Video Transcript: Lesson 3 Reasons for Hope In Revitalization

Hi, and welcome to our third lecture in this class on church and ministry  revitalization with Christian leaders Institute, I'm John Kenny, and I, so far really  enjoying the time we've had together, I hope that you are finding it profitable and helpful. And what we're going to do in this lecture, it gives give you a dose of  encouragement. We're going to talk about reasons for hope in revitalization.  Now, as we start this, you might not be in a very hopeful place. Certainly I know,  when I was going through this, as I've shared, I was not in a very hopeful place,  I was very discouraged, I was even wondering, do I need to leave? Do I need to  be doing something else, because I can't seem to get my folks to the place they  need to be. And I don't even know what kind of leader I need to be to make that  happen. And so you might be in a similar place. And as we're talking about  revitalization, you might be looking at your situation and feeling on the hopeless  side of things. And you might be saying things like, you know, this all sounds  great. But if you only knew our history, or if you only knew how hard I've been  trying, or if you only knew the people I have to work with, or if you only knew  about our lack of resources, or if you only knew about the terrible location or  facility we're in? Well, let me tell you, a we could come up, we could be here for  hours, and we could come up with the hundreds of reasons of why revitalization  isn't going to work, why we're doomed to the situation we're in why that the the  decline that we're in is never gonna change. And, I mean, why we don't just give up right now. So again, today, we're gonna, we're gonna cover some reasons for hope, in revitalization. And really, you need a healthy dose of hope, going for  starting and then the middle as you're going through this. And so perhaps this  might be a lecture that you're gonna want to come back to some time from now,  when you're in the middle of revitalization. And you're like, ah, is this ever gonna work? Yes, it can. And, and by God's grace, it will. So we're gonna start with  word of prayer, and we're gonna jump right in and talk about reasons for hope.  Lord Jesus, you are our Sovereign King. And you brought all things into  creation, with just a word, All things are yours, all things belong to you. There is  not one speck in this universe where you are not there and Lord over. Lord, we  know that you have built a kingdom for which the gates of hell cannot withstand.  And Lord, You are majestic, and you are powerful, and you rule on high and You are the Lord, that we we kneel before, as we go through this process of  revitalization and learning about bringing renewal. Lord, never let us forget  about your power and your authority in our lives. And in your church. We pray  this in Your name, amen. Okay, so let's talk about some reasons for hope. First  of all, it's impossible but achievable. Now, why is revitalization impossible? Well,  because as humans, you and I cannot impart what is needed for the church.  There is a spiritual life and a spiritual power that is missing, that is not ours to  give. We cannot change hearts and minds. We cannot bring something that is  dead back to life. We can't make anyone change their life. We can't make  anyone experience a conversion. I mean, this is true in all of ministry, not just 

revitalizations. We're completely powerless to do this. So. So some of you may  have said, like, Yeah, I'm working really hard. You know, I'd say work as hard as  you want. All you're going to discover is that it's going to lead to burnout and  frustration. If you're working 50 hours a week, try 75. It's not going to get much  better. If you're trying to run five programs at your church, try running 10  programs, you know, it's not it doesn't matter. We do not have the resources, the power or the ability to bring something that is dead back to life. That's why it's  called revitalization, bringing something bringing life back to something that has  lost it. So if it's impossible, if this task in front of us is absolutely impossible, why  should we even bother? Because even though it's impossible, it is achievable.  And we know that because With God, all things are possible. Consider some of  the stories of Scripture, how God made the impossible, possible. We think of  Abraham and Sarah are not able to have children, and she was barren, and he  was very old in age. And by all logic, there was no way that they should have  been able to have a child. And yet, here comes Isaac, you know, with God, all  things are possible. We think of the Israelites escaping Egypt, lined up on the  shores of the Red Sea. Pharaoh and his army bearing down on them, there is  no escape, there is no solution, they're going to be slaughtered. And whoever  remains is getting dragged back into slavery in Egypt. But then God gives  Moses the command, he raises his staff, the waters part, they walk right through to the Sinai Desert, and then later on into the promised land. That was an  impossible situation. I mean, they, they didn't know you know, what they could  possibly do. Think about when the Israelites get into the promised land, and  they're facing some pretty mean tough enemies. They come up to the city of  Jericho, this great walled city. They don't have the means to take it down. God  says marched around the city for a week, blow a trumpet, and then the walls  came down. We are dealing with a God who makes the impossible possible. In  fact, he makes the impossible, incredibly easy, like with no effort, we think about  the virgin birth, we think about God, becoming man word becoming flesh, God  doing the impossible, how does God who is infinite is his size and his his  knowledge and his wisdom and his power and his authority? How did he  condense himself down into a baby? And even before that, until, like, you know,  just a few cells, as as the child develops inside of Mary's womb? How does I  mean God is the God of the impossible, right? And then we think of Jesus's  resurrection, he was completely dead. And three days later, he walks out of his  tomb, more alive than he ever was. I mean, it's, how do we how do we  understand that? Because God is the God of the impossible. And so many times God's people have faced absolutely impossible odds. So many there's so many  wonderful stories in the Old Testament of how the, the Israelites were going up  against a far superior enemy, and they didn't even have to do anything. God just wiped them out. So let's not lose sight of this as we go into revitalization. God  can do anything. He is all powerful. He is. He is over everything. Let us not ever 

think that there's something that God cannot do right in your ministry, right  where you're at. Okay? So second. God chooses, and he always uses ordinary  people, right? The Bible and church history are full of just ordinary people. God  worked through Abraham. He was, he was a man of some means and wealth,  but there was nothing unique or about him, God just chose to use him. Moses  who was a murderer, who was out on the land forty years as a shepherd in the  desert, God uses him. David, shepherd boy, you know, just a kid. God uses him  to defeat Goliath and then to build Israel into one of the greatest kingdoms of the world. Peter and John, just every ordinary fisherman, all these people like we  think of these great spiritual heroes, but when, when God first pluck them out,  they weren't noticeable. They were there was nothing about them. They were  they were overlooked. They were incredibly ordinary are a number of them  uneducated. You know, one of my favorite ones is the call of Gideon, and God's  gonna use Gideon to lead kind of an assault against the Midianites who had  were occupying Israel. They were stealing their food and their crops and they  were and so God comes to Gideon, who he says, you know, I'm in the weakest  tribe of the weakest clan and I He's got every reason why he can't do it. And  God actually come to him and he's in a wine that, you know, kind of where  they're trusting the wine. So he's like underground, hiding. Because he's afraid  the Midianites might see him and God greets him with the words you know,  greeting mighty warrior. And it was like God being sarcastic like that, but he's  this guy's hiding. He's like the, the weakling of Israel, that God says, No, you're  you're a mighty one, mighty warrior. And as we know, through the Old  Testament, God did incredible things. Through Gideon, God, he always uses  ordinary people. We can think in church history, not that long ago in the scope of church history, but a shoe salesman turned evangelism D. L. Moody, who really  turned the world on his head, and was his generations, Billy Graham. We read in I Corinthians about how God chooses the humble God chooses the meek, God  chooses the things that aren't in the world, versus the things that are and, and  we always needs to go into this that you should be hopeful, because if you just  feel like you're just like, some ordinary guy or girl, just you don't, you know,  there's nothing special about you, you are exactly the person God is going to to  lead and, and maybe you're in an obscure part of the world. And you've just got  a little church here, a small ministry, and it doesn't seem like it amounts to much. You're exactly in a situation and the kinds of things that God works best. Okay.  So, in order to bring about revitalization, God does not need like millions of  dollars and a great facility, that's totally human thinking. God just needs a willing  spirit. God just needs someone who will put faith and trust in Him. Because if we look back, whether it's Abraham, Moses, David, Peter, John, Gideon, DL Moody, all of these ordinary people had one thing in common, they trusted the Lord. And they were willing to follow Him and to do what He commanded them to do. Okay, let's keep moving on here. The Lord has already done good things where you 

