Tag: God

God’s Goodness: Our Reason to Be Thankful

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Adapted from a sermon delivered by George Whitefield (C 1735)

Want to know one of the clearest signs that we’ve drifted from God? It’s how hard we find it to be thankful. Think about it – when things are going well, how often do we actually stop to say “thank you”?

When God first created humans and placed them in paradise, they were naturally filled with gratitude. They used every breath to praise God, recognizing that their very existence depended on Him. Even now, when we imagine heaven, we picture angels and perfected souls constantly praising God, acknowledging His worth and power.

What was natural for humans at creation, and what will be our joy in heaven, should be part of our life now. But let’s be honest – how rarely do we feel moved to praise God! Even when guardian angels watch over us, they must be amazed at how seldom we express gratitude for all we’ve been given.

We never lack reasons to be thankful, especially those of us saved by Jesus. We see God’s goodness everywhere – in sunshine, in daily blessings, in His care for all people. But few of us have reached the point where we can genuinely rejoice in others’ blessings as much as our own. That kind of perfect love will only be fully achieved in heaven, where every blessing given to others will give us new reasons to be thankful.

What usually moves us to gratitude is personal blessing – things that directly affect us. This makes sense – when something touches our own lives, it feels more real. When God shows us special favor or delivers us from trouble, it hits different. It’s like the Psalmist who kept saying, “If only people would praise God for His goodness and for the amazing things He does for them!”
The Psalmist’s passionate plea shows both how important gratitude is and how often we neglect it. It’s like the story Jesus told about the ten lepers – they all cried for help when they were sick, but only one came back to say thanks when they were healed. Sadly, that’s pretty typical of how most of us act.

For four months, we’ve been at sea together. We’ve seen storms that lifted waves high as mountains. We’ve felt our courage melt away in trouble. But we cried out to God, and He brought us safely through. He calmed the storms and brought us to our destination. Shouldn’t we praise Him for His goodness? Shouldn’t we tell others about what He’s done for us?

Don’t just say “thank you” with your lips while your heart is far away – that’s just pretending. God didn’t save us from storms just to hear empty words. He wants our lives to show our gratitude.
Give God your whole heart. Let His love draw you to honor and obey Him. You couldn’t serve a better master – His service brings freedom, His requirements become easy with practice, and His rewards are amazing: love, peace, and joy now, plus eternal glory later.

If we don’t respond to God’s kindness with changed lives, we’re in serious trouble. God is both merciful and just. The more blessings we receive, the more responsible we are for how we use them. Don’t let God’s blessings become reasons for greater judgment.

But I believe better things for you. I’ve seen positive changes among you. The cursing has decreased, and recent hardships have made you think more seriously about eternal things. Keep going in this direction. Nothing would make me happier than to hear you’re living according to truth.

Remember, you’re entering a new world with new challenges. Show by your lives that God’s mercy hasn’t been wasted. Let your gratitude show in how you live, not just in what you say.
May God bless you, guide you, and bring us all finally to that eternal haven where we’ll praise Him forever for His goodness and declare the wonders He has done for us.

Greater Vision’s “God Wants to Hear You Sing” Celebrates 25-Year Milestone

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AMY TURNER

A Southern Gospel song that has encouraged countless listeners through difficult times is marking its 25th anniversary this week. “God Wants to Hear You Sing,” written by Rodney Griffin and performed by Greater Vision, has remained a staple of Christian music since its release in 1999.

In reflecting on the song’s lasting impact, songwriter Rodney Griffin shared his thoughts on why the message continues to resonate with audiences. “It’s hard to believe we’ve been singing that song for that long,” Griffin remarked. “It’s just one of those that stuck.”

The inspiration for the song came from the Biblical account of Paul and Silas singing praises at midnight while imprisoned in Philippi in Acts 16:25. This verse shows us the powerful example of Paul and Silas choosing to worship God even in the midst of their suffering, and how their faith and praise led to a miraculous earthquake and the prisoners’ chains being loosed. This teaches us the importance of praising God in all circumstances and the impact it can have on our lives and the lives of those around us.

