Do we long for evangelical renewal in our towns and cities, in our land; for a new work of God? The great prophets and pioneers of evangelical renewal stressed that renewal could only come through a strategy of spiritual revitalisation combined with doctrinal and structural reformation. What is needed for renewal is both revival and reformation. We need to look at the way we organise ourselves, we need to ensure that our doctrine is truly scriptural, but we need, too, a movement of the Holy Spirit.
One of my favourite passages from the Scriptures is the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37. Here is God at work in a mighty way – bringing these dry bones and knitting them together, putting flesh on them and covering them with skin. But, we are told, there was still no breath in them. So the Lord has Ezekiel prophesy, and God’s breath entered them, and they become a vast army.
Here is a sovereign work of God; humanly speaking we could not breathe life into dead bones. Yet, at the same time, God, in an amazing way, uses us to accomplish his purposes. Ezekiel, through the words of prophecy which God gives to him, plays his part in bringing God’s purposes into being. And God uses us, as well!
Categories: Bible Notes and Prayer Diary
Tagged: Ezekiel 37, new wine, new wineskins, reformation, renewal, revival, valley of dry bones
I read an article on the BBC news website this morning about churches in West Java, one of the Indonesian islands, meeting in malls and even hospitals. Many churches are being intimidated by fundamentalist Muslim groups, and being forced to close their buildings.
It seems that churches need to have a permit in order to hold religious services, and in order to get a permit congregations must get signatures from 90 of their non-Christian neighbours. In the current religious climate in that part of the world those signatures are often hard to come by. Churches, then, are resorting to meeting in malls and hospitals, rather than their own buildings.
The article made me realise how easy we find life in this country. Our biggest obstacle is not persecution, but apathy. I will pray today for brothers and sisters in Christ in other parts of the world who struggle to meet together, who are persecuted for their faith, and yet who are stand strong in the face of that persecution.
Categories: Bible Notes and Prayer Diary · Sermon illustrations
Tagged: churches meeting in malls, Indonesia
