Interactive Bible fellowship on Sunday. Revival Starts with Revelation.

### THIS SUNDAY, 02.08.2026., 10:30 A.M. We will host a Fellowship & Time of Sharing in Person Service combined with an INTERACTIVE. WILL HOST INPERSON CHURCH SERVICES AT THE MANALAPAN SENIOR CENTER, 211 County Rd 522, Manalapan Township, New Jersey (next to the Manalapan Recycle Center)

### THE FORMAT OF THIS SERVICE WILL BE A COMBINATION OF A SERMON WITH INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION AND FELLOWSHIP. YOU ARE ALSO WELCOMED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS SERVICE REMOTELY OVER ZOOM.

#### Zoom Meeting Podcast!

## TOPIC:

## Revival Starts with Revelation.

## You can also join us on Zoom Meeting click below!

#### CLICK HERE

#### Meeting ID: 856 8178 1850Passcode: 041731

Preview video: https://youtu.be/jRIga90NHaM

The meeting of Grace Christian Church. We meet in person and stream services every Sunday at 10:30 AM EST in Manalapan, New Jersey.
“Revival Starts with Revelation” (from Grace Christian Church, njgrace.org), structured in key points:

• Core Thesis:
• True revival in the Church does not begin with methods, programs, structures, leadership initiatives, or books on “how to revive a church.”
• Revival begins with individual believers receiving revelation from the Spirit of Christ.
• When many members of the Body of Christ receive the same revelation, it sparks collective spiritual awakening and restoration → revival.
• Key Definitions:
• Revelation: Making known what was previously unknown or hidden; becoming spiritually known through the Spirit.
• Revival: The same revelation received by many members of the Body of Christ, resulting in spiritual awakening and restoration.
• No seeking of revelation → no revival.
• Biblical Foundation:
• The Church is one Body with many members, each placed by God (1 Corinthians 12:18–20).
• Revival starts when individual members seek and receive revelation to live from Christ as their source of life, rather than self, law, or flesh.
• Historical & Contemporary Context:
• Many churches (past and present) have drifted from Christ as life-source into law-keeping, rules, or false doctrines → spiritual ineffectiveness (see Revelation 2–3 churches; Ephesus lost its “first love” by turning to law).
• Examples of past revivals sparked by revelation:
• Great Awakening (1730–1770): Revealed new birth by the Spirit (not church membership or works), direct personal relationship with God, equality in need of salvation, deep conviction of sin.
• Current ongoing revival: “Grace Awakening” (started early 1990s, influenced by Chuck Swindoll’s book The Grace Awakening).
• Central revelation: Believers are no longer under Mosaic Law or church law, but under New Covenant Grace.
• Emphasizes living from Christ’s indwelling life, not rule-keeping.
• Main Teaching: Choose Revelation Instead of…

1. Religion (Law-keeping / Rule-based Christianity)

• Many still live as if under law (e.g., moral laws, 10 Commandments as a rule for Christian living, church “dos and don’ts” — daily Bible reading, prayer, tithing, attendance as obligations).
• Result: External religious appearance, but no inner life from Christ.
• Key scriptures:
• Veil torn at Jesus’ death → direct access to God; believers are New Covenant priests (Mark 15:37–39).
• Turning to the Lord removes the veil of law (2 Corinthians 3:15–16).
• Believers are now the temple of God; Spirit permanently dwells in them (1 Corinthians 3:16).
• Come boldly to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16).
• Religion keeps a veil; revelation of grace removes it and initiates revival.

2. Routines (Checklist Christianity)

• Christian practices (Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, etc.) often become mechanical “boxes to check” rather than means to receive revelation.
• Personal testimony: Pastor did daily Bible reading for 10 years as a duty; only during illness did God reveal that the purpose is to receive revelation from the Spirit — not law-keeping.
• Scriptures:
• Paul prayed for believers to be filled with deep spiritual knowledge, wisdom, insight, and discernment (Colossians 1:9).
• Paul received the gospel by revelation of Jesus Christ, not human teaching (Galatians 1:12).
• Routines without seeking revelation become another form of law → revelation in practices initiates revival.

3. Human Reasoning (Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil)

• Decisions based on “right vs. wrong” or what seems obviously good often come from natural reasoning, not God’s will.
• Personal testimony: Early church plant pursued “good” ideas (day care center, crisis pregnancy center) based on logic → both failed financially and spiritually distracted the church.
• Scripture example:
• Paul went to meet the apostles because of revelation, not human reasoning, to confirm he wasn’t running in vain (Galatians 2:2).
• Believers have the Spirit “so that we may know the things freely given to us by God” (1 Corinthians 2:12).
• Revelation (Tree of Life) instead of reasoning initiates revival.
• Overall Message & Application:
• Revival starts with revelation — personally seeking Christ to know, do, and see spiritual things.
• God wants to awaken believers to live from grace, depend on the indwelling Spirit, and let Christ express Himself through them.
• Substitute religion, routines, and human reasoning with ongoing seeking of revelation from the Spirit.
• This is the path of the current Grace Awakening and the way forward for individuals and the local church.
• Call to Engagement:
• Share personal stories of seeking and receiving revelation from God.
• Discussion: Testimonies of revelation replacing religion, routines, or reasoning.

The sermon emphasizes that lasting spiritual renewal and effectiveness flow from revelation dependence on Christ, not from human effort, law, or programs. For full context or audio, refer to njgrace.org.