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Introduction

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Teaching Helps for Revival and Reformation

This Quarter’s Study Contents

The Study References (“Refs” formerly called “Helps”) include all related Scripture and most EGW quotations. You will find the links in the third column of the Contents section below.

Lesson (Biblia Version) Refs Mobi
1 Revival: Our Great Need • June 29 – July  5 Lesson References Mobile Verson
2 Prayer: The Heartbeat of Revival • July 6 –12 Lesson References Mobile Verson
3 The Word: The Foundation of Revival • July 13 – 19 Lesson References Mobile Verson
4 Witness and Service: The Fruit of Revival • July 20 – 26 Lesson References Mobile Verson
5 Obedience: The Fruit of Revival • July 27 – Aug 2 Lesson References Mobile Verson
6 Confession and Repentance: The Conditions of
Revival
 • Aug 3 – 9
Lesson References Mobile Verson
7 Unity: The Bond of Revival • Aug 10 – 16 Lesson References Mobile Verson
8 Discernment: The Safeguard of Revival • Aug 17 – 23 Lesson References Mobile Verson
9 Reformation: The Outgrowth of Revival • Aug 24 – 30  Lesson References Mobile Verson
10 Reformation: The Willingness to Grow and Change • Aug 31 – Sep 6 Lesson References Mobile Verson
11 Reformation: Thinking New Thoughts • Sep 7 – 13 Lesson References Mobile Verson
12 Reformation: Healing Broken Relationships • Sep 14–20 Lesson References Mobile Verson
13 The Promised Revival: God’s Mission Completed • Sep 21 – 27 Lesson References Mobile Verson

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Quarter 3, 2013

Revival and Reformation (Introduction)

by: Mark Finley

In every generation, God’s Spirit strives to bring revival to the hearts of His people. Revival is an ongoing, daily experience. Each of us should identify with an old hymn that says: “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love.” Deep within, we know these words are true.

Our hearts are, indeed, prone to wander. Our minds drift from the eternal to the mundane. Our thoughts turn so easily from the heavenly to the earthly. Too often we seem to be in bondage to deeply entrenched habits. At times our own attitudes and reactions baffle us.

And that’s because, as the result of sin, our natures are fallen (Jer. 17:9). Our natural tendency is to turn from God’s way to our own (Isa. 53:6). With the apostle Paul we cry out, “O wretched man that I am” (Rom. 7:24), and with David we plead, “Revive me, O LORD, according to your lovingkindness” (Ps. 119:159, NKJV).

Revival is all about a God of lovingkindness seeking to deepen His relationship with us. The initiative in revival is His. His Spirit creates longings within us. His Spirit convicts us of our need. His Spirit reveals Jesus’ goodness and grace.

Throughout history, God’s Spirit has moved mightily in revival. When Israel drifted from God’s plan and purposes, God used the young King Josiah to lead the nation back to Him, and a mighty revival followed. At the dedication of the temple, God said to Solomon: “ ‘If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land’ ” (2 Chron. 7:14, NKJV). God’s heart longing was for Israel to meet the conditions of revival, experience the power of revival, and reveal the light of His love to the entire world.

When God’s people responded to His appeals for revival, He worked mightily in their behalf. This was true for the New Testament Christian church, the Reformation, and the Advent Movement. It will also be true for God’s end-time people. His Holy Spirit will be poured out in its fullness and the earth will be “illuminated with his glory” (Rev. 18:1, NKJV).

This quarter’s lessons focus on the varied aspects of revival and reformation. Together we will probe such questions as, What are the conditions that God has given for the outpouring of His Spirit? Is God waiting for some magical moment to pour out His Spirit on His last-day church? What does it mean to live a Spirit filled life? Is there anything we can do to cooperate with God in order to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit now? Where does revival and reformation begin?

Ellen G. White described the importance of revival in these words: “A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs.”- Selected Messages, book 1, p. 121. Heaven places priority on revival. What could be more important? This quarter, as we study such topics as prayer and revival, the Word and revival, witnessing and revival, a finished work and revival, and other related subjects, let us pray that God will powerfully speak to our hearts and draw us closer to Him.

