..  praying, praising Jesus, confessing sins, repenting

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Think about it, Inspect, Evaluate.. Is Your Church Breathing?

Is your church alive—or just busy?

Is Christ the Head—or just a figurehead?

Is the gospel burning—or buried under programs?

Is the Spirit leading—or are we running on fumes?

Years ago, a little church in Wales was down to twelve members. The roof leaked, the pews were dusty, and the offering barely kept the lights on. But one old deacon said, “Let’s pray until God moves.” They met every night for weeks—no gimmicks, no guest bands, just prayer. One Sunday, a young man walked in, trembling under conviction. He was saved. Then his friend came. Then their families. In a year, the church was packed—and the town was talking about Jesus.

Acts 2 says they devoted themselves to the Word, to prayer, to fellowship, and to reaching the lost—and the Lord added daily to their number.

So I ask you—will we be a church that survives… or a church that breathes?

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He's Got Your Back, When the Breath Comes Back

Is your church breathing—or just going through the motions?

Psalm 85:6 says, “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” 

Revival isn’t about merely filling pews—it’s about God filling hearts. Spiritual  growth happens inside individual Christians who can't help but to go tell their friends and then the church gets filled with hungry people. 

In 2023, Lifeway Research found that only 32% of churchgoers read their Bible daily. Friends, how can we expect the Spirit’s wind if our sails are down?
Leonard Ravenhill warned, “We do not need a new definition of Christianity; we need a new demonstration of Christianity.”

Last year in Ohio, a small-town church decided to stop waiting for visitors and start going to them. They knocked on doors, invited neighbors to dinner, prayed over people in their driveways. In six months, their Wednesday night prayer meeting tripled, and people started showing up early for Sunday worship—hungry for God.

Isaiah 57:15 reminds us: “I dwell… with the contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

Church, here’s the call:

Repent -- right there where you and I have cooled spiritually. Lukewarm is lame!

Return to the Word -- that's where the growth comes from.

Reignite in prayer -- like you mean it, because we really do.

Reach out to open people with the Gospel. Put a hook in every opportunity. Cast a net every time you can. 

Charles Spurgeon said, “A genuine revival without joy in the Lord is as impossible as spring without flowers.” Let’s be a people where the flowers bloom again—and may it be said of us, as in Acts 4:31, “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly.”

Lord, revive us again.. According to Psalm 85:6–Acts 4:31 -- send Another Spiritual Awakening. Use us to point people to Jesus!

Want Some More Revival and Awakening Verses?

1. Acts 3:19-20 (ESV)
   Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus.
   
   
2. Isaiah 55:7 (ESV)
   Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
   
   
3. Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
   But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
   
   
4. Ezekiel 37:2-6 (ESV)
   And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.”  Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
   
   
5. Jeremiah 24:7 (ESV)
   I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.
   
   
6. Ezekiel 18:32 (ESV)
   For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
   
   
7. Psalm 80:18-19 (ESV)
   Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name! Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!
   
   
8. Isaiah 57:15 (ESV)
   For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
   
   
9. Hosea 6:2 (ESV)
   After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.
   
   
10. Lamentations 5:21 (ESV)
    Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old.
    
    
11. Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)
    “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert”.
    
    
12. Joel 2:25-26 (ESV)
    I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter.
    
    
13. Romans 13:11 (ESV)
    Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
    
    
14. John 11:25 (ESV)
    Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.
    
    
15. Psalms 22:27 (ESV)
    All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.
    
    
16. James 4:8 (ESV)
    Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
    
    
17. Psalm 119:25 (ESV)
    My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to your word.
    
    
18. Luke 15:24 (ESV)
    For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
    
    
19. Colossians 2:13 (ESV)
    And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.
    
    
20. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 (ESV)
    So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
    

Awake, O Sleeper, it's getting pretty late, Buckeroo.

There's an Urgent Call to Spiritual Alertness by the Living Word of God (Jesus).

You well-know how sleep is one of God's marvelous gifts to us. Sometimes after a long day of work I like to sleep in some. It's designed for rest, physical revitalization, restoration, and healthy rhythm.

Each night, we give in to sleep and it's basically a picture of our dependency, a living reminder that we are not to be self-sustaining all by ourselves.

