Further Study: Reformation: The Outgrowth of Revival
“A revival and a reformation must take place under the ministration of the Holy 
Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend.”-Ellen G. White, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Feb. 25, 1902.
“Whatever may be their profession, it is only those who are world servers at heart that act from policy rather than principle in religious things. We should choose the right because it is right, and leave consequences with God. To men of principle, faith, and daring, the world is indebted for its great reforms. By such men the work of reform for this time must be carried forward.”-Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 460.
Discussion Questions:
- In the call for revival and reformation, what must come first, revival or reformation, and why?
- Why are revival and reformation things of the heart more than anything else? Why must they start individually, with each of us making a conscious choice to renew our walk with the Lord, to draw closer to Him, and to seek more earnestly than ever to do His will? What is the danger of waiting for the person next to you in the pew to do this, or waiting for the pastor to initiate this? Why must you, yourself, now, make the choice to surrender even more fully to the Lord so that He will work in you?
- Nothing could kill the call to revival and reformation more than a harsh and judgmental spirit toward those who don’t seem to live up to the standards that we think they should. How can we learn to avoid that dangerous pitfall while at the same time standing for the truths that have been entrusted to us?
In this week’s lesson, Jesus is calling us to do three things. They are the 3R’S. That is Remember, Repent and Return. When we are spiritually empty, Christ calls us to remember when our hearts were once filled with His grace. He asks us to repent of our prayer-less lives, our lack of devotional Bible study and our loss of spiritual focus and therefore to return to those basic Christian practices of prayer and devotion that bring spiritual strength. That is the first love.
From the above quote and from my own experience, revival and reformation must work on the heart and life together. The Holy Spirit does revive the heart before true reforms and changes are seen in the life. However, one is not more important than the other, and they each must do their part for a balanced Christian on fire for God and walking in His way. When the two are working in tandem, great things can occur in life for the person and those around her or him.
we need to pray for our brethren for ths spritual revival in the last dangerous days
we can never do justice to God’s love for us,I pray brethren that in these end times while we can still easily access our bibles that we eat drink live in the “Word” for a time will come when the only bible we know is in our hearts.If we then dont have the bible in our hearts how then can we withstand the wiles of the devil as he seeks to devour all and sundry.left alone we would be hopeless against Satan.The Great Controversy is real,and our only hope is our connection with Jesus and central to that connection is our prayer life and the Word
The process of revival and reformation is heartly and it starts from you personally by first confessing and repenting your sins to be forgiven bcos Jesus says that while you dint know l also assumed that l dint see your wickedness but now you’ve know what the will of thy father is just come and we reason together,no matter how black your sins are,they will be cleansed to be as white as crystal then you begin anew life in christ,the past is gone then now you have anew heart and anew spirit to do the will of God in obedience because now,it’s not you who liveth,but it’s christ who livet in you.May God bless you all in Jesus name,AMEN.
God was the strength of the people of old,and he is our strength to day,we should not trust in men and try to put them in place of God,because they will fail us,but we should remember our strong tower who has all power which is God, in our difficult situation
he will see us through,and this can only happen when we fast,pray,trusting and obeying God.
I need some help real quick for this question can someone please explain which one of these has to take place first Reformation or Revival and please back up argument with scripture thank you