Greater things are coming!
Joshua 3:14-17

Joshua 3 records one of the great miracles in the Old Testament as God’s people prepare to enter the promised land. Due to the unbelief 40 years prior, the Israelites failed to enter the land, but now Joshua, who had believed God would deliver them the first time, would be the one to lead them into the promised land four decades later. God is about to do a miracle for this generation of Israelites, but it’s a miracle that accomplished something even greater than they anticipated.

Joshua 3:15-16 says, “But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam…” Instead of the water splitting into two sides as it did for Moses at the Red Sea, Scriptures say the water began backing up “a great distance away,” which commentators believe was several miles upstream at the town of Adam.

The people watched the priests and the ark of the covenant step into the water like God had instructed, but nothing seemed to change. If we allow our expectations of how God is going to do a miracle overshadow our faith, it will ultimately lead to disappointment and we’ll struggle to believe God at all.

But God had something greater in mind than just a sea crossing. Biblical scholars write that many nations Israel would need to conquer lived near the Jordan River and would see this miracle themselves since the water was stopped upstream. God was demonstrating His supreme power to the nations so they would know there is a God in heaven who is all-powerful and in whom nothing is too difficult!

The Israelites would cross on dry ground and a testimony of God’s power would be seen by the nations living in that area. God wants to do something even greater through every battle we face and every miracle we are believing for. Whatever you’ve been praying and fasting for, believe that God will exceed your expectations and do even more than you could ask, think, or imagine.

Greater things are coming!

Ready for Awakening
Acts 19:1-21 

One of the greatest revivals in the early church took place in the city of Ephesus. It is interesting that of all places, Ephesus is where God chose to do one of the most significant revivals in the Bible. History tells us that this was a city where sorcery and witchcraft were widely practiced, sexual immorality was rampant, and many other issues.

The story of how this revival started is recorded in Acts 19. When the Apostle Paul first arrived in Ephesus, he and his companions happened to find some fellow believers. Paul’s first question to them was if they had received the Holy Spirit. They responded, “We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit” (Acts 19:2). Moments later we are told, “When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying” (Acts 19:6).

Paul understood that if the city of Ephesus were going to experience a spiritual awakening, the people of God would need to be full of the Holy Spirit.

Over the next two years, Paul would preach powerfully in the synagogues and throughout the city. However, Paul’s sermons were not just wise words or persuasive speech; they were accompanied by the power of God. We are told in verse 11 that God did “extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul”, and that the fear of the Lord descended on the entire city (v.17).

The results were stunning. People began coming to faith in Jesus in a tremendous way. Those practicing dark arts were convicted of their sin and dramatically gave their hearts to Christ. Verse 19 tells us, “And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver”. By today’s standards, this would equate to several million dollars that were burnt up, along with the darkness those texts represented.

The insights of Acts 19 provide an important blueprint for revival. If we want to experience a great awakening in our nation today, we must be believers who are full of the Holy Spirit, boldly proclaiming the power of God, not just with words but also with deeds. We must be people who are marked with compassion for the lost, broken, and hurting; but also a people who carry the power of God to do something about it.

God wants to do greater things through each of us, and this corporate fast is paving the way for that to happen. Our country is ready for a great awakening! God is preparing His people for something historic, so get ready!21 Days of Fasting & Prayer: Greater Things | James River Church

He is Close
James 4:8a 

“I never signed up for this!” Perhaps this thought has crossed your mind a time or two. On this side of heaven, we are faced with all kinds of challenges. What is your response when you are unsure what to do or when facing a circumstance that seems overwhelming?

One of the great promises we find in Scripture is recorded in James 4:8, which tells us, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” What a promise! The God of all creation desires to come near you today. Here are some practical ways Scripture encourages us to draw near to the Lord each day:

PRAISE HIM. In Psalms 100:4, the psalmist writes, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.” Praise turns our attention from the difficulty of our circumstances to the wonderful power of the Lord. Entering God’s presence should always be filled with thanksgiving and praise.

SEEK HIM.  In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Every revival in history has come through people committed to seeking God and making Him the top priority in every part of their lives. Jesus promises that when He becomes our greatest priority, His power will take care of all other areas of our lives!

LISTEN TO HIM. Matthew 17:5 says, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” The Lord speaks when we read His Word, when we listen to the preaching of His Word, and through other believers we surround ourselves with. As we draw near God and listen to His words, we will see His power work through every situation.

OBEY HIM. Psalm 34:8-9, 10b says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh the joys of those who take refuge in Him! Fear the Lord, you His godly people, for those who fear Him will have all they need . . . but those trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.” Favor follows obedience. As the Lord speaks to you and you respond with an obedient heart, you will experience the blessing of the Lord in your life and in your family in greater ways!

