Revival: Sharpening Our Faith and Seeking the Spirit

In recent months, our church has been experiencing a profound revival, which has deeply impacted my life and many others. This revival has manifested in two significant areas: the sharpness of God's Word and an increased thirst for the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The Word of God has become more incisive, able to discern between soul and spirit, as described in Hebrews. This sharpness is not just about understanding doctrine but about seeing the nature of Christ in every word we hear. The second area is a growing desire for the Holy Spirit's fullness. This thirst is not static; it should increase daily, driving us to seek more of God continually.

We must recognize the day of our visitation, as mentioned in Luke 19:44, and not let it pass by. This means being attentive to God's specific purposes and experiences He wants to have with us. Hebrews 1:1-2 reminds us that God has spoken to us in His Son, Jesus Christ, and we must pay close attention to what we have heard to avoid drifting away. Neglecting this great salvation, as warned in Hebrews 2:1-3, can lead to spiritual ruin, not because we reject it, but because we fail to nurture it.

Proverbs 24:30-34 illustrates the danger of neglect through the story of a lazy man's overgrown field. This neglect can manifest in our spiritual lives, marriages, and relationships. We must be proactive in tending to these areas, removing weeds of fear, worry, and neglect. Jesus calls us to come to Him for rest, as stated in Matthew 11:28-29, and to take His yoke upon us, learning from Him to find peace amidst life's chaos.

The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, as described in Hebrews 4:12. It discerns between soul and spirit, helping us distinguish between what is truly spiritual and what is merely soulish. This discernment is crucial in a world filled with soulish Christianity, where emotions and appearances can easily deceive. We must be vigilant, allowing the Word to sharpen our understanding and guide us in truth.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Revival in our lives should lead to a sharper understanding of God's Word and a deeper thirst for the Holy Spirit. This ongoing thirst should drive us to seek more of God daily, recognizing that He meets us according to our desire. [01:30]
• 2. Neglecting the great salvation offered in the new covenant can lead to spiritual ruin. We must be proactive in nurturing our spiritual lives, relationships, and marriages, removing weeds of fear, worry, and neglect. [09:26]
• 3. The Word of God is living and active, discerning between soul and spirit. This sharpness helps us distinguish between what is truly spiritual and what is merely soulish, guiding us in truth amidst a world filled with deception. [59:02]
• 4. Jesus invites us to come to Him for rest, taking His yoke upon us and learning from Him. This rest is a mark of being with Jesus, allowing us to find peace amidst life's chaos and uncertainties. [34:11]
• 5. We must be vigilant against fear, worry, and anxiety, recognizing them as thorns that choke out the life of the Holy Spirit. By attacking these spirits, we can maintain the fullness of the Holy Spirit and live in the spirit of faith. [31:08]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:14] - Revival in Our Midst
• [00:52] - The Sharpness of God's Word
• [01:30] - Thirst for the Holy Spirit
• [02:44] - Recognizing the Day of Visitation
• [03:48] - God Speaks in His Son
• [06:44] - Pay Attention to What We Hear
• [09:26] - The Sin of Neglect
• [10:49] - Proverbs 24: The Lazy Man's Field
• [13:16] - Zealous Pursuit of God
• [17:09] - Winning Our Brothers
• [20:26] - The Danger of Doing Nothing
• [31:08] - Attacking Fear and Anxiety
• [34:11] - Finding Rest in Jesus
• [59:02] - The Sharpness of the Word of God
• [65:26] - The Parable of the Weeds
• [67:11] - Closing Remarks

1. Hebrews 4:12 - "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
2. Luke 19:44 - "They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
3. Proverbs 24:30-34 - "I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins."

1. What are the two areas of revival mentioned in the sermon that have impacted the speaker's life? ([00:52])
2. How does the sermon describe the sharpness of God's Word, and what is its purpose? ([01:04])
3. According to the sermon, what is the consequence of neglecting the great salvation offered in the new covenant? ([09:26])
4. What does the story of the lazy man's field in Proverbs 24 illustrate about spiritual neglect? ([10:49])

1. How does the sharpness of God's Word help believers distinguish between what is truly spiritual and what is merely soulish? ([59:02])
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest believers can recognize the day of their visitation, and why is this important? ([02:44])
3. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between fear, worry, and the fullness of the Holy Spirit? ([31:08])
4. How does the sermon interpret Jesus' invitation to come to Him for rest, and what does this rest signify for believers? ([34:11])

1. Reflect on your current spiritual thirst. How can you cultivate a deeper desire for the fullness of the Holy Spirit in your daily life? ([01:30])
2. Identify an area in your life where you might be neglecting your spiritual growth. What practical steps can you take to nurture this area? ([09:26])
3. Consider a relationship in your life that may have grown distant. How can you proactively tend to this relationship to prevent spiritual weeds from taking over? ([10:49])
4. When faced with fear or anxiety, what specific actions can you take to attack these spirits and maintain the fullness of the Holy Spirit? ([31:08])
5. How can you incorporate the practice of coming to Jesus for rest into your daily routine, especially during times of chaos and uncertainty? ([34:11])
6. Reflect on a recent situation where you allowed fear or worry to take hold. What could you have done differently to respond with faith and trust in God? ([29:22])
7. Think about a time when you recognized God's visitation in your life. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? ([02:44])