THE COMING REVIVAL

 

Tommy Hicks’ Vision of The End Times Prophecy

The following is a stunning vision given to American preacher Tommy Hicks (who was a major figure in the powerful 1954 Argentina Revival).

Vision of the Body of Christ and the End-Time Ministries

My message begins July 25, about 2:30 in the morning at Winnipeg, Canada. I had hardly fallen asleep when the vision and the revelation that God gave me came before me. The vision came three times, exactly in detail, the morning of July 25, 1961. I was so stirred and so moved by the revelation that this has changed my complete outlook upon the body of Christ, and upon the end-time ministries.

The greatest thing that the church of Jesus Christ has ever been given lies straight ahead. It is so hard to help men and women to realize and understand the thing that God is trying to give his people in the end times.

I received a letter several weeks ago from one of our native evangelists down in Africa, down in Nairobi. This man and his wife were on their way to Tanganyika. They could neither read nor could they write, but we had been supporting them for over two years. As they entered into the territory of Tanganyika, they came across a small village. The entire village was evacuating because of a plague that had hit the village. He came across natives that were weeping, and he asked them what was wrong.

They told him of their mother and father who had suddenly died, and they had been dead for three days. They had to leave. They were afraid to go in; they were leaving them in the cottage. He turned and asked them where they were. They pointed to the hut and he asked them to go with him, but they refused. They were afraid to go.

The native and his wife went to this little cottage and entered in where the man and woman had been dead for three days. He simply stretched forth his hand in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and spoke the man’s name and the woman’s name and said, “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I command life to come back to your bodies.” Instantaneously these two heathen people who had never known Jesus Christ as their Savior sat up and immediately began to praise God. The spirit and the power of God came into the life of those people.

To us that may seem strange and a phenomenon, but that is the beginning of these end-time ministries. God is going to take the do-nothings, the nobodies, the unheard-of, the no-accounts. He is going to take every man and every woman and he is going to give to them this outpouring of the Spirit of God.

In the book of Acts we read that “In the last days,” God said

“I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.” I wonder if we realized what he meant when God said, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.” I do not think I fully realized nor could I under- stand the fullness of it, and then I read from the book of Joel: “Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain -” (Joel 2:23). It is not only going to be the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, but he is going to give to his people in these last days a double portion of the power of God!

As the vision appeared to me after I was asleep, I suddenly found myself in a great high distance. Where I was, I do not know. But I was looking down upon the earth. Suddenly the whole earth came into my view. Every nation, every kindred, every tongue came before my sight from the east and the west, the north and the south. I recognized every country and many cities that I had been in, and I was almost in fear and trembling as I beheld the great sight before me: and at that moment when the world came into view, it began to lightning and thunder.

As the lightning flashed over the face of the earth, my eyes went downward and I was facing the north. Suddenly I beheld what looked like a great giant, and as I stared and looked at it, I was almost bewildered by the sight. It was so gigantic and so great. His feet seemed to reach to the North Pole and his head to the south. Its arms were stretched from sea to sea. I could not even begin to understand whether this be a mountain or this be a giant, but as I watched, I suddenly beheld a great giant. I could see his head was struggling for life. He wanted to live, but his body was covered with debris from head to foot, and at times this great giant would move his body and act as though it would even raise up at times. And when it did, thousands of little creatures seemed to run away. Hideous creatures would run away from this giant, and when he would become calm, they would come back.

All of a sudden this great giant lifted his hand towards heaven, and then it lifted its other hand, and when it did these creatures by the thousands seemed to flee away from this giant and go into the darkness of the night.

Slowly this great giant began to rise and as he did, his head and hands went into the clouds. As he rose to his feet he seemed to have cleansed himself from the debris and filth that was upon him, and he began to raise his hands into the heavens as though praising the Lord, and as he raised his hands, they went even un- to the clouds.

Suddenly, every cloud became silver, the most beautiful silver I have ever known. As I watched this phenomenon it was so great I could not even begin to understand what it all meant. I was so stirred as I watched it, and I cried unto the Lord and I said, “Oh Lord, what is the meaning of this.” and I felt as if I was actually in the Spirit and I could feel the presence of the Lord even as I was asleep.

And from those clouds suddenly there came great drops of liquid light raining down upon this mighty giant, and slowly, slowly, this giant began to melt, began to sink itself in the very earth itself, and as he melted, his whole form seemed to have melted upon the face of the earth, and this great rain began to come down. Liquid drops of light began to flood the very earth itself and as I watched this giant that seemed to melt, suddenly it be- came millions of people over the face of the earth. As I beheld the sight before me, people stood up all over the world! They were lifting their hands and they were praising the Lord.

At that very moment there came a great thunder that seemed to roar from the heavens. I turned my eyes toward the heavens and suddenly I saw a figure in white, in glistening white – the most glorious thing that I have ever seen in my entire life. I did not see the face, but somehow I knew it was the Lord Jesus Christ, and he stretched forth his hand, and as he did, he would stretch it forth to one, and to another, and to another. And as he stretched forth his hand upon the nations and the people of the world – men and women – as he pointed toward them, this liquid light seemed to flow from his hands into them, and a mighty anointing of God came upon them, and those people began to go forth in the name of the Lord.

I do not know how long I watched it. It seemed it went into days and weeks and months. And I beheld this Christ as he continued to stretch forth his hand; but there was a tragedy. There were many people as he stretched forth his hand that refused the anointing of God and the call of God. I saw men and women that I knew. People that I felt would certainly receive the call of God. But as he stretched forth his hand toward this one and toward that one, they simply bowed their head and began to back away. And each of those that seemed to bow down and back away, seemed to go into darkness. Blackness seemed to swallow them everywhere.

I was bewildered as I watched it, but these people that he had anointed, hundreds of thousands of people all over the world, in Africa, England, Russia, China, America, all over the world, the anointing of God was upon these people as they went forward in the name of the Lord. I saw these men and women as they went forth. They were ditch diggers, they were washerwomen, they were rich men, they were poor men. I saw people who were bound with paralysis and sickness and blindness and deafness. As the Lord stretched forth to give them this anointing, they became well, they became healed, and they went forth!

And this is the miracle of it – this is the glorious miracle of it – those people would stretch forth their hands exactly as the Lord did, and it seemed as if there was this same liquid fire in their hands. As they stretched forth their hands they said, “Ac- cording to my word, be thou made whole.”

