“ But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets”. Revelation 10:7 KJV”
According to the scripture above, once the seventh of the seven-fold trumpet is sounded, the ‘mystery of God’ will be finished. What is this mystery of God?, to start with, what is a mystery?
A mystery is a profound secret; something wholly unknown or something kept cautiously concealed, and therefore exciting curiosity or wonder.
It can also be defined as that which is beyond human comprehension until explained. In this sense, mystery often conveys the idea of something awfully sublime or important; something that excites wonder.
Biblically speaking, anything in the character or attributes of God, or in the economy of divine providence, which is not revealed to man. It means a secret which cannot be understood without God’s revelation. It is not a secret that cannot be understood at all, but one that only God can reveal.
The purpose of God on earth and for humanity is a mystery, i.e a secret truth or plan, and the bible speaks so much about this mystery of the Kingdom of God in the New Testament. It is a concealed matter which will be revealed at an appointed time. Jesus said He came to bear witness unto this secret Truth of God. John 18:37
“God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan He had already decided to complete by means of Christ. This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head. All things are done according to God’s plan and decision; and God chose us to be his own people in union with Christ because of his own purpose, based on what he had decided from the very beginning” Ephesians 1:9-11 GNB.
From the above, verse of scripture, we see that the mystery of God is He is reaching His creation and restituting all things through Jesus Christ.
The word of God declares that “Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses” Ecclesiastes 3:1 GNB and in order for us to fulfill the will of God for our lives, we must understand the timing our generation is in the fulfillment of the mystery of God on earth.
The many and different prophecies in the word of God has their timing of manifestation and by the witness of the Holy Spirit in every land and through the saints of God, we know that our generation is part of the 11th hour i.e. last of the last days for which God has said many things, knowing the last days prophesied in Joel 2:18-32 has began since the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:14-16 (Please Read).
Now let us consider the following scriptures;
“But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” Micah 4:1-2 KJV
“The word that Isaiah the son of Amos saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it” Isaiah 2:1-2 KJV
“And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.” Zecharias 2:11
“And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust” Romans 15:9-12 KJV
“There is a secret truth, my friends, which I want you to know, for it will keep you from thinking how wise you are. It is that the stubbornness of the people of Israel is not permanent, but will last only until the complete number of Gentiles comes to God” Romans 11:25 GNB
“O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit” Jeremiah 16:19 KJV
“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” Mathew 24:6-14 KJV
“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth” Psalm 110:1-3 KJV
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;………..And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” Rev 7:9,14
“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” Mathew 9:38 KJV
“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved” Jeremiah 8:20 KJV
“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?” Mathew 24:45 KJV
Eze 47:1
the door: Eze_41:2, Eze_41:23-26
waters issued: Solomon’s temple and the second temple were doubtless well supplied with water, probably conveyed there by means of pipes; but these waters flowed from the temple, not as a common sewer, but as a fertilizing river. A fountain producing abundance of water was not in the temple, and could not be there on the top of such a hill; and consequently these waters, as well as those spoken of by Joel and Zechariah, must be understood figuratively and typically. These waters doubtless were an emblem of the “gospel preached with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven;” and their gradual rise beautifully represents it progress, from small beginnings to an immensely large increase; and the latter part of the representation may relate to the times when it shall fill the earth, and produce the most extensive and important effects on the state of making in every nation. Psa_46:4; Isa_30:25, Isa_55:1; Jer_2:13; Joe_3:18; Zec_13:1, Zec_14:8; Joh_7:37-39; Rev_22:1, Rev_22:17 from under the threshold: Eze_47:12; Isa_2:3
The Nature of this Revival
The revival the Lord is bringing to His church judging by the prophecy of the word of God for this end time is that which will open the eyes of believers to the true ministerial assignment that is apart the alter in the church but that in the market place and it will bring about a divine positioning at their respective duty post and area of influence fitting to the oil over their head.
In, Ezekiel 47:1-12, we are told of a river that flows from the temple of God and it continue to increase in measure as described and the purpose of the flowing river also is not hidden from us being a life giving river, for the healing of nations, nourishing trees to bring forth fruits and many fishes figuratively will be harvested wherever it flows to.
We see clearly by comparison of other scriptures and end time prophecies in the word of God as highlighted in this write up that God’s intention is to bring many to the knowledge of Himself through the move of the Holy Spirit.
The nature of this revival is strictly a move of the Spirit from beginning to the end, moving and working out all that is in the mind of the father from one nation too another in every sphere of human endeavour.