As Psalm 127:2 tells us, “He gives His beloved sleep.”

But what about spiritual sleep? That’s another matter entirely.

Scripture speaks not only of physical sleep but also of a more dangerous kind of drowsiness—the slumber of the soul. And far too many believers keep nodding off in the light. I don't want to fall asleep in the light or be left in the night! The Rapture will happen soon and we all need to remain rapture-ready in Christ.

Just as physical sleep, if withheld, leads to a horrible mental fog, an emotional instability, and for some even unto death, spiritual sleep renders a believer ineffective, dull, and disoriented in a world desperate for the Word of truth and His light.

A 2023 Barna study revealed that only 6% of Americans hold a truly biblical worldview in this area. And tragically, among those who claim to be spiritually born-again Christians, only 19% actually read their Bibles regularly. In the West, we have not as of late been a spiritually alert people, but that needs to change. Together we need to see that fixed. We are, as I used to hear Keith Green in Costa Mesa California and in Lindale Texas sing, “asleep in the light.” His simple lyric still challenges me -- it echoes truth we all need to think about:

"Do you see, do you see all the people sinking down?
Don't you care, don't you care are you gonna let them drown?
How can you be so numb not to care if they come?
You close your eyes and pretend the job's done

Bless me Lord, bless me Lord You know it's all I ever hear
No one aches, no one hurts no one even sheds one tear
But He cries, He weeps, He bleeds and He cares for your needs
And you just lay back and keep soaking it in

Oh, can't you see it's such a sin? 'Cause He brings people to you door
And you turn them away as you smile and say
God bless you, be at peace and all heaven just weeps
'Cause Jesus came to you door you've left Him out in the street

Open up, open up and give yourself away
You see the need, you hear the cries so how can you delay?
God's calling and you're the one but like Jonah you run
He's told you to speak but you keep holding it in

Can't you see it's such a sin?
The world is sleeping in the dark that the church just can't fight
'Cause it's asleep in the light
How can you be so dead, when you've been so well fed
Jesus rose from the grave and you, you can't even get out of bed
Jesus rose from the dead, come on, get out of your bed

How can you be so numb not to care if they come
You close your eyes and pretend the job's done"

Can real Christians get distracted and nod off.. falling asleep spiritually? Absolutely, but please don't! Can they respectfully be awakened? Yes, and you can be a part of this with God's word!

In Romans 13:11, Paul pleads, “It is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” The danger isn’t just in physically dying—it’s there for Christians dozing off while we need to live vigilantly and fully alive in Christ!

Physical death, for the believer, is often described in Scripture as “sleep.” Not because we cease to exist, but because the body rests temporarily for it's own good.

The Christian's soul, however, is instantly present with the Lord after they physically die.

The Bible says, "We are [as I was saying] of good courage and confident hope, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:8 amp

Sure, as D.L. Moody once said, “Someday you will read in the papers that D.L. Moody is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it! At that moment, I shall be more alive than I am now.”

Between physical death and the resurrection, the soul of the redeemed people worships God unceasingly where He is. Sleep won’t at all be needed there, for there will be no weariness in the presence of the Lord in His glory. As Revelation 7:15 says, “They serve Him day and night in His temple.” Even now for the righteous dead, in that intermediate heaven, the saints cry out to God with full awareness for justice on earth: “How long, O Lord?” (Revelation 6:10).

They're not dozing.. or nodding off, or doing some dreaming—they're longing, and in righteous fellowship and communion.

While here on earth, Jesus spoke of the soul's conscious state after death. Lazarus, Abraham, and the rich man in Luke 16 were fully alert, speaking, and remembering what's so, and what happened. Moses and Elijah were not ghostly-mist or whimsical shadows but they were present and conversing with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:3). Yep, that was Moses inside the Promised Land.

The reality is very clear: heaven is a place of an awake type of abundant life, not slumber.

And yet, here we are—alive on earth now, but often sleepwalking towards the refrigerator.. and sadly, through our Christian lives too. The Church has traded the upper room for the comfort room (zone), real revival fire for strange or religious fire with a cozy routine. Statistics show a dramatic spiritual decline in our nation, many young people are now returning to the local churches which is great to see, but revival has always come when God’s people repent, cry out in prayer, and wake up!

