008 I Just Want To Talk

This week the Watchman just expresses his thoughts about recent events concerning the Grammy Awards and the Awakening at Asbury University and other college campuses. He even shares some personal experiences in regard to these events. Enjoy!

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Transcript

008 I Just Want to Talk

Welcome to The Watchman Speaks! I’m your host, Lonnie Richardson.

Today I’m going to do things a little differently. I’m not going to try and preach or teach. Honestly, I don’t know that I’m very effective at either preaching or teaching. Perhaps, I’m better at just pointing others in the right direction. To encourage someone, to build them up. I’m not talking about a motivational speech mind you. God knows we have enough Pastors and Ministers already who are great motivational speakers. It seems that they would rather be motivational speakers than pastors or ministers. No, I just want to talk with you about some things that are pulling on my heart strings. My wife tells me that I should let my personality shine through more. Well, that sounds good, but I do not have a personality that I am aware of. Still, I just want to talk with you, one on one. Just you and me.

So, what does a Watchman talk about? He talks about what he sees and hears. To be honest I’ve been astounded by what I’ve seen and heard in just the last two or three weeks. 

The Grammy Awards presented a performance of “Unholy” by Sam Smith who identifies as non-binary and transgender male artist Kim Petra that was truly…. unholy. It was televised for all the world to see and hundreds of thousands, if not millions, cheered. It gives you an idea of the state that this world is in. Kim Petra mentioned that he was the first transgender “woman” to win such an award. Why was it so important to drive that home? Did he work any harder to win this award than any other non-transgender recipients of any of the other awards? No, he was seeking recognition and validation and I don’t understand that. I am a white, conservative, Christian, heterosexual man. I do not need recognition or validation from anyone for me to be comfortable or feel good about myself. I suppose it was an attempt to make that which is not normal accepted as normal.  And it was all presented by our friends at Pfizor. You know, the megalithic pharmaceuticals company that provided the jab that doesn’t work? Guess they needed a tax write off so they chose to use their billions to promote sin and evil. Evil promoting evil. Imagine that. Well, enough about that.

Meanwhile, a week or so later, a chapel service began at Asbury University on the 8th of February I believe. At the time of this preparation, the chapel service has yet to conclude. Some say that it is revival breaking out. I am inclined to agree to a great extent. Certainly, I am encouraged and hopeful. Here’s the way that I see it. 

People are hungry for God and people are showing up from all across the country to get in on the movement at Asbury. That’s a good thing. I’m glad to see it. But here’s somethings that I’ve thought about and I ask you to take the same thoughts into consideration.

Is God anymore present or available at Asbury than He is anywhere else in the country? No, I think not. 

Then why are people drawn to Asbury? Those who arrive at Asbury are seeking God on a personal level and not on a corporate level. In other words, they are not coming for dynamic preachers, huge digital screens, supersonic sound systems, fog machines, or the best performing musical artists. Most of them have those things in their church at home. They are not going to Asbury for a show. They are going to Asbury to find God! People, all across the nation, are hungry for the presence of God! They seem to be finding Him at Asbury.

So, why aren’t they finding God’s presence where they are? Why are they going to Asbury?

Let me tell you a story. It’s a story about my personal life. That way you get to know me a little better.

My daddy was not an educated man. I’m not certain, but I don’t think he had much more than a middle school education. Yet, he was perhaps the wisest man I’ve ever known. I don’t say that just because he was my dad. I say that because I actually believe it to be true. Ever since I’ve been old enough to remember I’d ask Dad, “Poppa, what do you want for Christmas?” Or, “What do you want for your birthday?” For thirty years I asked those questions, and his response was always the same.

“If everyone is healthy and we have plenty to eat, I reckon that’ll be just fine.” This answer would always leave me frustrated to no end. I never understood until I was rapidly approaching my fifth decade. You see, Dad grew up through the great depression or the latter end of it. He never had much in the way of material things. I can remember how he worked to provide a home with heating and air conditioning. I remember how we worked as a family to put food on our table from our pastures and gardens. 

Dad knew what it was like to live in survival mode. He worked to survive and for his family’s survival. I was the son in whom he had great hope, to provide me with a better future than his past. He understood that nothing was more important than good health, a full stomach, clothes on your back, and shelter. That’s what he worked to provide for. Not only that, he sacrificed to make certain that I had the education that he never had. Material things and luxury items had no value for him. “Stuff like that will rot or rust away soon enough.” He’d say.

