Revival Series:  Prayer Meeting Discussion Notes

[We are focusing on experiencing a revival, during our Revival Series (from September 15th - 30th).  During this time, we have taken a break from reading and discussing, ‘The Desire of Ages’.]

Question: What was the scripture that Pastor Titmus Morgan based his sermon, on Saturday, September 23rd?

Matthew 25:1-30 – the story of ‘The Ten Virgins’.  Five were wise and five were foolish.  The foolish ones took their lamps, but did not take any oil with them.  The wise ones had oil in reserve.

(For a video clip of the parable, click on the play button below).

(Video Credit:  YouTube post made by Pang Wai Lung)

Question: The oil in the lamp - what does it symbolize?

The oil symbolizes the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of disciples (Christian believers).

Question: What do you think the lamp symbolizes?

The lamp symbolizes the light - the disciples of Jesus who are the light of this world.

It is important that we all receive the endowment of the Holy Spirit; we all have to have our own, our personal encounter with the Holy Spirit.

Question: How do we get filled with the Holy Spirit?

Let’s look at 2 ways not to be filled with the Holy Spirit:

1.) Read Ephesians 4:30.

Question: How do we grieve the Holy Spirit?

By continuously disobeying the Holy Spirit.  This is called, ‘sin by commission’.  It is when you know the good that you should do, but you choose to do the opposite deliberately.  Basically, sin by commission is doing what we are told not to do.

2.) Read 1 Thessalonians 5:19.

Question: How do you quench the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is compared with a tongue of fire in Acts 2:1-4.  We quench fire by throwing cold water on it.  We quench the Holy Spirit when we hinder the spiritual fire that the Holy Spirit is eager to display in our lives.  We quench the Spirit by omitting to do what we know we have to do – this is called, ‘sin by omission’, which is the failure to do what we are told to do.

Now let’s look at ways to be filled with the Holy Spirit:

1.) Read Colossians 2:6.  We commit and live in Him.
2.) Read 1 John 1:9.  We confess our sins and are cleansed by Jesus.

Question: What is confession? What does the word ‘confession’ mean?

The root of the word ‘confession’ in Greek is:

homologeo: (homo = same) + (logeo = to tell, to talk, to say)

It basically means saying to God the same thing He is saying about us regarding our actions.  Essentially, we tell Him what He already knows about us.  He waits for us to do this - He waits for us to come to Him and to confess to Him.  He knows our heart.  He knows if we are sincerely sorry or not.  If we confess, Jesus is faithful and He will forgive us.

Question: What if you are still holding on to bad feelings or refusing to confess to him?

You need to give that up – let it go/release it.  You are holding on to something that will negatively affect your relationship with God.

Read Ephesians 5:18.  This verse mentions about wine & the Holy Spirit.  

Question: Why are these 2 compared?

Both the Holy Spirit and wine have the power to take control of our minds.  It depends on which one you choose to yield to.  If it is not the Holy Spirit taking full control, then the possibility is there for the alcohol to take control.  If we confess, we make room for the Holy Spirit.  He will come and take control of your life.

Question: Why is it important to make room for the Holy Spirit?

When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit came down as a dove upon Him.  We had that same thing happen to us when we were baptized.  However, what happens is the sins of commission and omission get the better of us, and we slowly drift away from our initial spiritual experience.  This is why we need a revival - to have Him come back.

We need His Holy Spirit to:

1.) Help us have power to witness - Acts 1:7-8
2.) Give us assurance that we are children of God – Romans 8:16
3.) Guide our lives - Romans 8:14
4.) Teach us to pray - Romans 8:26
5.) Connect us to Jesus/God - John 14:15-20

Read Galatians 5:22-23.  These are examples of being led by the Holy Spirit.

Important point for us to remember:  The most important person in our lives is the Holy Spirit.  

Note the use of the word ‘person’, not ‘thing’.  
Remember:  The Holy Spirit is a person.  It is a being.


If we push away, and not do according to the Holy Spirit, we can get into trouble.  We will be on our own, because we have cut our connection from the source of power.

Imagine someone cutting the main source of all the electrical lines flowing in and out of your house.  You would be completely in the dark, not being able to do even the most basic things in life.  In the same way that our physical life depends on electricity, our spiritual life should be dependent on the presence of the Holy Spirit.

May we understand the importance of having the Holy Spirit. When we reach this point in our lives, we will experience a true revival.

Hope to see you this week Wednesday!  

We will continue with our reading of ‘The Desire of Ages’, engage in deep discussion of the reading, and pray with one another. 

 

Written & Led By:  Pastor Nephtaly Dorzilme