A Whole Lotta IF Goin' On for the Glory of God!

It seems like the United States as a nation is continuing-- and insisting -- on heading down the rocky road to a version of Sodom and Gomorrah. At the same time, I am thrilled for faithful Christians who are RISING UP in faith and Holy Spirit power to shine the light of Christ in our dark world!

In my personal prayer time at home and in weekly prayer gatherings Mt. Zion Church, the thought has come to me of the passage where God is about to destroy the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah because they refuse to bow the knee to the LORD. So of course, their wickedness increased. God had enough of the rebellion and was ready to burn the cities to the ground.

Abraham stood before the LORD and asked Him, "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What IF there are 50 righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for he sake of the fifty righteous people?" (Genesis 18:23-24).

Abraham continued to beseech the LORD to spare the righteous ones in the cities, "IF the number is five less than 50 will you destroy the whole city because of five people?"

"'IF I find forty-five there,' He said, 'I will not destroy it."' And Abraham's conversation with God went on until God promised, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it" (Genesis 18:32).

What about us today? What about our generation? What about the welfare of the upcoming generations? 

Jesus has the answer because He IS the answer: "IF my people who are called by My Name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Wow! That is the fiercely powerful Word of God promising God's people some wonderful blessings. How many of us have realized we are not living in a Christian culture in America anymore? We are living in a politically correct society which is not biblical. But this is where we are.

But because we are children of God we will always have hope. Why? "I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD do all these things" (Isaiah 45:6-7).There is no one greater than God. There is no one more loving. There is no one with more wisdom than God. There is no one with more power than God. 

So what do we do now? Christians are being persecuted in this country that was once known as "One Nation Under God Indivisible." 

We need to do what God instructs in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Run to God...yes, on our knees before Him. Yep. That's the only way to glorify His Name. We need to locally gather in our churches and communities as His people and call on His Name.

Since God is faithful He has ignited Holy Spirit fires in His people for such a time as this. He is continuing to fire up willing servants to RISE UP and bring Him glory by telling others Who He Is!

One of those people is Jennie Allen, jennieallen.com of Austin, TX, and founder and visionary of IF:Gathering (www.ifgathering.com). This link will take you to a huge website overflowing with the encouragement of Scripture, Bible studies, gatherings of women of all ages, and how-to materials in serving and studying, (ifequip.com).  

Heeeeerrrre's Jennie! (Don't worry, I know I can say that because Jennie has a sense of humor. And no, I've never met her.)
IF: Gathering Visionary & Founder Jennie Allen

For years I have had exactly this type of vision for our city of Canton and have longed for it to spread to other cities. I have let it be known that this is my heart's cry...all the years I've hosted devotional gatherings in our local marketplaces. I knew since it wasn't happening, I knew it wasn't time.

Maybe someone else, Lord?  I believe in the sovereignty of God. Just like He raises up His people He also has planned the timing. So I gladly pray and I wait and I serve in my local church as women's ministry coordinator. Mt Zion women's page.  

And, I've connected myself to the IF:Gatherings online studies and have been richly blessed. This is where I am seeing my passion being fulfilled, too: "Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name TOGETHER." (Psalm 34:3). 

A new IF:Gathering study is beginning next week on the book of Hebrews and I encourage my sisters to check it out online. You will be blessed to engage in online conversations with sisters all over the world who have signed up for the study. You can sign up for online studies.

Please note: We are to stay in our local churches and continue serving in our local churches and communities. IF:Gathering is about encouraging and equipping us for the glory of God in our local communities --  with helpful materials and encouragement from IF. 

However, IF we continue to  turn our hearts toward the approval and pressure to fit in to the world's agenda...well, here's what God says, and that's what matters: "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you (us) and given to a people who will produce its fruit." (Matthew 21:43)

Let's not be those people, Sisters! 

I am confident GOD has a whole lot more than 50 righteous people in the United States of America and the numbers are growing. So will you "Glorify the LORD with me; and let us exalt His Name together" in Canton, Woodstock, Holly Springs, Ballground, Jasper and all of Cherokee County, GA...as well as the rest of the world? 
Melissa Doolittle rockin' the IF:Gathering House for the glory of God!Let us RISE UP together, Sisters!
Polly
Psam 34:3