Revival Centres International

We Believe...

... the Bible instructs the Spirit-filled believer on how to live an overcomer's life.

Instruction & Capability

Peter the Apostle wrote to the Church and reminded them they had been given "...all things that pertain unto life and godliness..." (2 Peter 1:3).

The instructions given in the New Testament to the Church are different in expectation to those given in the Old Testament (e.g. the Ten Commandments).

Under the Old Testament, the expectation was that no-one would be able to live up to God's ways - that they would continually be coming back seeking forgiveness for failures: "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect" (Hebrews 10:1).

Under the New Testament, with a Church now comprised of Spirit-filled believers, the expectation is flipped the other way: "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them" (Hebrews 10:16).

We have a new type of person come into view: the Spirit-filled overcomer.

The Overcomer

In Revelation we read of many trials and troubles for those in the Church. And in each case, the promises are aimed at the overcomer. The one who takes God at His word and, empowered by the Holy Spirit, lives a new and righteous life.

The New Life

The new life given to those who have been filled with the Holy Spirit is one where the challenges, both personal and external, are met with a desire to be right, coupled with the faith and power required to make that a reality.

Paul the Apostle encouraged his many converts in the church assemblies to whom he wrote.

Think right: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8).

Act right: "... sound doctrine... sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience... behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers... discreet, chaste... a pattern of good works... Sound speech, that cannot be condemned... Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity... denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world..."
(Titus 2:1-12).

Be holy: "...holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord..." (Hebrews 12:14).

But what if I sin again?

Rather than the expectation of failure in the Old Testament, believers now have an expectation of overcoming and victory.

But if weakness prevails on an occasion we are reminded of this comfort: "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:" (1 John 2:1).

Lest we become complacent, however, we are reminded also of Esau who "... found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears" (Hebrews 12:17); and the warning that if we "... sin wilfully ... there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins" (Hebrews 10:26).

The Bible encouragement is take this seriously, revelling in the power of the Holy Spirit and the comfort that "the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations" (2 Peter 2:9).

From the Bible

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2 Peter 1:5-10

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
Hebrews 12:14-17

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2 Peter 3:11

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities...

But these, as natural brute beasts... speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray... wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

2 Peter 2:9-22