24th February, 2022.

UNDERSTANDING BIBLICAL REVIVAL Pt.4

Psalms85:6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?

REVIVAL STIRS PASSION FOR EVANGELISM& MISSIONS

During the revival that broke out on Nigerian campuses in the 70s and early 80s, it was recorded that young men and women who were part of that revival developed an unusual passion for evangelism. The mission movement in Nigeria is a product of that revival. Some of those we call fathers in missions were products of that revival. Though most of them are old today but the fire of missions is still in their bones. That era witnessed sending out of young men and women to the mission fields of Africa and pioneering of mission agencies that are still with us till date. The prophecy of Pa S.G. Elton as regards missions and evangelism came to pass when young Christian corpers in different states gathered to pray and evangelize their states unknown to most of them. The fire of revival they brought from various campuses ignited a movement that is devoted to rural evangelism till date. That generation is still asking why there is no revival in our generation especially on our campuses.

We can't say "Revival is here" when the passion to reach the lost is absent. One of the fruits of revival is evangelism and missions. The revival of the early church stirred men to evangelize. Acts 5:46 says, "Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah". In fact, when persecution arose and the church scattered abroad, they didn't stop preaching the Gospel: "Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went", Acts 8:4. It wasn't convenient to preach in time of persecution and displacement yet that revived did. What excuses are we giving today for not wanting to go all out for Christ? One can easily tell the spiritual state of a Christian/ church by checking their love and passion for soul-winning". No true revived church or believer will neglect evangelism and missions or relegate it to mere talks without a corresponding action. Do not confuse this evangelism for preaching church or inviting people to attend church services.

In some circles, the definition of evangelism is when they distribute church fliers inviting people to special services. That's good but that's not evangelism. Bible evangelism entails preaching Christ and eternal salvation to the lost and making them members of a living church. It is possible to invite someone to Church and the person will not be in Christ but it is impossible for someone to be in Christ and not be in church. The revived early church and Apostles evangelized Asia minor in two years: "This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord", Acts 19:10. When true revival comes, we'll cover the whole of Africa in less than 10 years. The church have the resources and spiritual man power but not enough of revived men to undertake the task. We are responsible for the multitudes going to hell in droves especially in unreached areas where people haven't heard about Christ. Oh! That the Lord will revive the church for the plentiful end time harvest.