What can the church do to usher in Revival?

[covenant mom]

At our church we desire to see revival. I'm sure all believers want to see it. Does it start w/ revival among the church members then it spreads outward? There are so many unchurched folks in our community that need an awareness of who Jesus is & conviction of their spiritual state. We are praying regularly for revival, but I'm wondering if there are more things we can do? Or, is this just God & God alone that can bring about revival regardless of what we do? Why doesn't God send revival or spiritual awakening more? I rarely hear of it being a widespread event other than in other countries on mission trips or something. What gives?

Most importantly what is the scriptural code for revival if any?

The verse that comes to my mind due to the testimony of the 50's revival in Wales is "give us clean hands & a pure heart".

[Romans11:29]

If we truly want to see revival in our churches we have to stop focusing on the numbers of new members and baptisms and utimately the bottom line. For so many churches, success equates with the number of baptisms or new members they have during the year, not to mention whether or the offerings were high enough. What churches need to get back to is growing disciples and people who actually realize the journey is just beginning once they are baptised - it isn't the end. Too often people are unintentionally trained that once they have made a committment to Christ they have reached their goal. The truth is we are called to service. Service requires action and not sitting around enjoying worship services and programs at the church but getting in there and helping out. Too often there is a pool of water at a newly saved person's feet and not a trail walking away moving forward.

If churches focused on teaching we are to be people of action then baptism, memberships, offerings would all fall into line. They should be a result of Christian action. When statistics show that only about 20% of the people in a church actually work in the church or serve then we are not doing what Christ called us to do.

When most Christians are leading lives that are lifeless, dull, and they are left questioning where the abundant life Christ promised them is, then we have lost our focus as a church. Christians should be assisted in finding their spiritual gifts and the shown how to use them. Christians should be taught that just like unhappiness in a job when your aren't doing what you are called to do, unfullfilment in their walk with God will exists when they aren't doing what they were called to do.

We need to see a church's success by how many of their members are truly active and being about their Father's business and not just filling seats. True revival starts in the heart and for that to happen we have to realize we were created to serve others and God not ourselves.

Sunday school should be about the learning the Bible and how it applies to our lives and not social hour. While we are called to fellowship, it shouldn't replace the time of the week we should be learning God's word. Coffee and donuts are great but shouldn't replace the bread of life. When most adults can't find books of the Bible or answer simple questions on Bible stories, the church has lost its way.

The sad fact is it crosses denomination lines and it is prevalent everywhere. It isn't one church's fault. We as Christians need to fix it and fast. We wonder why our youth are struggling so, it is because our adults are struggling and there doesn't seem to be a foundation for us to fall back on.

Well now that I have worn out that soap box, :blah I guess I had better take a rest. I guess you can tell this is something I am quite passionate about. :wave

[Rainbo2]

I would say prayer and fasting. That was what Peter and the rest of the apostles were doing in the upper room when the Holy Spirit fell. They then went out and preached the Good News. Think about it. They didn't pray and fast go to church and then home. They went out and preached to the masses. They created such a commotion, because of the joy that they felt, that they were accused of being drunk.

How many churches in the U.S. can actually say that they are doing that? We may do the first 2, pray and fast, but rarely do we get out and preach to the masses. We tend to preach to the choir so to speak.

[covenant mom]

If we truly want to see revival in our churches we have to stop focusing on the numbers of new members and baptisms and utimately the bottom line. For so many churches, success equates with the number of baptisms or new members they have during the year, not to mention whether or the offerings were high enough. What churches need to get back to is growing disciples and people who actually realize the journey is just beginning once they are baptised - it isn't the end. Too often people are unintentionally trained that once they have made a committment to Christ they have reached their goal. The truth is we are called to service. Service requires action and not sitting around enjoying worship services and programs at the church but getting in there and helping out. Too often there is a pool of water at a newly saved person's feet and not a trail walking away moving forward.

If churches focused on teaching we are to be people of action then baptism, memberships, offerings would all fall into line. They should be a result of Christian action. When statistics show that only about 20% of the people in a church actually work in the church or serve then we are not doing what Christ called us to do.

When most Christians are leading lives that are lifeless, dull, and they are left questioning where the abundant life Christ promised them is, then we have lost our focus as a church. Christians should be assisted in finding their spiritual gifts and the shown how to use them. Christians should be taught that just like unhappiness in a job when your aren't doing what you are called to do, unfullfilment in their walk with God will exists when they aren't doing what they were called to do.

We need to see a church's success by how many of their members are truly active and being about their Father's business and not just filling seats. True revival starts in the heart and for that to happen we have to realize we were created to serve others and God not ourselves.

Sunday school should be about the learning the Bible and how it applies to our lives and not social hour. While we are called to fellowship, it shouldn't replace the time of the week we should be learning God's word. Coffee and donuts are great but shouldn't replace the bread of life. When most adults can't find books of the Bible or answer simple questions on Bible stories, the church has lost its way.

