Chapter 4-5 Spiritual Awakening & Personal Revival

Spiritual Awakening Acts 2

Holy Spirit Initiated

Any time there is a spiritual awakening, it is always initiated by the Holy Spirit. We must understand what a spiritual awakening is in order to understand why it must be initiated by the Holy Spirit. Blackaby defines a spiritual awakening as, “large numbers of people (or a high percentage in an area) experience new birth to spiritual life in a short period of time. They have significant impact on the communities that experience them. There is a return to holiness that generally moves people away from wordly pursuits (Satan’s kingdom) to kingdom values (God’s kingdom).

We see this in Acts 2 1-13

Acts 2:1–13 NASB95

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? “And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? “Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others were mocking and saying, “They are full of sweet wine.”

The disciples (around 120 of them) were praying and suddenly the Holy Spirit descended on them and gave them the ability to speak in foreign languages so people could hear the message of God.

They recognized the disciples as Galileans that would not know the dialect that they were speaking. The Holy Spirit gave them the words that had power to draw people to the Lord.

This is the way God uses the church today. He gives us words of power that minister to people and draw them to the Lord. I find that typically these words of power are scripture that the Lord causes us to remember in witnessing opportunities.

Tell story of sharing with a man that told me he didn’t need to attend church in order to worship God. I shared with him that he was right that he didn’t need church to worship, but the church needed him to fulfill its mission. I shared the passage in Corinthians about the body and how everyone plays a part.

The Gospel is presented

When the people gathered around, Peter began to proclaim the gospel beginning from the Old Testament to the resurrection of Christ in Acts 2:29-36

Acts 2:29–36 NASB95

“Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. “And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. “For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” ’ “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Peter shared the gospel of Jesus Christ in a way that they would understand. He proclaimed Jesus as the Son of God.

The gospel of Jesus Christ must be proclaimed in order for Spiritual awakening to occur. This is done by telling of the love of God, our sin problem, Christ atoning death and his resurrection, and His second coming. 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

1 Corinthians 15:3–5 NASB95

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

People respond

Wen Peter shared the gospel the people were pierced to the heart and desired further relationship with Jesus. Acts 2:37

Acts 2:37 NASB95

Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”

Peter explained what they needed in order to have a spiritual awakening in Acts 2:38

Acts 2:38 NASB95

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Peter told them what they need to do in order to have spiritual awakening. He told them to repent and be baptized. This means they needed to change and testify that Jesus is their Savior.

People grew in maturity and numbers

When the people recieved Christ as their Savior they began living for Him. We see in Acts 2:41-47

Acts 2:41–47 NASB95

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The church grew from 120 to 3,000 after the first sermon. That is pretty impressive, but what happened next was even more impressive.

They radically changed their lives. Some of the things they did were:

1. Devoted themselves to the apostles teachings.

2. Devoted themselves to fellowship.

3. Devoted themselves to prayer.

4. They kept a sense of awe.

5. They had all things in common.

6. They continued in one mind.

7. They met daily.

We should do similar things. Explain

Personal Revival

We must first allow the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts before we can participate in contributing to a spiritual awakening.

5 ways to allow the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts :

Regular Times of Renewal

These are times that you set aside to focus on the Lord. They are intentional and dedicated to seeking the Lord’s will on you and for you. We must focus the Lord’s will on us because he always works in us before He works through us. The Lord must prepare us for His will because it will always be outside of what we are comfortable doing. Once He doe the work in us, then He will do the work through us. In order for this to happen, we must spend regular time with Him.

Observe the Lord’s Day

We must take one day a week and focus on the Lord. God called us to rest one day a week. Explain why it is important to work out of our rest rather than rest from our work.

Sacrifice and Offering

All that we have belongs to the Lord. Our time talent and treasure belong to the Lord. We must give a portion of all three to the Lord.

Gathering the People

We must make worshiping at church a priority. Being with fellow believers in a gathering meant for worship is necessary in order to make a spiritual difference in the people around you. They encourage you and help you to accomplish what God calls you.

Understand God’s Judgement and Discipline

Sometimes God’s discipline can be mistaken for attacks by Satan. When we face the consequences of our choices that are uncomfortable, we may perceive them as Satan’s attack. Sometimes God uses the consequences of our choices to cause us to repent. In order to tell the difference you must allow the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any sin that needs to be repented.