Selasa, 08 Mei 2012
Membedakan nubuatan yang benar dan palsu
DISCERNING THE TRUTH
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21
Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good
If you accept prophetic utterances as valid for today, I would encourage you to test them in the following ways.
First, is the person giving the prophetic utterance living a balanced and righteous lifestyle? You must carefully evaluate the person announcing, "Thus saith the Lord." Also, be on guard for the person who wants to bring a "new thing." If it is true, it's not new. If it is new, it's not true.
Second, is the person committed to building God's kingdom or his own? Is Christ being lifted up or is he?
Third, does the prophetic utterance establish confidence in the Word of God and is it consistent with a balanced presentation of it? Are people going to have a greater dependency on God's revelation or man's inspiration? Are prophetic utterances a substitute for the serious, personal study of God's Word?
Fourth, does the use of the spiritual gift bring unity to the church and build up the body? Be careful in this test because those who hold to a form of godliness but deny its power are not in balance either. They will quench the Spirit through censorship and very little will be accomplished in the church. They can cause disunity as well.
Last, do the spiritual manifestations bypass the mind? God operates through our mind; Satan bypasses it. If a person takes on a medium-like trance, be assured it is occultic. God renews our mind and brings back to our mind all that He has taught us. We are to think so as to have sound judgment.
All of us receive input from a myriad of sources today. With Satan still using false prophets in his battle for your mind, determine to discern the truth God wants you to know to set you free and keep you free.
Kamis, 19 Januari 2012
Powerfull Preaching
Powerful Preaching
As one responsible for communicating biblical truth, I want to share four principles especially for you. Pay close attention; read slowly, thoughtfully and carefully as I apply this to your ministry of proclaiming God’s Word.
First, always stay on the subject—Christ. For Paul it was always about Christ. Paul spoke of the “God who made the world and all things in it” to the followers of the “unknown god” of Athens, and everything for Paul pointed to Christ (Acts 17:10–34). Preaching that which doesn’t exalt Christ is empty preaching. Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers, “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). For Paul, to live was Christ and to die was gain. Clearly, his subject in preaching was Christ.
Second, always speak the truth. Do not hold back. Do not fear. Do not be overly impressed with those who have come to the class or who sit in the church where you serve. It makes no difference how much they’re worth or how little they contribute. Speak the truth.
Third, always start where your audience is. Paul hooked those men in Athens with his first sentence. You can, too, if you spend some time thinking about it. Know your audience well enough to build a bridge quickly. Find a way to get into their world and then build a bridge to Christ. Remember: Begin with the familiar in order to acquaint them with the unfamiliar.
Fourth, always surrender the results to God. Once they have heard the message, your part ends. Your task is to communicate truth. It’s God’s job to draw people to Himself. You prepare the patients; God does the surgeries. Stay away from manipulation. There’s enough of that going on. You don’t need to follow them out to their cars or check up on them at home. God will reach them, just as He did in Athens. Leave the results to God.
When your heart is right, it’s amazing what you’re able to see. And when you see it clearly, it’s remarkable how God can give you the words to say. You may be amazed how God uses you, just as He did Paul in that ancient metropolis so many years ago. When his moment arrived, he was ready.
When your moment comes, stand and deliver. God will give you courage as you tell others of His Son. There is no greater honor on earth.
––Chuck Swindoll
As one responsible for communicating biblical truth, I want to share four principles especially for you. Pay close attention; read slowly, thoughtfully and carefully as I apply this to your ministry of proclaiming God’s Word.
First, always stay on the subject—Christ. For Paul it was always about Christ. Paul spoke of the “God who made the world and all things in it” to the followers of the “unknown god” of Athens, and everything for Paul pointed to Christ (Acts 17:10–34). Preaching that which doesn’t exalt Christ is empty preaching. Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers, “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). For Paul, to live was Christ and to die was gain. Clearly, his subject in preaching was Christ.
Second, always speak the truth. Do not hold back. Do not fear. Do not be overly impressed with those who have come to the class or who sit in the church where you serve. It makes no difference how much they’re worth or how little they contribute. Speak the truth.
Third, always start where your audience is. Paul hooked those men in Athens with his first sentence. You can, too, if you spend some time thinking about it. Know your audience well enough to build a bridge quickly. Find a way to get into their world and then build a bridge to Christ. Remember: Begin with the familiar in order to acquaint them with the unfamiliar.
