Ephesians 4:11,14-15 says, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

Dear Church Family,

Let me say a special thank you to all of those who have been faithfully dedicated to our revival meeting this week.  I believe that God has been doing a special work in many hearts for weeks, and this revival has come at a perfect time for that work to continue.  Remember what I said a couple weeks ago?  “God desires to revive those who desire revival.”  I wonder today, how bad do you desire God to revive you?  Is it the passion of your life to be revived by God? 

I believe that it would be hard to convince someone that you desire to be revived if you are not even willing to be faithful to revival services.  Yes, I understand that some have to work during these services, and yes I am aware that some have been sick, but let’s be honest, most of you could have been in church this week if you really wanted to.  It breaks my heart as your pastor to know that some desire the moving of God in their life so little. 

What happened to the days where the revival meetings grew as the weeks went on?  What happened to the days when the church shut down the town during these meetings?  Has God changed that much?  Of course the answer is emphatically NO!  Malachi 3:6 says, “For I am the LORD, I change not.” 

Has the preaching changed that much?  I would submit that the preaching that we have in our revival meetings is as close to the meetings of yester-year as you are going to find.  It exalts Christ, it is anointed, it is the gospel truth, and it is gun-barrel straight.  So, NO, it is not the preaching.

 I guess the only other factor is “US.”  The people are different.  Compared to the believers of many years ago, the people that fill our churches today resemble the world more than they do the children of God.  They desire football more than our Heavenly Father.  They desire hunting a deer more than pursuing the Savior.  They desire money, position, and prestige more than they do being found faithful in God’s eyes.  They desire rest for their bodies more than they desire rest for their souls.  They desire their agenda rather than God’s agenda.

Is this the reason that we have 70 less people on a Tuesday night of revival, than on Sunday night?  Is it because we don’t care?  Is it that we have that much in our life that takes priority over church?  Have we strayed so far that we resemble that seeker-sensitive church more than we do the 1st century church in the book of Acts.

Have we become so calloused that a passive approach to REVIVAL doesn’t bother us anymore.  Judge yourself today and see where God truly fits on your priority list.  Now please don’t misunderstand me today.   I do not speak out of anger, but out of love.  This is not intended to hurt anyone’s feelings, but rather it is given to help your spirits.  As our passage says, I am obligated to God to do this.  I am not fulfilling God’s calling on my life if I speak not the truth

 Please take this for what it is > I EXHORT YOU TO PUT GOD FIRST.  I encourage you today to make that reviving work of the Holy Spirit a priority in your life.  Stop what you are doing right now, and beg God to forgive your spiritual slothfulness.  Find time today to read the Bible and to fall on your face before Him in fervent prayer.  We are in desperate need, in these trying times, to come to God and surrender our all to Him.  He is looking for a peculiar people who seek Him with all their heart.  Instead of getting upset at the TRUTH, why not take self-inventory today and ask God to reveal in you what it would take to have a TRUE PERSONAL SPRIRITUAL GOD SENT REVIVAL. 

I love you and I look forward to what God is going to do in our hearts tonight.  Hopefully you will make plans to be there so that you will not miss it.  God Bless!


Rev. Scott Coghill

Add Comment
 
 
Luke 2:46-49 says, “And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
47  And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
48  And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
49  And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?”

Mary and Joseph had been searching for Jesus for three days.  They finally found Him in the temple.  I love Jesus’ response to His parents when they came.  He said, “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?”  What a classic response.  What He was saying was this, Why would you look anywhere but in the temple for I have been sent to busy myself with the business of my Heavenly Father.  Wow, what a challenge this is to you and I today.  When people look at us, do they see us busy about our Father’s business?

God has still left us here to be busy about the Father's business.  You may say, "What is the Father's business?"  O my dear friend, it is the business of preaching the gospel and winning souls.  The Bible teaches us that winning souls is wise.  We are all in need of constant reminders to go and win souls.  There are people dying and going to hell every single moment.  Will we not arise from our slothfulness and take the good news to them? 

I charge you today before God, to busy yourself with the business of winning souls and preaching the gospel.  As Paul said to Timothy, “Do the work of an evangelist.”  He was reminding his son in the faith, that even in the midst of ministry, don’t forget to win souls.  In the course of your day today, look for souls that are in need of the gospel and engage yourself in the FATHER’S BUSINESS.