The revival will first purify the hearts of men and make them ready to receive the leading of God as this move of God must be done only as the Lord leads, and those who could not hear Him or hear Him right cannot partake in the work. There is a matter about hearing or being led of God, we only hear Him according to the state of our mind. You cannot hear God, higher than your mind, even when God speaks; you interpret only according to your mind. As much as it is still corrupt and worldly, it will interpret only for self and selfish motive only. Reading the scriptures or hearing God through the Holy Spirit with a cleansed mind is very necessary to understand God, His will and be able to execute it accurately as this revival requires.
This revival will bring together and bind in unity every member of the body of Christ with each contributing its quota for the fulfillment of the Church’s mandate. It is about restoration of the body and not replacement. We see the life of Phillip in the New Testament who was an usher in the kitchen distributing foods in Jerusalem and before long he was in Samaria preaching Jesus and the whole Samaria repented and full of Joy. Philip did not pursue another ministry, but worked along with the elders, amidst the baptism of Holy Spirit being ministered to the people, Philip was moved again to the Ethiopian man and from there again to Azotus.
To be effective in what the Lord is about to do, we must be ready to follow the river to wherever it flows us to.
This revival will need our passion and love for the body of Christ, to present every man percept in Christ Jesus.
The revival is the movement of the spirit of God in the body of Christ, over all flesh and the nations for the body of Christ.
Those whom the Lord has prepared through the process of patience under leaders of denominations to be used as His as Change Agents in all our churches must put to use the patience and humility they have acquired through different difficulties, denials and limitations they have experienced as they began to get opportunities to express their vision and passion amidst the people of God by not being arrogant with the Truth that is meant to sanctify the body.
We must not forget that the nature of the revival is for the people of God to become committed to God and His will.
The effect of the revival will be great on the world as a whole as God will be using different baits as nets to spread for the fishes of souls. The bait then must not be the focus but Jesus, in time past, our error has been sitting on the baits.
The baits could be gifts of healing, miracles, opening doors of business opportunities, divine inspiration for great exploits, but in all Christ and His kingdom must be our focus.
This revival would not primarily revolve around programmes and organizations of events in or outside the four walls of the church, even-though these can be a place of impartation and activation of men’s hearts for revival, but it will be a passion and burden for consistent and concerted practical discipleship trainings through life-on-life relationships in the church. Priority and attention shall be given to discipleship trainings, beyond the academia orientation to possess a certificate but with the primary focus of getting committed to Christ not first for works of ministry, but to learn how to be with Him, living no longer for self but unto Him who died and rose again for them, overcoming the flesh, world and sin after which without doubt, they might be sent for the work of ministry in the field of human endeavours.
THE EMPHASES AND CHARACTER OF THIS REVIVAL
The Life that is Light as a prerequisite for the work of Ministry no matter how minute.
Christ Jesus Crucified and His Resurrected Life as the core message that saves.
Concerted and Deliberate Teachings concerning The Way, The Truth and Life, pointing without wavering to the tenets of Faith to live by and principles of the Kingdom to submit to.
The result shall be increment of the Word of God in every land, multiplication of committed disciples, Joy shall fill the lands and the power of God manifest in miracles, signs and wonders.
There shall be no discrediting of churches due to manner of operations, as God is not interested how they were born, but how they must be sanctified. The 12 tribes of Jacob were almost all not born properly but were all accepted by God for His purpose.
We must not blame a blind man for hitting the wall, we must be compassionate for the body.
MEN OF THIS REVIVAL
(The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. 3 Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; 4 say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” 5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. 7 The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. 8 And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. 9 No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, 10 and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:1-2 NIV
God has always have an agenda for humanity and requires men who will be tools in His hand to fulfil all of His purpose. Our Lord Jesus came as man to fulfil that of redemption and God still requires in our days men who will carry out the last days harvest.
Jesus asked the disciples to pray that the Lord of harvest will send labourers into His field ready to be harvested. The Lord has been faithful to answer this prayer which many elders in our land have been praying and consistent to play their roles in actually raising men with the Life Light for the Work of Ministry through concerted discipleship.
God knows everyone of His children, what we will be and what we will do. Yet, He will not compromise His standards of recruitment and priority of life before service. Jesus was emphatic to declare “I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail over it”. What we can simply take out of this statements is that the Church of God ought to be gate takers, going out to the gates possessed by hell agents and since we have an assurance of victory, we take them over for our Lord, hence we send men to the gates of the kingdoms of this world. You have not won a battle until you have captured the gates. As far as the Lord is concerned every institution or gate of occupation that no one is bringing about Kingdom rule is gate of hell to take over.
