3rd Quarter 2013 Lesson 8 Discernment the Safeguard of Revival

7/27/2019 3rd Quarter 2013 Lesson 8 Discernment the Safeguard of Revival

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DISCERNMENT:THE SAFEGUARD

OF REVIVAL

Lesson 8 for August 24, 2013


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New and strange things will continually arise to lead Gods people intofalse excitement, religious revivals, and curious developments

E.G.W. (Selected Messages, vol. 2, cp. 1, pg. 17)

The Bible warns us about some revivalmovements that Satan and his angels willgenerate. Ellen G. White wrote that thosemovements will take place even within the

people of God.How can we distinguish between true and falserevivals? We must study the connectionbetween revival and the following topics:

1. The Bible.2. Our communion with God.3. The Commandments.4. Religious balance.5. Miracles.

6. The fruit of the Spirit.


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However, when He, the Spiritof truth, has come, He willguide you into all truth; forHe will not speak on His ownauthority, but whatever Hehears He will speak; and Hewill tell you things to come (John 16:13)

Every true revival is inspired by the Holy Spirit. He drives us to the wholetruth.

That truth cannot contradict or ignore the truth the Holy Spirit alreadyrevealed through the Bible (2Ti. 3:16)

The Bible has a revitalizing power (Psalm 119). Every revival not based inthe Bible is a false one.

To the law andto the

testimony! Ifthey do not

speak accordingto this word, it

is becausethere is no

light in them (Isaiah 8:20)


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REVIVAL AND OUR COMMUNION WITH GODI am the vine, you are the branches.He who abides in Me, and I in him,bears much fruit; for without Me you cando nothing (John 15:5)

Every truerevival must

lead us toknow Jesus

more and moreand to be

transformed to

be like Him.

Jesus told us that we must abide in Him. The Greek word for abide means to continue being

present, to stay. Constantly being in presence of Christ, knowing Him more and more. Thattransforms our lives and leads us to obedience. That is the heart of every true revival.


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He who says,

I know Him,and does notkeep His

commandments, is a liar,

and the truth

is not in him (1 John 2:4)

Every true revival must fill our heart with Jesus love.That must drive us to obey His Commandments and tolove each other.

Our faith must not be built on feelings. The truth is notin any message that tries to revive us but rejects theLaw of God.


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Every true revival must lack the next twoextremes:

FORMALISM

A faith based onreligious rites,customs and

external forms.A faith that doesnot gets to the

heart andmakes us

whitewashedtombs (Mt.

23:27)

Shall we who have hadso great light

upon Bible

truth let adry, dead

formalism take the

place of zealand faith? (Review and

Herald, January21, 1980)

FANATICISM

We may becomeunbalanced

Christians if weemphasize apoint of the

Truth above allother points,making it thecenter of our

lives.

While reformmust be advocated

with firmness and

resolution, allappearance of bigotry or an

overbearing spiritshould be carefully

shunned (Counsels on Health,

pg. 385)

The heart of any true revival is a deep faith. It is that faith which makesChrist your own personal Saviour that faith which, recognizing

your helplessness, your utter inability to save yourself, takes hold of the Helper who is mighty to save, as your only hope (Reflecting Christ, January 7)


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If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you asign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke toyou, saying, Let us go after other gods which you have not known and let usserve them, you shall not listen to the words of that prophet (Deuteronomy 13:1-3)

The Bible clearly explains that miracles or thefulfillment of prophecies are not signs that proof theveracity of a revival or a reformation movement.

Satan and the people he uses can use all power, signs,and lying wonders that they should believe the lie(2Ts. 2:9, 11) and they deceive those who dwell onthe earth by those signs which he was granted to do inthe sight of the beast (Rev. 13:14)

Spectacular signs and marvelous wonders can nevertake the place of understanding and then followingGods Word. Obedience to God is primary; signs andwonders, if and when they come, are always onlysecondary.


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Any revival that is not interested

in the fruit of the Spirit but isobsessed by having the gifts of the Spirit is dangerous.

We must be careful with thosemovements that stress the gifts

and power of the Holy Spiritinstead of stressing theobedience to Gods will and atransformed character thatshows the fruit of the Spirit.

I say then: Walk in the

Spirit, and you shall not fulfillthe lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16)


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If we work to create an excitement of feeling, we shall have all we want, and more than we can possibly know how to manage. Calmly

and clearly preach the word (2 Timothy 4:2). We must not regardit as our work to create an excitement. The Holy Spirit of God alonecan create a healthy enthusiasm. Let God work, and let the humanagent walk softly before Him, watching, waiting, praying, lookingunto Jesus every moment, led and controlled by the precious Spirit

which is light and life.

The people want a sign, as in the days of Christ. Then the Lord told them that no sign should be given them. The sign that should bemanifest now and always is the working of the Holy Spirit upon themind of the teacher, to make the Word as impressive as possible.The Word of God is not a dead, dry theory, but spirit and life. Satan

would like nothing better than to call minds away from the Word, to look for and expect something outside of the Word to make themfeel. They should not have their attention called to dreams and

visions. If they would have eternal life, they must eat the flesh anddrink the blood of the Son of God

E.G.W. (Selected Messages, vol. 2, pg. 95)

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3rd Quarter 2013 Lesson 8 Discernment the Safeguard of Revival