Mark 6:45.
Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida,
Very clear instruction: Jesus had told them to go over to BETHSAIDA; they had just finished feeding 5,000.
Where did Jesus tell them to go? BETHSAIDA. Now watch!
Bethsaida means “place of fishing.”
But a problem arose. They are in the middle of the lake, Jesus is on land praying, and a STORM arose. Now they are straining for the wind was against them.
So, Jesus had sent them to Bethsaida, He’s on a mountain praying.
He sees them straining as the storm comes up. So Jesus goes to help them, right? No, He just starts walking right past them.
So, imagine you’re in a bad storm, thinking, “I might die”.
Then you think you see a Ghost.
You find out it’s Jesus walking by and He says “Cheer up”. OK, what is going on here? Let me show you.
Listen to John’s account of this story.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are known as the Synoptic Gospels because they basically all say the same thing.
John 6:16-17
16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,
17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.
Here it says they were heading toward Capernaum.
Now they are in the same area, but not the same place.
Bethsaida means – place of fishing
Capernaum means – village of comfort!
Jesus said “Follow Me, you’re now fishers of men”. “Now go to the place of fishing and I’ll meet you there.”
But no, they want to go to the place of comfort where it is easy.
Jesus was walking by because He was headed in another direction.
“You want to get back on track, to get Me in your boat.” “But I’m not getting in with you until you change course and go back in the direction I told you to go to in the first place”.
Jesus only obeyed His Father who said, “Send the disciples to the place of fishing.” He told His disciples to go to the place His Father told Him to go.
Jesus won’t get into your boat of disobedience. Because you perceive a certain course might be easier, you often take the wrong direction.
Could there be storms in your life because you are off course and going to the wrong place? You started off heading in the right direction. Then you veered off until you found yourself in the midst of a storm, straining – because you're not where you're supposed to be.
Are you fed up of constantly straining against the will of God?
Then change your course.
The distance between Capernaum and Bethsaida was 6.15 K or 3.82 miles. Not very far but still off course.
Heading in the general direction is not good enough.
Fishing is our calling; it’s hard work yet our flesh wants comfort.
I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be constantly straining against the will of God and wonder why He is not in my boat.
“Why does it seem everything I do is such a strain and such a labour?”
Because you got off course! You didn't go where He told you to go.
But everything changes when you cry out to Him.
If you're heading in the wrong direction, TURN AROUND!
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
What I'm Reading - When Nations Die by Jim Nelson Black
What I'm Listening to - Vertical Church Band
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
It's Dew Time
Numbers 11:9
And when the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it.
God will allow a desert to grow up around you just to get you to Him.
He will allow famine to hit you just so you will hunger for Him.
God will do whatever it takes to get you to Him.
We are in a TWILIGHT season, between two lights.
In Hebrew it means “MOVING TOWARD THE LIGHT.”
It’s a time when you stand between the challenge and the breakthrough.
Let’s deal with the DEW.
It’s a type of the anointing or the presence of the Lord.
Unity is depicted as precious oil running all over from the head down.
Unity is like the dew upon the mountain of ZION.
And at that place the Lord commands blessing.
When the 120 were in the Upper Room, in one accord, THE DEW FELL.
When 2 or 3 are gathered together in His Name, the DEW falls.
When 2 or 3 touch and agree, things happen because the dew falls.
When Gideon put a fleece out to God (a piece of wool) the DEW fell on the fleece.
The 2nd night, the dew fell on the ground.
O Church, when the dew falls it covers you and the ground you walk on, you then walk in the blessings. It’s COMMANDED!
Remember our text “When the dew fell on the CAMP (the people) heaven’s supply fell on it.
Remember manna was from heaven NOT earth.
They were seeing what no one else was. They were tasting what no one else was tasting.
Now watch:
Zechariah 8:11-12
11 But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ says the Lord of hosts.
12 ‘For the seed shall be prosperous, the vine shall give its fruit, the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew— I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these.
The 3-fold blessing to the last-day Church:
1. The vine’s fruit (reward)
2. The ground’s increase (wealth)
3. The heaven’s dew (covering)
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
And when the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it.
God will allow a desert to grow up around you just to get you to Him.
He will allow famine to hit you just so you will hunger for Him.
God will do whatever it takes to get you to Him.
We are in a TWILIGHT season, between two lights.
In Hebrew it means “MOVING TOWARD THE LIGHT.”
It’s a time when you stand between the challenge and the breakthrough.
Let’s deal with the DEW.
It’s a type of the anointing or the presence of the Lord.
Unity is depicted as precious oil running all over from the head down.
Unity is like the dew upon the mountain of ZION.
And at that place the Lord commands blessing.
