Revival for the Spiritually Dead

"Go and say to this people:

'Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
keep on seeing, but do not perceive.'

Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy,

and blind their eyes, lest they see with their eyes,

and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts,

and turn and be healed."

Isa. 6: 9-10

As a pastor, I have served churches in many parts of the United States.  I have also served as a witness for Christ in a 10 week summer mission trip to southeast Asia.  Lord willing, I hope to be a witness for Christ in many other parts of the world in the next 20 years.  In every place I have gone, I have seen people come to know Jesus and others who have been completely hardened to the gospel.

Why is there such a range of response to the gospel?

In the passage above, Isaiah has just seen the Lord, and he has fallen before Him.  The Lord took a burning coal, touched his lips, and made him a vessel ready to bring the Word of the Lord.  In other words, Isaiah just experienced repentance and faith from seeing his true condition before the Holy God and calling out for mercy.  Such a cry the Lord always answers.

After this conversion, Isaiah hears the voice of the Lord asking, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?"  Notice the plural "us", which demonstrates the multiple personhood of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  In response to this question, Isaiah says, "Here am I!  Send me."  The above passage is the message the Lord gives Isaiah.

So, why do some believe the message of the gospel and others reject it?  

The human condition apart from God's grace is that of deaf, blind, and hard-hearted to spiritual truth.  As Paul says, "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins."  Dead people cannot respond to outside stimuli.  The meaning of "being dead" is that they can not respond.  Once dead, the only way someone can respond again is to be made alive again.  

I know this biblical teaching goes against what so many of us wish to believe.  Yet it is true.  We are dead to our true spiritual situation unless the Lord opens our eyes, unstops our ears, and changes our hearts.  When He does, we turn or repent and we find healing.  

Being spiritually dead does not mean that we do not have a measure of a free will.  

We can love our families and friends.  We can be honest.  We can be generous.  We can have good self-control.  We can even give up drinking or anything else we call a vice.  In other words, we are not robots.  Being created in the image of God gives us great gifts and abilities.

What does it mean to be spiritually dead?

Being spiritual dead means we do not have the gift of faith.  It is now dead; and as a result, we can neither honestly repent before God nor can we place trusting faith in the living God. Such faith is foreign to our fallen human nature.  It is something that makes no sense.  At least it makes no sense unless God's grace changes something within our heart that allows us to freely choose to repent and believe the gospel.

The greatest need for people everyone is God-given revival.

Revival, or "spiritual awakening" is not something that we can bring about by our efforts.  It is not changing someone's morality.  It is not helping them to have a better, more positive outlook.

Revival is God's work in bringing redemption to individuals.  As individuals are transformed, they work to bring God's righteous love and grace to their lives, their surroundings, and the world.

Revival is God's work, God's way.

What we want, and what we need...

“Woe is me!  I am ruined!  For I am a man of unclean lips, 

and I live among a people of unclean lips,

 and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty!” 

Isa. 6:5

How can a prophet and man of God have such a reaction before the Living God?  Did not God call Isaiah through the vision into His presence?  Why would God allow Isaiah to feel this way and to have such an experience?

We have such a tendency to make our understanding of God and faith centered upon us and our experiences and needs.  We are often like small children going through the grocery store with our parents.  Seeing the food around us, we realize we are hungry and we demand our needs be met immediately.  We do not care that we are on our way home to eat a nutritious meal.  We do not care that our bodies need healthy food.  We want the candy bar that is within reach at the checkout line.  

In other words, what we want and what we really need are often two very different things.

We want to be accepted just as we are.  We wish that God would affirm us, give us some candy, and always have a smile for us.  These are our greatest wants and desires.  In fact, these are our greatest needs.  

The problem is that we insist that God gives us the candy bar without feeding us the healthy meal.  We want God to change so we do not have to.

Ultimately, our greatest problem in life is our lack of self-awareness concerning our true condition before God, others, creation and ourselves.  Here is where this passage in Isaiah can help give us some perspective.

In Isaiah 6, we see the prophet encountering the Holy God.  He is undone before Him.  He has seen God and he knows he needs grace.  Fortunately in the next verse, a seraph took a live coal from the alter and touched Isaiah’s mouth declaring, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” (vs. 8)  As Isaiah met God, he became aware of his need, and he called out for grace.  God answered his need by sending grace.

In my experience, such experiences of grace cannot come often enough.  They often lead to rapid advances in Christian maturity and understanding that work out in increased love for God and others.  Such life-changing times of growth often occur at conversion, but they should also continue at different times throughout our Christian life. 

Why?  As we grow to know the Holy God better, we should see our need for grace more since we see our sin more.  This is also the prime mark of authentic revival.

So why do we not see this often as a mark of Christian faith and practice?  Why do we lack such awakenings, which lead to true revival?

There are many factors.  First, we have not been taught this form of spirituality as the norm.  An emphasis on humility and brokenness runs counter to the American spirit of individualism and self-effort. 

Second, this spirituality runs counter to the workings of our fallen soul.  It does not sound nearly as good to us as “self-improvement” through works on the one hand or free and easy grace and forgiveness that doesn’t involve brokenness and humility on the other.  The truth is that many of us would rather keep a holy God at arms length.  Unfortunately, there are always religious peddlers who will wittingly or unwittingly give us what our hearts want by minimizing God’s holiness and our need. 

The result is a watered-down spirituality that lacks vitality.  Thus, we do not have true awakening and revival.  This is particularly true among those profess Christ for years.  New believers often have a glimpse of their need and God’s grace; but as they continue in the Christian faith, they lose their vitality.

Why?  Instead of growing in their understanding of God's holiness, which would lead to deeper repentance and an understanding of our need for Christ, many believers never grow from their initial understanding of God's holiness and their need.  In His mercy, God allows us through life to see our need, but we cover it up with denial or blaming others.  The result is shallowness and fakery.  Instead, we should embrace a deeper repentance, live a life of authentic confession, and find God's incredible mercy in Christ is increasing real for us.

Where are you today?  Do you have a spirit of revival and awakening in your life?  Do you have a vital, living faith?  Do you want such a life?  If so, come before the Holy God and pray for mercy to see both your need for Christ and Christ’s love for you.  True revival awaits.

Back and Ready for the Next Adventure

It is so good to be home.  It is good to have a clear mind, clear heart, and very little stress.  I am ready to discover what the Lord is doing in preparing the next stage of my journey of faith.

