What would it take to see Henderson County experience a revival? Well, it would take an act of God. Only God could do something like that. Yet, He works through which you and I can be intentionally engaging. So, if we are bought into this vision of seeing our county and the surrounding communities saved, what are some healthy steps for us to take this next year? There are five necessary characteristics that must define our church:
We need to be a praying church.
This may seem obvious, but it is one of those aspects of Christian life that can easily fly under the radar. I discipled one young man for years, and we have spoken much about prayer. Come to find out, over the last few months, he has made it a regular habit to talk to God in the mornings and start his day that way…his shock at how helpful and beneficial praying has been to his days is both comical and revealing of the American church current state of affairs. Let’s not be people who talk about praying. Let’s be a praying people. The next time someone asks you to pray about something, pray right there with them. The next time you leave your friend's house, a discipleship meeting, or a ministry event, spend some time praying.
2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Colossians 4:2
We need to be a generous church.
One of the marks of the early church in the Book of Acts was that they were generous. They shared all they had with each other. They gave intentionally and sacrificially to the church every Lord’s Day. They cared for traveling ministers and other poorer churches and had mercy ministries to feed and clothe the poor. Each person gave as the Lord had given to them, but each person gave. That means the youngest to the oldest gave, and they gave as an act of worship to the one who gave them everything.
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
Acts 2:45
We need to be a loving church.
May it never be that we end up like the church at Ephesus, and the Lord tells us we have lost our first love. We must grow to be a church marked by love,e and this begins with us personally being marked by the love of God. We must be so impacted and overwhelmed by the love and grace of God that we are freed and empowered to do the work He places before us. For us to serve, give, and do the right thing through gritted teeth or as we hurt others is only self-serving and does not love God or others. We must be a church known for loving God and, from there, loving our church and the community around us. The question is, how are we going to grow in love in these three areas?
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
We need to be a doctrinal church.
God changes people by His word. He has made His expectations clear. Our job is to read His word, study it carefully, teach it diligently, and live accordingly. We must be a doctrinal church that stands on the truth unashamedly and boldly proclaims the truth of God’s world to a watching world. We should regularly assess our traditions, values, habits, governing documents, leadership, ministries, etc., through the filter of God’s word and our growing understanding of it.
13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 3:13
We need to be a missional church.
Have you ever thought about the fact that you could have had you born or living anywhere else…but for some reason, you’re here in West-Central Illinois? It is as if the Sovereign God of the universe had a perfect plan to reach this area, and you are one of the tools He has chosen to use in this coming season for His glory. Christ gave us a mission:
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20
Our job is to evangelize this community. God will save whoever He wishes. We must baptize and bring those who are saved into the church family to disciple them in the ways of God. It’s a very simple two-step process of evangelism and discipleship. However, it goes against every fiber of your sinful flesh and thus can only be achieved by God’s grace.
Remember, to do all these things in the power of His Spirit, is to begin with a motivation of love for God and love for others and to then follow God’s word in what that and the rest of our lives should look like. It may not be an easy road, but I see no more faithful road to lead us down this coming year. Will you join me?
May God bless your week as you seek His kingdom first!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Dan