Fourth, always surrender the results to God. Once they have heard the message, your part ends. Your task is to communicate truth. It’s God’s job to draw people to Himself. You prepare the patients; God does the surgeries. Stay away from manipulation. There’s enough of that going on. You don’t need to follow them out to their cars or check up on them at home. God will reach them, just as He did in Athens. Leave the results to God.
When your heart is right, it’s amazing what you’re able to see. And when you see it clearly, it’s remarkable how God can give you the words to say. You may be amazed how God uses you, just as He did Paul in that ancient metropolis so many years ago. When his moment arrived, he was ready.
When your moment comes, stand and deliver. God will give you courage as you tell others of His Son. There is no greater honor on earth.
––Chuck Swindoll
Kamis, 12 Januari 2012
Create a winning organizational culture
9 Ways to Create a Winning Organizational Culture
Every family, business, athletic team or church has a culture. The culture of an organization is its personality or soul.
Here are 9 ways to create a winning organizational culture where people thrive and become leaders themselves:
Leaders create a winning organizational culture by casting a clear, compelling, and challenging vision along with values, goals, and strategy that are easily understood.
Leaders create a winning organizational culture by valuing people for who they are, and not for what they can produce.
Leaders create a winning organizational culture by being authentic and vulnerable.
Leaders create a winning organizational culture by celebrating the success of those they lead.
Leaders create a winning organizational culture by affirming those they lead.
Leaders create a winning organizational culture by trusting, honoring, and respecting everyone in the entire organization.
Leaders create a winning organizational culture by giving those they lead responsibility and accountability.
Leaders create a winning organizational culture by resourcing, developing, and have realistic job expectations for the people they lead.
At the core of this type of leadership is grace. A transformed leader leads out of the love they have received from Christ.
www.pastors.com
Every family, business, athletic team or church has a culture. The culture of an organization is its personality or soul.
Here are 9 ways to create a winning organizational culture where people thrive and become leaders themselves:
Leaders create a winning organizational culture by casting a clear, compelling, and challenging vision along with values, goals, and strategy that are easily understood.
Leaders create a winning organizational culture by valuing people for who they are, and not for what they can produce.
Leaders create a winning organizational culture by being authentic and vulnerable.
Leaders create a winning organizational culture by celebrating the success of those they lead.
Leaders create a winning organizational culture by affirming those they lead.
Leaders create a winning organizational culture by trusting, honoring, and respecting everyone in the entire organization.
Leaders create a winning organizational culture by giving those they lead responsibility and accountability.
Leaders create a winning organizational culture by resourcing, developing, and have realistic job expectations for the people they lead.
At the core of this type of leadership is grace. A transformed leader leads out of the love they have received from Christ.
www.pastors.com
Kamis, 08 September 2011
The Perception Principle
The Perception Principle
By. Steven Furtick
There’s a secret to listening to sermons that dramatically affects what you will get from them. I call it the perception principle.
I’ve preached about this before and share it with our staff regularly, but I’ve never blogged about it. I want to give it to you because I believe it will revolutionize the way you listen to sermons and exponentially increase their impact on you.
The perception principle goes like this:
I can only receive someone on the level that I perceive them.
This is true for God, and for every human relationship you have. The way you choose to see someone determines how you will treat them and how you will receive whatever they have to give you.
Negatively, this means that if you perceive your wife to be a nag, that’s the way she’s always going to sound to you. Even when she really isn’t being one. If you perceive your husband to be a loser, that’s how you’re going to receive him. No matter what he does.
Positively, it means that if you perceive someone to be wise, what they say will sound wise. And you’ll give it more weight. If you perceive someone to be ‘cool,’ everything they do will look cool.
Here’s how this matters when you’re listening to a sermon. How you perceive the person preaching will determine what you’re able to receive from them. And ultimately from God.
If all you see is a guy with good ideas and not a guy with a message from God, that’s all you’ll ever get. If you go into a sermon with an attitude of bless me if you can, you’re probably not going to be blessed. If you go in skeptical of every word, you’re probably going to find fault. And only find fault.
On the other hand, if you perceive your pastor to have a message for you from God, you’re probably going to be a lot more attentive and engaged. If you go into a sermon expecting to hear a word from God, you’re probably going to get one.
