Revival: Flowing from the Sanctuary to the World
Summary
### Summary
This morning, we explored the profound significance of spiritual revival and the transformative power of God's presence, as illustrated through the imagery of a river in Ezekiel 47. The river, which starts as a trickle from the sanctuary, symbolizes the Holy Spirit's life-giving power that deepens and expands as it flows outward, bringing healing and renewal wherever it goes. This vision parallels the river of life described in Revelation 22, which flows from the throne of God and brings healing to the nations.
We began by acknowledging the current spiritual drought and the desperate need for God's intervention. Just as Esther and Mordecai stood in the gap for their nation, we are called to intercede for our own. The river's journey from the sanctuary to the city illustrates that revival starts within the church but must flow outward to impact the world. The deeper the river gets, the more it transforms everything it touches, turning foul water into fresh, bringing life to dead places, and producing abundant fruit.
The sermon emphasized the importance of prayer and repentance within the church as the starting point for revival. We must be willing to let go of control and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, even if it means stepping into deeper, more challenging waters. The ultimate goal is a church that is not just a place of worship but a source of life and healing for the community and beyond.
We concluded with a call to action, urging everyone to seek a deeper relationship with God, to be filled with His Spirit, and to carry His presence into the world. The vision of a river that brings life and healing is not just a future promise but a present reality that we can experience and share today.
### Key Takeaways
1. Revival Starts in the Sanctuary: The river of life begins in the house of God, symbolizing that true revival starts with the church. We must prioritize prayer, repentance, and seeking God's presence to initiate a transformative movement that flows outward to the world. [01:03:34]
2. The Power of the Holy Spirit: The river represents the Holy Spirit's life-giving power, which deepens and expands as it flows. This power can turn foul water into fresh, bring life to dead places, and produce abundant fruit. We must be willing to let go of control and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us. [01:05:42]
3. A Call to Intercession: Just as Esther and Mordecai stood in the gap for their nation, we are called to intercede for our own. Our prayers and repentance can bring about a move of God that transforms our nation. We must not grow weary in seeking God's intervention. [01:04:28]
4. The Importance of Spiritual Nourishment: The trees planted by the river symbolize the nourishment and healing that come from God's Word and presence. As believers, we must stay rooted in the Word and allow it to sustain and transform us, producing fruit that benefits others. [01:14:07]
5. A Heart for the Lost: True revival is marked by a heart for the lost. We must carry the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit into the world, sharing the gospel and bringing hope to those in darkness. Revival is not just for the church but for the world. [01:16:40]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:09] - Introduction to Esther and Mordecai
[43:56] - Prayer for Repentance and Revival
[45:50] - Offering as an Act of Worship
[48:32] - Dismissal of Children and Fellowship
[50:02] - Personal Anecdote and Announcements
[51:23] - Introduction to Ezekiel 47
[52:41] - The River of Life in Ezekiel 47
[55:35] - The Power of Water and the Holy Spirit
[57:12] - The Impact of Drought and Spiritual Desperation
[01:00:26] - The Tension Between Drought and Revival
[01:03:34] - Revival Starts in the Sanctuary
[01:05:42] - The Deepening River and the Holy Spirit
[01:14:07] - Spiritual Nourishment and Healing
[01:16:40] - A Heart for the Lost and True Revival
[01:26:24] - The Cry for God's Presence and Revival
[01:32:02] - Invitation to Surrender and Seek God
[01:35:38] - Worship and Response to God's Call
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Ezekiel 47:1-12 - The vision of the river flowing from the temple.
2. Revelation 22:1-5 - The river of life flowing from the throne of God.
3. Psalm 1:1-3 - The righteous are like trees planted by streams of water.
### Observation Questions
1. In Ezekiel 47, what is the significance of the river starting as a trickle from the sanctuary and then deepening as it flows outward? ([01:01:38])
2. According to Revelation 22:1-5, what are the characteristics of the river of life and the trees planted by it?
3. How does Psalm 1:1-3 describe the person who delights in the law of the Lord, and what is the result of being planted by streams of water?
