RENEW OUR DAYS OF OLD - LAM. 5:21

KEY TEXT:- Lamentations 5:21-22 Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old—unless you have utterly rejected us, and you remain exceedingly angry with us. (ESV) COMMENT (NATIONAL PRESIDENT) :- "The return is not necessarily a literal return to how things were done before, for we acknowledge that times and seasons change..." "Our days of old were characterized by men who understood the vision and committed their hearts and resources to its pursuit."

 Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.  Psalms 34:18  Isaiah 57:15  Isaiah 66:2b But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

 CONTRITE Crushed or broken in spirit by a sense of wrong- doing; sincerely penitent; (of an action, speech etc.). Showing contrition  CONTRITION The condition of being distressed in mind for some fault or injury done; specifically complete penitence for sin.

 THE VETERAN - Those who experienced the sweet spiritual successes of our old days  THE MENTOR - Those who have used their time, talent and treasure to serve the fellowship in an exemplary manner.  THE LEADER - Those men and women who have been entrusted with critical positions  THE VISION BEARER - Those who hold the general vision intact but also have a personal vision for their service in the fellowship.

 THE CONVICTED - Those who desire to change and conform as the Holy Spirit leads  THE COMMITTED - Those who are full of zeal and passion for the great commission being uniquely effected through FGBMFI.  THE BURDEN BEARER - Those who are consistently burdened to stand in the gap as intercessors for the work and workers in the Full Gospel vineyard, and fellow soldiers in the "salvation army".

 WE ARE SOLDIERS/WORKERS - COMMITTED, BUT SO HUMAN, AND SO FALLIBLE! - WE ERR REGULARLY, - WE DISOBEY INTERMITTENTLY, - WE DEVIATE UNCONSCIOUSLY, - WE PROCRASTINATE FREQUENTLY, - WE REACT NEGATIVELY, - WE BURN OUT NATURALLY, - WE UNDERESTIMATE OUR CALLING CONSISTENTLY - WE SERVE RITUALISTICALLY - WE FAST AND PRAY COMPLACENTLY - WE SIN OCCASIONALLY...

1. ACCEPT OUR MISTAKES AND SHORTCOMINGS 2. GET CLOSER TO GOD THROUGH PRAYER AND THE HOLY SPIRIT'S GUIDANCE 3. TOTALLY DEPEND ON THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SHOW US OUR SPECIFIC ROLES 4. CHANGE OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE WAY WE SERVE 5. TAKE STEPS TO STAY COMMITTED TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS 6. BE READY TO LEARN FROM OTHERS 7. GO THE EXTRA MILE WHERE DO YOU STAND?