Happy New Year 2011

Happy New Year to everyone. As I read posts on Facebook and Twitter, I sense almost everyone is glad 2010 is gone and we look forward to a new year. Isn't that so natural for us as humans? I would most likely say that each year as been that way because we remember the hurts, pains, disappointments and losses more than we remember the gains, joys and achievements. The negative has a way of staying with us longer.

So, we look forward to a new year praying it will be better. The honest fact that in-and-of-itself, it most likely won't. Our hope for a better new year is only found with "Christ in us - the hope of glory."

One of the disciplines that will ensure a stronger and healthier year is a regular reading of the Word of God. I have "The One Year Bible" which I have loved, but I recently found a new document that I am going to use. It is a two year plan. Why this plan? It takes the reading in smaller blocks and and you read a Psalm or Proverb every day. Plus, you read through the Psalms and Proverbs four times in two years.

Here is the resource that you can download it and print it off.

For the new year, the Lord gave me the word "RUN" Hebrews 12:1. We are in a race as Christians and we are further along in the race than we have ever been. I don't like to run physically, but spiritually I must not become lazy, resistant and "out-of-shape." I am in a marathon and I must continue well in my preparation and performance. The book of Hebrews is filled with warnings to believers "not to quit." The closer we get to the finish line, we need to:

R - Resist those things that would hinder us in our race (Satan, people, thoughts, places)

S - Shake off hindrances (even something as small as "dust")

T - Tighten up some doctrines, disciplines

U - Upward look - keep looking to Jesus, "the author and finisher our faith."

So, happy new year and welcome 2011!! I do welcome what God has for me, my family and church family in 2011. God is good and faithful.

A Baby Changed the World

Babies have a way of changing lives. They have with us this year. It had been 23 years since we'd had a baby in our immediate family and God blessed us with two this year.

This Christmas season I begin thinking about babies that caused changes.

The first mention is Genesis 4:26 after Enosh was born to Seth it says, "Then men began to call on the name of the Lord." Babies have a way of causing parents to begin to look to the Lord for guidance and to steward the responsibility to raise the child given to them of the Lord.

Moses' birth immediately caused a change in Pharaoh's house and would eventually cause quite a change in his house and in every house of Egypt.

Samuel's birth also produced a response from the spiritual establishment of Israel and would later cause quite a stir as God used Samuel to help bring about change.

David's life was changed by an unnamed baby. But the birth and death of this son (II Samuel 12) caused David to give one of the greatest statements about death in the Old Testament: "...Now he is dead...I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me."

But the greatest "child" was the one Isaiah spoke of in 9:6 "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given..." This prophecy was fulfilled in Matthew 1: 18-25.

A child was born - but not just the product of the human race. This "child" came from another world. Every child born had its origination with God, but not a pre-existence with God - except in His mind. But Jesus was God's Son before He became the child to Joseph and Mary. Jesus came from Heaven to earth.

It is correct to speak of this season as "The Advent" because it is exactly what Jesus did. He came into the world. He was incarnated - God in human flesh.

This child changed the world spiritually, morally, politically, and every way you can image.

But how can this child change your life? The same way that He came into the world. We must be "born from above" (John 3:8). This birth in us must come from without us - from Heaven.

Would you be a Bethlehem today? or better still, would you be a Mary? Jesus can change your life if you would open your spiritual womb to the Holy Spirit's seed (Word of God) and let Him be born in you. This child will not be born of human effort or good deed, but by the Spirit.

When you watch a baby - you notice how each day they awake - it is a new day. And you ponder how "fresh" life is to them and how everything is a possibility to them. Babies are filled with such hope and life.

That same hope, wonder and life can fill you today- no matter how old you are if you will open your heart through repentance and faith to this Child.

The Word Became Flesh

The Word became flesh.

God became human,
the invisible became visible,
the untouchable became touchable,
eternal life experienced temporal death,
the transcendent one descended and drew near,
the unlimited became limited,
the infinite became finite,
the immutable became mutable,
the unbreakable became fragile,
spirit became matter,
eternity entered time,
the independent became dependent,
the almighty became weak,
the loved became the hated,
the exalted was humbled,
glory was subjected to shame,
fame turned into obscurity,
from inexpressible joy to tears of unimaginable grief,
from a throne to a cross,
from ruler to being ruled,
from power to weakness.