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does the deepening of the river in Ezekiel 47 symbolize about the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer and the church? ([01:02:29])
2. How does the imagery of the river in Revelation 22 enhance our understanding of God's promise of healing and renewal? ([01:17:27])
3. In what ways does Psalm 1:1-3 illustrate the importance of spiritual nourishment and its impact on a believer's life?
### Application Questions
1. The sermon emphasized that revival starts in the sanctuary. How can you personally contribute to fostering a spirit of prayer and repentance within your church community? ([01:03:34])
2. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually dry. What steps can you take to invite the Holy Spirit to refresh and renew you, similar to the river turning foul water into fresh in Ezekiel 47? ([01:09:32])
3. The sermon called for intercession, likening it to the actions of Esther and Mordecai. Who in your life or community can you stand in the gap for through prayer and intercession? ([01:04:28])
4. Psalm 1:1-3 speaks of being rooted in God's Word. What practical steps can you take this week to deepen your engagement with Scripture and allow it to nourish you?
5. The sermon highlighted the importance of having a heart for the lost. Identify one person in your life who does not know Jesus. How can you share the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit with them this week? ([01:16:40])
6. The vision of the river in Ezekiel 47 shows that the deeper the river gets, the more it transforms. What areas of your life do you need to surrender to the Holy Spirit to experience deeper transformation? ([01:06:41])
7. The sermon concluded with a call to action. What specific action can you take this week to carry God's presence into your workplace, school, or community? ([01:35:07])
Devotional
### 5-Day Devotional
#### Day 1: Revival Begins with Us
Description: True revival starts within the church, symbolized by the river of life beginning in the sanctuary. This emphasizes the need for prayer, repentance, and seeking God's presence as the foundation for any transformative movement. The church must prioritize these spiritual disciplines to initiate a revival that flows outward to impact the world. The deeper the river gets, the more it transforms everything it touches, turning foul water into fresh, bringing life to dead places, and producing abundant fruit. This is a call for the church to be a source of life and healing for the community and beyond. [01:03:34]
Bible Passage: "Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the temple faced east. The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar." (Ezekiel 47:1, ESV)
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to prioritize prayer and repentance in your life, contributing to the revival that begins within the church?
#### Day 2: Embracing the Holy Spirit's Power
Description: The river in Ezekiel 47 represents the Holy Spirit's life-giving power, which deepens and expands as it flows. This power can turn foul water into fresh, bring life to dead places, and produce abundant fruit. Believers must be willing to let go of control and allow the Holy Spirit to guide them, even if it means stepping into deeper, more challenging waters. The ultimate goal is to be filled with the Spirit and carry His presence into the world, transforming everything we touch. [01:05:42]
Bible Passage: "And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes." (Ezekiel 47:9, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you holding back control from the Holy Spirit? How can you begin to surrender these areas to His guidance today?
#### Day 3: Standing in the Gap
Description: Just as Esther and Mordecai stood in the gap for their nation, believers are called to intercede for their own. Our prayers and repentance can bring about a move of God that transforms our nation. This requires a commitment to persistent prayer and a heart that does not grow weary in seeking God's intervention. Intercession is a powerful tool that can bring about spiritual revival and change in our communities and beyond. [01:04:28]
Bible Passage: "And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none." (Ezekiel 22:30, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life or community needs your intercessory prayers today? How can you commit to standing in the gap for them through persistent prayer?
#### Day 4: Nourished by God's Word
Description: The trees planted by the river symbolize the nourishment and healing that come from God's Word and presence. As believers, we must stay rooted in the Word and allow it to sustain and transform us, producing fruit that benefits others. This spiritual nourishment is essential for personal growth and for being a source of life and healing to those around us. Staying connected to God's Word ensures that we are continually refreshed and able to bear fruit in every season. [01:14:07]
Bible Passage: "And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing." (Ezekiel 47:12, ESV)
Reflection: How can you deepen your engagement with God's Word today to ensure you are spiritually nourished and able to bear fruit for others?
#### Day 5: A Heart for the Lost
Description: True revival is marked by a heart for the lost. Believers must carry the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit into the world, sharing the gospel and bringing hope to those in darkness. Revival is not just for the church but for the world, and it requires a commitment to reaching out to those who do not yet know Christ. This involves being intentional about sharing the gospel and being a light in dark places, bringing the hope and healing of Jesus to those in need. [01:16:40]
Bible Passage: "And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.'" (Mark 16:15-16, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the gospel message today? How can you intentionally share the hope and love of Jesus with them this week?