The different gates of this world can be summarized to Government, Education, Media, Economy, Family, Celebration, Culture and Belief with their present status of decadence.
And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying:
‘Son of man, say to it, Thou art a land, It is not cleansed nor rained on in a day of indignation. A conspiracy of its prophets is in its midst, as a roaring lion tearing prey; The soul they have devoured, Wealth and glory they have taken, Its widows have multiplied in its midst. Its priests have wronged My law, And they pollute My holy things, Between holy and common they have not made separation, And between the unclean and the clean they have not made known, And from my sabbaths they have hidden their eyes, And I am pierced in their midst. Its princes in its midst are as wolves, Tearing prey, to shed blood, to destroy souls, For the sake of gaining dishonest gain.
And its prophets have daubed for them with chalk, Seeing a vain thing, and divining for them a lie, Saying, `Thus said the Lord Jehovah:’ And Jehovah hath not spoken. The people of the land have used oppression, And have taken plunder violently away, And humble and needy have oppressed, And the sojourner oppressed–without judgment. And I seek of them a man making a fence, And standing in the breach before Me, In behalf of the land–not to destroy it, And I have not found. And I pour out on them mine indignation, By fire of My wrath I have consumed them, Their way on their own head I have put, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah!’ Ezekiel 22:23-31 GNB
So, we will be looking at the type of men and responsibilities of men meant to operate this revival.
Despite the violation of the law, and perverseness of the land all over, God is seeking a man to stand in gap apart the error of the land, but to make up and make the difference. Even-though there are highly positioned and influential personalities in all the gates of human endeavour mentioned above, God is still saying He found no man. Then who is a man in the eyes of the Lord? What makes up a man qualified to carry out a revival work in the land and gates of this world. The man here means a soul under God be it Male man or female, the promise of God is that He will pour out His spirit upon sons and daughters for the work He intends to do in the last days.
At this junction, I want to make as a bold statement my convictions that the bulk of this work of revival is rested upon the young people or perharps those older but youthful at heart according to what I have seen in the word of God. Yet, everyone be it old or young have their roles to play and none must be ignored as it will undermine the effectiveness and success of the other.
I write to you, my children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who has existed from the beginning. I write to you, young people, because you are strong; the word of God lives in you, and you have defeated the Evil One. 1John 2:14 GNB
Most of the men and women of exploits who has at one time or the other advanced the kingdom of God in their time were youths, Daniel was around 16 years when short listed to the palace, Joseph was not yet up to 20 when he began his journey to the land of Egypt, Gideon saw himself and young and little among all, Esther was yet young and single before becoming a queen, Paul instructed Timothy not to look down on his youthfulness, even our Lord Jesus knows about His mission on earth from age 12.
Because our parents knew nothing about the kingdom purpose of God, they have not helped in shaping the mind of many to be kingdom focused, instilling the mindset that “you exist only to bring about Kingdom of God in any sphere of life” So, at teenage age when we ought to be getting ready to begin the proper preparation of the reason for our existence, we are allowed to be free rangers, wasting away seeking certificates that would eventually add nothing to the counsel of God for our lives, only to start seeking the meaning for life after graduating from university and if helped, early.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed. 2Timothy 3:16 GNB
We have in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, that the word of God is the only instrument that can transform the heart of men and make them ready for the work of Ministry, therefore, we can say the men to execute this revival are those whom have been born of God, renewed by the word and trained of it.
We asked earlier, who is a man in the eyes of the Lord? What makes up a man qualified to carry out a revival work?
The men and women whom God will be using in this revival are those who have resolved to stand only in the will of God. They are those who have utterly honoured the Word of God and thus when they speak to God, He honours their word. The men and women fitting to take over gates for the kingdom of God are those who by their relationship and walk with God are able to stop the anger of God in prayer. They are those who can face men with the truth in the word of God, turning men to righteousness.
These believers who will have the honour of being workers together with God indeed are those whose desire and interest is to bring the presence of God to bear in their lands. I have always said when you do not possess a national burden, you cannot be relevant to your nation, meaning the level and circle of your burden or vision determines the extent by which God can go with you. Although He may be showing you and laying a bigger burden on you, but you have responsibility to see according to your heart.
Those who God will be using are those who have not been keeping quiet and will not keep quiet when things are going against the purpose and will of God around them. They are men like David, who would not tolerate anything blasphemous to the Lord.
It is those who have learnt that the Lord prefers absolute obedience than sacrificial offering or service. They are those who will not be afraid of men so as to do what they wanted by being light with the word of God as was the case of Saul in 1 Samuel 15. They are men who are quick to repent and will not hide their weakness. They will allow God to transform them due to their sincerity, knowing fully well that God knows their frame.