Griffin drew parallels between Paul and Silas’ experience and modern-day challenges, noting how the act of praise can bring breakthrough in difficult circumstances.

“It just gives hurting people a source of encouragement,” Griffin explained, referencing the Apostle Paul’s exhortation to “Rejoice in the Lord always.” He pointed out how Paul and Silas demonstrated this principle through their midnight praise session, which preceded their miraculous deliverance.
The song’s theme centers on the power of praise during adversity, encouraging believers to lift their voices even in life’s darkest moments. Its message resonates with fundamental Christian teachings about maintaining faith and worship during trials.

Released in 1999 through Songs of Greater Vision, the composition has become one of Southern Gospel’s most enduring songs about praise through adversity. Its legacy continues to impact new generations of listeners, offering hope and encouragement to those facing challenging circumstances.

As the song reaches this significant milestone, its message remains as relevant today as when it first released.

Understanding the Importance of Religious Revivals

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Based on a writing by Rev. CHARLES G. FINNEY (1792–1875)

Let’s talk about religious revivals – what they are and why they matter. It all started with an ancient prophet named Habakkuk who, facing troubled times, prayed for God to “revive” his people’s faith. This idea of revival has been important ever since.

At its core, religion is simply about people choosing to follow God willingly and sincerely. But here’s the challenge: we naturally drift away from this commitment. Think of it like a New Year’s resolution – we start with good intentions, but slowly slide back into old habits. This is why revivals become necessary.

Throughout history, most religious growth has happened through revivals – periods of intense spiritual awakening. Imagine a sleeping person needing an alarm clock. People get spiritually drowsy, distracted by life’s many demands and entertainments. These distractions are like a strong current pulling us away from shore. To swim back, we often need a powerful burst of energy.

Looking at history, we see a pattern: God creates a period of spiritual excitement, people turn to Him, then gradually drift away as daily life takes over. Think of it like a family that grows closer after a crisis, then slowly drifts apart until another event brings them together again.

Ideally, we wouldn’t need these spiritual wake-up calls. In a perfect world, faith would grow steadily, like a well-tended garden. But reality is different. Just as political campaigns and advertising bombard us with messages that shape our thoughts, these worldly influences need to be countered by equally powerful spiritual experiences.

Here’s what’s important to understand: a revival isn’t a miracle that suspends natural laws. It’s more like waking up and using abilities you already had but weren’t using. Think of a couch potato – they have the muscles to run, they just need the motivation to use them.

When a revival happens, it starts with Christians rediscovering their original enthusiasm for faith, like couples remembering why they fell in love. This renewal then spreads. Spiritual truths that seemed dull become vivid and real. People develop genuine concern for others’ spiritual well-being. Often, the change reaches even those considered “hopeless cases” – the most unlikely people can have complete changes of heart.

The whole process involves three key players: God, someone sharing spiritual truth, and the person being changed. Think of it like helping someone learn to swim: there’s the designer of the pool (God), the swimming instructor (the teacher), and the swimmer (the person changing). The truth itself is like the water – essential to the whole process.

Even small actions can have big effects. Sometimes just seeing someone’s genuine concern can start a chain reaction in a community. It’s like how one person’s smile can brighten a whole room. The key thing to remember is that revival involves both God’s work and human participation. While God provides the truth and power, people must choose to share and respond to it.

That’s what revival is about – a return to spiritual health through a combination of divine influence and human response. It’s as natural as waking up from sleep, as practical as farming, and as personal as falling in love. It happens when people are deeply moved to make real changes in their lives and turn back to God.

The Comforter

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A modern adaptation of C.H. Spurgeon’s sermon delivered on January 21, 1855

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you.” – John 14:26

The elderly Simeon called Jesus the consolation of Israel, and indeed He was. Before Jesus actually appeared, people looked forward to His coming like someone watching for the morning star that promises the dawn. When Jesus walked the earth, He must have been an incredible source of comfort to those lucky enough to be His companions. We can imagine how quickly the disciples would run to Jesus with their problems, and how His voice alone would calm their fears.

