Immediately, two Bible passages came to mind….

Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

John 3:8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.

I can’t tell you for sure if we are having revival in our midst – but I can tell you that it sure feels like revival and that 2 of the obvious signs of revival are happening….

1) Souls are being saved. The last night of February we baptized 18 people [the largest 1 time baptismal service in our history]. During revival, we had 4 more saved. This past Sunday, we had 15 saved [including my daughter] and 1 join for baptism. If all of those are baptized in March, we will have baptized nearly 40 people in 2 months! To put that in perspective, the most Liberty has every baptized in a YEAR is 52!! Keep inviting the lost and sharing your faith!

2) Giving is at record amounts. The last 2 weeks total offering [Tithes, Missions, KTFB, Revival] may be the largest 2 week offering in our history. If it isn’t, it is real close. I just finished reading in the OT [I'll let you look it up in your quiet time] where giving was a sign of revival. They had to stop the offering because the people were giving  faster than it could be used! Now, we aren’t going to stop the offering - I am a Baptist preacher and we are in a building program – but it is just another sign that revival is happening in our midst. Keep giving and lets see how fast we can get relocated so we can see more saved! Keep giving so we can see how many ways we can touch our community with the love of Christ.

The last sign of revival is confession of sin and forsaking of sin. Maybe today you want to start praying and asking God if there is something between you and Him that is keeping you from being in a close, vibrant, growing relationship with Him? If /when He shows you something – get rid of it and let’s watch as revival continues in our midst!!

Cause if this Ain’t revival….I don’t know what is!

1. Liberty you did a great job the whole weekend. Thank you for your attendance and for your commitment to Super Sunday and Revival. Even though we didn’t reach our goal, you filled the building and the parking lot up to capacity.

2. We had guests everywhere  – especially Sunday. We will reap the rewards of that for a while. If you invited someone, make sure you reconnect with them this week to see if they have any questions about the church.

3. “Wild Bill” did a fantastic job of preaching exactly what we needed to hear! Thanks to Bro. Bill for bringing it hard and straight!

4. We had 4 saved Sunday!! To God be the Glory!!

5. We baptized 18 last night – awesome! Lets keep it up and see more saved and baptized in 2010 than we ever have before in our history! And speaking of last night, what an amazing service to END revival with. The building was full with the balcony nearly full – that was amazing!

3 thoughts looking forward…

1. I am starting a 2 week [4 sermon] series called “Christianity – a little dab WON’T do ya” this Sunday. Too often the average Christian wants just enough of God to ease their conscious and we need to understand that is not how God wants His relationship with you to work. So, I’m preaching it hard starting this week. Don’t miss and be praying.

2. Too often we have a post-Super Sunday let down the weekend after – don’t let it happen. Teachers and SS leaders make sure you do your job of contacting and encouraging this week so that we stay on a high in church and Sunday School.

3. Bro. Bill commented on the incredible joy our church has – he talked to me about it in depth. So, don’t let that subside. This Sunday, show up withe the joy of Jesus filling your hearts and showing on your face and attitude!

Blessings…

And its not just the numerical growth that is great, but Spiritual growth is taking place as well. Next week I will baptize over 1/2 dozen teenagers and college kids who have been saved recently. I am texted & Facebooked regularly by college and high school kids who ask me Bible questions and Christian living questions. Right now, we have college kids who are fasting from food, media, and television in order to draw closer to the Lord. Every week when I preach it is a huge encouragement to look down at the first 5 or 6 rows in the middle section and see our youth sitting there listening to every word or raising their hands in worship!!

With all of this going on here, I am reminded of something – God often sends revival through youth. One of the greatest revivals the world has ever experienced was the Great Welsh revival of the early 1900′s. Evan Roberts, who was just a young man, went about the countryside preaching a 4 point sermon:

1. Confess all known sin
2. Deal with and get rid of anything ‘doubtful’ thing in your life
3. Be ready to obey the Holy Spirit instantly
4. Confess Christ publicly

Evan was full of the Spirit of God and for 2 years (until he collapsed from exhaustion) he saw hundreds come to Christ. People were changed in so many ways. The crime rate dropped, drunkards were reformed, pubs reported losses in trade. Bad language disappeared and never returned to the lips of many – it was reported that the pit ponies failed to understand their born again colliers who seemed to speak the new language of Zion – without curse and blasphemy – even football and rugby became uninteresting in the light of new joy and direction received by the Converts.

So, pray for your youth at Liberty. Pray for revival at Liberty. If you know someone who has a teenager invite them to church.

One of the greatest things they can do is to get that teenager involved in a youth group that is on fire for Jesus!

Right now – @ Liberty – they are on fire!!