Tuesday, May 13, 2008
HUNGER!!!
The cry of my heart is revival. Last night I got to watch the Florida Revival for the first time. They have been holding the revival for 42 days. My Spirit was stirred even more for revival around the world. What I want to impart to you today as you read this is one thing: Hunger. A hunger for God. A dis-satisfaction for where you are now and a power surge within you to move you forward. A hatred towards sin, towards the things that hold you back from operating as the Spirit leads. You want revival? You want a change in your life? Then GET HUNGRY FOR GOD. Ask Him. He will fill you. Its almost like a machine within me that runs runs runs. Constantly saying: More God, More. I dont want to stay the same as I was yesterday. This passion within me should get stronger everyday. The Bible says in Matthew 5:6- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be FILLED. Notice that a person who hungers and thirsts for righteousness will not only be filled, or satisfied...but they will be BLESSED. Now, what is righteousness? Simply stated, its ' being made right with God.' So blessed are those who hunger and thirst to be made right with God. To be made holy. To be made pure. Often times we run after the green pastures (prosperity) or peace instead of looking to the One who gives these things. See, when you look to the Great Shepherd (found in Psalms 23) to take care of your needs, you will lack nothing in this life. Prosperity will be yours. Peace will be yours. Health and healing will be yours. But we must look to Jesus, our Shepherd, instead of the benefits He offers us. When we run after prosperity or success, we will be left with frustration and a sense of dis-satisfaction. It almost feels like we are wasting our lives. Is this not true? But when we look to Jesus and hunger and thirst to line our lives up with Him, then we are satisfied and filled. "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie in green pastures, He restores my soul." Not only does God give us good things in life, but He restores our soul. Our emotions. He brings back what has been taken from us. Maybe broken relationships. Maybe finances. Whatever it may be today Im telling you, you will receive it when you hunger for Jesus and align yourself up with Him. His sheep are never without food. His sheep never beg for bread. They dont have to lack peace or money. Its our choice to be a part of His flock. He wont force us. Choose Him. Hunger for Him. Blessed and satisfied will you be when you make Jesus your Good Shepherd.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Addicted to Jesus no matter what comes
Pastor Dishan teaching the G-12 principle in a village where persecution is heavy. To the left is the pastor of the church.
Hanging out after the service
Cutting the king cocunut for us after service
I have been having such a great time here. Continuing to do home visits; which I really enjoy. The lady I was telling yall about in the previous entry, Anula, came to church this past Sunday and we gave her a Bible. I was so happy to see her at church.
Recently I got the opportunity to attend a youth service on Friday during lunch. God is moving here through the youth. In particular, moving in a group that works at the bank here called HSBC. I walked into the service about 15 minutes before it started and the worship leader asked me to sing with them...so I did. There was a girl there who played the piano and sang, along with two other girls and the drummer. They were so hungry for God's presence to come into the sevice and transform us. And can I tell you, that's exactly what happened. God's presence was there and we were all taken in the worship of Him. The youth pastor here, Pastor Shawn preached as they played piano. There was a good response among the youth. Pastor Shawn preached about how there is a battle within each person who is saved. Its the battle between our flesh and our spirit. Our flesh wants us to sin and gratify our desires and our spirit is holy, desiring us to be holy in all ways. He spoke how we must make a choice to allow our spirit, God's spirit within us, to win against our flesh. So he gave the altar call for people to repent of choosing ways that displease a holy God and asked whoever wanted to make the choice to follow Jesus' principles to come up to the front. So we prayed for everyone who came up. It was a great time because God chose to visit us in such a strong way. After everyone left all the leaders stayed behind just crying out to God for like 45 minutes. There is nothing that can compare to God's presence. Wow. All of that to say, revival is breaking out in the youth here in Sri Lanka. Pastor Shawn told me yesterday at church how all the HSBC leaders were in KFC, just meeting and eating..and how God's presence came so strongly on them that people were praying and crying out to God in the middle of the resturant. Crazy huh!?! Yes it is...and they are desperate for a move of God to come to Sri Lanka, so they dont care what people think of them. Once you experience God's presence, you become addicted to it. haha.
So please, pray for the youth and church here for revival to continue. If we can cultivate God's presence in our daily lives, revival will start through us.
By the way, on a less spiritual note, the food here is AMAZING! Wow. Mrs. Rosie makes the best beef and curry. I love the string hoppers, rotie, and milk rice...mmm. I drink orange juice at every meal.
