Understanding Revival and the importance of Repentance
Isaiah 57:15: For this is what the high and exalted One says - He who lives forever, whose name is Holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is humble and sorry for their sins, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart – the spirit of those sorry for their sins.
Psalm 85: 6: Will you not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You
Psalm 80:18-19: Then, we will not turn away from You; revive us, and we will call on your name. Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make Your face shine on us, that we may be saved.
Our "take-aways" from last week's study:
Revival is “the work of the Holy Spirit in restoring the people of God to a more vital spiritual life, witness, and work by prayer and the Word, following repentance; the awakening or quickening of God's people to their true nature and purpose; an extraordinary movement of the Holy Spirit producing extraordinary results.”
Revival starts with each of us - individually. We do not need to go someplace to find it. We don’t have to travel across the world to find it. Revival starts in the heart and life of every believer. Revival is filled with both power and renewed obedience.
With any authentic “God-sent” revival, there is an understanding that comes: we are not where we should be. Whether it be in our lifestyle, our effectiveness, or our love relationship with Jesus Christ, we recognize that things need to change and that it needs to begin with us.
The characteristics of Revival:
a) It raises our esteem, respect, honor, admiration, and love for Jesus Christ.
b) Believers have a greater love, reliance, and response to God’s Word.
c) Believers clearly know spiritual truth from error.
d) Believers have a renewed love for God and others.
e) The enemy’s stronghold on the believer’s mind and will is destroyed because of “genuine repentance.”
Repent: to be convinced of another way; to have a change of heart, mind, and direction; to be convinced in your mind and heart, to change your actions.
Acts 17:30: “God overlooked the times when people didn’t know any better. But now He commands everyone everywhere (repent) turn to Him and change the way they think and act.”
Repentance: turning from going your own way to go God’s way; turning towards God and away from anything that dishonors Him.
Repentance is not about our emotions, our sin, our efforts, or our resolve. It’s about our complete – total surrender to God.
Repentance is not about feeling remorse, regret, and shame, it’s about God, who loves us and desires that everyone would come to repentance {2 Peter 3:9}.
Repentance leads to life {Acts 11:18}.
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