Holy Spirit Revival

What is “Holy Spirit Revival”? 

Bill Bright, in his book “The Coming Revival”, says that revival is “a sovereign work of God - in answer to sincere prevailing prayer - in which He:

1. Grips His people with deep conviction, repentance, forgiveness and deliverance from personal sins. 
2. Fills His people with the Holy Spirit and manifests in them the fruit and graces of the Holy Spirit. 
3. Fills the Church and community with His presence and power. 
4. Causes non-Christians to earnestly seek Him. 
   
5. Ignites in His people, young and old, a passion to bring the lost to Christ at home and around the world. 
6. Why do we need revival? It is because of the tendency to spiritual negligence and the law of degeneration. Unless we actively pursue God and fan the flame of His Spirit within us, we tend to lose our passion and first love for Him. We must continually check our heart and direct our focus towards the Lord. 
7. Revival is simply a return to “first love” with Jesus where we love God and other people with all of our heart with great fervency. The Holy Spirit comes to “revive” us - from lukewarmness, apathy, discouragement, religiosity, spiritual stagnation and mediocrity. 

Revival Insights (from Jesus): 

In John 4:1-4, we see Jesus leaving Judea and heading for Galilee because of the popularity of this ministry and its inevitable clash with the religious leaders of the day, the Pharisees. The words “had to” imply a necessity that implies a sense of compulsion rather than mere convenience.

1. See the harvest as “now”, not just “some day”. 
   Jesus is saying that in the kingdom, there is a sense of God always moving even when it doesn't seem like “harvest time”. We can expect something NOW not just in the future. We can expect immediate results when the gospel is preached. The spiritual harvest is always ready and must be reaped before it spoils. We benefit from the labours of those who have gone before us.
   
   
2. Recognise God in the “ordinary”, not just the “spectacular”. 
   Jesus is just having a lunch break. He's not teaching or ministering at a “revival meeting” with thousands of people. There's no music playing. There's nothing outwardly special or exciting about this moment. But Jesus sees God wanting to touch a woman in need and he doesn't miss his opportunity. When Jesus came, most of them missed him! He didn't come like they thought he would. He came humbly and lowly born as a baby in a manger. They followed the star and found a stable, not a likely place for the birth of royalty.
   
   
3. Acknowledge what you “already have” without always looking for “more”. 
   Jesus had been born of the Spirit and filled with the Spirit. He was already empowered for his ministry and he simply began to move in the anointing already upon him. Many Christians wrongly believe that they lack the resources to face the pressures of life and to fulfil God's will. Some people are always looking for “more”, for another “touch”, for more of God's power or for another “word”. The truth is that we already have all that we need for life and godly living. We simply need to believe it and live it out. God's focus is on “today” 

What we already have “in Christ”: 

1. Complete Salvation
   We have been saved from sin and condemnation, our sins are forgiven and we are seen as righteous in God's sight. Through the work of Jesus on the cross we also have power over sin and victory over anything that may come against us. We have a future and a hope, a purpose and a plan. Read Ephesians 1-2. 
2. All we need for life and godly living 
   2 Peter. 1:3-4. We already have everything we need for life and godly living, including the divine nature. We have all we need!
   
   Colossians 2:9-10. LB “You have everything when you have Christ.”
   
   
3. The Holy Spirit (and all of his resources) 
   2 Tim.1:7. His power, love and wisdom is available to us right now. We have no reason to fear or be intimidated.
   
   Isaiah We have 11:2. access to his love, joy, peace, kindness, patience and goodness, etc.
   
   
4. The Gospel and a Mission 
   We have a commission and a mandate to take it to every person in the world even to the ends of the earth (Matt.28). We don't need a bigger task or job to do. There is much still to be done.
   
   
5. Assured Victory 
   There is nothing that can separate us from God's love (Rom.8:29-39). There is no temptation from which God does not provide a way of escape (1 Cor.10:13). There is no trial that lacks an adequate supply of God's grace (2 Cor.12:9).
   
   We are called to rule and reign over everything that comes at us in life, in fact, that is what we are called to do. We are kings and priests unto our God. 

Conclusion: Holy Spirit Revival 

How do we cultivate a sense of Holy Spirit Revival and apply these insights?

1. Know the Truth 
   Change your paradigm by seeing the harvest as “now”. Know the truth and the truth will set you free - from every lie of the enemy. God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hos.4:6). Satan's greatest power is deception. Ignorance limits our power and confidence. If we don't know who we are, we will live far below our God-given privilege and potential.
   
   
2. Believe the Truth 
   Believe what God has done and what he says about you. Confess it. Pray the truth of God's Word - thank God for forgiveness, salvation, confidence, hope, wisdom, courage, boldness, provision, grace, strength, etc. Confess the truth of God's Word. The just live by faith, not by feelings (Gal.3:11; 2:20). Heb.4:2. Jn.20:31. Rom.10:17.
   
   
3. Live the Truth
   Step out and be who you are. You can be who God says you can be. You can have what God says you can have. You can do what God says you can do. So “just do it!” (Jas.1:22) 

Declarations of Faith 

1. God the Father is my protector and provider. He disciplines, loves, cares, teaches, accepts and encourages me. 
2. Jesus the Son is my Saviour, redeemer from sin, death and hell. He has given me righteousness, eternal life and is in heaven right now interceding for me and His blood cleanses me now. 
3. The Holy Spirit dwells within me, He teaches, enables, comforts, strengthens, leads, guides and empowers me and He has come to make me like Jesus, conformed to His image. 
4. On the basis of repentance and faith, I am justified, born into God's family, adopted, saved and have received eternal life. 
5. God's law is perfect and as I choose to obey His will I will inherit true life and blessing (Ps.19. Deut.28-29). 
6. Satan is my enemy and will constantly seek to deceive me away from the truth. 
7. Sin (living contrary to God's laws) will always destroy my life no matter how pleasurable it may seem. Sin separates me from God. 
8. When I sin, if I confess it, the blood of Jesus will cleanse me and as I walk in the light I need not continue in sin. 
9. I have received the divine nature and I am responsible to live according to God's ways. I can change and overcome the enemy. I can love, forgive and accept others. 
10. I will appear before the judgment seat of Christ and receive reward for the things I have done in my life whether good or bad (1 Cor.5:10). 

Holy Spirit Revival 

Ice Breaker: Name one thing that you thought you would never do but you are doing now. 
Worship: 
Word: Briefly summarise the text in not more than 7 minutes. 
Works: Small Group Discussion Questions

1. What does the word 'revival' mean to you?   
   
2. Why is it important to keep our spirit revived?   
   
3. How can we as a group cultivate more passion for the Holy Spirit? (offer how you can help as a leader)   
4. Get the entire group to read aloud the 10 points under “Declaration of Faith”. You may want to make copies for each person.   
5. Of the 10 points under “Declaration of Faith”, which one meant most to you. Explain in one sentence the reason why?
6. Pray for each other for greater passion of the Holy Spirit.