I have not written in what feels like forever.  About ten days ago, my family and I returned home from a 7600 mile car trip.  We viewed America through the windshield.  It was a great break from normal life.  It was needed.  It was awesome.

In just under a month, we drove from Seattle to Montana, to Ohio, to Florida, and then back to Seattle.  I cannot express enough how much of a blessing this journey was for myself and my family.

How did I have the time to do this?

In the middle of October, I left my position as pastor of First CRC of Seattle.  The story of why is long and fairly crazy.  I am just glad this congregation is no longer my concern or my burden.  I will allow our denomination to deal with them as they see fit.

While at First, I learned much, and I made some great friends and supporters.  I am so thankful for them and I look forward to having them be part of my life for the remainder of it. 

It never ceases to amaze me how God often shines the brightest light 

in the midst of our deepest darkness.

Today marks the start of a new adventure.  I look forward to experiencing God's grace as we walk through it together as a family.  Please join me in praying for God's wisdom and grace to mark the path for us.  Pray for new ministry opportunities, blessings on my family, and grace throughout the journey.

There will be many changes in the coming months with my on-line presence.  I look forward to seeing the hopes and dreams of many becoming reality.  Please pray for this also.  

As C.S. Lewis said in the Last Battle, "Head further in and further up."

The Heart of Worship Renewal

What is worship all about?  

I have found that in America there are two different schools of thought concerning how to answer this question.

The first group answers that worship is a "service unto God."  The object and goal of worship is to honor and glorify God.  As a result, worship is God-focused.  It is not about the worshipper, but the God who is worshipped.

The second group answers that worship is a "time to lay your burdens down and be encouraged."  The object and goal of worship for these folks is to provide excitement, emotional release, and a feeling of God's presence.  Here worship is about the worshipper having their needs met.

Anyone who has eyes to see can and should understand that I just set up a straw man argument.  I presented two views of worship that are easily torn down because both are not complete.  Who actually holds these views and articulates them this way?  The answer is virtually no one.  Yet, ... the proof of what we believe is not merely what we say, but also what we do.  While virtually no one would articulate either of these two extremes about worship, many churches and individuals act like they believe it!

How about a new definition?  One that provides a balance?

Worship is a time for individuals and the community of faith to meet with God.

Worship must be God-focused.  It also must be done in such a way to encourage and promote active engagement with God's presence.

Is such worship possible?  Of course it is!  It is also necessary for revival and renewal both individually and corporately.  Notice the following quote from a contemporary writer.

"This extra "glimpse of God" is what most of us crave.  With any experience of God's nearness comes all the blessings of God's divine nature: renewal, power to change, deliverance, comfort, joy, and peace.  It is no coincidence that these are the very things for which the world is longing and searching."
Sally Morgenthaler's Worship Evangelism: 

Inviting Unbelievers into the presence of God, 97-98

Are you in a worshipping community where you enter into the presence of God each week?  I find it interesting that many of us are not worshipping in such a place.  Instead, we rationalize that we are "not one of those worship junkies" who insist on feeling God's presence.  We are more mature.

I would challenge that if we do not find God's presence in worship and we are content with it, then we might not be as mature as we think!  

Why would I say such a thing?  Notice how scripture affirms a biblical desire for God.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When can I go and meet with God?

Ps. 42:1-2

In other words, as people we were made to enjoy the presence of God.  When you get a taste of God's presence in Christ, it is addicting.  It is satisfying.  It is life.  Who does not want more life, peace, joy and love deep within their soul?

One of the greatest attractions of worship is when a community create a place where individuals can meet with God.  I know we can meet with God anywhere, but the time and space of worship together in community is often where we experience God's presence in a deep and real sense.  I believe such an experience can be felt and experienced even by non-believers.

My actual experience verifies this claim.  At my former church, Grace Bible Church in Maine, I often heard from visitors that they "felt" the presence of God while with us in worship.  This observation was made from believers and unbelievers,  first-time visitors and long-time attenders, and everything in between.  We were not a "large church" by the standards of worldly judgment, but God did work through and in our worship.

I also have experienced this phenomena in many other growing churches.  In fact, I could argue that such an experience of God's presence in worship is a mark of a growing and thriving church.

So, how do we move/grow a church so this experience of God's presence is felt even by unbelievers?

This is a tricky question.  God cannot be manipulated to "show up" like magic.  Yet, I think and I have experienced several traits of churches that have worship renewal.

First, these churches pray for this experience and presence.  They also come anticipating meeting with God.  These churches are filled with people who ask that the Lord's presence be known, and they are marked by a directed prayer ministry that asks the Lord to work through and in worship.  There is also an expectation that God will move and speak.

Second, these church have people who are called and gifted to lead worship.  These folks may not be the best musicians in the church, but they love to worship.  They have all the traits above, and they ask the Lord to work through them to touch hearts.

Please notice, I said gifted and called.  How do we tell this?  These folks have an inner call to lead worship, they have external call from a group to help them lead worship, and the Lord blesses their work by showing up!

The last mark of calling is the trickiest.  Who determines this?  Does someone's best friend get to say, "The Lord blessed your leading/playing today"?  Is it only the Elder's job to determine this?  Unfortunately/fortunately churches are often full of encouraging folks.  They encourage effort as much or more than results.  Could this skew the data in determining God's blessings on their work?

Of course it can!  The real and ultimate proof is God's presence being known to believers and un-believers, long-time members and first-time visitors.  Such proof cannot be ascertained in any given Sunday, but should be measured over the course of time.

What does this mean?  Finding, developing, and encouraging worship renewal is essential for a growing church.  As individuals we can pray.  As churches we can lovingly search for and encourage those who are blessed to help lead such renewal.  Is this easy?  No.  Is it fool-proof?  No.  Yet it is essential for worship evangelism and worship renewal to take place.

I would love thoughts and opinions on this topic.  As you can see, I am working through my thoughts, so help me grow by sharing yours!

Fruit 30, 60, 100 Times what was sown...

"As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it.  He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

Matthew 13: 23

This week I am preparing a message for First Seattle concerning a vision for the future.  Like many churches, First has lived through a period of decline.  Like many churches, we have attempted to arrest this decline through a variety of methods, but none have produced growth.  

