As we continue our Revival series, this week we focus on the credentials of the church that carries and gives birth to revival in a generation. There is nothing new under the sun, and the type and fabric of the church that first carried the message and momentum of Jesus Christ in the Holy Scriptures provide us with a pattern to follow. In Acts 4:31, we read: “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” This is the first credential: the church that will be effective in evangelism and in bringing the name of the Lord to the world must be filled with the Holy Spirit and continually operate at a measure of fullness. This does not mean that believers received a new Holy Spirit different from the one given on the day of Pentecost. Rather, it refers to the generation of power in the soulish realm from that which is already resident in the spirit. The consciousness of the Spirit is not always at the same level. We go through many things in our daily lives and are committed to various issues, which can affect our ability to connect to the frequency of the Spirit from one moment to another. That is why we have been given the technology of prayer—it builds us up in our most holy faith (Jude 1:24), increases our awareness of God’s presence and power, and makes us effective in the field. This is why it is advisable for the church, as much as possible, to pray before going out to evangelise. Prayer makes us sensitive to the moving of God, allowing us to align with Him and be readily and easily used for His glory.
Of this church, we continue to read: “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common” (Acts 4:32). Immediately, we realise the mindset in which the church functioned—one of unity in vision and lifestyle. No one pursued individuality or sought freedom from the collective; instead, they functioned in harmony, thinking and acting alike. This was already echoed in the words of Moses, who declared that the hand of the Lord enables one to chase a thousand, but two to chase ten thousand (Deuteronomy 32:30). This is God’s mathematics—there is an exponential increase in potential when two join forces. Can two ever walk together unless they agree? The church that will bring revival to its land is a church that walks in unity and agreement, because, like a three-stranded cord, it will not be easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12).
The text continues: “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:33). That is the end result—great power and great grace to turn the world upside down! One of the key ways a believer maintains a posture of unity in the church is through the calibration of one’s heart. Without the intentional management of one’s heart, it is easy to be drawn away by pettiness. The truth is, all human beings are flawed, yet we have all been called to live in unity—without exception. If you constantly look for errors in others, your perspective will grow corrupt, and before long, you will alienate yourself from the body of believers to your own detriment. This is why the Apostle Paul emphasised: “…whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8). What you focus on grows—and what you choose to focus on is entirely up to you! If you choose to consider the good in God’s people, you will assist your heart in remaining tender and inclined toward unity. In doing so, you will position yourself and the church to walk in great grace and power (Acts 4:33), turn the world upside down (Acts 17:6), and fill the earth with the message of Jesus Christ (Acts 5:28).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the message of reconciliation that you have given to your church for the world. We thank you for all you have deposited in us, and we thank you for the working of your spirit to empower and enable us for the work of your kingdom. Please help our heart, help us remain tender and in agreement with your word, even when it hurts. Help us to love one another, and to choose one another even when it gets hard. We are committed to the furtherance of your message and to the alignment to the person of Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
