by David Ravenhillhttp://www.davidravenhill.net/
David Ravenhills ministry speaks to todays church in a powerfull way. I encourage you to check it out. His book shown here is a real dose of reality for the Spirit Filled Church!
The following material is from The Destinys Image and the David Ravenhill website.
"We are living in a land not our own. We are looking for a city whose Builder and Maker is God. Along the way there will be rivers from which to drink. These 'rivers' will renew, refresh, and restore vision and purpose. But, the 'river' will not ultimately satisfy the inner longing of your soul. The 'river' along the way must not be mistaken for the City of God we all seek. We must go on not being content with the provision of the 'river' no matter how exciting it rushing power and glory may be.
If you have enjoyed the 'river', but cannot understand why frustration still seems to set in you need to read this book. The 'river' will never provide what only the Lord can provide. Don't die in the wilderness. Learn how to go on in your experience with God."
The author:
The author draws from his 43 years of ministry experience both as a missionary, pastor and teacher in the Body of Christ. As a teacher he reveals some striking parallels as well as some vital lessons, between the prodigal son of the past and those of the present. This book provides many insightful lessons as well as warnings for all those who seek to serve the Lord, no matter what field of service they may be involved in.
Biography: David Ravenhill
David Ravenhill’s burden is to see the Church come to maturity through intimacy with God.
Ravenhill was born in England in 1942. He graduated from Bethany Fellowship Bible College in Minneapolis where he met and married his wife Nancy. In their early years, David and Nancy served with David Wilkerson’s first Teen Challenge Center in New York City. Following that they worked with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) for six years which included two years in Port Moresby, Papua, New Guinea. From 1973-1988 David was on the pastoral team of one of New Zealand’s largest churches, the New Life Center in Christchurch. David & Nancy returned to the States in 1988. The following year they joined the senior leadership team of Kansas City Fellowship under the leadership of Mike Bickle.
From 1993 David served as the senior pastor of a thriving church in Gig Harbor, Washington. He resigned in 1997 to commence a full time itinerant ministry throughout the United States and overseas. David also taught in the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry in Pensacola, Florida as well as maintaining a busy itinerant ministry. During and following their time in Pensacola David traveled with Evangelist Steve Hill and the Awake America Crusades.
David & Nancy have three grown daughters, two son in laws and seven grandchildren.
David has written five books published by Destiny Image.
The Ravenhills have recently relocated to Siloam Springs, Arkansas from where he continues his itinerant ministry.
Spiritual Maturity by David Ravenhill"True spiritual maturity begins, when one makes the transition, from asking God to work on their behalf to desiring to be about the Father’s business."
David Ravenhill's burden is to see the Church come to maturity through intimacy with God. Ravenhill was born is England in 1942. In 1964 he graduated from Bethany Fellowship Bible College in Minneapolis, MN.
Worshiping At The Altar Of Success by David Ravenhill
Though you may find it hard to believe, there is an addiction more subtle and more powerful than either drugs or pornography. It’s older than prostitution, more prevalent than alcohol, more addictive than cocaine. It doesn’t discriminate between male and female, black or white, young or old, rich or poor. Its strength is greater than all other addictions combined. It’s as rampant in the Church as it is in the world. It leaves the body unscathed but destroys the soul. The vast majority of people addicted have little if any understanding of its power or perils.
The history of the worship of success dates back to Lucifer, the rebellious archangel who wanted to relegate God to a subordinate role and take the ‘top gun’ position for himself. This desire for success soon spread throughout the earth like a cancer, reaching its pinnacle with mankind seeking to build a tower and to make for themselves a name. What a contrast in attitudes we find between Genesis 11 and 12. Chapter 11 exposes man striving for recognition, while chapter 12 we find God promising humble Abraham that He would make his name great.
A clear picture of this obsession with success can be found in the story of King Ahaz. His numerous sins had brought judgment upon himself and the nation of Judah. This punishment came through the king of Aram who carried off a great number of his people as captives. Embarrassed and distressed over his glaring defeat, the Jewish king made the monumental mistake of attributing the Aramean victory to their gods. Whatever small faith he may have had in Jehovah was completely discarded in favor of idol worship. “Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them,” he reasoned, “I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” (II Chronicles 28:23) It seems that Ahaz was prepared to pay any price for success.
Lamentably, it seems that much of the American Church holds this same misguided logic. Pastors around the nation are flocking to follow the ‘mega church’ pattern, believing that what worked somewhere else will work for them as well. We now have the mentality that success is purely numerical. Witness what the Barna Research Group stated as the result of a recent study:
“The most discouraging study we ever conducted was one in which we attempted to identify churches in the U.S. that consistently and intelligently evaluate life transformation among the people to whom they minister. We found that very few churches - emphasis on very - measure anything beyond attendance, donations, square footage, number of programs and size of staff. None of that necessarily reflects life transformation.” (Italics mine)
How tragic! Success is now measured by attendance, donations, square footage, etc. It’s time we stopped worshipping the ‘gods of success’ and turned our gaze afresh upon the Lord, for beholding we will be changed. I think that is the definition of SUCCESS in the Kingdom
of God.
David Ravenhills Blog is http://www.davidravenhill.blogspot.com/
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