I believe the simple question we must ask is why?  Why do we find ourselves here?

There are always many reasons for any action.  A long-term trend has even more reasons.  As I talk with people, I can focus on three or four major issues that have helped bring about the decline in membership at First.  I believe most churches can point to at least this many reasons for their plateau or decline over the past couple of decades.

The problem is that we cannot go back and fix the past.  Poor decisions were made.  Poor execution of decisions occurred.  So what?  

Early in my ministry a wise church revitalizer/church planter encouraged me to focus 90% of my time on bringing new people into the church and 10% of my time worrying about the people who left.  This is sound advice!  I might actually practice a 95/5 split, but the idea is the same.

Have apologies been made to those who were hurt by poor decisions and poor execution of decisions?  In our case, the answer is by and large yes.  What else can be done?  Nothing.  It is time to move on.  Unfortunately, many church and many individuals cannot move on.  They prefer to "work on their issues" and stay where they are.

Jesus made the Christian life simple.  We make it difficult and convoluted.  

Seed placed in good soil will produce fruit.  It will bear fruit that results in a good harvest.  Seed on good soil produces a return that is multiplied by what is sown.  It does not merely replicate itself, but produced 30, 60, or 100 times what is sown.

Why have we reduced this instruction to something merely personal, individual, and at best additional instead of multiplicational?  

What do I mean?  We have made the individual Christian life virtually the entire work of salvation.  We make church survival (in terms of maintaining numbers and ministries) our vision.

This vision is too small.  Such a vision sells short what the Holy Spirit can do within the life of an individual and a church.  When the gospel falls upon good soil, it produces a harvest that multiplies the planting.  It will produce 30, 60, or 100 times what was sown.

Do you see this multiplying growth in your life or the life of the church?  Perhaps it is not from lack of effort, but lack of focus on what is truly important.  

In this parable, the issue is not the amount of work/effort, but the quality of the soil.  Good soil produces good return.  Poor soil produces little if any return.  

Are you and is your church good soil for the gospel?  If not, pray for Holy Spirit fertilizer.  Pray the Lord removes the rocks and thorns from your harvest patch.  Repent and believe the promises.  Ask that the Lord will transform the soil.  Individually and corporately, do not be satisfied until the harvest is counted by multiplication.

God is not through building His Kingdom.  He wishes to use you.  He wishes to use your church.  May we be good soil!

Elements of Worship Renewal

What is worship all about?  I have found that in America there are two different schools of thought concerning how to answer this question.

The first group answers that worship is a "service unto God."  The object and goal of worship is to honor and glorify God.  As a result, worship is God-focused.  It is not about the worshipper, but the God who is worshipped.

The second group answers that worship is a "time to lay your burdens down and be encouraged."  The object and goal of worship for these folks is to provide excitement, emotional release, and a feeling of God's presence.  Here worship is about the worshipper having their needs met.

Anyone who has eyes to see can and should understand that I just set up a straw man argument.  I presented two views of worship that are easily torn down because both are not complete.  Who actually holds these views and articulates them this way?  The answer is virtually no one.  Yet, ... the proof of what we believe is not merely what we say, but also what we do.  While virtually no one would articulate either of these two extremes about worship, many churches and individuals act like they believe it!

How about a new definition?  One that provides a balance?  Worship is a time for individuals and communities of faith to meet with God.

Worship must be God focused.  It also must be done in such a way to encourage and promote active engagement with God's presence.

Is such worship possible?  Of course it is!  It is also necessary for revival and renewal both individually and corporately.  Notice the following quote from a contemporary writer.

"This extra "glimpse of God" is what most of us crave.  With any experience of God's nearness comes all the blessings of God's divine nature: renewal, power to change, deliverance, comfort, joy, and peace.  It is no coincidence that these are the very things for which the world is longing and searching." Sally Morgenthaler's Worship Evangelism: 

Inviting Unbelievers into the presence of God, 97-98

Are you in a worshipping community where you enter into the presence of God each week?  I find it interesting that many of us are not worshipping in such a place.  Instead, we rationalize that we are "not one of those worship junkies" who insist on feeling God's presence.  We are more mature.

I would challenge that if we do not find God's presence in worship and we are content with it, then we might not be as mature as we think!  

I love how scripture affirms a biblical desire for God.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When can I go and meet with God?

Ps. 42:1-2

As people we were made to enjoy the presence of God.  When you get a taste of God's presence in Christ, it is addicting.  It is satisfying.  It is life.  Who does not want more life, peace, joy and love deep within their soul?

One of the greatest attractions of worship is when a community create a place where individuals can meet with God.  I know we can meet with God anywhere, but the time and space of worship together in community is often where we experience God's presence in a deep and real sense.  I believe such an experience can be felt and experienced even by non-believers.

My actual experience verifies this claim.  At my former church, Grace Bible Church in Maine, I often heard from visitors that they "felt" the presence of God while with us in worship.  This observation was made from believers and unbelievers,  first-time visitors and long-time attenders, and everything in between.  We were not a "large church" by the standards of worldly judgment, but God did work through and in our worship.

I also have experienced this phenomena in many other growing churches.  In fact, I could argue that such an experience of God's presence in worship is a mark of a growing and thriving church.

So, how do we move/grow a church so this experience of God's presence is felt even by unbelievers?

This is a tricky question.  God cannot be manipulated to "show up" like magic.  Yet, I think and I have experienced several traits of churches that have worship renewal.

First, these churches pray for this experience and presence.  They also come anticipating meeting with God.  These churches are filled with people who ask that the Lord's presence be known, and they are marked by a directed prayer ministry that asks the Lord to work through and in worship.  There is also an expectation that God will move and speak.

Second, these church have people who are called and gifted to lead worship.  These folks may not be the best musicians in the church, but they love to worship.  They have all the traits above, and they ask the Lord to work through them to touch hearts.

Please notice, I said gifted and called.  How do we tell this?  These folks have an inner call to lead worship, they have external call from a group to help them lead worship, and the Lord blesses their work by showing up!

The last mark of calling is the trickiest.  Who determines this?  Does someone's best friend get to say, "The Lord blessed your leading/playing today"?  Is it only the Elder's job to determine this?  Unfortunately/fortunately churches are often full of encouraging folks.  They encourage effort as much or more than results.  Could this skew the data in determining God's blessings on their work?