As these people continued in this mighty end-time ministry, I did not fully realize what it was, and I looked to the Lord and said, “What is the meaning of this?” And he said, “This is that which I will do in the last days. I will restore all that the cankerworm, the palmerworm, the caterpillar – I will restore all that they have destroyed. This, my people, in the end times will go forth. As a mighty army shall they sweep over the face of the earth”.

As I was at this great height, I could behold the whole world. I watched these people as they were going to and fro over the face of the earth. Suddenly there was a man in Africa and in a moment he was transported by the Spirit of God, and perhaps he was in Russia, or China or America or some other place, and vice versa. All over the world these people went, and they came through fire, and through pestilence, and through famine. Neither fire nor persecution, nothing seemed to stop them.

Angry mobs came to them with swords and with guns. And like Jesus, they passed through the multitudes and they could not find them, but they went forth in the name of the Lord, and everywhere they stretched forth their hands, the sick were healed, the blind eyes were opened. There was not a long prayer, and after I had reviewed the vision many times in my mind, and I thought about it many times, I realized that I never saw a church, and I never saw or heard a denomination, but these people were going in the name of the Lord of Hosts. Hallelujah!

As they marched forth in everything they did as the ministry of Christ in the end times, these people were ministering to the multitudes over the face of the earth. Tens of thousands, even millions seemed to come to the Lord Jesus Christ as these people stood forth and gave the message of the kingdom, of the coming kingdom, in this last hour. It was so glorious, but it seems as though there were those that rebelled, and they would become angry and they tried to attack those workers that were giving the message.

God is going to give the world a demonstration in this last hour as the world has never known. These men and women are of all walks of life, degrees will mean nothing. I saw these workers as they were going over the face of the earth. When one would stumble and fall, another would come and pick him up. There were no “big I” and “little you,” but every mountain was brought low and every valley was exalted, and they seemed to have one thing in common – there was a divine love, a divine love that seemed to flow forth from these people as they worked together, and as they lived together. It was the most glorious sight that I have ever known. Jesus Christ was the theme of their life. They continued and it seemed the days went by as I stood and beheld this sight. I could only cry, and sometimes I laughed. It was so wonderful as these people went throughout the face of the whole earth, bringing forth in this last end time.

As I watched from the very heaven itself, there were times when great deluges of this liquid light seemed to fall upon great congregations, and that congregation would lift up their hands and seemingly praise God for hours and even days as the Spirit of God came upon them. God said, “I will pour my Spirit upon all flesh,” and that is exactly this thing. And to every man and every woman that received this power, and the anointing of God, the miracles of God, there was no ending to it.

We have talked about miracles. We have talked about signs and wonders, but I could not help but weep as I read again this morning, at 4 o’clock this morning the letter from our native workers. This is only the evidence of the beginning for one man, a “do-nothing, an unheard-of,” who would go and stretch forth his hand and say, “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I command life to flow into your body.” I dropped to my knees and began to pray again, and I said, “Lord, I know that this time is coming soon!”

And then again, as these people were going about the face of the earth, a great persecution seemed to come from every angle.

Suddenly there was another great clap of thunder, that seemed to resound around the world, and I heard again the voice, the voice that seemed to speak, “Now this is my people. This is my beloved bride.” And when the voice spoke, I looked upon the earth and I could see the lakes and the mountains. The graves were opened and people from all over the world, the saints of all ages, seemed to be rising. And as they rose from the grave, suddenly all these people came from every direction. From the east and the west, from the north and the south, and they seemed to be forming again this gigantic body. As the dead in Christ seemed to be rising first, I could hardly comprehend it. It was so marvelous. It was so far beyond anything I could ever dream or think of.

But as this body suddenly began to form, and take shape again, it took shape again in the form of this mighty giant, but this time it was different. It was arrayed in the most beautiful gorgeous white. Its garments were without spot or wrinkle as its body began to form, and the people of all ages seemed to be gathered into this body, and slowly, slowly, as it began to form up into the very heavens, suddenly from the heavens above, the Lord Jesus came, and became the head, and I heard another clap of thunder that said, “This is my beloved bride for whom I have waited. She will come forth even tried by fire. This is she that I have loved from the beginning of time.”

As I watched, my eyes suddenly turned to the far north, and I saw seemingly destruction: men and women in anguish and crying out, and buildings in destruction. Then I heard again, the fourth voice that said, “Now is My wrath being poured out upon the face of the earth.” From the ends of the whole world, the wrath of God seemed to be poured out and it seemed that there were great vials of God’s wrath being poured out upon the face of the earth. I can remember it as though it happened a moment ago. I shook and trembled as I beheld the awful sight of seeing the cities, and whole nations going down into destruction.

I could hear the weeping and wailing. I could hear people crying. They seemed to cry as they went into caves, but the caves in the mountains opened up.

They leaped into water, but the water would not drown them. There was nothing that could destroy them. They were wanting to take their lives, but they could not.

Then again I turned my eyes to this glorious sight, this body arrayed in beautiful white, shining garments. Slowly, slowly, it began to lift from the earth, and as it did, I awoke. What a sight I had beheld! I had seen the end-time ministries – the last hour. Again on July 27, at 2:30 in the morning, the same revelation, the same vision came again exactly as it did before.

My life has been changed as I realized that we are living in that end time, for all over the world God is anointing men and women with this ministry. It will not be doctrine. It will not be a church thing. It is going to be Jesus Christ. They will give forth the word of the Lord, and are going to say, “I heard it so many times in the vision and according to my word it shall be done.”

 

REVIVE US AGAIN

INTRODUCTION

“Lord, your love has poured out so many amazing blessings on our land! You’ve restored Jacob’s destiny from captivity. You have forgiven our many sins and covered every one of them in your love. Pause in his presence. So now it’s obvious that your blazing anger has ended and the furious fire of wrath has been extinguished by your mercy. So bring us back to loving you, God our Savior. Restore our hearts so that we’ll never again feel your anger rise against us. Will you forever hold a grudge? Will your anger endure for all time? Revive us again, O God! I know you will! Give us a fresh start! Then all your people will taste your joy and gladness. Pour out even more of your love on us! Reveal more of your kindness and restore us back to you!” Psalm 85:1-7 

The above psalm was written after the end of the seventy years of captivity when Israel was still walking in their backslidden state, they had turned to idol worshipping and carousing in sin but eventually they cried out to the Lord for mercy and deliverance. They were brought out of captivity, returned to their land but God beckoned unto them to return to Him until their sin of idolatry be purged from their lives. Even now though it seem like we are building more cathedrals and there seem to be more people in the Church but God is looking for those whose heart is pure towards Him and they are serving Him in Truth and in Spirit.

