Week 3 - How to Start a Revolution

A revolution is not about a man; it is about a people. Jesus empowered His disciples with the gift of the Holy Spirit so they could be reovolutionaries. He knew without the Holy Spirit they would not have the power to evangelize, or the strength to endure persecution. In Acts, we find three elements of a revolutionary church.

When was the last time you shared your faith with someone? What happened?

Read Acts 2:1-4 ... Why does the church need the Holy Spirit? Why do you need the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? When was the last time you were persecuted for the Gospel?

Read Act 1:8; 8:1-2 ... The revolution of the Church of Jesus Christ is a revolution that activates the children of God under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. This activation will enable them to persevere during times of persecution and empower them to triumph in evangelism.

Paul said he wished that everyone had the gift of speaking in tongues (1 Cor. 14:5). He realized how important the gifts of the Spirit were to a revolutionary church. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, Counselor, and Consciousness of holiness (Acts 9:31; John 14:26; Eom. 2:15). Another aspect of the blueprint of a Revolutionary Church that can be found in the book of Acts is evangelism. Just as in the times of Moses and Egypt, it is time for the church of God to stand up to the enemy and declare, "Let my people GO!"

The early church was not afraid to rise up in the midst of persecution. Through stoning and suffering the church continued to spread instead of shrink. In fact,we are told in Romans to rejoice in our sufferings because of the fruit it will produce in our lives (Rom. 5:3,4).