- Sam Storms

"I Want Your Presence for Christmas"

Celebrate CHRIST, not Christmas

by Dave Miller

Do you ever find yourself wondering at Christmastime, “What’s it all about?” Why do I go through all of this? Why do I brave the insane crowds at the mall, or the traffic on the streets? Your schedule is so busy that there is little time to enjoy the season. There are concerts and parties and gatherings galore. Is it really worth it?

I want to affirm that there is something worth celebrating during this season. There is more to it than decorations and presents and trees. There’s certainly more than egg nog or fruitcake (that stuff is disgusting). And there is way more than Santa and Rudolph and Elves (even dancing ones) to get excited about at this time of the year. There is something that matters, that is worth celebrating.

We have made Christmas about so many things – things that do not really matter in the eternal scheme of things. In the process, we often ignore the one thing that really matters – not a thing, a person. It’s about a person, a baby born who grew to be a man and changed everything. And it’s not just Christmas that is about him. Life is about him. Eternity is about him. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever.” Whether you know it or not, your existence comes from him, exists by his grace and is designed for his glory.

And the Bible is all about him as well. Here is the question. If life is about him and eternity is about him and all of the Bible is about him, then why do we live our lives as if there are many other things that really matter? Why do we act like money matters, when all of life is about him? Why do we buy into the deceptiveness of the pleasures of this world – as if they had inherent value? It’s all about him. It’s not about you, he is all in all!

He is found on every page of the Bible. There are moments where he leaps off the page clearly. Other times, he is hidden behind characters or symbols which foreshadow the revelation of all that he is. But he is there in every book, on every page.

He is there in Genesis, the seed of the woman whose heel would be struck by the serpent, but who would crush the serpent’s head. The first prophecy of him foretells his ultimate victory over all his enemies.

He is there in Exodus where he is our Passover Lamb, on whom all the sins of the world for all time would be laid. He is our Manna, the bread of life, the Rock, struck once from whom streams of living water would flow to all who believe in him.

He is hidden there in the pages of Leviticus; our great high priest who will make intervention for us with God.

Look for him in Numbers and you will find the star that will rise out of Judah to rule over Israel

In Deuteronomy, he is a deliverer like Moses who would speak the Word of God and deliver Israel from its bondage.

He is there in Joshua; the Captain of Our Salvation

In Judges, he is our perfect Judge, who will lead us into perfect fellowship with God

In Ruth, he is our kinsman redeemer

In the books of history, you have to look more carefully to find him, hidden behind illustrations and symbols, but, present nonetheless.

In 1&2 Samuel, he is a prophet like Samuel, who speaks God’s truth and leads us back to God.

In 1&2 Kings he is one who would fulfill the line of David.

In 1&2 Chronicles, he is the glory of God who came down to fill the tabernacle, as he would one day tabernacle among us.

In Esther, we see him in faithful Mordecai.

In Ezra, we see him in Zerubbabel, rebuilding the temple, restoring what sin has torn down.

In Nehemiah, we see him as our protector, the one who builds God’s wall of righteousness around us.

Like Job, we know that our Redeemer lives and that in the end, he will stand upon the earth.

In Psalms, he is on every page. He is our shepherd who leads us beside the still waters. He is the cornerstone that the builders rejected. He would be hated without cause, despised and crucified, risen and seated at the right hand of God.

He is there in Proverbs; the wisdom of god.

In Ecclesiastes, he is the only one who can bring meaning to the meaningless world.

In the Song of Songs, he is the ultimate bridegroom, who loves the church.

In Isaiah, he is born of a virgin, but destined to hold the government of all the world upon his shoulders. He is Immanuel, God with us. He is our Wonderful counselor, our Mighty God, our Everlasting Father and Our prince of Peace. He would be despised by his own people and become a light to the nations. He would be beaten beyond human recognition and die as the suffering servant. He would be wounded for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities. The chastisement that brought us peace would be upon him and by his stripes we are healed. The Lord would lay on him the iniquity of us all.

In Jeremiah he is the Righteous branch who will reign as king and execute justice and righteousness in the land.

