Essence

The Christian life finds its apex in a deep and growing love for Jesus Christ, who calls us to a transforming intimacy. It is not enough to know His works or live a superficial faith; it is necessary to desire the Lord’s presence, to be filled with longing and yearning, and to respond to the invitation to a close relationship, like the bride preparing for the wedding of the Lamb. True revival is born when God’s love revives us, makes us worshipers, and leads us to proclaim His glory with boldness and joy.

The Starting Point

The testimony of faith in the face of sickness and the remembrance of God’s works pave the way for the ministration. The minister’s personal experience, declaring “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord” (Psalm 118), reinforces the importance of proclaiming what the Lord does and keeping alive the memory of His wonders, as taught in Psalm 111.

Development of the Word

The Call to Proclamation and Longing for the Lord

The proclamation of the Lord’s works and name is central to the Christian life. Psalm 138:4 highlights that all the kings of the earth will praise the Lord when they hear His words, showing that praise must be public and contagious. The minister emphasizes that many desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit, but few invoke and proclaim the name of the Lord with boldness. Saudade, a unique feeling in the Portuguese language, is presented as a void that can only be filled by the presence of the beloved. So it is with the yearning for Jesus’ presence: nothing replaces the desire to be with Him.

Faith is described as the gift that makes God present in a solid way, more real than what is seen. Love for the Lord generates longing for His presence, and this feeling is compared to the search of the Shulammite in Song of Songs, who goes through the streets after her beloved. Loving God’s works is not enough; it is necessary to love the Creator Himself, for He remains forever, and those who are in Him also remain.

The Vessel of Mercy and Intimacy with God

The Christian’s identity is that of a vessel of mercy, prepared for glory (). God’s process involves brokenness: the vessel needs to be broken to be made better, according to Jeremiah 18. Job’s example shows that suffering and God’s dealings are not the work of the enemy, but of the Lord Himself, who desires to reveal His glory and make us intimate with Him. True transformation happens when, like Job, we go from hearing about the Lord to seeing Him up close (Job 42).

Intimacy with God is what brings real discernment, more than simple biblical knowledge. The greatest obstacle to this closeness is the “self.” When Christ takes the place of self, the Christian life becomes possible, for it is Christ living in us (). The desire to behold the Lord up close is what moves the heart of the true worshiper.

The Glory Revealed in Christ and the Love That Makes Us the Bride

The Gospel of John reveals the glory of Jesus in four aspects: life, light, love, and union. The life of Christ is the greatest attribute, for from it flow light and love. Whoever loves has passed from death to life, and love is what unites us to Christ. Love for the Lord is what generates longing for His coming, not only in times of suffering but also in the midst of prosperity. Nothing in this world fully satisfies; only Jesus can fill the emptiness of the heart.

The apex of this love is the marriage with Christ, the wedding of the Lamb, the greatest event of eternity. All creation awaits the manifestation of the children of God, and the angels will see what it is to love as they witness the union of Christ with His bride. To be the bride requires true love; it is not enough to be just a correct or religious believer. The call of Jesus is to a relationship of closeness, as in , where He calls to Himself those He desires.

The experience of the queen of Sheba, who was amazed at Solomon’s wisdom and wealth, serves as an illustration of the superiority of Christ. If she was amazed at Solomon, how much more should we marvel at Jesus, who is greater in love, wisdom, life, and riches. All that belongs to Him is given to those who love Him.

Revival Through Love and Joy in the Assembly of the Saints

True revival happens when God’s love is valued and the work of Jesus is beheld. This love revives us, takes us out of spiritual death, and makes us desire to be together in the assembly of the saints, proclaiming the name of the Lord with joy. The gathering of the brethren is seen as an ascent, a moment of expectation for the manifestation of the Lord, who promised to be present where two or three are gathered in His name.

The minister shares personal experiences of prayer and longing for the brethren, showing that God’s love binds us to one another and makes us pray with joy. The Christian life is not limited to religious practices, but is marked by the pursuit of intimacy, the desire to see the King and be transformed by His presence, as happened with Isaiah in the temple.

Our Response to the Lord

The invitation is to value Jesus Christ more, to seek to know Him up close, and to desire to be filled with the love that only He can give. The prayer is that the Holy Spirit will open the eyes of the heart, reveal the greatness of Christ’s love, and make us experience this love that transforms, satisfies, and prepares the church to be the bride at the wedding of the Lamb.

To Remember

  • Love for Jesus is what makes us intimate with Him and prepares us for the wedding of the Lamb.
  • True revival is born when God’s love revives the heart and makes us worshipers.
  • Nothing in this world satisfies like the presence and glory of Christ, who is greater than all.