There is no doubt God wants to take care of every situation you face, but even more, He wants His presence to fill your life in greater ways than ever before. So as you come near the Lord today, pray for more of His presence, more of His peace, and His power on your life than ever before because His promise is true that as you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you!

Send Me!
Isaiah 6:8

In the Old Testament book of Isaiah, the prophet records a powerful vision where he sees angels surrounding the Lord on His throne continually crying out, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.”

Isaiah sees the Lord in all of His glory and holiness and immediately recognizes the disparity between God’s holiness and the sinfulness of he and his people. An angel responds by placing a live coal on Isaiah’s mouth, atoning for his sin and purifying him. With his sin forgiven, Isaiah then writes, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? “And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’ He said, ‘Go and tell this people…’” 

God asks Isaiah a question that He asks His people today, “Who will go for us?” Who will go and tell people about the forgiveness God offers? Who will go and tell people there is freedom in Jesus? Who will go and tell people that there is a God who loves them and wants to transform their lives?

Isaiah passionately responds, “Send me!” Through this time of prayer and fasting, God is doing a deeper work in us. But the truth is what God does in us through this fast is not meant to stay with us; He wants us to go!

God is empowering us and increasing our boldness to share His love and power with others so we can witness even greater things in the days ahead. The Lord is sending you to the people in your family, your workplace, your neighborhood, and on your kids’ sports teams. Will you go?

Empowered by the Spirit
Acts 1:8

Words are powerful. Each day, we have the opportunity to use our words to bring life and strength into every situation we encounter. Perhaps some of the most important words a person will ever speak in their lifetime are the last words they share before leaving this earth. When we consider Jesus’ final words before ascending into heaven, He speaks a promise that is an essential gift to every believer.

These words are recorded in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”

If we are going to make a significant impact on this world we must be empowered by the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament the word “power” is mentioned 121 times and continually connected to the Holy Spirit. It is the infilling of the Holy Spirit that brings greater power to our words and every area of our life.

The empowerment of the Holy Spirit results in ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things for the Lord. We see throughout the book of Acts that the disciples performed many miraculous signs and healings – all connected to the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through them. That same power continues to work in and through believers today!

The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 5:18, “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.” The Greek word used for “be filled” indicates an ongoing, regular filling. It’s not a one-time instance but a daily practice. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 14:4, “A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally…” and in verse 14, “For if I pray in tongues, my Spirit is praying but I don’t understand what I am saying. Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the Spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand.”

Praying in the Spirit each day provides an empowerment to believers that is essential for spiritual strength and power. The reality is our words have an even greater effect when they are empowered by the Holy Spirit. Take time today to pray for more of the Spirit’s empowerment in your life and in your words that you might see even greater power and miracles take place through your prayers!

The Spirit and the Wilderness
Luke 4:1-2, Luke 4:14

As we fast and pray, it is important to recognize that the enemy will do everything in his power to stop the moving of God, especially as we are believing for greater things and asking for a great awakening to sweep across our land.

We see an example of this demonstrated in Luke chapter 4. At this point in the Gospel, Jesus had just been baptized in the Jordan River, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him. “And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, He was hungry.” (Luke 4:1-2)

The Holy Spirit then leads Jesus into the wilderness, which was a barren and unfamiliar place. As we fast and pray through these weeks, some of us might be entering or are already in a season that may seem or feel uncertain and unfamiliar. But when you are being led by the Holy Spirit, you will never be led to a place without a purpose, regardless of how it may look or feel. It’s also in those times that the enemy takes every opportunity he can get to distract, disrupt, or discourage your heart and mind.

In this passage, we read that the devil interrupts the 40 days of Jesus’s fast to tempt Him, but Jesus is full of the Holy Spirit, full of power, and purpose. After Jesus successfully resists the temptations of the devil and survives 40 days in the wilderness without food, He returns with the power of the Spirit, and His ministry spreads quickly. “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about Him went out through all the surrounding country.” (Luke 4:14)

Some of us may be in a wilderness season as we fast and pray, but if we are led by the Spirit, we know that it is for a specific purpose. There is power waiting for us on the other side as we persevere. As we face temptation and trials during our time of fasting and prayer, we can remain faithful, knowing that God has something great planned for us.

If you haven’t already, let today be the day when you settle it in your heart that God has greater things in store for you. He wants to do greater things in you through this fast so that He can do greater things through you after this fast. Don’t get discouraged or distracted by the wilderness because the Spirit of God is leading you, and just on the other side of this is a season of significant breakthrough and impact for the Kingdom. God has greater things for you!