I’m convinced that what someone ‘gets’ from a sermon has nothing to do with the skill level of the person preaching. It’s how they perceive the person preaching. It’s how they decide to engage. When people tell me, ‘that’s the best I’ve ever heard you preach,’ I always want to respond: No, it’s the best you’ve ever listened.
I don’t care who your pastor is or who is preaching to you. Whether their podcast is downloaded by millions or their sermons are heard by five people, the principle is the same. Perceive them to have a message from God for you, and that’s what you’ll get.
Show up ready to hear from God, and don’t be surprised when you do.
By. Steven Furtick
There’s a secret to listening to sermons that dramatically affects what you will get from them. I call it the perception principle.
I’ve preached about this before and share it with our staff regularly, but I’ve never blogged about it. I want to give it to you because I believe it will revolutionize the way you listen to sermons and exponentially increase their impact on you.
The perception principle goes like this:
I can only receive someone on the level that I perceive them.
This is true for God, and for every human relationship you have. The way you choose to see someone determines how you will treat them and how you will receive whatever they have to give you.
Negatively, this means that if you perceive your wife to be a nag, that’s the way she’s always going to sound to you. Even when she really isn’t being one. If you perceive your husband to be a loser, that’s how you’re going to receive him. No matter what he does.
Positively, it means that if you perceive someone to be wise, what they say will sound wise. And you’ll give it more weight. If you perceive someone to be ‘cool,’ everything they do will look cool.
Here’s how this matters when you’re listening to a sermon. How you perceive the person preaching will determine what you’re able to receive from them. And ultimately from God.
If all you see is a guy with good ideas and not a guy with a message from God, that’s all you’ll ever get. If you go into a sermon with an attitude of bless me if you can, you’re probably not going to be blessed. If you go in skeptical of every word, you’re probably going to find fault. And only find fault.
On the other hand, if you perceive your pastor to have a message for you from God, you’re probably going to be a lot more attentive and engaged. If you go into a sermon expecting to hear a word from God, you’re probably going to get one.
I’m convinced that what someone ‘gets’ from a sermon has nothing to do with the skill level of the person preaching. It’s how they perceive the person preaching. It’s how they decide to engage. When people tell me, ‘that’s the best I’ve ever heard you preach,’ I always want to respond: No, it’s the best you’ve ever listened.
I don’t care who your pastor is or who is preaching to you. Whether their podcast is downloaded by millions or their sermons are heard by five people, the principle is the same. Perceive them to have a message from God for you, and that’s what you’ll get.
Show up ready to hear from God, and don’t be surprised when you do.
Rabu, 24 Agustus 2011
Frustasi karena pemimpin Anda ?
Kejengkelan akan dirasakan pemimpin yang baik pada posisi tengah, yang bekerja untuk pemimpin yang tidak effektif. Reaksi yang wajar untuk kefrustasian ini adalah memperbaiki atau mengganti orang yang menjadi atasan Anda. Tetapi hal itu biasanya bukan merupakan opsi bagi pemimpin pada posisi tengah. Bahkan sekiranya merupakan opsi, hal itu mungkin tidak tepat. Apapun keadaan kita, keterbatasan terbesar bukan pemimpin diatas kita - melainkan semangat didalam kita.
Apa yang perlu Anda lakukan ketika harus mengikuti seorang pemimpin yang tidak effektif ? Mungkin ini tidak mudah, tetapi Anda masih mungkin bertahan - bahkan mungkin berhasil - dalam situasi seperti ini. Inilah yang saya rekomendasikan ;
1. Kembangkan hubungan yang mantap dengan pemimpin Anda.
2. Identifikasikan dan hargai kekuatan pemimpin Anda.
3. Berkomitmenlah pada diri sendiri untuk menambah nilai kekuatan pemimpin Anda.
4. Mintalah izin untuk mengembangkan sebuah rencana permainan guna melengkapi kelemahan pemimpin Anda.
5. Tunjukan sumberdaya kepemimpinan yang baik pada pemimpin Anda.
Sungguh sulit memperbaiki aspek negatif untuk menambah nilai bagi pemimpin dan organisasi Anda, kecuali Anda tetap bertekun dalam jangka panjang. Pada waktunya nanti, orang akan mengakui bakat Anda. Yang lain akan mengakui kontribusi Anda. Mereka akan mengagumi kemampuan Anda untuk berhasil dan membantu orang lain - meskipun orang yang kurang berbakat dibanding Anda - menuju kesuksesan.
