Time for true Revival

Posted on Jan. 8, 2025, 7:32 a.m. by Rev. Shobayo Kayode The Gospel Study Centre

There is no doubt that the tough time being experienced across the world this time is negatively impacting believer’s spiritual and physical life. The Church as the Body is not left out. We should not ignore the fact that many of us are now lukewarm, and weary in serving God. The Bile says, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot” (Rev.3:15) It is no gain saying that our faith is waning as a result of the troubles of life. Troubles such as lack of sufficient resources to meet required needs, poor security protection, general hostile environment etc. While many other reasons can be adduced to the lukewarmness, the truth of the matter is the fact that some of us have left our first love. The scripture says, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Rev.2:4) Consequently, there is the need for a true revival that will bring us back to our first love. The love for Jesus that was born in our heart when we first believed and gave our lives to Him. A revival that will make us to search our heart and see the wide gap in our response to the things and service of God, compare to when we first gave our lives to Christ. Jesus told the church “You have left your first love.” True revival that will make us seek God with contrite and repentant heart in prayers and possibly with fasting. The revival can be done by individual; it can also be done in groups. What is important is to restore one’s spiritual passion and rededicate oneself to God. A revival that will transform hearts and reawakens one’s spiritual life. King Josiah showed a good example of true revival. The scripture says, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, he broke down the altars. He purged the land and the temple. He repaired the altar and, in the process, the lost Book of the Law of the Lord given by Moses was found. Reading through the Book, King Josiah found out they have not kept the word of the Lord to do according to all that is written in the Book and thereby seek the Lord. “Thus, Josiah removed all the abominations from all the country that belonged to the children of Israel…”. Thereafter, true worship was restored. (2 Chronicles. 34:1-35:19) A revival that is dedicated to purging ourselves of those worldly things that is distracting, distancing or hindering our relationship with God. Also, the one that pleads with God to help remove all the high places and the idols in our lives. The high places and idols could be the euphoria of our success and pleasure, or the pains associated to our lack and suffering. Revival that makes one to return to God in truth to seek His face for forgiveness and mercy, knowing that He is gracious and merciful. The Bible says, “Now, therefore, “says the Lord, turn to Me with all your heart. With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. So, rend your heart, and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and He relents from doing harm” (Joel.2:12-13) Brethren, a true Revival is the one that reawakens spirit, transforms hearts and bring remarkable change to believer’s spiritual lives and conducts. The one that brings believers back to his first love who saved him according to His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. (Titus.3:5) Evangelism Let us get energized and tell the lost about the good news of Jesus Christ. Rev. Shobayo Kayode The Gospel Study Centre