Rekindling Our Passion: A Call for Revival
Summary
### Summary
Today, we gathered to seek a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, echoing the cry, "Fill the room." We reflected on the early days of our faith, when our hearts were on fire for God, and acknowledged that many of us have lost that initial fervor. This is a call to rekindle our first love for Jesus, to seek deeper communion with Him beyond just attending services. God desires to fill every space in our lives, but this requires surrender and trust in His perfect plan.
We sang and prayed for the Holy Spirit to move powerfully among us, invoking images of fire and wind, and asking for the gates of heaven to open. We expressed our desperation for God's presence, recognizing that nothing in this world compares to the joy and fulfillment found in Him. We prayed for our nation, asking for healing and unity, and proclaimed that revival is coming. We declared that Jesus is coming, and we must prepare the way for Him by tearing down walls and lies that separate us from His love.
We concluded by exalting the name of Jesus, acknowledging His greatness and worthiness of all our praise. We committed to keeping our eyes fixed on Him, regardless of life's challenges, and to be a people hungry for righteousness. We prayed for a radical transformation in our region, not just filling seats but seeing lives genuinely changed by the power of God.
### Key Takeaways
1. Rekindle Your First Love for Jesus: Reflect on the early days of your faith when you were on fire for God. If life has dimmed that flame, it's time to reignite it. God desires a deep, ongoing relationship with you, not just a weekly visit. Surrender to Him and let Him fill every space in your life. [12:02]
2. The Power of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is likened to fire and wind, powerful forces that can transform our lives. We must be open to His movement, allowing Him to break down barriers and fill us with His presence. This requires a heart of surrender and a willingness to let go of our own plans. [16:29]
3. Desperation for God's Presence: True fulfillment and joy are found in God's presence. Nothing in this world can compare. We must cultivate a desperation for Him, pushing past distractions and issues to seek His heart. This desperation should drive us to deeper prayer and worship. [30:04]
4. Healing and Unity for Our Nation: Our nation is in need of healing and unity. We must pray fervently for God's reign and rule to be established, for broken hearts to be mended, and for divisions to be healed. Revival starts with us, as we proclaim and prophesy God's healing rain over our land. [33:30]
5. Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus: In every situation, whether good or bad, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. He is the author and perfecter of our faith, and His ways are higher than ours. By focusing on Him, we find strength, joy, and purpose, enabling us to impact our world with His love. [20:29]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[10:36] - Ready for a Fresh Outpouring
[12:02] - Rekindling Our First Love
[14:50] - Invoking the Holy Spirit
[16:29] - Power of Fire and Wind
[17:06] - Desperation for God's Presence
[18:41] - Holy Spirit, Come Rest on Us
[19:47] - Shifting Our Focus to Jesus
[20:53] - Sound of Heaven Touching Earth
[22:22] - Revival and Healing Rain
[23:53] - Show Us Your Glory
[26:32] - Open the Floodgates of Heaven
[30:04] - Desperate for a Move of God
[32:56] - Cry for National Healing
[34:51] - Proclaiming Healing Rain
[36:39] - Jesus is Coming
[40:31] - Prepare the Way
[42:26] - Desperation for a Move of God
[47:08] - Nothing Like Your Presence
[51:16] - Exalting Jesus' Name
[57:27] - Worthy is Your Name
[01:01:40] - Open the Eyes of Our Hearts
[01:05:26] - Worthy is Your Name
[01:07:34] - Be Exalted in the Heavens
[01:10:13] - Your Name is the Highest
[01:12:52] - Holy Forever
[01:14:49] - Worthy is the Lamb
[01:16:35] - How Great You Are
[01:19:31] - Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus
[01:21:42] - Prayer for Radical Transformation
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Revelation 2:4-5 (NIV) - "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place."
2. Acts 2:1-4 (NIV) - "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."
3. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) - "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Revelation 2:4-5 say about the importance of maintaining our first love for Jesus?
