15 Challenges

Here is something a little different which challenged me.
A missionary in Spain posted it on his blog.

The Challenge

You are desperate to live in Personal Revival. You are like the fellow that goes to the attic and stands in the middle of the room, takes out a piece of chalk and draws a circle on the floor. He then steps into the circle and says, “God, send a revival, but start it first right here in this circle.”

So I read this verse today – Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Man! That is good.

This is the CHALLENGE page. It is my challenge for you to set all your excuses aside and put forth the effort. If you do, I can assure you Personal Revival will come to your life.

CHALLENGE 1 Read through the NT in a month

If you have several bibles, take one you don’t use much and mark it up as you read it. Use a highlighter or a pen, write in the margins the revies God gives you. Try not to rush through the 9 chapters “just to get it done.” It will take about an hour, so that means you will have to sacrifice something else in your day to do this. It is so worth it

CHALLENGE 2 Pray in the Spirit (tongues) for an hour a day

If there is one thing that will charge your spirit, ignite your spiritual fire, teach you how to pray and keep you in fellowship with God, it is by praying in the Spirit. Sure we find ourself praying in the Spirit all day long, but this is a time when you get into your closet, or go for a walk and focus solely on the Spirit praying through you. As you pray, many times you will have the urge to pray with the understanding. Do it. You can sing in the Spirit too. I’m telling you, if you join challenge one and two, revival will invade your life within days.

CHALLENGE 3 Go out into your town and evangelize once a week.

One of the greatest things for your spiritual life is to evangelize. If you want to feel the smile of God on your life, evangelize. If you want rid your life of religious boredom, evangelize. Go with someone, buy some tracts, go to the mall, to the park, downtown, to the bus station or where ever people hang out and talk to them about eternity. It tough at first and the flesh belly aches, but pay not attention to that whiner. There are tons of hungry people out there. The harvest is ripe.

CHALLENGE 4 Memorize the Sermon on the Mount

When I was in Bible College, I memorize Matthew 5-7 with a friend. That is ONLY 111 verses. The most quoted verses in the Bible. Live the Sermon and you will be perfect. If you only had three chapters you could keep from the Bible, these are the three. Memorize them in your favorite version.

CHALLENGE 5 Go on a date with God

Probably one of the things God likes most. To spend time with you! Go on a date with him. For real. Take a walk around the lake. Go out for coffee with your Bible and journal. Walk through the fields or through a park. You don’t even have to have an agenda. Just be with Him.

CHALLENGE 6 Fast

I have practiced fasting all my life. Short fasts and long fasts. The body is wimpy and fights against it, but your spirit will benefit. You probably won’t feel spiritual when you do it, but you are spiritual when you do it.

CHALLENGE 7 Take a spiritual retreat

This will be the highlight of your year. It can be a day or two weeks. I have done both. A retreat with just you and God in some alone place where you can just be together. Bring your Bible, a good book, a journal, some MP3 sermons or music or whatever you do to feed your spirit.

CHALLENGE 8 Get the worldliness out of your heart

That will leave more room for Jesus. You don’t need me to tell you what worldliness is. The Spirit of God is telling you all the time. But if you eliminate those things from your life, the Spirit of God will be quick to fill the void.

CHALLENGE 9 Take a missions trip

It changed my life. Two weeks in Spain back in 82′ and the rest is history. Not only will it open your eyes to something other than your world, but it will give you a heart for the lost. And when you have a heart for the lost, you are close to God’s heart.

CHALLENGE 10 Worship and Praise

When you do, it just brings the Spirit close. Put on the headphones and go for it. Sit at the piano or guitar and sing make a new song unto the Lord.

CHALLENGE 11 Be in community

Go to church. Go to a small group. Hang out with those of like mind as you. Iron sharpens iron. You need each other to be sharp. God will use them to form your character.

CHALLENGE 12 Be filled with good works

After all, you were created for them and God set them up for you to do before you were born. It will make you feel great, pleasing to God. When you stop living for yourself and live for others, that is when you start to live.

CHALLENGE 13 Consume the Word of God

Life proceeds from God and His Word. Want to be full of God? Be full of His Word. Want to be full of life? Be full of his Word.

CHALLENGE 14 Live in holiness

The pure in heart see God. So a holy life, holy thoughts, holy conversation will bring God close. You will sense His presence, you will feel his smile.

CHALLENGE 15 Walk in the Spirit

This is what the Christian life is. Walking, living, speaking and being led by the Spirit.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help us be closer to you, to know your heart, be filled with your Spirit and reach the lost. Amen

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