In Lamentations, he is the judge of all sin who weeps over the effects of that judgment.

In Ezekiel, he is the shepherd in the line of David who will feed the sheep and watch over them.

In Daniel, he is the fourth man in the fiery furnace, the one who will always be there when the fires of suffering burn at your life.

In Hosea, he is the faithful bridegroom who restores his adulterous bride in his amazing grace and love.

In Joel, he is the one who would baptize his people with the Holy Spirit to initiate a new covenant.

In Amos, he is the plumb line against which our lives are judged

In Obadiah, the nations fear the Day of the Lord when He will rule on Mt. Zion and the kingdom shall belong to Yahweh.

In Jonah, he is the merciful God who restores the one who wanders from him, and the savior who would spend three days and nights in the grave for us.

In Micah, he is the ruler to be born in Bethlehem.

In Nahum, he avenges the people of God

In Habakkuk, the Lord is in his holy temple, and all the earth must be silent before him.

In Zephaniah, he is the restorer of his people.

In Haggai, he blesses God’s defiled people who return to him.

In Zechariah, he is the priest, the king who would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, would be pierced by evil men for our sins.

And in Malachi, he would be the Son of Righteousness, risen with healing in his wings.

Yes, he is the reason we celebrate Christmas, the reason for all of life. He is found hidden in the symbols, figures and workings of the Old Testament system, But now its time to look at the New Testament. The Old Testament was the foundation. The New Testament is the fulfillment. When we come to these pages, he is no longer hidden in symbols. He is revealed for who he really is. He is all in all.

In Matthew, he is the Messiah, the Son of David, the king of the Jews.

In Mark, he is the Holy One of God, the Son of God himself.

In Luke he is the Son of Man, our Horn of Salvation, the consolation of Israel.

And then, we come to John. In John, he is the unique son of God, the bread of life, the light of the World, the great I AM, the good shepherd and the door of the sheep. He is the Resurrection and the Life. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and he is the True Vine, the only way any of us can experience the life of God.

He is, in Acts, the Risen and living Lord to whom every man must answer.

In Romans, well, its hard not to simply copy the entire book. In Romans, he is the one who justifies. He demonstrated the love of God by dying for sinners. He is the hope for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord.

In 1 Corinthians, he is the firstfruits of the resurrection.

In 2 Corinthians, he leads us in triumphal procession and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.

In Galatians, he sets us free from the bondage of sin and the death of the law.

In Ephesians, we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in him.

In Philippians, he is the name above all names, the name at which every knee will bow and every tongue confess.

In Colossians, all the fullness of the godhead dwells in him. He is the image of the invisible God, the head of the Body, and our only hope of glory.

In 1 Thessalonians, we wait for the day the trumpet sounds and Jesus will descend from heaven with a shout, raising the dead in Christ then gathering living Christians in a great reunion.

In 2 Thessalonians, he will crush all the works of Satan and rule over this world.

In 1 Timothy, he is the one who came to save sinners like you and me.

In 2 Timothy, he will rescue us from every evil deed and bring us safely into his heavenly kingdom.

In Titus, he is our blessed hope.

In Philemon, a faithful friend.

In Hebrews, he is the author and finisher of our faith, our faithful high priest who offered himself as the sacrifice of our sins, the one whose blood once and for all washed away our sins.

In James, he is the Lord of glory, the judge who stands at the door, just waiting for that perfect moment in God’s timing.

In 1 Peter he is a living stone, rejected by men, but chosen and precious in the sight of God.

In 2 Peter, his divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.

In 1 John, he who has the son has life.

In 2 John, he is the truth who abides in us.

In 3 John he is the one who prospers our souls.

In Jude, he comes with myriads of his saints to execute judgment against the ungodly.

And in Revelation, that is where he really shines, fully revealed in all his glory.

In Revelation, he is the son of man with a white robe and a golden sash – his eyes like blazing fire, his feet like burnished bronze and his voice like the roar of many waters. His face shines like the sun and from his mouth comes a powerful two-edged sword. He is among the lampstands, the churches and he reveals himself to them.

To the church at Ephesus, which had lost its passion, he was present in the church, always there, always ready to work in and through his people if they repent and return.