They may and may not occupy top positions, but wherever they are and as long as souls exist there, they stand from there. They are mostly quiet labourers and silent influencers. Never confused of their calling, first a child of the Most High before and profession and thus, always seeking to please their father by carrying out His counsel.
QUALITIES OF THE RIVIVALIST
As discussed earlier, this revival has a uniqueness and dynamics of operation, so also is the men who are being recruited by God to anchor the manifestation. In this context, I call them the Revivalist. They possess certain qualities as to be seen below: We shall consider the life of Mordecai in the Book of Esther as a case study of these qualities;
KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND WHO THEY ARE IN HIM
First thing to note is that they are those who know who they are in the Lord and knows the Lord they serve, bible says in the book of Daniel 11:32 that “those who know their God shall be strong and do exploits”. Mordecai knew what it means to be a Jew, He knows the will of His God and His commandments and that was the source of His strength against any opposing ideology.
God always seek that we know Him and know His ways, so that we will not err in our hearts as to go against Him or live outside of His word. He complained concerning the children of Israelites that they always go wrong in their hearts and will not recognize what He is trying to do with them, eventhough He shows them His acts over and over. This is the situation of many of us today, we see God at work in our lives but never care to find out His intentions over our lives, perhaps because we have not been told or taught that when we come to Christ our savior , He becomes Lord and we no longer have our lives to live for ourselves but the new life we possess if truly and indeed we have the new life is to be lived by the new owner in us, so we live unto Him who died and resurrected that we may have life. 2 Corinthians 5:15
The bible says “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” John 17:3. The greatest and only needful thing in life is knowing God. If all our energy, time and resources are channelled towards knowing the Lord and doing His will, it is worth it.
Because it is the knowledge of Him that Adam and Eve lost in the garden, which is the glory of God that all men have fallen short of.
The life of God and its power is restored back to us as we follow the path He has laid for us to know Him, through His Son, Jesus Christ, that is why the bible says in Colossian 1:27 “…….Christ in you, the hope of Glory”
The word of God went further to say in Hosea 4:6 that:
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou has rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shall be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children”
So, we see that the people called by God will not maximize their calling except they know their God, His will, His purpose per time and what He abhors. It is in the knowledge of the truth of God and the obedience thereof that we are free from bondage of this world as His knowledge brings us into maturity as Sons operating with the Authority of our father.
In the verse above, we also see that the Lord says, since they have rejected knowledge, they cannot be His priest, meaning those who have not allowed God to brood over them through the process of making in Discipleship under God cannot be among His priest for the revival sweeping through the nations.
Irrespective of what you have known of Him, there is yet a depth you have not yet tasted, a height you have not yet attained and a width you have not yet comprehended. But if we are not thirsty, we cannot be filled, He will only reveal Himself more to those whose heart is seeking and ready to do His will.
SELFLESSNESS
As seen in Mordecai, who took Esther for his own daughter, with a selfless heart for the purpose of God unto His people, despite that fact that he has his own children and God blessed him. (Ester 10:3 For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.)
Those who will be possessing the gates of hell are selfless, whose dependent would have liberty as their blood. They are those with a mindset that each and every (soul) that passes through their hand no matter their status or background in life must be prepared for heaven and to fulfill their own God given mandate.
They are those with a sherperd heart 1 Samuel 12:1-3, as Mordecai who practically discipled Esther for the purpose and intention of God for their time. Mordecai did not have a sense of god-fatherism and was not willing to be known or change status.
Even when Esther became a queen, Mordecai did not think God would want him to be in an honourable position, thus probably seek it with all rights, but he was contented to be at the gate, where eventually he carried out another godly assignment that eventually brought about his promotion, even that at God’s timing and method. We see how he sought no personal gain from Esther but waited upon the Lord all through, unlike Ziba in 2 Sam chapters 9 and 16. They are those who do not seek things of their own.
The bane of the work of God today is that everyone is out for themselves, having been deceived of the devil, that doing the work of God is the path to becoming great and desires greatness in the eyes of men, so they unconsciously and sometimes very consciously began to propagate things that men want to hear and not the sound doctrines even the words of the Lord Jesus.
THE SCOPE OF DISCIPLESHIP
As commanded by the Master, we are to go into all Nations, in the uttermost part of the world and reaching all kinds of people.
PRACTICAL DISCIPLESHIP
Discipleship in this revival is none negotiable and the core values of discipleship must always be re-iterated.