When the 120 were in the Upper Room, in one accord, THE DEW FELL.
When 2 or 3 are gathered together in His Name, the DEW falls.
When 2 or 3 touch and agree, things happen because the dew falls.
When Gideon put a fleece out to God (a piece of wool) the DEW fell on the fleece.
The 2nd night, the dew fell on the ground.
O Church, when the dew falls it covers you and the ground you walk on, you then walk in the blessings. It’s COMMANDED!
Remember our text “When the dew fell on the CAMP (the people) heaven’s supply fell on it.
Remember manna was from heaven NOT earth.
They were seeing what no one else was. They were tasting what no one else was tasting.
Now watch:
Zechariah 8:11-12
11 But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ says the Lord of hosts.
12 ‘For the seed shall be prosperous, the vine shall give its fruit, the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew— I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these.
The 3-fold blessing to the last-day Church:
1. The vine’s fruit (reward)
2. The ground’s increase (wealth)
3. The heaven’s dew (covering)
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Revival
From July 1-20 we had services every night with several day services. We did not do this just to have a conference but to spark a revival and did it ever spark!
For 20 days and nights we saw people healed and delivered, people were repenting and souls were saved every night. People travelled from many places, including the United States because they were hungry.
It seemed like you could feel a river flowing nightly. And now, as I write this on July 26, the revival has not stopped as people continue to be healed and delivered.
We are in a new normal at Third Day Worship Centre and more addicted to His presence than ever before. He has opened up things in the Spirit that no man could open. This revival is perpetual, irrevocable and unique.
Revival has awakened us to our purpose.
Thank you Tracy Stewart, Jan Painter, John & Caroline Wilkinson, and Dustin Smith for helping us stoke the fire!
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
For 20 days and nights we saw people healed and delivered, people were repenting and souls were saved every night. People travelled from many places, including the United States because they were hungry.
It seemed like you could feel a river flowing nightly. And now, as I write this on July 26, the revival has not stopped as people continue to be healed and delivered.
We are in a new normal at Third Day Worship Centre and more addicted to His presence than ever before. He has opened up things in the Spirit that no man could open. This revival is perpetual, irrevocable and unique.
Revival has awakened us to our purpose.
Thank you Tracy Stewart, Jan Painter, John & Caroline Wilkinson, and Dustin Smith for helping us stoke the fire!
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
What I'm Reading:
The Journey of a World Changer - Banning Liebscher
What I'm Listening To:
You Are the Fire - Dustin Smith Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Culture of Revival
From the book, “Culture of Revival”
Amy Sollars’ Vision
July 7, 2010
“As I waited on the Lord, I was given an encounter and message from the Lord where I saw a heavenly messenger dressed in clothes like those worn during the colonial period in America.
In my spirit, I knew he looked like Paul Revere. He had a messenger bag and he said that he represented a people that would bring a message. “They will ‘ride’ through the night to declare and prepare the way for a revolution that will lead to reformation.”
He said that in the bag were documents related to this and were about the release of glory. He said that there were people who were to go and sound an alarm – an awakening alarm.
Next he said that the Lord was releasing “circuit riders” again. I saw these different circuits and this wild-eyed revivalist declaring the gospel. I saw these lines of fire igniting wherever they rode.”
I believe God is saying revival is upon us. Now rise up and declare the Gospel.
Join us, July 1st - 21st, for our Raise the Standard Conference. This will be 3 weeks of the Supernatural power of God lead by a host of powerful and anointed speakers including Jan Painter, Tracy Stewart, John Wilkinson and Dustin Smith as well as myself.
It is a move of God you simply do not want miss. Mark it on your calendar and make sure to be a part of this powerful Nation changing event.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
What I'm Listening to:
On the Shores - Melissa Helser & Jonathan David Helser
What I'm Reading:
Culture of Revival - by Andy Byrd & Sean Feucht
Amy Sollars’ Vision
July 7, 2010
“As I waited on the Lord, I was given an encounter and message from the Lord where I saw a heavenly messenger dressed in clothes like those worn during the colonial period in America.
In my spirit, I knew he looked like Paul Revere. He had a messenger bag and he said that he represented a people that would bring a message. “They will ‘ride’ through the night to declare and prepare the way for a revolution that will lead to reformation.”
He said that in the bag were documents related to this and were about the release of glory. He said that there were people who were to go and sound an alarm – an awakening alarm.
Next he said that the Lord was releasing “circuit riders” again. I saw these different circuits and this wild-eyed revivalist declaring the gospel. I saw these lines of fire igniting wherever they rode.”
I believe God is saying revival is upon us. Now rise up and declare the Gospel.