Of course it can!  The real and ultimate proof is God's presence being known to believers and un-believers, long-time members and first-time visitors.  Such proof cannot be ascertained in any given Sunday, but should be measured over the course of time.

What does this mean?  Finding, developing, and encouraging worship renewal is essential for a growing church.  As individuals we can pray.  As churches we can lovingly search for and encourage those who are blessed to help lead such renewal.  Is this easy?  No.  Is it fool-proof?  No.  Yet it is essential for worship evangelism and worship renewal to take place.

I would love thoughts and opinions on this topic.  As you can see, I am working through my thoughts, so help me grow by sharing yours!

Theology of Prayer and Revival

Restore us again, O God of our salvation,

and put away your indignation toward us! ...

Will you not revive us again, 

that your people may rejoice in You?

Ps 85: 4, 6.

Yesterday I had the privilege of meeting and talking at length with a long-time leader within my denomination- the Christian Reformed Church.  His emphasis has been on the topic of prayer, and its importance for evangelism.  I could not agree more with him!  Prayer and effective outreach are directly related.

While talking, I mentioned that in my opinion, some of the younger leaders within the CRC have abandoned our very biblical theology in favor of strategies, gimmicks, and social justice as the means of "growth and outreach."  I shared that I believe this emphasis change by these folks is a huge mistake!  

Why?

I grew up in a mainline Protestant denomination.  The path these folks think will bring renewal and new converts is nothing more than a well-worn and well-documented path taken by the mainline denominations.  It is amazing how it works 0% of the time, but the way of fallen humanity is to continue to try it.

Anyway, the point of the conversation was to get this man's perspective on the CRC and how it has moved and functioned in the past forty years.  As an invited in outsider and American Church historian, I see a clear path toward losing people, churches, and about two generations of young people from the denomination.  Why is this happening?

This man shared an interesting insight.  He discovered that our denomination had a great theological foundation, but we lacked a biblical and invigorating theology of prayer.  As a result, many people who are brought up in the CRC take their great theological education, and they move to churches where their theology can be wed to their practice.  

In particular, they move to where biblical and Reformed theology meets dependent prayer and passionate outreach.

Again, I could not agree more with this assessment.  My prayer and passion is to see the CRC experience authentic revival.  I want to see America experience authentic revival.  I want to see God's Kingdom grow by leaps and bounds throughout the world.  In fact, I am willing to give everything to see this happen!

Here is the problem with the CRC.  If dependent prayer, listen prayer, intimate prayer is always an antecedent to true revival and we do not have a cultural tradition that emphasizes dependent, listening, intimate prayer, how can we proceed to authentic revival?  

In other words, what we need is not "Will you not revive us again," but we need, "Lord please revive us for the first time!"

Such a task is way beyond me.  It is beyond any "denominational plan."  We need grace!  We need to repent and believe in the God of revival and transformation!

If this man is right, and I think he is, we need an entirely different framework to understand how God works.  We need to let go of our control and fear of the Holy Spirit's work in revival.  We need to begin an emphasis on prayer and revival from our seminary, our denomination, and our current leaders.

I think it is starting.  I pray it is starting.  I ask that it begin with me if need be!  

Lord have mercy.  Give us a fresh outpouring of the Spirit so we can match with our excellent theological heritage an experiential knowledge of You that propels us outward in evangelism and all of life.

Revival for the Spiritually Dead

"Go and say to this people:

'Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
keep on seeing, but do not perceive.'

Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy,

and blind their eyes, lest they see with their eyes,

and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts,

and turn and be healed."

Isa. 6: 9-10

As a pastor, I have served churches in many parts of the United States.  I have also served as a witness for Christ in a 10 week summer mission trip to southeast Asia.  Lord willing, I hope to be a witness for Christ in many other parts of the world in the next 20 years.  In every place I have gone, I have seen people come to know Jesus and others who have been completely hardened to the gospel.

Why is there such a range of response to the gospel?

In the passage above, Isaiah has just seen the Lord, and he has fallen before Him.  The Lord took a burning coal, touched his lips, and made him a vessel ready to bring the Word of the Lord.  In other words, Isaiah just experienced repentance and faith from seeing his true condition before the Holy God and calling out for mercy.  Such a cry the Lord always answers.

After this conversion, Isaiah hears the voice of the Lord asking, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?"  Notice the plural "us", which demonstrates the multiple personhood of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  In response to this question, Isaiah says, "Here am I!  Send me."  The above passage is the message the Lord gives Isaiah.

So, why do some believe the message of the gospel and others reject it?  

The human condition apart from God's grace is that of deaf, blind, and hard-hearted to spiritual truth.  As Paul says, "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins."  Dead people cannot respond to outside stimuli.  The meaning of "being dead" is that they can not respond.  Once dead, the only way someone can respond again is to be made alive again.  

I know this biblical teaching goes against what so many of us wish to believe.  Yet it is true.  We are dead to our true spiritual situation unless the Lord opens our eyes, unstops our ears, and changes our hearts.  When He does, we turn or repent and we find healing.  

Being spiritually dead does not mean that we do not have a measure of a free will.  

We can love our families and friends.  We can be honest.  We can be generous.  We can have good self-control.  We can even give up drinking or anything else we call a vice.  In other words, we are not robots.  Being created in the image of God gives us great gifts and abilities.

What does it mean to be spiritually dead?

Being spiritual dead means we do not have the gift of faith.  It is now dead; and as a result, we can neither honestly repent before God nor can we place trusting faith in the living God. Such faith is foreign to our fallen human nature.  It is something that makes no sense.  At least it makes no sense unless God's grace changes something within our heart that allows us to freely choose to repent and believe the gospel.

The greatest need for people everyone is God-given revival.

Revival, or "spiritual awakening" is not something that we can bring about by our efforts.  It is not changing someone's morality.  It is not helping them to have a better, more positive outlook.

Revival is God's work in bringing redemption to individuals.  As individuals are transformed, they work to bring God's righteous love and grace to their lives, their surroundings, and the world.

Revival is God's work, God's way.

The First Step of Revival

“Woe is me!  I am ruined!  For I am a man of unclean lips, 

and I live among a people of unclean lips,

 and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty!” 

Isa. 6:5

How can a prophet and man of God have such a reaction before the Living God?  Did not God call Isaiah through the vision into His presence?  Why would God allow Isaiah to feel this way and to have such an experience?