The sad fact is it crosses denomination lines and it is prevalent everywhere. It isn't one church's fault. We as Christians need to fix it and fast. We wonder why our youth are struggling so, it is because our adults are struggling and there doesn't seem to be a foundation for us to fall back on.

Well now that I have worn out that soap box, :blah I guess I had better take a rest. I guess you can tell this is something I am quite passionate about. :wave

I pretty much agree w/ everything you said. Alot of what you said isn't our church's situation as much as maybe a larger/ city church. We are a super small group that are ready to disciple new believers, but there is nobody coming to church for us to minister to. Our church is pretty much made up of the core group of believers that are ready to serve. We do certain things to reach out to the community, but there is no change in the prospects hearts, so they don't come. They aren't hungry for things of God. Our church's main core is women. They love God w/ all their hearts, but the men of the church are Sunday morning only Christians. There is zero male leadership apart from the pastor. It's kindda a strange deal. We need revival to touch the men in our Sunday morning church, & we need revival to bring interest into prospect's lives. We need a real move of God...an awareness of Him to fill this country community.

[covenant mom]

I would say prayer and fasting. That was what Peter and the rest of the apostles were doing in the upper room when the Holy Spirit fell. They then went out and preached the Good News. Think about it. They didn't pray and fast go to church and then home. They went out and preached to the masses. They created such a commotion, because of the joy that they felt, that they were accused of being drunk.

How many churches in the U.S. can actually say that they are doing that? We may do the first 2, pray and fast, but rarely do we get out and preach to the masses. We tend to preach to the choir so to speak.

I couldn't agree more.

The third part is the hardest by far & IMO the biggest failure of the church today. It's like we just sit & wait for folks to come to us instead of going to them.

[Romans11:29]

I will have to say my church is a small church where most of the people are ready to serve and do serve. Most of what I have to say is based on my past experience with other churches and other believers. I think one of the major mistakes the church has made is equating a large church as a successful church. In many cases, the larger the church the easier it is to hide and be a member and not truly an active participant.

There does need to be a reawakening in the body of the believers and I think this starts with self evaluation and a real honesty about it. We also need church leaders who aren't here to build their kingdoms, but build God's kingdom. I think that is one of the pitfalls of the mega church, it grows to keep feeding itself and not necessarily the believers in it.

[Romans11:29]

I will have to say my church is a small church where most of the people are ready to serve and do serve. Most of what I have to say is based on my past experience with other churches and other believers. I think one of the major mistakes the church has made is equating a large church as a successful church. In many cases, the larger the church the easier it is to hide and be a member and not truly an active participant.

There does need to be a reawakening in the body of the believers and I think this starts with self evaluation and a real honesty about it. We also need church leaders who aren't here to build their kingdoms, but build God's kingdom. I think that is one of the pitfalls of the mega church, it grows to keep feeding itself and not necessarily the believers in it.

[truth child]

I agree with each of you. I don't see revival happening unless God stirs them up probably with a catastrophyic happening to frighten them into believing the end is near. I know this sounds unloving, but I see young marrieds so enveloped with ball, vacations, school, dance, and everything else until they are too tired or bored in church. Everyone wants to be entertained and this just doesn't get it. I don't think building pool rooms, ball courts, etc. is going to get the job done of bringing people to the saving knowledge of Jesus. I don't know exactly how the Holy Spirit works and in what situation, but as someone said, prayer and fasting works with Him. People are so self centered and are so easy to get their feelings hurt and church people are bad about hurting feelings sometimes. I think if the church gets right, that will draw them because they will realize it's the true thing. There's so much in church these days that has no substance. Sometimes the study material is not suitable to bring the Holy Spirit to the forefront. Leaders don't go to God for making decisions for the church. I think if the church gets right, a good many are going to see Christ in us and become more interested. But you know, that old satan is always ready to step in when the church is going good, so it's a big big job.

[covenant mom]

I agree with each of you. I don't see revival happening unless God stirs them up probably with a catastrophyic happening to frighten them into believing the end is near. I know this sounds unloving, but I see young marrieds so enveloped with ball, vacations, school, dance, and everything else until they are too tired or bored in church. Everyone wants to be entertained and this just doesn't get it. I don't think building pool rooms, ball courts, etc. is going to get the job done of bringing people to the saving knowledge of Jesus. I don't know exactly how the Holy Spirit works and in what situation, but as someone said, prayer and fasting works with Him. People are so self centered and are so easy to get their feelings hurt and church people are bad about hurting feelings sometimes. I think if the church gets right, that will draw them because they will realize it's the true thing. There's so much in church these days that has no substance. Sometimes the study material is not suitable to bring the Holy Spirit to the forefront. Leaders don't go to God for making decisions for the church. I think if the church gets right, a good many are going to see Christ in us and become more interested. But you know, that old satan is always ready to step in when the church is going good, so it's a big big job.

