Re-printed from September 21, 2009
Ever since I was a child in a little Moravian Church in Dillingham, over the years, I have heard missionaries, pastor’s, elders and even regular members praying for revival. Even today in some of our Moravian communities, I notice some church bulletins have prayer requests for revival listed. I believe that Moravians in Alaska have been praying for revival a long time. We sing about it; we pray for it, we wait for it, but I wonder if we will truly recognize it when it happens? Will you recognize revival when it happens? I am afraid that true revival when it happens will not be recognized by many of our leaders and people.
Within my heart of faith, I have always felt that revival is stirring within the Alaska Moravian Church because we have been praying for it for years, especially for it to happen among our young people. Revival will come, because too much evil and destruction is upon us in our society! Church history tells us that God chooses to move upon society at certain locations and times. For me I will recognize true revival when it begins to transform our Native society.
It has always been my view that when revival comes lots of lives are rededicated to Jesus, lots of transformations occur, marriages are saved, and many people are literally saved from living lives of addictions. I believe it is true revival in a small Moravian community, when clear evidence points to the crime rate going down drastically. I will recognize true revival when all of God’s people begin to become more excited about worship, about studying and applying the Bible to their lives, and becoming excited about the things of God! At the very least, I think we will all agree that when true revival appears in our midst, numerous people will begin to repent and be added to the Kingdom of God.
Revival as a theme is in the Holy Scriptures in both the Old and New Testaments. There are three times we find in the word of the Lord where the bible tells us in (Psalms 138:7) “Revive me” in (Psalms 85:6) “Revive Us” and in (Habakkuk 3:2) “Revive thy Work”. We must understand that revival always begins with us (individually), but if I can get to a place of revival for (our own self), then it can spread to (us) and when revival spreads to all of us, then we can ask God to spread revival to (thy or “His” work) other Moravian Churches.
When true revival comes, the right environment of openness and humility and prayer needs to be in place for revival. One of the special teachings that we can find from God’s Word is from Mark 2:13-22. Here we hear about the calling of Saint Matthew and the story about “the wine and the wineskins”. Although the text starts with the calling of Matthew, I want to share a couple of words on what is mean’t about the the wine and wineskins. It is my hope that this parable convicts hearts for repentance, if there are those that are hanging on to the old ways and not allowing God’s ways.
During the life and times of Jesus Christ Jesus, a long time ago, like the Yupik seal oil that was stored inside seal skins, the wine the Jews used was stored in animal skins. It was said that new wine gave off gases and expands, so it was placed in new wineskins. New wineskins were supple, soft, elastic, and capable of expanding with the pressure. Jesus told the people that it is not advisable to put the new wine into old wineskins, because they were dry and brittle, and had no elasticity. Since they could not expand with the pressure, they would eventually crack open and the wine would be lost.
Over the course of the last several months I have been reading about the 1st and 2nd Great Spiritual Awakenings in America. The book entitled “God’s Generals” written by Roberts Liardon is available on Amazon.com. In this book I read biographies of great Spiritual leaders; men who introduced God’s revival to America and changed American society. These men were Charles Wesley, George Whitfield, George Fox, Charles Finney, and other notables. Many of the church people (the traditionalists) of the day did not recognize true revival when it came. They did not recognize revival because what they saw threatened the religious establishment. As a result the men who were responsible for a great work of God where often persecuted and even kicked out of their denominations.
Going back to Mark 2:13-22, if indeed the context is correct, when God’s Spirit pours out in revival, it seems God uses people who are not stuck with Church traditions or ways of men. Old wineskins don’t work the best. Someone has said that “Jesus knew that at some point in time old ways, ways of doing things, the way words are used, creeds, and theology; even ways of worship seem to come apart and crack. They grow brittle with time. Like old wineskins they lose their elasticity”. In my mind, it seems the new wineskins may ineed be about our young people in our Province who are willing to try something new, even if they are criticized for it.
Any true clergyman will recognize that in the point of reference surrounding Mark 2, Jesus was teaching a new and radical teaching. By telling the people that new wineskins were required, Jesus told his followers that the conventional Old Testament theology of the day that had kept the people going for thousands of years, was no longer adequate for the needs of the people or usable for all that was to be revealed In his earthly ministry.
In applying the lesson of the wineskins we must take time to think deeply. Take a moment to think that possibly even in the Moravian Church in Alaska, old and conventional ways of thinking or doing can hurt or hinder what Christ truly wants to do among us today. It can stop expansion of the Kingdom of God in the way God wants and hinder true revival from happening.
The following paragraph may be difficult for alot of our people who are living carnally. In the parable of the wineskins, why did Jesus Christ warn about resistance toward new ideas? Why? Because people love to hang on with what they are comfortable with. They in their flesh or carnal spirit would rather do everything they can to question, to create discord, discontent and try to stop any change any way they can. Are we like the too comfortable or complacent Laodicean Church in Revelations? Rev 3:17 says, Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
We all have our own experiences and biblical understandings in serving the Lord. I am glad God has put me into a unique place. I enjoy serving as Senior Pastor of the Moravian Church in Anchorage (AncMC). The Elders of the AncMC are open to God’s heart and are always willing to try new things, if it is in line with God’s Word and His Spirit. We still have a very traditional flavor, but want to give the Spirit of God free reign, especially during our non-denominational Singspirations and Jubilee Fund Raisers.
