Revival Through Focus, Unity, and God's Anointing

 

Summary

In today's message, I shared my deep yearning for revival within our church and community. Revival is not just a distant hope but a tangible possibility if we align ourselves with God's purpose and presence. Over the past 16 years, we've witnessed significant transformations, and I believe we are on the cusp of something even greater. However, to experience this mighty move of God, we must focus on what truly matters and eliminate distractions that keep us from fulfilling our divine calling.

The word "focus" is pivotal for us this year. Many of us, myself included, have been scattered, busy with activities that do not necessarily align with God's will. It's time to recalibrate and ask God what He wants us to do, ensuring our lives are not just full but fulfilling. The New Testament churches, despite their imperfections, were used mightily by God, which gives us hope that He can use us too.

A critical component of revival is unity. Unity is the foundation upon which revival is built and sustained. Without it, even the most powerful services cannot maintain their impact. The enemy knows this and often targets our unity, sowing seeds of discord and offense. We must be vigilant, choosing to douse the fires of conflict with water rather than gasoline, and strive to live in harmony with one another.

The anointing of God, His presence and spirit, is our greatest treasure. Without it, our worship becomes lifeless, and our gatherings lose their purpose. We must come to church with anticipation, eager to encounter God, and not just go through the motions. Our services should be vibrant, filled with joy and life, reflecting the power of God at work among us.

Finally, I challenged everyone to examine their relationships and seek reconciliation where there is disunity. Revival cannot flourish in an environment of strife. We must be willing to have difficult conversations and extend grace to one another. As we prepare our hearts and align ourselves with God's will, we position ourselves to be vessels of His revival, impacting our community and beyond.

Key Takeaways:

1. Revival Requires Focus: To experience a mighty move of God, we must eliminate distractions and focus on what He has called us to do. Our lives should not just be busy but fulfilling, aligned with God's purpose. [02:26]

2. Unity is Essential for Revival: Unity is the foundation of revival. Without it, even powerful services cannot sustain their impact. The enemy targets our unity, so we must strive to live in harmony and handle conflicts healthily. [14:31]

3. The Anointing of God is Our Greatest Treasure: God's presence and spirit are vital for vibrant worship and impactful gatherings. We must come to church with anticipation, eager to encounter God, and not just go through the motions. [05:30]

4. Guard Against Offense and Discord: The enemy uses offense to disrupt unity and block revival. We must choose to douse conflicts with water, not gasoline, and strive to live in harmony with one another. [19:51]

5. Prepare Your Heart for Revival: Examine your relationships and seek reconciliation where there is disunity. Revival cannot flourish in an environment of strife. Be willing to have difficult conversations and extend grace to one another. [39:46]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:26] - The Call for Revival
- [05:30] - The Importance of Anointing
- [07:55] - Anticipation in Worship
- [14:31] - Unity as the Foundation
- [18:39] - The Enemy's Strategy
- [19:51] - Guarding Against Offense
- [23:39] - The Cost of Disunity
- [30:33] - Lessons from Acts
- [32:35] - The Impact of Complaints
- [35:08] - Restoring Unity
- [36:51] - Walking Hand in Hand
- [39:46] - Preparing for Revival
- [42:00] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 133:1-3 - "How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore."
2. Acts 2:42-47 - "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

Observation Questions:
1. What does Psalm 133 describe as the result of unity among God’s people? How is this unity symbolized in the passage?
2. According to Acts 2:42-47, what were the key activities of the early church that contributed to their unity and growth?
3. In the sermon, what was identified as the greatest treasure of the church? How does this relate to the concept of revival? [05:30]
4. How does the pastor describe the impact of disunity on the church's ability to experience revival? [19:51]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the imagery of oil in Psalm 133 help us understand the importance of unity in the church?
2. What might be the significance of the early church's commitment to fellowship and sharing in Acts 2:42-47 for modern churches seeking revival?
3. The sermon emphasizes the need for focus to experience revival. How does this focus relate to the activities and priorities of the early church? [02:26]
4. How does the pastor suggest handling conflicts and offenses to maintain unity within the church? [19:51]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current focus in life. Are there distractions that prevent you from aligning with God’s purpose? How can you recalibrate your focus this week? [02:26]
2. Unity is described as essential for revival. Are there relationships in your life where you need to seek reconciliation to foster unity? What steps can you take to address these issues? [39:46]
3. The sermon mentions the importance of coming to church with anticipation. How can you prepare your heart and mind to encounter God in your next church service? [05:30]
4. Consider a recent conflict or offense you experienced. Did you respond with water or gasoline? How can you choose to respond differently in the future to promote unity? [19:51]
5. The early church was devoted to teaching, fellowship, and prayer. How can you incorporate these elements into your daily life to strengthen your faith and community?
6. The pastor challenges us to examine our lives for areas of disunity. Is there someone you need to have a difficult conversation with to restore harmony? What might that conversation look like? [39:46]
7. How can you contribute to creating a church environment that is vibrant and filled with joy, reflecting the power of God at work among us? [05:30]

Devotional

Day 1: Aligning with God's Purpose
To experience a mighty move of God, believers must eliminate distractions and focus on what He has called them to do. This involves a conscious effort to recalibrate one's life, ensuring that activities and pursuits are not just filling time but are fulfilling and aligned with God's purpose. The New Testament churches, despite their imperfections, were used mightily by God, which serves as a reminder that He can use anyone who is willing to focus on His will. By asking God what He wants us to do, we can ensure that our lives are not just busy but truly fulfilling. [02:26]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: What distractions in your life are keeping you from focusing on God's purpose? How can you begin to eliminate one of these distractions today?