We pose the same question today… O God, will you revive us that we might serve you? Our fervency and fire is gone out will you revive us again? We must cry “fill us with your Holy Spirit again” and cause us to live right with you! Only then will our spiritual fire be set ablaze and we will be ignited again with Holy Ghost fire! We must be set ablaze before we can disciple others and set them ablaze also!

God is looking for a people who will set cities and nations ablaze and will reap a harvest of souls in these last days. God wants men and women who will totally yield themselves, who will let the Holy Spirit do a work on the inside of them and will let the fire purge and cleanse them so that they can be filled with glory and shine like gold. It's time for the church to step up higher, to step into a new dimension of glory, authority and power as there is a fresh inrush of the Holy Spirit who will ignite us with fire and make us to become like the 300 foxes of Samson who went everywhere spreading the gospel fire and causing a reviving of souls, such must be fire brand and witnesses of Jesus Christ by the quickening power of the Holy Spirit [Acts 1:8].

“So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved” Psalm 80:18-19

Revival come from the Latin word “revivere” which means “to live again”. Only a genuine revival will restore our passion to reach the lost and disciple new converts to become disciple-makers. God requires complete transformation, confession and shying away from life of sin and continual maturity in the things of the spirit as we continue in fellowship with one another just like the days of the Apostles in Jerusalem. It is revival that helps us to maintain our doctrines, spiritual standards and for effective soul winning drives.

FIRE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

As a result of God's “eradication of spiritual dirt and pollution” on our inside like raw gold being purified by fire, people are being purged, cleansed and raised up to be used by Him! God wants to raise up men and women that are so consumed by the fire of the Holy Spirit that everywhere they go they will set hearts ablaze! They are just ordinary men and ordinary women, consumed by the fire of God. The Lord will use anyone who will yield themselves; the children, the youth, the elderly. It doesn't matter how old you are or what your background is! He needs you in this great end-time revival! Jeremiah and David were youths but greatly used by God.

“And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out” Lev. 6:12-13

The Christians who are fervent and diligent in spiritual business are on fire for God so that they might be witnesses of Christ and endued with power [Acts 1:8], preaching Christ, make the lame to walk, the blind to see, uproot mountains, lay hand on the sick and give life to the dead. All believers whose fire is burning bright are sent to do ministerial work, it is not meant only for the fivefold ministers to do [Mark 16:16-20], They must be loyal and vigilant, full of the Holy Spirit, meditators of the Word of God, holy and consecrated unto our God.

REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS

There are people whose fire has grown dim and their woods have become ashes but Almighty God is willing and ready to add wood to the fire.  [God heal His wounded soldiers Matt. 12:20]. Elijah was given food and water when burnt out but ready to be revived by the Fire of God [1 Kings 19:1-8]. God is set for a refreshing and a reviving of the fire that dwindled if you will repent and not be like Eli whose fire has gone down but because the gifts of the Holy are still at work, did not know that they are now lukewarm and need a re-firing again and a returning to their first love by repentance, praying, studying, meditating, fasting and fellowshipping with the Lord.

“And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry” Luke 15:18-24

Revival starts when individually or corporately believers are convinced by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God of sin, judgment and righteousness, they repent or get away from compromised lifestyle to come and serve the true and living God in truth and in spirit and begin to do what is right in the sight of God.

We must obey Ephesians 4:21-32 when we are revived again!

And begin to cry unto God “Restore us again, God Almighty, and make your face to shine; and we shall be saved” Psalm 80:3, 7, 19

 

WHAT IS SPIRITUAL REVIVAL

1.        Christian revival refers to a spiritual reawakening from a state of dormancy or stagnation in the life of a believer, local assembly or Church at large. It results in the awakening and conversion of sinners to God and obedience to the laws of God.

2.        It is the arousing, quickening and reclaiming of the backsliders and conversion of sinners. There the fountain of sins are destroyed and sinners are set free from the bondage of sin

3.        It encompasses the resurfacing of a love for God, an appreciation of God’s holiness, a passion for the Word of God and His Church, a convicting awareness of personal and cooperate sin [2 Chron. 7:14].

4.        It is a spirit of humility and a desire for repentance and growth in righteousness. Pride goes before a fall. The mind of Christ must be in you to keep revival going. He was obedient to the Father and humble himself as a servant [Phil. 2:5-8]

5.        Revival is to bring back to life, restore to consciousness or a spiritual height from where we had fallen from.  It is when Christians are woken up from their spiritual slumber with deep searching of their souls. Christians are brought under strong conviction and they see their sins in a light such that they repent and vowed not to continue therein.

6.        It is a renewal of spiritual interest and repentance after neglect or fallen into life of sin. Sin is sin! Grace does not cover sin unrepentant of or which you are still exhibiting! [Titus 2:11]

7.        Re-awakening is when we are now conscious of our vileness, depravity, unworthiness, emptiness, deeper sense of our sinfulness and the urgent need for salvation.

It also deepens our faith in God, opens our eyes of understanding to the truth of God’s word in a new and living way. It also marks the beginning of a life lived in obedience to God. Revival goes against powers that be, destroys charms and debase principalities and powers. It also generates the will and power to live in the word of God and live as non-members of the world but become imitators of Christ.

Revival is always initiated by a reawakening through the release of the Holy Spirit and a renewed understanding of fresh revelation and insight to the Word of God. The Holy Spirit draws back the veil of covering and allows us to see beyond the natural as we repent and see ourselves as spirit beings born anew by the Spirit of God. It is unlike the initial conversion experience in that it represents a restoration of fellowship with God and a fresh inrush of the Spirit. Revival helps to restore our first love for Christ which was lost as we wallow in the mud and full of lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life [Rev. 2:10-11].

