Rivers of Grace – Our Vision: Renewal (Part 1)
Intro: Every church needs to answer: “Why do we exist?” What is our prophetic destiny?
Rivers of Grace Vision: M.O.R.E. - Mercy, Outreach, Renewal, Education
Rivers of Renewal (Revival, Restoration of Primitive –New Testament Christianity)
The pattern for New Testament life and ministry comes from the Gospels and the Book of Acts. These five books are filled with Supernatural Manifestations. This is normal to God but unusual to many Christians.
For example, Acts Chapter Two the prototype of New Testament Church was born:
The Fruit of Revival
Acts 2:41 3,000 saved; Acts 2:47 daily conversions
Acts 2:42 Hunger for the Word of God
Acts 2:4 2, 46 communion and fellowship which included taking care of one another.
Acts chapter 8 - chapter 28 Spirit touched people spread the message and the anointing regardless of the circumstances.
Other Manifestations in Revival
1. Groaning:
A. This may occur when a person is being set free from bondages. (Mark 9:26)
B. Some people a touched by the Spirit to intercede for the souls of others. It may appear as a birthing process. (Jer. 30:6; Ps. 55:2; Isa. 42:14; John 11:33, 38; Rom. 8:22-27; 2 Cor. 5:2-5; Gal. 4:19; Heb. 5:7)
2. Laughter and Joy
A. People are experiencing times of brokenness, deep repentance, cleansing, healing, and spiritual confrontation with God. More weeping is taking place than laughter. An encounter with Jesus may produce godly sorrow as well as the joy of His love and the sense of victory. Joy in the Holy Spirit is part of kingdom living and the fruit of the Spirit. (Ps. 30:5; Ps. 126:1-6; Rom. 14:17; Gal. 5:22; 1 Thess. 1:5, 6)
B. Jesus exuberant joy: Lk. 10:21; Heb. 1:9 (Gen. 17:17; 21:26; Job 5:22; Job 8:21; Ps. 2:3; Ps. 16:11; Ps. 37:13; Ps. 51:10-12; Ps. 52:6; Ps. 59:8; Ps. 68:3; Ps. 104:15; Mat. 5:12; Lk. 6:21; 15:32; Jn. 15:11; Acts 13:52; Phil. 4:4; 1 Thess. 5:16; 1 Pt. 1:8; Jude 24)
3. Falling Down
When people experience the presence of God, they may become weak or faint. At other times, falling to the ground or kneeling in the presence of God is an act of worship. (Gen. 17:17; 2 Chron. 5:13, 4; 2 Chron. 7:1-3; Dan. 10:7-16; Lk. 5:8; Lk. 8:47; Jn. 18:6; Acts 9:4; Acts 26:14; 1 Cor. 14:25; Rev. 1:17)
4. Trembling
Some people shake or tremble in the presence of God because our physical bodies cannot handle the intensity of God's presence. Sometimes one arm or leg shakes. With some this is a signal to call them to intercessory prayer. Some people get the 'crunchies' where they bend in the middle. It sometimes appears that the person is bobbing up and down. (Ps. 2:11; Ps. 96:9; Ps. 114:7; Jer. 5:22; Jer. 23:9; Dan 10:10,11; Hab. 3:16; Mark 5:33; Luke 8:47; Acts 9:6; Acts 16:29; 1 Cor. 2:3)
5. Drunk in the Holy Spirit
When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost, the believers were so full of the Holy Spirit they appeared to be under the influence of natural wine. It may be an offense to some people, but during times of revival the new wine of the Spirit is still affecting some people in the same manner. They may stagger, slur their speech, or have blurred vision. It is not advisable to drive in this condition! (Jer. 23:9; Psalm 104:15; Luke 5:37-39; Acts 2:13-16; Eph. 5:18-21)
6. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Often during the worship, prayer time, and baptisms, people are filled the Holy Spirit and begin to speak in tongues. (Acts 2:4; Acts 8:14-19; Acts 9:17; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 19:6)
7. Sovereign Deliverance from Demonic Strongholds
Spiritual warfare prayer cannot compare with what happens when the presence of the Lord comes in. When He concentrates His presence in an area, people are set free. (Acts 16:16-18)
8. Shouting and Screaming
These may be signs of being touched by the glory of God, the flesh, or the manifestation of demonic activity. When God is moving, it is usually easy to tell the difference. One of the gifts that function is the distinguishing of spirits. (Psalm 47:1; Luke 8:26-31; 1 Cor. 12:10)
Revivals in American Church History
The Great Awakening
For example, On Jan. 1, 1739 Wesley, Whitefield and others were present at Fetter Lane Chapel in London. He wrote, “The power of God came mightily upon us in so much that many cried out for exceeding joy and many fell to the ground.”
Several times large crowds fell to the ground as John Wesley preached to the miners on their way to work early in the morning. He was reprimanded for preaching outside the church building!)
The Second Great Awakening
See the notes of the Cane Ridge Revival, 1801, which played an important role this movement.
Other revival awakens occurred during the middle 1800’s. Many Pentecostal churches trace their roots to the 1906 Azusa St. revival. Since then waves of the Spirit have more frequently. Some have been more localized, but others such as Toronto, Canada and Brownsville, Florida have had a global impact as people from many countries came.