Father, lead me to those that are lost and give me the boldness and compassion needed to give them the good news.  Convict me when I am slothful in my responsibility.  I give myself to you today. Amen

Rev. Scott Coghill
Add Comment
 
 

ACTS 2:4a,41 says, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

As I prepare to start another semester of our Being a Success class, I am again reading through Acts 1 & 2.  O how I long to see God move like that again.  It is one thing to read about mighty moves of God, and another to actually be a part of one.  God came down in a powerful way and filled those believers so that they, through signs, wonders, and the preaching of the gospel, could minister the truth of Jesus to a lost and dying world. 

On that special day, 3,000 people were born into the kingdom.  Now this was no generic count or a number that was “Evangelistically speaking”.  There were literally thousands saved, and God was doing the counting.  What a day that would have been.  So many times I have wished that I was there.  Can God still move like that today?

I say with confidence, Yes He can!  I refuse to live an entire lifetime here on this earth without seeing God move in an Acts 2 way.  If this is ever going to happen it will be because God will have found a group of Christians who are willing to do as those early believers did. We must pray for God’s promise, we must work to stay united, and we must continue to boldly preach the gospel without apology.  Are you willing to pay the price for a mighty move of God?

Lord, I am begging for you to move again in our midst.  Please show us the way to your power and enable us to follow.  We are looking for you to move again.  Amen!


Rev. Scott Coghill
Add Comment
 
 
Matthew 21:13 says, “And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

The Bible says so much about prayer.  I think that we are sometimes guilty of minimizing the importance and power of prayer.  The Christian is commanded to pray, and so is the church.  God is looking for the church to be a praying place full of praying people.  How much time daily are you spending with God in prayer?  Have we forsaken this most sacred command and opportunity?

Church, we must pray!  Not so that we can check another task accomplished off of our list, but so that we can commune with the God of heaven.  What an awesome thought, “I can talk to God.”  We can walk with Him and talk with Him. 

The Bible even tells us in Proverbs 15:8, “…but the prayer of the upright is his delight.”  If we know that our prayers delight our God, why would we not pray?  Let us re-commit ourselves today to be people of prayer. There is so much promise and power awaiting if we will just pray.  As we pray, the power will fall.

Lord, forgive me for my prayerlessness.  Today I come to you with a hungry heart asking for your presence in my life.  Thank You for the gift of prayer; may I be more faithful in it.  Amen!!!

Rev. Scott Coghill
Add Comment
 
 
Psalm 16:8 says, “I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”

What a comfort it is to know that God is at my right hand!  We as Christians can be steadfast and unmovable in this life with God by our side.  It is His power that continues every believer.  It is God’s strength that enables us to accomplish the impossible.  Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”  God will not allow the righteous to be forsaken or the faithful to be moved.

This is a promise that we must keep ever before us.  Only when we see the importance of setting God ever before us, will we begin to realize the blessing of this promise.  Those who set the Lord ever before them shall not be moved.  Keep God in your sights and do not allow anything in this life to remove Him from your gaze.

God, help me to stay focused on You today.  I am in constant need of Your power and presence, so lead me to Yourself and to none other.  Amen!

Add Comment
 
 
Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”  

I am reminded of this truth every time I am able to spend some time with a fellow Christian.  All this week, I have marveled at the strength that I gain from being in the company of other believers.  I had a lunch meeting yesterday that turned into a mini church service when our conversation turned to the word of God and His goodness to us.  What a blessing it is to know that God places people in our lives to sharpen us for the glory of God and the work of the ministry.   I want to encourage you today to surround yourself with believers who strengthen you spiritually.  Do not be an island all to yourself.  Allowing growing Christians to influence you for Christ is vital for your personal growth and effectiveness in the work of God.  Seek to find those that are passionate about the Lord and His word, and attach yourself to them.  Once you do, be prepared for the sharpening work of the Holy Spirit to begin.   

Father, I thank you for the people that you have put in my life that sharpen me in Christ.  Help me to be diligent in seeking their company so that I can be a better Christian.  Amen!

Rev. Scott Coghill
Add Comment
 
 
Psalm 145:3 says, “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.” 

We cannot comprehend how awesome God truly is.  There is not a mind sharp enough or thinking deep enough to fathom the almighty God we get to serve.  As the Bible says, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  I read this verse and know that there is still so much more about God than even this.  His power, His size, His knowledge, His presence, and His eternal nature are just a few things that are more than my mind can grasp. 

