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10 Keys to Sharing Your Faith

RECAP: Closed Doors – Jordan Rubin..good thing isn't always a God thing.

Evangelism is spiritual warfare – ACTS 17 [Paul and Silas came to

Thessalonica], where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 Then Paul, as his

custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the

Scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again

from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” 4 And

some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a

few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.

1. Know your audience and the rebuttals

 Isaiah…“it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer” and

afterwards “to raise Him to life so that many people could be forgiven”

(Isaiah 53:10-12).

5 But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil

men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and

attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

2. Opposition is the rule, not the exception

 When the false kings are challenged, the only response is hate and anger – your

response is love and grace.

Fast-forward to vs10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by

night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11

These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the

word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these

things were so.

3. Study the Bible and let the Bible study you

 You’re sharing truth – how do you share what you do not know?

Search and see – if I’m thinking God’s thoughts? Search and see if I’m acting

according to the character of God. Search and see if I’m parenting…if I’m making

decisions…

FF vs. 16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within

him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. 17 Therefore he reasoned in

the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace

daily with those who happened to be there.

4. Don’t ignore the leading [provoking] of the Spirit – to stimulate or

excite.

18 Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said,

“What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of

foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they

took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new

doctrine is of which you speak? 20 For you are bringing some strange things to our

ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.” 21 For all the Athenians

and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or...

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What is a Open/Closed Door?

ACTS 16: Timothy Joins Paul and Silas, AND The Macedonian Call –

“They were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.”

Forbidden – Not conforming to usual selection principles.

CLOSED DOOR! God will stop you if you’re humble and teachable –

CLOSED: Illegal, Lacks Wisdom, Wrong reasons/motives, or we are Running.

Caution: You can force it open with a spirit of rebellion – “God gave them over…”

OPEN DOOR! 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Prov. 16:3, “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” He will bring them to fruition if you let Him guide.

KEY to hearing God:  Spirit-filled Is Spirit-ruled.

We want NT power and direction, but do we want NT holiness?

Who are we fooling? If we are living in the flesh – too busy for prayer, too hectic for study, too tired for meditation – we won’t discern the right voice.

How do I know to leave it shut or pray that it opens?

Pray – “God, search my heart and motives. This appears to be a shut door, but will You show me if I should keep contending for it?

Integrity – Don’t manipulate things or try to make things happened. Don’t skew information to those who are offering godly counsel. Are you seeking counsel?

If God wants to open a door, He will open it!

Is there peace about the closed door, or is there a continual stirring for it to open as you seek God not your flesh?

EXAMPLE: When I watch fixer-upper.

WE OFTEN MAKE IMPULSIVE, FLESHLY DECISIONS.

EXCERPT FROM Forks Over Knives: we are programed to seek pleasure, avoid pain, and conserve energy.

THE WAITING TIME sifts our motives, clears our thinking, and refocuses our direction.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

God redirected Paul as he sought Him.

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

Never move on a vision or dream alone unless you know it’s from God – it aligns with His Word and His nature.

God’s will is to help others – it rarely has to do with comfort, pleasure, and avoiding pain.

This is why I often tell those who move or leave a job to “get away from here,” to be careful in their assumptions!

Our first impulse shouldn’t be to run from trouble but to seek God!

But sometimes, God will use trouble, challenges, and being discontent to move us on. If you’re filled with the Spirit you’ll know – if you’re filled with the flesh life will be chaotic.

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FASTING OVER FORKS – Delight Not Drudgery

 

It’s hard for 2 wills to live in the same body. What passion prevails?

Conflicts on the calendar – Dodger game vs. Wedding

The motivation behind fasting is to seek God more fervently – to give up the good for the best!

 

JUST FOCUS ON JESUS: According to the Obesity Action Coalition – “It’s estimated that every pound of fat requires about one extra mile of blood vessels…that means more work for the heart.”

 

Fasting disciplines the body, prayer fights the enemy, and the Word give us wisdom.

 

If the battle is with the flesh, what makes us think we’re going to defeat it if we keep feeding it.

__________________________________

 

1 John 2:16 [NIV] – For everything in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–comes not from the Father but from the world.

 

BUT we hear: “Be yourself! Embrace your longings! Cave in to your desires.”

MANY Old Testament rebukes were because of gluttony and indulging the flesh.

 

Leonard Ravenhill – “The early church had an upper room with fire; today we have a supper room with smoke.”

 

WHEN: There is desire, conviction, AND confirmation. There is a deeper call to purity and holiness, or a difficult task ahead.

