It’s been asked for many years, "Why is it we don’t have "revival?" and the standard answer is, "Because, we are willing to live without it." Which then leads us to the second question, "Why is it we are willing to live without it?" Because "We don’t realize we need it."
God has been opening my eyes lately to the fact that "we need revival." We most certainly do.
Now, I hope most of you know when I say revival I’m not talking about a series of meetings at a Church where we slap the title of "revival" on it. No- revival isn’t a series of meetings at a Church. Revival is a renewed relationship and love for God by His people that transforms them, their communities, and the church. - I like what Charles Finney said about revival, "Revival is the return of the church from her backslidings and the conversion of sinners." –That’s what I’m talking about!
I really feel a fresh stirring happening in me with a renewed prayer focus for revival. I’m getting stirred for more of God. I really desire, in the inner part of me, more of Him. I desire to see change. I read the revivals of old and it puts an appetite and a cry in me for God to do it in my life. I don’t know about you, but I want to see God move in an unprecedented way-a real way. The status quo isn’t cutting it anymore. I want to see the Lord move in my life, the life of my family, in my Church and in my community.
Ask yourself a question, "How much worse do things have to get before we get desperate?" It’s as though the worse things get the duller we become. Isn’t it true that the more society mocks Jesus the more we become accustom to it? It’s like when you go into a dark restaurant from the outside light, in a matter of minutes your eyes adjust and you’ve become accustom to the darkness. I believe we have gotten used to the way things are and because of this we’re getting steeped in compromise and lukewarm living. We’ve "settled in"- we have become familiar. How many of us are burn with a discontent and agitation for what we see? I read the Bible and especially the Book of Acts and I want that. Those miracles, the moving of God that the early Church saw, I desire that in my lifetime. I guess you could say I am discontent with where I am at, I want more of God.-Do you?
Recently I was reading about Robert Murray McCheyne, he was a powerful evangelist from the 1800’s, he had the picture of the setting sun painted on the dial of his watch, and underneath written, "The night cometh". Every time he looked at his watch, he was reminded of his responsibility as a minister of the gospel, and of the charge entrusted to him. If we study the life of the early disciples, we see how their whole being was driven and moved by one great purpose -- to be at their best for God.
So we as Life Line Outreach, step into 2009, we purpose to continue ministering Jesus on the streets, in our neighborhoods, in our work places, in the jails, and wherever God leads us. Were passionate about seeing Revival break out as we pray and intercede for our communities and our heart cry is to be the best for God in 2009.
Thanks for you prayers and support. Please continue to pray for revival. Pray for God to draw the sinner and backslider, for hearts to be drawn to repentance and lives surrendered to Jesus. Please keep us in prayer.
In the next couple of months we have ministry planned in toll road rest stops, the Elkhart County Jail and at the end of January we’re planning on ministering the hams that were left over from the Christmas Outreach. We have a target area-another real needy area in Elkhart (Modrell Street area).
We pray peace and blessings over you in 2009!
Steve & Jodi Ignowski
Life Line Outreach Ministries