Like children with a father, they brought Him every need, every complaint, every sorrow, and every struggle. And Jesus, like a skilled doctor, had the perfect remedy for every pain and the right medicine for every problem. What a blessing it must have been to live alongside Jesus! Even sorrows then must have felt like blessings in disguise, since they gave people a reason to seek Jesus for help. Some of us might wish we had been born in that time, when we could have rested our tired heads on Jesus’s shoulder and heard His kind voice saying, “Come to me if you’re tired.”

But Jesus had to leave. Important prophecies needed to be fulfilled and crucial purposes accomplished. He had to die to take away our sins. He had to rest in the grave for a while to make death less frightening for those who would follow Him. He had to rise again so that we who will die believing in Him might also rise in glorious bodies. And He had to ascend to heaven to claim His victory, to defeat the forces of evil, and to show His power.

“It’s necessary for me to go,” Jesus said, “because if I don’t go, the Comforter won’t come.” Jesus had to leave. The disciples had to weep. His followers would be left without their comforter. But listen to Jesus’s kind words: “I won’t leave you alone like orphans. I will ask the Father to send you another Comforter, who will stay with you forever.”

Despite His enormous mission – a mission so huge it might have consumed anyone else’s attention completely – Jesus didn’t abandon His small flock of followers. Before leaving, He gave them words of comfort, like a Good Samaritan tending to wounds. He promised: “I’ll send you another Comforter – someone who will be what I’ve been to you, and even more. This Comforter will console you when you’re sad, clear up your doubts, support you in hard times, and act in my place on earth, doing what I would have done if I had stayed.”

Now, before we talk about the Holy Spirit as the Comforter, let’s look at this word more carefully. The original Greek word has several meanings. Sometimes it means “teacher” or “instructor.” Often it means “advocate.” But most commonly, it means “comforter,” which is what we’ll focus on today.

Let’s look at three main points:

  1. Who is the Comforter?
  2. What is the comfort He gives?
  3. Who receives this comfort?

First: The Comforter

Let me describe what makes the Holy Spirit such a perfect Comforter. First, He is incredibly loving. When we’re hurting and someone who doesn’t really know or care about us tries to help, their words just bounce off like rain on marble. But when someone who deeply loves us offers comfort, their words are like music to our ears. They know exactly how to reach our hearts.

The Holy Spirit loves you more than you can imagine. Try to measure heaven’s size, weigh all the mountains, count every drop in the ocean, or number all the grains of sand on every beach – and still you wouldn’t come close to measuring how much the Holy Spirit loves you. He has loved you for ages past, loves you now, and will love you forever.

He’s also completely faithful. Nothing hurts more than having a friend desert you when times get tough. But the Holy Spirit never does this – He stays faithful forever. You might be sick and unable to go to church, but He’ll visit you in your sickness. You might face overwhelming problems, wave after wave of trouble, but He remains faithful. You might sin and feel unworthy, but that doesn’t change His love. He knew all your faults before you were born and loved you anyway.

The Holy Spirit never gets tired of comforting you. Sometimes when we try to comfort others, we get frustrated because their problems keep shifting or they resist our help. But the Holy Spirit never gives up. Even when we run from comfort or refuse help, He persistently pursues us with His consolation.

He’s also infinitely wise in how He comforts. Human comforters often misunderstand the problem and give wrong advice. But the Holy Spirit perfectly understands what’s wrong and knows exactly how to help. He never makes mistakes in His comfort.

His comfort is completely safe. Some kinds of comfort are dangerous – like telling people to drown their sorrows in entertainment or pleasure. The devil sometimes offers false comfort too, telling people they’re fine when they’re not. But the Holy Spirit’s comfort is always true and safe.

He comforts actively – not just with words, but with real help. He prays for us, gives us promises, and provides grace. And He never fails in His mission to comfort – when He sets out to console someone, He always succeeds.

Best of all, He’s always present. You never have to send for Him or wait for Him to arrive. He’s always right there when you need Him.

Second: The Comfort

Some people misunderstand how the Holy Spirit works. They think He gives new revelations or messages. But that’s not how He comforts us. Instead, He reminds us of truths we already have – especially truths about Jesus. He helps us understand and remember what God has already said.

