Revival: The Church's Need for Divine Empowerment

Devotional

Day 1: Revival as a Continuous Journey

Revival is not a one-time event but a recurring necessity for the church. Throughout history, the church has experienced multiple outpourings of the Holy Spirit, similar to the events of Pentecost. These fresh outpourings are essential for empowering the church to fulfill its mission. The early church's experiences, as recorded in Acts, demonstrate that revival is a repeated experience, underscoring our dependence on divine power rather than human effort. Today, the church must remain open to these fresh movements of the Spirit, seeking God's presence and power to renew and transform both the church and the world. [04:07]

Acts 11:15-17 (ESV): "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?"

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit? How can you invite God to bring revival into these areas today?

Day 2: Returning to Divine Power

The church often turns to human strategies to address its challenges, but the true need is for a return to the power of God. Revival brings a profound sense of God's presence, assurance of truth, and boldness in proclaiming the gospel. This divine intervention is what truly transforms the church and its mission. When the church relies on God's power rather than human effort, it experiences a renewed sense of purpose and effectiveness in its ministry. The early church serves as a model for us, demonstrating the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in action. [11:18]

Zechariah 4:6 (ESV): "Then he said to me, 'This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.'"

Reflection: What human strategies have you been relying on in your spiritual journey? How can you shift your focus to depend more on God's power and presence?

Day 3: Transformation Through Revival

When revival occurs, it leads to a transformation not only within the church but also in the surrounding community. People are drawn in, convicted of sin, and led to genuine repentance and conversion. This results in church growth and a change in the moral fabric of society. The power of God at work in revival is evident as lives are changed, and communities are impacted. The church becomes a beacon of hope and light, drawing others to the truth of the gospel and the love of Christ. [37:06]

Isaiah 44:3-4 (ESV): "For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams."

Reflection: How can you be a part of transforming your community through the power of revival? What steps can you take to be a vessel of God's love and truth in your surroundings?

Day 4: The Power of Prayer

The key to revival is prayer. When the church prays earnestly for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, God responds with power and transformation. This highlights the importance of prioritizing prayer in our lives and ministries, trusting that God can accomplish more in a moment than we can in a lifetime. Prayer is the foundation for revival, as it aligns our hearts with God's will and opens the door for His Spirit to move powerfully among us. [41:17]

James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Reflection: How can you prioritize prayer in your daily life? What specific prayers can you lift up for revival in your church and community?

Day 5: Boldness in Proclamation

Revival empowers the church with boldness to proclaim the gospel without fear. This boldness is a result of the Holy Spirit's work, transforming ordinary believers into powerful witnesses for Christ. It is this bold proclamation that leads to the conversion of many and the growth of the church. As believers, we are called to share the good news of Jesus with confidence and courage, trusting that the Holy Spirit will guide and empower us in our witness. [29:35]

Ephesians 6:19-20 (ESV): "And also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak."

Reflection: In what ways can you be bolder in sharing your faith with others? How can you rely on the Holy Spirit to give you the words and courage to proclaim the gospel?

Sermon Summary

In the book of Exodus, chapter 33, verse 17, God tells Moses, "I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name." This passage serves as a profound reminder of God's mercy and grace towards His people. It illustrates the church's need for divine intervention, especially in times of spiritual impotence and weakness. The church, throughout history, has often found itself in need of revival—a fresh outpouring of God's Spirit to renew and empower His people.

Revival is not a one-time event but a recurring necessity, akin to what happened on the day of Pentecost. The argument that Pentecost was a singular, unrepeatable event is refuted by the experiences of the early church, as seen in Acts 11 and Acts 4, where the Holy Spirit was poured out again. This demonstrates that revival is a repeated experience, a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit that empowers the church to fulfill its mission.

The church today, much like in the past, often resorts to human strategies and commissions to address its challenges, neglecting the divine power available through prayer and the Holy Spirit. The true need is not more human effort but a return to the power of God, as seen in the early church. When the Holy Spirit is poured out, the church experiences a profound sense of God's presence, assurance of truth, joy, and boldness in proclaiming the gospel.

Revival leads to a transformation not only within the church but also in the surrounding community. It draws people in, convicts them of sin, and leads to genuine repentance and conversion. The church grows as new believers are added, and the moral fabric of society is changed. This is the power of God at work, and it is the supreme need of the church today.

Key Takeaways

1. Revival as a Repeated Experience: Revival is not a one-time event but a recurring necessity for the church. Just as the Holy Spirit was poured out multiple times in the early church, we too can experience fresh outpourings of God's Spirit today. This ongoing need for revival underscores our dependence on divine power rather than human effort. [04:07]
2. The Church's True Need: The church often turns to human strategies to address its challenges, but the true need is for a return to the power of God. Revival brings a profound sense of God's presence, assurance of truth, and boldness in proclaiming the gospel. This divine intervention is what truly transforms the church and its mission. [11:18]
3. Transformation Through Revival: When revival occurs, it leads to a transformation not only within the church but also in the surrounding community. People are drawn in, convicted of sin, and led to genuine repentance and conversion. This results in church growth and a change in the moral fabric of society. [37:06]
4. The Power of Prayer: The key to revival is prayer. When the church prays earnestly for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, God responds with power and transformation. This highlights the importance of prioritizing prayer in our lives and ministries, trusting that God can accomplish more in a moment than we can in a lifetime. [41:17]
5. Boldness in Proclamation: Revival empowers the church with boldness to proclaim the gospel without fear. This boldness is a result of the Holy Spirit's work, transforming ordinary believers into powerful witnesses for Christ. It is this bold proclamation that leads to the conversion of many and the growth of the church. [29:35]
** [29:35]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Introduction to Exodus 33:17
[01:25] - God's Promise to Moses
[02:06] - The Need for Revival
[03:15] - Pentecost as a Pattern for Revival
[04:49] - Repetition of Pentecost
[06:00] - The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
[07:40] - Revival in Acts 4
[09:25] - The Power of the Holy Spirit
[11:00] - The Church's Misguided Efforts
[13:28] - The Church's True Need
[15:09] - The Power of God in History
[17:27] - What Happens in Revival
[20:23] - The Presence of God
[24:53] - Joy and Praise in Revival
[29:35] - Boldness in Proclamation
[32:09] - Impact on the World
[37:06] - Transformation Through Revival
[41:17] - The Power of Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What promise does God make to Moses in Exodus 33:17, and what is the significance of this promise in the context of the sermon? [00:11]
How does the sermon describe the event of Pentecost, and what argument is made against the idea that it was a one-time event? [03:15]
According to the sermon, what role does prayer play in the occurrence of revival, as seen in Acts 4:31? [09:06]
What transformation occurs within the church and the community when revival takes place, as described in the sermon? [37:06]

