Witness and Service: A Fruit of Revival

An audio overview of the lesson by Raul Diaz

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Here is the Script:

Witness and Service: The Fruit of Revival

‘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).

Our title for this lesson implies that witness and service is an outgrowth or fruit of revival.  Revival being the change that occurs in our hearts and minds when the Holy Spirit is allowed to work in them.  If witness and service are a fruit of revival, then revival precedes witness and service. 

Fruit in the Bible are a product of abiding (John 15).  So, if witnessing and service are a fruit, then it means that it can only happen when we abide in Christ and He in us; in other words: the Holy Spirit abides in us.

Our lesson states that, “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 revival we are exposed to the love of Jesus, and begin to experience it.  It is the Holy Spirit who sheds abroad Christ’s love in all of us.)  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.  (IT is not a true revival as defined by Ellen White). 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.

There is no doubt that there was a contrast in behavior in the disciples.  Before Christ was arrested they were fighting for supremacy.  Just before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit they were of one accord; what changed?   When Christ was arrested they all fled in fear.  After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit they now preached to those from whom they fled in fear, telling them “you crucified Christ.  What changed? 

Our Lesson states that At Pentecost, the disciples were changed people. Something happened to them so that the Spirit could do something through them. The Holy Spirit had done something for them so that He could do something with them.  Ellen White gives insight into what happened,

“After Christ's ascension, His disciples--men of varied talents and capabilities--assembled in an upper chamber to pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit. In this room 'all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.' They made thorough work of repentance by confessing their own sins. Upon them was laid no burden to confess one another's sins. Settling all differences and alienations, they were of one accord, and prayed with unity of purpose for ten days, at the end of which time 'they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.'  {7MR 94.4} 

Did you notice repentance was part of what happened?  And according to Ellen White repentance is the first step for revival.  So, the Spirit overflowed from their lives to refresh the lives of others.  Jesus put it this way: “ ‘He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’ ” (John 7:38, NKJV). The root word for “believes” in the Greek here is pistis. It means much more than a superficial belief or mere intellectual assent. It is a rock-solid belief or confident trust. It is a dynamic, life-transforming faith in Christ, who poured out His life on the cross for the sins of humanity. Jesus’ point is that when His love quenches our spiritual thirst, this love flows from our hearts to the people around us.

                       

Why has not the church become one as the disciples did, why have they not received the latter rain?  The answer is very simple: true revival has not occurred.  If there is no fruit there is no abiding.  Christ, in the person of the Holy Spirit, is still waiting by the door knocking that we may let Him in, so we can purchase from Him what we much need or, in the context of the Samaritan woman: that we may get from Him living water that will cleanse, refresh and quench our Spiritual thirst.  Our greatest problem is we do not know how thirsty we truly are. 

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In contrast, a “revival” that focuses on one’s “spiritual experience alone” misses the mark.  (IT is not a true revival as defined by Ellen White). 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.

There is no doubt that there was a contrast in behavior in the disciples.  Before Christ was arrested they were fighting for supremacy.  Just before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit they were of one accord; what changed?   When Christ was arrested they all fled in fear.  After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit they now preached to those from whom they fled in fear, telling them “you crucified Christ.  What changed? 

Our Lesson states that At Pentecost, the disciples were changed people. Something happened to them so that the Spirit could do something through them. The Holy Spirit had done something for them so that He could do something with them.  Ellen White gives insight into what happened,

“After Christ's ascension, His disciples--men of varied talents and capabilities--assembled in an upper chamber to pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit. In this room 'all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.' They made thorough work of repentance by confessing their own sins. Upon them was laid no burden to confess one another's sins. Settling all differences and alienations, they were of one accord, and prayed with unity of purpose for ten days, at the end of which time 'they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.'  {7MR 94.4} 

 Did you notice repentance was part of what happened?  And according to Ellen White repentance is the first step for revival.  So, the Spirit overflowed from their lives to refresh the lives of others.  Jesus put it this way: “ ‘He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’ ” (John 7:38, NKJV). The root word for “believes” in the Greek here is pistis. It means much more than a superficial belief or mere intellectual assent. It is a rock-solid belief or confident trust. It is a dynamic, life-transforming faith in Christ, who poured out His life on the cross for the sins of humanity. Jesus’ point is that when His love quenches our spiritual thirst, this love flows from our hearts to the people around us.

                       

Why has not the church become one as the disciples did, why have they not received the latter rain?  The answer is very simple: true revival has not occurred.  If there is no fruit there is no abiding.  Christ, in the person of the Holy Spirit, is still waiting by the door knocking that we may let Him in, so we can purchase from Him what we much need or, in the context of the Samaritan woman: that we may get from Him living water that will cleanse, refresh and quench our Spiritual thirst.  Our greatest problem is we do not know how thirsty we truly are.  

Prayer: The Heartbeat of Revival

Due to extenuating circumstances there will be no audio version of the overview this week. Sorry for any inconvenience.  However, here is the script for those who will benefit from it.

Prayer: The Heartbeat of Revival

“ ‘If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!’ ” (Matthew 7:11, NKJV)

The objective of our lesson is to find out the role of prayer in revival.  According to the title it is the heartbeat.  What this is trying to say is that prayer is what keeps revival…alive.  However, according to Ellen White revival is an event and reformation is a process.  If anything, then, prayer, in terms of revival would be a part of CPR. 