are? Now, I'm going to cover more about this in a later lecture. But wherever  you're at whatever ministry you have, there's there's some good there. I mean,  somebody's got it started, there was a hope there was a dream, there was a  vision, and God did something there. So you might have been inherited  something that's not what it used to be. But God has done some work there. And if he had done it there before, why would he not then be able to do it again, just  think that whatever ministry, you're engaged in, God started there for a purpose,  and for a reason. And my guess is more than likely, that purpose has not been  fulfilled or accomplished yet. So God has done good things there. The story is  not over for where you're at God can still yet do great things. And so we gain a  lot of momentum, thinking about all the wonderful things God has done, and it  helps us to see the things that God is doing kind of even yet in our ministry,  okay, keep moving on. Reasons for hope. Number four, Christ loves the church,  and he gave his life for his bride. I mean, think about that. We saw a little bit that in our last lecture, in reading a portion from Christ's letter to the church in  Ephesus. Christ does not give up on his bride Christ does not abandon his  bride. He died for the church, right? He died for the church. He purchased it with his blood, you and the people that you are serving are marked by His Spirit, and  that Christ is with you in this. This isn't something you're doing alone. It's not like Okay, you go over there and you try to figure that out and I'm gonna cheer you  on. Christ is with us in the midst of everything that we're trying to do. Okay. He  loves the church. He is not abandoning it. He is not going anywhere. Think of  the Old Testament story of Hosea and how Hosea needed. God was  commanded Hosea to marry the prostitute, Gomer, and it was just as bizarre as  that story is, it really just keeps pointing us back to that God is faithful, He does  not abandon his bride. And certainly Christ does not Christ as glorious plans for  his bride. And just as we read in Revelation, He is knocking at the door seeking  to come in seeking to have fellowship with us. So we have every reason to be  hopeful, because Christ is at our side. Now, now we're getting to some really  good stuff here. Let's talk about the unequal power of the Word, and the spirit. I  love the way that Scripture describes itself that it is, it's a fire, it's a hammer. It's  a sword of these really powerful instruments that get things done. It's how God  accomplishes His will is through his word, and His Word brings conviction, his  word, bring salvation, His Word brings truth, His Word brings encouragement, all these things, the power of the Word of the Lord. Now, with that, we could say a  whole lot about that we'll touch on the Word as we go through, but we're gonna  keep moving on for now, we have His Holy Spirit, which is the very presence of  Jesus Christ made manifest in us and at work around us. It is His very presence, it is his very his power. So he's guiding us. He's teaching us, he's leading us in  so many different ways. So we have the revealed truth, the word of God, and we have the spirit, the very presence of God. Both of things are totally at our  disposal. So let me ask you this. As we think about the word in the spirit, do you 

believe that those two things alone are sufficient for you to experience renewal?  Wherever you're at? I mean, really, do you think Well, those are good, but we  could also use some money, and those are great, but I could also use some staff or those are great, but we we really need a better building? Or are you willing to  go start this journey and say, armed with the Word and the Spirit I have all I  need? You know, I'll tell you, I think that far too often, when churches and  ministries are talking about going through revitalization, they pin their hopes on  things like techniques, and styles of worship, and, you know, just things like that. And there's places for conversations for those kinds of things that are not  completely irrelevant. There's a place for those, but I'll tell you what, I distinctly  remember a moment when somebody asked me this question of if I thought the  Word and the Spirit was enough. And it really made me think, because my first  thought was like, Yeah, of course, I believe it. But then I really sat down. And I  thought about it for a few weeks. Do I really think that the word of the Spirit is  enough? And the Yes, went from my head down to my heart. And I really  believed it, I believe with with the word in the Spirit. If that's all I have, I have  nothing else. I have all I need. And I'll tell you, there was a welling up within me  of just confidence, and hope and reassurance that I already had all I needed.  And so I want to challenge you with that question. Wherever you're at. Whether  it's geography wherever you're at, or wherever you're at, in ministry, whatever  challenges you're facing. Do you really and sincerely, deeply believe right now,  in your heart that God's Word and His Spirit are all that you need? Brothers and  sisters, I am praying that you say yes, and you feel that welling up just as I did,  that assurance that Christ has provided more than all we need. Okay, we're  going to keep moving on here. I want to remind you that others have done it.  Church history, Bible all, lots of stories of people being able to turn around. I  think one of the most amazing ones is as we look in the Old Testament is a story of King Manasseh, who's known as like one of the absolute all time worst, most  evil kings ever in Israel, and that's what he's known for. But if you look at the end of his story, he actually has like this conversion turnaround experience and so  many times that happens with the kings of the Old Testament and and the nation follow suit. You know if Manasseh can lead a turnaround, my goodness, I mean,  I'm hopeful for us and and I am somewhat living proof of this and I shared earlier on how lost and confused and discouraged I was God has shown himself like,  yep, you can do it. And I know this sounds like a cliche, but if I can do it, you can do it. And by that, I mean, if the Lord can do it through me, the Lord can do it  through you. Because there was really nothing inherently special or unique that I would bring to the table. I had just got into the place where I said, Lord, teach  me, Lord, lead me, Lord, I realized that you are the vine, I am the Branch apart  from you, I can do nothing. So would you please do something. And when I got  to that point, something started happening. And we can look at all kinds of  examples throughout church history. Certainly, from my background, is the story 