 

WHY THE NEED OF REVIVAL

2 Timothy 3:1-7

1.        The love of many are waxing cold

2.        Many are departing from the faith

3.        Many have become lovers of themselves

4.        Men are now covetous and wallowing in sin

5.        Many have become boasters and become proud of their physical achievements

6.        Many have become blasphemers

7.        Many despise those who are good and become evil doers

8.        Many have become lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God

9.        Many have the form of godliness but deny the power thereof [2 Tim. 3:15]. This will apply well to those who have all their religion in their creed, confession of faith, catechism, and religious quotations etc., while impoverished of the life of God in their souls; but deny that such life or power is here to be experienced or known. They have religion in their creed, but none in their hearts. Some deny the ministry of the holy Spirit especially speaking in tongues and working of miracles.

10.     The love of money which is the root of all evil have eaten away the spirituality of many and they have waxed cold

11.      Sexual immorality has pervaded both the ministers and laymen in the Church. It is prevalent in both married and unmarried as fornication and adultery and those who do not flee from it will be caged by demons and in need of deliverance. Imagine all the trauma that that David had to go through after his sexual escapades with Bathsheba while she was married to Uriah.

It is time to CONFESS, REPENT and GET OUT OF SEXUAL VICES like fornication, adultery, masturbation, lesbianism, homosexuality etc.

It is time to awake from our spiritual slumbering and ignite a revival fire to burn off all the chaff. Where there is no wood, the fire will go out. We must clear the ashes which is an evidence that at a time in the past, fire used to burn there and it can be that the inability to keep burning has plunged the person into sinful acts which must be dealt with, purged and repented of before you begin to seek fresh fire.

We must be revived having compromised with the worldly system, and incorporating worldly values into our belief system [Rev. 2:14-16]; and allowing false teachers into our midst [Rev. 2:20-23]. Revival helps us to find the truth again and to get out of beautiful on the outside but like rotten bones on the inside [Rev. 3:1-6] and of course get out of complacency or lukewarm-ness [Rev. 3:11]. Revival often begins with people coming under deep conviction and crying out in confession and repentance for their sins.

Sometimes revival is a series of Christian religious services to reach the lost, broken and hurting people, to cause change of heart in those who has fallen short of the glory of God and convert the unbelievers. Other times it is to decry sin in the local assembly so that those wallowing in sin can repent and do the first works; Holy Ghost releases fresh glory so that many are convicted to repent of their sins.

When you see such repentant men and women the aura or glow of the spirit emanating from them will reveal that these ones are different and bubbling in the Holy Ghost. Such times are when you give less attention to frivolous things that does not build your spirit man like too much television watching, games on the telephone and other unspiritual activities. Your fervency for the things of the spirit become high!

REVIVAL IN THE BOOK OF ACTS

Stephen was chosen alongside Philip and five other deacons to take care of the need of the Hellenist women [Acts 6:1-4], but he was overflowing with the Holy Ghost to the point that he preached Christ from Abraham to that present day and his face shine forth the glory of God like Moses.

“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city” Act 8:5-8

 In Acts 8, Philip preached Christ in Samaria and there was spectacular miracles signs and wonders that the Apostles in Jerusalem had to come down to help sustain the revival in that city. He was led to the road to Gaza later on where he ministered to the Ethiopian Eunuch who after hearing the gospel was baptized and Philip was later found at Azotus doing great and mighty works for the Lord.

“The Ethiopian stopped his chariot, and they went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, Philip was suddenly snatched up by the Spirit of the Lord and instantly carried away to the city of Ashdod, where he reappeared, preaching the gospel in that city. The man never saw Philip again. He returned to Ethiopia full of great joy. Philip, however, traveled on to all of the towns of that region, bringing them the good news, until he arrived at Caesarea” Act 8:38-40

Revival, renewal, recovery or restoration re-ignites the fire of the Holy Spirit in us, which will in turn influence the work we do for God. This is the result of a genuine Holy Spirit revival. Many of us must admit we have lost our love and passion for God. We have lost our passion for prayer; we have lost our passion for holiness, and our passion for the word of God. So, we need a fresh touch of the Holy Spirit. Revival starts when our love for God is rekindled. It is the restoration of God’s Presence to His people. Such are times when we do those things that are pleasing unto the Lord.

If we must be sincere, many of us have fallen victims to many environmental and social ills. We have been bruised and battered by life challenges, compromised our faith in God and would therefore need to be revived and refreshed by the Holy Spirit. We were washed and cleansed but we went back like pig into the mud and must be washed by the cleansing by the word of God [Ephesians 5:26]. We did fall away into sin of back biting, malice, bitterness, lies, offenses, cheating such little foxes that spoils the wine and ruin the impeccable relationship that we used to have with God.

How do you re-ignite fire?

It is simply by striking a match. The Holy Spirit needs to quicken us afresh in our inner being. Sin extinguishes our spiritual fervor and love for God. But the Holy Spirit restores and revitalizes us by releasing the fire that burns away every chaff of sin in us if we let Him.

To appreciate what it means to re-ignite or re-fire, let us consider the synonyms of this word. The synonyms for re-ignite are to rekindle, revive, quicken, rejuvenate, revitalize, restart, resurrect, kick-start, jumpstart, etc. Our spiritual battery is dead and we need the energy of the Holy Spirit to jump start our battery so that we can be full of spiritual energy once again.

The Psalmist said, “Will you not revive again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?” [Psalm 85:6]. This means we had lost his spark and needed the Holy Spirit to revive us. Our spiritual fire need to be rekindled by fresh infusion of the Holy Spirit on our heart.

God re-ignites us in two ways: through His word and through His Holy Spirit. He re-ignites not our body, but our spirits. In Habakkuk 3:2, the prophet introduces a slight difference to the word “revive.” This time he did not pray, “Revive me” but “revive your work!” God revives us first, and in turn, it affects the work we do for Him.

What do we want God to re-ignite?

First, our spirits (Prov.20: 27). A lukewarm and broken spirit cannot do much for God. Romans 12:1-2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” This seems to suggest that the fire of God can touch our whole being. Your body must be re-consecrated as fleshy or carnal works are let go and your mind is renewed through the word of God. You must dwell permanently in the secret place of the Most High, staying continually in God’s Presence upon Mount Zion [Obadiah 1:17]

Second, we want God to rekindle the love we have for Him. God said to the Church at Ephesus, “Nevertheless, I have this against you: that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent” (Revelation 2: 4-5 NKJV).

Third, we must desire God to rekindle our love and hunger for His word (Psalm 119:25). God needs to restore our hunger to read and study His word.

