Pastor's Den

Ascend

2012-02-28T09:59:00.001-05:00

For 7 years Midian ruled Israel, attacked them, destroyed their crops.

They finally cried out to God. And God said, “Come up here, get higher.”

God always sends His Word and if we apply it to our lives, trouble must flee.

He sends forth His Word and heals us. No one else can save you.

Your wisdom can’t save you.
Your own works can’t save you.
Your money can’t save you. Every decision must be based on God’ Word.

God wants us to rise (ascend) and that’s why we face challenges. Take the Word and correct our lives so we can ascend.

God sent Israel a word for them to obey so the situation could change.

If you are oppressed and pushed down, God has a higher place for you to go.

I don’t what 7 more years of bondage, do you?
ENOUGH I SAY!

Listen, sometimes we are frustrated with the storm outside but God Is frustrated with the storm inside of us. What is in your heart?

The only way to ascend is with His Word. Why does God want us to ascend? Because He wants environments and situations to change.

We ascend so we can come back down and help people.
The higher we go the more people we can help.

Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong

The Blank Page, It's Time To Fill It In

2012-02-14T10:41:00.001-05:00

Isaiah 42:8-10

Change leads somewhere. It can be difficult at times, but it does take us somewhere.

Change leads to something NEW! Any new thing is intimidating at first.

When something is NEW it can bring the freshness back into our lives.

We get excited, invigorated, energized, passionate. Something ignites in our hearts. We are FIRED UP! Especially when the new thing is from God.

Our new experiences bring life back when only a short time earlier we were desperately searching for it, trying to satisfy our spiritual hunger.

When Joshua became the leader after Moses died, suddenly everything was NEW!

The bondage of the wilderness was about to end. NEW LAND. A fresh mandate. A blank page. Now they needed a new attitude and skills.

No longer just talking, they were now doing. THIS was their NEW DAY. Canaan was within sight.

They were about to conquer the land that had seemed so impossible to conquer.

Suddenly these former slaves were now landowners.
Caleb shouted ,“GIVE ME MY MOUNTAIN!”

Caleb waited 45 years for this day. He was 85.
Joshua was about 100.

Now the time had come, new energy surged through their bodies. Their WAIT WAS OVER.

Their desperation was rewarded, their faithfulness paid off. VICTORY was assured.

So what is your mountain? What new and fresh territory has God led you to conquer? IT IS TIME.
Your long wilderness trek is over. Oh praise the Lord!

Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong

2012 – Year of Governmental Order

2012-01-31T13:19:00.003-05:00

Opening Text: Exo. 3:1-5

New Year’s Eve service I said this would be the year we stop just standing at the mountain of God.

I mean, don’t get me wrong, standing and watching God do stuff is great but we can’t do that forever, we have a job to do.

This was not the first time Moses was stuck at a mountain.

In Deut. 1 God spoke to him and said, “You have dwelt long enough at this mountain.”

Then He tells him to “TURN and SEE the land I have for you.”

What made Moses was his willingness to TURN ASIDE.

Now remember, Moses is the one whom God revealed his name,

Moses is the one who stands before Pharaoh and says, “LET MY PEOPLE GO”, he leads the people out of bondage.

Moses is the one whom God gives the 10 Commandments to.

I mean Moses is a giant of the faith.

I wonder …. What if Moses had been talking on his cell phone or texting?

Would he have walked right by the burning bush without even noticing it?

What made him Moses was his WILLINGNESS to TURN ASIDE.

Moses was a long way from home, way out in the boonies at Mt. Horeb, the mountain of God.

By the way, it’s this mountain that he would later receive the 10 Commandments.

So here is Moses, family, ordinary guy. A GUY not leading people but SHEEP.

Was he lonely? Hungry? BORED? We know he was a long way from home.

He was an Israelite raised an Egyptian.

But his life was about to change forever.

All because he chose to TURN and SEE.

Church, we will never SEE what God wants us to SEE until we are willing to TURN!

It’s in turning that you see what God has for you, so you can, like Moses, say, “Here I am”.

When God tested Abraham, he said, “HERE I AM”.

When the Angel of God showed up to Jacob, he said, “HERE I AM.”

When the Lord called Samuel, he said, “HERE I AM!”

Jeremiah said, “HERE I AM.”

