Pastor’s Thoughts

Revival and springtime are two wonderful blessings arriving with the winds of March. I am so looking forward to both of these blessing. Spring the annual event that brings things back to life. Coldness is replaced with the warmth and overcoats with jackets. The sounds of birds singing and lawns cluttered with robins instead of piles of snow. All the expectations and anxiousness that we have for spring makes us wonder will it perhaps come early this year? We will just have to wait and see.

Well what about revival? We can look at our calendar and mark the dates of March 22-26 and tell our friends we are having a revival each of these nights at the Church of God. We can clear our schedules, arrange to be off from work, and plan on attending every night. Brother Ben Murphy can pray and search the scriptures for all the right messages to feed our souls. The services can and will be outstanding, I am confident the Holy Spirit will show up and we will be challenged to change. CHANGE? Pastor did you say CHANGE? Yes we need to change like winter changes to spring!

Revival is not simply about preaching, singing and shouting. Revival is about transformation. It is about renewed passion for God’s will and Kingdom. Revival provides refreshing Spiritual water to parched hearts that has dried up with spiritual indifference. Revival inspires believers to fill their hearts with compassion and devotion for lost and struggling souls. True revival produces praying, passionate, powerful people who are transformed and cause change all around them.

Herein lies the problem, some folks despise change. They have no problem with a few extra church services and enjoy hearing a different voice delivering the message from behind the pulpit. However when they speak of revival, they never even consider the notion that its sole purpose is to bring a sweeping change to their own lives. Me, I need to change? Now Brother Danny… I have been this-a-way for years and I am doing just fine like I am. Bless your heart, if that is your approach to revival; enjoy the show because that is all that it will be, a show. When all is said and done you will be just the same as you were before the meeting, your commitment to Christ and His work will be the same and the Fayetteville Church of God will also be the same. Let me say this, I am tired of winter, the cold weather causes my body to ache, it restricts my activities, the short days rob me of the precious hours of productive daylight. What I am saying is I want to see CHANGE! Revival can start now! Revival can come early! Dear God open our hearts and pour in your WORD and SPIRIT that the sweeping winds of fresh revival may sweep away indifference and apathy to produce a congregation that is on fire for You o Lord!

Pastor Danny