| During times in the valley of life, God can usually get our attention. During these times usually the world, the church, and individuals begin to examine their lives. I know that right after 9/11 there was a 30% increase of church attendance, but only after a few weeks most churches returned to their former state. During our current crisis many are looking to the church for answers. However, a lot of the churches in the world today especially in Amercia and Europe, would be considered “LUKEWARM”. In the book of Revelation, Jonn delivers a message to the church in Ephesus that they are doing many good things, however, he sternly gives them a word to repent and return to their first love. Return to the things they did in the beginning.
About two years ago I received the same message from the Lord. During this season of my life, my schedule was packed out with good things.
I had an international ministry, thousands were coming to Christ, and I thought I was doing very well.
However, if I took time to slow down and listen to God, He seemed far away. The intimacy I experienced as a younger believer seemed a bit dim. Most of the time I was too busy to worry about it, or I explained it as spiritual warfare.
As I took some time off from ministry up at the YWAM base in Montana, I went out to the woods and had a wrestling match with God. Guess who won!!
I heard those words from the Holy Spirit that I thought I would never hear, ” You have left your first love”. So being a task operator, I cried out to God, “Lord I give you everything. I put it all on the altar.”
So after several minutes of listing all of my valuables, (family, ministry, hobbys), I verbally stuck them on the altar, and I heard these words “I only want you on the altar. The fire will only fall on what is on the altar.”
WOW, talk about a a smart bomb rebuke. I fell to my knees and repented to my self-controlled Christianity. As I began to walk out my revelation, He led me to a renewed freedom and intimacy with the Lord. One of the results of the shift in my thinking, and actions was an increase of love, power and favor. The Lord said to me, “Pray more and work less, and watch what I will do.” IT WORKS!!!
The church in these end times will either bend or break. Back to the church in Ephesus, the Lord says, “Repent or I will take away your lamp stand. The lamp stand represents the 7 spirits of God, and illumination of these spirits in our lives.
Our work for the Lord burns the oil, our time with the Lord fills our lamps……keep your fire burning. We need a church that will shine in these end times…
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