In Acts 9 when God called Ananias, he said, “HERE I AM.”

Isaiah said, “HERE I AM.”

All through scripture, when men of God responded to God’s call, Governmental authority came upon them for the ministry God called them to.

God wants a key of authority on you and I but we have got to stop stargazing and standing at the mountain, we must TURN TO SEE!

A boldness came on Moses. A new level of anointing came on him and he delivered a nation.

God has people set up for you to bring you out of the bondage of sin but you must be willing to TURN.

A new level of authority will come on those who TURN.

Psalm 8:3-6

3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,

The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,

4 What is man that You are mindful of him,

And the son of man that You visit him?

5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels,

And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;

You have put all things under his feet,

You see church, the Governmental authority of Jesus will rise up to command the prophetic promises for healing, financial overflow, Signs and Wonders to be released.

To be ordinary we don’t have to do anything.

We are called to do extra ordinary things for God, all it takes is ordinary people to TURN and SEE!

Will you? Will you now?

Yours for Revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

2012 - The Year of Governmental Order

2012-01-03T11:47:00.002-05:00

Isaiah 22:22

The key of the house of David

I will lay on his shoulder;  

So he shall open, and no one shall shut;  

And he shall shut, and no one shall open.  

It’s talking about Eliakim - vs. 20

His name means “God establishes, God raises up.”

2012, you’re about to be established by God and He Himself will raise you up.

And the KEY of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder. Key here means the official right to be a part of David’s dynasty and authority.

David’s house was house of praise; new keys in praise are coming in 2012, with new levels of authority on them.

This authority is to open. OPEN What?

The Hebrew tells us.

It will open in 2012 the windows of heaven.

In 2012, new storehouses.

It means to open a grave – dead things coming back to life.

It means it will cause RIVERS TO RUN.

It refers to drawing out a sword.

It means to open the ground.

Job 32:19

Indeed my belly is like wine that has no vent; 

It is ready to burst like new wineskins.

It means unopened wine, wine still under pressure.

The pressure (transition of 2011) will and is causing the CORK to pop for the New Wine of 2012. Praise the Lord.

What you open through His Governmental authority in 2012, no one shall shut.

But you will also have authority to SHUT, to close, and to stop!

The word shut is SAGAS and it means to close up a hole in one’s flesh.

I hear the bleeding will stop in 2012. You have authority to help the wounded. You are anointed to heal the broken-hearted.

So what you shut in 2012 under Governmental authority, NO ONE CAN OPEN!

And no one can open. Praise the Lord.

Yours for Revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

The Bones Are Shouting

2011-12-13T09:28:00.003-05:00

2 Kings 13:20-21

20 Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year.

21 So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

Elisha may be dead, but God is alive. Church, don’t fear the enemy. Don’t fear these Godless, raiding parties. YOUR GOD IS ABLE TO DELIVER YOU.

Some say, “the day of miracles is over” but we don’t believe in a day of miracles, we only believe in the God of the MIRACLE.

Luke 1:37

For with God nothing will be impossible.”

Centuries ago Charles the Great ruled much of Europe. By a very strange event this ruthless ruler conveyed a spiritual message to the world.

Not during his lifetime, but after his death, by the bone of his index finger.

When he died, he was entombed in style. His body was set on an ivory throne, full of gold and precious stones, on his head was a crown of jewels and by propping up his arm, they had him holding a scepter, the symbol of power.

On his finger was a signet ring and he wore a purple robe and a scroll was on his lap that spoke of all his DEEDS – many were evil but mixed with scripture so as to give a sense of God’s approval.

That’s how he was entombed. Centuries later the seal was broken to reveal some surprises.

The flesh was gone like any man, now just a skeleton sat on the throne.

His flesh turned to dust and settled at the feet of the throne, along with his robe.

The prop that held up his arm has also disintegrated and his skeleton hand had dropped to the floor taking with it the scroll that once sat on his lap.

When those who unsealed his tomb noticed that his skeleton hand, now resting on the open scroll on the floor seemed to be pointing with his index finger to something, they bent over to see and this is what it was pointing to:

Luke 9:25

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?

The bones of a dead man spoke a greater truth than that man had ever spoken in his lifetime.

O’ church, the bones are shouting!

