Back To Basics Again!

Recently during my devotion, I was reading in Mark 3 when these words leapt off the page:
Mar 3:14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
Mar 3:15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

Immediately, I saw three truths I already knew, but the Holy Spirit reminded my of:
1.The main thing Jesus wants is for us to have a relationship with Him. He not only called these first twelve disciples "to be with Him", He is also calling us to intimacy with Him.

God gave me a message on Intimacy one time at a certain church a few years ago. After the service, a certain person came and was talking with me, and immediately I realized he totally misunderstood everything I said and took it completely out of context.

In Matthew 7 where Jesus speaks the immortal words "depart from Me I never knew you", that word knew or know in Greek gives the same impression of the relationship between a husband and wife. The only way we will ever have a successful ministry, successful marriage, a successful business; it must be birthed out of an intimate relationship with Jesus!

I want to say it again: All true ministry must be birthed out of intimacy with the one who called us to ministry in the first place: Jesus Christ!

2. He has called us to intimacy because He is going to send us forth! Vs 14b (…that He might send them forth to preach…)
One of the translations render the Great Commission (Go ye therefore and teach all nations…) "as you go, teach all nations…" Every one of us are missionary evangelists! I realize God has called us to Guyana, Kenya, and other nations of the world! You are called to be a missionary to your family, the Wal-Mart, the mall, your children, you co-workers…everywhere you go, you are being sent forth with a message of good news, of healing, or deliverance, of restoration in someone's life!
3. And to heal sicknesses and cast out devils…
This phrase is in every King James Bible I have read! I am absolutely convinced, the reason we don't see more healings and more deliverances is there is not enough intimacy with our Creator! Everything Jesus did, every miracle He performed, He did it in response to what He saw His Father in heaven do! This came from long hours of prayer and intercession on His part!

Let's get back to the basics! Love God with all your hearts…take what you hear Him say in that place of intimacy, and give it to a lost and hurting world that is all around you that is in need of a healing word and a word of deliverance from heaven! Then we will see the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord cover the earth as the waters cover the sea!

Other News…

As we stated in our last Newsletter, Pam and I took a few days recently to fast and pray, and during this time we felt the Lord speak to us about holding a special Camp Meeting on Labor Day Weekend. We are very excited about our First Labor Day Camp Meeting, Friday-Sunday, September 1-3 at the Days Inn in Lanett, Alabama. Services will begin at 7:30pm Eastern Time each night. If you are coming from out of town, please call us and let us know at 334-576-7265

On Saturday September 2nd at 10am we will have our first meeting of the Alliance Network of Ministries. If you are a Minister, an Itinerant Ministry, or Church that would like to be a part of a network of other ministries with a heart for Revival and Missions, please consider joining us for this organizational meeting.

Our next Guyana trip will take place February 9-19, 2007. If you are interested in traveling with us, you can call us for a free Guyana packet.

For more information on the Camp meeting, the Alliance Network of Ministries, or any other outreach of Revival Now Ministries, please don't hesitate to call on us at 334-576-7265.

I realize thank yous are not enough to all our financial and prayer partners who stand with us on a regular basis. But words of gratitude are all we have to give to you for believing in us. And I promise, when you step inside heaven, you are going to meet people from all over the world we have been able to touch through your giving! May God richly bless your faithful support!

We look forward to seeing you Labor Day Weekend!