Conviction to Action

I see a great need for revival in America today, for widespread revival. A revival of Biblical proportions, to bring the Church in America back to our Lord God. It is time we come back to the Holy, Sovereign God falling on our faces in bitter tears for the shape of His Church in our land. We need a revival that God would no longer look at us as Laodicean Christians (lukewarm), but totally surrendered , totally sanctified (set apart, different) Jesus followers.

Sanctified, set apart, different, that is what we are as Christians. We have let the ways of the world into our churches, we have let sin run rampant and neglect to repent. God has said He will spew us out for this condition. Where is your Church? Where is your spiritual life? Are you set apart, sanctified? Jesus said in John 17:9-11," I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are". The rest of John 17 tells how the disciples were not "of" this world but in it. Jesus prayed to God that He watch over them and keep them. We as Christians have an inheritance to the portals of Heaven, our kingdom home when God calls us there. We now are passers by in the world and are to no longer act as if we are part of the world. We are called to be different, holy set apart people. The Bible tells us to "come out from among them and be ye separate", we are different, we have what others do not understand. We have a living peace from within us, a holy salvation the world hates.

As a Christian we are to surrender, give it all to God. Our sin debt was completely paid for by the death of Jesus on the cross. It was further purged as He died, was buried and then rose from the dead. He carried that sin burden, He carried His atoning sacrifice to the throne of God for our transgressions. Why then, do we ask for forgiveness but carry burdens in our heart? Lay it down at the foot of the cross, get rid of it. Paul said when we become Christians, when we are saved of our sin we become a new creation in Christ. Friends if you have not totally surrendered then how can you say you are a new creation in Christ? See Paul did not stop with that, he went on to say old things are passed away, they are done away with, gone. But , sin remains, our hearts remain burdened, why? We have not totally surrendered to God. Plain and simple we may have thought we repented but we harbored that which we thought we could take care of and did not trust God with. So we did not totally surrender. Do you want to grow in the grace and faith of Jesus Christ? Then lay it all at the cross, surrender it ALL.

My dear friends, if we are to seek the righteousness of Jesus Christ we must not let the ways of the world abound in us. We must not be in the places of the world. We will not attain the righteousness of Christ if we are unclean vessels. Let the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ change your life, give it all to Him, sanctified and surrendered.

So many times I feel our churches are failing, not because they do not feel the Holy Spirit's conviction, but, rather they give that conviction no action. In Genesis we are told the Angel of the LORD spoke several times to Abraham and the result was, straightway he went. Abraham got up, dropped all and went. This is power to our convictions that we heed the calling of God and go. This should be our every response to conviction, "wherever you are leading me Lord I am on my way." So many times we sit back knowing God is convicting our hearts but it is past what we think is attainable. God will not lead us to anything we cannot handle. God will not leave us when He leads us. We may well be out of our comfort zone but we are not in control, GOD IS. As He leads us from that comfort zone it produces results we cannot comprehend. Then when the task has been handled we see the work in a different light. We see God glorified, God as the provider. It was not of our own merit or glory but it was for and of God. We learn from this, it strengthens us for His next duties.

Gethsemane Baptist Church was founded in 1956 in Moraine, Ohio. About fives miles away another newer church had a small church and property. It was on the pastors heart to hold a revival, a tent revival. Problem was though their property was too small. Across the river and across town was a huge empty lot in the middle of a new growing neighborhood. After inquiring as to who owned the property they gained permission to ho;ld a tent revival on this empty lot. Many people attended the revival, the neighborhood turned out in big numbers every night. They all came and worshipped and made decisions for God. The biggest decision was on the pastor's heart. It was time to put conviction to action once again. The pastor and church knew they could not leave the neighborhood without a church. Shortly after Gethsemane Baptist Church was started in the quaint Moraine neighborhood. Today it is known as South Dayton Baptist Church.

This year Pastor Steven Thornhill is putting conviction to action once again. South Dayton Baptist Church will be hosting a tent revival once again. This will be the first tent revival on these grounds in fifty-six years. Each night will feature praise and worship music along with the good old Gospel hymns. Dr. Terry VanBuskirk of Taylorsville, Utah will be the the evangelist with the main message each evening. The nightly meetings will present two messages brought to the congregation. Doc Van is the executive vice-president of Salt Lake Baptist Bible College. The college is on campus in Taylorsville as well as available online. Doc Van is extremely educated in Baptist history and sure to share that with us as we meet. He also plays the guitar and sings the great old Gospel favorites.

The revival will be held May 26-29 7pm-8.30pm each night. A 15 minute or so salvation message will start the evening then Doc Van will bring the revival message to the crowd. A few other hubs have been written on Salt Lake Baptist Bible College. You may be interested in checking them out also.

My friends what is your convictions and how have you put them to action? Remmeber conviction to action.