Join us, July 1st - 21st, for our Raise the Standard Conference. This will be 3 weeks of the Supernatural power of God lead by a host of powerful and anointed speakers including Jan Painter, Tracy Stewart, John Wilkinson and Dustin Smith as well as myself.
It is a move of God you simply do not want miss. Mark it on your calendar and make sure to be a part of this powerful Nation changing event.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
What I'm Listening to:
On the Shores - Melissa Helser & Jonathan David Helser
What I'm Reading:
Culture of Revival - by Andy Byrd & Sean Feucht
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Make Way For Repentance
Acts 3:19
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.
In revival, large numbers of people who have been indifferent to spiritual things, suddenly become aware of them.
Charles Finney said “We can expect revival when the sinfulness of sinners grieves and distresses Christians.
Frank Bartleman, the journalist of Azusa Street said, “The depth of your repentance will determine the height of your revival.”
Church, the world won’t cry out until the church does first.
God wants us to prove His promises.
Remember Jonah, even the sailors knew he was running from the presence of the Lord and asked him, “Why did he do it?”
Jonah confessed God, but his CONDUCT was inconsistent.
Repentance gets bad press, but repentance is about FREEDOM, VICTORY and walking in the presence of the Lord.
Repentance cancels the dark, oppressive strategy of darkness over your life.
Listen, you’re wired for Signs and Wonders. Your destiny includes the invasion of the impossible, the emptying of wheelchairs, the banishing of cancer and the opening of deaf ears.
But before all this can happen and make a comeback, personal holiness needs one also.
In 1953 a revival broke out in CONGO, Africa. One of the leader’s wives had an encounter with God and God told her “I want to do a great work here but there is much hardness.
If you want to light a good fire, do you get one by laying wood among ASHES? I want a clean place for my fire.”
So she knew the ashes had to be removed. Ashes suffocate fires and put them out.
The Levites were commanded to keep the fire burning, which meant taking the ashes out DAILY!
Lev. 6:11-13
11 Then he shall take off his garments, put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place.
12 And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out. And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order on it; and he shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings.
13 A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.
In revival, large numbers of people who have been indifferent to spiritual things, suddenly become aware of them.
Charles Finney said “We can expect revival when the sinfulness of sinners grieves and distresses Christians.
Frank Bartleman, the journalist of Azusa Street said, “The depth of your repentance will determine the height of your revival.”
Church, the world won’t cry out until the church does first.
God wants us to prove His promises.
Remember Jonah, even the sailors knew he was running from the presence of the Lord and asked him, “Why did he do it?”
Jonah confessed God, but his CONDUCT was inconsistent.
Repentance gets bad press, but repentance is about FREEDOM, VICTORY and walking in the presence of the Lord.
Repentance cancels the dark, oppressive strategy of darkness over your life.
Listen, you’re wired for Signs and Wonders. Your destiny includes the invasion of the impossible, the emptying of wheelchairs, the banishing of cancer and the opening of deaf ears.
But before all this can happen and make a comeback, personal holiness needs one also.
In 1953 a revival broke out in CONGO, Africa. One of the leader’s wives had an encounter with God and God told her “I want to do a great work here but there is much hardness.
If you want to light a good fire, do you get one by laying wood among ASHES? I want a clean place for my fire.”
So she knew the ashes had to be removed. Ashes suffocate fires and put them out.
The Levites were commanded to keep the fire burning, which meant taking the ashes out DAILY!
Lev. 6:11-13
11 Then he shall take off his garments, put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place.
12 And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out. And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order on it; and he shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings.
13 A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Books I'm Reading
"The King Jesus Gospel"
Scot McKnight
"Invisible Chains"
Benjamin Perrin
Scot McKnight
"Invisible Chains"
Benjamin Perrin
What I'm Listening To
"Above All Else"
Paradise Band
"Kingdom"
Bluetree
"The Great Awakening"
Leeland
Paradise Band
"Kingdom"
Bluetree
"The Great Awakening"
Leeland
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
A New Sound For A New Day
Acts 2:2
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Every move of God that has ever hit this planet carried a SOUND with it.
Today is a NEW SEASON and therefore it demands the release of a NEW SOUND!
The Welsh revival saw over 300,000 souls saved. Moriah Chapel packed with songbooks from spontaneous songs sung at the revival as a new sound was released.
The Moravians started a prayer meeting in Herrnhut, Germany that lasted 120 years.
It was a new sound. With a new sound comes a new season with revival and the power of God.
I have often wondered what the sound must have sounded like.
Could it be, come July, God is about to unleash a new sound again?
Listen to Acts 2:6
And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.
It was this SOUND that captivated a lost generation and called them into beholding this new frequency from heaven.