A.W. Tozer said, “When I preach on the being of God, the attributes of God, when I talk about what God is like, and what kind of God He is, I approach respectfully, but from afar.  I point with a reverent finger to the tall mountain peak which is God, which rises infinitely above my power to comprehend.  But that is only a portion.” 

Today, as you focus on God, please realize that you only know a small portion of who He is.  He is so much bigger and more awesome than we can even imagine.  What a mighty God we serve, and yet there is so much more that we will one day see.  Truly His greatness is unsearchable. 

Lord, expand my knowledge of you in such a way that I stay awe struck at what I know of you, and what I cannot comprehend.  You are an awesome God, and today, I praise you.  Amen!

Rev. Scott Coghill

Add Comment
 
 
Psalm 44:6-8 says, “For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
7 But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.
8 In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.”
 
The Bible says much about the great sin of Pride.  We are encouraged as Christians to humble ourselves before God’s mighty hand.  God hates PRIDE, for pride exalts itself against our God.  Pride robs God of His glory, thus we should with diligence seek to remove pride from our lives.
Now you are probably asking the question, “If pride is a sin, why are you telling us to boast?” 
 
Boasting in self is pride, but boasting in the Lord God of heaven is power.  We are encouraged to exalt, praise, and worship Him.  In everything in our lives we are to draw all the credit to the name of God.  The word boast, in verse 8, literally means to praise, boast, to flash forth light, or to let shine.  We are called to let the glory of God shine through us.  When people hear us talk and see us walk, their attention should be drawn to God through our boasting, not drawn to ourselves.
 
If something good happens to us today, we need to proclaim “God did it”.  If something bad happens, we need to proclaim “God has a plan”.  No matter what happens in your life today, BOAST IN THE LORD.  Make sure that your day is filled with BOASTING in God. 
 
"All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall;
bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all…
Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race, Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail him who saves you by his grace, and crown him Lord of all…
Let every kindred, every tribe, On this terrestrial ball,
To him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all
O that with yonder sacred throng we at his feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song, and crown him Lord of all!"
 
Lord, I boast in your goodness today.  In my flesh, there is nothing to boast.  Today I will give you credit and praise for the good and the bad.  Amen!

Rev. Scott Coghill

Add Comment
 
 
Romans 10:14 says, “…and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?”
 
 
I was just sitting here, in McDonald's, studying for tonight's message, and the Lord allowed me to strike up a conversation about the goodness of God with a lady at an adjacent table.  She is looking for a church, and it is apparent that she has some real needs.  As our brief conversation came to an end, the Holy Spirit reminded me how important it is to take advantage of every opportunity that He affords me to speak in His name.  There are people that cross my path every day that I could give a word of encourage and charge from the Lord, but many times I don’t. 
 
Listen to me this morning, "People Need The Lord".  This world is going to hell in a hand basket, and if we as God’s remnant refuse to see the severity of these days, they will live this life with no hope.  We have what they need.  There is hope and abundant life for them, and it is found in Jesus Christ.  You have what they are looking for; so go and let you light shine before them.  They need to see your good works, and it will glorify your father which is in heaven. 
 
I encourage you to be a proactive witness for our Lord Jesus Christ.  Here is your challenge for today: Speak to somebody about how good God has been to you today.  How will they hear if we don’t tell them?
 
Father, give me the boldness and grace that is needed to be an effect gospel witness for you.  I am thankful that I possess the gift of salvation.  Move me to share what was once shared with me; the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Amen!


Rev. Scott Coghill

Add Comment
 
 
 
Matthew 5:3 says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
 
The introduction of the Sermon on the Mount is a challenge to every Christian about practical Christ-like living.  Jesus chooses to address the root of all sin in His first sermonic statement.  With power and eloquence, Christ lifted His voice in this first public address and said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”  Here the Son of God takes an opportunity to attack the very thing that draws all men away from God.  In other places of the word of God, this sin is called PRIDE.
 
It was PRIDE that turned Satan against God, that pushed Eve toward the fruit, that pointed Lot toward Sodom, that urged Moses to smite the rock, and that led Saul to disobedience.  It will be the sin of Pride that will lead us to live without God and His word in our lives.  Please know that God will resist our pride every time.
 
Christ said we will be blessed when we are poor or emptied of ourselves.  There is no way to be filled with God’s spirit if we are full of ourselves.  May God empty us so that He can fill us!
 
God, I surrender my pride to you today.  I confess my pride and pray for humility.  Oh God, empty me of myself and fill me with thyself. Amen.


Rev. Scott Coghill
Add Comment