We have such a tendency to make our understanding of God and faith centered upon us and our experiences and needs.  We are often like small children going through the grocery store with our parents.  Seeing the food around us we realize we are hungry and we demand our needs be met immediately.  We do not care that we are on our way home to eat a nutritious meal.  We do not care that our bodies need healthy food.  We want the candy bar that is within reach at the checkout line.  

In other words, what we want and what we really need are often two very different things.

We want to be accepted just as we are.  We wish that God would affirm us, give us some candy, and always have a smile for us.  These are our greatest wants and desires.  In fact, these are our greatest needs!  

The problem is that we insist that God gives us the candy bar without feeding us the healthy meal.  We want God to change so we do not have to.

Ultimately, our greatest problem in life is our lack of self-awareness concerning our true condition before God, others, creation and ourselves.  Here is where this passage in Isaiah can help give us some perspective.

In Isaiah 6, we see the prophet encountering the Holy God.  He is undone before Him.  He has seen God and he knows he needs grace!  Fortunately in the next verse, a seraph took a live coal from the alter and touched Isaiah’s mouth declaring, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” (vs. 8)  As Isaiah met God, he became aware of his need, and he called out for grace.  God answered his need by sending grace.

In my experience, such experiences of grace cannot come often enough.  They often lead to rapid advances in Christian maturity and understanding that work out in increased love for God and others.  Such life-changing times of growth often occur at conversion, but they should also continue at different times throughout our Christian life.  Why?  As we grow to know the Holy God better, we should see our need for grace more since we see our sin more.  This is also the prime mark of authentic revival!

So why do we not see this often as a mark of Christian faith and practice?  Why do we lack such awakenings, which lead to true revival?

There are many factors.  First, we have not been taught this form of spirituality as the norm.  An emphasis on humility and brokenness runs counter to the American spirit of individualism and self-effort. 

Second, this spirituality runs counter to the workings of our fallen soul.  It does not sound nearly as good to us as “self-improvement” through works on the one hand or free and easy grace and forgiveness that doesn’t involve brokenness and humility on the other.  The truth is that many of us would rather keep a holy God at arms length.  Unfortunately, there are always religious peddlers who will wittingly or unwittingly give us what our hearts want by minimizing God’s holiness and our need. 

The result is a watered-down spirituality that lacks vitality.  Thus, we do not have true awakening and revival.  This is particularly true among those profess Christ for years.  New believers often have a glimpse of their need and God’s grace; but as they continue in the Christian faith, they lose their vitality.

Why?  Instead of growing in their understanding of God's holiness, which would lead to deeper repentance and an understanding of our need for Christ, many believers never grow from their initial understanding of God's holiness and their need.  In His mercy, God allows us through life to see our need, but we cover it up with denial or blaming others.  The result is shallowness and fakery!  Instead, we should embrace a deeper repentance, live a life of authentic confession, and find God's incredible mercy in Christ is increasing real for us.

Where are you today?  Do you have a spirit of revival and awakening in your life?  Do you have a vital, living faith?  Do you want such a life?  If so, come before the Holy God and pray for mercy to see both your need for Christ and Christ’s love for you!  True revival awaits.

Revival Through Worship Renewal

"Why has becoming a worshiper been so important to my life and my ministry?

First, it taught me what worship is and isn't.  Once I had thought of worship as a style of music.  Now I see it as an attitude of the heart.  As a pastor leading others in worship, I needed to focus on the heart, not the style."

Kevin Bidwell, "A Stronger Heart for Worship," Leadership (Summer 2000), 115.

Seems so simple, doesn't it?  Why do so many of us miss this?

Throughout the 1970s into the 80s, the worship wars reigned within the church.  Jesus Christ should be reigning always, but style of worship was all too often front and center.  Churches rose and fell depending upon their style of music.  Or was it about style?

I believe that every 10-20 years the church goes through a time of worship renewal.  A different style of worship becomes popular because it works in one place so others attempt to copy it.  

How do we copy authentic worship?  We reduce worship to style of music or format.  We think this is the heart of worship.  We critique others according to our preferences and tastes.  Today, worship renewal movements are pushing weekly communion, rearrangement of old hymns to a worship band, ritual, candles, a return to "old-fashioned worship" and who knows what else.

While I approve of some of these distinctives, none of them are true worship.

True worship occurs when God shows up to meet with His people.  His presence promotes humility and brokenness, which brings dependent faith.  As we gather in repentance and faith, God's Spirit glorifies the Son and the Father.  Such an outpouring of the Spirit can be felt and known even by the most hardened of sinners.  In such a place, true worship occurs.

Such worship can occur with any style of music and with any format.  It can also elude a congregation or an individual no matter what style or format is favored.  

Why?  True worship is the product of hearts transformed by grace.  It is not the cause.

How do we bring worship renewal?  The gospel of grace and mercy must be central in all we do.  Repentance and humility must not only be proclaimed, but also believed and lived.  As dependence upon Christ is believed and lived, prayer will grow in richness and length.  Expectation for God's presence will build.  The Word will become increasingly alive and active.  Souls will be transformed.

Where do we begin?  Focus on your heart.  Repent of self-effort and believe.  Cultivate your faith.  Pray for growth and learn humility.  Pray that God will be found in corporate worship.  Pray for your church's worship leaders.  Pray they learn to enjoy God's presence.  Pray for souls to be awakened.

Seems so simple, doesn't it?  Why do so many of us miss this?

Dependent Prayer

In much of the church's life in the twentieth century, however, both in Evangelical and non-Evangelical circles, the place of prayer has become limited and almost vestigial.  The proportion of horizontal communication that goes on in the church (in planning, arguing, and expounding) is overwhelmingly greater than that which is vertical (in worship, thanksgiving, confession, and intercession).  Critically important committee meetings are begun and ended with formulary prayers, which are ritual obligations and not genuine expression of dependence- when problems and arguments ensue, they are seldom resolved by further prayer but are wrangled out on the battlefield of human discourse.  The old midweek prayer meetings for revival have vanished from the programs of most churches or have been transformed into Bible studies ending with minimal prayer.

This was the picture in much of the American church until recently, and it is still almost universally the case in some instruments and organs of the churches which have to do with teaching and administration.  Why has this come about?  Perhaps it stems partly from the deficient teaching and emphasis on God himself throughout the church, and partly from the man-centeredness of much religious activity.  Deficiency in prayer both reflects and reinforces inattention toward God.