2. How did the Holy Spirit manifest on the day of Pentecost according to Acts 2:1-4?
3. What conditions does 2 Chronicles 7:14 outline for God to heal a nation?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant to rekindle our first love for Jesus, as mentioned in Revelation 2:4-5? How does this relate to the sermon’s call to seek deeper communion with Him? [12:02]
2. In what ways can the imagery of fire and wind in Acts 2:1-4 help us understand the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives today? [16:29]
3. How does 2 Chronicles 7:14's call for humility, prayer, and repentance apply to the sermon’s emphasis on national healing and unity? [33:30]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the early days of your faith. What specific actions or practices helped you stay on fire for God? How can you reintroduce those into your life now? [12:02]
2. The sermon emphasized the need for surrender to allow the Holy Spirit to move in our lives. What areas of your life are you holding back from God, and how can you begin to surrender them? [16:29]
3. True fulfillment and joy are found in God's presence. What distractions or issues are currently hindering you from seeking His heart, and how can you overcome them? [30:04]
4. The sermon called for fervent prayer for our nation’s healing and unity. How can you incorporate this into your daily prayer life? Are there specific issues or areas you feel led to pray for? [33:30]
5. Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus was a key takeaway. Identify a recent challenge you faced. How did you handle it, and how might focusing on Jesus have changed your approach? [20:29]
6. The sermon mentioned the importance of being a people hungry for righteousness. What specific steps can you take this week to cultivate a deeper hunger for God’s word and presence? [21:42]
7. Revival starts with us. What personal changes can you make to prepare the way for Jesus in your community? How can you tear down walls and lies that separate you from His love? [42:26]
Devotional
Day 1: Rekindle Your First Love for Jesus
Reflect on the early days of your faith when you were on fire for God. If life has dimmed that flame, it's time to reignite it. God desires a deep, ongoing relationship with you, not just a weekly visit. Surrender to Him and let Him fill every space in your life. Remember the passion and excitement you felt when you first encountered Jesus. That initial fervor is not meant to be a fleeting moment but a foundation for a lifelong journey with Him.
God's love for you is constant and unwavering, and He longs for you to experience the fullness of His presence daily. This requires intentionality and a willingness to prioritize your relationship with Him above all else. Take time to reflect on what may have caused your passion to wane and ask God to reignite the fire within you. Surrender your heart, your plans, and your desires to Him, trusting that His plan for your life is perfect. [12:02]
Revelation 2:4-5 (ESV): "But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to rekindle your first love for Jesus and prioritize your relationship with Him?
Day 2: The Power of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is likened to fire and wind, powerful forces that can transform our lives. We must be open to His movement, allowing Him to break down barriers and fill us with His presence. This requires a heart of surrender and a willingness to let go of our own plans. The Holy Spirit's power is not just for extraordinary moments but for everyday living, guiding us, empowering us, and transforming us from the inside out.
When we invite the Holy Spirit to move in our lives, we are inviting God's transformative power to work in and through us. This means being willing to let go of control and allowing God to lead us in ways we may not have anticipated. The Holy Spirit brings freedom, healing, and renewal, breaking down the walls that separate us from God's love and purpose. Embrace the Holy Spirit's presence and allow Him to work powerfully in your life. [16:29]
Acts 2:2-4 (ESV): "And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to surrender control and invite the Holy Spirit to move powerfully?
Day 3: Desperation for God's Presence
True fulfillment and joy are found in God's presence. Nothing in this world can compare. We must cultivate a desperation for Him, pushing past distractions and issues to seek His heart. This desperation should drive us to deeper prayer and worship. In a world filled with distractions and temporary pleasures, it is easy to lose sight of the true source of joy and fulfillment. God's presence is where we find peace, purpose, and the deepest satisfaction for our souls.
Cultivating a desperation for God's presence means making intentional choices to prioritize time with Him. It means pushing past the noise and busyness of life to seek His heart in prayer and worship. This desperation is not about striving but about recognizing our deep need for God and allowing that need to draw us closer to Him. As we seek His presence, we will experience the fullness of His love and the joy that comes from being in communion with Him. [30:04]
Psalm 42:1-2 (ESV): "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?"
Reflection: What distractions or issues do you need to push past to cultivate a deeper desperation for God's presence in your life?
Day 4: Healing and Unity for Our Nation
Our nation is in need of healing and unity. We must pray fervently for God's reign and rule to be established, for broken hearts to be mended, and for divisions to be healed. Revival starts with us, as we proclaim and prophesy God's healing rain over our land. The brokenness and division in our nation can feel overwhelming, but we serve a God who is able to bring healing and restoration.
As believers, we are called to stand in the gap and intercede for our nation. This means praying for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. It means asking God to heal the wounds of our land and to bring unity where there is division. Revival begins in our hearts as we seek God's face and proclaim His truth over our nation. Let us be a people who fervently pray for healing and unity, trusting that God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. [33:30]
2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV): "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
Reflection: How can you actively participate in praying for healing and unity in our nation today?
Day 5: Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
In every situation, whether good or bad, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. He is the author and perfecter of our faith, and His ways are higher than ours. By focusing on Him, we find strength, joy, and purpose, enabling us to impact our world with His love. Life is filled with challenges and uncertainties, but Jesus remains constant and unchanging.
