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In every church and church organization there are undoubtedly some people praying for revival. They long to see their church “on fire” with the gospel and bringing many people to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. So why does revival remain so distant and uncommon? In most cases, churches are caught in conditions that are counterproductive to the work of the Holy Spirit to bring revival. Where there is unforgiveness, gossip, infighting, faithlessness, materialism, prayerlessness and a host of other unconfessed sins the power of God’s Spirit is forfeited. In these cases, the only hope is found in the delivery of a clear, authoritative word from the Lord calling people to repentance and cleansing. But what word from the Lord? How and when should it be delivered? To whom should it be addressed? How does it become authoritative? Here again, Jesus is our model. His ministry was characterized by the remarkable ability to say the right thing at the right time to break the power of resistance or penetrate the hearts of seekers. And here again, His communion relationship with His heavenly Father was the key element that resulted in that remarkable ability. He, Himself, claimed that the Father told Him “what to say and how to say it” (John 12:49). So Jesus’ earthly ministry models true spiritual leadership which concentrates on bringing the poignant word of the Lord directly to the heart of the situation. How can a church hope to bear fruit unless the way is clear for the powerful work of the Holy Spirit? But how can the way be made clear without a true spiritual leader who knows what to say and how to say it? And how can there be a true spiritual leader apart from a life of communion with the heavenly Father? |
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