THE PASTOR’S VIEW OF REVIVAL
By: J. T. Pugh
I. INTRODUCTION
A. The Pastor’s View is Important
1. The pastor conscientiously or unconscientiously sets the valuesystem of the church.
2. What we think important we usually talk about.
II. THE DESIRE FOR REVIVAL
A. Within the Pastor’s Heart
1. Nehemiah Chapters 1 and 2
B. Transferred to Congregation
1. Can be no revival without involvement of the church.
2. II Chronicles 7:14 “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.”
3. Isaiah 53:11
4. Galatians 4:19
5. II Thessalonians 3:8
6. By Getting People to Pray
7. Burden for Souls
8. News of Revivals
III. PLANS FOR REVIVAL:
A. Ground Work Started Over Year in Advance
1.”MYS-TRON”over all battle strategy
B. “Our Growth Challenge”
C. Personal Growth
IV. THE STRUCTURE
V. THE MOTIVATION
VI. THE EXECUTION
VII. THE FOLLOW THROUGH
The beginning of perhaps the world’s greatest revival is recorded in the 19th chapter of Acts of the Apostles. We will include here a history of a little bit of that revival.
Acts 19:8-20
* Difference between;
1. Functional Administration
2. Evangelistic Administration
All of Acts devoted to outreach
“And he went into the synagogues and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multi-disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul; so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil Spirit went out of them…And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed” (Acts 19:8-20).
It is said that this church grew to the staggering membership of 40,000. This particular assembly evangelized all of Asia in two years. Out of this particular assembly came the epistles to the Ephesians. This letter contains more about God’s purpose for the church and instructions to local churches particularly than other of the New Testament epistles. It would do every pastor good to read the entire account of the setting up of the Ephesian church and also the epistle to the Ephesians ever so often. Perhaps this was the world’s greatest evangelistic church. There is no wonder that it was such…it was founded and pastored by an evangelistic pastor.
Time and space, of course, would not allow us to exhaust all of the information relative to a revival pastor. However, we would like to note some of the high points characteristic of a minister who consistently pastors in an evangelistic way. Thus he most always produces an evangelistic church.
I. This subject is appropriate and correct. It is worth our consideration because there can be no revival in the local church without the pastor desiring it and promoting it.
A. There are Sovereign Revival Visitations.
NOTE :
What we mean by sovereign revival visitations is that God chooses a particular time frame to pour out His Spirit and to deal with people in unusual ways.
This particular disposition of God is not governed by the attitude of the people nor the will of the people. It is simply a time when God chooses to move in a sovereign way uncluttered by any human restraint. We see examples of this in the New Testament.
1. Philip in Samaria Acts – 8
2. Philip in Gaza Acts – 8
3. Peter in Caesarea Acts – 10
4. The church at Antioch Acts – 11
5. The Philippian Jailer
6. A Time when a Crop Ripens John 4:35-37
“Regardless how good, the crop will parish & rot if not harvested”
B. But the pastor is the Shepherd and as such the flock is largely captive to his disposition in a local situation.
The church is a captive flock
1. There may be many green pastures chat a shepherd may never lead his sheep into.
Church is only as great as the pastor.
A pastor need to determine what is needed & fill it.
a. Because he is unskilled in programming.
b. Because he is nonsensitive to the Spirit. To be sensitive to the Spirit, a pastor must deal in things of the Spirit.
-personal devotion
-speaking in tongues and dealing in spiritual gifts
-impossible to lead a church without spiritual gifts
c. Because of the lack of motivation
-no burden himself
-therefore he is not able to impart a burden
-examples of ministers experiencing revival after great burdens
Pastor cannot afford to be casual, must be vibrant, excited, alive, on fire all the time. You must impart enthusiasm.
2. Because of authority lines which God honors, the saints cannot go where the pastor does not lead them without becoming rebel.
3. The pastor creates the climate of the church.
You must build a climate of love, trust, honesty. Can’t talk about your saints, run them down at home, ect… & not have it effect your spirit. Saints can see thru that.
