Archive for the 'Nations in Revival' Category
December 27th, 2008 by Laura Woodworth
Missions - or any kind of ministry - can be challenging and rewarding. It can also lead to burn out if you’re not experiencing God’s presence in powerful ways.
The bible says that we are changed from glory to glory. So what happens if you’re not experiencing God’s glory? Obviously, change is not happening… and after a while, the zeal goes, the fire leaves, and you’re left with the day to day grind of life.
Every little problem becomes a mountain of frustration and your heart grows colder and harder with each passing day.
Although any type of ministry can be tiring and difficult at times, there should be joy in the work and increasing strength in the war of it.
You must get in the place of God’s glory. Glory can happen in those quiet times with Him… and should be happening in the corporate settings as well.
Please, if you’re feeling dry and losing your vision for your mission, connect to the revival at World Revival Church. It’s easy through streaming video and even through Daystar as they air these services live every Friday. If possible, make plans to visit Kansas City and experience God’s glory firsthand.
We need good missionaries. And good missionaries need God’s glory. -Laura Woodworth
P.S. If you think I sound like a commercial for World Revival Church, then you’ll have to understand how many hundreds - possibly thousands - of pastors and leaders have been touched and dramatically changed through this revival. God is doing something special here - especially for ministries. Trust me… YOU NEED TO EXPERIENCE THIS REVIVAL.
Let’s touch the nations with POWER!
November 10th, 2008 by Laura Woodworth
Vision is absolutely necessary for ministry! Last time I talked about how having a vision and being able to impart it to others as vital for you to gain not only financial support, but also prayer support for mission work or any type of ministry.
Here are some quick notes on vision from the Practical Ministry/Marketing class I taught recently at the World Revival School of MInistry. It’s a little choppy pulled straight from my notes, but I think it will help you if you have a desire to DO SOMETHING GREAT FOR GOD in the nations!
Vision: We need leaders – leaders with vision. KEY: Your vision must be primarily vision of Jesus, of His church (radiant!), and of the world covered with God’s glory and in global revival.
Vision is necessary for your life, your family, and your ministry. Without vision (revelation of the Lord) you will perish… and so will your ministry!
“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.” Proverbs 29:18
When you have vision… you will live a life of discipline: a life that pleases God with God’s purposes in mind. YOUR LIFE WILL HAVE A HEAVENLY PURPOSE!
Understand: God will speak to you… He’s got a plan and calling for every person that’s HIS. Once you get a vision, it’s important to write it down…
“Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablest so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come andw will not delay.” Habakkuk 2: 2-3
If you want to do something great for God in that nations, with your family, with your LIFE… Envision it - speak it forth - write it down - and move towards it in prayer and faith with action.
More to come! -Laura Woodworth
November 7th, 2008 by Laura Woodworth
Okay, so you’ve got a vision to GO… to bring Christ to the nations… to see the NATIONS IN REVIVAL! But what you’re lacking is the finances. That’s where most visions end, and I believe it’s because we haven’t done a good job of sharing our vision with others.
Christians can be funny about money - we don’t want to talk about it much and yet it is absolutely vital to carry on the work of God! Here’s a thought that will set you free to follow your dream: Jesus talked about money, Paul talked about money - in fact if you look through your bible with fresh eyes, you’ll see that God has a lot to say about giving to support His work!
It’s okay to ask for people to give to a good thing. God has promised an abundance for every good work. Assuming that yours is a good work (smile!), the dream begins with YOU - imparting your vision to the ones God has lined up to bring provision. And again, this is where we often fall short.
I’ll get more in depth on this in the next post, but for starters, let me encourage you to make sure the vision is firm in your own heart before you try to sell others on the idea. Think through the plan from start to finish… short term goals, long term goals, who, when, where, why! Bounce your ideas off others who can help you think through the possibilities as well as the possible roadblocks!
Then, start writing the vision down and praying over it. I love Habbakuk 2:1-4 that says, in a nutshell: Inscribe the vision…wait for it… and live by faith. Take some time and write down what you feel God is leading you towards, start praying, and let the zeal for it start burning in your life! Then you’ll be in a better position to ask others to join you in this great project with their prayers and financial support.
