Memory Verse: Revelation 2:4-5 – “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”
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| Revival: A Ministry of the Holy Spirit |
Texts: Revelation 2:14-16 – “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”
Hosea 4:16-18 – “For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a large place. Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.”
Revelation 2:20-21 – “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.”
The scriptures above tell about those things God hates which can actually bring about spiritual fall in the life of a believer. Also, only repentance can save us from the wrath of God. Read Also – Revelation 2:1-5.
Introduction: Spiritual fall is same as Spiritual backsliding. It means to diminish, descend or decay spiritually.
What God Expects Of Believers In Christ:
God’s expectation of the believer in Christ with regard to spiritual revival can be seen in Ephesians 6:10-18:
- A believer must be strong in the Lord Jesus Christ, in His Power and Might (Verse 10)
- A believer must put on the whole armour of God to be able to stand against the tricks of the devil (Verse 11)
- A believer must be able to withstand in the evil day by standing strong in the Lord Jesus (Verse 13)
- A believer must gird his waist with the truth of God and put on the breastplate of righteousness (Verse 14)
- A believer must always preach the message of peace (Verse 15)
- A believer must seize the shield of faith to be able to extinguish all the fiery arrows of the wicked (Verse 16)
- A believer must wear the helmet of salvation and carry the sword of the Holy Spirit which is the word of God (Verse 17)
- A believer must always pray every kind of prayer in the Holy Spirit, be constantly watchful in the Spirit and frequently pray for all Saints all over the world (Verse 18)
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| Fear causes Spiritual Fall in the life of a believer |
- Sin: Ezekiel 18:20 – “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.” Read also Ezekiel 18:4
- Spiritual Laziness: Not taking spiritual exercises seriously. Proverbs 15:19 – “The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.” Read also Romans 12:11, Proverbs 18:9, Hebrews 6:12
- Fear: 1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
- Persecution Because Of The Faith: Matthew. 5:10-11 – “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.”
- Poverty, Suffering and Hardship: Proverbs 30:7-8 – “Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:”
- Devilish Temptations: Matthew 4:1-4 – “…But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” This is just verse 4. Please, read from verse 1.
- Bad Leadership: 1 Kings 21:25-26 – “But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord , whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel.”
- Lack Of Appropriate Fasting And Prayer: Matthew 17:21 – “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”
- Must be born again. Read John 3:3 and 7
- You must be filled with the Holy Spirit. Read Acts 1:8, 2:1-4
- You must bear the fruits of the Spirit. Read Galatians 5:22-23
- Constant study of the word of God. Read Joshua 1:8, Psalm 119:9-11
- Take Fasting and Prayer very serious. Matthew 17:21
- Fellowship with other believers in Christ. Hebrews 10:24-25
