Walking in Revival : Practical Guide to Christlikeness Col. 3:1-17

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1 Walking in Revival : Practical Guide to Christlikeness Col. 3:1-17 What is Revival for The Gathering? A powerful move of God s presence that restores us back to the Biblical standard of living like Jesus. What is the End Result of Revival? Permanent and sustainable life-change by the power of God s Word and God s Spirit to live like Jesus on the earth today. How Long will Revival Last? If we are obedient to Him in this time of revival, then the impact and momentum of revival can be sustained until will we see Him face to face. What Does it Look Like to Be Walking in Personal Revival And Ushering That Revival For Others? Col. 3:1-17 Clothe Yourself with Kindness Col. 3:12

2 God Prepared the Way Therefore, as God s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12 Our Father offers for us to be permanently changed into the person that He created us to be. He commands us to lay down our old self and step into the potential of who we can be through His great love and power. This is only possible because of what God has already done for us: 1. He chose us first! Have you chosen Him? 2. He has made us holy! Have you received forgiveness and salvation? 3. He dearly loves us! Do you genuinely love Him? In response to God s love, we can now trade in who we used to be in exchange for who we dream of being in God. Clothe Yourselves Therefore clothe yourselves Colossians 3:12 God has prepared a glorious potential of Christlikeness for every person (Ephesians 3:17-21). However, this fullness is not automatic for us. In fact, many Christians become satisfied with the trappings of this world and never realize their God-given potential, much less pursue it.

3 God is inviting you to become the person that He created you to be. He has given you an invitation to the more to His fullness to revival to Himself. It s our choice. Will we partner with God to be on this great adventure? Will we lay down our old fleshly garments of anger, rage, slander, lust and greed? These things weigh us down and keep us from enjoying His love. Will we choose to clothe ourselves with the wonderful garments of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and forgiveness? What is Kindness? Therefore, as God s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness Colossians 3:12 The word kindness is translated from a Greek root word that means, to be useful, to furnish what is needed, to act towards someone. (Strong s Conc.) It s interesting that God defines kindness as a useful action rather than merely an attitude or feeling towards another person. This isn t surprising since Jesus is the example of how we are to live. He was continually demonstrating kindness through actions based on genuine love. The goal of His fullness is not to continually try to produce kindness out of our own ability - that s frustrating, ineffective and frankly impossible.

4 I believe God s plan is to genuinely be kind out of the overflow of a changed heart because we have become intimately aware of His loving kindness to us. How to Put on Kindness 1. Be Sensitive to the Needs of Others May we read Matthew 15:29-32 together please? Jesus had a pretty demanding schedule and challenge before Him. He had a lot to accomplish in the 3+ years He had in public ministry. Yet He was not too task driven or too busy to see the legitimate needs of people around Him. He was sensitive to their needs, moved with compassion, and actually acted with a useful demonstration of loving kindness. Becoming a person that has put on kindness starts with eyes to see the physical and spiritual needs of people around us. Don t fret! The Spirit is alive in us and will show us those needs if we are willing to partner with Him. Are you too busy to see the needs of others? Are you a slave to your to do list in such a way that your walking right past the true purpose of your life?

5 2. Be Willing to Put Yourself Last I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20 This is not some token life verse plucked from the Scriptures for Paul. It is the true story of His life. He had reached the pinnacle of power, position and prestige in his world. Then He met Jesus and everything changed. He gave up His whole life to become a slave to Jesus and to all people for the sake of God s glory. Once we become aware of the needs of people around us, we have a choice to make. In that moment, will we shed selfishness and put on kindness? Will we put the needs of others above our own needs, comforts and pleasure? This is what Jesus looks like, and He will help us to do the same. 3. Actually Act when Prompted by the Spirit Let s read James 2:15-18 and 1 John 3:16-18 together please. Again, God s definition of kindness is not just being aware of the needs of others, but actually being useful in the Spirit to meet those needs. Let us not love with words or tongue but with action Love and kindness are action verbs.

6 When the Holy Spirit makes us aware of a need and prompts us to be useful, refuse to listen to the pattern of the world or human reasoning. Many Christians have talked themselves out of untold wonderful acts of God because of the enemy s lies and their own intellectual reasoning. If God calls us to do it, and the Spirit living in us prompts us - we need to act immediately. God will provide everything necessary to be obedient. Then we have the peace of obedience, and we re not affected by responses.