Daddy always had some saying that he’d say to me when I wanted something. I received it as country hick philosophy from an old man. What I was too ignorant to realize is that most of that country hick philosophy was straight out of the Bible. It wasn’t philosophy. It was wisdom. It was wisdom that a rebellious son didn’t want to hear.

But now, now I understand what Dad was trying to impart to me when I’d ask him what he wanted for Christmas or his birthday. “If everyone is healthy and we have plenty to eat, I reckon that’ll be enough.” I understand now. It’s not about what we want. It’s about what we have! More importantly, it’s about what we do with what we have!

What do I mean by that?

Here’s an example. There was once a time I pray to God asking for material things that I thought I needed. The problem is that I had what “I wanted” and what I “needed” confused. I thought that what I wanted is what I needed when, if the truth were told, what I wanted and what I needed were two completely different things. I was hung up on what I wanted instead of being content with what I had and doing the best I could with what I had.

When I pray now, I am very careful. Rarely, very rarely, do I pray for something material unless it is something that will help me spread the Gospel. Most of the time I pray for wellbeing, provision of needs, and supernatural interventions on behalf of others. A lot of the times that I pray, I ask questions and listen. Most of the time I am directed to Scriptures to get answers. By the way, many times I am directed to the same Scriptures my Dad used to try and direct me as a young man. 

The moral to this story is that I do not concern myself with what I don’t have so much. I’m much more concerned with using what is within my grasp to the best of my ability. Namely, the ability to humble myself before an almighty God in prayer, seeking His face, and repentence.

So, what do I have that every other Christian doesn’t have?

Nothing.

I have Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I have Holy Spirit to guide, direct, and comfort me. I have God’s Holy Word, the Bible to keep everything in balance. That never gets old and it excites me every day. I have everything that I need. God has provided it all! If, indeed, my family and I are in good health, have shelter, clothes, and plenty to eat then I am blessed! What more could I ask for? Why would I want to ask for anything more?

What does all this have to do with revival and Asbury?

It has to do with our contentment, security in salvation, and worship posture before God. What is truly going on at Asbury?

From what I can see and what I have heard from others who have been there, it’s about prayer. There is more prayer going on than anything else. Yes, there is music. Is it the best music provided by the prominent artists of the day? Not from what I’ve heard performance wise. However, there is a joyful noise unto the Lord. There are a lot of people praying, seeking God for themselves. From what I have gathered, some are coming face to face with God for the first time! 

There is an inordinate amount of worship and praise. Notice that I did not say praise and worship. That’s out of order. Do you worship what you praise, or do you praise who you worship? Consider that the word “worship” in Hebrew and Greek, in 90% of instances has to do with bowing down before deity to worship. Praise is entirely different. Praise is in music, singing, joyful exuberance. 

I have heard many prayers going out for the revival of Asbury to sweep across the nation. That’s good. I’d love to see that. Question: “What is there that will keep that from happening?”

Are you ready for the answer? It’s US!

I’ll ask the question again. Is God any more present or available at the chapel at Asbury than any other place in the country? In the world? In the universe?

No, of course He isn’t. The fact is that the church is chasing after signs and wonders. They are no longer satisfied with the meeting of God under their prayer shawl, prayer closet, or at the altar for that matter. They are looking for something new, a new excitement, a newness of life. They are seeking to be REVIVED in their spirit and find the joy of the Lord once again. Certainly, what is occurring at Asbury University Chapel is a wonderous, beautiful thing. But it’s not merely confined to Asbury. Or, should I say rather, that it shouldn’t be.

Let me share another story with you. Recently, I was driving a 2009 Kia Sorento. It was a good, dependable vehicle. The only problems were that it didn’t have a functioning air conditioning system and the radio didn’t work. I drove that SUV six years without air conditioning or a radio. I was content. However, my wife found a four year old Ram pickup that was in immaculate condition for about $30,000 less than other trucks on the market and bought it for me to drive. The Kia was sold to another owner who was just as happy to get it as I was to get the Ram pickup. The Ram was a Laramie edition and was loaded with just about every option available on Ram pickups in 2018. It was a far nicer vehicle than anything I’d ever owned. I do use the heat and air conditioning. But as far as the radio and other high end options available on the truck, I find that I seldom use them. Why? 

Because the new wore off of them and although I was aware of the nicer aspects of the truck, I’d simply reverted back to my practice as if they didn’t exist. Why? Because those things were now the norm, and I don’t appreciate them as I first did. I simply rarely, if ever, use them. I simply went back to what I was accustomed to. If the truth were told, and I’m going to tell the truth. I didn’t need a newer truck. I was quite happy to maintain the Kia that I’d been driving.

