Turning 50

Some interesting things happened since I last blogged. For one, I turned 50, still getting used to that. I loved my 40’s which were the new 30’s so 50 will be like 40 – you know what I mean LOL. Age is what you make of it. I just want to make sure I am fulfilling my destiny.

Another interesting thing that happened was on December 21 the moon turned red. When Joel spoke of the last days he mentioned this in Acts 2:20:

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.

So to me, turning 50 and having a red moon means Jesus is coming soon. Sooner than we think!

Are you ready? I trust you are.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

2010

As we get ready to close out 2010 and enter 2011 some may say, “Praise the Lord! What a terrible year. Can’t wait till it’s over.”, etc. The question I have is, “Whoever said that Divine order would be easy?” It’s like God dropped a plumb line and said, “Now line up.”

So I am thankful for this year. Yes I felt like quitting, weekly sometimes. Yes, it would be easy to run but to where, and when do you stop?

So embrace this year and thank God for it. I bet you grew more than you realize. I would say more things are in order now in your life than early in the year.

So I can’t wait for 2011!

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

KOINONIA

Fellowship’s a word Christians use for almost everything. Eating – fellowship, walking with someone – fellowship; Tim Horton’s for coffee – fellowship…

A recent look at this word told me we really don’t know a lot about this word.

Acts 2:42 gives us a clue that the early church knew something about it because they were devoted to it.

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

In the Greek (you say “in the Greek” to sound smart) the word for fellowship is Koinonia. It means community, intimate. No wonder we don’t know much about it – very few of us do it biblically.

In a world of me, myself and I – a world of separation, divorce, etc., what do we really know about community or intimacy? Imagine what could happen in churches if we became devoted to fellowship. The Book of Acts tells us the result (of Koinonia) was people being added to the Church daily. Do you know why? We all need and want fellowship, so let’s work at being devoted to it!

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

HIS PEACE

We have all heard of pressure cookers, but what do you do when you feel you are in one? Athletes feel pressure in the heat of the battle. Children feel it in school. Marriages feel it. Job stress creates it.

Then there is the pressure of others’ expectations. They want you to act a certain way or talk a certain way.

Teenagers feel pressure at school – their peers wanting them to do what they normally never would. Pressure to do things for others.

Religion is like that. Jesus faced it all the time but He lived in peace. He said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you, NOT as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

His peace takes the pressure off.

Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong

The power of God is moving in Canada. Wherever hearts are hungry, God is moving.

Pastors are getting fed up with religion as are the sheep.

So what does all this mean? It means we are ripe for a revival. I just got back from Newfoundland where, again, I encountered hungry hearts and the wonderful presence of God showed up in a powerful way.

So it’s time to stop looking at the flood of evil that enemies of the Cross have unleashed in our world. We need to look and see what God is doing. He is raising up a standard against all that is not lawful in His sight.

The power of the Cross is being revealed. Now we must dare to believe God that HIS world-overcoming life is for us today!

Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong

Blessings for Revival

When God wants to get our attention He does it by calling us to repentance. He wants us to see exactly where we are at. A heart filled with the world’s philosophy and personal corruption is NOT prepared for revival.

Exodus 12:14

‘So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a FEAST to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a FEAST by an everlasting ordinance.

Leviticus 23:1-2,4

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.

4 ‘These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.

In Ezra 3 a revival broke out at the Feast of Tabernacles. The 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are considered 10 days of repentance or Days of Awe. The Day of Atonement is considered by the Jews as their most HOLY DAY. The 3^rd feast is Tabernacles.

Deuteronomy 16:16

“Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.

These are blessings for revival during this season that we seem to forget.

Change

As we enter into September the seasons are beginning to change. Soon the leaves will change colour and the evenings and mornings will be a little cooler.

I really believe that our church is also in a season of change. The difference is we are getting hotter for God. More than ever I sense revival is in the air. You can sense and almost feel it!

People are talking about it and wanting it. This truly is a year of divine order. Don’t miss your season. It is a great time to be serving the Lord!

