@FirstChurchofJerusalem
Today's Early Church Wisdom
“I shall not hesitate also to put into ordered form for you, along with the interpretations, everything I learned carefully in the past from the elders and noted down carefully, for the truth of which I vouch. For unlike most people, I took no pleasure in those who told many different stories, but only in those who taught the truth. Nor did I take pleasure in those who reported their memory of someone else’s commandments, but only in those who reported their memory of the commandments given by the Lord to the faith and proceeding from the Truth itself. And if by chance anyone who had been in attendance on the elders arrived, I made enquiries about the words of the elders—what Andrew or Peter had said, or Philip or Thomas or James or John or Matthew or any other of the Lord’s disciples, and whatever Aristion and John the Elder, the Lord’s disciples, were saying. For I did not think that information from the books would profit me as much as information from a living and surviving voice.
~ Papias of Hierapolis (c. 60–130 AD) From the Preface to his lost ‘Expositions of the Sayings of the Lord’
This week's Psalm is Psalm 31 'My Rock, My Shield, My Song'

Personal Revival

Why wait?

It's good to see a longing for ‘revival’ in the church, but what do we mean by this word? If revival is the restoration of a living form to life, whether that entity is an individual or a group, then it must be said that only God can bring revival, and that revival comes only from His Spirit. Medics can stimulate a body through electrodes, but only God can revive it. Scientists can play with genetic materials, but only God can give life. Worshippers can sing a song a thousand times and get excited, but only God revives the church. It is the Spirit that gives life. When men and women stop doing things in their own strength but open their hearts and lives to receive God’s Spirit, revival always flows! Whether or not we are currently in a revival, the revival can be in us. If you’re in a revival you will see some amazing things, but unless the revival is in you, they’ll stop when the revival leaves town. Why not live in personal revival every day? It’s there for you if you want it. But you will have to pay the price, which is continuing prayer and a daily fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit. Open your heart now and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh: “Come Holy Spirit, I need Thee. Come sweet Spirit I pray. Come in Your strength and your power. Come in your own special way.” Keep praying and singing till your tank is full!