On that day, only that which was done for Jesus will endure.

The bones are shouting for a decision today. The bones of a loved one from many years ago or a mother who spent hours praying for her children are crying out.

Put your trust in Jesus today friend, while you still have time.

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

There Is Hope

2011-11-29T12:59:00.003-05:00

Rev. 1:1

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John

Notice he did not say that they MIGHT come to pass.

This is our God, who stood on NOTHING and flung the world into existence by His Word.

Isa. 40:12

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand,  measured heaven with a span  and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure?  Weighed the mountains in scales  and the hills in a balance?

Isa. 44:6

“ Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:

‘ I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God.

You will hear people say, “I don’t believe God exists.”

If you have a watch, it means there is a watchmaker.

The fact that you are LIVING, breathing, moving and you exist is proof that there is a people-maker.

You have a creator. This Jesus we serve is not a spineless, weak-kneed, jellyfish of a man with long hair and sandals.

We are not serving Mary’s baby boy or Joseph’s son.

We are serving the RESURRECTED KING of kings and Lord of lords who holds the keys of death and hell in His hands.

Let me quote Rod Parsley, “Do you see His long. lean, Galilean leg slipping over the back of a steaming, white stallion?”

Resurrected from the dead, Jesus kicked the end out of a borrowed tomb.

He has the nail prints on His flesh to prove He conquered death and hell by His sinless life, victorious blood and resurrection from the dead.

See in Rev. 19:12

His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.

Why do we or why should we get happy about heaven? We have lots invested there.

I have my Mom/Dad and little brother and Edith’s parents and friends there.

O' this Jesus we serve fills me with HOPE.

Yours For Revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

Just like that!

2011-11-02T09:51:00.000-04:00

I was sitting in my hotel room last week doing my devotions when I heard a series of guns shots ring out. It must have been 8 shots or so. By the time I got up to look outside, one person was dead, one wounded. Just like that! A life ended in a matter of seconds and he was gone.

Did he know Jesus? Was he married? Any children? I was there to preach. I was there to preach the gospel of life and this person was dead.

The locals tell me it was a gang hit but no matter what, a life was gone. It showed me again how we have no idea what a day holds. I am sure this person did not know he would die that day. And we have no idea what a day will bring us.

I know this – the Bible says "this is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it!" We must live every day like this.

In light of eternity, how are we living each day? My prayer is that we live it to the fullest and full out for him.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

The Ascended Life Is His Life

2011-09-14T09:41:00.002-04:00

Proverbs 15:24

The way of life winds upward for the wise, that he may turn away from hell below.

1 Corinthians 6:17

But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

The secret of the ascended life is the Spirit-revealed awareness that we are in UNION with Him.

God’s true sons and daughters are Spirit-led people.

Many love to listen to music on their iPods or MP3 players but have you ever listened to the sound of God’s council?

Job 15:8 says, “Do you listen in on God’s council? Have you ever sat and talked to God? Have you heard the secrets of God? Has He ever invited you into His circle?”

Psalm 25:14

“The secret of the Lord is with them that FEAR HIM.”

To understand this book, we must spend time with the Author.

Amos says He reveals His secrets unto His prophets.

Real prophets live in the inner sanctuary. They listen more than they speak.

When they speak they speak His words.

Our born-again life gives us access to the holy of holies.

The ascended life is the life of hearing His VOICE.

God, Jesus and Holy Spirit sit in secret council and they talk about you.

They love us. You are on their mind all the time.

With the inner circle of the Godhead, God took council with Himself about you before you were born. They talked about your DESTINY. Have you heard them?

Do you know your destiny? His blood allows us into the planning chamber.

It’s time to go to His secret chamber and cry puddles and say, “O God, open to me Your mysteries.”

You are one with Him and have the legal right to sit with Him in private council.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

You Need a Revival

2011-08-04T10:47:00.000-04:00

Have you ever had one of those times that you know you need something but you are not sure what it is! Let me help you, if you are a Christian, you need a revival. The old timers used to call revivals Epochs. An epoch is a fixed point of time established in history by the occurrence of some grand or remarkable event. It even sounds exciting. Do you know why? That’s what we need. Here’s the problem, all through history revival has followed a path, a path of prayer, self-denial, holiness and purity. What does the church struggle with the most? Prayer, self-denial, holiness and purity. Did you notice prayer was first? Could it be if we really started praying again we would see self-denial come back to our lives and holiness and purity? So your Epoch must start with prayer, let’s start there.

