Revival Study Guide

This study guide is designed for individuals and small groups seeking to move from a “status quo” life into their God-given prophetic potential. Drawing from the “Fire-Starting Faith” and “Never the Shame Again” series, these modules will equip you to silence shame, embrace the power of thankfulness, and activate your destiny through intentional dreaming and risk-taking.

Part 1: Key Themes and Core Concepts

1. The Perspective of Breakthrough

Breakthrough is not just a future event; it is a present perspective rooted in thankfulness. * The “COW” of Life: Most people struggle to give thanks when facing Challenges, Offenses, and Weaknesses. * Thanksgiving Before Provision: Following the example of Jesus feeding the 5,000, we are called to give thanks for the “little lunch” we currently have. Focusing on lack ensures we receive “not enough,” but partnering with God as Provider creates “more than enough.” * The Mustard Seed Principle: The Kingdom of God increases when we give thanks at the beginning of the process, even when the breakthrough seems insignificant.

2. The Firestarter’s Toolkit

To fight the “fires” of life (overwhelming circumstances) and start “fires” of revival, we must utilize specific spiritual tools.

The Three Core Beliefs	The Three Steps to Starting Fire
God is Good: He always works everything for good (Rom 8:28).	Collect the Wood: Gather resources, anointing, and testimonies from places where revival is already burning.
God is Powerful: He is able to do immeasurably more than we think (Eph 3:20).	Apply Lighter Fluid: Use the “oil of joy.” Cultivate God’s presence through laughter and celebration.
God is Willing: He never desires our destruction and is always ready to help.	Strike the Match: Take the risk of “doing.” Prophesy or pray for healing even when you don’t “feel” the unction.

3. Dreaming and Destiny: The “It” Factor

Destiny is a journey of daily intentional choices. * The Art of Dreaming: Dreaming is essential for wellbeing. During REM sleep, dreaming helps with emotional processing and conflict resolution. We are called to “daydream” or “visionate,” becoming like children to enter the Kingdom. * Intentional Living: To reach a destiny, one must move from Dreaming to Designing to Doing. * Defining “The It”: You must identify your mission (What), purpose (Why), core values (How), and core responsibilities (Where).

4. Silencing the Religion of Shame

Shame is the belief that “I am bad,” whereas guilt is the realization “I did something bad.” * The Identity Assault: The enemy attacks identity to derail destiny. If you are convinced you aren’t a child of God, you will perform to prove your worth. * The Religion of Shame: This is the “contractual” mindset of “If, then…” (e.g., If I were thinner, then I would be loved). It leads to perfectionism and performance for approval. * Revival Rest: This is working from love, acceptance, and identity rather than for them. It is the realization that “It is finished.”

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Part 2: Short-Answer Practice Questions

1. What is the primary difference between Guilt and Shame according to the text?
2. What are the three components of the acronym COW?
3. Name the three basic core beliefs required to find faith in the “fire.”
4. Why is REM sleep cited as important for creativity and emotional health?
5. What are the three steps in the “Anatomy of a Vision”?
6. According to the “How to Start Fires” blog, what is the “best fuel” for lighting fires?
7. Define Vulnerability using the three terms provided in the source.
8. What are the “8 Categories of Core Responsibilities” where goals should be set?
9. In the context of supernatural ministry, why does the author require students to “fail three times”?
10. What is the “antidote” or “remedy” to shame?

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Part 3: Small Group Reflection and Discussion

• The “Little Lunch” Reflection: Think about a current challenge in your life where you feel you “don’t have enough” (money, time, talent, or peace). How would giving thanks for that “insignificant” amount right now change your perspective?
• Identifying the “If” Triggers: We often live by the religion of shame: “If I [accomplish X], then I will be [worthy].” Share one “If” stipulation you have been hearing lately. How can you replace it with an “I am” statement?
• The Risk of the Match: Starting a fire requires striking a match (risk). What is one “supernatural risk” you have been afraid to take (e.g., prophesying, sharing a dream, starting a business)? What is the worst that could happen if you “failed”?
• The “What If” Exercise: Discuss the “What If” questions from the text. If you had no limitations, no constraints, and no fear of being “not enough,” what is the one big dream you would pursue for the Kingdom?

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Part 4: Essay Prompts for Deeper Exploration

1. The Relationship Between Thankfulness and Miracles: Analyze the story of the woman with the tumor on her foot and the feeding of the 5,000. Explain how the act of “giving thanks for what we have” (even if it’s just peace or a small lunch) creates a conduit for supernatural breakthrough.
2. The Mechanics of Intentionality: Compare the lives of “Valedictorians” who follow rules with “Visionary Entrepreneurs” who take risks. Using the author’s “Just Do It” framework, argue why vision and intentionality are more critical than raw talent or inherited resources.
3. Shame as the “5-Star General” of Strongholds: Explore the link between shame and addictive behaviors (strongholds). How does the cycle of “repentance, resolve, and resignation” keep people in bondage, and how does “vulnerability” break that cycle?
4. Creativity Through Failure: Discuss the statement, “Mistakes should be mandatory.” Use the examples of Thomas Edison, Michael Jordan, and Abraham Lincoln to explain how failure is not the opposite of success, but the pathway to it.

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Part 5: Practical Takeaways (Activation)

• The 3-Mistake Challenge: This week, intentionally put yourself in a position where you might make a mistake. Prophesy over someone, share an “out of the box” idea at work, or pray for a stranger.
• The “I Am” Mirror Exercise: Write down a list of “I Am” statements (e.g., I am enough, I am a saint, I am wonderfully made). Speak them out loud to yourself in the mirror once a day to reinforce your true identity.
• Daydreaming Appointment: Set aside 10 minutes every day this week to simply “visionate” with God. Stare out the window and ask, “What if?” Record any creative ideas or “impossible” dreams that come to mind.
• Firestarting Strategy: Identify one person in your life who is “hopeless.” Apply “lighter fluid” by bringing them joy or laughter, and “strike the match” by sharing a prophetic word of hope with them.

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Part 6: Glossary of Important Terms

• COW: An acronym for Challenges, Offenses, and Weaknesses—the difficult realities that often hinder our thankfulness.
• Firestarter: A person consumed by the passionate love of God who releases His presence through signs, wonders, miracles, and prophetic insights.
• The “It” Factor: The specific mission or “work” God has commissioned an individual to finish (e.g., Jesus’ “It” was destroying the works of the devil).
• Religion of Shame: A mindset that measures worth by work/performance; serving out of duty without empowerment or relationship.
• REM (Rapid Eye Movement): The stage of sleep associated with dreaming, essential for emotional processing and creative innovation.
• Revival Rest: Operating from a place of being already loved, accepted, and approved because of Christ’s finished work on the cross.
• Visionating: The act of daydreaming or envisioning possibilities for the “impossible” to become “possible” in the daytime.
• Vulnerability: A combination of uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure; the prerequisite for true connection and wellbeing.

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