Rivers of Grace Vision: M.O.R.E. - Mercy, Outreach, Renewal, Education
Rivers of Renewal (Revival, Restoration of Primitive –New Testament Christianity)
The pattern for New Testament life and ministry comes from the Gospels and the Book of Acts. These five books are filled with Supernatural Manifestations. This is normal to God but unusual to many Christians.
For example, Acts Chapter Two the prototype of New Testament Church was born:
- 2:2 Sound of a rushing mighty wind
- 2:3 Fire 2:4 Speaking in tongues
- 2:6 Tongues as a sign
- 2:13 The appearance of drunkenness
- 2:14 Peter's uncharacteristic boldness to preach and confront a crowd of thousands
- 2:17 Prophecy
- 2:17 Dreams
- 2:17 Visions
- 2:43 Many wonders and miraculous signs
The Fruit of Revival
Acts 2:41 3,000 saved; Acts 2:47 daily conversions
Acts 2:42 Hunger for the Word of God
Acts 2:4 2, 46 communion and fellowship which included taking care of one another.
Acts chapter 8 - chapter 28 Spirit touched people spread the message and the anointing regardless of the circumstances.
Other Manifestations in Revival
1. Groaning:
A. This may occur when a person is being set free from bondages. (Mark 9:26)
B. Some people a touched by the Spirit to intercede for the souls of others. It may appear as a birthing process. (Jer. 30:6; Ps. 55:2; Isa. 42:14; John 11:33, 38; Rom. 8:22-27; 2 Cor. 5:2-5; Gal. 4:19; Heb. 5:7)
2. Laughter and Joy
A. People are experiencing times of brokenness, deep repentance, cleansing, healing, and spiritual confrontation with God. More weeping is taking place than laughter. An encounter with Jesus may produce godly sorrow as well as the joy of His love and the sense of victory. Joy in the Holy Spirit is part of kingdom living and the fruit of the Spirit. (Ps. 30:5; Ps. 126:1-6; Rom. 14:17; Gal. 5:22; 1 Thess. 1:5, 6)
B. Jesus exuberant joy: Lk. 10:21; Heb. 1:9 (Gen. 17:17; 21:26; Job 5:22; Job 8:21; Ps. 2:3; Ps. 16:11; Ps. 37:13; Ps. 51:10-12; Ps. 52:6; Ps. 59:8; Ps. 68:3; Ps. 104:15; Mat. 5:12; Lk. 6:21; 15:32; Jn. 15:11; Acts 13:52; Phil. 4:4; 1 Thess. 5:16; 1 Pt. 1:8; Jude 24)
3. Falling Down
When people experience the presence of God, they may become weak or faint. At other times, falling to the ground or kneeling in the presence of God is an act of worship. (Gen. 17:17; 2 Chron. 5:13, 4; 2 Chron. 7:1-3; Dan. 10:7-16; Lk. 5:8; Lk. 8:47; Jn. 18:6; Acts 9:4; Acts 26:14; 1 Cor. 14:25; Rev. 1:17)
4. Trembling
Some people shake or tremble in the presence of God because our physical bodies cannot handle the intensity of God's presence. Sometimes one arm or leg shakes. With some this is a signal to call them to intercessory prayer. Some people get the 'crunchies' where they bend in the middle. It sometimes appears that the person is bobbing up and down. (Ps. 2:11; Ps. 96:9; Ps. 114:7; Jer. 5:22; Jer. 23:9; Dan 10:10,11; Hab. 3:16; Mark 5:33; Luke 8:47; Acts 9:6; Acts 16:29; 1 Cor. 2:3)
5. Drunk in the Holy Spirit
When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost, the believers were so full of the Holy Spirit they appeared to be under the influence of natural wine. It may be an offense to some people, but during times of revival the new wine of the Spirit is still affecting some people in the same manner. They may stagger, slur their speech, or have blurred vision. It is not advisable to drive in this condition! (Jer. 23:9; Psalm 104:15; Luke 5:37-39; Acts 2:13-16; Eph. 5:18-21)
6. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Often during the worship, prayer time, and baptisms, people are filled the Holy Spirit and begin to speak in tongues. (Acts 2:4; Acts 8:14-19; Acts 9:17; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 19:6)
7. Sovereign Deliverance from Demonic Strongholds
Spiritual warfare prayer cannot compare with what happens when the presence of the Lord comes in. When He concentrates His presence in an area, people are set free. (Acts 16:16-18)
8. Shouting and Screaming
These may be signs of being touched by the glory of God, the flesh, or the manifestation of demonic activity. When God is moving, it is usually easy to tell the difference. One of the gifts that function is the distinguishing of spirits. (Psalm 47:1; Luke 8:26-31; 1 Cor. 12:10)
Revivals in American Church History
The Great Awakening
For example, On Jan. 1, 1739 Wesley, Whitefield and others were present at Fetter Lane Chapel in London. He wrote, “The power of God came mightily upon us in so much that many cried out for exceeding joy and many fell to the ground.”
Several times large crowds fell to the ground as John Wesley preached to the miners on their way to work early in the morning. He was reprimanded for preaching outside the church building!)
The Second Great Awakening
See the notes of the Cane Ridge Revival, 1801, which played an important role this movement.
Other revival awakens occurred during the middle 1800’s. Many Pentecostal churches trace their roots to the 1906 Azusa St. revival. Since then waves of the Spirit have more frequently. Some have been more localized, but others such as Toronto, Canada and Brownsville, Florida have had a global impact as people from many countries came.
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