Fourth, God needs to revive the passion we have for His work or for service (Romans 12:11). We must serve God enthusiastically. Ushers must show forth the joy of the Lord and have the glow of Christ likeness comforting the people with a smiling face before the word preached can convict them of sin.

Fifth, God needs to re-ignite our passion for holiness and purity (Psalm 15; 24). Holiness is a precondition for seeing God. Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord [Heb. 11:6]

Six, our desire to know His ways must be rekindled (Psalm 25: 8, 9, 14). Like Moses we must know God’s ways and not His acts or spectacular miraculous works!

Seven, one key area God must ignite is our prayer life. We must rediscover our passion for His presence. Previously, we could spend hours in His presence, but now we hardly enjoy His presence.

The desire to be re-ignited could be initiated by God or by us. A good example of a man whom the Lord re-Ignited is Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-8).

“In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged” Isa. 6:1-7

We must cry to the Lord like Isaiah after seeing that we are no more holy but wallowing in sin and ask God to create in us a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within us [Psalms 51], God is forever ready to cleanse us and restore us to fellowship with Him. Isaiah cried and the Lord forgave him and even sent him on spiritual errand [Isa 6]. God is set to revive us again that we His people may rejoice in God [Psalm 85:6]. God will restore our soul, He will lead us in the path of righteousness, for his name’s sake [Psalm 23:3]

God’s desire is to ignite you with a fresh oil for fresh impact, so that you may be a conduit or channel for igniting others. Be a fire carrier. May the fire of the Holy Spirit in you affect others and convict them to repent.

Revival is not a charismatic, hyper spiritual mode please. It is the showering of God’s Presence upon God’s people who are desperately hungry for more of God and tired of the stagnated and mirage Church. It is there that we see enlightened and proper teaching of God’s word, proper explanation of God’s word like in the days of Nehemiah; confession of sin and repentance [Nehemiah 9:1-37]; it is qualitative in nature where we find people who are have been revived in their conscience concerning the merciful works of God and His will to save, heal and deliver. It is progressive from one level of glory to another and not static.

God releases higher potency of spiritual tides wherever He finds people who are willing in the days of His power to practice more and more of the Christian life as they meditate on God’s word and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Do not quench the Spirit, keep the fire burning.

REPAIR YOUR ALTAR

1 kings 18:1-41

Altars are places of consecration to present our bodies as living sacrifice, renew our minds and a place of staying in prayers before God until fire falls. Continually meditate on the Word of God in your heart so that you can prosper spiritually. Our bodies are rededicated and given over to God as a living sacrifice on the altar

 

KNOW WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST JESUS

“Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what do you see? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it” Jer. 1:4-12

Do not say like Jeremiah that you are a youth and do not have what it takes to be on fire for God. The indwelling power house of God called the Holy Spirit has anointed you with the power of the Holy Spirit and God has put His words in your mouth. These two twin towers [Holy Spirit and the Word of God]  in you will root out, pull down, destroy and throw down principalities and powers while it will also build and plant the power house in you and through you He will preach, teach, heal and demonstrate the unction to function. By the ministry of the Holy Spirit you will see or have great understanding of the vision of God and God will hasten His Word to perform it.

Benefits of Revival

1.        Lost people can be saved

2.        Fervent prayers can yield to forgiveness and release of new health or vigor.

3.        Revival involves growth both personal and numerical

4.        Believers can be sanctified or make holy

5.        Individual Christians can be renewed through God’s saving grace

6.        Revival bring the peace of God

7.        Revival brings more of God’s Glory in our land

8.        Those who have strayed can be returned to the Lord

9.        The Church can be awakened from apathy and stagnation

10.      Families can be healed in their relationship

11.      Church unity can improve and release of God’s favor

12.      Leaders can make new commitments

13.      Church finances can improve

14.      Psalm 85:10-11 Release of mercy and Grace; Righteousness, truth and peace;

15.      Miraculous power and healing grace released to do supernatural acts of God in the life of the people

 

HEAVEN ON EARTH

“Oh that thou would rend the heavens, that thou would come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, As when the melting fire burn, the fire cause the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence! When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, you came down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence” Isa 64:3

The fire of God seized on and liquefied spiritual hills, so that they no longer opposed his march to turn this earth realm into the kingdom of our God; and the mountains before him became a plain.

“The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth” Psalm 97:5 

The Holy Spirit is the power house of God and there is nothing that can stand against its advancing the kingdom of God on earth. It acts like molten lava of a volcano erupting like liquid fire and destroying all things in its path of flow.

 

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF THE FIRE

The refining fire

The refining fire comes to burn away excesses in the believer’s life and remold the life constantly. This is the fire that fashions our character and ministry for God’s glory to be revealed in us.

The consuming fire

The consuming fire protects the believer from evil and the evil one: Satan. You do not touch a man burning with fire without planning to be caught up in the fire. When the scriptures says, ‘Touch not my anointed’, this is what it means that touching the anointed in a manner to hurt the anointed will eventually destroy the attacker.

The baptism of fire with the Holy Spirit confers upon the baptized the authority of inviting the person of the Holy Spirit and such a person can command fire – he becomes a son of manifestations and evidence. When Peter and John met the lame man at the temple gate in Acts 3, they quickly told the man to look at them…

“And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God’ Act 3:3-8 

 

HOW TO KEEP THE FIRE – Luke 9:57-62

1. HEAVEN MUST BE YOUR HOPE AND MOTIVATION

Our motivation as believers should not be amongst men or earthly knowing that our place is in the Lord – Luke 9:58 ‘And Jesus said unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head’. John Wesley said this about his Christian commitment, ‘Leisure and I have parted ways and we will never meet again’. Being earthly minded is a great weight that God demands that we must drop for us to be used mightily by God.

2. SERVE THE LORD WITH GREAT PASSION

When we stop serving the Lord, we automatically withdraw our relevance in God’s kingdom. Luke 9:60 ‘But he said unto him, Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but go thou and publish abroad the kingdom of God’. Jesus Christ was not against mourning or caring for those who are mourning but he pointed out to something important. He is most interested in those who take His work first and other things to be secondary. We do not have to allow the Kingdom work to suffer because of the cares of this world. The anointing remains on that person who has taken the place of servant till eternity.