I believe we are in another season with a new sound where DEEP is calling to DEEP.
It is the shout of a generation’s Praise rising from the depths of our beings to give glory, honor and praise to God.
It’s a sound that is calling those things that do not exist as though they did.
It’s a sound that is louder and stronger than the pessimistic and negative noise of this age.
It’s a sound to the barrenness of men’s souls. Church, this is our season to sing over the barrenness of the land and watch it come to life.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Every move of God that has ever hit this planet carried a SOUND with it.
Today is a NEW SEASON and therefore it demands the release of a NEW SOUND!
The Welsh revival saw over 300,000 souls saved. Moriah Chapel packed with songbooks from spontaneous songs sung at the revival as a new sound was released.
The Moravians started a prayer meeting in Herrnhut, Germany that lasted 120 years.
It was a new sound. With a new sound comes a new season with revival and the power of God.
I have often wondered what the sound must have sounded like.
Could it be, come July, God is about to unleash a new sound again?
Listen to Acts 2:6
And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.
It was this SOUND that captivated a lost generation and called them into beholding this new frequency from heaven.
I believe we are in another season with a new sound where DEEP is calling to DEEP.
It is the shout of a generation’s Praise rising from the depths of our beings to give glory, honor and praise to God.
It’s a sound that is calling those things that do not exist as though they did.
It’s a sound that is louder and stronger than the pessimistic and negative noise of this age.
It’s a sound to the barrenness of men’s souls. Church, this is our season to sing over the barrenness of the land and watch it come to life.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
HOPE IS HERE
It does NOT take a prophet or a prophetic word to see that the North American church is struggling to maintain a vibrant spiritual life while being salt and light to a world in darkness.
There is plenty of reason to be discouraged with sliding morals, demonic laws and humanism celebrated.
Now, knowing what we are up against, let me say that the Kingdom of God WILLNOT BE STOPPED.
Despite what I just shared, HE IS WINNING. So what is HIS strategy for change?
How will we turn this thing around? How do we fulfill what Jesus said about us?
You are the light of the world. One word. HOPE.
Hope is what we need.
Hope in a heaven that has NEVER lost a battle but only knows breakthroughs and coming breakthroughs.
Hope that when Jesus said the gates of hell would not prevail against His church, He really meant it. So what is missing?
It’s His GLORY. We, His church, gazing at glory and being transformed into glory.
Church we need to start to dream again. We need to see the possibilities and NOT be consumed with the limitation, temporary setbacks and difficult circumstances.
IT’S TIME TO COME FULLY ALIVE!
So what needs to change? EVERYTHING. We have settled for too little.
We give the Lord a short, sweet Sunday morning as the reward for His suffering.
Radical has been defined as loud. Devotion is a loose set of do’s and do not’s.
Oh but there is HOPE. The bride will and is waking, she will rise up and she will walk in her fullness because there is a remnant.
The lost can be found, the hardest heart can soften, the most addicted can experience freedom and our nation can turn back to God.
We must live in HOPE, we must live in breakthrough.
Anything else cheapens the victory of the cross.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
What I'm Listening to:
Kingdoms - Sean Feucht
What I'm Reading
Let It Go - T.D. Jakes
There is plenty of reason to be discouraged with sliding morals, demonic laws and humanism celebrated.
Now, knowing what we are up against, let me say that the Kingdom of God WILLNOT BE STOPPED.
Despite what I just shared, HE IS WINNING. So what is HIS strategy for change?
How will we turn this thing around? How do we fulfill what Jesus said about us?
You are the light of the world. One word. HOPE.
Hope is what we need.
Hope in a heaven that has NEVER lost a battle but only knows breakthroughs and coming breakthroughs.
Hope that when Jesus said the gates of hell would not prevail against His church, He really meant it. So what is missing?
It’s His GLORY. We, His church, gazing at glory and being transformed into glory.
Church we need to start to dream again. We need to see the possibilities and NOT be consumed with the limitation, temporary setbacks and difficult circumstances.
IT’S TIME TO COME FULLY ALIVE!
So what needs to change? EVERYTHING. We have settled for too little.
We give the Lord a short, sweet Sunday morning as the reward for His suffering.
Radical has been defined as loud. Devotion is a loose set of do’s and do not’s.
Oh but there is HOPE. The bride will and is waking, she will rise up and she will walk in her fullness because there is a remnant.
The lost can be found, the hardest heart can soften, the most addicted can experience freedom and our nation can turn back to God.
We must live in HOPE, we must live in breakthrough.
Anything else cheapens the victory of the cross.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
What I'm Listening to:
Kingdoms - Sean Feucht
What I'm Reading
Let It Go - T.D. Jakes
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