THE SEVEN CHURCH AGES
https://boxcast.tv/channel/yuyyyftbksyppzhnl3il?b=pbt6koflc7ccnioxj4xl
Thank you once again to Pastor Wayne Edwards of the Heritage Baptist Church, Perry, Georgia, USA, for another stirring sermon. The service begins at approximately 22 minutes by clicking the above link. The Watchmen’s Report follows this preamble and is increasing in urgency of tone, emphasising the lateness of the hour.
Gibber! Gibber!
Chugley
PASTOR WAYNE WRITES:
May 2, 2025
Dear Heritage Family and Friends,
The seven churches described in Revelation 2-3 were seven literal churches at the time that John the apostle was writing Revelation. Though they were real churches in Asia Minor at that time, because they are addressed in the Holy Scriptures, Christ’s message to these seven churches are very significant to each local church, and to “The Church” today.
· The first purpose of the letters was to communicate with the literal churches and meet their needs.
· The second purpose is to reveal seven different types of individuals/churches throughout history and instruct them in God’s truth.
· The third purpose is to use the seven churches to foreshadow seven different periods in the history of the Church.
We will explain this further in our Sunday morning sermon: “The Convergence Factor: The Seven Church Ages”
- The sermon may be viewed at theheritagechurch.org
- The sermon will be available on our website and YouTube.
- The YouTube URL: https://www.youtube.com@heritagebaptistchurchperry
Thank you for forwarding these sermon study guides to those you think might be interested. We are encouraged by the response we’ve received from viewers worldwide
Wayne J. and Linda J. Edwards
PO Box 766
Perry, GA 31069
706-599-3966
THE WATCHMEN’S REPORT
May 3, 2025
My Fellow Watchmen,
The last article in this edition of The Watchmen’s Report was written by Bunnie Pounds, founder and president of Christians Engaged, challenging Christians to get engaged in preserving our culture from further decay. Bunni wrote, “We are witnessing a spiritual stirring that can’t be ignored. It’s not confined to Sunday morning services or Christian conferences. It’s happening in places we’d least expect — media, music, politics, and technology. The seeds are being planted. What we are seeing may well be the early embers of another Great Awakening—a grassroots revival not driven by celebrity pastors or mega-church marketing but by everyday people choosing to follow Christ and share His love in ordinary places.”
Beloved, I know of no greater need for our nation than a true, Holy Spirit inspired revival of God’s people. However, with all due respect to Bunni, what we are seeing today is not the evidence of revival but the “hunger” for what a true revival among God’s people can produce; a deep desire for the true meaning and purpose of life that can only be achieved through a restored relationship with a Holy God, through one’s personal confession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.
Having studied the history of revival for several years, I want to use the acrostic of the word REVIVE to illustrate the six characteristics present in every movement of God that led to a revival of God’s people.
· Repentance – the first step of personal, corporate, or national revival is a humbled heart – to be broken and contrite over our sins.
· Exaltation of Jesus Christ as Lord—A lack of revival is the result of a high view of self and a low view of God. This must be reversed, i.e., self must be abandoned, and Christ must be exalted in our personal lives. When true revival comes, our conversations will not be about the wickedness of the world but rather about the God-sent Savior, Jesus Christ.
· Value Christ by a life of surrendered obedience – two questions must qualify every decision of life: How will this decision glorify God? How will this decision advance the Kingdom of God?
· Intercessory Prayer—every true revival was preceded by seasons of Intercessory prayer. In the Welsh Revival of 1904-1905, when over 100,000 people received Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, 26-year-old Even Roberts prayed for such a revival for eleven years before taking the pulpit and preaching the Word.
· Vision of what God is doing – realizing that God is already at work in the world, fulfilling His plan for the redemption of those who are lost.
· Evangelism – a willingness to get involved in what He is doing – a willingness to go where He sends us and to do what He sends us to do, for His glory.
Years ago, Leonard Ravenhill brought me to tears with this statement: “As long as we are content to live without revival, we will.” I don’t know of any born-again believers who do not long to see a mighty movement of God in our day, but longing for it, i.e., desiring it, is not enough. We can’t organize a revival, but we can prepare for it by repenting of our own personal sins, exalting Jesus as the Lord of our lives, living in obedience to His every command, carving out hours and days of intercessory Prayer, even if we must pray alone, getting a vision of what God is doing in the world, and being willing to be a part of it, not for any personal gain, but for His glory.
Please forward this email and the attachment to those you think might be interested. We are always delighted to hear from our viewers.
Pastor Wayne
Wayne J. and Linda J. Edwards
PO Box 766
Perry, GA 31069
706-599-3966
wnledwards@gmail.com