Get out of the pulpit, walk down among the people, touch them, let them know you mean business. Call by name. Make your message personal!
II. The Truly Revival Pastor Is God Related
A. He truly knows God:
1. It is possible for a person to build a strong true revival church
that is lasting only if he knows God.
2. A personality and psychology not expertly displayed will not build
a strong spiritual church. “That which is born of flesh is flesh, born
of spirit is spirit”
3. Inasmuch as a church comes out of the heart of the preacher there can be no truly revival church unless the minister has himself a strong relationship with God.
III. The Revival Pastor Is People Related:
A. A Revival Pastor is able to draw people into the
1. This does not mean that a pastor must spend most of his time with people if he is people related.
a. There was a time that a down to earth folksy approach was about the only way to successfully pastor a church.
2. All of us have seen ministers who from the pulpit created a very personable climate and yet, at the same time, moved the service and the entire church body in a deep spiritual realm.
3. The main purpose and drive of a church service is to meet the needs of the people.
4. The heart of sermon preparation should be people centered.
The message needs to meet the needs of your people at that present moment in time. Learned that the church that meets peoples needs will be a revival church. Will grow.
5. Even in evangelistic preaching the revival pastor will attempt to place himself in exactly the same spiritual position and imagination that the sinner occupies.
a. There are various ways and practices the revival pastor can use to sense fully the need of the sinner.
b. It is possible for the revival pastor to even use a new convert to illustrate the sermon to the sinner.
IV. The Revival Pastor Brings GOD and PEOPLE Together.
A. This merging area of God and Man constitutes a growth climate.
Revival Climate
1. prayer
2. worship
3. faith
4. release
5. love
1. By involving people in prayer and fasting.
2. By Spirit permeated Worship.
a. This is not necessarily volume
b. This is not necessarily physical involve
c. The minister should watch the content of the service.
-too much general talk from the pulpit
-too many announcements
3. By a sense of non-structure and release.
a. Surprises
b. By avoiding announcing everything taking place in the service.
c. By pauses and waiting upon the Lord
d. By moving among the people in the process of public service ministry
Service should FLOW!!
V. The Revival Pastor Practices Creative Administration
A. The People of the City must be made aware of the church and the program:
1. Thus there are some things which the Revival Pastor uses as attention getters.
a. Worlds largest cake
b. Worlds largest candle
c. Get spot light (sky light) & have Pentecost drama
d. Emphasize Palm Sunday (rejoicing at triumphant entry)
B. Creating Growth Out of Activity
NOTE: There can be much activity that really does not produce spiritual and numerical growth in a church. It is only when this activity is correlated and used in a spiritual way that a body of Godis truly built up.
1. Using the annual church business meeting evangelistically
2. Planning the church calendar
3. The Leadership meeting used evangelistically
4. The Yearly projection meeting
C. The Revival Pastor Creates a Sensitive Balance Between CreativePromotion and Spiritual Flow:
1. Revival churches are more than rally centers.
2. Revival churches do more than enthuse.
a. They break the heart and touch the soul.
b. They have a sense of family caring.
3. Much of the promotion is done through a good bulletin.
VI. The Revival Pastor Cultivates The People Flow
A. As a business man
B. The Revival Pastor plots a process from the time a visitor enters the door to the time he is converted and anchored in the church.
VII. The Revival Pastor has a Revival Attitude
A. Hard work is not the only factor in a revival church.
B. A truly revival pastor will, in time, produce a revival church.
C. Examples of revival churches.
“OVERCOMING GROWTH RESTRICTING FACTORS”
By: J. T. Pugh
Any analysis of church growth reveals “Growth Restricting Factors.” These counter productive factors may make the difference in loss or gain. Even some of the necessary structure or ingredients of church life can, by the way they function, either encourage or hinder growth.Several of these are very obvious.
I. OUR PUBLIC IMAGE
A. The Church Property
1. The smallest place can show care and concern
2. Clean and mowed grounds, painted buildings and orderly facilities are important.
B. Educational And Cultured Mix Of People
1. You cannot control “who” God saves but you can control unwise publicity, evangelism outreaches, news ads and radio services that effect your public image.