The 360 Leader - John Maxwell
Apa yang perlu Anda lakukan ketika harus mengikuti seorang pemimpin yang tidak effektif ? Mungkin ini tidak mudah, tetapi Anda masih mungkin bertahan - bahkan mungkin berhasil - dalam situasi seperti ini. Inilah yang saya rekomendasikan ;
1. Kembangkan hubungan yang mantap dengan pemimpin Anda.
2. Identifikasikan dan hargai kekuatan pemimpin Anda.
3. Berkomitmenlah pada diri sendiri untuk menambah nilai kekuatan pemimpin Anda.
4. Mintalah izin untuk mengembangkan sebuah rencana permainan guna melengkapi kelemahan pemimpin Anda.
5. Tunjukan sumberdaya kepemimpinan yang baik pada pemimpin Anda.
Sungguh sulit memperbaiki aspek negatif untuk menambah nilai bagi pemimpin dan organisasi Anda, kecuali Anda tetap bertekun dalam jangka panjang. Pada waktunya nanti, orang akan mengakui bakat Anda. Yang lain akan mengakui kontribusi Anda. Mereka akan mengagumi kemampuan Anda untuk berhasil dan membantu orang lain - meskipun orang yang kurang berbakat dibanding Anda - menuju kesuksesan.
The 360 Leader - John Maxwell
Sabtu, 06 Agustus 2011
Menemukan Pemimpin Potensial
Ada sesuatu yang lebih penting dan langka daripada kemampuan; yakni kemampuan mengenali kemampuan. Salah satu tanggung jawab utama seorang pemimpin yang berhasil adalah mengindentifikasi pemimpin potensial. Ini tidak selalu mudah, tetapi penting.
Dale Carnagie seorang pakar dalam hal mengindentifikasikan pempimpin potensial. Ketika ditanya oleh seorang wartawan bagaimana ia telah berhasil mempekerjakan 43 orang jutawan, Carnagie menjawab bahwa mereka belum menjadi jutawan ketika mulai bekerja untuknya. Mereka menjadi jutawan ketika mulai bekerja untuknya. Selanjutnya wartawan itu ingin mengetahui bagaimana ia telah mengembangkan orang-orang ini menjadi pemimpin yang sangat bernilai. Carnagie menjawab, manusia dikembangkan dengan cara yang sama seperti orang menambang emas. Sekian ton tanah harus dibuang untuk mendapatkan satu ons emas. Ia menambahkan: " Anda pergi ke tambang emas untuk mencari emas." Itulah tepatnya cara mengembangkan orang yang positif dan sukses. Carilah emas, bukan tanah; yang baik, bukan yang buruk. Semakin positif karakter yang Anda cari, semakin banyak yang Anda temukan.
John Maxwell
Dale Carnagie seorang pakar dalam hal mengindentifikasikan pempimpin potensial. Ketika ditanya oleh seorang wartawan bagaimana ia telah berhasil mempekerjakan 43 orang jutawan, Carnagie menjawab bahwa mereka belum menjadi jutawan ketika mulai bekerja untuknya. Mereka menjadi jutawan ketika mulai bekerja untuknya. Selanjutnya wartawan itu ingin mengetahui bagaimana ia telah mengembangkan orang-orang ini menjadi pemimpin yang sangat bernilai. Carnagie menjawab, manusia dikembangkan dengan cara yang sama seperti orang menambang emas. Sekian ton tanah harus dibuang untuk mendapatkan satu ons emas. Ia menambahkan: " Anda pergi ke tambang emas untuk mencari emas." Itulah tepatnya cara mengembangkan orang yang positif dan sukses. Carilah emas, bukan tanah; yang baik, bukan yang buruk. Semakin positif karakter yang Anda cari, semakin banyak yang Anda temukan.
John Maxwell
Rabu, 03 Agustus 2011
Corporate Hindrances to Revival
By G. Richard Blackaby
Today's churches are praying for revival in unprecedented numbers. They are holding "revival meetings" and "renewal conferences" in the hope that these will hasten the coming of God's Spirit in power. Yet, despite these sincere efforts, many churches have allowed unbiblical theology, as well as secular practices, to become entrenched into their corporate lives. Thus, they impede the very work of God for which they are praying. Many practices have been accepted uncritically into the churches and are dulling members, rather than sensitizing them, to God's voice. The following are some corporate hindrances to revival.
