Glimpses of Revival – Page 2

The Drama Of Redemption

Taken from the Pastor’s Corner in MBBC church paper September 3, 1971

THE DRAMA OF REDEMPTION…

is more exciting than anything on TV. Last Sunday night, as you know, I baptized Mr. and Mrs. Teny Barnes. After Mrs. Barnes was baptized she stood on the steps beside Joanne to watch her husband. As I buried Mr. Barnes beneath the water, Mrs. Barnes said, “Thank you, Jesus.” And I want to say the same, ”Thank you Jesus” for making all things new, for bringing joy unspeakable and full of glory into human life. As Jack Schoeppey said after the service, “it’s great to be in a church where things are happening.”

SUMMER ENDS ON A GLORIOUS NOTE

With extra chairs brought in and people still unable to find a seat, last Sunday brought to a close a great summer. Among the notable things God did was in the area of finances. We ended the summer with ALL bills paid, mission giving up to par and a little left over. That’s never happened before in the history of our church.

And what’s even more interesting–at the same time the economic situation on the individual level has been lousy. Many of our people have been out of work, we’ve lost several families because they could no longer find employment in the Dallas -Ft. Worth area and yet–our church finances have never been better.

The only explanation is God. All this shows that WHEN YOU HAVE A LORDSHIP CAMPAIGN YOU DON’T NEED A STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN.

At the beginning of this fiscal year we decided that God has unmistakably demonstrated to MBBC that HE will meet our needs by grace through faith. We rejected the idea of a Stewardship campaign and trusted in God alone through believing prayer. Praise His Holy Name! It’s not a miracle, it’s God simply doing what He said He would.

PRAYER GROUPS CONTINUE TO GROW

One of the most blessed results of Revival has been the spontaneous springing up of prayer groups within our fellowship. One grew to such proportions they had to split into three more prayer groups! I believe this is the secret to continuing revival in our church.

“From the day of Pentecost, there has been not one great spiritual awakening in any land which has not begun in a union of prayer, though only among two or three; no such outward, upward movement has continued after such prayer meetings have declined.” A.T.Pierson

“‘THE LORD MADE ME DO IT”

That’s the testimony of more and more each week as they share with me their FIRST Witnessing experience. Of course, this is only the normal result of the fullness of the Spirit. Continue to pray that the Lord of the Harvest will thrust laborers into His harvest, It’s happening.

©2002 Ron Dunn. Used by permission of LifeStyle Ministries. This article is copyrighted and is for your individual use. Reproduction for any other purpose is governed by copyright laws and is strictly prohibited. This material originally appeared in the MacArthur Blvd. Baptist Church newsletter.

Mass Funeral And Wedding At MBBC

Taken from the Pastor’s Corner of MBBC church paper June 25, 1971

MASS FUNERAL AND WEDDING AT MBBC

I’ve never been in a service such as the one last Sunday night. For the past year God has been doing the “amazing” in our church–last night He did the “AWESOME.” All day we felt God was up to something; during the afternoon, families all over Irving knelt together to pray for the evening service. The people came in great anticipation and God didn’t disappoint us!

I’ve never witnessed a more beautiful sight than that of couples and families kneeling together at the altar for a “Divine Wedding.” That’s the only way I know to describe it. One husband said to me, “I wish someone had told me this 15 years ago.” Another said, “You’ve touched on the problem of 90% of our homes.” Another father testified, “God gave me back my family.”

If I live to be a hundred I’ll never forget the sight of ridiculously happy families, weeping and laughing and loving, as they left the church after the hour and a half invitation.

‘YOUR LOOKING AT A DEAD PERSON’ was the public testimony of one of many who came to deal with his sins and die to self. The whole building was saturated with VICTORY.

Since REVIVAL came to our church over a year ago, God has demonstrated again and again His mighty power–but last Sunday night–well, the only word to describe it is, AWESOME. We trembled and rejoiced in the unveiled presence of God.

VICTORY IN THE AFTER-MEETING

An hour after we dismissed the service, more couples came to meet the pastor at the church to “get things settled with the Lord.” One couple who were visitors in the evening service returned at 11:00 PM and were saved!