Why not open your heart to the moving of His Spirit right now? Why not ask Him to do something extra special in your life today? He will answer your prayers, and heavenly blessings will flow in ways that you have not yet imagined.


A native of Connecticut, USA, Mark Finley, an internationally known evangelist, was a vice president at the General Conference from 2005-2010. After retiring from full-time employment, he became an assistant to the president of the General Conference to work part-time with the Revival and Reformation initiative. Pastor Finley and his wife, Ernestine, have three children and two grandchildren.
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Comments

2013 Q3: Revival and Reformation — 10 Comments

  1. I teach an adult sabbath school class at my local church here in Malawi. Hard copies in my mother language, let alone English, are hard to come by in the area I stay so I just use the internet to access the lessons. Thanks

    (2)
  2. May God help us to be revived and reformed. This world is surely coming to an end. Let us ask ourselves individually: "Am I hot or cold? To what extent am I spreading the word? Am I fully prepared for the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus?" Thanks to the Holy Spirit for reminding us that we are sleeping on duty.

    (5)
  3. Thank you for making it possible for us to access the Sabbath lessons anywhere. I have been moved and inspired by the lesson study of this quarter. God has His own time in preparing messages for us all at the right time, just as we are in need of His mercy and never-ending love. We need revival & reformation within ourselves in order to REACH OUT to our fellow friends who are in need of the Word of God and they too deserve to be prepared for the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus! It is my prayer that we will persistently ask for the Holy Ghost to guide & lead us daily as we prepare for His soon return.

    (3)
  4. Iam so blessed with these sabbath school lessons,they are uplifting my spiritual life.And if we truly listen to Christ words on John 15:1-7 seriously we will be revived.

    (2)
  5. Revival and Reformation is all what we need today as a church in preparation for the pouring of the Holy Spirit, to completely transform us as to the life of Jesus, to strengthen us with our faith in overcoming challenges in life, above all in facing the last test as a church. Above all to prepare us for the translation to heaven when Jesus-Christ would return to this world for the second time.

    (4)
  6. When revived reformation follows,
    why revive? to remind of the once commitments made n now seemingly something has taken over when the message has been sent through us, the word of God will be coming to a give life to a body that is rotting or about to rot so one may make a decision on life in Christ Jesus or eternal death
    the message of revival n reformation is not for a church but for the entire universe, for the main purpose of the message of revival n reformation is making known to the world the coming KING, KING JESuS, so u guiding them to the meeting point the palace of the KING,

    He JESUS said I go prepare a place and when I am gone, will come back, so am going to prepare a home that u may dwell in, so I go, reason of coming is I died for u as my beloved n have done everything to be with u so am coming be ready,

    The coming of JESUS will better everything no more misery no more turmoil n toil,stress free,ruthlessness ended, welcome eternal joy, happiness is to know the saviour living a life that's worth bringing many to CHRIST JESUS,

    for now, enjoy the Sabbath of the lord our God

    (0)
  7. I think that if we get the core of revival right, then the externals will take care of themselves. We often talk about the health message, sabbath observance, lifestyle and so on as though they are prerequisites for revival. Getting the core right is at the heart of the problem. Jesus talked about washing the outside of the cup and forgetting about the inside. It has the appearance of being right but the inside remains unwashed.

    It is quite possible to be healthy, observe sabbath carefully, refrain from going to the movies, and miss out on selfless kindness to one another. We need to read what Jesus said and did; in particular, the sermon on the mount and his discussion with Nichodemus to discover how to get our minds set in the right direction so that our actions follow.

    (2)
  8. Dear James,

    God helped me to understand that reformation and revival must begin with the individual before the church will change. I decided 2 years ago to be a one-woman agent of change, fasting and praying for a closer walk w/ Christ myself so that I could then be a better vessel. As He has answered that prayer, God is using me to touch the lives of countless others (both inside and outside of the church). If you live right before them, fast and pray for those who so obviously need it, and love unconditionally and without condemnation like Jesus bids us to, then you will begin to see both revival and reformation in those around you as people follow you to Christ. Sometimes we spend too much time looking around us for change, when God wants us to ask Him to change what is within us to help further the Gospel. Even the best of us fall short of Christ's example and that keeps me humble. I hope that this helps. God bless!

    (3)

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