Does the start of 2020 find you spiritually renewed or spiritually sleepy?

Hello Church Family!
As we look to begin 2020 this next week do you find yourself spiritually sleepy or spiritually renewed?  Are you struggling with spiritually stagnancy, sluggishness or dullness?  Do you run through life not desiring or pursuing or enjoying the presence and promises of God or the loving relationships that He has blessed you with within the community of your church?  Do you wake up in the morning and move through the day without being convicted of your sin by the Holy Spirit?  This is a very difficult place to be.  I do not know any believer that enjoys being in this place of spiritual glum.  It is sad, depressing and many times hopeless.  

So, as we enter a new year and even a new decade what can we do to awaken from spiritual hibernation?  How can experience a spiritual awakening and renewal?  Throughout the Old and New Testament and Church history there was always a prevailing characteristic of His people when God brought a spiritual awakening.  His people, individually and corporately, started engaging God in intensive, kingdom-centered prayer.  One thing that is stated over and over again in Scripture: the people “cried out to the Lord.”  This is the only factor that is always present in every awakening.  It is corporate, intense, prevailing prayer—not for personal needs, but for the presence and reality of God among his people.  We cannot create spiritual renewal by ourselves but we can do our part preparing our lives for God to send His Holy Spirit to change our hearts, our churches and our communities.  As we prepare our lives we also ask our powerful, loving God to do just that - bring a spiritual awakening in me through your Spirit, O’ Lord.
 
What does a personal and corporate Spiritual Awakening look like?  Throughout Scripture when God brings a Spiritual renewal or awakening each individual believer and the body of Christ is empowered and beautified by the normal operations of the Holy Spirit.  That means that we experience the conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit not just for sins of behavior but also attitudes of the heart.  Then an awakening to our sinfulness leads us into a deeper understanding of our debt of sin and the amazing, hibernation shaking payment of that debt by Jesus Christ.  An awakening from the Holy Spirit brings us an assurance of the nearness and love of God that results in us becoming more humble and bold at the same time.  Very quickly the individual work of the Holy Spirit soon affects the church corporately.  Fellow believers then are being awakened together spiritually that creates a church that has a powerfully attractive community of sharing, loving, caring and worship.  The church becomes a radiant and attractive witness in the community surrounding the church and God is glorified through each individual and corporately as the body of Christ.  Please, let us come together in 2019, engaging God together in intensive, kingdom-centered prayer – “crying out to the Lord,” expecting a spiritual awakening at GCT and in our community that we live in through the working of His powerful Spirit.

I look forward to worshipping with you this coming last Sunday of 2019 with a desire for a Spirit of renewal.  Love in Christ,   Steve

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.