Last Saturday we went to a church about an hour or so away. Pastor Dishan preached to them about the principle of G-12 (in the picture above). There is huge persecution there. The pastor and his wife left their nice life in Columbo filled with all convienances in order to bring The Good News to this community. They are surrounded by strong Buddhists who oppose them greatly. They do charms on them and speak curses...although this does not effect them personally because they are covered by Jesus' blood, it does effect the environment within the church...meaning that satan tries to cover their ears from hearing and their hearts from understanding and grasping the Word preached. So this is a huge challenge for the pastor. Also, the people around them took them and 5 other workers and locked them inside their home, then set the place on fire..along with the church. By the grace of God, they are alive today. Not only are they just alive, but you would not believe the joy they have. Unbelievable to see. So the people who oppose them will not allow them to visit their church members in their homes..which is a big problem for the church. Especially here...home visits build the church so much here. So this is why they have come to Pastor Dishan..to grow the church through the G-12 principle. Amazing. Im so honored to be a part of my church and to know they are the ones to introduce the principle of G-12 to the WORLD!!! Im seeing it firsthand!!! G-12 is directly from the Bible and it is a simple way to grow the church. 12 people coming together and learning the Word of God. Meeting with one another and praying, encouraging each other. You really need a small group to meet with during the week because so many problems come in life and you cant face things alone. There is no way you can. Thats why you need people, especially Godly people who love you and can advise you in the right way without any motive other than your benefit. So yeah each person in the group is also advised to start their own group...so they are in a Bible study as they also lead one. Its pretty cool and its right out of the Bible. In Acts, the early church grew through small groups like this.
Are you in a small group? Are you fully committed to Jesus no matter what hardships come? Do you trust God to be your Good Shepherd, who will look after you and take care of you? He can only be your Shepherd if you join His flock. Then when you join, you will receive blessings and so many good things. He is such a great God who loves us so much and wants to bless us. Are you addicted to Jesus' presence? Oh friend, make the time to know this wonderful God who gave everything for your freedom.
Love yall and will write again soon
Recently I got the opportunity to attend a youth service on Friday during lunch. God is moving here through the youth. In particular, moving in a group that works at the bank here called HSBC. I walked into the service about 15 minutes before it started and the worship leader asked me to sing with them...so I did. There was a girl there who played the piano and sang, along with two other girls and the drummer. They were so hungry for God's presence to come into the sevice and transform us. And can I tell you, that's exactly what happened. God's presence was there and we were all taken in the worship of Him. The youth pastor here, Pastor Shawn preached as they played piano. There was a good response among the youth. Pastor Shawn preached about how there is a battle within each person who is saved. Its the battle between our flesh and our spirit. Our flesh wants us to sin and gratify our desires and our spirit is holy, desiring us to be holy in all ways. He spoke how we must make a choice to allow our spirit, God's spirit within us, to win against our flesh. So he gave the altar call for people to repent of choosing ways that displease a holy God and asked whoever wanted to make the choice to follow Jesus' principles to come up to the front. So we prayed for everyone who came up. It was a great time because God chose to visit us in such a strong way. After everyone left all the leaders stayed behind just crying out to God for like 45 minutes. There is nothing that can compare to God's presence. Wow. All of that to say, revival is breaking out in the youth here in Sri Lanka. Pastor Shawn told me yesterday at church how all the HSBC leaders were in KFC, just meeting and eating..and how God's presence came so strongly on them that people were praying and crying out to God in the middle of the resturant. Crazy huh!?! Yes it is...and they are desperate for a move of God to come to Sri Lanka, so they dont care what people think of them. Once you experience God's presence, you become addicted to it. haha.
So please, pray for the youth and church here for revival to continue. If we can cultivate God's presence in our daily lives, revival will start through us.
By the way, on a less spiritual note, the food here is AMAZING! Wow. Mrs. Rosie makes the best beef and curry. I love the string hoppers, rotie, and milk rice...mmm. I drink orange juice at every meal.
Last Saturday we went to a church about an hour or so away. Pastor Dishan preached to them about the principle of G-12 (in the picture above). There is huge persecution there. The pastor and his wife left their nice life in Columbo filled with all convienances in order to bring The Good News to this community. They are surrounded by strong Buddhists who oppose them greatly. They do charms on them and speak curses...although this does not effect them personally because they are covered by Jesus' blood, it does effect the environment within the church...meaning that satan tries to cover their ears from hearing and their hearts from understanding and grasping the Word preached. So this is a huge challenge for the pastor. Also, the people around them took them and 5 other workers and locked them inside their home, then set the place on fire..along with the church. By the grace of God, they are alive today. Not only are they just alive, but you would not believe the joy they have. Unbelievable to see. So the people who oppose them will not allow them to visit their church members in their homes..which is a big problem for the church. Especially here...home visits build the church so much here. So this is why they have come to Pastor Dishan..to grow the church through the G-12 principle. Amazing. Im so honored to be a part of my church and to know they are the ones to introduce the principle of G-12 to the WORLD!!! Im seeing it firsthand!!! G-12 is directly from the Bible and it is a simple way to grow the church. 12 people coming together and learning the Word of God. Meeting with one another and praying, encouraging each other. You really need a small group to meet with during the week because so many problems come in life and you cant face things alone. There is no way you can. Thats why you need people, especially Godly people who love you and can advise you in the right way without any motive other than your benefit. So yeah each person in the group is also advised to start their own group...so they are in a Bible study as they also lead one. Its pretty cool and its right out of the Bible. In Acts, the early church grew through small groups like this.
Are you in a small group? Are you fully committed to Jesus no matter what hardships come? Do you trust God to be your Good Shepherd, who will look after you and take care of you? He can only be your Shepherd if you join His flock. Then when you join, you will receive blessings and so many good things. He is such a great God who loves us so much and wants to bless us. Are you addicted to Jesus' presence? Oh friend, make the time to know this wonderful God who gave everything for your freedom.
Love yall and will write again soon
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