I challenge you to come to Christ with transparent candor today and open your eyes.

Ich fordere Sie auf, sich heute mit völliger Aufrichtigkeit Christus zuzuwenden und aufzuwachen in Ihm – öffnen Sie Ihre Augen!

Liney and I are praying for a Fifth Great Awakening—Americans have see these before. Lord, please do it again, even now.. yes, before the fires and fury of the Tribulation years force the world to quickly choose.

Spurgeon said, “If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees.” But how can any of us believers plead with the lost people if we ourselves are enjoying a long siesta or have gotten used to drowsy?

In the life to come, we believers will have new, glorious bodies—free from weariness, pain, or decay.

The Apostle Paul says, "So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 nkjv

We may eat, drink, and rest, but not out of need there. One day soon we’ll live on a completely restored earth with the risen Christ at King of it all. Yes, in a Kingdom that never fades or dissipates away. Until then, the call is for those in the Church is simple and urgent:

Wake up, Church. Stir your soul. Fan the flame. Live ready in Christ because some will soon be resurrected with bodies fit for a very hot lake. They won't sleep in Christ, they'll tragically be turned into hell for rejecting Jesus.

"Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.' And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21:1-5 nkjv

I do like a nap now and then (something I just hated as a child), but listen believer, now is not the time for long naps and sleep. Jesus Christ is coming again real soon!

Yes, you've heard about “Soul sleep” before -- it's that belief that after a person dies his or her soul “sleeps” until their physical resurrection and final judgment. Guess what, that doesn't happen and soul-sleep isn't biblical. 

Prayerfully spend some time in the Epistles. Yes, go to Ephesians. I love how Paul continues on with his description of the Christian’s walk there. He tells us this: 

"For this reason He says,  'Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine [as dawn] upon you and give you light.' 15 Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people], 16 making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil." Ephesians 5:14-16 amp

What's that letter about, and what does he tell us to do? 

-   Walk close to the Lord in Love (See Eph. 5:1–6)

Christian, live as “followers” (v. 1). this means as “imitators, mimics” not of evil, but as God’s children, we should imitate our Heavenly Father. God is love, and we should hate sin and walk in love. The example of Christ’s love should inspire us to live balanced and exemplary. See John 15:9 and 12 and 1 John 3:16–18. Here Paul pictures Christ as the sweet-savor offering, bringing joy to the heart of God as He gives Himself for sinners. We are to be living sacrifices for His glory. 

Of course, the right kind of love implies that we really hate certain worldly things.

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good." Rom. 12:9 nkjv 

In the Bible what is the meaning of the Parable of the Ten Virgins?

What does it mean that “it is high time to awake out of sleep?" 

There are some sins that are more destructive than other sins, but we should hate all sins. There are preferences with certain lifestyles that should never even be named among saints. Do you hate sin as much as the Holy Spirit, Jesus and the Father hate sin? If not, then choose to grow up.  

In v. 4, Paul is not objecting to humor, but to unsuitable and unclean course jesting. I love good humor and more of us need to have some of that. Certainly, no Christian should use his or her lips to spread questionable stories with their jokes. We should never have to say, “Take this with a grain of salt” because our speech should always be seasoned with potent salt.

"Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer each one [who questions you]." Col. 4:6 amp

False teachers may say that you can be a Christian and live in habitual, deliberate sin, but that's why are called false -- they can't seem to go without falsehoods. They love to mix it in with a bit of truth too.. just enough so that you will swallow their lies and even pay them for it. Paul calls their teachings “empty [vain] words.” 

Compare vv. 5–6 with Gal. 5:21 and 1 Cor. 6:9–10. We were “children of disobedience” (2:1–3); but now we are children of God, and we ought to walk in love. That's what Jesus did and does. 

-    Walk Every Single day in the Light, Children of the Day (5:7–14)

Q: “What communion has light with darkness?” asks Paul in 2 Cor. 6:14 nkjv. None! We are children of light and ought to walk in the light. Darkness produces sin and lies; the fruit of the light (a better translation of v. 9) is goodness, righteousness, and truth. The light cannot compromise with the darkness; it can only expose it. See John 3:19–21 and 1 John 1:5–10.