2. The “first impression” is the strongest.
a. It must be favorable.
b. The general public has been tolerant of our exuberance and noise asan American right.
c. But no one can overlook rudeness, neglect and bigotry.
C. Put Yourself In The Sinner’s place
1. How does he react to your church, its worship, its people, itsministry and its friendliness?
II. PRESENTING GOD’S WORD
A. In Times Past We Presented The Truth In A Negative Way
1. The “Straw Man Theory.”
a. Assume the hearer was opposed to truth.
b. Set up a “Straw Man” and attack it.
c. This is supposed to show that you are the defender of truth.
2. A Law of Salesmanship Is:
“You cannot get a positive response from a negative base.”
B. My Simple Explanation Of The Gospel (It works well for me)
1. Jesus Christ is the only Saviour. John 14:6; John 10:7; Acts 4:12
2. We know Jesus Christ by faith. John 3:16; John 30:1; Eph. 2:8
3. Our faith is demonstrated by our obedience to the gospel, thereby identifying with Jesus Christ.
“We do not merely believe the gospel, we experience the Gospel
C. There Should Be A Flow, A Harmony, And A Sense Of Truthful Continuity In Our Scriptural Presentation.
III. PRESENTING OUR HOLINESS MESSAGE
A. Our Holiness Message Begins With “Redemption”
1. I Peter 1:18-19
2. II Corinthians 5:15
3. Romans 14:8
4. Romans 12:1-2
5. I Corinthians 6:19-20
B. Our Total Dress And Life Style Is A Visible Reference To The Love We Have To Our Saviour.
C. Our Attitude (Spirit) In Presenting Those Truths Should Build Love For Jesus.
1. Encouraging men to respect God.
2. Demonstrating our faith by our works.
3. Separating from sin so we can be like Him.
4. Accepting His order (of man and womanhood).
a. Example: (1) Power on the head of the woman. (2) Submission to authority, headship.
D. We Can Present These Truths In Such a Way That Men Are Attracted To God.
IV. OVERCOMING SPIRITUAL PHARISEEISM
A. Luke 18:9-14 “Those who trust in themselves.”
1. We are exhorted to put no confidence in the flesh.
2. All praise and honor belongs to Jesus.
B. Phariseeism Is:
1. A suit of holiness but a heart of hypocrisy.
2. Self-centered Christianity.
3. Believing in your own righteousness
Example: The lady who beat up another member. She told a prospect, in my presence, that she had not committed a sin in nine years. Neither of us believed her.
4. Despising others.
Example: Detecting the failures of others.
C. Phariseeism Can Be Resisted and Avoided. How?
1. Move Christ to the center of your ministry.
2. Teach “Justification by faith.”
3. Instruct “How to walk in the Spirit.”
V. CROWDING OUT RESISTANCE TO CHANGE
A. All Of Life Is A Never Ending Struggle For Power
1. No age level nor class of people is exempt.
2. Present in every church, large or small.
3. It is behind most of the resistance to change what a pastorencounters.
B. An Example: The “Born In The Pentecostal Church” Classic
Pentecostal.
1. Many are spoiled or have an authority problem
2. Some cannot bear to let Jesus Christ become the center.
3. They attract attention to themselves and disrupt progress.
C. New People Are A Challenge To The “Power Structure.”
1. Sometimes they “Take it out on the preacher” because new converts “change” things.
2. Resistance to change must be overcome or control passes from the pastor to others.
D. Complete Board Domination Is A Growth Restricting Factor.
1. Lengthy terms of service on the Church Board tends toward a”possessive” spirit.
2. Study the standard United Pentecostal local church Government.
a. It provides a new board every year.
b. Rotation is good.
VI. OVER-PASTORING CAN RESTRICT GROWTH
“I have learned a few things since pastoring my first church in Gorman, Texas 40 years ago at age 17.”
A. I have come to believe that the fewer rules you make, the better.
B. Under God I am obligated to invest my time and effort wisely.
c. I Cannot let my personal feelings get into the personal decisions other people make.
(The above material was published by the Home Missions Department.)
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