Thank you for making your plan now to be part of our Holy Wednesday Service on April 5 in the Sanctuary. As we are remembering Jesus’ death on the cross, this service is our Poplar Springs way of walking near the cross together to reflect on Jesus’ love for us from the depths of the heart of God. It is a principal feature of our life in Christ to reflect upon this good news: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8). Thanks for gathering in the Sanctuary at 6:30 PM following our Fellowship Supper in the Family Life Center at 5:30 PM. This service will also be our opportunity to welcome our neighborhood churches in culmination of the previous week’s revival meetings.
Revival in the Bible
Throughout the Scriptures, there were times of renewal in the life of the people of God that give us a great description of what “revival” is all about. These renewal times help us to see how we can pray for our church, and the churches around us, to experience the new life that God looks for in us. Let’s think together about these Bible events and how they direct our praying:
- Solomon (1 Kings 3:7-10): Look to God’s Authority in Decision Making.
- Elijah (1 Kings 18): Expect God to Work Unbelievably in Your Life.
- Josiah (2 Kings 22-24): Humble Yourself before God’s Living Word.
- Jonah (Jon. 3-4): Feel God’s Concern for the Lost (separated from Him).
- Zerubbabel (Ezra, Haggai, Zech): Remind Your Culture that God is Near.
- John the Baptist (Matt. 3:1-12): Don’t Think the Starting Line is the Finish Line.
- Disciples at Pentecost (Acts 2): Fill Up Daily with God’s Powerful Presence.
- Samaritans (Acts 8): Find God’s Release from Sin’s Captivity.
- Cornelius (Acts 10): Do Not Limit the Work of God’s Spirit in Your Life or the Church.
- Antioch (Acts 13): Remember the Goal of the Church: Others!
Yes, each one of these stories in Scripture reminds us of the renewal God brought to his people and challenges us to pray for these spiritual realities to be awakened, renewed, and empowered in us as we live together as the church of Jesus Christ!
Revival in Our Neighborhood
The “Bible revivals” referenced above happened within the lives of people who were:
- Open to the Lord’s direction and inspiration for life in his presence.
- Willing to confess their sin and self-assuredness to God.
- Willing to be used by God to share the light of the Gospel with others.
- Humbly looking to the Lord’s Word and the Spirit’s power to mold them.
- Learning that discipleship is being “crucified with Christ so that I no longer live, but Jesus Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).
As we approach a week of community revival gatherings at our sister churches (March 27-31), let’s pray that these “Bible revival” attitudes will live in us as we come together. Thanks for your prayers for each church as they lead in worship on the nights we gather at their locations. And, thank you for attending each of the evenings your schedules will allow and for being ready to welcome our neighbors to Poplar Springs on Wednesday, April 5, at 5:30 PM as they join us for our Holy Week Service!
In the Love of Jesus,
Tony Tench
PS: For those unable to gather with us for the Revival Services, take note of the following live stream availability:
- Crestview via Facebook and YouTube: Crestview Baptist Church of Shelby
- Poplar Springs via Facebook and website: poplarsprings.net
- Beaver Dam via Facebook and YouTube: Beaver Dam Baptist Church (FB), BDBC Sound (YouTube), or bdbcshelby.com
- Calvary via Facebook: Calvary Baptist Church Shelby NC
- Pleasant Ridge via Facebook: Pleasant Ridge Bapt. Church