One of our ALL IN prayer requests for PBC in 2012 is that God would bring revival into our midst. But what does that look like? How will we know when we're experiencing it? Will it be like Acts 2 with the Spirit descending upon us like a mighty rushing wind and people speaking in unknown tongues? Will it involve thousands of people coming to faith at a single service? OR how about miraculous signs and wonders happening all around us? While those things would certainly be exciting and I would love it if God would move in this way at PBC, it's more likely that revival will happen when individual sparks are fanned into a raging fire which cannot be contained. These sparks happen as people make God honoring decisions that push them ever closer to their Lord and Savior. Let me share some of the sparks that are igniting all around PBC (the names, genders, details have been intentionally excluded to protect the innocent :))
Revival looks like...
- People committing to read the Bible from cover to cover for the very first time.
- The shackles of addictive sin being broken after a 20+ year battle.
- People wrestling with passages of scripture that have bothered them for years.
- Families rearranging their budget so that they can give sacrificially.
- Someone anonymously paying to have repairs done to the church truck.
- Small groups doubling in attendance during 40DITW.
- A person committing to follow Jesus in the midst of marital struggles.
- A person praying for their spouse and seeing them finally come to church after years away.
- A group of people faithfully meeting at 5:30am to pray for the church and each other.
- A young person, who had wondered away from God during their college years, now finding a renewed excitement about God and His word.
- A person hardened by the hypocrisy of certain Christians feeling their heart softened once again to their Savior.
- A revived spirit of prayer that continues to grow with each passing day.
- A person emerging from a prolonged state of depression and discovering a renewed commitment to Christ.
- A married couple reading God's word and praying together every day.
- A group of guys helping a fellow brother move.
- A person praising God in the midst of being diagnosed with cancer. Glorifying Him because it was caught early.
- A group of people who minister to a family during a time of sickness.
- Someone giving a substantial financial gift to help another family in the church.
- A person at the end of their emotional rope being lifted up in prayer by friends and finding the peace that passes all understanding.
- People finding courage and strength to face obstacles they thought to be insurmountable.
- People using their extraordinary giftedness to serve the Lord in unique ways.
Just to mention a few.
So, now what?! Ask God to get out his revival fan and fan the sparks of revival until they become an unquenchable flame that engulfs every person at PBC.
Have you got a "spark" of revival story? Share it with anyone who will listen. Spred the good news of what God is doing in your life.
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