Yours for revival

Pastor Francis

God's Building a House

2011-06-21T11:11:00.001-04:00

Many in the body treat church like smorgasbords, going from one flavor of church to another until they have had their fill. SOMEHOW WE'RE MISSING THE MARK!

Ask any pastor, church leader "What is your vision?" They will begin to list.

"to reach the city"

"win the lost"

"preach the gospel"

So hearing this, we have got to wonder why so little is accomplished?

All the prophecies? Our arrows are aimed in the right direction. We generally are talking about the right things.

So what if God were to take away from the church everything he NEVER told us to do.

David wanted to build God a house, but the Lord had a different idea. He said, "I AM GOING TO BUILD YOU AHOUSE"!

David's desires were good and his goals seemed right, but he learned it was not God's order, the Lord had a different idea, "I am going to build you a house."

I believe the church has lost its focus. God wants to focus us, to bring us into alignment in our houses and ministries.

The vision is our target, but God's order must be defined and automatic in us.

If you asked Paul, "What is your vision"? He may have said "I want a REAL relationship with Christ. What-ever it takes I want to know him."

Canada is ripe for Revival

2011-06-07T10:33:00.000-04:00

After being in Thunder Bay and Prince Albert over the last couple of weeks, I am convinced that Canada is ripe for revival. I believe people are sick of playing church and are ready to be the Church.

I have watched people in these towns come from hopeless situations to the living hope, Jesus Christ. 30 people in Thunder Bay walked to the altar of salvation. People are starting to see hope.

This truly is a year of transition. The Church is advancing. What a joy to be alive and serving Jesus! Is there warfare? Yes, but the reward is worth it!

Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong

Come Up Here!

2011-05-18T10:46:00.001-04:00

Hebrews 5:7

“Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear”

Jesus prayed loud, desperate prayers and at times shed tears. And because of His Godly fear, God heard Him. He knew that prayer is the seat of government. So when His disciples said, “Lord, teach us to pray,” He took them to the seat of government.

“Our Father in heaven…” He took them to the throne of God talked about in Revelation 4, Daniel 7 and Ezekiel 1.

He was telling them that they needed to become more familiar with the Revelation 4 realm, that they must become rooted in eternity.

Church, the call is to “come up here!” and His cry is still going out. Jesus is that door that opens the way to the Father, let’s go through!

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

Is Canada ripe for revival?

2011-04-26T09:45:00.000-04:00

We have just finished Passover and as I reflect today, I am so thankful for the cross of Jesus Christ because it brings men and women to a point of decision about their life.

Several people made the decision to commit their life to Jesus this weekend.

Could one of them be the next Josiah? Or Hezekiah or Billy Graham?

Who knows but God. All I know is that I have seen God change many lives, as shown by our illustrated sermon on Sunday morning, as we showed what people were like before Christ and then after. It was powerful!

So is Canada ripe for revival? I say, Yes! Let this year spark a revival fire across this country, like never before.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

Passover

2011-04-19T10:02:00.000-04:00

Here we are, just days before Passover and as I reflect on it I can’t help but be thankful. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

I deserved hell for my sin but because of the blood of Jesus, there was a Passover. Because of that blood, you and I can stand saved, healed and delivered.

So knowing this as Christians, let's stop being stuck in the past. Past mistakes, past sin, past failure. There has been a Passover for you. Jesus is our Passover Lamb. LIVE in your forgiveness and watch what God will do to and through you.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

WILDERNESS TIME

2011-04-05T11:58:00.001-04:00

In Hosea chapter 2, it talks about God bringing His people into the wilderness. The wilderness can be a scary place, dry, desolate, wild animals, etc. You get the picture…

But what we must know is that God brings His people into the wilderness, not to strip them bare or point the finger and dig up old wounds or torment them for past sins. The point of the wilderness is to free you. Free you from the attachments to lesser and damaging things. Wilderness time is not primarily about the pain and struggle; it’s about you getting closer to God.

