By Festus Ndukwe
Lord, Revive Us or We Perish! (5)
Do we know that the man whom God has truly promoted in the realm of the spirit through his dealings with God is higher in rank spiritually, yet he is very humble? He doesn’t see himself as anybody, even when God shows him his marks in heaven. The reason is because God’s dealings with him comes with a deep work that keeps him lowly in spirit. Not like the case of leadership by official position, much of which comes by lobbying, visibility, charisma and being in the good books of those at the top. Until we give room for Christ in our assemblies, revival remains a dream.
Lord, Revive Us or We Perish! (6)
May be, not many have noticed this. It’s as if the present state of things in the Church has been accepted as the norm. Take a trip through the cities in the UK. Some churches have become like the grave yard; others bought over and turned into mosques and taverns. It started like what we are seeing in the Nigerian Church today. One time, my host took me to Charles Surgeons Tabernacle for church service. The congregation only sang hymns. No drumming. No clapping. No life. No joy. No excitement. When the time for the message came, the preacher read his sermon. No life! No fire! It was just ashes.
Lord, Revive Us or We Perish! (7)
It’s those who have not seen fire that will see smoke and call it fire. You need to see how pastors are working extra hard to have people come to church or have life in service. You need to see the suffering they are going through. You need to see how they spend so much money to buy equipment, bring singers, pianists, comedians, do flyers, etc. You need to see several gimmicks, sometimes rebuke, other times begging, to make people give for the work of the Lord. It is because there is no revival. What a suffering to till the land when there is no rain!
● Ndukwe is a Lagos-based minister and missionary, and can be reached at festus.felicia@gmail.com.