Misleading Terminology
A movement of God among His people is characterized by a profound awareness of sin. Repentance of sin and revival are inseparable.
In many churches, however, sinful practices are being renamed and reclassified. Adultery is a sin that is clearly identified and condemned in Scripture. Yet when a church member commits adultery, it is often said euphemistically that he or she "fell into an affair." The sinner may be portrayed as the victim of an overwhelming schedule, or an unsympathetic spouse. Terminology, such as "falling into" and "affair" subtly shifts the blame away from the sinner. Rather than hiding behind less offensive terms, Christians must be encouraged to confess their sins and accept responsibility for them.
Another adjustment in terminology is to reclassify sin as a "weakness," "bad habit," or an "addiction." Rather than committing the sin of lust, the sinner is said to have an "addiction" to pornography. However addictive and enslaving habitual sin can become, its roots still lie in sin. Society commiserates with an addict; God judges sin. An addict engenders sympathy for his or her condition, whereas the Christian community knows that sin is not to be tolerated. Society encourages addicts to seek therapy, but not necessarily to repent of sin.
By allowing worldly definitions for sin to creep into the church's vocabulary, churches inadvertently desensitize their people to the heinous reality of sin in their midst and the crucial need for repentance. If churches do not clearly identify sin for what it is, their people cannot properly respond to their condition.
Misdirected Appeals
Churches can also unwittingly challenge people in an unbiblical manner. Churches often extend altar calls wherein people who have not been walking in obedient fellowship with God are invited to "rededicate" their lives to God and to His will. In this process, people may come before the church and acknowledge that they have disobeyed God's will. They will affirm their desire to dedicate themselves afresh to obey God. Often, members of the congregation will be invited to come and encourage the one who has expressed his intent to try harder to obey God.
The problem with this is that it is not biblical. The crux of the gospel message is not a call to rededication, but a call to repentance. John the Baptist preached repentance (Matt. 3:2). Jesus preached repentance, both in His earthly ministry and as the resurrected Lord (Matt. 4:17; Rev. 3:19). If one's previous commitment did not keep him walking in obedience, a re-commitment is no more likely to make him faithful. The proper response to disobedience is not a commitment to try harder, but brokenness and repentance for rejecting the will of Almighty God. God looks for surrender to His will,
not commitment to carry it out. Rather than asking church members to repeatedly promise to try harder, churches must call their people to repent before Holy God.
Mistaken Compassion
Many church members are uncomfortable with spiritual brokenness and repentance. When the Holy Spirit works in peoples' lives, convicting them of their sin, churches often do not know how to respond. We are uncomfortable with the tears and anguish of a sinner under conviction by the Spirit. Rather than allowing people to respond to what God is telling them, we often seek to immediately intervene. We try to comfort one whom God is making uncomfortable!
Misplaced Priorities
The structure of a worship service can mitigate against the Spirit's working. Pressure to end the service "on time" can leave little opportunity for people to respond to what God has said to them. Bringing the service abruptly to a close in order to announce the upcoming potluck dinner or church council meeting, can utterly quench the work that God began in the service. If worshippers are quickly ushered out of the auditorium to make room for another service, they are left with little time to process the awesome Word they just received from their Lord. The reality of many larger churches with multiple services is that they must follow a demanding schedule. Live telecasts of services on radio or television can allow media concerns rather than spiritual concerns to be the driving force of the worship service. The danger is that a mighty moving of God in the church may not "fit in" to the printed order of service!
Misunderstood Terms
Many churches fail to properly understand revival terminology. The term "revival" is the returning of God's people to Him. This means their hearts are cleansed and sensitized to God.
Revival does not refer to bringing unregenerate people to salvation. Contemporary "revival" services most often embrace an evangelistic theme. If several people respond to God for salvation, the church concludes that it had a successful "revival." Of course, any time a person experiences salvation a church should rejoice. Revival, however, is for God's people. Preaching evangelistic messages will not necessarily revive Christians who have become spiritually lethargic. Rather, spiritually deadened Christians will conclude that, since they are already converted, the revival meetings have no relevance for them.
The term "repentance" is also greatly misunderstood. It is often seen as a negative term in an age where everything is expected to appear positive. Yet repentance is one of the most positive words in the Christian vocabulary! It refers to turning from a destructive path and moving instead into God's abundant life.
