Glimpses of Revival – Page 3

The Greatest First Day Of Revival I’ve Ever Witnessed

Pastor’s Article of Church Newsletter, Feb. 26, 1971

THE GREATEST FIRST DAY OF REVIVAL I’VE EVER WITNESSED!

That’s my assessment of last Sunday’s services. It’s impossible to express in paper and ink what it’s like to see the Glory of the Lord unveiled–you have to see it. All I can think to say is, PRAISE THE LORD.

This revival actually started last April, but you know that don’t you? God has been preparing us for this for ten months. Only God could give the kind of revival we’re having; you don’t plan or organize these kinds. Only God can get the glory for this.

Don’t let anything keep you from the last services. This may be a once in a lifetime experience.

And thanks to our tremendous revival choir–over 100 strong in both Sunday Services.

A lady came up to me after last Sunday Morning’s service and said, “I finally saw this morning what you’ve been trying to tell us for the past 10 months–that I need to stop trying and start trusting.” Amen. THAT’S REVIVAL WITH A CAPITAL “‘R”!

WHAT’S THIS REVIVAL WORTH? That’s an unanswerable question, I know, but try. To put a price tag on the lives that have been transformed, the inexpressible joy of being in the presence of Jesus, of seeing prayers answered before your eyes–there’s just no way. But try. This week we’ll be receiving a LOVE OFFERING for our Evangelist and all I can say is GIVE IN PROPORTION TO HOW THE LORD HAS BLESSED YOU THIS WEEK. That will be enough!

©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.

Thank You Lord, For Revival

Taken from Pastor’s column of MBBC church paper March 5, 1971

THANK YOU LORD, FOR REVIVAL

At 11:00 PM Sunday night we closed the 3 hour invitation that brought to a conclusion eight days of unprecedented services in our church. Notice, the services were concluded, not the REVIVAL. Brethren, God has given us the glorious but rare privilege of seeing a mighty outpouring of His Spirit. Never have we seen it on this wise. Every service was spectacular. Every invitation lasted for at least an hour–we couldn’t close it for the people wouldn’t stop obeying the Holy Spirit. At the unscheduled Saturday morning service (which was our largest morning attendance) we gave two invitations, one before and one after the message.

Hearts were broken, sins were confessed, the lost were saved (even some “church members”), but most of all JESUS WAS LORD AND GOD WAS GLORIFIED.

MI3BC will never be the same–I don’t want to be the same. Ten months ago when God gave us a mighty visitation of the Spirit I remarked that “this is only the beginning.” I feel the same today as I write.

Before the revival we said we were claiming God’s promise in John 14:14 “If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.” WE ASKED, AND JESUS DID IT.

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.

God’s Bottle Poured Out

Taken from the Pastor’s Corner of MBBC church paper – January 15, 1971

GOD’S BOTTLE POURED OUT

Revelation 5:8 speaks of a bottle in which God keeps the prayers of the saints. Not a single prayer of God’s people is ever forgotten!! We may pray for years without seeing with the eyes of flesh the answer, but God is faithful, “who answers while we are speaking.”

Last Sunday night God poured out this bottle and answered prayers nearly ten years old! It was a glorious experience, one that can be topped only the the Return of the Lord.

And….last summer one of our young couples requested prayer for the salvation of their parents. This past week God used tragedy to answer that prayer.

And… God strangely impressed one of our members to pray for the salvation of a person she didn’t even know–and God answered!

What a thrill to see the words of Jesus come true before our eyes–”IF YE SHALL ASK ANYTHING IN MY NAME, I WILL DO IT.” John 14:14

LET’S STUDY THE BOOK OF REVELATION

Three good reasons for studying this book: 1. It unveils Jesus Christ in glory and majesty. 2. It’s the only book of prophecy in the New Testament. 3. A special blessing is given to those who read and obey it.

What Is The First Step In Winning Irving To Christ?

Taken from Church newsletter August 20, 1971

WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP IN WINNING IRVING TO CHRIST?

Irving’s on my heart. I have a vision of seeing God break forth in a revival of city-wide proportions. What God has done in our church He wants to do all over Irving. I’m not talking about pushing MBBC; I’m not thinking of reaching new goals of attendance and additions. The burden of my heart is to see Jesus released in mighty power through the lives of believers to such an extent that “all Irving will be filled with this doctrine.”

We Have the Means:

Spirit-filled members of MBBC who move daily into every strata of Irving’s life.

We Have the Method:

Person to person sharing of Jesus. It’s an old routine, old as Acts 20:20.

We Have the Motive:

Our love for Jesus. Surprise! The motive for witnessing isn’t the plight of the lost. When Jesus had breakfast with Peter in John 21 and told him to feed His sheep, He didn’t ask him if he loved sheep. Three times He asked Peter if he loved Jesus. Every time Peter answered “yes”, Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”

What, then, is the first thing we need to do?

Not set up a seminar on techniques, though that’s needed; not have a Soul Winning Commitment

Day and ask everyone to sign cards.

THE FORGOTTEN FIRST STEP IS REVEALED IN MATT. 9:38:

“PRAY YE therefore the Lord of the Harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.”

I’m challenging every praying member of MBBC to make Matthew 9:38 their daily prayer.

When you pray privately or in your prayer group; at your family altar; when asking the blessing at your meal–PRAY, PRAY, PRAY that the Lord of the Harvest will raise up Spirit-filled witnesses within our church and thrust them out “gossiping the gospel.” You may be the answer to your own prayer.

Praise The Lord For Sunday!

February 4, 1972 from church newsletter

Which Sunday? Any Sunday–they’re all great when Jesus is in control. It’s hard to believe there’s a minor flu epidemic when you see the fantastic crowds in both services. I’m praying God will give our people an extra measure of health during these days. I see no reason why God should have to take a back seat to a flu bug!

SECRET WEAPON OF THE CHURCH– INTERCESSION

Intercession is an ICB Missile that can be fired to any place on earth, at the speed of thought, without detection and with deadly accuracy. It can even be armed with a delayed detonator. But the greatest feature of this secret weapon is THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DEFENSE AGAINST IT! A lost man can stay away from church, refuse to listen to your sermons, shut his eyes to your tracts and reject your witness, but he is totally defenseless against intercession.

When armed with the fullness of the Spirit this weapon can literally devastate the enemy!

Memorizing these Prayer Promises will enlarge your faith and encourage you to intercede:

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: And, if we know that he hears us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” I John 5:14, 15

“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that he Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:13