Lead Pastor Michael J. Paris

 

A child of God, Husband of Sue, Father, Grandfather, Pastor and friend.  Pastor Mike longs to lead men and women to live like they are God’s most treasured possession and grow in their faith all for the Glory of Him who is the Author and Finisher of our Faith.

 

Hey Church –

What did you find helpful to your spiritual health and growth this past weekend at FBC@A? We are in a season of church  culture that is hungry for genuine spiritual truth. However, just like when we are hungry physically, we may be tempted to  eat anything and everything that is presented to us without thinking about its healthiness.  

We have just read about (or seen video clips of) a group of college students at Asbury College worshiping God together for  over a week. That demonstrated dedication to be together and put attention on God ought to encourage us. Young people  certainly do have energy and stamina for such around the clock events! We certainly applaud anyone’s eager search for  spiritual meaning and a more devoted relationship with Christ. But, there is a nagging sense that maybe this might be just  another emotional event, hyping the worshipers on adrenaline and stirring the spiritual senses at only an inch deep. We do  not need more spiritual manipulation. We need true spiritual nutrition to satisfy our hunger and thirst for righteousness. 

And so, like so many other events in these post-COVID days, we are left listening to the division of the church on whether  we should affirm or condemn such displays. Everything seems to create a “FOR or AGAINST” rant in these latter days!  Certainly, we must apply this Scripture (1 Jn 4:1-3):  

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false  prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus  Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the  spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.” 

But how do we do that? I have seen a number of great lists, litmus testing the validity and strength of this movement of the  Spirit. Pat Morley, from Man in the Mirror, offered this list of earmarks of genuine revival. 

  1. TIMING: Revivals emerge during times of spiritual and moral decline, which leads to intense prayer.
  2. PRAYER: God puts a longing into the hearts of many to pray for revival. 
  3. THE WORD: The preaching or reading of God’s Word brings deep conviction and desire for Christ.
  4. THE HOLY SPIRIT: The Holy Spirit takes people to a spiritual depth they could not achieve on their own.
  5. CONVICTION: Affected sinners are inconsolable except in Christ. 
  6. GLORY FOR GOD: God receives praise, honor, and glory for bringing revival. 
  7. REFORMATION AND RENEWAL: Revival produces lasting fruit. New ministries are founded and society  experiences a reform of morals as more and more people convert. 
  8. MANIFESTATIONS: Manifestations like fainting, groaning prayer, and miracles vary by culture and denomination. 
  9. MESSY: Revivals are messy–controversies swirl about miracles, abuses, excesses, suspicions, and theological  disputes (to name but a few).
  10. CYCLICAL: Revivals inevitably crest and decline.
 

But ultimately, I believe that the best advice for determining what to do with Asbury must include a subtle plagiarism of  Gamaliel in Acts 5:38-39. 

So in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go! For if their purpose or endeavor is of  human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves  fighting against God.” 

I definitely don’t want to fight against God! I definitely want spiritual revival to happen at FBC@A and have often said so in  my prayers both public and private. I definitely do think that the American church is ready (even past due) for it. I know that  God can do some amazing revival among those who are ready and willing. I believe that humility and contrition before God  in worship is a tinder box for the Spirit to set people and churches and regions on fire.  

Let’s ask God to do a legitimate work in our own life to revive and refresh us in our spiritual walk with him. May God bring  victory in our lives that only he can be credited with. May Attica be “ground zero” for a genuine spiritual rebirthing. May  there be lasting spiritual fruit as produced by the HOLY Spirit.
 
Blessings, Pastor Mike → pastormike33@yahoo.com, 607.220.9911, 99 East Ave, Attica NY 14011