Triggers for Corporate Revival
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· 52 viewsTaken from an article written by Harold Vaughn for Revival Focus Ministries.
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“TRIGGERS” FOR CORPORATE REVIVAL
“TRIGGERS” FOR CORPORATE REVIVAL
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
By Harold Vaughn
December 2018
The first step toward any solution is the RECOGNITION of the problem.
The first step toward any solution is the RECOGNITION of the problem.
Israel’s religious leaders were unaware that the Glory-cloud had not hovered over the Mercy Seat for 400 hundred years. The priests were oblivious to God’s absence. The blind were leading the blind. God’s chosen people had grown accustomed to lifelessness—no divine interruptions or interventions. The Pharisees were so far removed from vital reality that they led the charge to crucify God’s Son. Think about it—it was the Orthodox crowd that most vehemently opposed the only begotten Jesus! Is it possible the same thing is happening now?
Churches that experience no Heavenly invasions, interruptions, and disturbances are void of life. Visiting many so-called “Bible-believing” churches now-a-days is no different from visiting a liberal church. No freshness, no conversions, no sense of God, no conviction, no power, and no LIFE.
Revitalization will not take place until there is a recognition of God’s absence. But discerning the problem is only the beginning. Wisdom is needed to know what trigger is required to release God’s power. Next, courage is needed to ACT.
Listed below are some triggers for church-wide revival.
1. Repentance
1. Repentance
41.52 μετανοέω; μετάνοια, ας f: to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness—‘to repent, to change one’s way, repentance.’
Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 509.
Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words Repent, Repentance
hence signifies “to change one’s mind or purpose,” always, in the NT, involving a change for the better, an amendment, and always, except in Luke 17:3, 4, of “repentance” from sin.
The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament 3340. μετανοέω metanoéō
Theologically, it involves regret or sorrow, accompanied by a true change of heart toward God.
feel remorse, repent, be converted
Revelation 2:1-3:22
God called on the churches in Asia Minor to REPENT.
This mandate was issued from top-to-bottom, and everything in-between. God addressed his concerns to the “angel” in each church—that is the messenger or pastor. It is interesting that these letters were not sent to the deacons or board members, but specifically to the pastors/shepherds.
The church at Ephesus was threatened with extinction and called upon to repent (Rev. 2:1-7).
There is no such thing as “eternal security” for a local church. The Middle East testifies to the fact that God Himself can put any church out of business!
Pergamos was tolerating false teaching and immorality. They were called out by the Lord and given a mandate to repent (Rev. 2:12-18).
Thyatira was deep in Satanic darkness, deception, and depravity. Jezebel’s influence toward idolatry and immorality were strongly condemned. The call to repentance was emphatic (Rev. 2:18-29).
Sardis has a name to be alive, but in fact was DEAD. The Lord’s challenge was to remember and repent, or be ruined (Rev. 2:1-6).
Laodicea was tepid, neither hot nor cold. And the sole remedy was immediate and thorough repentance (Rev. 3:14-22).
God described them as poor, wretched, miserable, blind, and naked; yet they thought they were in good shape! Their condition was so appalling to God that He was ready to vomit them out—SERIOUS INDEED.
Five out of seven churches in the first century were commanded to repent. Are there any churches in the 21st century that need no repentance? He that has ears to hear—let him hear what the Spirit is saying… to our church.
Instead of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic and hoping for improvement, it’s time for a fundamental change in thought and approach.
Why not put the entire church program at the feet of Jesus?
The following prayer might be a good place to start, “Lord, what subtractions are needed in our church? What additions? What changes? LORD, what would You have us to do?”
What Subtractions?
What Additions?
What Changes?
Repentence
2. HUMILITY.
2. HUMILITY.
God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Humility is a primary way to get God’s attention (Isaiah 66:2).
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
2 For all those things hath mine hand made, And all those things have been, saith the Lord: But to this man will I look, Even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, And trembleth at my word.
God will “look,” pay attention, and listen to humble individuals. Correspondingly, it is amazing what God will do for congregations who humble themselves under His hand.
Sometimes we must take the witness stand against ourselves and agree with God. And what is true of individuals is also true of local churches. It sure is easier to point out deficiencies elsewhere than in our own group.
Objectivity is desperately needed, and this unbiased perspective is acquired only in God’s manifest Presence.
Listening to God is just as much a part of prayer as speaking with God.
Perhaps if we would stop offering our amateur prayer requests (needs and suggestions), and begin listening to the speaking voice of the Spirit, we would get God’s evaluation on the situation at hand.
Pastor, are you hearing from God? Is He birthing ideas, vision, strategies, and immediate steps in your heart and mind?
Instead of looking to the past, start looking toward a preferable future. Yesterday is over.
What you do today will determine the quality of tomorrow. So tune your ear to discern the voice of Jesus.
Rare is the call to corporate humbling. But it is this sort of brokenness before God which opens wide the channel for the inflow of divine mercy and grace.
Humility is always the doorway to divine favor. God opposes the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. Limitless possibilities await assemblies who humble themselves before Him.
3. OBEDIENCE.
3. OBEDIENCE.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, And that seek him with the whole heart.
Revival is often triggered by some act of obedience.
