Dear friends in Christ...

Dear Friends in Christ,

Some time ago I read a piece written by Vance Havner, a minister from 1901-1986. I don't remember his denomination. To me it is a profound thought:

"When a group of small boys out to play ball arrived at the play ground, they discovered that no one had brought a ball. 'Forget the ball,' said one impatiently...

'Let's get on with the game.'
.... We are trying to play without the ball when the Church tries to evangelize before she has repented. The Church can do many things after she has repented but nothing until first she repents. If God ever visits us again in real revival, there will be many red faces as churchmen and religious leaders blush and hang their heads in shame for the silly and stupid ways in which we have tried to promote the work of God in the energy of the flesh by the help of the world. Drama will be unnecessary. We may not even need great preachers! Gospel jazz will slink away, and we shall be chagrined that we ever sank so low as to tolerate it. All this will vanish in the blinding light of the holiness of God, and no flesh will glory in His presence."


Repentance is a word not often heard, but without it there can be no "finishing of the work" either in our own lives or in the mission that God has called us to do. Repentance is, as it were, the handle by which the grace of God lifts us up; and without it we are, as it were, Teflon.


We are praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Let's not forget that Jesus said that when He sends the Holy Spirit, the first thing He would do was to convict us of sin--that is, call us to repentance.


We speak of being ready for the coming of Jesus. Well, the first step is to repent.

Repentance is a prerequisite to the Latter Rain.

Let's pray that there may be repentance in our personal lives, in our homes, and in the church.

Your brother in Christ, Florian.