Too often, churches spurn the terminology of repentance, preferring instead to speak of God's love and forgiveness. God's love and forgiveness, however, can only be fully experienced on the basis of the sinner's repentance. Churches that misuse these terms may hinder their people from experiencing true forgiveness and true revival.
Misdiagnosis
The temptation for churches is to deal with symptoms rather than causes. Instead of addressing the condition of people's hearts, churches attempt to change their behavior. If members are not attending particular programs or services, churches try to make these programs and services more appealing. If
members are not sharing their faith with unbelievers, classes in evangelism are offered. If needs are going unmet in the church, ministerial staff is hired to meet these needs.
Yes, it is important that services and programs be carefully designed, but we must look past people's behavior to the heart condition behind it. Rather than focusing on symptoms, God's people must be challenged to examine their love for God. People who truly love God will willingly serve Him, excitedly tell others about Him, and long to worship Him (John 14:15).
Misguided Relationships
Matthew 5:23-24 indicates that Christians are obligated to be reconciled to anyone with whom they have a conflict. Yet in many churches this is not practiced. Church leaders are allowed to feud with one another and yet continue in ecclesiastical leadership. Entire churches refuse to forgive splinter groups, mission churches, or former pastors and yet they presume God will bless them.
Churches have a corporate responsibility to seek reconciliation, just as individuals have been commanded to do so. If the church as a whole refuses to forgive, its members will also find it excusable to harbor bitterness toward others. If a church will corporately repent of unforgiveness toward another church or toward another person, it's members will be freed to be wholly reconciled with God in revival.
There are many subtle attitudes, practices, and theological presuppositions which can hinder a church from experiencing revival. If these are properly dealt with, a church will be in a position to experience the mighty moving of God.
G. Richard Blackaby has been President of Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary in Alberta, Canada since 1993. Prior to this, he served as the senior pastor at Friendship Baptist Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He recently co-authored with his father a daily devotional entitled Experiencing God Day by Day.
By G. Richard Blackaby
Today's churches are praying for revival in unprecedented numbers. They are holding "revival meetings" and "renewal conferences" in the hope that these will hasten the coming of God's Spirit in power. Yet, despite these sincere efforts, many churches have allowed unbiblical theology, as well as secular practices, to become entrenched into their corporate lives. Thus, they impede the very work of God for which they are praying. Many practices have been accepted uncritically into the churches and are dulling members, rather than sensitizing them, to God's voice. The following are some corporate hindrances to revival.
Misleading Terminology
A movement of God among His people is characterized by a profound awareness of sin. Repentance of sin and revival are inseparable.
In many churches, however, sinful practices are being renamed and reclassified. Adultery is a sin that is clearly identified and condemned in Scripture. Yet when a church member commits adultery, it is often said euphemistically that he or she "fell into an affair." The sinner may be portrayed as the victim of an overwhelming schedule, or an unsympathetic spouse. Terminology, such as "falling into" and "affair" subtly shifts the blame away from the sinner. Rather than hiding behind less offensive terms, Christians must be encouraged to confess their sins and accept responsibility for them.
Another adjustment in terminology is to reclassify sin as a "weakness," "bad habit," or an "addiction." Rather than committing the sin of lust, the sinner is said to have an "addiction" to pornography. However addictive and enslaving habitual sin can become, its roots still lie in sin. Society commiserates with an addict; God judges sin. An addict engenders sympathy for his or her condition, whereas the Christian community knows that sin is not to be tolerated. Society encourages addicts to seek therapy, but not necessarily to repent of sin.
By allowing worldly definitions for sin to creep into the church's vocabulary, churches inadvertently desensitize their people to the heinous reality of sin in their midst and the crucial need for repentance. If churches do not clearly identify sin for what it is, their people cannot properly respond to their condition.
Misdirected Appeals
Churches can also unwittingly challenge people in an unbiblical manner. Churches often extend altar calls wherein people who have not been walking in obedient fellowship with God are invited to "rededicate" their lives to God and to His will. In this process, people may come before the church and acknowledge that they have disobeyed God's will. They will affirm their desire to dedicate themselves afresh to obey God. Often, members of the congregation will be invited to come and encourage the one who has expressed his intent to try harder to obey God.
