Month: January 2022

Historians have defined three “Religious Awakenings” that have taken place in America. And while it is true that these awakenings differ in a variety of ways, it is also true that they share five common elements:

In his book entitled, The Book On Prayer,” Ken Gurley defines a great awakening as: “a season of revival that sets aside formal religion in favor of personal experience with God.”

One look at our world today will tell you that we need another great awakening.

Globally, there is world-wide political upheaval, economic chaos, religious unrest, and then there’s the global pandemic. That’s just some of the things our modern society is facing.

We’ve tried everything humanly possible to turn the ship around but it seems those things are not working.

It’s obvious to me that what we need is a mighty and miraculous move of the Spirit of the Almighty God. Yes, we need another “Great Awakening!”— a revival that affects not only a local area but is witnessed on the national and global stages as well.

Awakenings begin when old systems break down, in periods of cultural distortion and grave personal stress, when we lose faith in the legitimacy of our norms, the viability of our institutions, and the authority of our leaders… .”

William McLoughlin
professor, Brown University

That grouchy boss or that ill-tempered co-worker are not your adversaries. Those in-laws that seem to always find fault? They’re not your adversaries.

People may be part of your tests and trials—that’s adversity. However, they are not your adversary; so don’t treat them as such. Pray for them. It’s hard to stay angry with or give the “cold shoulder” to someone for whom you are truly praying.

Though adversities and trials may come in many forms (and faces), you have only one Adversary: Satan. He will use adversities to try and destroy you. We must recognize this and not lose our focus.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” —1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV)

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” —2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV)

The battle lines are drawn. Good versus evil. Darkness versus light. Righteousness versus unrighteousness. Jesus versus Satan. Heaven or Hell. This is a fight for life. The struggle is very real!

Praise God! He has made a way for us to live a victorious life through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ!

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” –John 10:10 KJV

The Holy Ghost which resides within us is a consistent and faithful Spirit. We are to manifest that same faithfulness and consistency with others. We have a responsibility to be faithful in every relationship that we have.

Garvin R. Alfter

“A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.” — Proverbs 17:17 (NKJV)

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” — Proverbs 18:24 (NKJV)

“Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.” — Proverbs 27:10 (NKJV)

Faithfulness in a marriage is the only way to stay as one flesh.

“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.” — Ephesians 5:31 (KJV)

“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled.” — Hebrews 13:4 (KJV)

Faithfulness produces purity in a marriage.

“Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.” — I Corinthians 7:3 (KJV)

“Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed.” — I Corinthians 7:27 (KJV)

When the early Church needed men to oversee the day to day business of the assembly they looked for faithful men of good report.

“Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” — Acts 6:3 (KJV)

“Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without.” — I Timothy 3:7 (KJV)

“Demetrius hath good report of all men.” — III John 12 (KJV)

Please note: The writer did not limit the good report of Demetrius to just the saints, but said all men thought well of him. A good reputation is not only necessary within the Church, but also outside the Church.