-   Walk Carefully with Discernment (5:15–17)

Walk with your head on a swivel spiritually, eyes and ears open to properly evaluate.. discerning and aware circumspectly. That word “circumspectly” (v. 15) carries the idea of looking around carefully so as not to stumble or fall on your face. It means walking intelligently and not in ignorance of the truth. Real facts are your friends! 

I want to pursue Jesus -- live spiritually aggressive in a good sort of way. How foolish it would be for anyone to stumble along through life and never seek to know the will of the Lord for them personally! 

Instead of walking “accurately” (which is equivalent to “circumspectly”), too many keep missing the mark. They miss the WAY. They go off the good road or path, and end up suffering gobs on on some lame worldly detour. 

God wants all believer to live wise, to consistently be wise and fully understand what His will for our lives really is. Go back, ask Him again. Go to His Word and a decent church. As we obey His will, we “buy up the opportunities” (redeeming the limited time He's given to us to use, v. 16) and do not waste any time, or energy, or money, or emotions, or talents He's given you. I mean in anything that is apart from Him and His will. Lost opportunities may never be regained; they are gone forever. I hate that!!!

-      Walk in Harmony with Your Spouse, Family, Other Christians and Their Churches (5:18–6:9)

Read through chapter 6. It deals with harmony between husbands and wives, parents and children, and workers and masters.

It starts in the home. Be revived. Be awakened --fully awake right there. 

The secret of harmony in the home, in school, on the streets, and on the job is the fullness of the Spirit. Be refilled and controlled by the Spirit -- refills are free. Ask the Lord. 

The unity of the church and the harmony of the home both depend on the Holy Spirit (See 4:3; 5:18). 

It is power from God into you, and then from within you, not pressure from without, that holds the church and the home together for His glory. 

Notice some of the evidence of a Spirit-filled life: REAL LOVE, real joy (v. 19), real humility and gratitude (v. 20), and real obedience that's biblical (see v. 21). 

Now compare with these verses: 

"Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always]. 16 Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind—permeating every aspect of your being] as you teach [spiritual things] and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Col. 3:15–17 amp

What do you see? Reread it. You will see that when Christians are filled up to overflowing with the Word of God they will have the same characteristics. In other words, to be filled with the Spirit of God means to look like Jesus because you'll be controlled from within by the Spirit and by the Word. The marks of a Spirit-filled Christian are not unusual or strange emotional experiences, or even miracles with praying in tongues, but rather godly Christian character. Do you live holy with pure common sense? 

The principle of holy, godly headship is what helps bring harmony into the home. “As unto Christ” is the motive we are to have as we glorify Him. Wives are to submit to their husbands not unto sinning, but as unto Christ; and husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church; and children are to obey direct and delegated authority as unto the Lord. Family members who are right with the Lord will be right with each other inside the home and outside the home.

The church is pictured as the bride of Christ. Let's be awake in Him. 

It is interesting to compare the church to the first bride in the Bible, Eve (Gen. 2:18–25). She was taken from Adam’s side, and Christ’s side was pierced for us on the cross. She was formed when Adam was asleep, and Christ experienced the sleep of death to create the church. Eve shared Adam’s nature, and the church partakes of Christ’s nature (vv. 30–31). Eve was the object of her mate’s love and care, and Christ loves the church and cares for it. Adam was willing to become a sinner because of his love for his wife (1 Tim. 2:11–15), and Christ willingly was made sin because of His love for the church. Eve was formed and brought to Adam before sin entered the human family; the church was in the mind and heart of God before the foundation of the world. Note Rom. 7:4 and 2 Cor. 11:2 for the application of this truth of marriage to the individual believer and the local church.

What is Christ’s present ministry to the church? Awake, He is sanctifying and cleansing the church through the Word of God, and He does this by the work of the Spirit in His chosen servants (See 4:11–16). 

