40 Days of Revival: Lent Day 28: The Decision to make it PERSONAL - WHAT'S IN YOUR HAND?

Several years ago Pastor Brian Houston preached an outstanding message about 'Using what's in your hand to establish what's in your heart.' Sports people, business people and others were encouraged that their love for God and desire to serve Him could be outworked in their sphere of influence and were encouraged to excel. It was a mindset-changing message at the time for our church, releasing many people to pursue success in whatever it was that they were gifted in and on whatever platform they had as a result of their gifting and effort and to do it for God's glory! 

Now, many years on it has become second-nature to our church to understand that we each have gifts, passions and 'tools' in our hands that we can use to achieve what it is that God has set in our heart. 

What is in your hand? An instrument, a pen, a paintbrush, a computer, a hammer, a drafting board or a camera? What is it that God has set in your heart? Have you considered the connection between your heart and hand recently? How well are you stewarding both?

40 Days of Revival: Lent Day 19: The Process of PURITY - PERSEVERANCE

The Evangelical Revival in 1739 - 1791, with preachers like John Wesley and George Whitefield, was known for its teaching on holiness and was given the nickname the 'Holiness Revival'. It was marked by those who were convicted of their sin, surrendered to Christ, and therefore lived with purity of heart and life.

Emerging from this was an understanding of 'social holiness' in the teaching of Wesley who understood that salvation was not only about heaven but also about loving God and loving people on earth. Wesley realised that holiness needed to be outworked in the community as a necessary part of church life.

There is nothing like remembering that our pursuit of being Christ-like is not just about ourselves, but for others too. In Galatians 6:9, Paul encouraged believers 'Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.' Take Paul's words to heart today and resolve to continue submitting to the process of purity through Christ, for the sake of all those who are, as yet, unsaved.