WHERE WILL REVIVAL BEGIN? by B Y R O N F O X X
on’t ever think that revival will begin in a nightclub, a bar or a theater. So where would you suppose that revival begins? In the legislature? In the business world? NO! The people in the bar are committed to other things. Those in the theater are looking for pleasure. Those in the business world are buying and selling. Revival is a Christian word. It is a church word. There is a difference between revival and evangelism. Evangelism is taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to unsaved people. Revival can only be had by Christians. Only God can grant a revival. Notice how Habakkuk prayed, “…O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years…” (Habakkuk 3:2).
Revival is the sovereign, supernatural movement of God among His people. It comes as a direct result of prayer, repentance and holiness. Revival will result in a close walk with the Lord and an increase in soul winning! For churches, revival is normal. Revival ought to be expected among the children of God. Every church service should be a revival service. Every day should be a soul winning day. Each day a Christian should walk a little closer with the Lord, worship the Lord a little more fervently, pray a little more earnestly, and seek the lost a little more zealously. May God Almighty send a sweeping revival among His people in America and around the world today!
“
O Lord, revive Thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
“
D
b y r on f ox x
is an evangelist, music publisher, songwriter, and the founder and president of Bible Truth Music.
GOD BLESS AMERICA Volume 1, Number 4
editor: byron foxx | assistant editor: t. kevan bartlett | managing editor: tim cruse | production assistant: caleb cruse We would love to hear from you! Please write to Editor@GodBlessAmericaCrusade.com
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CRUSADE REVIEW
LEAVING RICHMOND A BETTER PLACE by T. KEVAN BARTLETT
T
he distinguished, well dressed gentleman was always nearby. Mr. James Oliver is the manager of the Arthur Ashe Center in Richmond, a place we visited frequently in the weeks of preparations for the Crusade. It is the place we occupied for several days before and during the Crusade. Mr. Oliver’s assessment of the God Bless America Crusade was sincerely expressed to us in this statement, “You are leaving Richmond a better place. You have really impacted our City!” To God be the glory great things He has done! Of course, any impact is of God; we absolutely KNOW that. We rejoice in the many ways that we God blessed the GBA Crusade efforts. Like every other major city in America, Richmond is a desperately needy place – spiritually. The Lord allowed us to have an impact. Fortynine sponsoring churches worked, prayed, fasted, gave, knocked doors, sacrificed time and energy – all in a passionate effort to sound the Gospel in Richmond. The pastors of most of these churches report that their congregations have experienced a reviving toward evangelism and personal witnessing. They have felt a surge of Holy Spirit power in their own recent church services. Enlisting God’s people in God’s commission is a certain 4
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path toward engaging them into God’s passion. Evidence of the unique impact of the Crusade is the saturation of local news coverage. On a weekend that featured a NASCAR race in the same city, preparations for a major international bike race, and the ever-present election news – the Crusade was featured on several local news casts. They even promoted the special emphasis for the coming night ahead. They noted the large crowds, big choir and enthusiastic responses. The attendance was strong each night. The Crusade Choir sang over four hundred. A Teen Crusade event was held on Saturday afternoon with almost four hundred attending. People were saved in every service. Offerings were good – but there remains a need to complete the budget. Pastors are enthused; church members ready to continue evangelizing; God is STILL working! Pastor Donnie Sumpter (Landmark Baptist Church, Richmond) called for area believers to continue the effort beyond the dates of the Crusade. His closing remarks on the final night, Sunday, “This is not taps, this is reveille!” In the many weeks of direct outreach there were 71,000 doors knocked, 6 tons of tracts and door-hangers
distributed, 90,000 copies of John and Romans placed. Untold thousands of people invited, contacted and witnessed to. It is impossible to know the exact number of people who trusted Christ thoughout the effort. We have documentation that AT LEAST 200 people were saved. But, there were many, many people saved beyond our ability to document. We also know that the reverberations of the Gospel will be echoing in the Richmond area for some time. Each soul that comes into the family of God is a priceless treasure of God’s mercy. Consider these examples of eternal significance. A teen girl was saved on Saturday who had NEVER attended a church service in her life. A young husband and wife were beautifully saved together on Saturday night. After the Sunday night service a young Muslim man accepted Jesus as Savior. We know that God’s Word does not return void. By God’s grace we infused Richmond with the Word of God. Therefore, we know that He allowed us to leave Richmond – a better place. t. ke van bart l e t t is the senior pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church in Charleston, West Virginia.
photography by Adam Hager
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Who will teach the children? But Jesus said, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of such is the kingdom of -- Matthew 19:14 Heaven.”
Government bureaucrats are not going to teach your children
the Gospel.
Congress is not going to show them Jesus. The United Nations doesn’t want them to know the Truth. That is why God made parents. And it’s why the World is bent on taking them down.