The water in v. 26 is not baptism. For one thing, Paul is talking about a continuous process of cleansing, and no Christian is baptized continuously. Water for washing is a symbol of the Word of God cleansing your mind and motives (See John 15:3 and 13:1–12). When Christ takes His church to glory, it will an awake Church. We in the Church will be perfect, spotless, and without any blemish. See John 17:22–24.

The Word is not only water that cleanses the church, but it is also food that nourishes the church to walk strengthened (v. 29). It is the spiritual food for the new nature of the believer within.

See 6:1–9, Paul applies the same truth to children as to servants. Children are to obey their parents for several reasons: 

1.) it is right; 

2.) it is commanded; 

3.) it brings blessings. 

The revived father who honors the Lord will have little trouble staying awake with win others to Christ.. or repeatedly over and over again winning the love and respect of his children.. or the sincere love of his own wife. She will keep seeing the Love of Jesus in Him. 

Paul warns fathers in verse 4 to refrain from provoking their own children with undue demands. Be firm but gentle too. Know God's will and direction for your home and then old the course even when they say you aren't being soft enough. Men aren't supposed to be soft pansies -- "act like men."

The Golden Rule of do unto others as you would have them do unto you.. applies to your homelife, and children must be treated like people and not like things own by you. Fathers are to discipline children (nurture biblically) and counsel them (admonition, encourage biblically) in the Lord.

Servants must remember that they serve Christ first of all. Primarily, keep God first! To be double-minded and try to serve two masters will only lead to double-trouble (See Matt. 6:24). Serve the Lord with singleness of heart, not spiritual compromise. This means the heart is focused and fixed on pleasing Jesus Christ in all things, and not on dead religious stuff, or on worldly gain. Not with “eyeservice”.. that means working hard and smart when the master is watching you, not with lazy loafing when he is out the door and gone; but if we serve Christ on the job, we are aware that He is always watching us and we seek to always please Him! Nuff said today -- come to Jesus here and now. 

Lord, I love to get away to be with You all alone, just to hear your words, to refresh in your presence, to worship and pray. It's so I can really know and walk with You better. Would you pray?: Bless and make me wisely decisive, a real blessing for the people and Church by my words, attitude and good deeds Lord Jesus! Time is limited. Send a ginormous tsunami set of revival and awakening waves to these shores (not for destruction's sake). Yes, to me and through me..or at least let me be a part of that.. if You will. Will You please!?

 

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Who was this guy named Lonnie Frisbee and what ever happened to him?

His memory is now being revived through a brilliant portrayal by actor Jonathan Roumie (from "the Chosen" Series).  

Poor kid of two OC teen parents, he was messed up and raped at age 8 by a neighbor, but Christ rescued him from that old horrible life. 

The film (Jesus Revolution) is about the spread of the gospel and how God sent that last great awakening to America (Let's pray God does it again). The movie points to the person of Jesus Christ, that was Lonnie, Chuck, Greg and Cathe's Savior. Who is Greg? Good question, but more importantly who is Jesus ..to you? 

Got some questions about the Jesus Christ of the Bible? Many people make up their own Jesus. So who was and is this real Christ? Is Jesus God? Yes. Is the deity of Christ biblical? Yes. 

Who is Jesus Christ?

Why did Jesus ask the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”

What did Jesus mean when He said that he who loves his life will lose it (John 12:25)?

What is a biblical response to someone who says, “My Jesus..”?

Randy Zieglar 4A rated on waves, and a Calvary Evangelist first witnessed to me while surfing in Dana Point.

How should a Christian respond to people who claim, “I saw Jesus”?

What did Jesus mean when He said, “He who is not with Me is against Me” (Matthew 12:30)?

Who killed Jesus? Did the Jews kill Jesus? Did the Romans kill Jesus? Did God kill Jesus? Did we kill Jesus?

After being murdered on a cross, who resurrected Jesus from physical death?

May I ask.. do you need a personal revival inside today? Ask. Do you remember the Jesus Revolution? It can happen again! It can happen in your today, or happen for the first time. 

My former So Cal pastor, Laurie first heard the gospel at school. Laurie had not been raised in any church environment. In 1970, when Greg was 17 years old, he repented and got saved outside while attending Newport Harbor High School under the youth ministry of evangelist Lonnie Frisbee, as the Jesus Movement was starting to explode in Southern California.

