Are you prepared?

I remember being in high school grammar courses and learning about cause and effect statements. It is a way of writing where what follows comes from what has already occurred. For example:

Because the lawn mower was broken, the grass grew to be 3-feet high.

And, before you ask, no, my lawn mower is not broken again.

The point is that the English language has a structure that helps us to communicate cause-and-effect.

In the past few days at Bethany, we have witnessed some cause-and-effect circumstances. Let's take a look at some of these cause-and-effect circumstances.

Because Rick Ingle and the Newberrys came up here for the purpose of running evangelistic meetings, Bethany was able to be part of God's harvest.

Because of one person's obedience to God's calling, there are five new believers today.

Because of Bethany's part in God's harvest, we have greater expectation for what God is going to do in the near future.

Wait a minute, is that last one true? Are we as a family of God really increasing in our expectation? I know I have talked in the past about the swelling of Spirit that I feel is building right here in our area. I have mentioned that when the Holy Spirit breaks out in true revival, we can expect to see our friends and neighbors come to Jesus in droves. And Saturday night, we saw five children, who were invited to the services by a member of Bethany, come to saving faith. Yes, I am following up. Will they be members of Bethany? I don't know. This isn't about church-growth. It IS about growth in God's Kingdom. And the statistics bear it out, if God moves and people were saved in the same percentages as have been recorded in the great awakenings of the past, there are not enough seats in every church in northeast Wisconsin to hold them all. That kind of move of God is where our expectations should lie. Are you excited about what God is already doing and the harvest we are about to be part of? If not, check your heart. Are you being obedient in being a witness for our Lord? The harvest will begin when God's people get serious about obedience.