In some outreach events, we consistently have people lined up, waiting for their chance to receive ministry, sometimes waiting for over an hour in unpleasant conditions. When we’ve offered apologies for the long wait, we’ve had people respond by saying, “That’s OK. I heard it was worth it.”
When we simply follow Jesus’ model for ministry outside of church meetings, we often have so many people line up to receive prayer, healing, encouraging prophetic words, and other forms of ministry that we have difficulty meeting the demand.
In contrast, our experiences in church meetings are often nothing like this. Why, instead, are so many churches experiencing decreasing attendance? Why do people often view church attendance as a chore or an unpleasant duty?
When I come back from an outreach event where we had difficulty meeting the consistently high demand for ministry, I hear people in churches and on Christian TV and radio praying earnestly for God to send a revival. I can’t help but feel that I just came back from “the revival”—but it wasn’t inside the Church. It was outside, among the people with needs.
I have experienced two extended revivals in Spirit-filled churches. In both cases, God blessed His people in wonderful ways. There were healings, deliverances, salvations, and other wonderful blessings. At the same time, as the days of continuous revival meetings wore on and volunteers were asked to attend and help in various ways night after night after night, exhaustion and even disillusionment set in; and as the length of the revival increased, fewer and fewer church members attended the meetings.
In contrast, when groups come back and share testimonies from mission trips, they seem unanimously enthusiastic, energized, and eager to go back as soon as it can be scheduled!
“The seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!”—Luke 10:17 (AMP)
Why the difference?
In my experience, exhaustion can be a signal that I am involved in something that God is not giving grace for me to do. This is not always the case. Sometimes, even though the motivation is there, I am just tired and need to rest before continuing.
God’s grace brings with it the desire, the motivation, and the energy to accomplish His will.
So, if volunteering in church revival meetings leaves me exhausted and disillusioned, but going outside the church and ministering together with a team leaves me energized and wanting more, maybe God is trying to tell me something.
While we pray earnestly for revival to come to the church, and hopefully encourage each other by telling ourselves that when the anointing comes—maybe in a few months’ time—revival will explode in our church, maybe Jesus is saying this instead:
“You say, ‘Four months more, and then it will be harvest time.’ But I tell you, open your eyes! Look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest right now.”—John 4:35 (NIRV)
Could it be… that if we will just go out, like Jesus did, it will happen, and we will begin to experience results similar to those that Jesus saw in His ministry? I believe the answer is yes!