Truly as Moravians worshipped in Anchorage, Alaska, last May 2009, during a special four night series of revival services entitled “Awakening Revival”, I was again amazed at what I saw. As the lay people led the services, I noticed a lessening of inhabitations, less reservations, and as I contemplated what I experience we were truly worshipping God in Spirit and Truth. It looked like and felt like people were really worshipping. They were not worrying about how the person next to them worshipped.
In my own heart as I worshipped there was still pride in me. Was I worshipping completely in “Spirit and Truth”? I must admit not always 100%. I believe, honestly, there is still some traditionalist spirit in me. God forgive me, I still have some problems about allowing more demonstrativeness. For example although it has not happened, I may have a problem of “people dancing and rolling in the pews”.
However I am open to the thought, what kind of worship would we have, if all of us would put our pride aside and say alright, the only thing that is going to concern me is only worshipping God? I believe that the best of the past traditional way we worship and allowing God to work freely will give us something meaningful for today.
Presently I don’t think dancing in the Church is where God is leading us. But if this is what God wants, why would we stop it? In the Old Testament which we subscribe to in our “Ground of Unity”, a prime example is David who danced before the Lord in worship. It says in 2 Sam 6:13-16 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
Yes, I am guilty in my traditional views sometimes. I know in my own experience I have restrained the working of the Holy Spirit. Father forgive me. I recognize there has been a problem with pride in my own heart. I know God wants humility in all of us. But in the expression of our spirituality and worship, it must always go in line with the Bible and His Holy Spirit.
One more thought about recognizing true revival when it happens among us. People may not recognize revival because they have not been praying for it. I wonder if we would be willing to pray more. From my study, true revival is always the result of prayer…“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray”. Acts 4:31…And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
True revival means people praying and experiencing, anew, a revival of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power. Part of me in this commentary wants to say….may we continue to pray that God will bring more revival. I know in my heart of hearts, God wants to continue to awaken us so he can use us to share the gospel more effectively to the world around us. If we lay aside the things that we cherish, the old wineskins, God will fill new wineskins. We must pray that God will give us hearts not of stone, but of flesh. We must be willing to be open and flexible and willing to change. We must be obedient and willing to make improvements in our lives and the way we do things, so that God can do it better to bring people into the kingdom. Certainly as I have said, time and time again, more love and joy will attract people to our Church.
Do we want revival to happen to our beloved Church? I noticed that Moravian Synod 2008 wanted revival. That’s why so many of us today are studying revival, so that our Church will grow and be a meaningful influence upon our society. God is giving us helpful people to explore revival. Recently I received something very good upon a recommendation from Evangelist Justin Vold who is accepted in our circles in Alaska as an Ambassador for Christ. He gave me a good recommendation to study about Evangelist Al Whittinghill’s ministry. As a result I found some good statements which I would like to share with you.
What I believe Brother Al would say. What will stop revival in our midst is an “attitude of prejudice” (I don’t like what’s going on), or “misconceived notions” (do not understand church history or really what happens when the Spirit of God pours out) about revival. These are good words. Wow, listen a bit more. Evangelist Al Whittinghill is a man who I would love to have come to our Province and conduct seminars on prayer. He states some additional significant things about revival.
Brother Whittinghill says “there are those in the Church that say, we are ‘open to God,’ but we really mean as long as He works within our expectations or preconceived terms of reference. It must be traditional, respectable, rational; with no out-of-control display of emotions, (This might even be the same one who goes to the ball game and paints himself and shrieks for his team.) We want order! The mysterious, irrational, or supernatural has always tended to make the carnal mind nervous. “Lord revive us but do it this much, and no more and do it this way and with these people. Thank you. Praise you.” We often believe God to the point of discomfort or inconvenience or costing us something dear, and then we back off! Too many treat Him as “a supernatural aid to a happy life,” and we want Him as long as He doesn’t change what we like.”
I think the biggest thought I’ve learned recently is that persons who are not open to change will not recognize true revival and will oppose and grieve the Holy Spirit. The fact remains any person that is not open to change will not be open to revival.
Are we willing to change our view as to what we think revival really is? Again, the fact is there can be no revival until we are willing to change. Psalm 110 says, “Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power.” Are we willing to give up our own earthly carnal ideas? Am I willing to give up my comfortable, but dead, tradition?
Please remember the teaching in Mark 7:9. I apply it to myself too. If I am still stuck on the “spirit of religion” or think Church tradition is more important, I need to be very careful lest I grieve the Holy Spirit and go against a bonafide move of God. Mark 7:9 says, “And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.”
Especially in the case of Manokotak Moravian Church when revival comes, it comes in unexpected ways and causes unexpected things to happen. Like 25 Confirmands last spring. Will you recognize and accept true revival when it comes? I hope so.