To the suffering church of Smyrna, he was the resurrected Lord, who had been through the worst that Satan could offer and had overcome all.

To the doctrinally divided church of Pergamum he was held a sharp two-edged sword, the truth of God’s word is what corrects error.

To the morally compromised church of Thyatira, he was the refining fire that would purify them.

To the pretenders at Sardis, who appeared to be what they were not, he held the Spirit of God to transform them from the inside out and to make them what they pretended to be.

To the struggling church of Philadelphia he promised to open doors no one could close and close doors no one could open.

And to lukewarm Laodicea, he stood at the door and knocked, the living, faithful and true witness who promised to do the mighty work of God among them.

He’s all we need, my friends.

He is the Lamb of God, slain for the sins of the world the only one worthy to open the scroll and pour out the judgment, of God on the world. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

One day he will ride out of glory with the armies of heaven trailing after him. With the sword that comes from his mouth he will strike down the nations that stand against him. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God and this name is found to be written on him. “King of kings and Lord of lords.”

His name is Jesus and HE is what it’s all about. Jesus Christ our Lord. He is the only thing really worth celebrating this Christmas season.

Why would you focus on a Fat Guy in a red suit when you can worship the King of Kings? He is the king of the whole world and he doesn’t need Rudolph’s help getting around it. He doesn’t climb down chimneys but he offers the greatest gift that any of us could ever hope for. He offers us life. Forgiveness. Hope – real hope, not a politician’s empty promise. You don’t need alcohol to celebrate his joy. You don’t need mistletoe to experience his love. He’s not magic, he’s not myth – he’s the Lord of All and the source of life. And he shall reign forever and ever. Hallelujah!

Every aspect of the Christmas story is about him.

Announcement to Mary

It all began when the angel appeared to Mary and told her all about him. “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:30-33)

He was the son of God sent into this world to accomplish the purposes of God, to be Lord. Don’t fall into the mistake that many people make in the celebration of Christmas and the study of the life of Jesus. Yes, he was a cute little baby in his mother’s armz and the shepherds came and the Magi travelled from afar to worship him. He was an adorable little boy. And he grew to be a man who came to seek and to save the lost, to be the servant of all.

But make no mistake, my friend. Jesus also came to rule. He is the rightful Lord, the ruler of all that is. He is your Lord, your boss. You have no right to live your life for yourself. You have no right to do as you please. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him and he has every right to demand that you give your life to him.

Angel Announces to the Shepherds

The night Jesus was born, an Angel appeared to shepherds on the hillside near Bethlehem, and told them a little more about who Jesus was.

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)

Jesus came to be Lord of all. But to those who turn from their sins and acknowledge Jesus as Lord, he is also a Savior.

You and I have a problem. We are sinners. No big deal, right? We’re all sinners, no one is perfect, right? Wrong! Big Deal! All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but do not let the commonness of sin deceive you. The wages of sin is death. Because you are a sinner and I am a sinner, we are separated from God by our sins.

And there is no hope in anyone but the baby that was born in Bethlehem, the Savior of the world. He saves sinners from their sins.

The Angels Rejoice

That angel spoke the glorious message of the saving grace of Jesus Christ to shepherds on the hillside. Then, suddenly, a party broke out. The angels of heaven could contain their glee no longer and they burst forth to shout, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14)

Those who give glory to God find that they can experience the peace of God. Hell-deserving sinners such as you and me, people whose sin have separated them from God can experience the great grace and wonder of a relationship with God, of the presence and power of God in their lives. When Jesus rules your heart, and you trust him as your Savior, the glory and peace of God becomes a reality in your life!

It does not come through religion. It does not come through good works. It does not come through human power, goodness or personality. It comes through Jesus. He is our all in all.

He was sent from heaven to be born of a virgin. Born in righteousness and purity he lived every moment of his life for the glory and honor of God. He obeyed the Father in everything, earning righteousness, earning heaven, earning the favor of God. At the end of his life, not owing God a death, he instead made a deal. He said I will take the sins of the world on myself and suffer the eternal wrath of God for them. He was nailed to the cross by cruel nails, but it was not the nails that held him to that cross, it was his determination to fulfill the plan of God and to redeem sinners from hell. He died, and rose again as the victorious conqueror of death and hell. Those who turn from their sins in repentance and trust in him will receive forgiveness and be made perfectly righteous in Christ.

