SEVEN THINGS PRESENT IN A PRODUCTIVE CHURCH
(Various Texts)
(Preached at Pinecrest Christian Church, June 25, 2006, a. m.
service)
THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE TO BRING A MESSAGE ON "SEVEN THINGS THAT MUST
BE PRESENT IN A PRODUCTIVE CHURCH. IF A CHURCH IS PRODUCING GROWTH, IT
MUST HAVE THESE THINGS PRESENT IN IT'S CONGREGATION. THERE ARE OTHER
THINGS THAT MOST LIKELY COULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS LIST, BUT THIS IS SEVEN
OF THE MOST IMPORTANT: THERE ARE SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES TO VERIFY THIS
FACT AS WE WILL SEE THIS MORNING: THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE OF A CHURCH
WILL NOT OF ITSELF GUARANTEE THAT IT IS PRODUCTIVE! A LARGE CONGREGA-
TION IS NO GUARANTEE EITHER. A PRODUCTIVE CHURCH IS NOT NECESSARILY A
CHURCH THAT HAS A PACKED HOUSE EVERY TIME THE DOORS ARE OPENED, BUT
A PRODUCTIVE CHURCH IS A CHURCH THAT IS PRODUCTIVE IN THE EYES OF GOD,
AND FOLLOWING THE COMMANDMENTS OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST!
THE PRODUCTIVE CHURCH WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE FOLLOWING:
1. AN "ATTITUDE OF REPENTANCE."
2. AN "ATTRIBUTE OF EVANGELISM."
3. AN "ADVANCEMENT OF VISION."
4. AN "ACQUESCIENCE OF INSPIRATION."
5. AN "AGREEMENT OF VOICE."
6. AN "ATTACHMENT OF ALLEGIANCE." &
7. AN "ABUNDANCE OF LOVE."
THE FIRST THING THAT YOU WILL FIND IN A PRODUCTIVE CHURCH IS
"REPENTANCE."
THAT MAY APPEAR TO BE A LITTLE ODD TO YOU PERHAPS, BUT A CHURCH THAT IS
NOT WILLING TO REPENT; IS A CHURCH THAT HAS A MAJOR PROBLEM. GOD IS NOT
HERE CALLING THE SUPER SAINTS TO REPENTANCE; THEY ARE INSULATED AGAINST
ANY REAL FEELING OF THEIR NEED! JESUS STATED THREE TIMES IN THE GOSPELS
(Matthew 9:13, Mark 2:17, and Luke 5:32), THAT
"I CAME NOT TO CALL THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT SINNERS TO REPENTANCE."
AND ANY PREACHER WHO DARES DO THAT TODAY, RISKS HAVING HALF OF HIS
CROWD WALK OUT THE DOOR WHEN HE MENTIONS IT! WE DON'T LIKE TO HEAR
THAT WE NEED TO REPENT! IT IS HUMAN NATURE TO RESENT SOMEONE WHO WILL
POINT OUT OUR SHORTCOMINGS. BUT WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, WE ALL HAVE
SHORTCOMINGS IN OUR LIVES, AND THAT SHOULD PROMPT EACH OF US TO ASK
GOD IN A REPENTATENT MANNER EVERY DAY TO FORGIVE US WHERE WE HAVE
ERRED.
