40 Days of Revival: Lent Day 26: Graced with POWER - UNIFIED IN POWER

There is power in gathering together under the name of Jesus. We see this in the early church in Acts. When they gathered the presence of God and the power of His Spirit was evident as they began to speak in tongues, prophesy and preach the Gospel with a Godly confidence.

When the church gathers and experiences a time of awakening and refreshing, it has an overflow effect into homes, workplaces, communities, cities and even nations. Never underestimate the power in gathering and how far reaching what we can achieve together is.

The British preacher Charles H. Spurgeon once said, 'A true revival is to be looked for in the church of God. Only in the river of gracious life can the pearl of revival be found. It has been said that a revival must begin with God's people; this is very true, but it is not all the truth, for the revival itself must end as well as begin there.'

40 Days of Revival: Lent Day 21: Graced with POWER - ENABLED

It is not enough to know that we are 'empowered by the Holy Spirit,' we need also need to know what we are enabled to do.

When Peter addressed the people in Acts 4:8, filled with the Holy Spirit, he was fearless in the face of scepticism. Likewise, in verse 33 we read 'With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.'

It is the Holy Spirit's power that enables us to be witnesses for Christ, both in word and in action.

With the Holy Spirit's empowering we can to go into all the world and tell people that they have a Saviour who loves them and literally died for them! This Spirit who draws, convicts and saves people, is a gift to those who are prone to timidity and pride alike, as we cannot boast in our works at all, but only in the Spirit's!

As the British Evangelist Smith Wigglesworth said, 'We may be nothing but in God we can be mighty.' In what ways do you need the Holy Spirit to enable you to share Christ? Ask Him!

40 Days of Revival: Lent Day 5:The Art Of Being PRESENT - PRESENT IN THE CHURCH

The local church is a place where God's majesty is displayed and His purpose is outworked. We therefore all need to guard against familiarity regarding being present and planted in His House.

That said, there is something breathtaking about God's unified global Church. Just as a present individual believer strengthens a local church, so too a present local church that has embraced its unique calling, strengthens the unified global Church.

When we think of revival - thanking God for what we see already and believing God for more - our focus often rests on the local sphere of our church, families, friends and neighbours. So it should, for God has entrusted them to us.

Yet by lifting our eyes to also perceive what God is doing and can do globally, we too can be wholly present in the global Church.

Write down what you see God doing, and what you long to see Him do, in your life at home, your local church and in the Church at large.

40 Days of Revival: Lent Day 4:The Art Of Being PRESENT - PRESENT IN YOUR PLACE

The body! Isn't it a wonderful image that Paul used, writing to the Corinthian church all those years ago? It really gets the point across - we each have a unique, God-given purpose and part to play in the 'body' of His community. Makes you wonder what 'body part' you might be, doesn't it?

Paul describes how ridiculous it would be if one body part decided it wanted to do the role of another, also noting how the whole body suffers when not all the 'parts' are present. The church operates best when all the parts of its 'makeup' are present and working.

One of the best things about taking your place in the community of God's people is the journey of discovering your unique purpose. Unified by a cause so much greater than ourselves - the cause of Christ - provides us with an opportunity to use what God has placed in our hand for His glory and to be a blessing to others.

Take a moment today to write down your gifts and passions. Talk to God about how you can develop them and use them to bless others and build His church. Ask Him to help you find the right 'place' in His community so that you are not just present, but present in your 'place.'

40 Days of Revival: Lent Day 3:The Art Of Being PRESENT - PRESENT IN THE COMMUNITY

From the earliest days of the church, God has been present when believers gathered. In Acts 2, when early believers met together, the Holy Spirit came like the wind, filling the place and causing those gathered to speak in tongues.

The early church hungered for both God and community. Daily they met and made space for those who God added to their community. They found what Jesus had shared with His disciples to be true; that where two or more were gathered in His name, He was there among them (Matthew 18).

When any unique individual is wholly present in a community, that community is naturally strengthened. When we take our place in the community of believers though, the community is additionally strengthened supernaturally by God's presence - and especially so when we have faith for God's presence.

Perhaps it has been a while since you have taken your place in the community of believers. Or perhaps you have been present physically but lacking faith for God's presence. Let this moment be a turning point for you. Determine that you will be found to be present and faith-filled in the community of God this weekend.