MORE: Deeper & Further

More: Growing up in church (Revival Dream) What does it take to impact a community? How do we change the moral & spiritual climate over a region?

More: Case study: Ephesus Acts 19 – 12 men filled with the Spirit, v. 6, “When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.”

More: If you want to grow a church get a little life change momentum in the people, mobilize everyone on mission, and develop leaders. V. 10, “This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.”

More: Acts 19:11-12, “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” The church was growing. People were coming to faith. Lives were being changed. But, then something shifted & it changed the region.

More: The 7 sons of Sceva incident. Acts 19:17-20, “When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what had been done.

More: The 7 sons of Sceva incident. Acts 19:17-20, “A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.”

More: The Results? (next scene – idol makers convention)

More: The Results? (next scene – idol makers convention) What would it take not just to grow our churches, but to change our towns, cities, regions, and countries? What would it take to see a move of the Spirit that changed our region?

More: First, if we are going to see a spiritual movement we need purification. (v. 18, “Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done.”) ($14M) (1 John 1 – book on a shelf) The one thing God most wants is access. When we give access, we gain access to the victories of Jesus. (suitcase)

More: Second, if we are going to see a spiritual movement we need the power of God. (v.11, “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul.” v. 20, “In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.”) We have to empty the suitcase to create room for the fullness of the Spirit. (HS weekends)

More: Second, if we are going to see a spiritual movement we need the power of God. D.L. Moody, “I believe many a man is praying to God to fill him when he is already full with something else. Before we pray that God would fill us, I believe we ought to pray Him to empty us. There must be an emptying before there can be a filling.” (Finney – fast) (impartation prayer)

More: Second, if we are going to see a spiritual movement we need the power of God. In a pluralistic, syncretistic society where all deities are considered equal only the unequal display of power will convince people of the supremacy of Christ. (7 sons of Sceva incident convinced people that Jesus was not one among equals)

More: Second, if we are going to see a spiritual movement we need the power of God. In a pluralistic, syncretistic society where all deities are considered equal only the unequal display of power will convince people of the supremacy of Christ. (HS weekend – Medium – sending people to our church)

More: Third, if we are going to see a spiritual movement we need passion for Jesus. Jesus has to be our first love. A generation later – Rev 2, “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardship for my name, and have not grown weary.”

More: Third, if we are going to see a spiritual movement we need passion for Jesus. Jesus has to be our first love. A generation later – Rev 2, “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.”

More: Third, if we are going to see a spiritual movement we need passion for Jesus. Christianity is first and foremost a passionate love affair with a once blood-stained and now risen Savior. When we lose our passion for the Master, we lose much of the presence & power of God in the movement.

More: Third, if we are going to see a spiritual movement we need passion for Jesus. How do we reignite our passion for Jesus? Return to pursuit. (his face; not his hands) Remove offense (Does God lie? Heb 11)