His name is Jesus. He is the Lord of all. He is the Savior of all who trust in Him. He is the glory of God and the Prince of Peace.

Please don’t celebrate Christmas. Celebrate Christ!

Billy Graham's Interview December 20, 2010

This is the interview (done December 20, 2010) of Evangelist Billy Graham, watch it. Thank God for a clear, strong Biblical and Jesus-centered presentation.

Sunday's Sermon Notes from December 19, 2010

I am not posting the normal link to my sermon notes today so I'm giving you a sense of the sermon this past Sunday. As I have been preaching on prayer on Sunday morning and revival on Sunday night, I begin to see a relationship added with this theme having Christmas overtones (since this is the Sunday before Christmas), so I preached on humility. I entitled the message “Prerequisite to Praying.”

What is the perquisite to praying? We can preach about prayer, shame you into praying for a while. But what is the one, single ingredient that is needed before a person will be a person of prayer?

It is humility. This is my definition of humility: it is knowing who you are and who He is.

Puritan Theologian John Flavel said, "They that know God will be humble; they that know themselves cannot be proud."

II Chron. 7:14 "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land"

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:5, 6).

What does Christmas and prayer have in common?

1. Humility precedes the prayer of repentance.

The lack of humility was the problem in the Garden. Pride. Arrogance. Wanting self-sovereignty and Independence. Autonomy. It was the sin in the Garden and still is the sin of every human being.

To be converted and saved means one has expressed humility to repent of the sin of pride and place oneself firmly in the grip of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection.

B. Humility precedes the prayers of the righteous.

Don’t think of your self more highly than you should, but soberly. Romans 12:3

When one sees himself in humility, he will pray. And prayer is first in the list of II Chron. 7:14

C. Humility precedes the presentation of the Redeemer.

That which caused Lucifer to be kicked out of Heaven in disgrace was the very opposite that caused Jesus leave Heaven in differing to His Father’s will.

Philippians 2:1-11 is an excellent Christmas reminder of the humility of Jesus. His humility did not begin with Jesus being born in a stable. It began as He submitted to the will of the Father to leave Heaven and come to earth. Jesus "humbled himself" becoming obedient to death, even the death of the cross.

The Chinese House Church and Baptismal Questions

Dr. Jerry Rankin, past-president of the International Mission Board, spoke December 5, 2010 at First Baptist Church, Pell City where Dr. John Thweatt is Pastor. John posted the following on his blog the day after the message. This is most interesting and thought-provoking. You may read the full blog here.

In his sermon Dr. Rankin spoke of what God is doing worldwide in terms of the spread of the Gospel. He made an incredible statement about the house church movement in China. He said that two of the house church groups that we are working with are larger than the SBC! That means that there are at least two groups of Christians, out of a number of other house church movements, that have over 16 million people among their numbers.

After the service Tim Gold and I took the Rankins out to eat and Tim asked him about that statement. In the midst of talking to us about the house church movement and their commitment to the Gospel he shared that one of our missionaries was speaking to a group of leaders in the movement about when it would be appropriate to baptize a convert.

Our missionary shared that before you should baptize them you should ask three questions: 1) Do you believe that Jesus Christ is God, 2) Do you profess that Jesus is your personal savior, and 3) Do you commit your life to following Him. He said if they say yes to these three questions then you can baptize them.

The Chinese leaders said they needed to add a 4^th question—4) If the government officials come to your home and take everything you have and kill your wife and children will you still follow Jesus? If they say yes to those four questions then you can baptize them.

The X in Christmas

by R.C. Sproul

Why is X Used when it Replaces Christ in Christmas?

The simple answer to your question is that the X in Christmas is used like the R in R.C. My given name at birth was Robert Charles, although before I was even taken home from the hospital my parents called me by my initials, R.C., and nobody seems to be too scandalized by that.

X can mean so many things. For example, when we want to denote an unknown quantity, we use the symbol X. It can refer to an obscene level of films, something that is X-rated. People seem to express chagrin about seeing Christ’s name dropped and replaced by this symbol for an unknown quantity X. Every year you see the signs and the bumper stickers saying, “Put Christ back into Christmas” as a response to this substitution of the letter X for the name of Christ.

