Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday September 28, 2006

Many folks in the world of Christendom have remarked on the merits of the famous sermon preached by Jonathan Edwards which is recognized as the precursor to the First Great Awakening in America. I promise you that most who shout the praises of the sermon have not read it. I often refer to it by title, though seldom mention much of the content, "Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God" has the sound of thunder to it.

Jonathan Edwards knew some things that we weak and needy Christians need to learn in our current day. Concerning revival Dr. Edwards wrote:

"It may be observed that, from the fall of man to our day, the work of redemption in its effect has mainly been carried on by remarkable pourings out of the Spirit of God, at special seasons of mercy."

A familiar gospel song proclaims, "Mercy drops round us are falling, but for showers of we plead." How true in our time. We hear or read of some grand move of the Spirit of God and we rejoice, but in daily life we seem to experience the same old same old.

I often use a statement from Mildred Hayes that I wrote down when reading the September 1981 issue of Guideposts:

"Lord, I do not ask for faith to move mountains, but for a faith to move me."

As I read of the plight of the church in America and listen to the endless barrage of what's wrong with us, followed the ceaseless appeal for funds to stop the tide of evil, I near give up in despair. Yet I know that God in His time will move on the hearts of His people en masse, therefore my prayer is "Oh, God move in my heart now!" I agree with Ms. Hayes, I need to be moved from apathy, from the malaise that has infected my spiritual life. History does record that while the church has languished, individuals have been used in mighty power for the glory of Christ. Some days it seems it would be easier for God to move a mountain than to move me. A friend said that he felt so dead that if he were to go to a funeral home the mortician would give him a discount for walking in!

I read again the account of the Valley of Dry Bones from Ezekiel's great book and the question as I looked at my life, is the one asked by the Spirit to Ezekiel; "Can these bones live?" Thankfully, God’s spirit via preaching over them brought the dry bones to life!

Often when I feel drier than the bones in Ezekiel’s valley, a time in the Word of God will revive me, will move me, will drive me as I listen with thirsty ear for the whispering voice of God through His word to quench the thirsting of my parched soul. Like Ms Hayes wrote:

"Lord, I do not ask for faith to move mountains, but for a faith to move me."

Perhaps TODAY!

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2006 Use with credit

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