AN OLD COUNTRY PREACHER WAS PREACHING A MESSAGE ON THE DEPRAVITY OF
THE HUMAN HEART; AND WHEN HE WAS FINISHED, SOME "BIBLE COLLEGE" STU-
DENTS SAID TO HIM, "WE JUST CAN'T SWALLOW THAT DEPRAVITY OF THE HUMAN
HEART THAT YOU WERE PREACHING ABOUT." THE OLD PREACHER TOLD THEM, "YOU
DON'T HAVE TO SWALLOW IT; IT'S ALREADY IN YOU." AND IT IS, BELOVED. WE ALL
HAVE IT, AND BECOMING A CHRISTIAN DIDN'T REMOVE IT. OUR HEARTS WERE CHAN-
GED, BUT THE DEPRAVITY IS STILL THERE WAITING AN OPPORTUNITY TO REAR ITS
UGLY HEAD. YOU KNOW THAT WHEN YOU BECAME A CHRISTIAN, THAT THERE WAS A
GREAT CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE, BUT AFTER A WHILE, THE "NEW WORE OFF," AND YOU
GRADUALLY LOOSENED UP ON YOUR EMOTIONS OR FEELINGS AND THAT OLD TEM-
PER WOULD RESURFACE ON OCCASION, OR THOSE OLD THOUGHTS WOULD RETURN
TO HAUNT YOU LIKE SOME EERIE SPECTRE OF THE PAST. THERE ARE VERY FEW
WHO CAN SAY THAT THEY NEVER HAD ANOTHER BOUT WITH THE DEVIL AFTER
ACCEPTING CHRIST. WHEN YOU ACCEPTED CHRIST, SOME OF YOU KNOW VERY WELL
WHAT I MEAN; THE DEVIL THREW HIS WHOLE ARSENAL OF WEAPONS AT YOU, AND
THE ONLY REASON THAT YOU SURVIVED, WAS THAT THE LORD WAS THERE WITH
YOU. IF YOU ARE TRYING TO FIGHT THE DEVIL ON YOUR OWN, YOU ARE DOOMED TO
FAILURE, IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE!
IT IS A LITTLE DANGEROUS, BELOVED, TO FEEL AS THOUGH YOU HAVE "ARRIVED" IN
YOUR SPIRITUAL WALK: I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE SAY THAT WHEN THEY BECAME A
CHRISTIAN THAT EVERYTHING FROM THEN ON WAS A "PIECE OF CAKE," AND THEY
NEVER HAD ANY MORE PROBLEMS. I FIND THAT TO BE NOT HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT
IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE.
OUR LORD SAID TO FIVE CHURCHES IN REVELATION THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPENT!
HE TOLD THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS; THAT
"THEY HAD LEFT THEIR FIRST LOVE."
(Revelation 2:4);
HE TOLD THE CHURCH AT PERGAMOS; THAT
"THOU HAST THERE THEM THAT HOLD THE DOCTRINE OF BALAAM, WHO TAUGHT BALAC TO CAST A STUMBLINGBLOCK BEFORE ISRAEL, TO EAT THINGS SACRIFICED UNTO IDOLS, AND TO COMMIT FORNICATION. SO HAST THOU ALSO THEM THAT HOLD THE DOCTRINE OF THE NICOLAITANS, WHICH THING I HATE." (Revelation 2:14 & 15)
HE TOLD THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA; THAT
"THOU SUFFEREST THAT WOMAN JEZEBEL, WHO CALLETH HERSELF
A
PROPHETESS, TO TEACH AND SEDUCE MY SERVANTS TO COMMIT FORNICATION,
AND TO EAT THINGS SACRIFICED UNTO IDOLS."
(Revelation 2:20)
NOTICE HERE THAT HE AGAIN MENTIONS FORNICATION AND EATING FOOD THAT
WAS OFFERED TO IDOLS. I DON'T THINK HE WAS REFERRING HERE TO "PHYSICAL"
FORNICATION AS MUCH AS "SPIRITUAL" FORNICATION; AND EATING FOODS THAT
WERE OFFERED UNTO IDOLS CAUSED THE WEAKER BRETHREN TO STUMBLE: THAT
WAS WHAT PAUL REFERRED TO IN I CORINTHIANS.
JESUS TOLD THE CHURCH AT SARDIS; THAT
"THOU HAST A NAME THAT THOU LIVEST, AND ART DEAD. BE WATCHFUL
AND STRENGTHEN THE THINGS WHICH REMAIN, THAT ARE READY TO DIE:
FOR I HAVE NOT FOUND THY WORKS PERFECT UNTO GOD."
(Revelation 3:1 & 2)
AND, HE TOLD THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA; THAT
"I KNOW THY WORKS, THAT THOU ART NEITHER COLD NOR HOT:
I WOULD
THOU WERT COLD OR HOT."
THESE FIVE CHURCHES OUR LORD TOLD TO REPENT. (I WONDER JUST HOW MANY
CHURCHES TODAY THAT NEEDS TO DO THE SAME THING?)