THANK YOU LORD JESUS, FOR YOUR FULFILLED PROMISE: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst.” Praise God!

A Challange From The Lord To MBBC

Taken from the Pastors Column of MBBC church paper on January 28, 1972

A CHALLENGE FROM THE LORD TO MBBC

“I have set watchmen (intercessors) upon thy walls, O Jerusalem , which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, and give Him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”

God has graciously poured out a spirit of Intercession upon our people and we’re praising Him for what He’s doing through answered prayer. According to John 14:12, 13, this is the way Jesus intended us to do “greater works;” The tragedy of our day is that churches don’t recognize prayer as a METHOD OF EVANGELISM, perhaps the most important method, for effective witnessing depends upon effective interceding. Just last week I read an article dealing with the things necessary for winning souls. Neither the Holy Spirit nor Prayer were mentioned! Nowadays the usual procedure is to formulate all our plans, programs and methods of winning people, then add a dash of prayer for flavor. No wonder the promise of Jesus to equal and exceed His works mocks us. Let’s bring the level of our experience up to the level of God’s Word!

And the God-ordained way is through the ministry of Intercession. Intercession will, according to Jesus in Matthew 9:3 8, produce witnesses and soul winners. James 5:16 assures us that prevailing prayer will provide all the power required.

I’m asking God to so move among us that in the very near future we’ll have people interceding 24 hours a day, wrapping our church and it’s ministry in a blanket of prevailing prayer. We’ll be asking for volunteers to join our army of intercessors. Be ready.

Ronald Dunn

2002 Ron Dunn. Used by permission of LifeStyle Ministries. This article is copyrighted and is for your individual use. Reproduction for any other purpose is governed by copyright laws and is strictly prohibited. This material originally appeared in the MacArthur Blvd. Baptist Church newsletter.

Characteristics Of Revival

Taken from Church newsletter, May 1, 1970

CHARACTERISTICS OF REVIVAL

“I know it’s not cool to talk about what happened last week, but I would be ungrateful if I didn’t praise God for His presence in our services last Sunday. Never have I witnessed such a great outpouring of His Spirit, especially in the evening service. Without a doubt revival has started. Let’s continue to seek God’s face in this matter. Our hearts are hungry for revival and God is anxious to give it.

Some characteristics of revival I observed in Denver, in the accounts of the Asbury Wakening and recently, in our own church are:

(1) Unconsciousness of Time. God doesn’t work according to a clock. We mustn’t quench the Spirit and limit God simply because it’s the customary time to dismiss.

(2) Abundance of Testimonies. People who ordinarily say very little publicly are driven to declare what God has done and is doing for them.

(3) Overwhelming Conviction of Sin. Every great revival of history has borne this earmark. This is something only the Spirit of God can bring about.

I believe in our church we’re on the threshold of a great awakening. Let’s covet together to pray to this end.

The most important statistic of last Sunday is GOD WAS PRESENT. We praise Him for it.

Interesting Surprise Greets Visitor

From the Pastor’s Corner of MBBC church paper – August 13, 1971

INTERESTING SURPRISE GREETS VISITOR

After last Sunday morning’s service I met an out of town visitor on the parking lot. He said he received two surprises from our worship service: (I) he didn’t know that many people went to church anymore, and, (2) he didn’t know people ENJOYED church that much.

His second surprise interested me. Here’s a man who is surprised that Christians enjoy worshipping Jesus Christ. And yet, irrepressible JOY was one of the chief characteristics of the early Christians. Twice the Pharisees criticized Jesus because HIS disciples were HAPPY! I doubt if that same charge could be leveled against 20th century disciples. What a tragedy. The average Christian acts like he’s attending a funeral and the average worship service is “like unto a funeral.”

But the fruit of the Spirit is JOY. And when He possesses completely the lives of men and women, the inevitable result is JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY.

Praise the Lord that this visitor was able to see the fruit of Spirit-filled lives worshipping the Living Lord.

JESUS IS LORD AND IN CONTROL. That glorious fact produces a great feeling.