Here is an passage from a book written by a church leader in China.
CHINESE LEADER SPEAKS OUT - Re: "Revival in the West"
-Brother Yun.
Many pastors in Europe and America have told me they want to
see great revival. I'm frequently asked why China is experiencing
revival but most places in the West are not. This is a big question
to answer, but some reasons are very apparent to me.
When I'm in the West, I see all the mighty church buildings and all
the expensive equipment, plush carpets, and state-of-the-art sound
systems. I can assure the Western church with absolute certainty
that you don't need any more church buildings. Church buildings
will never bring the revival you seek. The pursuit of more
possessions will never bring revival. Jesus truly stated, "A man's
life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." -Lk 12:15.
Note: Jesus seldom preached in a building. The church needs to put it's resources into people instead of buildings.
The first thing needed for revival to return to your churches is the
Word of the Lord. God's Word is missing. Sure, there are many
preachers and thousands of tapes and videos of Bible teaching,
but so little contains the sharp truth of God's Word. It's the truth
that will set you free.
Note; So many men think their efforts are good enough to build the Kingdom of heaven. They think now that they have read the Bible, they now know what to say and what to do. The efforts of any man are of no use. Unless The Lord build the house, they build in vain.
Not only is knowledge of God's Word missing, but obedience to
that Word. There's not much action taking place.
Note: When The Lord points out an error, they refuse to repent of it. Instead they will point to some law that they do obey. They are like the son who the father asks him to plow the field, and instead he washes the car. The field that needed plowed is left unplowed and the car did not need washed.
When revival came to believers in China, the result was
thousands of evangelists being sent out to all corners of the
nation, carrying fire from the altar of God with them. When God
moves in the West, it seems you want to stop and enjoy His
presence and blessings too long, and build an altar to your experiences.
Note: Only The Holy Spirit can bring revival. Our efforts will only bring more death.
You can never really know the Scriptures until you're willing to
be changed by them.
All genuine revivals of the Lord result in believers responding with
action and soul winning. When God truly moves in your heart you
cannot remain silent. There will be a fire in your bones, like
Jeremiah, who said, "His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire
shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot."
Jeremiah 20:9.
Furthermore, it's only when we step out in obedience and share
the gospel with people that we come to know God's blessing in
every area of our lives. That is why the Apostle Paul wrote to his
co-worker Philemon, "I pray that you may be active in sharing
your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every
good thing we have in Christ." -Philemon v.6.
I've seen people in Western Churches worshiping as if they're
already in heaven. Then someone invariably brings a comforting
message, like, "My children, I love you. Don't be afraid, I'm with
you." I'm not opposed to such words, but why is it that nobody
seems to hear a Word from the Lord like, "My child, I want to
send you to the slums of Asia or the darkness of Africa to be my
messenger to people dying in their sin."?
-From the book 'The Heavenly Man' by Brother Yun - pg 296-297.
CHINESE LEADER SPEAKS OUT - Re: "Revival in the West"
-Brother Yun.
Many pastors in Europe and America have told me they want to
see great revival. I'm frequently asked why China is experiencing
revival but most places in the West are not. This is a big question
to answer, but some reasons are very apparent to me.
When I'm in the West, I see all the mighty church buildings and all
the expensive equipment, plush carpets, and state-of-the-art sound
systems. I can assure the Western church with absolute certainty
that you don't need any more church buildings. Church buildings
will never bring the revival you seek. The pursuit of more
possessions will never bring revival. Jesus truly stated, "A man's
life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." -Lk 12:15.
Note: Jesus seldom preached in a building. The church needs to put it's resources into people instead of buildings.
The first thing needed for revival to return to your churches is the
Word of the Lord. God's Word is missing. Sure, there are many
preachers and thousands of tapes and videos of Bible teaching,
but so little contains the sharp truth of God's Word. It's the truth
that will set you free.
Note; So many men think their efforts are good enough to build the Kingdom of heaven. They think now that they have read the Bible, they now know what to say and what to do. The efforts of any man are of no use. Unless The Lord build the house, they build in vain.
Not only is knowledge of God's Word missing, but obedience to
that Word. There's not much action taking place.
Note: When The Lord points out an error, they refuse to repent of it. Instead they will point to some law that they do obey. They are like the son who the father asks him to plow the field, and instead he washes the car. The field that needed plowed is left unplowed and the car did not need washed.
When revival came to believers in China, the result was
thousands of evangelists being sent out to all corners of the
nation, carrying fire from the altar of God with them. When God
moves in the West, it seems you want to stop and enjoy His
presence and blessings too long, and build an altar to your experiences.
Note: Only The Holy Spirit can bring revival. Our efforts will only bring more death.
You can never really know the Scriptures until you're willing to
be changed by them.
All genuine revivals of the Lord result in believers responding with
action and soul winning. When God truly moves in your heart you
cannot remain silent. There will be a fire in your bones, like
Jeremiah, who said, "His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire
shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot."
Jeremiah 20:9.
Furthermore, it's only when we step out in obedience and share
the gospel with people that we come to know God's blessing in
every area of our lives. That is why the Apostle Paul wrote to his
co-worker Philemon, "I pray that you may be active in sharing
your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every
good thing we have in Christ." -Philemon v.6.
I've seen people in Western Churches worshiping as if they're
already in heaven. Then someone invariably brings a comforting
message, like, "My children, I love you. Don't be afraid, I'm with
you." I'm not opposed to such words, but why is it that nobody
seems to hear a Word from the Lord like, "My child, I want to
send you to the slums of Asia or the darkness of Africa to be my
messenger to people dying in their sin."?
-From the book 'The Heavenly Man' by Brother Yun - pg 296-297.