Richard Lovelace,  Dynamics of Spiritual Life, 153.

Last evening I was teaching about the Disciples prayer that Jesus gave us in Matthew 6: 10-13.  (You can find the message/talk at www.seattlecrc.org) I began with a series of questions based upon this passage from Lovelace.  Let me share a couple of these questions.

What is your prayer life like?  Do you come before the Living God and pray like your life depends upon it?  Are your prayers mostly brief and about you and your needs?  Have you learned how to listen to God's leading?

What about your church?  Do you as a body of Christ come before the Living God and pray like your life depends upon it?  In our busy culture the Wednesday evening prayer meeting has often gone by the wayside.  Does your church have other groups that meet together for the primary purpose of prayer?  Does your church encourage such groups?

I am speaking from personal experience when I share that I have found growing in prayer to be difficult.  I will never forget the way my hypocrisy was most clearly exposed to me.  I was serving in a very good Presbyterian church in Asheville as an assistant pastor.  The church had recently lost its long-time senior pastor, and conflict was starting to brew.  Quite frankly the leadership of the church was opinionated, but not very solid or godly.  They were the leadership mentioned in Lovelace's thoughts above.  The people were growing restless.

Into the midst of this, I walked: a recent seminary graduate who the church leadership did not trust because the senior pastor hired me before he left.  The church's leadership team felt like I was foisted upon them and they did not like it.  I was asked to preach.  I chose the topic of prayer.  I encouraged the church to see that they were in a spiritual war, and that prayer was so desperately needed.  I pointed out that another assistant pastor has a mid-week pray meeting that was very sparsely attended.  I asked, "Does this lack of attendance not show our lack of attention toward God?"

The sermon was very well received.  I was glad!  Then on Wednesday, over 100 people showed up for the prayer service.  I cannot tell you the exact amount of people there, because I did not attend!  You see, I talked about prayer.  I knew prayer was important.  Yet, I did not join in prayer when it was most needed!

What a hypocrite!  Looking back, I can see that I did not join in mid-week corporate prayer because I really did not have a solid grounding in personal prayer.  I had not been led to a place where I personally prayed "like my life depended upon it."  

In the midst of my immaturity, God worked.  He led the church in one direction, and I headed off to further graduate study.  He also used this situation to constantly remind me of my obvious immaturity.  Through this situation and others, He worked over the next five years to change my heart concerning my need for prayer.  He used it to help me grow up.

Individually and corporately, most folks in America do not pray like their very lives depend upon it. It is something they talk about, but do sparingly.   Prayer does not drive their life or ministry.  If this is you or it is your church, I ask that you repent and believe!  You need Jesus and the Spirit to work to transform lives and communities.  Learn to depend upon Him.

I am so thankful this is not the case for all people.  It is also not the case for all churches.  Some individuals and churches have learned their need for Jesus and they depend upon Him for life.  Individually and corporately they have learned how to walk and live in dependent prayer.  These individuals and churches are the very life-blood of God's Kingdom on earth.  I pray that the Lord will multiply these individuals and churches!  

Friends, let us walk this week in dependent prayer.  May the Lord's grace lead us into deeper repentance and faith so that we might find our rest and dependence in Him!

Monday Economics and the Grave-Digger Thesis

Another Monday morning has dawned in the Pacific Northwest.  Yesterday was a blessed day.  Blessed, but I have to admit tiring!  I am thinking about several different issues right now, but I am not ready to share what I am writing.  Thus, I will borrow from others and comment on their thoughts.  

This morning I would like to focus again on Os Guinness' book The Call.  Toward the middle of the book, he is discussing the spiritual component of money.  He begins the chapter with a startlingly accurate assessment of what happened in the West with our financial crisis of the past couple of years.  As he writes,

"The decisive question for the West is its capacity to direct and discipline capitalism with an ethic strong enough to do so.  I myself don't believe the West can do it."  When the Singapore economist I mentioned in chapter 7 delivered that blunt assessment a few years ago, a shiver of excitement ran through the room.  There were no academic ifs, ands and buts, here was a plain-speaking, "one-handed" economist who would have delighted Harry Truman.

Such a challenges makes many Westerners uncomfortable.  Yet another tiresome assault on our materialism?  But the unease is odd because the criticism is not new, and it is Christian in origin.  It forms the so-called gravedigger thesis, the notion that capitalism may undermine itself by its very success.  This idea got a bad name because of its association with Karl Marx- "What the bourgeoisie produces above all is its own gravediggers."  But in Christian history it was a key part of Puritan analysis before Marx picked it up.  In eighteenth-century America, for example, Cotton Mather warned that unless there was vigilance, a sense of calling would bring forth prosperity, only to result in prosperity's destroying the sense of calling.

The Call, 134.

What I find most profound about these paragraphs and the statement made by the economist from Singapore is its keen foresight.  This book was written in 1998!  Ten years later, we witness a financial meltdown brought about by unfettered greed (called capitalistic speculation) made by banks and supported by governments that argue they are "too big to fail."  How could this happen?

When the making of money becomes the most important issue, some people and groups of people will always go too far.  We live in a fallen world.  If lying, deceit, and improper means will help one find "security" in money, fallen people without a sense of God's all-seeing eye will do anything secure more money!

How do we deal with this tendency?  Well there are two options.  First, we empower the government to "crack-down" on these low-down scoundrels.  We create more and different laws to "regulate" business.  This is the path the West is now trying.

I am afraid it will not work!  Those making the laws are fallen individuals who are deeply influenced by fallen individuals.  Thus, the law have too many loop-holes and other means of being deprived of their power.  All we have done is move the power from the market to the government.  What guarantee is there that the government is not equally corrupt?

Furthermore, does the law really have power to change the human heart?  Does not the law and its demands often inflame deeper disobedience?  If the heart of the people is not changed, all the law will do is influence smart folks to pursue dishonest or immoral gain in different ways.

This leads to the second option for how to deal with undisciplined capitalism.  The second option is a great and pervasive revival of true spirituality.  While in a fallen world there are always those who reject God's judgment on sin and pursue dishonest gain, we need a greater heart understanding of right and wrong.  Until we get such heart change, we will be digging our cultural grave deeper and deeper.

