The proof is in the puddin'!

"...having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof..." (2 Timothy 3:5

Has the church been reduced to a form of godliness? Are we just a structure with no substance? If we say we are righteous, then where is the power that accompanies righteousness? Where is the hunger for righteousness? "Those that hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled...." Could the absence of God in our churches be linked to the absence of true righteousness and holiness? "For without holiness NO MAN shall see the Lord."

"If My people, which are called by My name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will hear their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14) Revival will not come until their is genuine repentance and a turning from wickedness. God was not talking to the world in this scripture. He was talking to His people. Repentance paves the way for revival. The prophet John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ by calling the people to repentance. "Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand." "Repentance prepares us for His presence" (Tommy Tenney)

We have not seen the manifest presence of God--for the manifest presence of God will cause you to fall on your face and cry "Woe is me for I am undone, for I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of an unclean people." We like to think of the "goosebumps" as the presence of God. But the presence of God will change a man or woman. When Isaiah encountered the presence of God, he spoke differently. When Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel) encountered the presence of God he walked differently. When Paul (who was first named Saul) encountered the presence of God he lived differently.

When God visited a church in Houston, Texas, He split the pulpit in two pieces. The pastor was thrown back under the power of God and a holy terror fell upon the congregation. People began to fall on the floor and weep and wail. They confessed their sins and asked to be baptized.

We have not seen the manifest presence of God...."We have programmed our church services so tightly that we really don't leave room for the Holy Spirit. Oh, we might let God speak prophetically to us a little, but we get nervous if He tries to break out of our schedules. We can't let God out of the box too much because He can ruin everything." (Tommy Tenney, God Chasers)

"God is coming back to repossess His Church...but you have to be hungry." (Tommy Tenney, God Chasers)

Do we really want God to show up at our churches? The proof is in the puddin'....