I truly believe that God has provision for the vision that is submitted to Him. More on this next time, plus I want to tell you about a great resource I found that can help you share your vision with others! - Laura Woodworth
November 5th, 2008 by Laura Woodworth
America in revival! The elections are over and President-elect Obama will soon take center stage in the running of our country. Now is the time for us to take advantage of this interesting turn of affairs and use it for God’s purposes.
I encourage you to look for opportunities to stir the fires of faith - in God - in our nation. Spread the word about revival and places where God is coming down in power among His people. Support the people and the churches that are working hard to bring the presence of God to His people. Pray what Pastor Kathy Gray envisions and leads the congregation of World Revival Church in prayer for: “a revival among the people of God and an awakening among the masses.”
With a concerted effort, we can affect the nations with revival. We can see whole governments turn to God and lead their country on a righteous path that brings blessing and peace to the people, and glory and honor to God. -Laura Woodworth
November 4th, 2008 by Laura Woodworth
I need to take a minute and recommend an excellent resource for ANYONE who has a heart for global evangelization and global revival. Perspectives on the World Christian Movement edited by Ralph Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, is a compilation of various authors who are authorities in cross-cultural ministry.
Alan and I have used this as our main textbook in two classes that we have taught at the World Revival School of Ministry. (We first took the class in the 1980’s!) This is foundational for effective cross-cultural ministry. This class is currently offered at WRSM in the spring titled “Cross-Cultural Ministry,” and covers the biblical, historical, cultural, and strategic perspectives in global evangelization and also discusses strategies for church planting.
Much of this valuable material is written from a primarily evangelical point of view. There are a few writings that Alan and I would add our editorial comments to, giving this more of a spirit-empowered emphasis, but that does not in any way detract from the huge impact this can have on your life as you look to your participation in reaching the nations. I like one of the quotes in this, “God may not need my knowledge, but He doesn’t need your ignorance either.” (I think D.L. Moody said this…)
In other words, glean and learn and then minister in the Spirit’s power. Again, this is a must read, and really, if you can get into the class at WRSM, then I would highly recommend it. -Laura Woodworth
November 1st, 2008 by Laura Woodworth
Missionaries - beware! Especially Western missionaries… and particularly American missionaries! We have a bad reputation of entering a nation and taking over. Granted, in pioneer missions, this may be exactly what is needed, for the incoming missionary to “do it all.” However, most missionaries never move out of that position, essentially keeping themselves as over - and the nationals under - them.
To see global evangelization and global revival, you’ve got to discern the need of a nation or people group. You must have an eye to the future, training up national leaders all along the way and essentially working yourself out of a job. This is important, because the best way for an entire nation to be evangelized is for the nationals to get the vision for seeing their family, friends, neighboring tribes villages or urban centers to come into a living relationship with God… and for them to carry the message throughout their nation.
Think about it - let’s say you go in to the deep part of Mexico where there are still unreached tribes. You’ve got to learn the language, learn the culture, break into their society and gain their trust and respect. You’ve got several cultural boundaries to cross to affect their lives. BUT if you can reach them, and get even one to lay hold of God, then you’ve got a snowball effect on your hands! Train up that one convert, impart the vision to see others come to Christ, and then send that one forth among his own people. NO cultural boundaries for him to cross… just the powerful message of the cross for him to relay.
Start envisioning the gospel spreading like WILD FIRE through people like you and me who have been baptized with FIRE! It’s a powerful proposition. -Laura Woodworth
More on discerning the need of a nation to come….
October 27th, 2008 by Laura Woodworth
REVIVAL - everyone says they want it OR that they already have it happening in their church or ministry.
IF that’s the case, then I think we would see more people happier in their churches and less people complaining about “not being fed” - OR WORSE YET - finally giving in to dead, dull religion and living with the status quo of normal church. Get in, get out, and go live your life. NO marvelous transformations… no power and glory seen in the sanctuary… only nice little fellowship groups or support groups that are all about ME.