of the Reformation that took place and the church, the Catholic Church should  become full of a lot of corruption and corrupt people and the church had lost its  way. I mean, talk about a revitalization project. Those early reformers were  taking on not just the church, but kind of like this entire empire, and kings and  those powerful people in the world. And they brought about this incredible  revitalization. Now not to exclude the Catholics of the early, a generation or two  after John Calvin, a wonderful man, leader in the church of St. Francis de Sales, he led a renewal within the Catholic Church and a tremendous revitalization in  people's hearts changed and turned and so Catholic, Protestant, it really doesn't matter that others have done it in in wonderful ways. And again, today, right now, there are stories going on right now about churches and ministries that have  bounced back, and I can tell you, they started right where you are. So there's  really no need to think you can't do it. Others have. And probably they've started off in even worse positions than you. Okay. And then I would say, this is kind of  the overarching reason for hope. Because the church of Christ is ultimately  triumphant, I assume you've gotten to the end of Scripture, to Revelation. If you  haven't gotten to the end, let me let you in on a little secret. Jesus wins, the  church wins, it is triumphant all evil is defeated. Satan is thrown into the lake of  fire and, and the world is renewed, there's a new heaven, and a new earth that  Christ is victorious and all things are renewed. That's our destiny. That's where  this is all going. And your revitalization effort is, is part of that it's part of what  you're, what you're doing and what you're working on. So let me ask you a  question. As we're kind of considering all these things, what people situations or  certain circumstances do you believe that you can't overcome? Through the  Spirit of Christ, bearing all these things in mind, I want you to list, here's all the  things that I think I have going against me again, it's my building, it's our history.  It's my leaders. It's our lack of resources. It's whatever, some scandal we're  working through. nobody appreciates me, I don't know, there's a million when we said there's like a million of these things, right? But I want you to even if you do  this, list them all out. And then ask yourself, which one of these can Christ not  overcome? I mean, I think it's probably actually, you know, the answer already,  right? I mean, it's none. Christ can overcome all of them. So wouldn't it be just a  really good exercise for you is to write those things down. And then to actually  write like next to it like Christ can overcome Christ can overcome, just to get that in your mind. You know, so we're not going to talk about excuses or reasons or  problems anymore. Because there's nothing we're facing. It's like, you know,  Christ isn't like, boy, how are we going to fix this one? I have no idea. This is just too hard. This is too big. I never saw this coming. You know, whatever problem  you're dealing with. It's happened in a bazillion other churches and ministries  over time. So I challenge you to do that exercise to write things down and then  say which one of these can Jesus Christ not overcome? Through the working of  His Spirit? All right. And then I have one other challenge for you is I want to ask 

you, who is praying for you as you go through this process of revitalization?  Throughout the lectures, we're going to discuss much more the role of prayer,  but I want you to get started right? Now, what I'd like you to do is to find some  faithful friends who will come alongside you, if you don't have them already, who will pray for you through what you're through this class. And then even more  importantly, through the work of revitalization that you're going to be taking on.  We've mentioned this before, you can't do this on your own. You can't do this on  your own strength. You can't do this on your own wisdom and your own ideas.  You can't do it. It's impossible, yet it's achievable. And prayer is going to be this  key that unlocks the door for us. And we're going to be ushering in God's  blessing and God's power and God's strength as we do that. So I'm going to  leave you with a scriptural blessing. This fits in really well with our our work of  revitalization. So even if you're with me, please feel free to read this out loud.  You might be on a bus you might be sitting in your living room, wherever you're  at. Go ahead and read this with me. And this is our this is our final word of  encouragement. Now to Him, who was able to do immeasurably more than all  we ask or imagine, according to His power, that is at work within us. Isn't that  wonderful? It's at work within us. To Him be the glory in the church, and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Let's pray. Oh, Father in heaven, thank you so much. We come to you in the name of our Lord and  Savior Jesus Christ. We thank You, Lord, for his gift of His life, His death and His resurrection. Lord, help us all. Not to be discouraged, but to look to You, Lord, to your word, to your spirit, to your truth, and to all the wonderful ways Lord that  you you continue to work in our world today. Lord breath, bless all my brothers  and sisters, as they take on this great task. We love you, Lord, and inspire us,  Lord, to do great things for you. We pray this in Your name, amen.