The Holy Spirit whispers to our hearts: “Remember, someone died for you. Look at Jesus on the cross. See His wounds, His sacrifice. That proves you’re secure and loved. God loves you eternally, and even this trouble you’re facing is for your good. Every hardship is helping you grow. God disciplines those He loves, just like a good parent.”

Sometimes the Holy Spirit pulls back the curtain a bit and lets us glimpse the glory of heaven. That’s when believers can say, “Let troubles flood in like a tidal wave – I know I’m heading home to God, and that’s all that matters.”

Third: Who Receives This Comfort?

Now, let’s be clear about who can expect this comfort. You can’t pick and choose which parts of God’s gifts you want. Some people want forgiveness but don’t want to change their lives. Some want heaven but don’t want holiness. It doesn’t work that way – God’s gifts come as a package deal.

You can’t have true comfort without first experiencing conviction of sin. The Holy Spirit first shows us our guilt and need for Jesus before He comforts us. Have you felt this conviction? Has your soul been humbled before Jesus? Are you looking to His sacrifice alone for your salvation?

If not, you shouldn’t claim His comfort yet. The Holy Spirit convinces us of our sin before He comforts us. You need His complete work in your life, not just the comfortable parts.

Conclusion

As you leave today, ask yourself: Do you know this Comforter? If not, remember this: if you don’t know Him as Comforter now, you’ll meet Him as Judge later. This isn’t a truth we can afford to ignore – we’re not guaranteed tomorrow.

But here’s the wonderful news: Anyone who believes in Jesus will be saved. Your sins, no matter how terrible, are no barrier. Your guilt, no matter how great, is no obstacle. Whether you feel like the worst sinner alive – if you believe in Jesus tonight, every sin will be forgiven, every crime erased, every wrong made right. You’ll be saved through Jesus Christ and stand secure in heaven.

That’s the glorious good news. May God help you trust in it today.

May these words find their home in your heart through the work of the true Teacher – God Himself.

Shane Dunlap Takes Lead in “Why Wouldn’t I Run,” Showcasing Lee Park Worship’s Unique Sound

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JEFF TURNER

Shane Dunlap, the leader of Lee Park Worship, has taken the helm on the group’s breakout song, Why Wouldn’t I Run. Known for his rich voice and dynamic stage presence, Dunlap’s role in this song marks a significant moment in the growing success of the worship collective.

Lee Park Worship, described as “a collection of many different backgrounds, generations, and musical influences who have come together as one to sing praises to our Lord,” has made waves with their unique blend of modern worship and traditional church music. The group embraces both today’s contemporary sound while staying true to the roots of the church, providing a fresh yet familiar worship experience.

While Why Wouldn’t I Run has garnered attention for its powerful message and moving melody, Dunlap is quick to point out that it’s not just his vocals driving the song’s success. He emphasizes the crucial role of fellow worship team member, Karlie Russell, who adds a special element to the piece.

“Carly just does such a great job. Her voice just fits it perfectly,” says Dunlap. “We wrote it for her. I was, when we went in there, I wanted to write a song for her.”

The song not only showcases Russell’s vocal talent but was specifically crafted with her in mind. Dunlap recalls playing a recording of her voice during the writing process, which helped shape the direction of the song.

“I played them her voice and something that she had done. And that’s what happened. It just came out. It’s pretty cool how that happened and how it’s become what it is,” Dunlap reflects.

Russell’s “special touch” is something that cannot be replicated, according to Dunlap. Her distinctive voice elevates the track and adds an emotional depth that resonates with listeners. “Nobody can sing it like Carly,” he adds, solidifying her unique contribution to Why Wouldn’t I Run.

The song has not only become a signature piece for Lee Park Worship but also showcases the collaborative nature of the group. With Dunlap’s powerful leadership and Russell’s stunning vocals, Why Wouldn’t I Run embodies the collective’s mission to blend diverse musical backgrounds and influences into a harmonious expression of faith.

As Lee Park Worship continues to rise, their approach to merging the familiar with fresh, new sounds—while celebrating the individual gifts of each member—sets them apart in today’s worship music scene. And with songs like Why Wouldn’t I Run, it’s clear that Shane Dunlap and the group are just getting started.