The Bones Are Shouting

2 Kings 13:20-21

20 Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year.

21 So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

Elisha may be dead, but God is alive. Church, don’t fear the enemy. Don’t fear these Godless, raiding parties. YOUR GOD IS ABLE TO DELIVER YOU.

Some say, “the day of miracles is over” but we don’t believe in a day of miracles, we only believe in the God of the MIRACLE.

Luke 1:37

For with God nothing will be impossible.”

Centuries ago Charles the Great ruled much of Europe. By a very strange event this ruthless ruler conveyed a spiritual message to the world.

Not during his lifetime, but after his death, by the bone of his index finger.

When he died, he was entombed in style. His body was set on an ivory throne, full of gold and precious stones, on his head was a crown of jewels and by propping up his arm, they had him holding a scepter, the symbol of power.

On his finger was a signet ring and he wore a purple robe and a scroll was on his lap that spoke of all his DEEDS – many were evil but mixed with scripture so as to give a sense of God’s approval.

That’s how he was entombed. Centuries later the seal was broken to reveal some surprises.

The flesh was gone like any man, now just a skeleton sat on the throne.

His flesh turned to dust and settled at the feet of the throne, along with his robe.

The prop that held up his arm has also disintegrated and his skeleton hand had dropped to the floor taking with it the scroll that once sat on his lap.

When those who unsealed his tomb noticed that his skeleton hand, now resting on the open scroll on the floor seemed to be pointing with his index finger to something, they bent over to see and this is what it was pointing to:

Luke 9:25

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?

The bones of a dead man spoke a greater truth than that man had ever spoken in his lifetime.

O’ church, the bones are shouting!

On that day, only that which was done for Jesus will endure.

The bones are shouting for a decision today. The bones of a loved one from many years ago or a mother who spent hours praying for her children are crying out.

Put your trust in Jesus today friend, while you still have time.

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

There Is Hope

Rev. 1:1

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John

Notice he did not say that they MIGHT come to pass.

This is our God, who stood on NOTHING and flung the world into existence by His Word.

Isa. 40:12

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, 
measured heaven with a span 
and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? 
Weighed the mountains in scales 
and the hills in a balance?

Isa. 44:6

“ Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:

‘ I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God.

You will hear people say, “I don’t believe God exists.”

If you have a watch, it means there is a watchmaker.

The fact that you are LIVING, breathing, moving and you exist is proof that there is a people-maker.

You have a creator. This Jesus we serve is not a spineless, weak-kneed, jellyfish of a man with long hair and sandals.

We are not serving Mary’s baby boy or Joseph’s son.

We are serving the RESURRECTED KING of kings and Lord of lords who holds the keys of death and hell in His hands.

Let me quote Rod Parsley, “Do you see His long. lean, Galilean leg slipping over the back of a steaming, white stallion?”

Resurrected from the dead, Jesus kicked the end out of a borrowed tomb.

He has the nail prints on His flesh to prove He conquered death and hell by His sinless life, victorious blood and resurrection from the dead.

See in Rev. 19:12

His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.

Why do we or why should we get happy about heaven? We have lots invested there.

I have my Mom/Dad and little brother and Edith’s parents and friends there.

O' this Jesus we serve fills me with HOPE.

Yours For Revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

Just like that!

I was sitting in my hotel room last week doing my devotions when I heard a series of guns shots ring out. It must have been 8 shots or so. By the time I got up to look outside, one person was dead, one wounded. Just like that! A life ended in a matter of seconds and he was gone.

Did he know Jesus? Was he married? Any children? I was there to preach. I was there to preach the gospel of life and this person was dead.

The locals tell me it was a gang hit but no matter what, a life was gone. It showed me again how we have no idea what a day holds. I am sure this person did not know he would die that day. And we have no idea what a day will bring us.

I know this – the Bible says "this is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it!" We must live every day like this.

In light of eternity, how are we living each day? My prayer is that we live it to the fullest and full out for him.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

The Ascended Life Is His Life

Proverbs 15:24

The way of life winds upward for the wise, that he may turn away from hell below.

1 Corinthians 6:17

But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

The secret of the ascended life is the Spirit-revealed awareness that we are in UNION with Him.

God’s true sons and daughters are Spirit-led people.

Many love to listen to music on their iPods or MP3 players but have you ever listened to the sound of God’s council?

Job 15:8 says, “Do you listen in on God’s council? Have you ever sat and talked to God? Have you heard the secrets of God? Has He ever invited you into His circle?”

Psalm 25:14

“The secret of the Lord is with them that FEAR HIM.”

