Revival! (8)

And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. Titus 3.14

Ministers of Scotland: Lectures on Revival XIV
Nathaniel Paterson, D. D., Minister of St. Andrew’s Parish, Glasgow
“The good works then to which as Christians you are called, and to which we specially refer as conducive to the revival of religion are, the building or repairing the house of God – in other words so extending the church of multiplying the places of worship, that the gospel may be preached to every creature in the land; sending the gospel to the heathen; providing for the godly upbringing of the young, by erecting schools in necessitous places, and supplying the means of sound scriptural education, that children may learn the fear of the Lord; and not forgetting the relief of temporal wants – feeding the hungry and clothing the naked: even as Christ had pity on all bodily sufferings at the same time that he fed the souls of his people with bread from heaven.”

Revival is unto good works, but it can also spring from them. As we work to advance the Gospel and reach others with the love of Christ, we extend ourselves beyond ourselves, so that we have to trust in the Lord to lift and strengthen us for the work. This drives us to prayer, and prayer, as we have seen, is the seedbed of revival. The Spirit will fill us and buoy us up on the unchartered waters of witness with boldness and fruitfulness, so that the hope of glory within us will be known to all. So let us equip the saints for the works of ministry outlined by Dr. Paterson. And as they go forth, let us teach them to pray that God will strengthen them and revive those whose lives they touch with His grace. Revival is real, and we can know it. But only if we seek it by faith and obedience, in prayer and good works.

Will you lead your church to join the ranks of those who are praying faithfully for revival?

Pastor to Pastor News
Beginning next week, Pastor to Pastor becomes a weekly teaching letter, featuring insights on pastoral ministry from Scripture and the Fathers of the Church, as well as resources for pastors and our monthly revival prayer schedule. Look for Pastor to Pastor on Wednesdays henceforth, and may our Lord bless your labors richly for His glory.

Just a reminder: This ministry is supported by those it serves. Please seek the Lord concerning whether He would have you and/or your church share with us for the financial needs of The Fellowship of Ailbe. You can give online via PayPal by clicking here, or you may send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452. Thank you.

All quotations in this series are taken from Ministers of Scotland,Lectures on Revival, Richard Owen Roberts, ed. (Wheaton: Richard Owen Roberts, Publishers, 1980). Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.