First of all, you have to understand that it is not the letter X that is put into Christmas. We see the English letterX there, but actually what it involves is the first letter of the Greek name for Christ. Christos is the New Testament Greek for Christ. The first letter of the Greek word Christos is transliterated into our alphabet as anX. That X has come through church history to be a shorthand symbol for the name of Christ.

We don’t see people protesting the use of the Greek letter theta, which is an O with a line across the middle. We use that as a shorthand abbreviation for God because it is the first letter of the word Theos, the Greek word for God.

The idea of X as an abbreviation for the name of Christ came into use in our culture with no intent to show any disrespect for Jesus. The church has used the symbol of the fish historically because it is an acronym. Fish in Greek (ichthus) involved the use of the first letters for the Greek phrase “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.” So the early Christians would take the first letter of those words and put those letters together to spell the Greek word for fish. That’s how the symbol of the fish became the universal symbol of Christendom. There’s a long and sacred history of the use of X to symbolize the name of Christ, and from its origin, it has meant no disrespect.

Taken from Now, That’s a Good Question!
©1996 by R.C. Sproul. Used by permission of Tyndale.

Sermon Notes from Sunday, December 5, 2010

I am currently preaching about the discipline of praying in a disciple's life. It is a three-part series of the three areas of prayer symbolizing three parts of our prayer life: private, personal and public.

This past Sunday I preached about "The Living Room: Personal Praying." This is the type of praying we do with family, friends, and small groups. Here are the notes.

Confessions of an Auburn fan

For those who are not aware, I was born, raised and live in a state where football is a god. There is little doubt of the magnitude of that statement.

The two largest universities have rich traditions in football and in the past three years alone, Alabama went 12-2 and 14-0 and Auburn is 12-0 this year; plus a Heisman trophy winner last year and apparently one this year.

I have been an Auburn fan all my life. I don't know why especially when most in my family where Alabama fans. I was once as passionate about football as any because I simply lived in the state of Alabama.

But these past few years has not been good for the state of Alabama. As a pastor, I have witnessed first hand how attendance and offerings would be negatively affected the Sunday after a football loss. The bitterness and wrath between the two schools has only grown more in depth. The "talk" around this state with its history, last three seasons and then the Cam Newton situation has been nauseating.

As Auburn plays for the SEC Championship today, I will watch it. I hope they win and that Cam Newton has a great game, but let me make these confessions:

1. My sustaining joy has not changed this year even though Auburn has won. I had to come to place several years ago that if football changed my joy; then it had to big of a hold over me.

2. I believe the best thing that could happen to the spiritual condition of the state of Alabama is for both teams to go 0-11 and tie in their game. (I actually said that publicly last Sunday in my message). Pride, arrogance, bitterness, wrath, anger and division do not make for a healthy spiritual lives and churches.

3. I would gladly give up (remember I am an Auburn fan) the undefeated season for our churches to experience the genuine presence and touch of God.

You see, I believe if a person can act one way on Saturday and then another on Sunday; there is an idol in their life. Don't misunderstand me - I DO NOT WANT OUR CHURCHES TO BECOME FOOTBALL GAMES. Our churches have something FAR BETTER, EXTREMELY BETTER than any football game can ever offer even if it is an undefeated and championship season.

The presence of God manifested through the Holy Spirit is "better than life." And oh, I hunger for it. EVERY SUNDAY!! EVERYDAY!!! Not just ever-once-and-awhile. If Nick Saban can "preach" to his players the importance of "every play, every down in every practice and every game" to do to the best of your ability - how much more the church of the living God.

So, Auburn and football is secondary, if even that. I want to enjoy God and His presence more than anything else. "Nobody has done me like Jesus!!" I look forward to worshipping Him today, tomorrow and everyday - if Auburn wins or loses. It don't matter. My joy will not change. Just give me Jesus!!! and His Spirit!!!!

