Passion, Faith and Vision are the three key ingredients that are found within any group of people that are making an impact. There’s nothing like the feeling you get when you visit a place where these key ingredients exist. When you get to that place where people are radically experiencing God it can be electrifying. History tells us this enthusiasm was found during Martin Luther’s Reformation movement and John Wesley found it on his way to a new land. This Godly zeal can also be very addictive. Looking back closer in history when thousands of hippies discovered it during the 1960’s and traded it for their drug lifestyles; this became known as the “Jesus movement”. If a person investigates the common factor which produced such a transformation in the established culture, you will always find an unseen factor–the invisible work of the Holy Spirit. I don’t know about you but I long for the fire of God and love it when I find people who are on fire too! These are the people who I long to hang out with.
Never the less, presently it is hard to find people who long for this passion. Formalism in past decades existed in the form of large stone cathedrals and clergy wearing big hats and ropes. Yet today’s look of formalism is comfort. Formalized comfort has replaced our traditional view of formalism. But before we get too freaked out on this new appearance of formalism, we must realize this is the normal cycle of historic church behavior. A movement (Revival) always starts out with a mighty visitation of the presence of God, and as years pass the movement changes. Let’s look at the Cycle.
Cycle of a revival movement:
1.) Holy Spirit passion rests upon a small group of people within a city.
2.) Other small groups start receiving the same hunger for God.
3.) Manifestations of God’s power are witnessed and the many small groups grow into a movement.
4.) A strong move of evangelism begins.
5.) A major emphasis on teaching and discipleship begins.
6.) Slowly apathy settles in / complacency begins
7.) Movement becomes institutionalized. Formalism / legalism creeps in and leadership starts to over dominate.
8.) Movement exists by name, but is now dead.
9.) Holy Spirit passion rests upon a small group of people within a city.
Please understand that what is taking place in the world is not unusual. If you are a person that hungers for the presence of God, then you can rejoice in the fact that we are at the end of the cycle and we are at the beginning of a fresh new move of God. The Lord is presently stirring the hearts of leaders to be brave, get out of formalism but let’s continue to look at what is causing comfortable formalism.
Presently, the majority of churches are programmed to be solely information centers. The Bible illustrates that by information alone people have a harder time finding transformation. In all my years of ministry I have never seen so many people attending church with ongoing addictions, living clinically depressed, having temperament problems, experiencing marriage problems and overwhelmed financially. Yet, our cities have stores filled with “how to books” book stores filled with Biblical information. Nevertheless, all studies show that the average Christian’s walk with the Lord has become very shallow. Apathy is at an epidemic scale within most college campuses, even those who teach Biblically.
How did the early church see so many people transformed? They didn’t have educated clergy; they didn’t have a building of their own; they had no money. I believe the Bible clearly gives us the answer. You see, Jesus spent three years giving the disciples information and instruction. And yet, after Christ arose from the dead He spent another forty days giving more teaching and instruction and before He left for heaven, Christ commanded them to take one more step. What was this step? Jesus instructed them to pray and wait for the inner work of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2, when they encountered the presence of God, they all experienced inner transformation. What were once mere men and women became giants in the Lord! My friends, in the same way, we are commanded to do this during a worship service. The pastor is to give people Biblical instruction and at the end of his message give a time where people can encounter the presence of God. At the end of a church service there is always a powerful presence of God–it is called the corporate anointing. This is a time when the power of God is at its highest point. It is a time when the Lord does deep inner healing within people. “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. [5] For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. Acts 1:4-5 (KJV)
“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! [16] But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth! [17] You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched. Rev. 3:15-17 (NLT) Look how far you have fallen from your first love! Turn back to me again and work as you did at first. If you don’t, I will come and remove your lamp stand from its place among the churches. Rev. 2:5 (NLT) Christ founded the church not solely on information but on a combination of information and a visitation from the presence of God.
The combination of the two is what brings transformation. This key for transformation is also found in ZECHARIAH 4:6 “…Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty.
… NOT BY MIGHT: [Definition of might: a large force, human strength, a profound number of, a great many]. Example: a mighty army, a mighty school, or a mighty football team.
. . . NOR BY POWER: [Definition of power: to control, effectively armed, great ability, and a dominating number of, much more capable]. Example: one nation is more powerful than the other or the pilot had controlled power over the aircraft.
. . . By God’s Spirit: [Definition: the anointing of He, the Holy Spirit, within a person].
Leaders who share information and encourage people to seek God for His visitation is what triggers human transformation.
To all who read this and think I am implying we are to lose our modern look or lengthen our services. No, that’s not what I am saying…we need to use our updated methods and we need to watch the time of our meetings, but if you want to see enthusiasm back within peoples’ eyes again, if you want the three key ingredients–passion, faith and vision in your church, start teaching people to spend five or ten minutes at an altar or even in their seats at the end of a church service. Now, the good news is that everywhere I go there are leaders becoming hungry for an encounter with God. I am feeling in the Spirit that we are at the end of a cycle and at the beginning of a mighty movement. I challenge you…. if you are evangelical, orthodox or charismatic….Baptist, Methodist of full Gospel. Whatever name you label yourself to invite the presence of the Lord and let Him rest upon the people for a few minutes…. at the closing of a church service. Then begin to witness the changes in the lives of people. The Holy Spirit can do more in two minutes to transform people… than 20 years of therapy!
EXAMPLES OF QUIET WORSHIP
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chron. 7:14 (KJV)
CHRIST’S TEACHING EXAMPLE
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24 (KJV)
WARNINGS OF FALSE WORSHIPERS…in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God…. and have no self-control… they will have no interest in what is good… …puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God… They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power… 2 Tim. 3:1-11 (NLT)
EXAMPLE OF PASSIONATE WORSHIPER
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 (KJV)
BENEFITS THAT COME INTO CHURCH
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they shared the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed was of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Acts 4:31-33 (KJV)
By: Bill Craver
DCI Word Studies
www.dcimissiontrips.com
email: dcimissiontrips@gmail.com
