“Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting…All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 2.2, 4a)
Isn’t this what all of us as believers desire? Do we not want the Lord Jesus to send His Spirit upon His people which in turn will touch the lives of unbelievers until many will be reached with the Gospel? I believe it is. However, how do we get there? The sad answer is WE CAN’T. God must do the moving, but we, His people, can prepare our hearts. Heart preparation takes our willingness to allow God to examine every area of our lives and root out ALL SIN. Psalms 139:23 – 24 states “God, examine me and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any bad thing in me. Lead me on the road to everlasting life.” (NCV)
Letting God examine each area of our lives, letting Him show us any bad thing, and confessing where we are guilty. There are many areas from our words, our thoughts, our desires, our actions, and our inactions that can be displeasing and offensive to Jesus. Are we willing not only to confess them to Him but are we willing to surrender every area of our life to Him?
Presently in Wilmore, Kentucky at Asbury University, God is examining the lives of thousands of college students, youth, and adults. Since last Wednesday, February 8 at the weekly chapel service, God has moved in their lives to draw them nearer to Him. Bill Elliff, Senior Teaching Pastor of the Summit Church (SBC) in North Little Rock, Arkansas, went to observe God’s work and came away with the following conclusions:
– God is present and real.
– By the afternoon prayer sessions, 1500 people filled every seat in the chapel.
– Worship is glorious, unified, and simple being led by a piano, guitar, and student worship teams.
– The altar is almost always full and aided by wonderful prayer counselors from Asbury University.
– Everything is extremely orderly but vibrant, spontaneous, and powerful.
– It is a worship-based, Spirit-led, Scripture-fed prayer gathering. The Holy Spirit is a very good leader.
– Testimonies were of grateful people sharing how God had done very real and profound things in the lives of hundreds of people.
– Scripture was read for a long time by multiple people with a congregational response of “The Word of God, and we believe it!”
In other words, God is moving at Asbury as He did 53 years ago. It is beginning to touch other Christian college campuses and communities. Let’s begin praying that this “violent wind” of the Holy Spirit will blow toward us in Pickens County. I don’t want to be left behind, do you?
On Saturday, March 11 at the PBA office from 8:30 until 11:30 am, Bro. Terry Long will share how the Holy Spirit moved him in SE Mississippi through his emphasis of “100 Days at the Cross”. Afterwards, we will inaugurate our own “30 Days of the Cross” emphasis by praying for God to work as only He can in Pickens County. Please make plans to participate in the conference and the prayer event.
Finally, D.L. Moody was told by Henry Varley, “It remains to be seen what God will do with a man who gives himself wholly to Him.” Moody responded to Varley, “Well, I will be that man.” Will you be that man or woman?
Until Next Month,
Bro. Lyle