Marks of Revival by J.I. Packer

The features of revival movements on the surface vary widely, perhaps as a result of different settings, yet indeed God appears to delight in variety. Nevertheless, at the level of deeper analysis, there are constant factors recognizable in all biblical and post-biblical revivals, whatever their historical, racial, and cultural settings. They number five, and are described below. Awareness of God's presence. The first and fundamental feature in revival is the sense that God has drawn awesomely near in his holiness, mercy, and might. This is felt as the fulfilling of the prayer of Isaiah 64:1ff: "O that thou wouldst rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at thy presence . . . to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence." God "comes," "visits," and "draws near" to his people, and makes his majesty known. The effect is the same as it was for Isaiah himself, when he "saw the Lord sitting on a throne" in the temple and heard the angels' song — "Holy, holy, holy"— and was forced to cry, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips" (Is. 6:1-5). It is with this searching, scorching manifestation of God's presence that revival begins, and by its continuance that revival is sustained. Responsiveness to God's Word. The sense of God's presence imparts new authority to his truth. The message of Scripture which previously was making only a superficial impact, if that, now searches its hearers and readers to the depth of their being. The statement that "the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb. 4:12) is verified over and over again. God's message—the gospel call to repentance, faith, and holiness, to praise and prayer, witness and worship—authenticates itself unambiguously to men's consciences, and there is no room for half measures in response. Sensitiveness to Sin. Deep awareness of what things are sinful and how sinful we are is the third feature of revival that calls for notice. No upsurge of religious interest or excitement merits the name of revival if there is no profound sense of sin at its heart. God's coming, and the consequent impact of his word, makes Christians much more sensitive to sin than they previously were: consciences become tender and a profound humbling takes place. The perverseness, ugliness, uncleanness, and guilt of sin are seen and felt with new vividness. Under revival conditions consciences are so quickened that conviction of each person's own sinfulness becomes strong and terrible, inducing agonies of mind that are beyond imagining till they happen. The gospel of forgiveness through Christ's cross comes to be loved as never before, as people see their need of it so much more clearly. But conviction of sin is a means, not an end... But conviction of sin is a means, not an end; the Spirit of God convinces of sin in order to induce repentance, and one of the more striking features of revival movements is the depth of repentance into which both saints and sinners are led. Repentance, as we know, is basically not moaning and remorse, but turning and change. Peter's listeners on the day of Pentecost were "pierced to the heart," which literally means to inflict with a violent blow, a vivid image of an acutely painful experience. Shattered, the congregation cried out, "Brethren, what shall we do?" Peter showed them the way of faith, repentance, and discipleship through Jesus Christ, and three thousand of them took it (Acts 2:37-41). Revival always includes a profound awareness of one's own sinfulness, leading to deep repentance and heartfelt embrace of the glorified, loving, pardoning Christ. Liveliness in Community. A revived church is full of the life, joy and power of the Holy Spirit. With the Spirit's coming, fellowship with Christ is brought right to the center of our worship and devotion; the glorified Christ is shown, known, loved, served, and exalted. Love and generosity, unity and joy, assurance and boldness, a spirit of praise and prayer, and a passion to reach out to win others are recurring marks of a people experiencing revival. So is divine power in their preachers, a power which has nothing to do with natural eloquence. Fruitfulness in testimony. Revival always has an evangelistic and ethical overspill into the world. When God revives the church, the new life overflows from the church for the conversion of outsiders and renovation of society. Christians become fearless in witness and tireless in their Savior's service. They proclaim by word and deed the power of the new life, souls are won, and a community conscience informed by Christian values emerges. Also in revival times God acts quickly; his work accelerates. Truth spreads, and people are born again and grow in Christ, with amazing rapidity. Such in outline is the constant pattern by which genuine movements of revival identify themselves. Christians in revival are accordingly found living in God's presence (coram Deo), attending to his word, feeling acute concern about sin and righteousness, rejoicing in the assurance of Christ's love and their own salvation, spontaneously constant in worship, and tirelessly active in witness and service, fueling these activities by praise and prayer. The question that presses is whether revival is actually displayed in the lives of Christian individuals and communities: whether this quality of Christian life is there or not. Author: James Innell Packer (born July 22, 1926) currently serves as the Board of Governors' Professor of Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is considered one of the most influential evangelicals in North America. Permission for reprint from International Awakening Ministries. November 2010