We have lost our sense of right and wrong.  All that is left is individual pursuit of whatever happiness they desire.  As we take away a divine frame of reference, we are left with nothing but individual complete liberty or might-makes-right government action as our guides.  Both of these sources of meaning and direction are short-sight, radically selfish, and lacking the power to promote true love of others over self. 

In other words, the economist is correct about the West.  Unfortunately, he is wrong when he affirms that the Asian way is beyond the lure of capitalism.  As he states,

"What we in Singapore want," he said, "is the modern world, not the West.  We want the Asian way, not the American way.  We want to follow Confucius, not Christ."  Continuing, he explained, "Having given rise to the modern world, the Jewish and Christian faiths have now been reduced to ruins by the modern world."  Asian countries, he concluded, should take a different path.  They should pursue the best opportunities of modern capitalism, industrialized technology, and telecommunications within the setting of their own beliefs and cultures.

Quoted in The Call, 58.

I fear that the Asian way of following Confucius will also fall prey to secularism within a generation. I know they are guided by a deeper sense of family honor than the West.  How long will it take before family honor is associated with financial "security and affluence"?

The problem with the love of money is the human heart.  Individual hearts must be transformed to find security and meaning in Christ.  Money is a shallow idol.  It is never enough.  It is a demanding task-master that is never satisfied!  

As the West and increasingly the East is seduced by security apart from God's presence and relationship, both will grow increasingly corrupt, selfish, and power-hungry.  What is needed is a world-wide revival of true faith!  Lord, have mercy upon us.

Morality and True Revival

"Go and say to this people:

'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.'

Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy,

and blind their eyes, lest they see with their eyes,

and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts,

and turn and be healed."

Isa. 6: 9-10

As a pastor, I have served churches in many parts of the United States.  I have also served as a witness for Christ in a 10 week summer mission trip to southeast Asia.  Lord willing, I hope to be a witness for Christ in many other parts of the world in the next 20 years.  In every place I have gone, I have seen people come to know Jesus and others who have been completely hardened to the gospel.  Why is there such a range of response?

In the passage above, Isaiah has just seen the Lord, and he has fallen before Him.  The Lord took a burning coal, touched his lips, and made him a vessel ready to bring the Word of the Lord.  In other words, Isaiah just experienced repentance and faith from seeing his true condition before the Holy God and calling out for mercy.  Such a cry the Lord always answers!

After this conversion, Isaiah hears the voice of the Lord asking, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?"  Notice the plural "us", which demonstrates the multiple personhood of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  In response to this question, Isaiah says, "Here am I!  Send me."  The above passage is the message the Lord gives Isaiah.

So, why do some believe the message of the gospel and many others reject it?  The human condition apart from God's grace is that of deaf, blind, and hard-hearted to spiritual truth.  As Paul says, "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins."  Dead people cannot respond to outside stimuli!  Apart from being made alive again, they cannot respond.

I know this biblical teaching goes against what so many of us wish to believe.  Yet it is true.  We are dead to true spiritual situation unless the Lord opens our eyes, unstops our ears, and changes our hearts.  When He does, we turn or repent and we find healing!  

This teaching does not mean that we do not have a measure of a free will.  We can love our families and friends.  We can be honest.  We can be generous.  We can have good self-control.  We can even give up drinking or anything else we call a vice.  In other words, we are not robots!  Being created in the image of God gives us great gifts and abilities.

So what happened?  What is dead within us is the gift of Faith which brings us in repentant and trusting faith to the living God.  Such faith is foreign to our fallen human nature.  Without God's grace, we will not have living faith!

We need true revival because apart from God's grace we cannot bring lasting transformation to anyone. We may improve someone's morality.  We may help them have a positive outlook.  Yet, we cannot bring repentant faith apart from God's grace.  We cannot unstop their ears, open their eyes, or soften their hearts to the gospel.  Why?  Because apart from God's grace, they freely choose to walk in their own paths and decisions apart from repentant faith.

We need true revival in most parts of the world today!  Let's pray that God will send it.  Pray for individuals and groups of people that God will open their eyes and ears so they may see and hear the gospel.  Pray that they may have hearts softened and ready to respond.  May many turn and find healing for their souls!

Spiritual Awakenings

“Woe is me!  I am ruined!  For I am a man of unclean lips, 

and I live among a people of unclean lips,

 and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty!” 

Isa. 6:5

So how do we grow in grace?  We know that the scriptures do not teach that growing in grace implies sinless perfectionism, having a life without struggle or some weird gnostic spirituality that does not take place in the confines of this fallen world and our fallen self.  So, what does authentic spirituality and gospel-living look like?

First, walking in grace by the power of the Spirit presupposes a right understanding of both God and ourselves.  In the first section of The Institutes, John Calvin argues there is an inter-relationship between knowing God and knowing ourselves.  He maintains that we cannot really know ourselves until we know the Holy God in such a way that our sin becomes so grievous to us that we cannot rest until we “put on Christ” in the fullest way possible.  Such knowledge can only come by an awakening of our souls by the Holy Spirit.  When awakened to our need, we cling to Christ and find mercy and grace.

In this passage in Isaiah, we see the prophet encountering the Holy God.  He is undone before Him.  He has seen God and he knows he needs grace!  Fortunately in the next verse, a seraph took a live coal from the alter and touched Isaiah’s mouth declaring, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” (vs. 8)  As Isaiah met God, he became aware of his need, and he called out for grace.  God answered his need by sending grace.

In my experience, such experiences of grace cannot come often enough.  They often lead to rapid advances in Christian maturity and understanding that work out in increased love for God and others.  Such life-changing times of growth often occur at conversion, but they should also continue at different times throughout our Christian life.  Why?  As we grow to know the Holy God better, we should see our need for grace more since we see our sin more.  This is also the prime mark of authentic revival!

So why do we not see this often as a mark of Christian faith and practice?  Why do we lack such awakenings, which lead to true revival?

There are many factors.  First, we have not been taught this form of spirituality as the norm.  An emphasis on humility and brokenness runs counter to the American spirit of individualism and self-effort. 

Second, this spirituality runs counter to the workings of our fallen soul.  It does not sound nearly as good to us as “self-improvement” through works on the one hand or free and easy grace and forgiveness that doesn’t involve brokenness and humility on the other.  The truth is that many of us would rather keep a holy God at arms length.  Unfortunately, there are always religious peddlers who will wittingly or unwittingly give us what our hearts want by minimizing God’s holiness and our need. 

