Having a Spiritual Awakening

Acts 16:16–34 NKJV

16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. 19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. 20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; 21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” 29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

“Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”

1. you are a spiritual people. you started this journey to correct a behaviour or even get your life back, but the truth is you got here so that you could connect with the Lord.

James 4:8 NKJV

8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Revive

1: to restore to consciousness or life

We forget that we are primary Spiritual beings.

Primary Problem that we are having that bring us here are spiritual.

The primary problem that the girl had was that she was demon possessed. I am not saying that you where possessed when you got here. I will say you had a spiritual problem that needed a spiritual solution.

that still holds true today.

how many of us need a revival ?

2. Revival is spiritual. it has to do with our affections, where have you pointed your affections ?

have you pointed them to work?

have you pointed them to play?

have you pointed them to rest ? if that rest never seems to work then maybe its not a physical rest that you need, maybe it is a spiritual refreshing.

3. There are always going to be hindrances to your spiritual life.

many of those hindrances are going to be actual priories! Things you need to do. but we know that we cant do anything without God.

we have to take the time to spend time with the Lord of glory.

Acts 16:16–17 NKJV

16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”

here the spirit told the truth, but the spirit was not the Holy Spirit.

Do you realize that you are important enough in the Kingdom of God for satan to throw an obstacle up to hinder your spiritual progress?

3. Fallow the example of the apostles and praise Him anyway!

Acts 16:25–28 NKJV

25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”