The problem with this is that it is not biblical. The crux of the gospel message is not a call to rededication, but a call to repentance. John the Baptist preached repentance (Matt. 3:2). Jesus preached repentance, both in His earthly ministry and as the resurrected Lord (Matt. 4:17; Rev. 3:19). If one's previous commitment did not keep him walking in obedience, a re-commitment is no more likely to make him faithful. The proper response to disobedience is not a commitment to try harder, but brokenness and repentance for rejecting the will of Almighty God. God looks for surrender to His will,
not commitment to carry it out. Rather than asking church members to repeatedly promise to try harder, churches must call their people to repent before Holy God.
Mistaken Compassion
Many church members are uncomfortable with spiritual brokenness and repentance. When the Holy Spirit works in peoples' lives, convicting them of their sin, churches often do not know how to respond. We are uncomfortable with the tears and anguish of a sinner under conviction by the Spirit. Rather than allowing people to respond to what God is telling them, we often seek to immediately intervene. We try to comfort one whom God is making uncomfortable!
Misplaced Priorities
The structure of a worship service can mitigate against the Spirit's working. Pressure to end the service "on time" can leave little opportunity for people to respond to what God has said to them. Bringing the service abruptly to a close in order to announce the upcoming potluck dinner or church council meeting, can utterly quench the work that God began in the service. If worshippers are quickly ushered out of the auditorium to make room for another service, they are left with little time to process the awesome Word they just received from their Lord. The reality of many larger churches with multiple services is that they must follow a demanding schedule. Live telecasts of services on radio or television can allow media concerns rather than spiritual concerns to be the driving force of the worship service. The danger is that a mighty moving of God in the church may not "fit in" to the printed order of service!
Misunderstood Terms
Many churches fail to properly understand revival terminology. The term "revival" is the returning of God's people to Him. This means their hearts are cleansed and sensitized to God.
Revival does not refer to bringing unregenerate people to salvation. Contemporary "revival" services most often embrace an evangelistic theme. If several people respond to God for salvation, the church concludes that it had a successful "revival." Of course, any time a person experiences salvation a church should rejoice. Revival, however, is for God's people. Preaching evangelistic messages will not necessarily revive Christians who have become spiritually lethargic. Rather, spiritually deadened Christians will conclude that, since they are already converted, the revival meetings have no relevance for them.
The term "repentance" is also greatly misunderstood. It is often seen as a negative term in an age where everything is expected to appear positive. Yet repentance is one of the most positive words in the Christian vocabulary! It refers to turning from a destructive path and moving instead into God's abundant life.
Too often, churches spurn the terminology of repentance, preferring instead to speak of God's love and forgiveness. God's love and forgiveness, however, can only be fully experienced on the basis of the sinner's repentance. Churches that misuse these terms may hinder their people from experiencing true forgiveness and true revival.
Misdiagnosis
The temptation for churches is to deal with symptoms rather than causes. Instead of addressing the condition of people's hearts, churches attempt to change their behavior. If members are not attending particular programs or services, churches try to make these programs and services more appealing. If
members are not sharing their faith with unbelievers, classes in evangelism are offered. If needs are going unmet in the church, ministerial staff is hired to meet these needs.
Yes, it is important that services and programs be carefully designed, but we must look past people's behavior to the heart condition behind it. Rather than focusing on symptoms, God's people must be challenged to examine their love for God. People who truly love God will willingly serve Him, excitedly tell others about Him, and long to worship Him (John 14:15).
Misguided Relationships
Matthew 5:23-24 indicates that Christians are obligated to be reconciled to anyone with whom they have a conflict. Yet in many churches this is not practiced. Church leaders are allowed to feud with one another and yet continue in ecclesiastical leadership. Entire churches refuse to forgive splinter groups, mission churches, or former pastors and yet they presume God will bless them.
Churches have a corporate responsibility to seek reconciliation, just as individuals have been commanded to do so. If the church as a whole refuses to forgive, its members will also find it excusable to harbor bitterness toward others. If a church will corporately repent of unforgiveness toward another church or toward another person, it's members will be freed to be wholly reconciled with God in revival.
There are many subtle attitudes, practices, and theological presuppositions which can hinder a church from experiencing revival. If these are properly dealt with, a church will be in a position to experience the mighty moving of God.
G. Richard Blackaby has been President of Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary in Alberta, Canada since 1993. Prior to this, he served as the senior pastor at Friendship Baptist Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He recently co-authored with his father a daily devotional entitled Experiencing God Day by Day.
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