Hosea 2:14-16
14 “ Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
Will bring her into the wilderness,
And speak comfort to her.
15 I will give her her vineyards from there,
And the Valley of Achor as a door of hope;
She shall sing there,
As in the days of her youth,
As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.
16 “ And it shall be, in that day,”
Says the LORD,

“ That you will call Me ‘My Husband,’
And no longer call Me ‘My Master,’

So in that wilderness comes a door of hope, take it and walk through to your promised land.

Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong

The Life of Faith

2011-03-09T09:44:00.001-05:00

I’m not sure how you feel but I don’t like mundane or boring routine. I feel life should be exciting and unpredictable. Serving Jesus should be an awesome life, but religion has made it boring and full of routine.

I say let’s break it!

Noah was a farmer and God came to him and said, “Build a boat, it’s going to rain!” Here is the problem, if I’m Noah, “What’s boat?” and “What’s rain?” Noah was being asked to build something he had never built, for something coming that he had never seen.

Folks, that is called FAITH!

By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. (Hebrews 11:7)

Faith breaks the routine and brings us into another world where all things are possible. Would you not rather live in that world? I know I would.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

True Revival

2011-02-15T09:46:00.000-05:00

The danger of being a Christian for any length of time, is that church life can become routine with very little expectation of anything new.

It's like taking a teaspoon, dipping it into the ocean and saying, "this is God". Then we pour it over our head and say "this is the Christian experience".
God calls us to dive in the ocean. Prayer is boring when it is merely an attempt to maintain our present level of communion with God.

Let me encourage you to read Psalm 85, it is a prayer for revival.

It's a prayer about asking God to help get you out of your spiritual decline
It is a prayer to get you out of apathy, vs. 6 says "will you not revive us again" and after we are revived, the promise in vs. 12 is to "get ready for a new harvest".

Psalm 85 should make our mouth thirsty for Him, because if it did, Jesus said "come and drink".

Yours for Revival

Pastor Francis

Is God asking you to do more?

2011-02-09T12:40:00.001-05:00

In the fall of 2007 I met a boy who changed my life. He was a little boy we found in tears on the street. He had just lost all of his money after working all day and was upset at the prospect of going home to face his father without earnings. Myself and the others with me that day gave him more than enough to double what he had lost – to us, it was just about twenty dollars. To him it meant much more.

That little boy right now is somewhere in Guatemala, probably earning a living for himself and his family the same way he was that day. I haven’t seen him before or since in my several trips to the country. But that day God asked me if I could do more.

More meant opening a children’s home in Villa Nueva, Guatemala, a more rough community than some in Guatemala. We have called it Casa de Alabbanza – “House of Praise”.

In November 2008 we found land to purchase. In April 2009 we began a three year contract to pay off a $200,000.00 USD building that once was a school. This April we will pay the third and final installment of about $70,000.00 CAN (depending on our currency at the time of payment).

Not only will we be finished paying for the building this April, but we believe we will be permitted by the Government to begin taking children into our home. We will begin with just a few, but within a year we could have up to 40, possibly 50, children that right now are living in abusive, neglected and abandoned states.

We have renovated, bought supplies, received donations, brought on Directors (Dan and Ashley Arnoldussen), and are ready for children. But we need your help. We have just 10 weeks before we need to send $70,000.00 CAN. My question to you is this: Is God asking you to do more?

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

Hope

2011-01-25T11:05:00.000-05:00

As I randomly read the news today I noticed several different things.

in one article they were wondering if there was a war on police officers with 11 killed across America in a few days period.

Another article was about the mystery birds falling out of the sky, to find out they were poisoned for being pests.

Another article talks about churches that are going into foreclosure at an alarming rate. And there were many others of the same nature.

It’s not quite a world gone bad; it’s a world gone crazy.

Yet Jesus told us these days would come upon the earth in the book of Matthew. For all the uncertainty in our world, one thing you can count on – Jesus is coming!

So with a world in a free fall, should we, the church, not come out of hiding and tell the world Jesus is their shelter in any storm. That God does love people. That there is hope. It’s time for Christians to show that we are following Christ. In times of trouble we want to follow those who know what to do. Let’s be like the men of Issachar in the Bible, who knew what to do in troubled times.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

Turning 50

2010-12-21T15:00:00.000-05:00

Some interesting things happened since I last blogged. For one, I turned 50, still getting used to that. I loved my 40’s which were the new 30’s so 50 will be like 40 – you know what I mean LOL. Age is what you make of it. I just want to make sure I am fulfilling my destiny.