Quotes
1. "Help our unbelief. God, give us a greater measure of faith, God, to go after the calling of God upon the church. God, give us a heart that beats for souls that do not know Jesus. Lord, give us a heart once again to go to the highways and to the byways. To be uncomfortable, God, padding the church, God. To be uncomfortable for drawling crowds, God. Send us out in revival. Send us out, we pray." [44:59] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When drought happens, it's not just about the time it happens. It causes us to become desperate. Amen? And so, if we are in a season of drought, what do we immediately think? I don't want to run out of water. If you think spiritually, when, when things are rough and it feels like your prayers aren't making it to God, it feels as if God is almost, like, non-existent. We read that in David's Psalms, like, where are you, God? Even on the cross, Jesus in his greatest hour of need cries out, Father, why have you forsaken me?" [58:44] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The river has an origin in the sanctuary. Now, before we think that church is not important, the river always starts in the house of God. Here's how I know that. The correction and the discipline of God always starts in the house of God. Judgment begins in the house of God. Your Bible says that judgment begins. Why? Why? Because when you get the, when you get the church right, he can make the city right. Let me say that again. When he gets the church right, he can make the city right." [01:03:34] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We can't stop praying. We can't stop holding prayer meetings. We can't stop attending and pressing in believing that God is not done with this nation. Because when God sovereignly, by his grace, pours out his spirit, it's always because of a praying people asking God to bring repentance one more time upon the church because when the church goes low, he can go high. Amen. When he is lifted high, the Bible says that when Jesus is lifted high, he will draw all of mankind." [01:04:28] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I believe that we live in a day today in the church that we're going to have to learn to swim again. We're going to have to have some swimming lessons in the presence of God once again. That we can't be satisfied with getting in the kiddie pool. Although the kiddie pool is a pretty cool place to hang out. If you want to know the good stuff, the deep stuff, the rich stuff, the gossip. Hang out in the kiddie pool. They'll tell you everything, right? But real, listen, the real stuff happens. Listen, maturity happens when you learn to let go and let the river take you wherever it goes." [01:08:37] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "You cannot have revival without a heart for the lost. The lost is what fuels revival. As soon as a church that's in revival forgets about preaching the gospel outside the walls of the church. And, and then the church becomes a playground for revival. Then the revival begins to slow. Revival begins to stop. When the invitation to meet Jesus stops happening, revival stops happening. It's in the river that they find the trees that they, they, they get their manna, their daily fresh manna every day." [01:15:47] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "When the upper room happened, when the flow began to hit the sanctuary, the town began to gather. Why? Because they found life. They found a place where life was being preached, where their sins were not counted against them. Their sins were forgiven in the river of God. The preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now, we have great needs here this morning. We have great needs that are not here this morning. Watching online, there are people watching because they are sick or they can't make it to church." [01:13:01] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "The river always gives life. It's always, listen, it's always fruit bearing season in the presence of God. You just have people say, you know, I just can't, I can't do that. It's not my season. Well, when, when will that be? I don't know. God just got me in a season of sitting right now. My lazy boy's just been, been a great time with the Lord. And it's just not my season to volunteer. My season to serve. I'm like, what are you talking about? Like, when you are in the presence of God, Isaiah understood this." [01:15:04] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Revival only makes you more of who you are. You can either be swept up by the river. Or you can put your anchor down. And we have a choice this morning. Foul water. Foul faces. And foul hearts have an opportunity to be changed. I thank God that he didn't give up on me. Amen. I thank God he doesn't give up on us. No matter how mean. No matter how grumpy. No matter what you've been going through. Yes, God does understand. But he loves you too much to stay there. He will turn your foul heart into a fresh heart." [01:22:22] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "We need more than just a refreshing from the Lord. We need an outpouring of God that will pour us out of the sanctuary. And have a burden for what burdens his heart. People that will split hell wide open. Lord fill me up. To send me out. Amen. Would you stand with me. Would you bow your heads. Just create this altar space. Right where you're standing. Just in this moment. Revelation chapter 22. Will one day consummate this river. We'll get to see it. In real time. And we'll get to see those trees. And we'll understand that there will be. No nothing. No curse." [01:32:02] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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