WE COULD TALK QUITE AWHILE ABOUT THE FLAWS OF THOSE FIVE CHURCHES IN
REVELATION, SUFFICE IT TO SAY, THAT HE TOLD THEM ALL TO REPENT.
THE NEXT THING THAT IS NECESSARY TO THE PRODUCTIVITY OF A CHURCH IS
"EVANGELISM."
WHOSE JOB IS IT TO BE EVANGELISTIC? IS IT THE PREACHERS? IS IT THE ELDERS?
IS IT THE DEACONS? IS IT THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER? IS IT THE CHOIR
DIRECTOR, OR THE PIANO PLAYER, OR WHOMEVER?
IT IS ALL CHRISTIANS JOB TO BE EVANGELISTIC.
OUR LORD TOLD US IN THE GREAT COMISSION TO
"GO YE INTO THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE."
(Mark 16:15)
THE GOSPEL IS THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
FROM THE DEAD AND THAT HE DIED TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS. THIS IS OUR
"CORNERSTONE OF CHRISTIANITY;" THIS IS OUR "FOUNDATION OF THE FAITH;" AND
IT IS THE "HOPE FOR THE HELPLESS."
WE AS CHRISTIANS ARE TO HERALD THAT MESSAGE TO THE LOST; WHETHER WE'RE
TELLING THE STORY TO THE NATIONS, OR WHETHER WE'RE TELLING THE STORY TO
THE NEIGHBORS; ITS ALL ONE AND THE SAME IN THE EYES OF GOD. YOU ARE TO DO
IT, AND I AM TO DO IT, AND WE, AS CHRISTIANS IN GENERAL, ARE TO DO IT. THERE IS
NO SUCH THING AS "EVANGELISM BY PROXY;" WE ARE ALL TO BE EVANGELISTIC.
THE CHURCH IS TO HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF REPENTANCE, THE ATRIBUTE OF EVANGE-
LISM, AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF VISION: PROVERBS 29:18 TELLS US:
"WHERE THERE IS NO VISION, THE PEOPLE PERISH."
THE CHURCH THAT IS GOING TO PROSPER IS THE CHURCH THAT HAS A VISION OF
WHAT THE LORD WANTS IT TO DO, AND NOT SO MUCH WHAT THEY THEMSELVES
WANT TO DO. THE VISION OF A CHURCH MUST BE REALISTIC. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU
WERE TO SAY TO YOURSELF, "I WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE TO BRING 100 NEW PEO-
PLE INTO PINECREST CHRISTIAN CHURCH WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR; THAT IS A PRETTY
TALL ORDER. IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE, DEPENDING ON YOUR FAITH, BECAUSE IF WE
HAVE ENOUGH FAITH, WE CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS, ETC. BUT, ON A MORE REALISTIC
PLANE, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF EACH ONE OF US DECIDED TO BRING AT LEAST ONE
NEW MEMBER TO PINECREST THIS COMING YEAR? THAT IS NOT ONLY REALISTIC,
BUT QUITE PROBABLE, IF WE WORKED ON IT. I DOUBT IF THERE IS ANYBODY IN THIS
ROOM WHO COULDN'T ACCOMPLISH THAT, IF THEY PUT THEIR MIND TO DO IT!
WE CAN HAVE A "VISION" OF WHERE THE CHURCH CAN BE IN ONE YEARS TIME; AND
WE CAN HAVE A VISION OF WHERE WE NEED TO BE "SPIRITUALLY," IN ONE YEARS
TIME. I LIKE THAT PHRASE THAT BRO. KEN CASWELL USED IN THE REVIVAL: IT WAS
A QUOTE OF PETER MARSHALL WHO SAID SOMETHING LIKE THIS:
"WE COME INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD JUST AS WE ARE, BUT; WE DARE NOT LEAVE THE WAY WE CAME."
IF GOD GIVES YOU A VISION OF WHERE YOU WANT THE CHURCH TO BE; OR WHERE
HE WANTS YOU TO BE IN YOUR SPIRITUAL WALK, THEN YOU HAVE THE OBLIGATION
TO ADVANCE IN THAT VISION. WE SHOULD NEVER JUST REMAIN WHERE WE ARE.
IF WE ARE WILLING TO ADVANCE IN THE VISION THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US, WE SHALL
GIVE THE "ACQUIESCENCE OF INSPIRATION."
