Scriptural Reading : Psa 80:3; 85:6: Hab 3:1-2: Lam 3:22: Eccl 3:1: Acts 3:19:
Salutations beloved brethren in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Some lack a revival . You hear the hype everywhere, " revival, " revival, "" revival," and "revival," " we are in a revival!" Where is your revival? Some lack a revival . We need a revival certainly! The moves of God in his seasons and time( Eccl 3:1). See? We have had revivals in the past, and most of them have burnt to their ashes. We have mostly denominational revivals, and nothing much has come out of it! There are just more members in their churches, but their lives have not changed very much. We have had the revival brought by the Elijah, the prophet of Malachi 4:5 6, William Branham.
The main purpose of this revival was to bring a restoration of the faith of the children to the faith of their apostolic fathers. Since 1965, after God took away his humble servant back home, people calling themselves Endtime Message believers are now scattered all over the world. The message of Elijah is meant of God to get a bride of Christ. It is to such people this word is spoken. It is to the bride of Christ that God has promised to pour a great revival. Some lack a revival! See?
The challenge then is why, despite this message having been around for many years, some lack a revival that was promised by God both through the Holy Scriptures and the spoken word of the prophet? Instead, what we have been experiencing is mostly confusion and squabbles over doctrinal differences, especially among pastors and other ministers? Dear brethren, is that what we call a revival?
Look! Yet, all the time we keep hyping, we are in a revival? The true love, brotherhood, and cherished unity among the faithful brethren is almost lost! There is fear, uncertainty, and suspicions in the hearts of many believers. Some have even backsliden, and others got discouraged. Why? They simply lack a revival!
Watch! The atmosphere of cooling in joy of salvation and hope of salvation is latent in many assemblies where many often are gathered, including our annual conventions of the " bride revivals." We are saying we are in a revival, but the atmosphere is generally cold and formal worship in the hearts many believers. Where is the fire of the original Pentecost in the Book of Acts ? See?
THE GOSPEL GLOWS:
Despite this gloomy picture of what is happening in the entire message movement, it is important to note that the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ still glows in the hearts of the remnant. ( Isa 1:9: Rom 11:5). See?The word of God that effectually worketh in the lives of the true children of God who believe(1 Th 3:13). See? Those whose hearts are yearning for a genuine move of the Holy spirit in their lives; the transforming power of the word of the living God. ( Rom 12:2). See?
It is them who need to be encouraged that the season and time of God to remember your hearts' cry has come!( Lk 19:44). See? It is time to prepare for your visitation of God. This is the time! Get prepared for a revival sent from heaven! ( Acts 3:19). See?
However, many do not know how to go about preparing to receive a revival power from the presence of God! Remember, God is a God of preparation! It is written! The preparations of the heart in man and the answer of the tongue is [ are] from the LORD.( Prov 16:1). Brethren, let us humble our hearts before the Lord. Allow the Holy Spirit to deal with our hearts. Let Him mould and melt our hearts, to be flexible to follow the leadership of the Holyspirit and obey the word of God! The word of God is working in our lives, but often, we ignore that fact and make the word of God of none effect in our lives! We should work out our salvation with fear and trembling!( Phil 2 : 12). Only then can we really attain the conditions for the blessings of God to come upon our lives. See?
PRAYERS FOR REVIVAL:
No revival has ever broken among people who are careless on the aspect of prayers. Even past moves of God in revival were born when an element of people recognised the power of prayer! Most of us today are lazy and live generally prayer less lives. Of course, prayers alone couldn't bring the revival because revival begins from God according to his ordained plans. However, he needs to find people who are prepared to receive his blessings. And prayers is a good way to begin your preparation for the visitation of God upon your lives and churches. See?
TURN US AGAIN OH LORD:
Notice! The Psalmist offered a passionate prayer unto God Almighty: Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.( Psa 80:3). See? That is what is needed in these endtimes! We need a turning of our hearts back to God and obedience to his word! Many of you have had your hearts swayed by the enemy to love the world and the things of the world ( 1 Jn 2: 15). See?
Notice! A cry to turn back is a call to repentance! Repent! ( Acts 3:19). That is what apostle Peter preached in the early church! He preached repentance and called for people's hearts to be cleansed from sin and be converted to God and his word! That is the gospel that we need to sound in every pulpit today! The times of the refreshing shall come from the presence of God! But, before it comes out, our hearts and lives should be free from sin and all forms of wickedness! The Holy spirit and the power of God can not descend upon a people ladden with sin and iniquity ( Psa 66:18: Jam 4:3). No, Sir!
Remember, it was a holy bunch of believers and concentrated articles to God that received a mighty revival by the outpouring of the Holyghost on the day of Pentecost ( Acts 2-4). Do you see now why many are lacking a revival both in their lives and churches? Remember, God is still the same and keeps all of his promises ( Heb 13:8: Matt 24:35). See?
GOD WILL YOU REVIVE US AGAIN?
Notice The Psalmist made a passionate prayer and petition to God thus: Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?( Psa 85:6). After crying to God to turn us again, he pleaded to God to cause his anger to cease against the people. It was a cry for the mercy of God (Lam 3:22). See? It is a prayer of intercession! And a revival cannot possibly break among a people who are not given to intercessory prayers on their knees!( 1 Tim 2:1-4: Eph 6:18: Ezek 9:4; 22:30: Isa 59:16: Jn 17:20). We all need to humble ourselves before God and cry for God's mercy upon our lives! Right!
Notice! The Psalmist said: I will hear what God will speak! ( Psa 85:8). Sure! He needed to be in a position and condition in his faith to hear from God. It is the same today! God needs to have people who have the ability to hear from him! Men and women of unwavering faith in his eternal word ( Rom 10:17: Heb 11:6). Some simply lack a revival because of their inability to hear from God! My dear brother and sister, are you hearing the voice of God daily? Is God talking to you as his son or daughter( Jn 10: 27). Exactly! Or is he talking to the pastor and preachers only? Think! Exactly!
A CRY FOR REVIVAL:
One of the prophets of God that was concerned about lack of revival in his nation due to its backsliden condition was Habakkuk. He looked to God for help and made this passionate prayer unto God: A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth. O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.( Hab 3:1-2). See?
Notice! God's wrath was upon the nation that was disobedient to his holy commandments. A people loved and chosen of him, yet they kept backsliding and walking in sin and idolatry. They had great opportunity to live in the righteousness and holiness of God and enjoy his presence and blessings every day of their lives,but they deliberately squandered it!
Friends, the question can now be solely asked: could we have done the same thing in our time? How come some of us, the people that God sent a mighty vindicated prophet in these closing times of the gentiles, lack a revival?
Notice! Habakkuk, the prophet, cried to God for another chance of revival! He recognised the richness of God in his mercy, even during the time of his anger and wrath! God is rich in mercy! ( Eph 2:4). See?
Let us too recognise that this is our time, the only time and opportunity that we have to fully embrace the goodness and the mercy of our loving heavenly Father. He is so caring, and we should desist from portraying an attitude of ignoring and neglect, an attitude of lack of seriousness!
My dear brother and sister, no matter who you are, God is no respector of persons. In every nation, whoever respects him and believes his word, and he or she is determined to dedicate his or her life to God, will certainly receive the immediate attention and abundant blessings of Almighty God! ( Acts 10:35). God is the Amen, and he is faithful! ( Rev 3:14). Therefore, there is no excuse for us to lack a revival in our lives and churches. Some lack revival ! Wake up from your slumber ! ! To be continued.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you . Amen . One more soul . We work till Jesus comes .
Pastor Charles Obwoon