 

Fasting applies pressure: “Often, pressure has to be maintained before there is a breakthrough in heavenly warfare.” Arthur Wallace

 

The flesh gives up once pressure is applied consistently – “Popeye – “That’s all I can stands, I can’t stands no more!”

“Resist the devil…”

Some strongholds hang on piece by piece.

 

W H E N –

Is there a desire to resurrect dead prayers?

Is there a stronghold that has been gripping your life?

Do you desire a deeper walk with God or INCREASED spiritual hunger? Do you need help in the area of self-discipline [temperance]?

Do you need a breakthrough, direction, or peace.

Is all hell breaking loose in your life or in your family – great obstacles ahead.

Pray & Fast –

Matthew 17:14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”

17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly,

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FASTING OVER FORKS

Pt. 1 A Hunger Strike Against Hell

The Why, When, and How of Fasting

WHY? Spiritual disciplines are like farming. We can’t make the seeds grow, but we can create an environment for growth.

Fasting is seen throughout the Bible – Matthew 6 – when you pray, give, and fast.

LUKE 5:35 [NIV], “But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.”

Ravenhill: “When there´s something in the Bible that churches don’t like, they call it `legalism.´”

The physical is affected by the spiritual – “we wrestle not.”

MOSES RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD  –

KING JEHOSHAPHAT EXPERIENCED VICTORY  –

ESTHER RECEIVED PROTECTION  –

ELIJAH WAS RESTORED  –

DANIEL EXPERIENCED THE SUPERNATURAL  –

EZRA RECEIVED DIRECTION  –

NEHEMIAH WAS STRENGTHENED  –

JOEL OFFERED THE CURE FOR JUDGMENT   –

JESUS WAS EMPOWERED  –

PAUL CONFIRMED HIS CALLING –

CORNELIUS WAS SAVED –

ACTS 13:2 [NIV] While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ACTS 14:23 [NIV] Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

The vast majority of the heroes of the faith fasted. And it’s still very common in places like China, Korea, – secluded places for prayer and fasting.

*John Wesley would not ordain a man unless he fasted twice a week – self disciplined.

THE PENDULUM SWING –

Those who see it mentioned throughout Scripture (close to 80 times), see the enormous benefit –

KEY: The closer you draw to God the more you do for God.

Fasting is a hunger strike against hell – it subdues the flesh.

“How can you pull down strongholds of Satan if you don’t even have the strength to turn off your TV?” Ravenhill

John Owen, The Works of John Owen: Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers

The choicest believers, who are assuredly freed from the condemning power of sin, ought yet to make it their business all their days to mortify the indwelling power of sin. Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work…be killing sin or it will be killing you….Every unclean thought or glance would be adultery if it could; every covetous desire would be oppression, every thought of unbelief would be atheism.

You are not powerless – you give power to either the flesh or the Spirit.

Neglect of this duty to mortify causes the withering of the soul.

James 4:5 says that our spirit “has envious yearnings”.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

The Spiritual is the priority but there are physical benefits.

All of our choices have consequences, but when it comes to eating, we don’t think that applies.

The Great Physician heals our bodies.

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I’ve Been Hurt! Now What?

Division over John Mark – 37 Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another…

They both had valid reasons – one was wisdom the other was forgiveness.

1. Colossians 4:10 (paraphrase) – If Mark comes to you, welcome him.

2. 2 Timothy 4:11(NIVUK) – Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

“Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.”

o   People who don’t release offenses never grow; they stay stagnant – they run!

o   Seasoned men and women of God have been offended ten times over.

o   We’re going to be offended for the rest of our lives.

Unforgiveness steals your joy, hurts your relationship with others, and damages your walk with God.

God never designed us to hop around and stay stagnant.

Err on the side of grace and grow or follow the course of…

Reasons to “Consider” Leaving a Church: Does God want me to stay and make a difference?

Scripture is watered down.

Sin is never confronted.

The church lacks spiritual life.

The church is very controlling (to direct the course of events).

controlling…

Manipulates you with God’s word vs. encourages you – temper tantrums or threats

Never satisfied or appreciative.

Putting you down and challenging your motives

Imposes their will on you.

Not – I didn’t make the worship team, or the pastor said something I didn’t like. I was promoted. I didn’t get my way. Someone was rude to me.

Jesus Was Offended.

Herod tried to kill him; his family rejected him; entire cities denounced him; John the Baptist questioned him; the Pharisees mocked him; the Sadducees challenged him; the scribes accused him; his people cried, “Crucify him!”; Pilate sentenced him; Judas betrayed him; Peter denied him; and his disciples forsook him. The world is still OFFENDING him.

There’s power in forgiveness – Christians should be able to forgive, when we’re in right relationship with God.