Another interesting thing that happened was on December 21 the moon turned red. When Joel spoke of the last days he mentioned this in Acts 2:20:

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.

So to me, turning 50 and having a red moon means Jesus is coming soon. Sooner than we think!

Are you ready? I trust you are.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

2010

2010-11-30T11:29:00.001-05:00

As we get ready to close out 2010 and enter 2011 some may say, “Praise the Lord! What a terrible year. Can’t wait till it’s over.”, etc. The question I have is, “Whoever said that Divine order would be easy?” It’s like God dropped a plumb line and said, “Now line up.”

So I am thankful for this year. Yes I felt like quitting, weekly sometimes. Yes, it would be easy to run but to where, and when do you stop?

So embrace this year and thank God for it. I bet you grew more than you realize. I would say more things are in order now in your life than early in the year.

So I can’t wait for 2011!

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

KOINONIA

2010-11-02T13:13:00.001-04:00

Fellowship’s a word Christians use for almost everything. Eating – fellowship, walking with someone – fellowship; Tim Horton’s for coffee – fellowship…

A recent look at this word told me we really don’t know a lot about this word.

Acts 2:42 gives us a clue that the early church knew something about it because they were devoted to it.

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

In the Greek (you say “in the Greek” to sound smart) the word for fellowship is Koinonia. It means community, intimate. No wonder we don’t know much about it – very few of us do it biblically.

In a world of me, myself and I – a world of separation, divorce, etc., what do we really know about community or intimacy? Imagine what could happen in churches if we became devoted to fellowship. The Book of Acts tells us the result (of Koinonia) was people being added to the Church daily. Do you know why? We all need and want fellowship, so let’s work at being devoted to it!

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

HIS PEACE

2010-10-19T09:00:00.001-04:00

We have all heard of pressure cookers, but what do you do when you feel you are in one? Athletes feel pressure in the heat of the battle. Children feel it in school. Marriages feel it. Job stress creates it.

Then there is the pressure of others’ expectations. They want you to act a certain way or talk a certain way.

Teenagers feel pressure at school – their peers wanting them to do what they normally never would. Pressure to do things for others.

Religion is like that. Jesus faced it all the time but He lived in peace. He said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you, NOT as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

His peace takes the pressure off.

Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong

2010-09-29T09:56:00.001-04:00

The power of God is moving in Canada. Wherever hearts are hungry, God is moving.

Pastors are getting fed up with religion as are the sheep.

So what does all this mean? It means we are ripe for a revival. I just got back from Newfoundland where, again, I encountered hungry hearts and the wonderful presence of God showed up in a powerful way.

So it’s time to stop looking at the flood of evil that enemies of the Cross have unleashed in our world. We need to look and see what God is doing. He is raising up a standard against all that is not lawful in His sight.

The power of the Cross is being revealed. Now we must dare to believe God that HIS world-overcoming life is for us today!

Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong

Blessings for Revival

2010-09-15T09:15:00.001-04:00

When God wants to get our attention He does it by calling us to repentance. He wants us to see exactly where we are at. A heart filled with the world’s philosophy and personal corruption is NOT prepared for revival.

Exodus 12:14

‘So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a FEAST to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a FEAST by an everlasting ordinance.

Leviticus 23:1-2,4

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.

4 ‘These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.

In Ezra 3 a revival broke out at the Feast of Tabernacles. The 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are considered 10 days of repentance or Days of Awe. The Day of Atonement is considered by the Jews as their most HOLY DAY. The 3^rd feast is Tabernacles.

Deuteronomy 16:16

“Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.

These are blessings for revival during this season that we seem to forget.

Change

2010-08-31T10:05:00.001-04:00

As we enter into September the seasons are beginning to change. Soon the leaves will change colour and the evenings and mornings will be a little cooler.

I really believe that our church is also in a season of change. The difference is we are getting hotter for God. More than ever I sense revival is in the air. You can sense and almost feel it!

People are talking about it and wanting it. This truly is a year of divine order. Don’t miss your season. It is a great time to be serving the Lord!

Isaiah 43:18-19

"Do not remember the former things,  

Nor consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing,

Now it shall spring forth;  

Shall you not know it?  