3. KEEP GOING FORWARD

Have you considered or tried driving forward while looking backwards? Let nothing make you look backwards. God keeps walking forward and it is our duty to follow His footprints – steps. He does not want us to remain at the past mistakes and over celebrate the past glory, ‘the glory of the latter house is always greater than the former’ – this should be our mindset in the ministry that God has given us. Luke 9:62 ‘But Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’ It is not the will of God for us to be spiritual pillars of salt – just like Lot’s wife.

4. Be fervent in the Spirit, keep the Holy Spirit fire aglow; continue to read, study, meditate and be a doer of the word of God. Continue to mortify the deeds of the flesh. Obey and serve God diligently

HOW TO RECEIVE

Simply, it comes with a heart cry to God for fire. An encounter with the Holy Spirit can make you the best in the hands of God. Desire and put it in passionate prayers. An encounter happened with Saul of Tarsus and from that day, He became a mighty man of exploits for God. Go and seek God’s face today.

PRAYER FOR REVIVAL

“Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. Wilt thou be angry with us forever? Wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations? Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Show us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation” Psalm 85:4-7

THE POWER OF SYNERGY

Synergy is actually the working together, collaboration and combined effort of people or partners for better yield and result. It is the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances or other agents to produce a combined better profit, income, or harvest greater than the sum of their separate efforts. Synergy is team work at its best results that can be much more productive and effective than when individuals do the works separately. Team work makes the dream work; it divides the task and multiplies the success; alone we can do little; together we can do so much! Many joints in synergy work together more efficiently with what each joint supplies and makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love [Eph. 4:16]

Such merger help the combined effort to generate better results and increased revenue that they could not generate or achieve on its own and this gives grace to remain competitive and profitable. Synergy produces a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual efforts or contributions. Synergy is the reason for most mergers and achievements. It is also responsible for increased profit, combined talents and technology, and cost reduction.

“And he gave orders to the twelve, and sent them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits” Mark 6:7 BBE

Even Jesus Christ being Lord and Savior recruited twelve partners to synergize with Him for effective ministerial work, saving the souls of men, making disciples and release of miraculous working power for signs and wonders; at a point having been equipped, He sent them in twos so that cooperate anointing and grace working among them can raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, give sight to the blind and make the lame to walk. Synergy brings us in contact with others of like passion so that we can create and do what we could not do alone.

In spiritual synergy talking about combined effort working together within the body of Christ, we must come to humbly work together as one, just as the Father and His Son Jesus Christ did, the resulting strength and productivity will be greater than the sum of our combined individual efforts. One of the reason for five-fold ministers is that each can contribute to the wholesome of the body of Christ so that the people of God can be well fed with a balanced diet and not remain spiritually immature, still needing milk of the word and spiritual lean. Working with others make their gifts to be sharpened and developed so that in pairing a trained person with a learner, the learner can develop his inherent gifts, gloriously mature and work better and faster.

Looking critically at New Testament pattern of ministry [Eph. 4:11-12] apart from division of labor among the five-fold ministers, they are called and ordained to equip the saints, pew or congregation to fit into the mode of operation within the body of Christ that God assigned them to whether music ministry, ushering, prayer band, administration or technical department such that each department excellently doing their part of the overall work can call for efficiency in doing the works of the heavenly Father and in harmony. Each of us as a good manager must use the gift that God gave us to serve others [1 Peter 4:8-10; Romans 15:5-6; Ezra 3:9-10].

Imagine a local assembly where the music ministry is found wanting or lack necessary spiritual vibes to perform their duties effectively; Satan will take advantage of this loophole and hinder the right access to the Throne Room of Grace and he will even negatively affect the rising up of our prayers as incense when the prayer band are not effectively debasing the kingdom of darkness.

“How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God's people to live together in unity! It is like the precious anointing oil running down from Aaron's head and beard, down to the collar of his robes. It is like the dew on Mount Hermon, falling on the hills of Zion. That is where the LORD has promised his blessing—life that never ends” Psalms 133:1-3 

Synergy or collaboration caused the unity or harmony among brethren in the above scripture as they come to associate together, and to go up to the house of God in company, and with delight to join together in acts of religious worship; to serve the Lord with one consent, with one mind and mouth to glorify God, and to be of one accord, having the same love; and to do all kind and good offices one to another in the most hearty and cordial manner; serving each other in love, bearing one another's burdens, sympathizing with each other in all circumstances, forgiving each other offences committed, praying with one another, and building up each other in their most holy faith, stirring up one another to love and to good works.

Such is what brought down the blessings of God upon that body of Christ, even life forevermore.

What bring about the power that stand against foes, deflates mountains and efficiently disrupt the works of darkness is when two formidable forces fuse  together and operate as “one” standing toe to toe against the kingdom of darkness and resisting whatever come against it. It is as if two souls were like two chemicals, when kept apart they will do no harm, but in bringing them together, they will explode and shatter everything that stands against it. It is like hydrogen and sulfur which are not dangerous when apart but becomes sulfuric acid when brought together and develops character that burns and destroys. Positively speaking, it is like sodium and Chlorine that become salt when brought together that sweetens and preserves life.

This is the scenario when two entities within the body of Christ fuses together for kingdom exploits, we will see that we are better and stronger together. A synergy is where different entities cooperate advantageously for a final better outcome. The effect of the unison is greater and better than the sum of the effects of the individual parts. Nuclear weapons are made of millions of chemical atoms coming to fuse together and their union contain power that can destroy cities.

In Christian ministry or business terminology, synergy means that teamwork will produce an overall much more better result than if each person was working individually towards achieving the same goal. Always remember that there is “a bonus achieved when things work together harmoniously”

Synergy is taken from the Greek word “syn-ergos”. This means working together. One person may not be tall enough to pluck an apple on the tree but if he carries another person on his shoulder together they can pluck several apples from that tree. So synergy usually arises when two persons or more with different complementary skills cooperate and work together. It usually takes a man with sperm and a woman with eggs to consummate in order to bring forth an embryo or fetus that develops into a baby.

“He has done this intentionally so that every member would look after the others with mutual concern, and so that there will be no division in the body. In that way, whatever happens to one member happens to all. If one suffers, everyone suffers. If one is honored, everyone rejoices. You are the body of the Anointed One, and each of you is a unique and vital part of it. ” 1 Cor. 12:25-27 TPT

One of the cause of such division is the spirit of offense, bitterness and unforgiveness among brethren sown by the devil so as to negatively affect the bond, love and oneness that ought to be amongst them. Once there is division within the body and one part suffers, it affects the wholesome of that body negatively. The other point of this is that each joint within the body has what to contribute to the wholesome of the body so when devil negatively affects a part from performing its duty or responsibility, then the wholesome and blessedness of the body is negatively affected also.