Isaiah 43:18-19

"Do not remember the former things, 


Nor consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing,

Now it shall spring forth; 


Shall you not know it? 


I will even make a road in the wilderness 


And rivers in the desert."

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

WAITING…

As I sit in the airport waiting, I am reminded of the scripture that says, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…"

I must admit I don't like waiting but I do realize that as I go to this conference I will sit under the teaching of God's word for an entire weekend, and when it is over I will feel stronger in God.

I may feel tired but my spirit will be strong. Some of you may be waiting for something. Well, get to a service, or just start praising him... Just get into His presence and you will start to feel His strength.

If you are going through a hard time it will help you know that you can get through it with His help. When I come home next Monday, will I be tired? Yes! But I will also be stronger in God.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

“Rest”

Often we say things like, “I’m getting away for a few days of rest.” Then while gone you do everything but rest and come back home just as tired as you were before you left. But when you truly rest (and I don’t mean sleep all day) your mind becomes clear. You start to hear God clearly.

Recently I went away for a true rest and this is what I learned.

“I have the mind of Christ.”

The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to rebuild and transform our minds. Satan plants LIES and evil thoughts to turn us from truth. Our battle is for the mind.

So we must recognize the lies of the enemy, rebuke them and then replace them with the truth of God’s Word.

1 Peter 1:13

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ

Isaiah 26:3

You will keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on You,

Because he trusts in You.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

CHILDLIKE FAITH

If you’re like me, when you were young you had no worries and very few fears.

I remember going fishing when I wanted or hunting with my brother or out for a skidoo ride, etc. At the end of every day my belly was full. I had a bed, clothes, and friends. I never really worried about anything.

In reality our young lives are lived by faith, knowing SOMEBODY was taking care of our needs.

Then a strange thing happened. I became an adult and new emotions started to creep up like worry and fear and the “what ifs” of life.

Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me … for of such is the kingdom of God"
. He went on to say, “Unless you become like one of these you won’t see the kingdom.”

Now did Jesus mean become immature or suck our thumb, etc.?

No. He was talking about FAITH. We serve a God Who loves us and has a plan for us and will take care of us. So let’s back away from worry, doubt and fear and run around again with childlike faith.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

GIGGLES

Yesterday Edith and I went for ice cream with three of our grandchildren. When they saw each other they were excited, I could tell by the giggles. When we got inside Dairy Queen they played and more giggles. When they got their ice cream they made a beard on their face out of it – more giggles. I watched them not care who heard them, they were not even aware others were there.

I could not help but think that Jesus would have sat with them and of course giggled – but He said we all needed to become like children.

So let’s stop being so serious and grumpy and giggle every now and then. Who knows – you may like it. To me that’s the heart of revival – becoming childlike in our faith.

Yours for revival,


Pastor Francis Armstrong

The Reward of Serving God

There are benefit packages for almost every job in the world, but they all pale in comparison to the benefits for working for the Lord.

Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that we need FAITH to please God, but He rewards those who diligently seek Him.

God loves rewarding His people. He said if we acknowledge Christ before others we will be rewarded.

Good deeds will be rewarded, love for others will be rewarded, etc.

What are these rewards?

Some are the promised inheritance, a richer experience of life and much more.

My point is this – iT IS A JOY to serve the Lord. And on those days that it just seems hard and life seems unfair, one day we will see the reward, so enjoy serving Him today!

Yours for revival,


Pastor Francis Armstrong

Addicted to the Flame

This week we will hold our “Addicted to the Flame” conference.

I believe it will be life changing for all of us. I long for and hunger for a move of the Spirit where men and women, boys and girls truly fall in love with Jesus. I can’t wait to let you know how it went. Who knows? Maybe we will still be meeting!

There is a growing hunger here at Third Day for more. Things are about to TURN. Are you ready for it? Believe with us that this is a turn-around time for many. God’s presence is so powerful! If you are in the area come join us.

A new Pentecost is coming. Maybe this weekend! Fire begets fire and awesome times await those who want to draw near Him.

Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong

Kansas City Revival

I have just returned from World Revival Church in Kansas City with Pastors Steve & Cathy Gray. What a great church! They have been in revival since 1996. This is a revival for the church. I saw so much hunger, passion and love from ordinary people. God just seems so big there, they magnify the Lord together.

Some will ask, “So what did you think?” And I will answer, “We are right on track!” I so believe God is exploding and will continue to explode over Canada. His glory will be seen. You and I were meant for revival, so let’s go for it with ALL of our hearts.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis

To The Reformer

The Reformation was a time of great upheaval, but also a time of great opportunity. God was raising people up to know Him in a way that was not possible before. People like William Tyndale who had a burning desire to see Scripture in the hands of lay people. This pursuit cost him his life in 1535.

Another reformer was John Calvin in hot pursuit of God. He moved to Geneva to set up a Christian-led government. He died at 55 years.

These men were addicted to the flame of God and gave all they had to see others set ablaze.

I believe there are young reformers among us again. Maybe one of you reading this. If so RUN with the cause set before you and RUN WELL.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis

Is There Evidence?

I will never forget the day I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It changed my life forever. I remember services charged with the presence of God, people getting saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. Powerful and life changing!

Yet today if some Pentecostals were arrested for being Pentecostal they would be found NOT GUILTY because there would be no evidence. If we say we are something, there ought to be proof beyond tongues. The baptism is for power to be a witness. Come on, let’s get baptized again! Fresh, real power from heaven!

Your’s for revival,

Look Up

"I press toward the upward call of God,reaching forward to the things ahead."This verse speaks of effort,sadly it is what is missing in alot of people's lives.Remember it's an UPWARD CALL.Destiny is a pre-determined course of action.So there are barriers to your destiny.Things like REGRET.
Regret looks back.Always asking "why","i wish."Regret says"Quit."What about WORRY?It will make you sick.Fear will enter in and rule your life.So regret looks back and worry looks around but vision looks up.Vision keeps you focused.So this week determine that you will not live with regrets,and that worry will not consume you.This week determine to live by vision,that's where your destiny is found.
Yours for revival
Pastor Francis

Hunger

We can all relate to being hungry.It's a desire even a craving for food.It seems that's all you can think about.I have a hungry today but not for food i hunger for a new normal in the church and in my life.The bible say's the Kingdom of heaven is at hand,right now,not someday,somewhere.Yet it seems we have trouble having faith for something we cannot see.Yet it is here but we have to be hungry for it.Hunger is the currency of the Kingdom.In our world the blind are blind,but in Jesus world the blind see.In this world the deaf need hearing aids,but in Jesus world the deaf hear.You get the idea.Boy i am hungry for that world and we can have it, i trust you are hungry to.
Yours for revival
Pastor Francis

The Sanctuary of Praise

When we think of desert place's we think of dry,lonely places.The dictionary says"its an environment hostile to life".Yet in the bible it functions as a place of revelation and a training ground for faith and obedience.The desert was a place of refuge for Moses as he got his life in order.David wrote many psalms in the desert.Elijah spent most of his life there.John the Baptist was trained there.Jesus made his final preparation there before his public ministry began.In every season,God is my victory.Your victory is not your victory.God is your victory.The desert is about realizing who he is.It is there that you really begin to understand praise.So know matter where you are at or what you are going through if you will turn your desert into a sanctuary of praise you will be empowered to come out in victory.
Yours for revival
Pastor francis Armstrong

Remnant People Praise The Lord

In Daniel chapter 10 Daniel was praying and his prayer was being hindered.It was a spirit of prevention to interfere or prevent those things God promised from coming to pass.The enemy wants to disrupt and overturn God's promise of a supernatural breakthrough.But Remnant people know that praise wins the battle.Don't hold back and save your praise for the victory celebration,instead declare the HIGH PRAISES of GOD the whole time you're in the war.So negative talk does not change a situation,it adds to it,actually it reinforces it.But praise takes its authority and creates change.So let me encourage you to be an agent of change through your praise.