Fixing our eyes on Jesus means looking to Him as our source of hope and strength. It means trusting in His goodness and faithfulness, even when circumstances are difficult. By keeping our focus on Jesus, we are able to navigate life's challenges with grace and confidence. He is our anchor, our guide, and our source of true joy. Let us commit to fixing our eyes on Jesus, knowing that He will lead us and sustain us through every season of life. [20:29]
Hebrews 12:2 (ESV): "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, especially in the midst of challenges or uncertainties?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Some of us in here, man, we were on fire for God. we were desperate for God when that first moment that we locked eyes with him but for whatever reason whether it was life getting in the way of this perfect vision straight to him we've lost our fire we've lost our first love some of us are in here and man maybe we haven't read our Bible in months and this is not to condemn anyone but this is the Lord calling his people saying he wants communion with us he wants to know us." [12:02] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Can I tell you that just coming on a Sunday isn't knowing the Lord can I tell you that just me coming even on this Wednesday isn't knowing the Lord can I know my husband or wife but only talk to them once a week can I truly know them God wants to know his people but he's looking for a people that will say fill up any space in me God and that's a scary thing to say because some of us we're holding on to so much man we don't want to lose our jobs we don't game he might change it all around but can I tell you that his plan is perfect his ways are perfect and nothing that we could ever hold on to could compare to what he has." [12:02] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Lord God, right now, Lord God We cry out, God, for this nation God, that you would reign And you would rule And God, every heart, God That has been hurt through all the things, God That have been going on, God This year, for years, God That there would be restoration to a nation That was made unmade To make it up, heal our nation That God, we would return We would return to you, Jesus Heal our land, heal our land Heal our land Lord God, where there's division God, bring unity in the name of Jesus." [33:30] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I can hear the sound of rain coming to America, this reign of God, this glory, that it would fall across our nation, that for no long we would just stay on the sideline, just saying, well, you know, those issues are for them. But God, we would proclaim, we would prophesy that healing reign, God, is coming to our nation. Healing reign is coming to our households. Healing reign is coming to our country, Lord. So God, we believe this today and we come into agreement." [34:51] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "God is looking for some people that are over what we've been used to. God is looking for people across America that will be desperate for him again. That will be desperate. Desperate for a move. Oh, we're desperate, Lord. Oh. That it's not just what's on the platform that's desperate anymore. But it's every heart, every mind, every heart, every mind, every household, that we will be desperate. That we would be desperate for a move. Desperate for a move of God. So prepare the way." [43:22] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Lord, we thank you, Jesus Lord, we thank you, Lord God For your presence in this house, God Lord God, I thank you, God That you're realigning a lot of our vision That where we've been looking to the left and to the right God, you're drawing us in And you're calling, and you're calling And you're saying all eyes on me All eyes on me The creator of this world The savior God, I pray, God That everything that happened in our hearts tonight, God That it wouldn't just be a moment And God, tomorrow when we're driving to work Lord God, that our eyes are still on you." [20:29] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Lord God, when we start making agenda again That our eyes would be fixed on you, God And that we would throw it all to the side Lord God, our eyes are fixed on you Your ways are perfect Your ways are higher Your ways for this church are higher, God Lord God, that where you are drawing us Lord God, let nothing get in the way, God Let us be a people of your presence Let us be a people that are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, Lord And that God, when you look down and you see Gateway You see worshipers that worship in spirit and in truth You see people that are hungry for you You see people that are desperate for a touch from you, God." [21:03] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "And God, as we stay right here at your feet Just like we sang on Sunday If the highest place I reach is right here at your feet, God Then I've done it all And God, then there we will get power We will find power from you, Lord That when we go into this place, Lord This lost and dying world That we have a joy and a love to share And there would be depth behind it Because we found it in you We found it in you Not just what my friend told me But God, from in your presence From my relationship with you, Lord." [21:42] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "That God, through your presence And through being hungry for your word That God, we will see this region change radically for you We don't want to just see our seats filled But God, lives not changed, God We want to see a change We want to see people set free We want to see people set free So God, that's what we pray, God Over this house And over every church in our area Over every church in our nation Healing rain coming to America Healing rain coming to Gateway Healing rain coming to Life House Healing rain coming to Virginia Avenue." [22:17] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Some of us in here, man, we were on fire for God. we were desperate for God when that first moment that we locked eyes with him but for whatever reason whether it was life getting in the way of this perfect vision straight to him we've lost our fire we've lost our first love some of us are in here and man maybe we haven't read our Bible in months and this is not to condemn anyone but this is the Lord calling his people saying he wants communion with us he wants to know us." [12:02] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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