Jesus is the head and leader of the body of Christ and all believers are members of that body. This body is made up of many sub-parts who are to operate as one in synergy under the influence of the spirit of Christ with godly characters like love, joy, peace and compassion amongst them. We are influenced by the love of Christ and so care for each other so that in oneness we can stand toe to toe against the enemies of the body of Christ like the popular saying “United we stand, divided we fall”. Together with other believers, we find encouragement, hope, strength, safety, and so much more!

“Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven” Matt. 18:19

Greater impact happens when forces are joined together to fight a common cause. The oneness achieved when two forces agree in request before the Lord is that the Lord manifests their request because of the power of agreement and combined action or operation. Even in the cooperate world we have seen many companies joining forces together in alignment and they often beat others through this power of oneness. We often see airlines or car companies partnering or merging for better effectiveness, efficiency and productivity. Locally Access Bank and Diamond Bank merged together and they became a formidable force than before.

“Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel. Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it” Joshua 10:4-5 

Kings do not fight alone, they synergize together to fight a common enemy and physically speaking win the war because they join forces together and conceive power that would not have been available normally.

“And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do” Genesis 11:6 

It correlate with the above scripture where people agreed to build and even the heavenly Father declared that nothing will be restrained from them because of the bond and synergy among them. Stephen Covey said “Interdependent people combine their own efforts with the efforts of others to achieve their greatest success”

YOUR BRETHREN YOUR HELPER

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” Eph. 6:10-11 

Paul did a wonderful work defining the weapons of our warfare against the onslaught of Satan but he left out a very formidable weapon which is what covers your back while in spiritual warfare. I submit to you that it will take a fellow brethren to stand at your back to protect you from unseen forces and strategy of the evil one to throw a fiery dart at you from the back.

“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he fall; for he hath not another to help him up” Eccl. 4:9-10 

Indeed, if we look upon man as he came out of the hands of his Maker, we imagine him to be perfect, entire, lacking nothing. But God, whose thoughts are higher than our thoughts, saw something still wanting to make Adam happy. And what was that? So God made “an help meet” suitable for him. And if this were the case of man before the fall; if a help was meet for him in a state of perfection; surely since the fall, when we come naked and helpless out of our mother’s womb, when our wants increase with our years, and we can scarcely subsist a day without the mutual assistance of each other. Even when one is weak, the stronger one make up for the strength lapses and lift the weaker one up! [Romans 15:1]

COMBINED FORCES IGNITES POWER AND PRODUCTIVITY

Coals if ignited and left alone will soon go cold but when coals are heaped together, the fire grows brighter and fiery. The saying “that when they fall, the one will lift up his fellow” is applicable here because one coal well lighted will spread the fire to the one yet to be lighted up. In such scenario mutual reproof, mutual exhortation, and mutual assisting and defending each other occurs regularly. Brethren in unity have a good reward for their labor.

In a good partnership, two can accomplish more than each one individually. The sum will be greater than the parts. If they fall, one will lift us his companion: When two work and live together they can help each other in difficult times. Where there is a stammering Moses, there is always an orating Aaron that makes up for the short coming of Moses. Thank God for Moses Father in law Jethro [Exodus 18:17-21] else Moses would have killed himself doing work that seventy people should do.

NEW TESTAMENT PATTERN OF MINISTRY

“After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them TWO and TWO before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come” Luke 10:1 

Christ sent these disciples two by two to teach them the necessity of concord among the ministers of righteousness, that in the mouths of two witnesses everything might be established. It was done, doubtless, that they might aid one another by mutual counsel, and that they might sustain, and comfort one another in their works and trials.

“Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away” Act 13:1-3 

God beautifully portrayed the necessity of synergy by gathering together in Antioch prophets and teachers in preparation for the missionary journey that Paul and Barnabas will engage in. Two very important calling out of the five-fold ministerial group highlighted by Paul were mentioned here and they were equally important for this mission. It takes the Prophets to be inspired by God so that the need for and codes for the mission can be passed from God to the Prophets but it takes the teachers to decode the mission statement and teach it in plain language that all the brethren can understand and run with the vision. Not only that, God also sent both Paul and Barnabas together as a synergic force in other to proffer success of the mission.

“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth” Rev. 11:3 

When you critically look at the end time scripture above, you will see that at this critical point both Apostles and Prophets will be released as foundation of this work so that an effectual force can be released to combat the work of darkness trying to militate against the Church of God.

PRAYER OF CHRIST FOR ONENESS IN HIS BODY

“And I ask not only for these disciples, but also for all those who will one day believe in me through their message. I pray for them all to be joined together as one even as you and I, Father, are joined together as one. I pray for them to become one with us so that the world will recognize that you sent me. For the very glory you have given to me I have given them so that they will be joined together as one and experience the same unity that we enjoy. You live fully in me and now I live fully in them so that they will experience perfect unity, and the world will be convinced that you have sent me, for they will see that you love each one of them with the same passionate love that you have for me” John 17:20-23 

The greatest power in Christendom is released when there is unity within the Church. Remember one shall chase a thousand while two shall chase ten thousand. Best analogy for this is the water pipe system in a building; once the parts are fitly fitted and connected to the source of the water there is no disruption in water flow to all the parts of the building but if the pipe leaks or is broken somewhere, it will negatively affect the flow and supply of water to parts of the building. As long as the whole body of Christ are fully engaged in doing their parts of the great commission and united to all the body parts there shall be no schism, breakup, or rupture.

“Who is Apollos, really? Or who is Paul? Aren’t we both just servants through whom you believed our message? Aren’t each of us doing the ministry the Lord has assigned to us? I was the one who planted the church and Apollos came and cared for it, but it was God who caused it to grow. This means the one who plants is not anybody special, nor the one who waters, for God is the one who brings the supernatural growth. Now, the one who plants and the one who waters ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT AND ON THE SAME TEAM, but each will be rewarded for his own work. WE ARE COWORKERS with God and you are God’s cultivated garden, the house he is building. God has given me unique gifts as a skilled master builder who lays a good foundation. Afterward another craftsman comes and builds on it. So builders beware! Let every builder do his work carefully, according to God’s standards” 1 Cor. 3:5-10 TPT

In this classic scripture, we see the process of growth [verses 5-6], believers plants and water; we see the source of growth [7-8] as God is the one who gives the increase; we see the synergy of growth [9-10] as co-workers synergize and have time in the word and in prayer and personal worship of Jehovah; while in the Church they read the word together, pray together and for one another and do have time of cooperate worship. It is such synergy that encourages sustainability, expansion, explosion and growth within the body of Christ.

