The grounds around Sunrise Church were packed on sunrise January 1st. An extraordinary outdoor meeting with absolutely no coffee and donuts available and no lawn chairs provided. Men, women, and children old enough to understand the gravity of the situation attended. A miracle was going to take place in the middle of winter.
ALL KNELT AND WORSHIPPED
Old Paster Ezra stood on a platform above the expectant crowd. All cell phones turned off, no chatter heard, the crowd was silent. Ezra praised God. Everyone lifted their hands and thundered, “Amen! Amen!” Then all bowed down on the cold frosty ground and worshiped God. Not a comfortable position in the middle of winter!
HOUR AFTER HOUR THE WORD WAS READ
Rising again, the people stood at attention. Hour after hour Ezra read aloud from his Bible, beginning with the Gospels. He transitioned to Acts, Romans, and the rest of the New Testament. Thirteen men roamed around huge crowd, helping explain the Scriptures. The cold winds howled as hearts began to respond.
BREAKING SPIRITUAL STRONGHOLDS
Hearing the Word began to break spiritual strongholds. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:12-13) Open heart surgery was performed as the Word of God convicted and penetrated. Tears streamed down the faces of many. A deep groaning rose from the hearts of hundreds so caught up with living that they had journeyed far from the Word of God. Sins acknowledged, relationships healed, and hearts made right. Spirits were renewed. Joy sprang up. They truly heard from God amidst a winter of frozen hearts.
HEARTS DEFROSTED
And thus began the revival of Sunrise Church. Finally, they gave God their full attention and responded with repentance and obedience. Life was never the same for those who rose before dawn that frosty morning. The warmth of Spring defrosted their once wintry hearts. This is a modern-day retelling of the miracle of Nehemiah 8:1-18.
THE PRESCRIPTION
Is your heart cold or lukewarm, at best, toward God? I have a prescription for you. Choose a day, any day, and at the beginning of it turn off all distractions. Make a choice to fast for that day; only take sips of water. Begin with rejoicing on Who God is with your face flat to the ground. Ask Himself to show Himself in His Word. Open His book and read slowly and carefully. Write down what especially grabs your attention and what you need to get right with God.
“WOE IS ME” COMES BEFORE “HERE AM I”
The proclamation “Here am I, send me” in Isaiah never took place before Isaiah declared, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” Ask the Holy Spirit to convict, instruct, and propel you to live a life which brings praise to God. This will rock your world, as it did both Sunrise Church and the congregation in Nehemiah 8. Out of your frozen heart can spring the glorious blooms of Spring.