The result is a watered-down spirituality that lacks vitality.  Thus, we do not have true awakening and revival.  This is particularly true among those profess Christ for years.  New believers often have a glimpse of their need and God’s grace; but as they continue in the Christian faith, they lose their vitality.

Why?  Instead of growing in their understanding of God's holiness, which would lead to deeper repentance and an understanding of our need for Christ, many believers never grow from their initial understanding of God's holiness and their need.  In His mercy, God allows us through life to see our need, but we cover it up with denial or blaming others.  The result is shallowness and fakery!  Instead, we should embrace a deeper repentance, live a life of authentic confession, and find God's incredible mercy in Christ is increasing real for us.

Where are you today?  Do you have a spirit of revival and awakening in your life?  Do you have a vital, living faith?  Do you want such a life?  If so, come before the Holy God and pray for mercy to see both your need for Christ and Christ’s love for you!  True revival awaits.

Hindrances to Conversion

Today I have an early doctor's appointment for my daughter.  She has really hurt her knee, and we get to have a MRI to determine the nature of the damage.  Since I will be leaving soon, I do not have time to post something original.  As I woke up this morning, this post was on my heart.  So was prayer for the person who asked the question.  May the Lord bless this material to each of our use!

"Behold, I am with you always,

to the end of the age."

Jesus in Matthew 28:20

"A disciple is not above his teacher, not a servant above his master.

It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher,

and the servant like his master.

If they called the master of the house  Beelzebul, 

how much more will they malign those of his household."

Jesus in Matthew 10: 24-25

This past week, I had a message from a young lady in south east Asia who shared her desire to see people come to know Christ, but her deep concern for the lack of conversions and spiritual interest she was experiencing.  She shared about hearing of God working in and through others in great ways, but she was not seeing the action of God in her life.  I could tell she really wanted to see God work in and through her!  Yet, through her witness, only a few had expressed interest in Christ.  She asked, "Is there something wrong with me?"

I replied to her message, but I wanted to give a fuller explanation.  I believe her experience marks the experience of many!  I know for times and seasons in my life, it matched perfectly with my experience.

So, is she doing something wrong?  I would guess the answer to be no.  While she probably could be better at knowing and presenting the gospel, I can read between the lines to see that her heart is in the right place!  She desperately wants to see God's name exalted in her life and in the lives of her not-yet-believing friends.

This heart attitude is where most believers fall short in being used by God.  For many, complacency and selfishness drive our Christian life.  We view Jesus and the Holy Spirit as our personal saviors and helpers.  We seek to be healed of our hurts and hang-ups, and then we might tell others about Jesus.  

Unfortunately, this attitude is why so many people do not grow in their faith!  The Holy Spirit must go somewhere in our life.  His purpose is to exalt the name of Jesus and the bring glory to the Father.  As we share about Jesus' work in our life and the truth about who He is, the Holy Spirit shows up to bring glory to Christ.  In the process, we are changed and transformed!  

Yes, the biggest reason most of us do not grow and do not see people come to faith is that we do not share the life-changing message of the gospel!  Our "fear of rejection" illustrates a profound lack of faith.  Our desire to "be made right and holy" before we share our faith illustrates a profound misunderstanding of how we grow in grace.

So, what could be wrong?  If she is sharing her faith with a right heart, why is there so little fruit?

I labor and work in an area of America known for the highest levels of secularism in our country.  We also have the lowest percentage of church attendance while boasting the highest level of "noners" (those claiming absolutely no religious affiliation or preference) in the United States.  New England, and Maine in particular, has been called the grave-yard of preachers because of the rocky spiritual soil.  I know many sincere pastors and Christians who have seen little or no conversions through their witness.

Does this mean we are all failures?  I know many need to get past the fear of rejection and witness.  Others need to stop thinking of Christ as their personal savior and see Him as the answer to virtually all human questions and needs.  Their friends and co-workers need Jesus!  But there is something more at work here.

In scripture, we are told that Satan has blinded the eyes of unbelievers (2 Cor. 4:4).  In my experience and in the book of Acts, I have seen some groups of people responded more favorably to the gospel, while other entire groups of people rejected the gospel.  Even Paul witnessed little conversions in Athens (Acts 16:16-34), while seeing great revival in Berea (Acts 16:10-15).  Did he do something wrong in Athens?

Some would argue yes, but I think not!  The people of Athens were more worldly and secular than the people of Berea.  By this I do not mean "evil" but instead I mean that they looked and believed in natural cause more than spiritual answers.  Secular folks rule out the work of God from consideration.  Obviously it is harder to witness to these folks!

For example, the Stoics mentioned in Acts 16:18 most likely would have been very moral people marked by great self control.  They might be "more righteous" in their conduct than anyone we know!  Yet, they rejected the supernatural as superstitious "babbling" from a weak mind.  Of course they reject Paul's message.  They probably did not even listen to it.

I would argue that such thought is the very definition of worldliness.  It is also the mark of those controlled and dominated by the blinding influence of the Evil One.

This young lady labors to witness for Jesus in an area dominated with the same worldly and secular thought.  I also labor in such an area!  What can we do?

First, pray like your life depends upon it!  In fact, pray like the lives of those to whom you witness depend upon it.  Ask for the Lord to send a spirit of revival and transformation.  Pray that the veil will be lifted so they may see their real need and embrace Christ.

Second, do not give up!  Keep praying, witnessing, and most importantly washing yourself in the gospel.  It will be easy to forget the gospel if you do not have others around you to remind you of its beauty and truth.  Find a community of like-minded believers to encourage and pray with you.

Finally, rejoice in the spiritual interest and conversions you do see.  It may not match the volume or experience of others in different towns or place, but who cares!  You do not live in those places.  God has called you to your specific place and to these people.

In other words, please remember that there is nothing wrong with you!  In fact, God has shown great trust in you by placing you in such a difficult environment.  Keep witnessing to the truth and praying for God to send His Spirit to open the eyes of unbelievers.  Immerse yourself in the gospel.  Gather with a community of believers who share the same Lord and the same struggles.  Remember that today may be the day the revival starts through your witness.  To God be the glory in that wondrous revival!