Elder's Leadership Certification Level - 1: Revival, Reformation, and Evangelism

1. ELDER’S LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATION LEVEL - 1

2. Revival, Reformation, and Evangelism

3. Revival and Reformation Revival is the absolute in the church growth process. A church must constantly call upon the Lord for His leadership, direction, insight, and power.

4. Revival and Reformation “A revival and a reformation must take place, under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things.

5. Revival and Reformation Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend.” (E. G. White, Last Days Events, 189)

6. Revival and Reformation “A revival need be expected only in answer to prayer.” (Selected Messages, 121)

7. Revival and Reformation “God calls for a revival and a reformation. The words of the Bible, and the Bible alone, should be echoed from the pulpits of our land. In the sermons of many pulpits of today there is not that divine manifestation which awakens the conscience and brings life to the soul.” (RH, February 27, 1908 par. 5)

8. Revival and Reformation “We all need the Holy Spirit. Our ministers need it. Our medical and educational institutions and our churches need it. We need a thorough, living experience in the work of the Lord.” (Sermons and Talks, Vol.1, p. 392)

9. Revival and Reformation Steps First Step: Pastors and church workers. Second Step: Local church leaders and members. Third Step: Everyone involved in evangelism to proclaim Jesus’ Second Coming.

10. Revival and Reformation Steps 1. Pastors and Church Workers • “A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work.” (Last Days Events, p. 189) • “I tell you that there must be a thorough revival among us. There must be a converted ministry. There must be confessions, repentance, and conversions. Many who are preaching the Word need the transforming grace of Christ in their hearts.” (Ibid.)

11. Revival and Reformation Steps 1. Pastors and Church Workers “The ministers must be converted before they can strengthen their brethren. . . . A reformation is needed among the people, but it should first begin its purifying work with the ministers.” (1T.,p. 469)

12. Revival and Reformation Steps 1. Pastors and Church Workers “The time has come for a thorough reformation to take place. When this reformation begins, the spirit of prayer will actuate every believer, and will banish from the church the spirit of discord and strife” (Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 251).

13. Revival and Reformation Steps 2. Local church leaders and members • Love One Another “True conversion is a change from selfishness to sanctified affection for God and for one another. . . . The strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and lovable Christian” (LDE 191).

14. Revival and Reformation Steps 2. Local Church Leaders and members “The heart must be emptied of every defilement and cleansed for the indwelling of the Spirit. It was by the confession and forsaking of sin, by earnest prayer and consecration of themselves to God, that the early disciples prepared for the outpouring” (Prayer, p. 118).

15. Revival and Reformation Steps 2. Local church leaders and members “Pray without ceasing, and watch by working in accordance with your prayers. As you pray, believe, trust in God. It is the time of the latter rain, when the Lord will give largely of His Spirit. Be fervent in prayer, and watch in the Spirit” (Testimonies to Ministers, p. 512).

16. Revival and Reformation Steps 2. Local church leaders and members • Total Surrender Required “We should pray as earnestly for the descent of the Holy Spirit as the disciples prayed on the day of Pentecost. If they needed it at that time, we need it more today” (Prayer, p. 119).

17. Revival and Reformation Steps 2. Local Church Leaders and members • Clearing the Way for the Latter Rain “There is nothing that Satan fears so much as that the people of God shall clear the way by removing every hindrance, so that the Lord can pour out His Spirit upon a languishing church and an impenitent congregation” (Prayer, p. 120).

18. Revival and Reformation Steps 3. Evangelism and Proclamation “The spiritual life of the church can only be kept alive as the members make personal efforts to win souls to Christ. . .” (6MR, p. 199).

19. Revival and Reformation Steps 3. Evangelism and Proclamation “When the churches become living, working churches, the Holy Spirit will be given in answer to their sincere request. . . . Then the windows of heaven will be open for the showers of the latter rain” (LDE, p. 193).

20. Revival and Reformation Steps 3. Evangelism and Proclamation • "Keep the Vessel Clean and Right Side Up" “We need not worry about the latter rain. All we have to do is to keep the vessel clean and right side up and prepared for the reception of the heavenly rain, and keep praying. Let the latter rain come into my vessel. Let the light of the glorious angel which unites with the third angel shine upon me; give me a part in the work; let me sound the proclamation; let me be a collaborer with Jesus Christ” (LDE, p. 194).

21. Revival and Reformation Steps 3. Evangelism and Proclamation • Prayer without earnest activity for others leads to formalism. “God does not mean that any of us shall become hermits or monks, and retire from the world to devote ourselves to acts of worship. The life must be like Christ’s life—between the mountain and the multitude. He who does nothing but pray will soon cease to pray, or his prayers will become a formal routine” (Steps to Christ, p. 101).

22. Strategy for Implementation • Pastors and church workers – Step 1 • Promoting prayer meetings. • Providing study materials. • Challenging a healthy lifestyle reformation. • Claiming the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

23. Strategy for Implementation • Local church leaders and members – Step 2 • Living a life of prayer. • Promoting Week-of-Prayers and vigils. • Emphasizing the need for home worship. • Challenging a healthy lifestyle reformation. • Claiming the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

24. Strategy for Implementation • Evangelism and Proclamation – Final Goal • Revival and Reformation emphasis. • Training, equipping, and motivating. • Studying the book “Christian Service.” • Establishing small groups. • Sharing missionary literature.

25. Good News and Bad News “Had Adventists after the great disappointment in 1844 held fast their faith and followed on unitedly in the opening providence of God, receiving the message of the third angel and in the power of the Holy Spirit proclaiming it to the world, they would have seen the salvation of God, the Lord would have wrought mightily with their efforts, the work would have been completed, and Christ would have come ere this to receive His people to their reward. . . . It was not the will of God that the coming of Christ should be thus delayed. . . .” (Last Days Events, p. 37)

26. Good News and Bad News “For forty years did unbelief, murmuring, and rebellion shut out ancient Israel from the land of Canaan. The same sins have delayed the entrance of modern Israel into the heavenly Canaan. In neither case were the promises of God at fault. It is the unbelief, the worldliness, unconsecration, and strife among the Lord's professed people that have kept us in this world of sin and sorrow so many years. Had the church of Christ done her appointed work as the Lord ordained, the whole world would before this have been warned and the Lord Jesus would have come to our earth in power and great glory.” (Last Days Events, p. 38)