Matthew 6:15 – “But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

1. BLESSINGS ARE REMOVED – Something is being held against us.

2. A LACK OF FRUIT – D.A. Carson – “There is no forgiveness for the one who does not forgive. How could it be otherwise? His unforgiving spirit bears strong witness to the fact that He has never repented.”

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What is a “Good” Man?

Psalm 37:23-24 (NKJV) The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.

GOOD – good choices, a productive life [lived to a good old age], gets back up though he falls.

Two extremes – I’m a worm (manure)…or God I’m so good.

“Not about perfection, but direction.” John MacArthur

Come as you are – but don’t stay as you are…

ORDERED – Koon – FIXED, ESTABLISHED, AND READY.

The Struggle: the enemy, or our mind, plants thoughts. We go back-and-forth on whether we should act them out. The more you fuel SIN the more you’ll fight SIN.

Hollywood says a real man is the opposite of what God says:

You can be a good man today – you can turn from darkness to light. From confusion to clarity. From being foolish to being wise. From being bound to sin to being set free.

A man is often measured by who he “is”, not who he “was.”

We say, “This is too hard,” and we give up.

Antinomianism – “against the law [nomos].”

/  WALK HERE /

Moralism – the Law [external] – “the letter kills…”

John 5:3 tells us, “This is love for God: to obey His commands…”

Both are grounded in PRIDE – look at how many laws I obey vs. look how many laws i break.

Willpower is good, but not enough – “do not touch; do not taste.”

You exercise your will to submit to the work of the Holy Spirit – SANCTIFICATION IS SUBMISSION [a gift from God].

Spiritual Disciplines engage the Gift-giver.

A GOOD MAN – ACTS 14:23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Fasting shows the magnitude – “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God” (Acts 20:28).

1ST – Do you truly know the Savior???

“What is the spiritual condition of those I’m leading?”

Change the environment of your home if it’s on life support.

Qualifications of a good man – Elders [normal men who have matured] – Titus 1 (NASB) 5… appoint elders in every city as I directed you, 6 namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.

Outside reputation.

Sexual purity – a one woman man.

Dissipation is a lazy partier or gamer – rebellious to th...

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Every Believer is Called to the Ministry

 

INTRO: Everyone can have a ministry – God created us to make a difference. The problem is we look at numbers instead of faithfulness.

Oswald Chambers: “God buries His men [and women] in the midst of paltry things, no monuments are erected to them; they are ignored, not because they are unworthy, but because they are in the place where they cannot be seen.”

 

Acts 14:8 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.

To the needy – it’s not comfortable.

God restores the humble and those who see their need – it’s our job to point them in the right direction.

 

Psalm 107:27-28 (NIV), “They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.”

 

9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.

GOD was his focus. You don’t build faith by being negative.

Paul was OPEN to what God wanted to do – no we doubt what God wants to do.

This is the gift of faith.

He surveyed the situation: Matthew 7:6, paraphrase: Don’t waste your time or things on people who will throw it back in your face. Don’t throw your money or assets to those who act like pigs! They will trample those resources then turn on you.

1. The man had faith 2. In Mark 9:24 – I believe, but… 3. Matthew 8:8 – just say the word.

In ministry, you’ll need faith – you’ll struggle with faith – and you’ll need to intercede – An intercessor identifies with the pain.

 

11 Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonianlanguage, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

Key to ministry success: Proverbs 27:2, “Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth.” Praise is “accurate acknowledgment.” BUT then you praise G0d AND mean it.

Heart issue: “Oh shucks…you mean little ole me?”

Who were Zeus and Hermes – 2 of 12 Greek gods who lived on Mount Olympus. Most of that belief system has now faded.

Who IS Jesus – not who WAS Jesus.

 

13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.

Nearly all religions make a sacrifice. Knowing we need something to take our place…that we’ve fallen short…that we owe something…is in our DNA.

Argument against Christianity: “All Religions speak of a God and a Sacrifice – so it must not be true – it’s all a myth.”

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Wake-up, Sleepy Head

INTRO: Wake Up – there is something to do

Let’s be honest – We rarely change unless we WAKE UP!

_____________________

READ Judges 16:16-30

1. He was Pestered – persistent interruptions.

Wake up: DISCOURAGEMENT has a purpose.

You have to offset the discouragement – stay and obey and pray.

HOW DO YOU STAY COMMITTED TO GOD’S WORD EVERY DAY?

It becomes who you are. We would never ask, “How do you stay committed to looking at your phone or Pc or tv?”

