High Risk for Revival

“I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” -John 4:35

While the world is obsessing over the high risk of getting sick with COVID-19, I want to make you aware of the even greater risk for revival. What is revival? It’s a period of time when there is a great move of the Spirit of God to draw people to the saving love of Jesus and his signs, wonders and miracles. There have been numerous revivals throughout history, such as The Ulster Revival and the Azusa Street Revival. My husband and I first began learning about revival during our college days. The more we learned, the more we began to dream about being part of a revival in our lifetime. We were enthralled by story after story of Jesus’ healing touch through everyday, ordinary believers. After we moved to Washington (the state), we began to hear other Christians talking about revival too. We started to come across many prophets who were proclaiming that a great revival and reformation is coming to America and the nations of the world. God even began to speak to us directly about this coming harvest as well. What was once just a glorious dream, has become an ever increasing reality.

How can revival come during the middle of a pandemic? It may be hard to believe, but the two are not mutually exclusive. Has your state governor or governmental leader displayed a map showing the high risk areas for catching COVID-19? I came across such a map earlier this week. As I looked at it, I saw it as a challenge. I suddenly realized the high risk areas for the virus are actually the very locations where revival is most likely to break out, even though they have the toughest restrictions. You see, when persecution comes for the church, it does not stop Christians from gathering or sharing the gospel (the good news about Jesus). Lockdowns and restrictions will not stop believers from worshiping God together. In fact, persecution works as a catalyst to grow the church exponentially. Satan has been hellbent on destroying the children of God since the Garden of Eden. His tactics are always the same: steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Satan’s efforts to destroy the church backfire every time. You would think he’d learn his lesson (he’s not too bright). After Stephen (the first martyr) was killed in Jerusalem and other believers were put in prison, most of the Christians scattered to other places and preached the gospel wherever they went (Acts 8:1-4). Persecution does not kill the church, but instead it causes it to multiply. Are you surprised to hear that Iran and China have some of the fastest growing churches in the world at this moment? The kingdom of God will always prevail over the oppression of worldly government.

The wealthy and powerful cannot stop revival. All global powers that set themselves up against the living God will fall. My advice to global leaders is: Do not persecute Jesus’ followers! You will just find yourselves fighting against God himself and be unable to stop what he is doing (Acts 5:39). No government can stop the move of God! Psalm 2:1-6 says:

¹ “Why do the nations conspire
    and the peoples plot in vain?
² The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
³ ‘Let us break their chains
    and throw off their shackles.’

⁴ The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
    the Lord scoffs at them.
⁵ He rebukes them in his anger
    and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
⁶ ‘I have installed my king
    on Zion, my holy mountain.’ ”

Instead of fighting against revival, pray for it! We can turn the agenda of this world on its head. Which state, city, region or nation has the toughest regulations? Where is the church being silenced? What places are restricting Christians from worshiping with others? Take a look at a map where the risk for the virus is high. These are the targets! The places which are supposedly at the highest risk for the virus are the most likely to experience revival next! Let’s take these bold steps together:

1. Pray for revival to come! Ask Jesus to reveal himself to people and save lost souls.
2. Share the gospel with people in person (even if you have to be six feet away) or online.
3. Start declaring in faith that these risky places shall be saved, such as “America shall be saved!”
4. Gather with other believers in homes or wherever you can safely do so in order to worship and pray together (Hebrews 10:24-25).
5. Be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:6)! Let’s take the promised land!

This is not a time to give in to fear. Place ALL of your trust in God alone. Do not look to your governmental leaders to keep you safe. Do not look to local officials to have the answers. Your safety and protection come from God, who has the power over life and death. Instead of believing Satan’s lies that would keep us locked in our homes, let’s choose to walk by the Holy Spirit of Jesus. The Apostle Paul said, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). Do not believe the bad reports! If we give in to the fear of death, then we may find ourselves missing out on our promised land just like the Israelites who wandered in the desert (Numbers 13:31-32). Ask God to give you a bold faith. We will soon see the greatest revival in human history sweep over the world! I challenge you to believe the good report. This is the moment we were made for. We have to get comfortable outside the four walls of the church and go after revival. Jesus said, “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (John 4:35). It’s go time!