Learn more and take action:
Protecting Children by Empowering Parents
Franklin Road
Baptist Church
franklinroadbaptist.org
Knowing God
Growing Together
Showing Others
3148 Franklin Road | Murfreesboro, TN 37128 | 615.890.0820 D r. M i ke N orri s , P as to r
“And Jesus went about all the cities...” Matthew 9:35 6
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SEPTEMBER 2015
THANK GOD! WE CAN HAVE REVIVAL! GOD’S PRECIOUS PRODUCT OF REVIVAL by BRUCE MILLER
I
n issues one through three we saw from God’s Word that revival is POSSIBLE today, the PROBLEMS that necessitate revival, and God’s sure PRESCRIPTION for revival (Revelation 2:1-7). The PRODUCT or result of revival may surprise you. The goals of revival are not excitement, better attendance, or bigger offerings. At least God’s goals are more precious than those and may result in the above. Notice that God’s goal for revival in Revelation 2:1-7 was personal! It was that the church (individuals) at Ephesus would
return to their “first love” relationship with Christ Jesus (2:4). Like a marriage where the spouse is going through the motions, being faithful “out of duty,” Christ wants us in contrast to love Him “with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Oh, how sweet is “first love” and “wholehearted love.” This will result in obedience in all things, for Jesus said in John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” This willing, “whole-hearted,” “give it all,” passionate, “first love,” will result in better Christians, better offerings, excitement,
and souls saved because “first love” Christians hold nothing back. When Christians are revived, God gets first place in everything. Let’s join the Psalmist then in praying “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?” (Psalm 85:6). The result of revival will be Christians loving and enjoying God and His program on earth! bruc e mi l l e r
is the president of Atlantic Coast Baptist College in Laurel, Delaware.
INTRODUCING
More resources available at BibleTruthMusic.com
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WHY SHOULD CHRISTIANS GO TO CHURCH? b y KEN WALTERS
T
he trend of modern day church leaders is: less church, shorter services, and no Sunday evening or Bible study services on Wednesday night. Sadly, this trend has led many people, who call themselves Christians, to feel that church attendance must not be important. Those good churches that remain open when most others are closed are many times poorly attended. This poor attendance can mostly be attributed to the lack of sound teaching on the subject and the witness of others who are supposed to be leaders but fail miserably in this area. There are however, many reasons why church attendance should be important to a person who is a true Christian and desires to lead a life that honors God. The New Testament describes many congregations of God’s people meeting together for encouragement and to learn the Word of God. (Acts 11:26, I Corinthians 1:2, I Corinthians 11:17-
34) Because of the spiritual strength and fellowship obtained by the meeting together of fellow believers, God gave the command to the early Christians, (which carries over to us today,) to not only “grow in grace,” but also to “go and bring forth fruit.” God has made plain the fact that He expects His people to be faithful in church attendance, hence the verse in Hebrews 10:25 admonishing to “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together.” Another reason for faithful church attendance is that it is a display of love for the One who saved us and gave us new life in Christ. When a person or family faithfully attends church, it is an outward expression of his/ her love for God and a witness to other family members and friends that God is in “first place.” The reasons for faithful church attendance are many and would need more time than is allotted for this article. Briefly, if a person loves God, he/she should
attend a Bible believing church, if they want to grow as a Christian, they should attend church, if a person wants to honor God with their life and be a testimony to others, he/she should attend church. Church attendance is not a suggestion to be chosen but rather a commandment to be obeyed. Faithful church attendance not only provides a blessing for those who go, but it also provides outlets for opportunities to serve God in different areas and be a service to fellow believers. With faithful church attendance, we are reminded of God’s continual care and love for us. Our love for God should regularly draw us to the place where His people meet together to Worship Him. ken walt er s
is the senior pastor of Southside Baptist Church in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
For more information about the God Bless America Crusades, please visit GodBlessAmericaCrusade.com
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REVIVAL BEGINS AT HOME b y RYAN BROWN
W
e would all say that we have a desire for revival. We would all say that we want our country to return to God. Where does revival begin and what does it look like when it happens? Revival will not begin in government or even in church, revival will begin in our homes. In elections candidates are chosen because elections reflect the values of the people who vote. In church, we proclaim truths to live by however, the living of those truths has much less to do with the church house than with our house. Most of our efforts for revival are corporate rather than personal. If we truly seek to turn the tide in our country, we must understand that revival will only come when individuals and families determine to make the Lord preeminent in their lives and serve him first. How Can We Turn the Tide and See Revival Begin in Our Homes? 1. The Lord must be the one thing that we never remove from our schedule.
The family of today has something pulling at their time all the time. From youth sports to programs to work, it seems
that there is never enough time to get it all done. Tragically, when we realize that their are only 24 hours in a day, we feel the need to cut something and all too often what we cut, is God. Game on Sunday - skip church. Overtime at work - skip church. The solution is found in Colossians 1:18, “In all things he might have the preeminence.” Always make the things of God first and let everything else fall into order. 2. Bible teaching must take place regularly and systematically at home.
