PRAYER FOR REVIVAL

I must begin by asking for your understanding.  I need to reduce my blogs to three per week, MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, and FRIDAY.  I told you of my plan to write six blogs a week through the time of our being unable to meet onsite as a church family.  I had never done a series of blogs before, and I anticipated that I could do each one in a few minutes.  Instead, I find each one requires several hours.

I also underestimated the rest of my workload during our shelter in place period.  I thought I would have extra time since I would not be teaching on Sunday or Wednesday night.  I planned to use that time to write the blogs.

As it turns out, my workload has increased, especially now that we are moving toward being Together Again!  Staff meetings are longer as we try to carefully plan.  Bro. Rick and I continue to work on both insurance settlements and building plans.  All of this is progressing, but it requires even more time because doing Zoom Meetings takes about twice as long as a face to face meeting.

All of that to say, I am sorry, but I must cut back the number of blogs I am writing.  I actually enjoy doing it, and I hope you are being blessed by them.  But beginning this week, I will write to publish a blog for MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, and FRIDAY only.  Thank you in advance for your understanding and prayers.  Bro. Mike

Now let´s continue our look at Psalm 119.
Psalm 119:25–32 NKJV
25 My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word.
26 I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes.
27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.
28 My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word.
29 Remove from me the way of lying, And grant me Your law graciously.
30 I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me.
31 I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame!
32 I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart.

To read David´s prayer in these eight verses, you would think he was going through a pandemic!

• Psalm 119:25   My soul clings to the dust
• Psalm 119:26   My soul melts from heaviness;

Charles Haddon Spurgeon was the Baptist Pastor of Metropolitan Tabernacle in London for 38 years in the 1800´s.  Karen and I worshipped there sixteen or seventeen years ago when vacationing in England.  The face of the church building was destroyed in the bombing of London in WW2, but the frontal facsimile had been reproduced over a 1950´s style building, so that at least on the outside, it looked as it had in Spurgeon´s day.

Spurgeon has been called the “Prince of Preachers” because of his powerful oratory and precise exposition of the Scriptures.  In a day when many who claimed to be Christians began the fall into liberalism, Spurgeon stood for the perfection and inerrancy of God´s Word.

Of these verses in Psalm 119, Mr. Surgeon said,

• Here, it seems to me, we have the Psalmist in trouble bewailing the bondage to earthly things in which he finds his mind to be held.
• His soul cleaves to the dust, melts for heaviness, and cries for enlargement from its spiritual prison.
• In these verses we shall see the influence of the divine word upon a heart which laments its downward tendencies, and is filled with mourning because of its deadening surroundings.

          The word of the Lord evidently

• arouses prayer (Psalm 119:25-29),
• confirms choice (Psalm 119:30),
• and inspires renewed resolve (Psalm 119:32):

          it is in all tribulation, whether of body or mind, the surest source of help.

It is indeed, Mr. Spurgeon.  It is indeed!

EMAIL BRO. MIKE