Over the time, the work of God has been either operated under Legalism which is emphasis on outward conformity or Discipleship which is inward formation of a man. Legalism is operating by the laws of letters of the scriptures, while discipleship is transfer of life from one to another. The life that is Light which is the Spirit of Christ.
Paul told Timothy to to do what he sees in Him, just as he is doing what he sees in Christ. This is only possible through a conserted, consistent, opened and patient discipleship.
Life is never formed in a hurry or growth into adulthood in a short-while.
Growing deep roots can only take place in obscurity – under the ground.
Maritally, what will make me live in peace with my wife and my wife with me no matter our wrongs, sluggishness or character flaws is not our individual external capability to manage each other but how deep we have individually grown internally. This is what discipleship with the master can do to a man. A couple having been discipled is the only reason for both to work in the spirit in decision making. Proper discipleship will build homes that can be truly called Christian homes that will radiate the glory and light of Christ.
Financially, can money be kept with me and the currency will not change? If I don’t spend it, what will be the reason? Is it because I may be asked to bring it soon? Or because I am aware of a spiritual auditing over my life and in the fear of God, I do not see the money as what I can use. As a man submits to the Lord in discipleship, faithfulness in money matters will be learnt as I have learnt through the hand of God. God will always commit another man’s money, business to your hand, but when you have been impacted with the life of Christ, then you have His spirit to monitor and teach you how to do things right. A man that will confess his unfaithfulness is the man with the spirit of God.
There will and should be deliberate action from Disciplers to make disciples grow (palatable to them or not). It is the only source of the disciple’s life. Replacement sons to the work of God can only be made overtime and not by hand laying or one serious prayer. If Esther had not been prepared, in the timing of God, even if Vashti should be sent packing, who among the Jews would have been able to replace her for the Kingdom agenda.
So, God has been waiting for replacement sons and daughters and in this move of His, it is those who have been consistently humbled under his mighty hand in discipleship that He shall raise up into places of spreading their nets for the great harvest of souls.
As the Church begins to appreciate God’s age long wisdom of deliberate discipleship, that implants the essence of Christianity into the hearts of men, many disciples will be added to the church and they shall be taking their places in due course even as they respond to the Lord to whom they are yoked in discipleship.
To be a disciple is not to become perfect but learning the life of the master Jesus and walking towards perfection, so, as long as a disciple is envisioned for the kingdom purpose, possessing the life that is light, then the Lord will begin to open doors through which he or she can begin to shine the light of the Gospel, the timing is as we allow the Lord to evacuate our old man and fill us with His.
It is the new creation man that is fitting for an enduring work of ministry.
The bane of the work of God so far has been those without the life that is light on the pulpit, it has been a situation of the blind leading the blind. They have only stumbled and walk in error because they see not the light and know not the truth.
Discipleship labour is a deliberate strategy to form Christ in a man which enables him to stand anywhere for Christ.
We must never be too busy with programmes in this revival and omit or ignore discipleship again.
The content and context of discipleship is to provoke the life of faith and on the process, it help us confirm if we have what it takes to live by faith and not by environment.
Effective work of ministry is only possible and effective when a man has grown his roots, yet there is time allocated for growth in discipleship.
Many who have believed have not grown in character formation, grace experience and manifestation of life of Christ obtainable through discipleship and yet they are occupying leadership positions both within and outside the church.
Discipleship is not inter-denominational fellowship but life transfer atmosphere. The question then is, whose life are we transferring though relational influence obtainable in discipleship? That of Christ or ours.
It is unfortunate that many of those with titles or ordination in our churches are not yet through with self life, so those who come under them for instruction or counsel are to be pitied. Actually many of the run away from this responsibility, not deceiving themselves.
How the Lord Jesus went about His assignment what first to do, and then to teach………… Acts 1:1-2
A disciple will learn better and faster when they see you do it. Not teach it only.
We must also follow suit to be doers of the word and then show our life as we teach others the tenets of faith we are committed to in living. This is the correct order of the work of God.
The disciples also said “The things we have heard, the things we have seen, that which we have handled and the things we have looked into concerning the word of life” they went further to say at another place that “we beheld Him, full of grace and truth”
For proper passing on of life, the discipleship work must allow and give opportunity for our lives to be looked into. Can our inner and daily lives also be examined and it will be said of us to be operating by grace in the truth of God?
As we see in Jesus that He was simple enough to allow Peter boldly express his opinion, leaders must show simplicity as seen in the Lord. We must also know that an untested knowledge is not satisfied and spiritual life is only formed in the context of conflict, opportunity and challenges.