It’s true. If you have ever read a post, met me, or have in any way been a part of my life, I carry a burden for you in my heart. I will not tell you that I pray for you every day. That would be a lie. But there will be days that God will place people I know, groups of people, or perhaps an unnamed soul on my heart. He’ll remind me of the work I was assigned to do on this earth. Today there are people on my heart from Florida, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Minnesota, Virginia and throughout West Virginia. Folks I’ve met along the way that some how or another left pieces of themselves attached to my heart. Folks I may or may not remember the name, but I remember the impact, the smile, the testimony, the love.
Over the past months I’ve grown weary of feeling that my ministry was accomplishing very little. I haven’t been on the road to speak for some time and because of that I miss the face to face I have with people. When I wasn’t speaking, I would be singing, but I have fewer opportunities for that. Partly because I’m too busy to slow down and talk to people and partly because there are fewer and fewer churches holding revival meetings. Also creating a burden on my heart.
Has the need for special meetings stopped?
Covid did its fair share of damage to the church on so many different levels. People stopped shaking hands, stopped going to church, stopped having fellowships, etc, etc. But at some point we can’t blame Covid. At some point we just have to lay the blame at the feet of the people who have bought the lie that it’s a different era. There is a reason God put the words in the book:
Hebrews 10:25 KJVS
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is ; but exhorting one another : and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Getting together is a big deal!
The Apostle Paul understood it. He said of the Philippians in 1:3-8 KJV
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, [4] Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, [5] For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; [6] Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: [7] Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. [8] For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
He too remembered those he’d had fellowship with. He continued to pray for them, he knew that his ministry had stirred a desire in them to serve God too and he kept those people in his heart, longing to see them again.
Sunday services are wonderful and needful. Every single Sunday! But a special service brings with it a special meaning. It’s extra! Is God not worthy of the extra time, extra effort, extra attention to matters of prayer, salvation of souls and worship. I’ve been in services where the Lord came down in such a way I felt as if I could have physically touched Him if I would have tried. When I was at the most spiritually high point of my life it was when I didn’t have time to catch my breath between work, children, church, events, and then on top of it all I’d throw a revival or conference in and God would pour out His blessing on me. I wouldn’t have gas money and he’d provide. I wouldn’t have strength and it would bubble out of my soul! The messages that preacher or speakers would bring would encourage me so deeply…. Would to God we’d get our focus back as it should be.
Getting Stirred Up is a Big Deal!
I wonder how many people have never felt the Holy Spirit move? I don’t just mean a little tug on the heart, I mean when the Spirit moved to the point your whole world shifted.
Romans 15:13 KJVS
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
I’ve had that experience. I’ve had times when the Spirit of God moved in such a mighty way that it literally shifted my thought process to another realm. When things happened that could not have happened without the intervention of God. When God moved in a service in such a way that the tears started flowing from my eyes and were unstoppable. When I watched as the Spirit of God impressed upon person after person to hit the altar to pray, either for themselves or someone else. I heard the weeping and I’ve wept for them knowing God was doing something amazing.
Glory to God that today these memories of people, these memories of the Spirit, flooded back into my mind and I once again gloried in what God is capable of doing. It’s a big deal and it’s a privilege to be a child of God!!! It should not be taken for granted, and when doubts creep in praise God for the Spirit Who can revive the memory. Revive the Child of God. Revive the Church.
Getting Revived is a Big Deal!
Psalm 85:1-6 KJVS
Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. [2] Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah. [3] Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger. [4] Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. [5] Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations? [6] Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
God’s frustration with Israel caused Him again and again to take His hand off them. He’s far from done with them, but now He stands silent with the Nation of Israel. By the time God’s hand returns to them, it will be too late for those outside of Christ. It is why, when I read David’s prayer in verse [6] Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? My heart cries the same. Lord will You revive Your church again? Will You come down and stir the water inside the souls of your people? I know You can. You’ve done it before. But the flesh is weak and so many have lost sight of Your power.
My prayer today is for those places that I’ve visited, and for places yet to come, that God will stir us up with His precious Spirit and help us to focus on the work, and rely on Him to guide us to the soul ready to step into Heavenly places through the salvation of Christ. Lord bless them…. help them… guide them. Send excited souls into the midst and shut up the nay-sayers. Please Jesus…. Amen.
Send me Lord!!!
For speaking or singing information contact me at 304-377-6036, or message at talk2shari@gmail.com Let’s get this revival started!!!