Author: walter bright

Prodigal Comeback

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The statistics are unbelievably staggering: over the last 10 years, 28 million have left the church – making America the third largest mission field in the world. 72 churches in America close each Week and attendance in 66 % of America’s churches has either plateaued or is 2/3 in decline.  I hate to report this one, but truth is – Islam is the fastest growing religion in America. Yet, as Paul would say, “we are hopeful of better things-things that belong to salvation.”  We are hopeful our generation will see another great revival.  We are hopeful that there will come another great awakening.  We are hopeful that the prodigals will return.  The question is: Why are they leaving? There are several reasons people are leaving the church. But allow me to highlight a few here: Apathy and the deceitfulness and hardening of sin Shallow soil, not grounded and without roots Hypocrisy, sin among clergy and offense from others, inner hurts Drifting, one bad choice after another bad choice The seeker experience never turned into a …

Singing with the Enemy

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Every day in December – leading into Christmas, I have planned to have or experience joy in every area of my life.  As bold and ambitious as that is, I am very hopeful and confident that nothing will derail me from knowing indestructible joy – every day in the month of December – even in difficult times. So here is a story that will help you do just that.  I started a 23 days devotional a few days on YouVersion.  This post contains the 3rd day notes from “Joy! to the world countdown to Christmas, which was written by Carol McLeod and Just Joy Ministries Here is the story British soldiers were spending Christmas Eve 1914 on a French battlefield during World War I. After four months of fighting, over a million men had perished in the bloody conflict. The bodies of dead soldiers were scattered between the trenches of the opposing armies. It was in the middle of a freezing battlefield in France, that a miracle occurred! British troops watched in amazement as candle-lit trees …

Ignite my Soul: Consume these idle sticks

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“God consume these idle sticks in my life that may burn for thee.” Jim Elliot What does the word idle mean? It means – not active or in use. synonyms: inactive, unused, unoccupied, unemployed, disused. It speaks of a person – not working; unemployed. Synonyms: unemployed, jobless, out-of-work, redundant, between jobs, work less, unwaged, unoccupied. It also speaks of a person avoiding work; lazy. Synonyms: lazy, indolent, slothful, work-shy, shiftless, inactive, sluggish, lethargic, listless It means to lack or be without purpose or effect; pointless. Synonyms: frivolous, trivial, trifling, vain, minor, petty, lightweight, shallow, superficial, insignificant, unimportant, worthless, paltry, niggling, peripheral, inane, fatuous It defines a person who spends their time doing nothing; be idle. Synonyms: do nothing, be inactive, vegetate, take it easy, mark time, twiddle one’s thumbs, kill time, languish, laze, lounge, loll, loaf, loiter. The Scripture warns about it A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. Proverbs 10:4 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace. Matthew 20:3 But …

Happy Thanks Giving

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Here are 3 Bible verses for your Thanks Giving Holiday May your thanksgiving be filled with joy, gladness and lots of singing For the Lord comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord ; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song.  Isaiah 51:3 May your thanksgiving be filled with unceasing prayers and unconditional rejoicing Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 May your thanksgiving be filled with memories of God’s goodness as you thank him for future blessings. When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”  The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.  Restore our fortunes, O Lord …

Arrested by Stealth

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Mark 14:1 ESV It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him. They wanted to arrest Him secretly. Stealth comes from an Old English word related to steal. Now we must understand that no thief steals openly. Stealth means secretive, secrecy sneakiness, slyness, camouflage, clandestine. I am sure you have all heard about the stealth bomber? This aircraft was designed in accordance with technology that makes detection by radar or sonar difficult. This is the modus operandi of the enemy. His primary way to attack us – steal from us and hinder us – is to hide from us! He seek to blend in, make his moves undetected. The scripture calls him a thief – John 10:10 – The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But he does none of this openly. Matthew 24:43 says to – Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a thief was coming, he …

More than Conquerors

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I had the privilege of being a part of a missionary work in the West African nation of Ivory Coast, correctly know known as – La Cote D’Ivoire between 1990 and 1994. By the time I signed on, they had planted about 6 or more Churches around Abidjan – capital city. Those days were special: knocking on doors, walking the neighborhoods, holding All Night Prayer meetings and community gathering for fasting and praying. A revival was happening all around us – young and old coming to know Jesus and being filled with the Holy Ghost. These are some of the best days of my life and ministry. The people we ministered to were just like me. They were refugees, displaced, cut off from family, scattered in this foreign land and living among people with a strange tongue. They were often abused, and un-welcomed and mocked in the public square. You would think their pain and sorrow would define them, break them and leave them in despair. You would think their loneliness, loss, and inability to …

The Greatest Chapter in All of Scripture is the greatest chapter of my life

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It was the summer of 1991. I was young and had discovered the joy of salvation, the hope of eternal life. There was a fire burning in my heart. I felt like I had been made new. I was born of God. His seed had budded within and I would never be the same. We had completed our baptismal classes. We were baptized. My spiritual father insisted that we memorize Romans 8. Everyone of us had committed the chapter to memory. We stood before the congregation, just before our first communion, and with one voice, one proud, loud and joyful voice, we recited the greatest chapter in the entire bible – Romans 8: The Spirit of Life There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of …

How to live a Spirit Empowered Life

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How active is the Holy Spirit in your life?  Are you living the abundant Christian life the Jesus promised to all his followers?  I believe it all depends on how much access and freedom you give him to truly live a Spirit empowered life. The case for the Spirit The first question to ask is where is the Holy Spirit in the Bible and how involved is Him in the grand scheme of things. In the Old Testament  We first find Him in the beginning as the source of life.  He strives with men.  He is the very manifestation of God.  He has a special relationship with Israel; he guides and empowers men from all walks of life to do exploits for God. In the New Testament In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit’s role in the ministry of Jesus and in the Early Church is on full display. In fact, the Holy Spirit launched the public ministry of Jesus.  As we read the gospels and particularly the Book of Acts, He is also involved in the …

What is the Kingdom of God?

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Expressions of the Kingdom Secrets of the Kingdom of God “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables.”  Mark 4:11 Scattered Seeds and the Kingdom of God “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground.” Mark 4:26 Kingdom powers “The kingdom of God after it has come with power.” Mark 9:1; 1 Corinthians 4:20 Kingdom humility “The kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”  Mark 10:15 Good news of the kingdom “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God.” Luke 4:43 Beatitudes of the Kingdom Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” Luke 6:20 Miracles of the kingdom “The kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing.” Luke 9:11 Kingdom qualification “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 Mustard Seed “The kingdom of God is like a …