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Twelve years ago by the hand of GOD Connie and I came to Blanco, Texas to open Ark Christian Bookstore in the Old Theater. Ten years ago this Sunday Ark Revival Ministries was birthed in the theater with plenty of drama and our share of comedy. Then we moved to the Old Blanco County Courthouse having services in these two old buildings was very special and an honor. From the courthouse we moved into what was Bill’s Dollar Store that has become Sears. Finally, through the grace of GOD, prayer, and an incredible outpouring of work and generosity we now have our own building located behind the H&R Block in the Super S parking lot.

In remembering our first visits to Blanco the paper was talking about the lack of rain and it was being reported the community of faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ were gathering at the flag pole in the square to seek God for rain. This event was one of many confirmations we received to relocate to this wonderful community. We joined in your prayers to God and God, Who is faithful, sent healing rain. We have since been apart of many prayers at the flag pole crying out to God for rain and revival in our city.

Many Christian leaders are in agreement with Dr. Bill Hamon who wrote the book “The Day of the Saints.” In the book Dr. Hamon chronicles the restoration of the five-fold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors, and teachers over the last several decades. As stated in Ephesians the purpose of the five-fold ministry is the equipping of the saints. That would be those who believe in Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour.

Ephesians 4:11 He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, 13 until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

With this in mind I am asking the saints of God (believer’s) to cry out to God for revival in our community. I believe we will admit there are some things going on in our Nation that have us all concerned. With television, radio talk shows and the Internet you know what these issues are to the point of being overwhelmed. Just a side note there is no room for fear in the child of God; Who’s perfect love cast out all fear.

A voice is calling, "Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness. Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. Make ready the way of the Lord. Make His paths straight (Isa. 40:3)."

Let each of us prepare the way of the Lord in our own hearts, the highway of holiness, the way of purification, praise, and prayer (Mat. 3:2-3, Isa. 40:3-5). God will stir up holy discontent with things-as-they-are, with business-as-usual, and we will deeply desire to go on with Him and to see His glory (Exo. 33:18). God will open our eyes as He reveals Himself in new dimensions of holiness and power, that we will ask for it and expect it, and that He will do it (Isa. 6:3, 5b, 8). Also pray that God will tune our ears to hear His voice, to be still and wait before Him to know His gentlest whisper, and to allow His word to speak to us morning by morning (Psa. 46:10, Isa. 50:4). We will humble ourselves before God with confession of sin, repent, and be quick to hate sin as God hates it and to forsake it, desiring to be clean, usable vessels before Him (Jam. 4:8-10). God will give us a new eagerness to be what He wants us to be so that He can do what He wants to do through us, to break, mold, make, and conform us to the image of Christ (Mat. 5:6, 2 Cor. 3:18). We will utterly submit to Jesus Christ, Lord of all of life and live under the control of the Holy Spirit moment by moment and receive His filling in every area of our lives (Eph. 5:18-19). Also pray that we will obey instantly all the promptings, commands, and desires of Jesus by the Spirit to the glory of the Father (1 Sam. 15:22-23). God will teach us to be a joyful, celebrating, thankful, praising, worshiping people, as we respond to the love of our Father (Psa. 100:4-5, Eph. 3:16-19). God will write urgency on our hearts in light of eternity, and we will see the world around us as lost and dying and will let it break our hearts as it does His heart (Ecc. 3:11a, 2 Pet. 3:9). God will orchestrate prayer agreement beyond our personal daily prayers, and we will come together as a people in corporate worship and intercession at His throne of grace (Neb. 4:16). Also pray that we will devote ourselves extraordinarily to prayer until God visits us in a way unmistakable that the only explanation is God (Col. 4:2, Acts 6:4). We will not program God nor limit Him. We will trust Him, His timing, His methods, His leadership to work in ways beyond anything we could think or plan (Eph. 3:20-21).

Based on this revelation it’s time for the Body of Christ having been equipped to rise up in our authority to declare His Kingdom come and His will be done in our lives. 2 Chronicles 7:14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. God is not looking to the world or a paid ministry to stand in the gap. He is looking to you and me His people to respond by seeking His face. These are serious times and this is a critical hour I am asking you to establish family alters to storm heaven for our families, churches, our city, county, state and nation.

Psalms 85:6 Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? 7 Show us Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation. 8 I will listen [with expectancy] to what God the Lord will say, for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints (those who are in right standing with Him)--but let them not turn again to [self-confident] folly. 9 Surely His salvation is near to those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, [and is ready to be appropriated] that [the manifest presence of God, His] glory may tabernacle and abide in our land. 10 Mercy and loving-kindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 11 Truth shall spring up from the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. 12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness shall go before Him and shall make His footsteps a way in which to walk.

Let us cry out together OH, GOD, REVIVE US! We invite you to join us Sunday at 10:30am to pray for revival.