When the jail services of our church were started we supposed they would be an evangelistic outreach. You know what? It turned out the inmates already had been evangelized and wanted something deeper so they could grow. So instead of only having "decisions for Christ" we are having many rededications accompanied by a great hunger for the knowledge of the Kingdom of God and righteous behavior.

The American people have been evangelized to a great extent but the believers are wandering in doctrinal confusion. They are not living righteous, holy lives. Today they are being called to repentance because they are living in gross immorality. The great need in America is for the Christians to be Christians.

And then there is the material creation waiting for us to grow up!

Paul says we Christians have "the firstfruits of the Spirit." This means that after we learn to live in and by the Spirit of God we will bring the Spirit of God to mankind so that eventually all who are saved may be delivered from the flesh-and-blood metabolism of animal life and begin to live by the Spirit of God.

The greatest revival of all time will take place when the springs of living water begin to flow from the mature saints.

And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. (Ezekiel 47:9)

The thirty-nine people who committed suicide recently (March, 1997) in Rancho Santa Fe were trying to get out of their bodies in order to enter a superior life. Maybe if we Christians had been more faithful in presenting the hope found in the Gospel of the Kingdom, instead of our shallow "make a decision for Christ," those people would have found the kingdom of peace and joy they were looking for in the Gospel. A tragedy might have been avoided!

The creation could not care less about you and me going to Heaven in a rapture. The nations are groaning for release from the futility of children of God locked in an animal existence.

Even we believers, although we already have the firstfruits of the Spirit, are groaning for release. We are not groaning for a "rapture" or to be carried to a mansion in Heaven. We are groaning as we wait for God to adopt our body so we may be brought into the fullness of the liberty of the children of God.

Our mind loves the law of God. Our body loves the law of sin.

What is God's solution through Jesus Christ?

First that we be released from condemnation through our death with Christ on the cross.

Second that we walk in newness of life, being so empowered by the Holy Spirit that we can put to death the passions of our flesh and soul and keep the commandments of Christ and His Apostles.

Third that when the Lord returns God will make alive our mortal body by His Spirit that already is dwelling in us so we no longer will be dragging around an animal body chained by lust and rebellion against God.

Sound like anything you want?