To understand this book, we must spend time with the Author.

Amos says He reveals His secrets unto His prophets.

Real prophets live in the inner sanctuary. They listen more than they speak.

When they speak they speak His words.

Our born-again life gives us access to the holy of holies.

The ascended life is the life of hearing His VOICE.

God, Jesus and Holy Spirit sit in secret council and they talk about you.

They love us. You are on their mind all the time.

With the inner circle of the Godhead, God took council with Himself about you before you were born. They talked about your DESTINY. Have you heard them?

Do you know your destiny? His blood allows us into the planning chamber.

It’s time to go to His secret chamber and cry puddles and say, “O God, open to me Your mysteries.”

You are one with Him and have the legal right to sit with Him in private council.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

You Need a Revival

Have you ever had one of those times that you know you need something but you are not sure what it is! Let me help you, if you are a Christian, you need a revival. The old timers used to call revivals Epochs. An epoch is a fixed point of time established in history by the occurrence of some grand or remarkable event. It even sounds exciting. Do you know why? That’s what we need. Here’s the problem, all through history revival has followed a path, a path of prayer, self-denial, holiness and purity. What does the church struggle with the most? Prayer, self-denial, holiness and purity. Did you notice prayer was first? Could it be if we really started praying again we would see self-denial come back to our lives and holiness and purity? So your Epoch must start with prayer, let’s start there.

Yours for revival

Pastor Francis

God's Building a House

Many in the body treat church like smorgasbords, going from one flavor of church to another until they have had their fill. SOMEHOW WE'RE MISSING THE MARK!

Ask any pastor, church leader "What is your vision?" They will begin to list.

"to reach the city"

"win the lost"

"preach the gospel"

So hearing this, we have got to wonder why so little is accomplished?

All the prophecies? Our arrows are aimed in the right direction. We generally are talking about the right things.

So what if God were to take away from the church everything he NEVER told us to do.

David wanted to build God a house, but the Lord had a different idea. He said, "I AM GOING TO BUILD YOU AHOUSE"!

David's desires were good and his goals seemed right, but he learned it was not God's order, the Lord had a different idea, "I am going to build you a house."

I believe the church has lost its focus. God wants to focus us, to bring us into alignment in our houses and ministries.

The vision is our target, but God's order must be defined and automatic in us.

If you asked Paul, "What is your vision"? He may have said "I want a REAL relationship with Christ. What-ever it takes I want to know him."

Canada is ripe for Revival

After being in Thunder Bay and Prince Albert over the last couple of weeks, I am convinced that Canada is ripe for revival. I believe people are sick of playing church and are ready to be the Church.

I have watched people in these towns come from hopeless situations to the living hope, Jesus Christ. 30 people in Thunder Bay walked to the altar of salvation. People are starting to see hope.

This truly is a year of transition. The Church is advancing. What a joy to be alive and serving Jesus! Is there warfare? Yes, but the reward is worth it!

Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong

Come Up Here!

Hebrews 5:7

“Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear”

Jesus prayed loud, desperate prayers and at times shed tears. And because of His Godly fear, God heard Him. He knew that prayer is the seat of government. So when His disciples said, “Lord, teach us to pray,” He took them to the seat of government.

“Our Father in heaven…” He took them to the throne of God talked about in Revelation 4, Daniel 7 and Ezekiel 1.

He was telling them that they needed to become more familiar with the Revelation 4 realm, that they must become rooted in eternity.

Church, the call is to “come up here!” and His cry is still going out. Jesus is that door that opens the way to the Father, let’s go through!

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

Is Canada ripe for revival?

We have just finished Passover and as I reflect today, I am so thankful for the cross of Jesus Christ because it brings men and women to a point of decision about their life.

Several people made the decision to commit their life to Jesus this weekend.

Could one of them be the next Josiah? Or Hezekiah or Billy Graham?

Who knows but God. All I know is that I have seen God change many lives, as shown by our illustrated sermon on Sunday morning, as we showed what people were like before Christ and then after. It was powerful!

So is Canada ripe for revival? I say, Yes! Let this year spark a revival fire across this country, like never before.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

Passover

Here we are, just days before Passover and as I reflect on it I can’t help but be thankful. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

I deserved hell for my sin but because of the blood of Jesus, there was a Passover. Because of that blood, you and I can stand saved, healed and delivered.

