Although churches have reopened after the pandemic, many believers do not show enthusiasm. However, a pastor firmly believes that the church will experience a new revival.
Pastor Dapeng (pseudonym), who has been pastoring in north China for a number of years, told the Christian Times, an online Chinese Christian newspaper, that the pandemic was over and in-person church services were resumed, but what needed to be restored more than the external one was our inner longing and enthusiasm.
He recollected receiving a message regarding revival in 2019, leading him to contemplate the need for preparation—an impending surge in the work of the Holy Spirit. However, encountering significant challenges during the pandemic cast doubt on the authenticity of the revival message.
However, after the pandemic, he once again remembered the message. Additionally, witnessing the Great Revival movement at Asbury University in early 2022 reaffirmed his determination that both churches and believers should yearn more fervently for the Holy Spirit and embrace revival in the post-pandemic era.
Matthew once recorded what Jesus said about the future: “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold”. Many people found that, compared with 2000 years ago, the situation of the church now looked desolate. It was also true that illegal things were increasing, and people’s love was obviously cold. So many people were pessimistic about the end of the last era.
The pastor acknowledged that the most rapid spread of the gospel occurred during the time of the Apostolic Church, spanning a mere thirty years from Jesus' ascension to the martyrdom of the disciples. Despite lacking advanced means of transportation or a complete New Testament, the apostles fervently spread the gospel throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe amidst severe hardships.
Drawing inspiration from the Old Testament, where the Lord stood with the prophet Elijah, who single-handedly confronted 450 prophets of Baal, along with an additional 400 false prophets affiliated with Jezebel's family, totaling 850 adversaries, Pastor Dapeng arrived at a realization. Even in the current climate of indifference, he firmly believed that the Holy Spirit would undoubtedly initiate a stirring, rekindling people's desires and hearts for the gospel. While it is undeniable that many individuals remain apathetic towards love, Pastor Dapeng maintained that God can still employ a solitary individual—much like the prophet Elijah—to usher in revival.
Pastor Dapeng proclaimed, "Revival depends not on the majority, but on a select few who wholeheartedly rely on God. Just as Elijah converted the faith of Israel on his own (through the work of the Holy Spirit), I believe that even today, God can raise up individuals willing to wholeheartedly seek Him and become vessels of holiness and godliness, thereby bringing about revival across the entire land."
Based on the Book of Judges, hermeneutics reveal a fundamental principle: people indulge in sin when they are at ease; as a consequence of their transgressions, they are delivered into the hands of the Gentiles; experiencing the anguish of such deliverance leads to repentance, which in turn paves the way for revival.
Pastor Dapeng analyzed the present situation and concluded that the church currently finds itself in a trough, indicating that a revival is undoubtedly forthcoming. Nevertheless, he clarified that this principle wass not static and should only serve as a point of reference. Yet, rooted in biblical truths, he remained steadfast in his belief that the church would experience revival.
Therefore, drawing from the revelations of the Holy Spirit, the promises of God, historical evidence, and the principles of progression, Pastor Dapeng emphasized the necessity of restoring our longing for revival and making adequate preparations for its arrival.
- Translated by Charlie Li
疫情解封之后，教会虽然开门，可是很多信徒却没有热心地回归。但一位牧者坚定地相信教会会迎来新的复兴。
在北方牧会多年的大鹏牧师（化名）对中国一网络基督教报纸基督时报说，疫情后实地聚会逐渐恢复了，但是比起外在的更加需要恢复的是我们内在的渴慕、热心。
他回忆说，自己曾在2019年时领受到一个关于复兴的信息，他认为我们应该预备迎接复兴，迎接圣灵的新一波工作。但在疫情期间自己遭受到打击，甚至一度怀疑复兴还能来吗？
但是疫情解封后，他再度想起曾经自己的领受，加上2022年初曾发生过的阿斯伯里大复兴的运动等等，他再次坚定了疫情后的教会和信徒要渴慕和迎接圣灵和复兴。
马太曾记录耶稣说到未来的事情：“只因不法的事增多，许多人的爱心才渐渐冷淡了。”不少人发现，比起2000年前，现在教会的景况看起来是荒凉的。也的确是不法的事增多，人的爱心明显冷淡，因此很多人在悲观地感叹末后的时代来临。
他想到福音传播最快的时候是使徒教会时期，使徒教会时期可以从耶稣升天到门徒殉道算起，大约只有30多年的时间，几十年当中，没有先进的交通工具，甚至还没有完整的新约，使徒们却在艰难中将福音带到亚非欧三洲。