THE WORD "ACQUIESCENCE" IS JUST A BIG WORD THAT MEANS; "TO ASSENT." THAT
MEANS THAT WE WILL ASSENT TO DIVINE INSPIRATION, EVEN WHEN IT HAS TO DO
WITH OUR PERSONAL LIVES. YOU HAVE HEARD THAT OLD HYMN THAT SAYS:
"TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE, CONSECRATED LORD TO THEE:"
WE MUST BE CAREFUL THAT WE DON'T REACH THE OTHER EXTREME WHERE WE
JUST SAY,
"TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE. (PERIOD).
"JUST PUT ME ON A SHELF SOMEWHERE AND LET ME REST IN QUIET REPOSE."
INSTEAD, WE SHOULD STRIVE TO SEEK FOR DIVINE INSPIRATION AND BE WILLING TO
FULFILL GOD'S PLAN WHEN HE REVEALS IT. OFTEN WE WANT TO PRAY TO THE LORD
TO USE US: WHAT WE SHOULD BE PRAYING FOR; IS "LORD, MAKE ME USABLE."
WHEN WE PRAY THAT; LOOK OUT! GOD WILL TAKE YOU UP ON IT! THINK ABOUT IT
FOR A MOMENT;
"IT MAY BE THAT GOD IS USING YOU ALL HE CAN; BUT NOT ALL HE COULD!"
IF YOU INCREASE YOUR USABILITY, GOD WILL INCREASE YOUR USEFULLNESS.
THE BEST EXAMPLE OF FOLLOWING DIVING INSPIRATION COMES FROM THE BEST
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US; IN HIS HOLY WORD!
THE WORD "INSPIRATION," IS TO BE FOUND ONLY TWICE IN THE ENTIRE WORD OF
GOD. ONCE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, AND ONCE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT:
JOB 32:8 TELLS US:
"BUT, THERE IS A SPIRIT IN MAN, AND THE INSPIRATION OF
THE ALMIGHTY
GIVETH THEM UNDERSTANDING."
AND, II TIMOTHY 3:16 AND 17 TELLS US:
"ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS
PROFITABLE
FOR DOCTRINE, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, FOR INSTRUCTION IN
RIGHTEOUSNESS: THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE THROUGHLY FURNISHED
UNTO ALL GOOD WORKS."
IN BOTH OF THOSE INSTANCES, THE WORD INSPIRATION IS ASSOCIATED WITH GOD,
AND NEVER WITH MAN! TODAY, MAN WANTS TO BOAST OF HIS OWN INSPIRATION.
TO DO THAT IS CERTAINLY NOT BIBLICAL, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE TEXT. MOST
ANY ARTIST, MUSICIAN, WRITER, POET, OR WHATEVER; WILL TELL YOU THAT CERT-
AIN THINGS GIVE THEM "IDEAS," FOR THE WORKS THAT THEY CREATE, BUT WE MUST
NOT CONFUSE IDEAS WITH INSPIRATION. INSPIRATION COMES SOLELY FROM GOD
ALONE.
THE NEXT THING ESSENTIAL FOR PRODUCTIVITY IN CHURCH IS AN "AGREEMENT OF
VOICE."
CAN YOU IMAGINE IF YOU WILL, AND I AM GOING TO DO SOMETHING ALMOST UN-
HEARD OF FOR ME TO DO; AND THAT IS TO USE A SPORTS ILLUSTRATION:
IMAGINE IF YOU WILL A FOOTBALL TEAM; AND THEY ARE GATHERED IN A "HUDDLE,"
PREVIOUS TO RUNNING A PLAY, AND THE QUARTERBACK STARTS CALLING OUT A
SERIES OF NUMBERS TO INDICATE THE PLAY, AND THEN ONE OF THE GUARDS
STARTS DOING THE SAME THING! THEN ONE OF THE "TIGHT ENDS," HE DOES
THE SAME THING; AND EVERYONE IS RATTLING OFF NUMBERS. ALL YOU WILL HAVE
IS MASS CONFUSION, AND NO ONE WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO.