Interpretation Questions

How does the promise in Exodus 33:17 reflect God's relationship with Moses, and what does this imply about God's willingness to intervene in the church's struggles today? [01:46]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that the events of Pentecost serve as a pattern for ongoing revival in the church? [04:07]
What does the sermon imply about the church's reliance on human strategies versus divine power, and how does this relate to the experiences of the early church in Acts? [13:28]
How does the sermon describe the impact of revival on the moral fabric of society, and what examples are given to illustrate this transformation? [37:06]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually weak or impotent. How can the promise of God's grace, as seen in Exodus 33:17, encourage you to seek divine intervention in your life today? [00:11]
The sermon emphasizes the need for repeated experiences of revival. How can you personally cultivate an environment that invites the Holy Spirit to work in your life and community? [04:07]
Consider the role of prayer in your daily life. What specific steps can you take to prioritize prayer, especially in seeking revival and transformation within your church? [41:17]
The sermon highlights the church's tendency to rely on human strategies. How can you shift your focus from human efforts to seeking God's power in addressing challenges within your church? [13:28]
Revival leads to boldness in proclaiming the gospel. Identify one person in your life who needs to hear the message of Christ. How can you approach them with boldness and love this week? [29:35]
Reflect on the transformation that revival brings to a community. What changes would you like to see in your own community, and how can you be a catalyst for those changes through prayer and action? [37:06]
The sermon describes a profound sense of joy and praise during revival. How can you cultivate a spirit of joy and gratitude in your daily walk with God, even before experiencing a revival? [24:53]

Sermon Clips

"I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name." Those who attend here regularly will know that we've been examining this great and important 33rd chapter of the book of Exodus for a number of Sunday mornings as it gives us a picture and an illustration of the church in her impotence and weakness praying to God for some unusual manifestation of his presence, his glory, and his power. [00:00:18]

Revival after all is nothing but God hearing the people and having mercy upon them and answer in them by giving this manifestation of his glory and his strength and his power. That is really what Revival means and it is important therefore for us to understand it and to know something of what at inate we should be anticipating and what we should be seeking in our prayers. [00:02:42]

Every Revival of religion that the church has ever known has been in a sense a kind of repetition of what happened on the day of Pentecost. It has been a return to that origin to that beginning. It has been a riving. Now there is a great deal it seems to me of very loose and dangerous talk and writing about what happened on the day of Pentecost. [00:03:04]

The Apostle says that the Holy Ghost fell on Cornelius and his household as on us at the beginning. He said the same thing happened to them as happened to us on the day of Pentecost. Then he goes on to say this then remembered I the word of the Lord how that he said John indeed baptized with water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. [00:05:42]

When they prayed the place was shaken where they were assembled together and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. That's exactly the term used in the second chapter. The term baptism is not used in the second chapter but it means the baptism our Lord had said t in Jerusalem you shall be baptized not many days hence. [00:08:22]

The church becomes conscious of a presence and a power in her midst. When the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one Accord in one place and suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a mighty rushing wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting and there appeared unto them clo tongues like as a fire. [00:18:01]

The church is given as the result of this great Assurance concerning the truth. She doesn't have to investigate the truth set up a commission to look into it. She's given an absolute certainty about it. That's the thing that comes out so clearly you see in this story. Now take these men these apostles, you remember how a few weeks before after the crucifixion they'd been very shaken. [00:21:34]

The church is filled with great joy and a sense of Praise. Did you notice the terms there towards the end of the chapter and they continuing daily with one Accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart praising God and her having favor with all the people. [00:24:47]

When the church is in a state of Revival you don't have to exalt people exalt them to praise you can't stop them they're so filled with joy their very faces sh they're transfigured there is a hly look that even comes upon their very faces which is expressive of This Joy this praise can't you see my dear friends that this is the need of the church today. [00:26:38]

The power and the boldness that is given in the proclamation of the truth. Look at this man Peter it's but a few weeks before that he was so fearful and so much the victim of a craven spirit that he even denied the Lord Jesus Christ to that servant made in order to save his life and here he is now preaching in Jerusalem. [00:29:31]

The world outside becomes attracted by curiosity and there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews devout men out of every nation under heaven now when this was noised abroad the multitude came together and were confounded a great crowd gathered they said what's this you see the problem confronting the church today is what can we do with these masses that are outside the church. [00:32:07]

Pray for Revival because the moment a Revival breaks out the crowd will come and I'll tell you another thing it won't cost you a penny I'm speaking to the church that is spending thousands of pounds on Advertising advertising to try and attack The Outsider the moment you get Revival the newspapers will report it their motive of course will be quite wrong. [00:33:32]

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