Sidney Gingrich

Revival meetings have multiple benefits which will extend into eternity. Some of these benefits are due to the concentration of group efforts, such as special prayer times, invitations being given to neighbors and friends to attend, and a group concern for all the church to be revived. The night after night use of the Gospel Hammer that breaks the stony hearts, as Jeremiah tells us, will be effective, along with the use of the Word through which the Holy Ghost comforts and strengthens the believers.

Christ’s resurrection from the dead is an event that was not and is not believed by all people. The Sadducees said there was no resurrection, neither angels, nor spirits. The apostles also had a problem; for a little while - “they believed not” (Luke 24:11).
The resurrection of Christ was hard to believe just like many other things that happened during this time. Why were there so many hard things to believe within three days? Could it be because God wanted to arrest the attention of the people, as the death and resurrection of our Lord took place?

There are signs upon the earth that God is warming it once more according to His promise of seedtime and harvest, cold and heat. Wild geese flying north and other warm weather birds are responding in like manner. Flowers are pushing the ground away from above them and making their beautiful appearance.

In 1 Corinthians 3:9, we read, “We are laborers together with God.” We are commanded by God to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8).

But where are we called to be witnesses? One of the apostle Paul’s areas of ministry was “house to house” (Acts 20:19, 20). We should start at home, in the church and in the community on a person to person level from house to house. Then we can reach out to other geographic areas.

After a classroom discussion about the grace of God; a student felt compelled to gain a better understanding of God’s grace in the life of the Christian believer. This young person wrote a note to Brother Sidney Gingrich asking for his explanation. The response from Brother Sidney follows:

January 20, 2004

Dear Youth,

Greetings in the name of Jesus. I want to now, by the grace of God, answer your letter as relates to Grace, as I understand it.

The benefits of revival meetings are realized now, and will extend into eternity. Some of the special benefits that are derived from such meetings are due to the concentration of group efforts, such as special prayer times, invitations being given to neighbors and friends to attend, and a group concern for all of the church to be revived. The night after night use of the Gospel Hammer that breaks the stony hearts as Jeremiah tells us, will be effective, along with the use of the Word through which the Holy Ghost comforts and strengthens the believers.