THE SAME CAN HAPPEN IN THE CHURCH. IF WE START LISTENING TO THE VOICES OF
OUTSIDE SOURCES, OTHER THAN CHRIST, WE RUN INTO PROBLEMS. YOU REMEMBER
WHAT PAUL TOLD THE CHURCH AT CORINTH WHEN THEY WERE SAYING THAT THEY
WERE OF "PAUL," AND "CEPHAS," AND "APOLLOS," AND "CHRIST." HE TELLS THEM
THAT CHRIST IS NOT DIVIDED. HE GOES ON TO SAY, PAPRAPHRASED, WHO IS PAUL,
APOLLOS, AND CEPHAS, ANYWAY! AND NOTICE WHAT HE SAYS IN VERSE 10
OF CHAPTER ONE IN FIRST CORINTHIANS:
"NOW I BESEECH YOU BRETHREN, BY THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST, THAT YE ALL SPEAK THE SAME THING, AND THAT THERE BE NO
DIVISIONS AMONG YOU; BUT THAT YE BE PERFECTLY JOINED TOGETHER
IN THE SAME MIND AND IN THE SAME JUDGMENT."
THAT IS THE "AGREEMENT IN VOICE." WE'RE ALL SPEAKING THE SAME THING! WE
ARE TO BE UNITED IN AGREEMENT, RATHER THAN DIVIDED IN ARGUMENT. BUT ALL
TOO OFTEN, WE FIND THAT ARGUING GOES ON IN THE LORD'S HOUSE. BELOVED,
THIS SHOULD NOT BE, AND WILL NOT BE, IF WE ARE ALL IN "AGREEMENT IN VOICE."
THE NEXT THING TO BE FOUND IN THE PRODUCTIVE CHURCH IS THE
"ATTACHMENT OF ALLEGIANCE."
I HEARD OF A FELLOW ONE TIME THAT HAD BEEN TO EVERY CHURCH IN THE NEIGH-
BORHOOD, AND WOULDN'T STAY AT ANY OF THEM, AND HE WENT UP TO A PREACHER
HE MET, WHO KNEW THE SITUATION, AND TOLD HIM; "I'M THINKING ABOUT COMING
TO YOUR CHURCH." THE PREACHER, KNOWING THAT HE HAD BEEN TO THE BAP,
TISTS, THE METHODISTS, AND THE PRESBYTERIANS, AND ALL THE REST SAID TO HIM:
"WELL, I GUESS THERE IS NO HARM IN CHANGING LABELS ON AN EMPTY BOTTLE."
A PERSON SHOULD BE LOYAL AND ATTACH THEMSELVES TO ONE CHURCH, AND TRY
TO MAKE THAT CHURCH THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE. IF WE ARE LOYAL TO THE CON-
GREGATION, AND THE CONGREGATION IS LOYAL TO CHRIST, THAN IT WILL BE PRO-
DUCTIVE. I AM GLAD THAT THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF CHRIST AS FOLLOWS:
"LOOKING UNTO JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH."
(HEBREWS 12:2)
IT DOESN'T SAY THE "AUTHOR AND BEGINNER," OF OUR FAITH! BUT IT SAYS THE
"AUTHOR AND FINISHER." INOTHERWORDS, JESUS DOESN'T START A PROJECT, AND
THEN LEAVE IT HANGING FOR US TO FINISH. WHEN HE DIED ON THAT CROSS, HE
PAID THE WHOLE BILL FOR SIN FOREVER. NO MORE "INSTALLMENT PLAN" FOR SINS!
THIS SHOULD PROMPT AN ALLEGIANCE TO THE LORD'S CHURCH. WE HAVE ALL DIF-
FERENT KINDS OF RELIGIONS IN THE WORLD TODAY, AND CONTRARY TO WHAT SOME
PEOPLE ARE SAYING, THERE IS NO TRUE RELIGION THAT OFFERS SALVATION OTHER
THAN CHRISTIANITY: ACTS 4:12 SAYS THIS:
"NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER: FOR THERE IS
NONE OTHER
NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN, WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED."
THAT SPELLS IT OUT PLAIN AS DAY! YOU CAN BE A MOSLEM, A BUDDIST, A HINDU,
OR WHATEVER, BUT THERE IS NO OTHER NAME THAN JESUS CHRIST THAT PROVIDES
SALVATION IN AN ETERNITY IN HEAVEN: ANY OTHER RELIGION IS A VANE RELIGION
WITH NO HOPE OF SALVATION!