Day 2: Unity as the Foundation of Revival
Unity is essential for revival, serving as the foundation upon which it is built and sustained. Without unity, even the most powerful services cannot maintain their impact. The enemy often targets unity, sowing seeds of discord and offense among believers. It is crucial to be vigilant, choosing to douse the fires of conflict with water rather than gasoline, and striving to live in harmony with one another. By handling conflicts healthily and striving for unity, believers can create an environment where revival can flourish. [14:31]

"Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind." (Philippians 2:2, ESV)

Reflection: Is there someone in your church community with whom you need to reconcile? What steps can you take this week to restore unity in that relationship?


Day 3: Cherishing God's Anointing
The anointing of God, His presence and spirit, is the greatest treasure for believers. Without it, worship becomes lifeless, and gatherings lose their purpose. Believers are encouraged to come to church with anticipation, eager to encounter God, and not just go through the motions. Services should be vibrant, filled with joy and life, reflecting the power of God at work among the congregation. By valuing and seeking God's anointing, believers can experience vibrant worship and impactful gatherings. [05:30]

"But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge." (1 John 2:20, ESV)

Reflection: How can you prepare your heart to encounter God in a fresh way during your next worship service?


Day 4: Guarding Against Offense
The enemy uses offense to disrupt unity and block revival. Believers must choose to douse conflicts with water, not gasoline, and strive to live in harmony with one another. By being vigilant and handling conflicts healthily, believers can guard against offense and maintain unity within the church. This involves choosing to extend grace and forgiveness, even in difficult situations, to ensure that revival can flourish in an environment free from strife. [19:51]

"Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense." (Proverbs 19:11, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent conflict or offense. How can you choose to respond with grace and forgiveness today?


Day 5: Preparing for Revival
Revival cannot flourish in an environment of strife. Believers are encouraged to examine their relationships and seek reconciliation where there is disunity. This involves being willing to have difficult conversations and extend grace to one another. By preparing their hearts and aligning themselves with God's will, believers position themselves to be vessels of His revival, impacting their community and beyond. [39:46]

"Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take to prepare your heart for revival? How can you actively seek peace and reconciliation in your relationships this week?

Quotes

"Man, I hope you do because that's what I'm praying for. I'm believing and praying that God is going to allow us as a church to experience just a glimmer, just a little taste of the revival that he has poured out from time to time on the world that we live in. Because I want to experience it. I don't want to ever be in a place where I just ride through life and I have a little bit of move of God. I want a powerful move of God in my life. Because I believe that what we've experienced as a church over the last 16 years is probably the closest thing that I've ever seen to a mighty move of God in my life." [00:00:07] (37 seconds)


"But with all the lives that I've seen changed over the last 16 years, I believe that we're on the brink of God saying, I want to do it. I want to use you in a powerful way. I want to use you and your church and the people of the church to change the community in which you live. Because if we're not changing the world in which we live, then why are we living in the world that we're living in?" [00:00:48] (22 seconds)


"I've been distracted by all this and this and this and this and this and going on in your life. Most of us in here would say that we're busy. But if you're busy, that's good. But are you busy doing the things that God wants you to do? Because I believe that so many of us right now, our life is not fulfilling. Our life is not what we want it to be because our calendars are slammed full of things that are not getting us close to a mighty move of God because we're not doing what God's called us to do. We're doing what our calendar mandates." [00:01:44] (29 seconds)


"How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity. I love me some good and I love me some pleasant. Amen? How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity. It's like precious oil poured out on the head running down on the beard. Running down on Aaron's beard. Down on the collar of his robe. It's as if the dew of Hermon were falling from Mount Zion. See in the Old Testament when God wanted to show you that's my guy. That's my people. He would pour out the oil of anointing. The man of God would pour out the oil of anointing. And that was a symbol to everybody watching. That's the guy. That's the girl. That's the one." [00:13:43] (39 seconds)


"Let us be the church that is good and pleasant. And that dwell together in unity so that the anointing, the oil, the outpouring of God's presence falls on this place. It says, for there. Where is there? In unity. In unity the Lord bestows his blessing. Even life forevermore. God pours out his blessings when his people are unified. Because when we live in unity, that oil shows the world that God is here. And it brings blessings on your life." [00:14:42] (39 seconds)


"Because when you're out of unity, you're forfeiting your peace. You're forfeiting your blessings because how good and pleasant it is. Is your life good right now? Is your life pleasant right now? Then maybe it's because you aren't dwelling together in unity. Pastor, you keep saying I've got these issues I need to work on and these people that I'm out of unity with. But it ain't no big deal. I mean, it's just a little thing. But last I read, Scripture says it was the little foxes that spoiled the vine. It's the little things that get a hold of you." [00:24:30] (32 seconds)


"Because if you don't deal with it, it will come out somewhere, somehow, in a conversation with someone, and it will break the flow of unity. Because listen, when you're out of unity, it concerns us all. But you also need to know when you're out of unity, it affects us all. And you could rob an entire church of revival because you won't get in the flow of the unity of God's presence. All over the distribution of food." [00:30:58] (32 seconds)


"Because remember, when you're not unified, when you separate, the banana that separates from the bunch is always going to be the first banana that gets peeled. And if you don't want the devil to peel, slice, puree, and fillet you, stay in your circle. Because in every situation, you're holding two buckets. One full of water and one full of gasoline. And wisdom is knowing which bucket you need to dump out." [00:38:55] (27 seconds)


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Transcript
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