So knowing this as Christians, let's stop being stuck in the past. Past mistakes, past sin, past failure. There has been a Passover for you. Jesus is our Passover Lamb. LIVE in your forgiveness and watch what God will do to and through you.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

WILDERNESS TIME

In Hosea chapter 2, it talks about God bringing His people into the wilderness. The wilderness can be a scary place, dry, desolate, wild animals, etc. You get the picture…

But what we must know is that God brings His people into the wilderness, not to strip them bare or point the finger and dig up old wounds or torment them for past sins. The point of the wilderness is to free you. Free you from the attachments to lesser and damaging things. Wilderness time is not primarily about the pain and struggle; it’s about you getting closer to God.

Hosea 2:14-16
14 “ Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
Will bring her into the wilderness,
And speak comfort to her.
15 I will give her her vineyards from there,
And the Valley of Achor as a door of hope;
She shall sing there,
As in the days of her youth,
As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.
16 “ And it shall be, in that day,”
Says the LORD,

“ That you will call Me ‘My Husband,’
And no longer call Me ‘My Master,’

So in that wilderness comes a door of hope, take it and walk through to your promised land.

Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong

The Life of Faith

I’m not sure how you feel but I don’t like mundane or boring routine. I feel life should be exciting and unpredictable. Serving Jesus should be an awesome life, but religion has made it boring and full of routine.

I say let’s break it!

Noah was a farmer and God came to him and said, “Build a boat, it’s going to rain!” Here is the problem, if I’m Noah, “What’s boat?” and “What’s rain?” Noah was being asked to build something he had never built, for something coming that he had never seen.

Folks, that is called FAITH!

By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. (Hebrews 11:7)

Faith breaks the routine and brings us into another world where all things are possible. Would you not rather live in that world? I know I would.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

True Revival

The danger of being a Christian for any length of time, is that church life can become routine with very little expectation of anything new.

It's like taking a teaspoon, dipping it into the ocean and saying, "this is God". Then we pour it over our head and say "this is the Christian experience".
God calls us to dive in the ocean. Prayer is boring when it is merely an attempt to maintain our present level of communion with God.

Let me encourage you to read Psalm 85, it is a prayer for revival.

It's a prayer about asking God to help get you out of your spiritual decline
It is a prayer to get you out of apathy, vs. 6 says "will you not revive us again" and after we are revived, the promise in vs. 12 is to "get ready for a new harvest".

Psalm 85 should make our mouth thirsty for Him, because if it did, Jesus said "come and drink".

Yours for Revival

Pastor Francis

Is God asking you to do more?

In the fall of 2007 I met a boy who changed my life. He was a little boy we found in tears on the street. He had just lost all of his money after working all day and was upset at the prospect of going home to face his father without earnings. Myself and the others with me that day gave him more than enough to double what he had lost – to us, it was just about twenty dollars. To him it meant much more.

That little boy right now is somewhere in Guatemala, probably earning a living for himself and his family the same way he was that day. I haven’t seen him before or since in my several trips to the country. But that day God asked me if I could do more.

More meant opening a children’s home in Villa Nueva, Guatemala, a more rough community than some in Guatemala. We have called it Casa de Alabbanza – “House of Praise”.

In November 2008 we found land to purchase. In April 2009 we began a three year contract to pay off a $200,000.00 USD building that once was a school. This April we will pay the third and final installment of about $70,000.00 CAN (depending on our currency at the time of payment).

Not only will we be finished paying for the building this April, but we believe we will be permitted by the Government to begin taking children into our home. We will begin with just a few, but within a year we could have up to 40, possibly 50, children that right now are living in abusive, neglected and abandoned states.

We have renovated, bought supplies, received donations, brought on Directors (Dan and Ashley Arnoldussen), and are ready for children. But we need your help. We have just 10 weeks before we need to send $70,000.00 CAN. My question to you is this: Is God asking you to do more?

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

Hope

As I randomly read the news today I noticed several different things.

in one article they were wondering if there was a war on police officers with 11 killed across America in a few days period.

Another article was about the mystery birds falling out of the sky, to find out they were poisoned for being pests.

Another article talks about churches that are going into foreclosure at an alarming rate. And there were many others of the same nature.

It’s not quite a world gone bad; it’s a world gone crazy.

Yet Jesus told us these days would come upon the earth in the book of Matthew. For all the uncertainty in our world, one thing you can count on – Jesus is coming!

So with a world in a free fall, should we, the church, not come out of hiding and tell the world Jesus is their shelter in any storm. That God does love people. That there is hope. It’s time for Christians to show that we are following Christ. In times of trouble we want to follow those who know what to do. Let’s be like the men of Issachar in the Bible, who knew what to do in troubled times.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong