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Sackcloth and Ashes

Beloved:

In Scripture SACKCLOTH and ASHES both SPEAK OF and PICTURE People in REPENTANCE. It was an OUTWARD expression accompanying GENUINE REPENTANCE (Jonah 3:6).

Now FAST FORWARD from BIBLE TIMES to this PRESENT HOUR. One Wonders…Is it NOT TIME for the Nation’s Churches in GENERAL and Southern Baptist Churches in PARTICULAR to suit up in SACKCLOTH and ASHES? (PLEASE show me ONE local Church in America that does not DESPERATELY need TRUE GENUINE REVIVAL.)

Make NO MISTAKE about it…NO GENUINE REPENTANCE…NO GENUINE REVIVAL. Listen to what Richard Owen Roberts has to say on page 21 of his marvelous Book entitled: REPENTANCE…The First Word of the Gospel. “You can be CERTAIN that at THE FOREFRONT of EVERY SIGNIFICANT RECOVERY from BACKSLIDING that the Church has ever known, the doctrine of REPENTANCE has been among the Precious truths that God has quickened and used.”

Dear ones, NO amount of POSITIVE SPIN (as in Cover-up) from DENOMINATIONAL LEADERSHIP can HIDE the TRAGIC TRUTH of both the MORAL and SPIRITUAL FREEFALL that LOCAL CHURCHES are PRESENTLY EXPERIENCING. Recent released statistics, compiled in the ANNUAL CHURCH PROFILE, picturing Southern Baptist Church Life, SHOUT at us, “What we are DOING is NOT WORKING?”

The SPIRITUAL FAILURE (Yes, I said FAILURE) is RAMPANT! The GLARING EXAMPLE of this Spiritual Failure is the FACT that Southern Baptist Churches in 2007 recorded the LOWEST number of BAPTISMS since 1987. And would you hear what the present President of the Southern Baptist Convention, Dr. Frank Page said recently: “I don’t want to be negative, BUT MOST of the MEGA-Churches in the SBC are DECLINING. YOU don’t know that BECAUSE MOST of the PASTORS won’t ADMIT it to YOU. But the Statistics are there” (Florida Baptist Witness: Vol.125, No.15-May 1, 2008 Page 7).

My THOUGHTS concerning the ABOVE is that it is SACKCLOTH and ASHES TIME in the LOCAL CHURCHES. Dear Lord…Bring us to REPENTANCE.

PRAYER REQUEST: I will be having TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT Surgery on both knees. (Right Knee Surgery May 21 and Left Knee Surgery May 28) My REHAB for these surgeries will involve the entire summer months (June, July and August). Will keep you informed concerning my Progress.

Bless YOU dear ones for ALL that YOU are doing with YOUR Love, Prayers and Gifts. I could not do without YOUR HELP in this Ministry of Revival. I love YOU dearly in our GLORIOUS LORD JESUS.

Now a Word from HIS WORD: 1 Peter 4:17.