–Job 26:12 (NKJV)
———————————
I’m not a seaman.  With that said, I can imagine what some of those early voyages must have been like.  In my mind, those sailors were extraordinary.  When I think of the expanse of the water and on the horizon all you can see is more water, well, I don’t think I’d like it much.  I had two uncles who joined the Navy during World War II.  One stayed in for over twenty years–he was a die-cast sailor.
       I’ve read many of the Hornblower stories, and especially like the books by Alexander Kent.  Warfare on the sea, battles on the sea, danger from wind, waves, and weather.  Nope, I’ll stick to the mountains.  In fact, in my later years, I don’t care much even for the beach.  Oh, there was a time, in my twenties when I went deep-sea fishing in Florida.  Annie and I with Granny and Pappy would walk along the bay and scoop up crabs which made fine eating, and I will grant the sea that point, there is plenty of good eating there.
       Jesus must have enjoyed the sea.  I wrote from Matthew yesterday, that “Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.” (13:1).  The sea, if there aren’t many people around, is a good place to sit and contemplate.  Watching the waves rush to shore, hearing the sound; it’s easy to think of the majesty of God.  Easy to put things aside and ponder the things of God.  Jesus did it, so there’s nothing wrong with it.  He didn’t even mind the storms.  Put him in a boat, He’d go to sleep and sleep right through the tempest that was raging.  He didn’t even mind getting his toes in the water.  Remember that time He decided to take a stroll?
       Two thoughts I want to leave with you that I came across in my reading.  One is from Brendan the Navigator.  I didn’t know who he was but found he was also called Brendan the Voyager.  He was an “Apostle of Ireland,” born in the fifth century.  He said this, “Do not fear.  God will be of our crew, be at our helm, act as our pilot.  Ship sweeps. Leave set the sail.  We are His company, this His ship.  May He use us all to His will.”  That should give us some comfort.  When the storms of life assail, I can depend upon the Lord to keep me.  When the waves crash into the ship, my feet may get wet, but I will be upheld by His strong arm.  That might have been the thoughts of Paul, when he went through the three shipwrecks. (2 Corinthians 11:25).  Shipwrecked!  Imagine, alone in the deep, fish, monsters of the deep, sharks and Paul was there once for a night and a day.
       The second thought comes from life.  Put yourself out on a small ship, a frigate of days gone by.  You have your destination, but the wind changes.  Do you complain, or depend upon the captain?  Listen, in life sometimes there comes up quite a gale.  The winds may reach hurricane force in your life.  Do you moan, groan, despair or trust and depend upon the Captain?  Listen to the voices around you, what do you hear?  “The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.” (John Maxwell)  
       
          “Others went to sea in ships, conducting trade on the vast waters.  They saw the LORD’s works, His wonderful works in the deep.  He spoke and raised a tempest that stirred up the waves of the sea.  rising up to the sky, sinking down to the depths, their courage melting away in anguish, they reeled and staggered like drunken men, and all their skill was useless.  Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress.  He still the storm to a murmur, and the waves of the sea were hushed.  They rejoiced when the waves grew quiet.  Then He guided them to the harbor they longed for.”
                     –Psalm 107:23-30 (HCSB)

                    –Matthew 13:1 (Phillips)
—————————————-
In my Pastor’s sermon last Sunday, two terms caught my eye.  REVIVE–REFRESH, and I want to add a third this morning, REKINDLE.  
       Revival, we hear that often these days among believers.  “Oh, Lord send a revival,” but I ask, is it a half-hearted plea?  We know that there will be a great revival before the Day of the Lord, but don’t be too quick to judge.  We tend to think only of America, and not rightly unso for we do want revival in our own land.  However, there is a major revival going throughout most of the world, save western nations.  
       This country has had tremendous revivals in our history from the very foundation of our country.  The Great Awakening came at just the right time in our country’s history.  Not only was it a great spiritual revival, but it is important to note that this is when those whom we call the “Founding Fathers” were growing into manhood.  They were greatly influenced by this national revival.  On I could go about the revivals in our history, but let me stop to say two things:  first, we must consider the sovereignty of God.  He doesn’t want any to perish, that’s a fact, but also He also knows the hearts of men, He knows the state of the union, so to speak.  Perhaps, it will be judgment that will bring revival to America.  Second, revival is very much an individual thing.  Yes, it is corporate, for the whole Church, but it is in the heart of each individual person that there must be revival.

               “Revive us again; fill each heart with Thy love,
               May each soul be rekindled with fire from above.”
                         –William P. Mackay

Revive means “to flourish anew,” or “to regain life, is used of a moral revival.”  If we, as believers, find ourselves beginning to wilt we need to revive our spirits.  We need to get into the word of God, pray, and let our lives begin to flourish again.
       The second word, Refresh, makes us “feel good.”  Think of a refreshing rain, a refreshing shower, a refreshing vacation.  Vine’s translates, “refresh” as “to give intermission from labor, or to give rest.  Another term for refresh means, “to make cool, refresh”, in other words to relax.  It can be used to obtain relief.  How in this crazy, confused, evil world can we be relaxed and rested?  By focusing on Christ.  My taking time to rest in His word.  In the frenzy of this world we need to stop and cool down.  Have you ever had your car overheat?  If so, what is it that you do?  First, you let it sit and cool down before any other action.  When you are going, going, going, then what is the first step, stop and cool down–be refreshed.  Grant to us a refreshing, O Lord, as we honor Your word.