I’ve got friends in the ministry that are weighing heavy on my heart. Somehow they’ve gotten entangled in all this seeker sensitive stuff that has literally sucked the life of God out of their church. It’s time for a new premise of ministry. It’s time to get so very desperate for the presence of God that we are consumed with that one goal - to have God back in our lives.
Desperation. Crying out. One heart to have the One God active in your church or ministry. Don’t give in to the path that’s full of humanism and leaves out the mighty God. Please - get desperate for Him. - Laura Woodworth
October 19th, 2008 by Laura Woodworth
What’s it going to take to see the nations in revival? Luke tells us in Acts 1:3 that after His suffering, Jesus “gave many convincing proofs that he was alive.”
Does your life testify that Jesus is alive? Are you living a life of “convincing proofs” that there is a LIVING Savior, Lord and King? We will see global revival if we’ll start living like Jesus did… empowered by the Holy Spirit and not afraid to be a sign and wonder to the nations.
So… how do we get this empowerment? Or to coin a line from Chariots of Fire about the selfless life of missionary Eric Liddel, “Where does the power come from to finish the race to its end? It comes from within…” It comes from the promised Holy Spirit welling up inside of you. The “dynamis” of God.
You can touch the nations, powerfully and effectively. Don’t try to do it in your own strength, though. Actively go after the empowerment of the Holy Spirit… live in it, walk in it, breathe in it. AND THEN - you will live a life of convincing proofs. And many will see and believe and put their trust in THE LORD. -Laura Woodworth
October 15th, 2008 by Laura Woodworth
Get trained for global revival at World Revival School of MInistry of Kansas City. If you want to participate in what God is doing in the earth RIGHT NOW - then I suggest you take steps RIGHT NOW to become a trained minister.
This is my plug for this bible college that is like none other. Founded by Steve and Kathy Gray, known leaders of revival around the world, you’re going to gain more at this school than just an “education.” You are going to be trained to EFFECTIVELY carry revival to the nations.
When I was 18 years old and newly saved, I was searching for something like this that would equip me and raise me up in God - but there was nothing available except for the traditional bible colleges. I didn’t even consider those, because I wanted to be actively serving God, learning, and receiving an anointing FOR MORE - all at the same time!
This is your chance to experience what I was looking for way back then. Check out the World Revival School of Ministry website. OR, better yet, visit this school in Kansas City. Come on a weekend and attend the revival services at World Revival Church. You’ll see the WRSM students in class… AND working hard in services to bring this revival to the world.
Get trained - get an anointing - and get busy bringing revival to the nations. -Laura Woodworth
September 27th, 2008 by Laura Woodworth
Remember - global revival is possible… it is predetermined as part of God’s plan. The conditional aspect of it is your participation! Are you in revival? How can you know?
I like Kathy Gray’s definition of revival, “vigorous life coming to the half-dead!” (Steve and Kathy Gray pastor World Revival Church. See Friends/Resources above.) You may be a Christian, but if you’ve been in the religious system for long, I can almost guarantee that YOU NEED REVIVAL!
Revival means seeing God for who He is and being absolutely, fiercely devoted to Him. It also means seeing yourself for WHO YOU REALLY ARE. None of this feel-good, seeker-sensitive, we’re all good people theology… but really allowing the Holy Spirit to do His work in your life… letting Him convict you of sin, righteousness, and judgement.
In other words, take a good hard look at yourself through the Holy Spirit and through the Spirit-inspired Word of God. Once you get a good look at yourself, you’ll be desperate for God’s “vigorous life” coming to you!
With hearts for the nations, we must be people of revival. The world has had enough of half-hearted, man-pleasing ineffective religion. Please, PLEASE, PLEASE - check out what’s happening in revival at World Revival Church. The articles and brief video clips will help you experience God’s reviving power for yourself.
Also, I’ve added a new book to my Friends/Resource page. Available October 28th, “My Absurd Religion” is a must-read for anyone who really wants to bring the powerful presence of God to the nations. (Click on this link and you can preview the first chapter of this by Steve Gray!) The World is waiting for some good news… I hope you will make every effort to be an effective minister of the gospel. -Laura Woodworth