:thumb

[Romans11:29]

I think you all all correct but, I think sometimes we spend too much time waiting for God to stir things up when we need to be. We already have the truth, we know that regardless of when it is we are all one day closer to Christ's return. Why doesn't that move us into action and concern for others? I think the fact of the matter is there are way too many Laodicea Christians which are just luke warm. They aren't against Him, but aren't doing anything for Him either. The Bible has told us how God feels about this and we are in denial. I think we need more teaching to get people to get real about their faith and put their faith into action. Far too many times faith is used as a noun that is static and not dynamic.

[Praise him]

Churches seem fake these days. There is no true passion for the Lord. It's just a glorified business. That has been my experience. The churches that I have attended have focused mostly on money. They preach about it alot. They try to guilt people into giving it. Until the church truly gets back to loving God and Christians truly set a good example for the unsaved nothing will change.

[covenant mom]

Churches seem fake these days. There is no true passion for the Lord. It's just a glorified business. That has been my experience. The churches that I have attended have focused mostly on money. They preach about it alot. They try to guilt people into giving it. Until the church truly gets back to loving God and Christians truly set a good example for the unsaved nothing will change.

So are you trying to set the example for them? :D:

[Praise him]

I sure try.

[covenant mom]

I sure try.

that's good :hug

I personally have never been in a church that talks about money all the time. :noidea
Maybe you should find one that isn't focused on that. Sadly many Christians use your argument as an excuse to not even be a part of a body of believers, but I don't think that's the right choice either. :sad

[Praise him]

that's good :hug

I personally have never been in a church that talks about money all the time. :noidea
Maybe you should find one that isn't focused on that. Sadly many Christians use your argument as an excuse to not even be a part of a body of believers, but I don't think that's the right choice either. :sad

I believe it is a problem in the area which I live. When I was in Tennessee they NEVER talked about money. It's different here. There are a lot of unhappy people in this area who are easy to manipulate. They are looking for someone to make decisions for them.

[Rainbo2]

that's good :hug

I personally have never been in a church that talks about money all the time. :noidea
Maybe you should find one that isn't focused on that. Sadly many Christians use your argument as an excuse to not even be a part of a body of believers, but I don't think that's the right choice either. :sad

Oh I have been in that type of church. They taught us to give our tithe, which is alright, I believe in tithing I know it's biblical. They also asked that the whole congregation give $25 for a present for the pastor and his wife:confused. To sell tickets at $60 a piece for a banquet they were giving, we had to purchase one ourselves if we wanted to go:rolleyes. I could go on...

The thing that really scared me was when they did a read the bible in a year thing, and after the first month, one of the elders was discussing what we where supposed to have read and she said, that she hadn't realized how good the old testament was because she hadn't read it. It's not that she hadn't read the whole bible that had me worried, but that she was considered an elder of the church. I found another church to belong to after that.

I think that if we want revival in the church, we as the body of Christ need to start praying, fasting, and studying His word and finding out how He wants us to live. No matter how much I read the bible, I can find no where, where it says that we are to use the church to become rich here on earth.

[Paidfor]

I agree with each of you. I don't see revival happening unless God stirs them up probably with a catastrophyic happening to frighten them into believing the end is near. I know this sounds unloving, but I see young marrieds so enveloped with ball, vacations, school, dance, and everything else until they are too tired or bored in church. Everyone wants to be entertained and this just doesn't get it. I don't think building pool rooms, ball courts, etc. is going to get the job done of bringing people to the saving knowledge of Jesus. I don't know exactly how the Holy Spirit works and in what situation, but as someone said, prayer and fasting works with Him. People are so self centered and are so easy to get their feelings hurt and church people are bad about hurting feelings sometimes. I think if the church gets right, that will draw them because they will realize it's the true thing. There's so much in church these days that has no substance. Sometimes the study material is not suitable to bring the Holy Spirit to the forefront. Leaders don't go to God for making decisions for the church. I think if the church gets right, a good many are going to see Christ in us and become more interested. But you know, that old satan is always ready to step in when the church is going good, so it's a big big job.

I think you are right truth child. Life in the United States is easy and people really are self centered and think of church only for personal gain and not a way to serve God. It's more like what can God do for me.

I think what would kick start a revival is hard times or even persecution. But, that's a hard thing to really desire.

[covenant mom]

I think you are right truth child. Life in the United States is easy and people really are self centered and think of church only for personal gain and not a way to serve God. It's more like what can God do for me.

I think what would kick start a revival is hard times or even persecution. But, that's a hard thing to really desire.

For sure, that would do it!!! I'm afraid that will be what it will take. :sad