2. Compromise – the standard drops – nazarene vow – power was in consecration.

The website, Setting Captives Free, says, “When your sin is hidden many things happen. First there is deception in that you can ‘handle’ this yourself (pride). When you are at that point, you no longer look to the Lord for your help. Then there is shame because you are living a deceptive dual life.”

Wake up: Girls, Glory, and Gold

God gave him opportunities to repent.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST STRUGGLE?

3. Watch out for opportune times: H.A.L.T.

He was getting angry and tired – hungry and lonely.

WHAT IS THE GREATEST LESSON? THE BEST ADVICE / THE WORST ADVICE.

4. His ‘SPIRITUAL’ strength left – “I will go out as before”

Wake up to pride: “it won’t happen to me.”

Why did he share his secret? He’d been compromising…

5. He lost his vision – he was called to be a deliver; now he needed deliverance.

You are called – “But I don’t feel like it.”

The Battle of Gettysburg – 27,000 recovered weapons; 24,000 never fired.

CLOSING: BUT his strength came back when he humbled himself – He called on the Lord

What’s Your Delilah https://youtu.be/NhOzHxFvIk0

Deadliest weapon – hard heart

Wake up: you need God

Repent and believe or repent and return.

Psalm 107:27-28 (NIV), “They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.”

THIS IS WHY WE WORSHIP!

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10 SIGNS OF A HEALTHY CHURCH

________

TOPICAL: Being sent out by the Holy Spirit they encountered a sorcerer. ACTS 13:9 Then [Paul]…filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

1. Boldness and Spiritual Power” – you have to be bold in battle.

The Enemy is Full of Deceit – to gain control and pervert the right way.

13 Paul came to Perga…and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. 15 After the reading of the Law & the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”

2. Reading and Exhortation- urging someone to do something.

Sin is exposed and Grace abounds.

16 – 23 God brings deliverance from David’s seed, “according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus…26 “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent….28 And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. 29 Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. 30 But God raised Him from the dead. 31 He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 32 And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers.

3. Feed the saints; warn the sinners.

         A. PRIMARY: To those who fear God.

We’re not to be seeker-sensitive in avoiding truth, but we are to be sensitive in how we represent God.

         B. SECONDARY: To those who need to fear God – “warns despisers.”

1 Cor. 14:24 [if] an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.”

…38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: 41 ‘Behold, you despisers, marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, though one were to declare it to you.’”

4. Centers on Jesus Christ – Have you been justified?

“This Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins.”

We can become so busy and miss why we’re really here.

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How To Be “Led By The Spirit”

Memorial Day: On Jan. 13, 1947, U.S. Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall stated: “The choice before us is plain: Christ or chaos, conviction or compromise, discipline or disintegration. I am rather tired of hearing about our rights. … The time is come to hear about responsibilities….”

_______________________________________________________________

Intro: Make Sure You Are Following God’s Lead – Led by, David said by, filled by, revealed by, taught by, moved by…

EXAMPLE: 1. Conor led by the wrong voice. 2. The Old Deluder Satan Act.

ACTS 12:20-24 Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king’s personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king’s country. So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God grew and multiplied.

[Josephus in Antiquities 18.200] – he was immediately stricken with pain and carried to his bedchamber. He died five days later – “eaten by worms and died”.

1. Open your ears to hear to the leading: “Who has ears to hear.”

We are bombarded with opportunities of self-exaltation.

This is why i speak of humility often – pride is the spirit behind self-exaltation:

TAKE-A-TEST: Excuses / Always right / Temper-tantrums / Doesn’t listen to others / Rebellious spirit.

The tragedy is: they think they are led

25 Barnabas and Saul [led of the Spirit] returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry , and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.

2. Always be moving in the right direction: Waited for power, then moved.

ACTS 13 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: [Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen, and Saul.]

3. To hear we need both teaching and preaching.

Those who have been called to preach, much like the prophets in the Old Testament, will confront compromise, condemn moral digression, and powerfully denounce sin in the hope of reconciling man to God—

The teacher builds—the preacher tears. The teacher counsels—the preacher convicts. The teacher rejoices—the preacher weeps. The teacher plants—the preacher uproots. The teacher mends—the preacher breaks. The teacher is full of hope—the preacher is full of fire. The teacher loves to listen—the preacher needs to speak.

Leonard Ravenhill, in Why Revival Tarries, wrote, “God has always had His specialists whose chief concern has been the moral breakdown of the nation and the church. Such men were Elijah, Jeremiah, Malachi, and others of their kind who appeared at critical moments in history to reprove, rebuke, and exhort in the name of God and righteousness. Such a man is likely to be drastic and radical; the curious crowd that gathers to watch him will soon brand hi...