I will even make a road in the wilderness  

And rivers in the desert."

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

WAITING…

2010-08-19T10:26:00.001-04:00

As I sit in the airport waiting, I am reminded of the scripture that says, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…"

I must admit I don't like waiting but I do realize that as I go to this conference I will sit under the teaching of God's word for an entire weekend, and when it is over I will feel stronger in God.

I may feel tired but my spirit will be strong. Some of you may be waiting for something. Well, get to a service, or just start praising him... Just get into His presence and you will start to feel His strength.

If you are going through a hard time it will help you know that you can get through it with His help. When I come home next Monday, will I be tired? Yes! But I will also be stronger in God.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

“Rest”

2010-08-10T11:08:00.001-04:00

Often we say things like, “I’m getting away for a few days of rest.” Then while gone you do everything but rest and come back home just as tired as you were before you left. But when you truly rest (and I don’t mean sleep all day) your mind becomes clear. You start to hear God clearly.

Recently I went away for a true rest and this is what I learned.

“I have the mind of Christ.”

The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to rebuild and transform our minds. Satan plants LIES and evil thoughts to turn us from truth. Our battle is for the mind.

So we must recognize the lies of the enemy, rebuke them and then replace them with the truth of God’s Word.

1 Peter 1:13

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ

Isaiah 26:3

You will keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on You,

Because he trusts in You.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

CHILDLIKE FAITH

2010-07-20T13:27:00.001-04:00

If you’re like me, when you were young you had no worries and very few fears.

I remember going fishing when I wanted or hunting with my brother or out for a skidoo ride, etc. At the end of every day my belly was full. I had a bed, clothes, and friends. I never really worried about anything.

In reality our young lives are lived by faith, knowing SOMEBODY was taking care of our needs.

Then a strange thing happened. I became an adult and new emotions started to creep up like worry and fear and the “what ifs” of life.

Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me … for of such is the kingdom of God" . He went on to say, “Unless you become like one of these you won’t see the kingdom.”

Now did Jesus mean become immature or suck our thumb, etc.?

No. He was talking about FAITH. We serve a God Who loves us and has a plan for us and will take care of us. So let’s back away from worry, doubt and fear and run around again with childlike faith.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

GIGGLES

2010-07-13T09:21:00.001-04:00

Yesterday Edith and I went for ice cream with three of our grandchildren. When they saw each other they were excited, I could tell by the giggles. When we got inside Dairy Queen they played and more giggles. When they got their ice cream they made a beard on their face out of it – more giggles. I watched them not care who heard them, they were not even aware others were there.

I could not help but think that Jesus would have sat with them and of course giggled – but He said we all needed to become like children.

So let’s stop being so serious and grumpy and giggle every now and then. Who knows – you may like it. To me that’s the heart of revival – becoming childlike in our faith.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

The Reward of Serving God

2010-07-06T09:40:00.000-04:00

There are benefit packages for almost every job in the world, but they all pale in comparison to the benefits for working for the Lord.

Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that we need FAITH to please God, but He rewards those who diligently seek Him.

God loves rewarding His people. He said if we acknowledge Christ before others we will be rewarded.

Good deeds will be rewarded, love for others will be rewarded, etc.

What are these rewards?

Some are the promised inheritance, a richer experience of life and much more.

My point is this – iT IS A JOY to serve the Lord. And on those days that it just seems hard and life seems unfair, one day we will see the reward, so enjoy serving Him today!

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis Armstrong

Addicted to the Flame

2010-06-22T11:42:00.002-04:00

This week we will hold our “Addicted to the Flame” conference.

I believe it will be life changing for all of us. I long for and hunger for a move of the Spirit where men and women, boys and girls truly fall in love with Jesus. I can’t wait to let you know how it went. Who knows? Maybe we will still be meeting!

There is a growing hunger here at Third Day for more. Things are about to TURN. Are you ready for it? Believe with us that this is a turn-around time for many. God’s presence is so powerful! If you are in the area come join us.

A new Pentecost is coming. Maybe this weekend! Fire begets fire and awesome times await those who want to draw near Him.

Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong

Kansas City Revival

2010-06-15T10:16:00.000-04:00

I have just returned from World Revival Church in Kansas City with Pastors Steve & Cathy Gray. What a great church! They have been in revival since 1996. This is a revival for the church. I saw so much hunger, passion and love from ordinary people. God just seems so big there, they magnify the Lord together.

Some will ask, “So what did you think?” And I will answer, “We are right on track!” I so believe God is exploding and will continue to explode over Canada. His glory will be seen. You and I were meant for revival, so let’s go for it with ALL of our hearts.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis

To The Reformer

2010-06-08T08:58:00.002-04:00

The Reformation was a time of great upheaval, but also a time of great opportunity. God was raising people up to know Him in a way that was not possible before. People like William Tyndale who had a burning desire to see Scripture in the hands of lay people. This pursuit cost him his life in 1535.

Another reformer was John Calvin in hot pursuit of God. He moved to Geneva to set up a Christian-led government. He died at 55 years.

These men were addicted to the flame of God and gave all they had to see others set ablaze.

I believe there are young reformers among us again. Maybe one of you reading this. If so RUN with the cause set before you and RUN WELL.

Yours for revival,

Pastor Francis

Is There Evidence?

2010-06-01T10:06:00.001-04:00

I will never forget the day I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It changed my life forever. I remember services charged with the presence of God, people getting saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. Powerful and life changing!

Yet today if some Pentecostals were arrested for being Pentecostal they would be found NOT GUILTY because there would be no evidence. If we say we are something, there ought to be proof beyond tongues. The baptism is for power to be a witness. Come on, let’s get baptized again! Fresh, real power from heaven!

Your’s for revival,

Look Up

2010-05-25T07:07:00.001-04:00

"I press toward the upward call of God,reaching forward to the things ahead."This verse speaks of effort,sadly it is what is missing in alot of people's lives.Remember it's an UPWARD CALL.Destiny is a pre-determined course of action.So there are barriers to your destiny.Things like REGRET.
Regret looks back.Always asking "why","i wish."Regret says"Quit."What about WORRY?It will make you sick.Fear will enter in and rule your life.So regret looks back and worry looks around but vision looks up.Vision keeps you focused.So this week determine that you will not live with regrets,and that worry will not consume you.This week determine to live by vision,that's where your destiny is found.
Yours for revival
Pastor Francis

Hunger

2010-05-18T07:41:00.001-04:00

We can all relate to being hungry.It's a desire even a craving for food.It seems that's all you can think about.I have a hungry today but not for food i hunger for a new normal in the church and in my life.The bible say's the Kingdom of heaven is at hand,right now,not someday,somewhere.Yet it seems we have trouble having faith for something we cannot see.Yet it is here but we have to be hungry for it.Hunger is the currency of the Kingdom.In our world the blind are blind,but in Jesus world the blind see.In this world the deaf need hearing aids,but in Jesus world the deaf hear.You get the idea.Boy i am hungry for that world and we can have it, i trust you are hungry to.
Yours for revival
Pastor Francis

The Sanctuary of Praise

2010-05-11T08:18:00.001-04:00

When we think of desert place's we think of dry,lonely places.The dictionary says"its an environment hostile to life".Yet in the bible it functions as a place of revelation and a training ground for faith and obedience.The desert was a place of refuge for Moses as he got his life in order.David wrote many psalms in the desert.Elijah spent most of his life there.John the Baptist was trained there.Jesus made his final preparation there before his public ministry began.In every season,God is my victory.Your victory is not your victory.God is your victory.The desert is about realizing who he is.It is there that you really begin to understand praise.So know matter where you are at or what you are going through if you will turn your desert into a sanctuary of praise you will be empowered to come out in victory.
Yours for revival
Pastor francis Armstrong

Remnant People Praise The Lord

2010-05-07T13:58:00.001-04:00

In Daniel chapter 10 Daniel was praying and his prayer was being hindered.It was a spirit of prevention to interfere or prevent those things God promised from coming to pass.The enemy wants to disrupt and overturn God's promise of a supernatural breakthrough.But Remnant people know that praise wins the battle.Don't hold back and save your praise for the victory celebration,instead declare the HIGH PRAISES of GOD the whole time you're in the war.So negative talk does not change a situation,it adds to it,actually it reinforces it.But praise takes its authority and creates change.So let me encourage you to be an agent of change through your praise.