Revitalization

This past week I had the privilege of leading a conference in Montgomery for pastors from around our state on church revitalization. The fact is all churches need seasons of revitalization. And there are several things, subtle and not so subtle involved. Some are noticeable and some are not, but the fact remains ongoing renewal is vital to sustain a church’s health.

But what is vital to a church’s sustained spiritual health, is just as vital to the spiritual health of individual Christians. Henry David Thoreau, in his classic book, Walden, told of a powerful custom of the Mucclasse Indians. Once each year, they had a village clean up called a "busk." First, they would make new clothes for themselves as well as furniture and cooking utensils. They would keep all of these new things in a building outside of the village. When everything was ready, they would begin their annual spring cleaning.

Every corner of every house was scrubbed. Every stick of furniture was thrown out. Every child's toy went to the garbage heap. The dirt paths were swept, and the weeds were plucked up. Even the food left over from winter was thrown out. All of the refuse in the village was gathered together into a pile in the center of the village. Then the chief set it on fire. As they watched it burn, they took off their clothes and tossed them into the fire as well. They tended the fire carefully and made sure that every last piece of garbage was burned.

On the fourth morning, they washed and bathed, and dressed in their new clothes. They then gathered again at the heart of the village. The chief started a new fire and from the flames each family took burning sticks home to start their own fires. The old was gone, life was beginning again!

What a powerful illustration of renewal! Likewise, in Romans 6:1-4 Paul writes about our own need for renewal… “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (ESV)

How about you? Do you need a spiritual house cleaning? Do you need renewal and revitalization? Paul says that because of Christ’s death and resurrection we can leave behind the old and walk in new and renewed life. So, how do you clean house and renew your relationship with Christ? Galatians 5:16 gives us the answer… “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” In other words, surrender to the Holy Spirit’s control. Let Him have His way and obey His leading. He’ll lift your burdens, He’ll empower your life, and He will never lead you astray. Oh yeah, it’s not one and done, it’s a daily decision to let Him lead the way. And, if you will, He will!

Monday, our third Awesome August guest will be here. Dr. H.B. Charles will once again bless us with God’s Word as he has done in times past. He is one of today’s most sought-after preachers. By the way, there are also events scheduled for children and students. I trust I’ll see you at 6:30.

And remember, God is always trying to take us someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,

Pastor Ray


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