THE LAST THING I WISH TO MENTION THAT IS NECESSARY FOR A PRODUCTIVE
CHURCH IS: A PRODUCTIVE CHURCH WILL HAVE
"AN ABUNDANCE OF LOVE."
JUST HOW IMPORTANT IS LOVE? READ I CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 13 IN ITS ENTIRETY.
SUBSTITUTE THE WORD "LOVE," FOR THE WORD "CHARITY." THIS CHAPTER WILL
TELL YOU WHAT LOVE IS; AND WHAT LOVE ISN'T.
THE WORLD HAS AN ERRONEOUS CONCEPT OF WHAT LOVE IS. JUST WATCH TELE-
VISION, OR PICK UP A MAGAZINE, AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT I MEAN. IT SEEMS THAT
LOVE AND GREED HAS ALL BEEN MIXED IN THE SAME POT TODAY! IT IS ALL ABOUT
"WHAT AM I GOING TO GET OUT OF IT?" IT IS ALL ABOUT, "ME- ME- ME." THAT IS NOT
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT LOVE. IF YOU LOVE SOMEONE, IT IS ALL ABOUT "YOU-
YOU-YOU."
IN THE CHURCH, WE SHOULD ALWAYS LOOK TO EACH OTHER AND SHOW AN ABUND-
ANCE OF LOVE AND CONCERN FOR EACH OTHER! WE SHOULD NEVER BECOME JUST
A "NUMBER ON A BOARD." THERE MUST BE THAT PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP, NOT
ONLY WITH GOD, BUT WITH EACH OTHER:
LET'S SUM IT ALL UP: THE PRODUCTIVE CHURCH MUST HAVE WHAT?
1. AN ATTITUDE OF REPENTANCE,
2. AN ATRIBUTE OF EVANGELISM,
3. AN ADVANCEMENT OF VISION
4. AN AQUESCIENCE OF INSPIRATION
5. AN AGREEMENT OF VOICE,
6. AN ATTACHMENT OF ALLEGIANCE, &
7. AN ABUNDANCE OF LOVE.
SOME OF YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE PICKED UP ON THIS; BUT IF YOU TAKE THE
FIRST LETTER OF ALL OF THESE THINGS I HAVE MENTIONED, "REPENTANCE, EVAN-
GELISM, VISION, INSPIRATION, VOICE, ALLEGIANCE, AND LOVE; YOU COME UP WITH
THE WORD
REVIVAL!
ALL OF THESE THINGS ADD UP TO REVIVAL. BOTH AS A CORPORATE BODY, AND
AS A PERSONAL ENTITY! WE JUST FINISHED A REVIVAL MEETING, AND I HOPE THAT
ALL OF YOU WHO ATTENDED CAME AWAY FEELING REVIVED. IF YOU ARE HERE AND
WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND, THIS MESSAGE IS A SUMMATION IN A NUTSHELL OF THE
REVIVAL THAT MUST BE IN A PRODUCTIVE CHURCH!
A REVIVAL BEGINS WITH CHRISTIANS! IT GETS US RIGHT WITH GOD, AND EACH
OTHER. THE MAIN QUESTION FACING YOU THIS MORNING, YOUND AND OLD ALIKE,
IS:
ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?
HAVE YOU REPENTED OF THE SIN THAT IS IN YOUR LIFE, AND FORSAKEN IT?
HAVE YOU CONFESSED THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD?
HAVE YOU BEEN BAPTIZED FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, AND THE GIFT
OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT?
HAVE YOU RISEN TO WALK IN THE NEWNESS OF LIFE?
OR:
DO YOU NEED TO REDEDICATE YOUR LIFE TO THE SERVICE OF CHRIST? OR
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BECOME A PART OF THE BELIEVERS HERE AT PINECREST?
IF THE LORD IS LAYING A DECISION ON YOUR HEART THIS MORNING, WOULD YOU
COME AS WE STAND AND SING OUR HYMN OF INVITATION?
NO._____.
Bro. C. R. Carrier