1^st, let us review what revival is.  I will quote from last week’s overview.  We based our definition on a sentence from 1 SM 121, which begins with Ellen White stressing the urgent need for revival.  A few sentences down she says that “While the people are so destitute of God's Holy Spirit, they cannot appreciate the preaching of the Word; but when the Spirit's power touches their hearts, then the discourses given will not be without effect.”  In this sense, Revival is what happens when we allow the Holy Spirit to touch our heart.  What happens is that what we thought made no sense makes sense, what we thought was foolishness now is wisdom,  what we thought was mundane and uninteresting now is precious. Ellen White rephrases this in RH Feb. 25, 1902, “Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from the spiritual death.”

As Ellen White speaks about revival she stresses the importance of prayer in revival.  She says in 1 SM 121, “A revival need be expected only in answer to prayer.”  Revival is the Holy Sprit’s work in us.  He may initiate but he cannot continue unless we invite Him to do so.  And, Ellen White, says this is something to pray for.  She says,

There must be earnest effort to obtain the blessing of the Lord, not because God is not willing to bestow His blessing upon us, but because we are unprepared to receive it. Our heavenly Father is more willing to give His Holy Spirit to them that ask Him, than are earthly parents to give good gifts to their children. But it is our work, by confession, humiliation, repentance, and earnest prayer, to fulfill the conditions upon which God has promised to grant us His blessing (1 SM 121). 

You could argue that a true revival will lead to prayer, because, we shall be distrustful of ourselves, having an abiding sense that our sufficiency is of God.  So, we will pray to be connected and sustained by God’s sufficiency. 

In Ellen White’s account of the disciples’ conversion and reception of the early rain, prayer figured prominently.  She says AA p. 36,

They also met together to present their requests to the Father in the name of Jesus. They knew that they had a Representative in heaven, an Advocate at the throne of God. In solemn awe they bowed in prayer, repeating the assurance, "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:23, 24.

One change apparent in the disciples was a love for sinners.  The disciples wished to fulfill the Lord’s wish for them to preach the Gospel to all men.  Ellen White adds in page 37,

“The disciples prayed with intense earnestness for a fitness to meet men and in their daily intercourse to speak words that would lead sinners to Christ.”

The disciples received the early version of what we expect to be a much greater experience.  But, do we pray as they did?  Not, only in terms of amount of time, but with the conviction they had?  The prayer of the righteous – those who hear the Word and believe it (Romans 4: 9; Romans 10: 17) - avails much (James 5: 16), because not only does he believe that God is, but also that God is a rewarder of those who seek Him (Hebrews 11: 6).   

Revival: Our Greatest Need

An audio overview of the lesson by Raul Diaz.


Click here for Stream or Download





Here is the Script:

Revival: Our Great Need

“ ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with Me’ ” (Revelation 3:20, NKJV).

The title of our quarterly lesson is Revival and reformation.  The title is an obvious reference by Ellen G. White quote on selected messages, book 1, page 121.  They only quote the first sentence, “A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs.”  What they omit gives an understanding of what revival is,

While the people are so destitute of God's Holy Spirit, they cannot appreciate the preaching of the Word; but when the Spirit's power touches their hearts, then the discourses given will not be without effect. (1SM, 121)

Revival here is what happens when we allow the Holy Spirit to touch our heart.  What happens is that what we thought made no sense makes sense, what we thought was foolishness now is wisdom,  what we thought was mundane and uninteresting now is precious.  Ellen White says that “Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from the spiritual death” (RH Feb. 25, 1902).  Ellen White is quoted in Conflict and Courage saying, that “Repentance is the first step that must be taken by all who would return to God. No one can do this work for another. We must individually humble our souls before God and put away our idols” (CC 145). 

We could argue that revival is what happened to those preached to by Peter in Acts 2.  When Peter preached to them about Christ and Him crucified, he made sure he told the people that He was the one whom you crucified.  Luke tells us that the people listening that day "were cut to the heart" (Acts 2:37), and became disturbed and convicted, then cried out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (v 37).  They recognized that the One whom they despised, esteemed not and rejected was not who they thought was originally.  They realized that the One whom they esteemed stricken, smitten and afflicted by God, bore their griefs, carried their sorrows, “…was wounded for our transgressions, … bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isa 53: 3 – 5). 

The era of Laodicea had started when Ellen White made the comments she made.  In contrast to those listening to Peter, Laodicea is described as self-confident, complacent, apathetic, and spiritually indifferent.  The Lord tells them in Revelation 3,

Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

It is a strong rebuke, which reveals a strong love; so, no surprise that a beautiful solution to the problem is given.  Ellen White sums it up beautifully,

“Jesus is going from door to door, standing in front of every soul-temple, proclaiming, ‘I stand at the door, and knock.’ As a heavenly merchantman, he opens his treasures, and cries, ‘Buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear.’ The gold he offers is without alloy, more precious than that of Ophir; for it is faith and love.

“The white raiment he invites the soul to wear is his own robes of righteousness, and the oil for anointing is the oil of his grace, which will give spiritual eyesight to the soul in blindness and darkness, that he may distinguish between the workings of the Spirit of God and the spirit of the enemy. Open your doors, says the great Merchantman, the possessor of spiritual riches, and transact your business with me. It is I, your Redeemer, who counsels you to buy of me.”— Ellen G. White, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Aug. 7, 1894.

Like the Shunamite woman in Song of Songs 5: 2 - 5, Laodicea refuses to open the door, ignoring the overtures of her lover. 

Sol 5:2 I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

Sol 5:3 I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?

In essence saying, “at this moment the hassle to let you in outweighs any need for you.  Come back when it is more convenient for me.”  Then the Shunamite decides to get up,

Sol 5:4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.

Sol 5:5 I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.

But it was too late,

Sol 5:6 I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.

Laodicea’s greatest problem is that of leaving Christ waiting by the door.  She despised Him.  She insulted Him.  She broke His heart.  Of that she needs to repent.