That’s how it is with many Christians and their walk with God I’m afraid. Folks are looking for the next best thing. Currently, that’s happening at Asbury. The problem is that where Jesus is concerned, there is no next best thing. But for many, the new wears off of the relationship. The Bible doesn’t get opened as often, the giving of the tithes becomes burdensome, time in prayer and fellowship dwindles as the pressures of life ebb and flow. But the greater benefits are still there. They just see as much use. Much like the options on that truck.

People look around and they are afraid. They are afraid of what they see on the news. They are afraid of the “woke” agenda spreading and building up like an unending flow of lava across the land. They become defeated and dissatisfied as they struggle to make ends meet or strive for a more comfortable lifestyle. 

Then, something like Asbury comes along. It’s new and it’s fresh. People say, “Look! That’s where God is! God help us! Let’s go to Asbury and cry out to God!” Let me tell you something. God hasn’t changed addresses. He’s still the same place He was when Jesus hung on a cross, in our rightful place, for our benefit. God did not move away from us. We have moved away from God.

What I’m seeing is history repeating itself. What?

2 Chronicles 7:13-14

13. “IF I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send a pestilence among My people, 

14. and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 

Wickedness has invaded our land as I mentioned in my reference to the Grammy awards. People are afraid and frightened by what they are seeing around them and in the political arenas. Pestilence has swept over the world for the last three years. But when the people who are called by God’s name 1. Humble themselves, 2. Pray, 3.Seek His Face, and 4. TURN from their wicked ways…..” 

Kind of sounds like what’s going on as Asbury huh? It kind of sounds like a revival in the land doesn’t it? 

It goes on to say, “THEN He will 1. hear from heaven, 2. Will forgive sins, and 3. Heal the land. 

Cannot we as a people called by His name, Christians, not humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and repent at any given time at any given place? In our prayer closet? In a quiet corner of the room? At the altars of our churches? Or do we have to go to Asbury? Or Lee University? Or anywhere else for that matter? We have a God who is present and available at any given place at any time of the day.

Well, that is if we don’t lose our joy in our salvation and the provisions that God has provided us with. Don’t let the “newness” of life in Jesus Christ wear thin and opaque in your life. I don’t mean to sound boastful, but I’ve enjoyed a state of revival in my life for the past four and a half years! His grace is new and fresh every day and His mercy endures forever! Jesus is enough to sustain me. I do not allow the concerns of this world to weigh me down. How can I? I am a son of the Most High God! I am an heir to a kingdom in Jesus Christ! I am comforted and directed by a Holy Spirit that abides within me! I find that fascinating, exciting, and refreshing every single day! Don’t you?

If you feel the tug on your heartstrings to go to Asbury or any other place where revival is cropping up, by all means I encourage you to go! I mean that. It is not God’s will that I must go. I may go at some time. We’ll see. But for the time being, I’ll meet with God underneath my prayer shawl, or in a closet, or at an altar. I’ll worship and offer praises as I pray. The tears will flow as I pray that you find what I have found, perfect peace in trust of the Lord. What is being experienced at Asbury is available to you every day right where you are. But, I’ll say it again, If you feel drawn to go to any of these places then, by all means GO!

There are a good many people who are attempting to throw water on the events taking place on these campuses and douse them as being unbiblical. They say that revival can only come by the man of God, preaching doctrine and theology from the pulpit. They say that a woman spoke, or preached, at the opening service. But I have to ask the question of these pastors, authors, theologians or whoever they may be. If the reasons they are stating disqualify this “movement” as a revival, then what does that say that revival is not taking places in their church or place of influence? If it were so then we’d be hearing about the revival breaking out under their leadership and guidance. But we aren’t. 

Jesus told Peter, “Feed my lambs”, “Tend my sheep”, “Feed My Sheep” in the Book of John. Didn’t say anything about revive my sheep. In Ezekiel 34 God admonished the Shepherds of Israel because they “fed themselves and did not feed the sheep, strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bind up what was broken, bring back the stray or seek the lost.”

The pastor nurtures the flock. The evangelist gathers the flock which can be taken that they add new members of the flock I suppose. I’ve seen that happen. But to say that revival can only be brought about by a man is placing the man above God. It just ain’t so.

That’s about all that I have to say about that.

I want to thank you for spending some time with me and allowing me to just talk about a few things. I feel better. I hope you do too. I’d ask that you consider subscribing to the podcast or go to my web site at www.theoldwatchman.com and drop me an email. Good, bad, or ugly, I’d like to hear from you.

I am The Old Watchman, Ezekiel. It’s been fun just talking with you.

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