旧约圣经中，耶和华与先知以利亚同在，以利亚一个人可以对抗 450个巴力的先知，此外还有耶洗别家里养的400个假先知，一共850个。从这里，大鹏牧师领悟到一件事：即使现在看起来冷淡，相信圣灵一定会自己动工，搅动人的心，点燃人里面对福音的渴望。退一步说，的确许多人爱心冷淡，但是大鹏牧师坚信哪怕有一个器皿被上帝使用（就像先知以利亚），也能带来复兴。
大鹏牧师说，“因为复兴不是靠多数人，是靠少数全然依靠上帝的人。在那个时代，以利亚凭一己之力（圣灵的工作）转化了以色列的信仰。今天我相信上帝依然可以兴起愿意全心仰望上帝，肯为主摆上自己的圣洁、敬虔的器皿，从而带来全地的复兴。”
解经学家根据《士师记》发现一条规律：百姓安逸就犯罪；犯罪就被交给外邦；被交出去就痛苦，然后百姓就悔改；悔改呼求就带来复兴。
士师时代的规律是以色列在低谷的时候会有复兴。大鹏牧师结合现状分析：教会现在正是低谷时期，这也意味着必将会迎来复兴。当然，大鹏牧师也表示，规律不是一成不变的，只能做参考。但是仅从圣经真理来看，他也相信教会会迎来复兴。
因此，无论是从圣灵的启示中，或是上帝的应许中，还是从历史事实中，亦或是从发展规律中，大鹏牧师都认为我们要恢复对复兴的渴慕，并为复兴做预备。
一北方牧师分享说：疫情教会实地恢复后，更要渴慕复兴
Although churches have reopened after the pandemic, many believers do not show enthusiasm. However, a pastor firmly believes that the church will experience a new revival.
Pastor Dapeng (pseudonym), who has been pastoring in north China for a number of years, told the Christian Times, an online Chinese Christian newspaper, that the pandemic was over and in-person church services were resumed, but what needed to be restored more than the external one was our inner longing and enthusiasm.
He recollected receiving a message regarding revival in 2019, leading him to contemplate the need for preparation—an impending surge in the work of the Holy Spirit. However, encountering significant challenges during the pandemic cast doubt on the authenticity of the revival message.
However, after the pandemic, he once again remembered the message. Additionally, witnessing the Great Revival movement at Asbury University in early 2022 reaffirmed his determination that both churches and believers should yearn more fervently for the Holy Spirit and embrace revival in the post-pandemic era.
Matthew once recorded what Jesus said about the future: “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold”. Many people found that, compared with 2000 years ago, the situation of the church now looked desolate. It was also true that illegal things were increasing, and people’s love was obviously cold. So many people were pessimistic about the end of the last era.
The pastor acknowledged that the most rapid spread of the gospel occurred during the time of the Apostolic Church, spanning a mere thirty years from Jesus' ascension to the martyrdom of the disciples. Despite lacking advanced means of transportation or a complete New Testament, the apostles fervently spread the gospel throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe amidst severe hardships.
Drawing inspiration from the Old Testament, where the Lord stood with the prophet Elijah, who single-handedly confronted 450 prophets of Baal, along with an additional 400 false prophets affiliated with Jezebel's family, totaling 850 adversaries, Pastor Dapeng arrived at a realization. Even in the current climate of indifference, he firmly believed that the Holy Spirit would undoubtedly initiate a stirring, rekindling people's desires and hearts for the gospel. While it is undeniable that many individuals remain apathetic towards love, Pastor Dapeng maintained that God can still employ a solitary individual—much like the prophet Elijah—to usher in revival.
Pastor Dapeng proclaimed, "Revival depends not on the majority, but on a select few who wholeheartedly rely on God. Just as Elijah converted the faith of Israel on his own (through the work of the Holy Spirit), I believe that even today, God can raise up individuals willing to wholeheartedly seek Him and become vessels of holiness and godliness, thereby bringing about revival across the entire land."
Based on the Book of Judges, hermeneutics reveal a fundamental principle: people indulge in sin when they are at ease; as a consequence of their transgressions, they are delivered into the hands of the Gentiles; experiencing the anguish of such deliverance leads to repentance, which in turn paves the way for revival.
Pastor Dapeng analyzed the present situation and concluded that the church currently finds itself in a trough, indicating that a revival is undoubtedly forthcoming. Nevertheless, he clarified that this principle wass not static and should only serve as a point of reference. Yet, rooted in biblical truths, he remained steadfast in his belief that the church would experience revival.
Therefore, drawing from the revelations of the Holy Spirit, the promises of God, historical evidence, and the principles of progression, Pastor Dapeng emphasized the necessity of restoring our longing for revival and making adequate preparations for its arrival.
- Translated by Charlie Li
Pastor: Chinese Churches Should Be Earnest for Revival after Reopening
