Sabbath: Witness and Service: The Fruit of Revival
Read for This Week’s Study: Matt. 28:19-20; John 20:21; Acts 2; Acts 22:1-14; John 6:1-11;Acts 8:26-38.
Memory Text: “‘But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth’” (Acts 1:8, NKJV).
The purpose of revival is to fill our hearts with such a love for Jesus that we long to share this love with every person possible. In genuine revival, our own hearts are wakened to God’s goodness, compassion, forgiveness, and power. We are so charmed by His love and transformed by His grace that we cannot be silent.
In contrast, a “revival” that focuses on one’s “spiritual experience alone” misses the mark. If it develops attitudes critical of others who do not measure up to one’s “standard of holiness,” it is certainly not heaven inspired. If the emphasis of revival is to merely change external behavior rather than to change hearts, then something is wrong.
Changed hearts lead to changed behavior. Genuine revival never leads to self-centeredness or, especially, to self-sufficiency or self-exaltation. Instead, it always leads to a selfless concern for others. When our hearts are renewed by God’s grace, we long to bless and serve those who are in need. All genuine revival leads to a renewed emphasis on mission and service.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 27.
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One of the manifestation of. True revival is witness for God that Ȋ̝̊̅§ telling people about the great love of God and rending services to others that need help in kind
Or in cash. May God help us not be selfish in all He has given
us rather may we have the willing spirit to share it with others around us so that they may know Christ and saved IJN Amen
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It's interesting to see the sequence of these lessons; in that once the foundation has been properly laid, the progressives steps follows and in this case it is the fruits......we receive power from the word of God and we then become witnesses! I praise the Lord.
The more we share the word of God with others, the more we grow spiritually
It's True that the heart must be changed also, If not then it's "faiths by work" And that's legalism, everything that people often accuse us of being. We have to change our hearts and all else will be effected.
Lord, may we as children of yours truly seek your face and see ourselves for who we really are and see You as our only hope of being revived. AMEN!
What is being said here is important because we as humans tend to selfish in motive. When we do things we seek self glorification, rather then to exalt God in our actions. In other words we are philanthropists not stewards of God.
Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit purposely for menifestation.Through revival,the Holy Spirit will be our witness
Self needs to be changed to selfless. Changed can occur only as the love of Jesus flows through and in us by the presende of the Holy Spirit. We must seek after this and continue to long for His transformation in our lives.
Kurt Kaiser's song "Pass It On" captures the concept of compassion for one another very well. It is compassion that compels us to seek our neighbor's good. And of course it is mixed with love. The first stanza says:
It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;
That's how it is with God's Love,
Once you've experienced it,
Your spread the love to everyone
You want to pass it on.
Our God would revive us again with a spark of life, then He would have us "therefore go and make disciples.." (Maathew 28:19)
Many times we study God's words so that we can share it with others and forgeting to allow these words to transform us first. The purpose of studying should be that we be revived and transformed. A revived and transformed life is lived (practical) not just preached(verbal)alone. People seem to believe us more when we practice what we preach. My prayer is that our service will be as a result of true transformation brought about by God's words in our life.
I am not sure how others feel about Sabbath portion of the lesson, but I have been a member studying 32years believing GOD was granting wisdom and understanding then I read this "In contrast, a “revival” that focuses on one’s “spiritual experience alone” misses the mark. If it develops attitudes critical of others who do not measure up to one’s “standard of holiness,” it is certainly not heaven inspired. If the emphasis of revival is to merely change external behavior rather than to change hearts, then something is wrong.
Changed hearts lead to changed behavior. Genuine revival never leads to self-centeredness or, especially, to self-sufficiency or self-exaltation. Instead, it always leads to a selfless concern for others. When our hearts are renewed by God’s grace, we long to bless and serve those who are in need. All genuine revival leads to a renewed emphasis on mission and service." I didn't think I was critical or self-centered but I was if was difficult to admit blessed to attend christen school. We need to be transformed so GODS work can be completed.
Sharing the word of God with others, does not need àny qualificàtion although we should be occupied with the scriputures as they testify Jesus' life. God's mission for me is to preach not at pulpits or effort meetings but my daily works to the entire community is enough.
I enjoyed the comparison made between genuine and fake revival in the introduction. The general understanding is that revival is an emotional experience, thus it becomes short-lived and needs to be restarted through a preacher or a song. True revival is an emotional, intellectual, spiritual physical experience.In other words, it involves the whole being propelled by the Holy Spirit.Oh! how I long that we have that genuine revival, otherwise God's work would be retarded.
How many times have we heard of someone who committed a sin that we didn't commit and cry down that person? We do that because we tell ourselves that we will never do that. We keep forgetting that we, like them are human in need of a saviour too. Let us not be caught up in bringing down our brothers and sisters, but, keep praying daily for one another