Lonnie Frisbee to @GregLaurie: “Jesus said that ‘You are either for Me, or you are against Me.’ There’s no middle ground with Jesus. You’re either for Him or against Him.. which side are you on?”

Greg Laurie decided that day that he was definitely FOR JESUS rather than against Him. (Isn't that how you feel as well?)

Like Lonnie, Chuck Smith and Greg would say: "You too were created to know God in a personal way—to have a meaningful relationship with Him, through His Son, Jesus Christ." 

  Yes you too, even now, can experience God's love firsthand! 

He walked forward with a group of others young kids to accept Christ. Lonnie led the group in a prayer of repentance and simply receiving Christ by faith. Greg repeated his words, asking Jesus Christ to come into his heart and forgive his of his sins (in SoCal in the same area this also happened to me in 1977. I decided, hung a U-turn and trusted Jesus). Then Lonnie led a multitude to Christ and was one of those characters whose whole was more than the sum of his parts. From a distance, he seemed unimpressive. But up close, he had a so called "powerful charisma" that was larger than life. When Lonnie delivered a sermon, hundreds of people came forward. Everything he did was pretty big. He started a small Sunday School class that mushroomed to 300 people, and teenagers all over Riverside were coming to Christ. 

"Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation." Psalm 85:6-8

Lonnie Frisbee was "a flawed man who passionately sought the will of God and shared that passion with countless seekers, a man who made mistakes but made such a difference in the lives of countless young people in an era when the youth of this country desperately needed a way back to God. Lonnie might have gone into the wilderness for a period, but he knew how to get home again, and he did return to the Lord." Now go see the movie Jesus Revolution, you'll be glad you did. 

And that's where Greg went to rep the Lord as a pastor, rep the Kingdom and Calvary Chapel too (starting a church called Harvest Christian Church). God has used him there, at his Orange County location, and all over the world to do a great job. What more's been said of Lonnie's life? (click) 

We as a people are so divided in the USA. 43% of Americans think we are headed towards a civil war!

What's Up With This "Spiritual Awakening "at Asbury University?

Is Another Jesus Movement Going To Happen?  Where.. how?

"If all the sleeping people will wake up, if all the lukewarm people will fire up, if all of the dishonest people will confess up, if all the disgruntled people will cheer up, if all the estranged people will make up, if all the gossipers will shut up, if all true soldiers will stand up, if the dry bones will shake up, if all the church people will pray up, then we can have a revival!" ~ Anon.

So who were Chuck and Kay? A humble pastor and wife team.

"When our aim is to please God, we weigh all of our actions.. not merely out of obedience but with an attitude of love. There is a big difference." ~ Kay Smith, Chuck Senior's wife

Kay was JOYOUS, a lot of fun to be around, totally contented and happy inside. She had a great Savior, a great Christian marriage and she began to sense a huge burden of concern for those Southern California young people who weren't loved at home.. and that's what took her to her knees in prayer for them before the Lord. She wanted His wisdom in how they could effectively reach out. Praying for the lost and hurting is so important because God delights to respond! Christ gets the glory.

Kay was always looking for and reaching out to people who were hurting.. to minister to them. It didn't matter who they were or where they came from.

The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3:17 urges all of us believers to be rooted and grounded in (God's selfless) love.

"Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong." Ephesians 3:17 nlt

Kay would have lots of fitting Scripture verses and encouraging reminder stories of how much God loves each of us. Even in painful times, His love for us never ceases, and often He uses those painful times to grow us believers. All-knowing, Almighty Jesus is always gentle but very strong. So tenderly, He just carries us to a place of peace; underneath us are the everlasting arms.

"The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you. He drives out the enemy before you; he cries out, ‘Destroy them!’" Deuteronomy 33:27 nlt

Not to pedestalize the people at all, but young people saw the joy and compassion of the Lord in Chuck and Kay. They "glowed" (not with natural light) said Janette Smith Manderson (daughter).

Let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You.

"But let all who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice, Let them ever sing for joy; Because You cover and shelter them, Let those who love Your name be joyful and exult in You." Psalm 5:11 amp