               “‘There shall be showers of blessing:’
               Oh, that today they might fall,
               There shall be seasons refreshing,
               Sent from the Saviour above.”
                          –Daniel W. Whittle

       The final word, Rekindle, is not found in the New Testament, yet it is implied.  We are to keep our lamps lit.  Do not let the flame go out, but if it does make sure you have oil enough to relight it.  Don’t be like the foolish virgins, who begged, pleaded, and wanted to borrow more oil.  The oil of the Holy Spirit is sufficient for each individual; He provides for each one individually.  Another place we see the fire burning is when Jesus said that you don’t hide your flame under a bushel.  Keep it on fire, don’t let it go out.  Finally, Paul brings the idea of “rekindle” to Timothy.  In 2 Timothy 1:6, Paul tells Timothy to “stir up” the gift.  It means “to kindle afresh, or keep in full flame.”  Let the refreshing breeze of the Holy Spirit move over you and let the flame appear.  Keep your life aflame with the Holy Spirit.

               “O Lord, send the pow’r just now, O Lord, send the pow’r just now,
               O Lord, send the pow’r just now, And baptize ev’ry one.”
                            –Charlie D. Tillman

               “‘Tis burning in my soul, ‘Tis burning in my soul;
               The fire of heav’nly love is burning in my soul,
               The Holy Spirit came, All glory to His name!
               The fire of Heav’nly love is burning in my soul.”
                            –Delia T. White

                    –Dan Arnold  (Death Is the Dealer)

      “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”

                    –2 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV)
————————————-
I’m not much of a pancake eater any more.  Back in my younger days I enjoyed them more.  In fact, once a year our church used to have a pancake breakfast where I was one of the cooks.  In my day, I learned to flip pancakes.  Just a little wrist movement, get the pancake in the air, and let it turn over catching it in the skillet.  Pancakes with butter and real maple syrup are hard to beat.  But eat a half-cooked cake, well, it’s downright disgusting.  A person might eat raw cookie dough, but raw pancake dough?
       Have you ever cut into a loaf of bread finding it doughy in the middle?  Maybe you’ve had that experience with a piece of cake.  On the outside it looks scrumptious, but it has not been cooked clean through, and in the center it is mushy.  This reminds me of a terrible experience at the supper table.  I was once served half-baked chicken.  Now, I can do a world of hurt to a cooked chicken, but one that is crisp on the outside, but is raw and bleeding on the inside.  Well, to be polite, it leaves much to be desired.  How does one go about not eating it, when you’re the guest at a person’s house for dinner?
       All of that is my prelude to something I read last week.

               “Ephraim has mixed himself among the peoples; Ephraim is a cake unturned.  Aliens have devoured his strength, but he does not know it; yes, gray hairs are here and there on him, yet he does not know it.”
                         –Hosea 7:8-9 (NKJV)

I like the way the NLT translates these verses:

               “My people of Israel mingle with godless foreigners, picking up their evil ways.  Now they have become as worthless as a half-baked cake!  Worshiping foreign gods has sapped their strength, but they don’t even know it.  Israel is like an old man with graying hair, unaware of how weak and old he has become.  His arrogance testifies against him, yet he doesn’t return to the LORD his God or even try to find him.” (Hosea 7:8-10)

       Yuck – a half-baked cake.  One that is cooked on one side, but raw on the other.  One that when flipped looks like it might be done, but a taste and you soon find otherwise.  What had happened to Israel was that “instead of depending on the Lord for political stability, Israel formed alliances with surrounding nations.” (NKJV Study Bible)  This was destructive, yet the people didn’t realize it for they now only ate half-baked cakes, they now became one.  The NIV Study Bible says the cake was “burned on the bottom and raw on top.”  Disgusting to say the least, yet they did not realize it in their arrogance.
       Look at the news and you will quickly see that this nation, in its arrogance by flaunting those who spurn and mock the laws of God, are nothing but half-baked cakes.  Did you happen to see some of the foolishness that took place at the White House in the name of tolerance and acceptance?  It was vile and degrading.  Shameful things that were applauded when they should be weeping before the Lord for forgiveness.  The Lord has let them believe a lie, “Professing to be wise, they became fools…therefore God also gave them up…”  (Romans 1:22, 24)
       Half-baked–compromise and out-and-out lies were the characteristics of Israel, and now coming in the U.S.  The church must not give in to this.  The believer must be sure that the heat of the Holy Spirit is completely baking the food that they eat.  Beware of fellowshipping with the half-baked–those who mock, scorn, and ridicule the Lord by their words and by their actions.
       “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”