Bible teaching is the most important teaching that our home can proclaim. We have to wonder why our interpretation of “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6) has changed to suit our desires. The greatest concern that should be addressed in the training of a child is their spiritual training. If we teach a child that it is acceptable to give something “in exchange for his soul”, this foundation will be laid for the rest of their lives and our old age will be spent in heartache as we will regret giving our children the world at the expense of their soul.
3. Prayer should be something that families “do” and not just speak of.
What is the best place and time for a child to learn to pray? The things that become the priorities of children are the things that have determined to be priorities at home. Children mimic their parents in many ways, even taking the speaking accent and the hobbies of their parents. If parents approach the things of God as something that is insignificant; their children will do the same. We must teach children to pray for everything from their lunch to challenging situations that they face at school. We must teach them to pray publicly by praying at home. A child who is taught to pray will pray. When the Lord has the preeminence, when parents are training up their children and when praying becomes part of a families life, we will begin to see the truth that, “Revival Begins and Home”. ryan br ow n
is the senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Ohio.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” –John 3:16
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SEPTEMBER 2015
BELIEVING THE TRUTH OVER A LIE by TIM CRUSE
“Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life” (Ezekiel 13:22)
I
don’t want to write a good sermon, I want to be used of God to turn someone from destruction! There is a God in Heaven who knows where you are, what you’re grappling with and how much longer you can take it. David cried in Psalm 119:176, “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.” God is coming after you dear friend! Is the following true about you? • I have walked in lies. ( Jeremiah 23:14, 22-24)
• I have observed lying vanities. ( Jonah 2:8)
• I have taken refuge in lies. (Hosea 7:13-15; 10:13)
Therefore, I just about lost heart. I just about crossed over into sin. I just about missed everything God had for me and my family. I believed: • It doesn’t matter... »» What I do or don’t do. »» Whether I stick around. »» What I’ve put into my children and others. • I’ve wasted my life. • Nobody cares if I continue.
Satan is the father of lies. All of his children are lies. There is not a true servant of God who hasn’t been lied about and lied to: EVE believed the lie that you can act independently of God and prosper. THE ISRAELITES believed the lie that it would be better to go back to what they had instead of to keep going toward what they did not have yet. LOT believed the lie that the comforts of this world had more to offer him and his family than God did. ACHAN believed the lie that he and his family would be better off looking out for themselves instead of paying the price of obedience. ELEMILECH believed the lie that you can wander away from God and His will and it won’t cost your family. SAMSON believed the lie that you can play with the fire of temptation and not be burned. UZZIAH believed the lie that you can abuse the privilege of your position and not be called into account. DAVID believed the lie that you can take what belongs to someone else and keep what belongs to you. JOB believed the lie that when you’ve lost so much and hurt so deeply you’re finished and there’s no good at all left in your future. PETER believed the lie that once you’ve failed the Lord and turned aside from following Him that He could never use you again. OUR LORD, in His humanity, just about believed the lie that He had labored in vain and spent His strength for nought.
“Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.” (Isaiah 49:4)
Don’t stumble about in the darkness of deception. Don’t forsake your uniquely designed mercies from the hand of a merciful God who knows the exact mercies you need. Don’t take refuge in the prison of sin – believe the truth instead. 1. Get alone with God as Paul did in the storm.
“But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them...” (Acts 27:21) 2. Get a promise to hold on to from His Word.
“Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.” (Acts 27:25) 3. Get back out among the people and lead them to safety.
“Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved...And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.” (Acts 27:31,44)
Hold to the promise of God and you will find the God of the promises holding you. t i m c rus e
is the senior pastor of the Shining Light Baptist Church and president of The Shepherd’s Place Children’s Home in Monroe, North Carolina.
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A Word
FROM THE EDITOR
The Bible records 132 contacts that Jesus had with people. Six were in the Temple, four in the synagogue and 122 were with people in the public. Nicodemus came during the night. The centurion came during the day. The leper and a sinful woman came in the middle of crowds. Zacchaeus met Jesus from up in a tree! Matthew met Christ from his tax collector desk. Jesus met with the educated and powerful, and the sick and hurting. Even the thief on the cross asked Jesus “Lord remember me.” Now the question is, do you know Jesus? Is He your Saviour? Here’s the call from Jesus to you: “Come unto me.” (Matthew 11:28) If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, will you do so right now? Romans 10:13 says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Perhaps you need help praying. Consider using this simple prayer: “Dear Lord, I admit I am a sinner. I believe You died for me on the cross, and rose again on the third day from the grave. I ask You to forgive my sin and save me. I am fully depending on You to take me to Heaven when I die. Thank You Lord. I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
If you just now asked Jesus to save you, we would love to hear from you. Please write to Editor@GodBlessAmericaCrusade.com
Please consider committing to The Hour That Makes The Difference | Bible Reading and Prayer, at least 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week, during the 12 o’clock hour (midday or midnight). “The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)
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G O D B L E S S A M E R I CA
SEPTEMBER 2015
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