GREAT POMP, POWER, ANOINTING RELEASED IN ONE ACCORD

“These all continued with ONE ACCORD in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren” Act. 1:14 

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with ONE ACCORD in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” Act. 2:1-4 

“And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with ONE ACCORD in Solomon's porch” Act. 5:12

Christian brethren must keep the oneness and practice the one accord, so that God’s blessing of life can be poured out among them. God commands eternal life as a blessing upon those who dwell together in oneness in the Church life [Psalms 133:1-3]. God will come to dwell among us and bless us with the anointing of the Spirit, the watering grace and eternal life.

One accord is the master key to all of God’s blessings in the New Testament. The anointing of God is poured out as rivers of living waters when men and brethren are together in one accord just as seen above on the day of Pentecost. Few chapters down the book of Acts [Acts 5:12], we see all manner of signs and wonders being done through the hands of the apostles who were in one accord in Solomon’s porch.

I just had a vision as I am penning this article, I saw several strands of ropes being intertwined together and I noticed that the more the strands of ropes twisted together, the stronger the rope become. That is the power of synergy. Together we can do great and mighty things. The grace down-poured on the day of Pentecost is still available if we stand together in prayer and unison as one body… we are all one in Christ Jesus [Galatians 3:28]. Disunity is like cancer that is a killer and spreads until death is inevitable!

“Look at how much encouragement you’ve found in your relationship with the Anointed One! You are filled to overflowing with his comforting love. You have experienced a deepening friendship with the Holy Spirit and have felt his tender affection and mercy. So I’m asking you, my friends, that you be joined together in perfect unity—with one heart, one passion, and united in one love. Walk together with one harmonious purpose and you will fill my heart with unbounded joy. Be free from pride-filled opinions, for they will only harm your cherished unity. Don’t allow self-promotion to hide in your hearts, but in authentic humility put others first and view others as more important than yourselves. Abandon every display of selfishness. Possess a greater concern for what matters to others instead of your own interests” Phil. 2:1-4 TPT

Walk in close proximity with the brethren as part of that one body and you will experience greater grace, holiness, righteousness and peace with all men; perseverance, anointing, power and authority for greater works.

Synergy helps us to create something we could never produce on our own. The power of synergy is released as we partner together with others. Community is shared responsibility and releases the power of synergy and true kingdom synergy extends to the next generation. Synergy is divine assistance to do greater and better engaging the expertise of others to mingle with ours for maximum output.

SAINTS WHO OPERATED IN SYNERGY

“But for now, I feel a stirring in my heart to send Epaphroditus back to you immediately. He’s a friend to me and a wonderful brother and fellow soldier who has worked with me as we serve as ministers of the gospel. And you sent him as your apostle to minister to me in my need” Phil. 2:25 TPT

Many times Paul had beautiful and fruitful ministry because he had the likes of Epaphroditus, Timothy, Apollos and Titus working alongside him carrying some of the burdens and making his work lighter and fruitful. Epaphroditus was a fellow worker or companion in labor, team player, wonderful brother and fellow soldier; who has taken part with Paul in the work and in the fight, he was a great helper and was in kingdom service to expand the kingdom of God causing the amount of work accomplished to be more than the sum of its parts.

When we work together like this, it helps to preserve unity within the body of Christ, get more Christians involved in the work and to evenly distribute the work that need to be done.

“Beloved friends, what does all this imply? When you conduct your meetings, you should always let everything be done to build up the church family. Whether you share a song of praise, a teaching, a divine revelation, or a tongue and interpretation, let each one contribute what strengthens others” 1 Cor. 14:26 TPT

None of us is a jack of all trade, you have your specific role and work within the body; harmonious release come when we all do our parts diligently, music leaders leading in worship, prayer warrior praying, teacher teaching, prophets prophesying while the evangelists go out there and bring fresh souls into the kingdom of God so that we can labor together with God maximally.

BIBLICAL EXAMPLE OF SYNERGY

“It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endure forever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD” 2 Chron. 5:13 

The glory of God “doxa” which simply is all that God has and all that God is, will be released when in harmony all ministerial laborers take their place and effectively played their roles. In this classical example each musician use their instrument and grace gift to lift up worship beautifully such that the glory of God flows down and the house was filled with the cloud of God as they work together as one. It is in such atmosphere that miraculous power is released and you see all manner of miracles, signs and wonders without men being involved in the process.

LOVE OF THE BRETHREN AND SYNERGY

There are obvious hiccups that work against unison and negates one accord within the body of Christ. But mercy and grace empowers us to overcome pride and insecurity; repentance and fostering good relationship works against arrogance and spirit of isolation. Love and community mindset work against fear and intimidation.

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” John 13:34-35 

Love among brethren does not only cover a multitude of sin but it helps to foster oneness so that there is no division among us and we can be tender to one another doing the works of God with others without any rancor, hostility or bitterness. Such is when the Spirit of God flows among us to give whatever it takes especially the anointing and grace for better works.

“But if there is bitter jealousy or competition hiding in your heart, then don’t deny it and try to compensate for it by boasting and being phony. For that has nothing to do with God’s heavenly wisdom but can best be described as the wisdom of this world, both selfish and devilish. So wherever jealousy and selfishness are uncovered, you will also find many troubles and every kind of meanness. But the wisdom from above is always pure, filled with peace, considerate and teachable. It is filled with love and never displays prejudice or hypocrisy in any form and it always bears the beautiful harvest of righteousness! Good seeds of wisdom’s fruit will be planted with peaceful acts by those who cherish making peace” James 3:14-18 

Those with evil hearts and unable to bridle their tongues often causes division among brethren operating out of bitterness, envy, jealousy, selfishness, malice and every kind of meanness and without compassion and agape love for the brethren, so they walk and work contrary to synergy. These are earthly, unspiritual, sensual, demonic or diabolical and cannot foster oneness nor truly synergize with the brethren for better and greater output but causes divisions among the brethren and weakens the bond among brethren.