It’s past time for Shepherds to cast off the “fear of man” and obey the clear precepts and commands of Christ. Instant and complete obedience is noted in heaven.
Obedience brings blessing, but disobedience brings a curse.
Sin in the camp must be confronted. When churches refuse to judge public sin, church members start condoning personal sins.
A lack of scriptural accountability always leads to a falling away, and scores of churches are “already gone.”
When denominations and groups deny, or ignore, the Word of God: they are already gone.
When Christian Ministries move from a fixed moral code to a fluid moral code, those ministries are already gone.
When preachers refuse to call out sin (2 Tim. 4:2), those preachers are already gone.
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
When individuals and churches stop repenting, they are already gone.
God spoke to the seven churches about the specific needs in each location. He still speaks to pastors who will listen. So the first thing is to get in a position where you hear God’s voice.
Repentance, humility, and obedience are the first steps to regain spiritual hearing.
How many congregations are praying for revival, but not obeying?
Prayer is never a substitute for obedience. Instead of asking God to bless what you are doing, why not ask the Lord what actions He requires of you, and your congregation?
4. RECOVERY.
4. RECOVERY.
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Another historical trigger for corporate revival is the recovery of some neglected Truth.
When God’s spokesmen are gripped and quickened with the revelation of some pointed truth, it can act as a gateway for grace to invade the entire church.
If everything rises and falls on leadership, then it stands to reason that the preacher must be arrested by a Truth before the people will be gripped by that Truth.
The life of any ministry is conditioned by the life of the minister. Something happened in Jonathan Edwards before the fire fell during the Great Awakening. Something gripped John Wesley and George Whitfield before England and America were rocked to their core under their ministries.
“Quickening” is the Spirit’s work. Cooperation with the Spirit is OUR responsibility.
Countless churches never experience the convicting sense of Holiness invading their services.
It seems the aim of the contemporary pulpit is offering people a steady diet of “comfort.” Richard Owen Roberts said, “The only problem is that most churches are already so comfortable that you would think they were engaged in a sleeping contest.”
When a Truth arrests your attention, then give your full concentration to it. Work with the Holy Spirit in prayer and massage that neglected principle deep down into your spirit and soul.
Recovery is a process that requires time and effort.
Your future ministry is determined by the thoroughness of how you deal with God’s dealings in your own soul.
Churches go through seasons. Don’t move on to another season until your current season is complete.
Absorb the truth that captivates you until it becomes incarnate IN you and your church.
What is the truth that has captured the heart of the pastor and many of you?
We need to be more like Jesus.
We need revived hearts and lives.
We need to pursue God and the things of God.
5. PRAYER AND FASTING.
5. PRAYER AND FASTING.
“We have as much of God as we actually want.”–A. W. Tozer
People fast when their hunger for God is greater than their hunger for food. History is replete with instances of corporate fasting and the consequent outpourings.
John Piper says, “The absence of fasting is the measure of our contentment with the absence of Christ.”
A desperate father came to Jesus. His son was demon-possessed. The powerless disciples offered no deliverance. Jesus healed the boy.
When the disciples asked Christ why they were unable to cast the Devil out, Jesus replied, “This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (Matt. 17:21).
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Some things will never improve apart from prayer and fasting.
Miracles seldom manifest in a faithless and prayer-less environment. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Pushing away from the table allows us to pull aside and narrow our focus.
A twentieth-century writer, said,
“You and I have no more right to omit fasting because we feel no special emotional prompting than we have a right to omit prayer, Bible reading, or assembling with God’s children for lack of some special emotional prompting. Fasting is just as biblical and normal a part of a spiritual walk of obedience with God as are these others.” Wesley Duewel
“Jesus takes it for granted that His disciples will observe the pious custom of fasting. Strict exercise of self-control is an essential feature of the Christian life. Such customs have only one purpose — to make the disciples more ready and cheerful to accomplish those things which God would have done.”Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book The Cost of Discipleship
.The Holy Spirit initiates all prayer-burdens. So be careful to indulge every desire to pray.
Follow God’s leading in the matter of fasting. Lead your congregation in times of fasting and prayer, as the Lord leads you. Acts 6:4 details two chief duties of shepherds: “prayer and the ministry of the Word.”
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
I believe that reference to prayer is dealing with the oversight of the corporate prayer ministry in the local church. Note that prayer precedes the preaching ministry in this text.
Any church could have a “perpetual fast” if they have only 30 people who are willing to give only one day a month to prayer and fasting.
Most churches in America have either plateaued, or are in a state of decline. Congregational decline is a process which always begins with neglect, disobedience, self-sufficiency and pride.
Corporate repentance is also a process that begins in the heart of a Shepherd. As the pastor hears God’s voice and follows His instructions, recovery is underway. The process is always difficult and will be different according to the needs in each congregation. Our concern must never be on the possible negative outcomes or difficulties. The Glory of God is at stake, and this trumps everything else.
So, will it be “business as usual,” or the “unusual business of revival?”
Like the marksman who sets his sight on a target: he must get still, zero in on his mark, and pull the trigger.
In our year of 2019 our mark is: “To Be Like Jesus.”
Pastor, which trigger is presently required in your church? If you are convinced of the need and the actions that must be taken, then go for broke and PULL THE TRIGGER NOW!