Preparing to Act in a Manner That Brings Revival

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text: Mark 9:38-41

Mark 9:39-40

But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. ⁴⁰ For the one who is not against us is for us.

(ESV)

Unfortunately, much of the growth occurring in many churches today is not actual growth, but a transfer of members from one church body to another.  While this may provide an increase of numbers for one church or gathering of believers in Christ, it also means another church body is experiencing a decline in numbers.  While argument that the decline of numbers is due to not teaching biblical truth, it is also possible this transference of membership occurs because of people under conviction of truthful teaching running from it to a safe place where the teaching does not convict them of their sin.  It is important for believers in Christ to put down roots in a church fellowship and for churches to stop competing with each other for members and instead focus on spreading the message of the Gospel and making disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).  However, while Jesus' final words before ascending to God the Father are a unified purpose to spread the Gospel and make disciples, the way the church accomplishes this purpose varies from congregation to congregation.  This is the form of the church which adapts to the culture of the time and location in which the church functions. 

The text of Mark 9:38-41 begins with John mentioning to Jesus that he had observed others casting out demons in the name of Jesus.  John mentions that the disciples tried to stop them because they were not part of the group with Jesus and His Disciples.  Jesus tells the Disciples not to stop these other ministers, reminding the Disciples that they are all part of the same team even though they do not wear the uniform of the twelve.  The church today wears many uniforms (i.e. Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, Pentecostal, non-denominational, etc.), but must function and grow through spreading the Gospel and making disciples of the lost in our culture.  This is the growth in the church that will bring about revival and godly cultural transformation in society.  Not only must the Church act, but it must also unify by,

1)      Repenting of internal competition for members creating division – the attitude of John regarding others ministering in Jesus' name is similar to the attitude of the disciples in  Mark 9:33-37 where they arguing over who would be the greatest.  The difference this time is an attitude that their group was superior to others because they had Jesus with them while the others could only minister in the name of Jesus.  What John and the other disciples are failing to recall is Jesus telling them twice that he was going to die, resurrect from the dead, and leave (Mark 8:31; Mark 9:31).  This means that a time was coming when no group ministering would be able to claim to have Jesus with them physically, meaning all will minister in the name of Jesus.  If anything, the group ministering in the name of Jesus is getting a head start on how the Church will minister after Jesus goes to be with His father.  For the Church to act effectively, they must begin by repenting of competing with each other and unify with the purpose of spreading the Gospel.

2)      Developing intimacy with Christ to become lighthouses for God and the Gospel – There is a difference between knowing of God, and personally knowing God.  Even the Devil and demons know about God and tremble (James 2:19).  It is not until knowing God becomes internalized that one develops an intimacy with God that will create transformation in their lives.  This transformation is so dynamic it causes a change in one’s behavior away from conformity to the world and conformity to God and His Word (Romans 12:2).  This differs from legalistic conformity to God’s Word by one knowing of God and deciding to live in obedience to the Bible because it is conformity out of love for God and not forced upon someone.  It is from this level of intimacy with God that one develops a deep desire to act and take part in spreading the Gospel.

3)      Focusing on essential doctrine and not allowing non-essential differences to distract from the mission of the Church – The essential doctrine of the Church and the Gospel is contained in Ephesians 4:4-6 and are belief in one body or a unified church; one Spirit; one Lord; one faith; one baptism; one God and Father of all.  Any body of believers not aligning with these essential beliefs is not part of the church, the Bride of Christ.  However, other beliefs such as what day of the week to worship, what style of music to have in services, how one must dress when attending services are not items defining whether a gathering of believers is a church but forms of worship.  Churches can also divide and compete over non-essential doctrine like if the rapture occurs before, during, or after the Great Tribulation, whether people still speak in tongues, etc. are items the church can discuss but should not become a shiny object of distraction taking the focus off the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

4)      Working together – The power of the Bride of Christ is when the church works together.  I remember as a child attending a Billy Graham crusade and amazed at the thousands of people attending.  These people came from several churches with many making decisions for Christ at the crusade.  This is an example of what can occur when the Church puts aside its differences over non-essential things and unifies around bringing the lost to the Lord.  However, it does not need to take a crusade for this to happen, only a decision between church leaders to work together in spreading the Gospel. 

A world in need of revival needs a church united in bringing them the Gospel.  Satan has always had a strategy of separating people and groups of people away from what God wants them to do.  I pray that the Church would end divisive competition for members and needless divisive arguments over non-essentials and focus on the essentials of the Gospel (Ephesians 4:4-6).  This is how the Church prepares to act as the church did in the Book of Acts.