Pull-Back and Release
The onslaught of the COVID-19 Global Pandemic has caused many churches across the world to close its doors to flatten the spread of the virus. On Easter, the most observed religious holiday, many believers will worship from their homes, and many churches will be closed. The prolonged closing of churches poses some threat to the future survival of some local churches and the spiritual vitality of some believers. Facing financial hardship, some church leaders are concerned about how the pandemic will affect their ability to keep up with church bills. In addition, struggling Christians, after developing a habit of being in a virtual service, may find it difficult to break the stay at home habit when churches can again reopen.
During this time, we must believe God for a mighty revival. As much have been prophesied by leading servants of God. In addition, scriptural insights can show us what to do for a mighty release of revival as the church emerges from this pandemic.
Pull-Back
You cannot shoot an arrow without pulling it back. We should view this time period as a moment where the church can pull back, in the sense of an arrow being pulled back in a box for a mighty release. The pandemic allows the opportunity for believers and churches to launch with greater impact, but only if actions are being taken to pull back for the release. Bishop K. D. Collins prophesied that a release is coming. Mike Evans shared a prophecy of the late David Wilkerson, which says: “I see a plague coming on the world and the bars and church and government will shut down. The plague will hit New York City and shake it like it has never been shaken. The plague is going to force prayerless believers into radical prayer and into their Bibles, and repentance will be the cry from the man of God in the pulpit. And out of it will come a third Great Awakening that will sweep America and the world.” We see that God will bring relief, a great awakening, a mighty revival, following this epidemic.
Repentance and Intercession
Surely, when there is trouble upon the land, people should cry out in repentance and intercession. As of today, over 100,000 people have died from the COVID-19 epidemic, and the number infected is over 1 million. A majority of the world is in a state of lockdown. Believers must realize that this is a time to repent and intercede for the church, and for the world.
In Joel 2:12-15, the prophet calls upon the people to turn to God in repentance, prayer and fasting. He tells the people that given the terrible time of judgment upon the land (Joel 2:1-11), that if they repent perhaps the Lord will leave a blessing (Joel 2:14).
Every believer today should pull back, evaluate their spiritual lives, and repent of every sin. Repent of the sins of commission and the sins of omission in their lives.
Secondly, we must cry out to God for him to show forth His mighty hand among His people. Joel 2:17 says Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
Every believer is a priest of God, and the scripture calls upon us to pray for God to spare his people less we be a shame among the heathen, and the question where is our God. We must pray for God to preserve His people for His glory, that the world will see the glory, purpose, power, providence, and promise of God through the church.
Simple Preaching
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
At this hour of crisis, it is time that the church pull back from trying to speak with eloquence and secular expertise. Instead, during these times, the world needs to hear the church’s core message of redemption and salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
Repeating the recommendations of the medical experts, and epidemic experts may have some benefit, but this is not the unique message of the church. Parroting the political calls for social distancing and stay-at-home orders may be commendable but it does not provide the distinguishing message of the church.
This is a time for the church to speak the gospel boldly as the true answer for hope, healing, and salvation in the midst of the pandemic. The world needs to hear the gospel from the church in a unified, forceful and simple manner. Simply, sinners need to repent of their sins and turn to Jesus Christ for true hope in this life, and the life to come. Anyone in the church from the new believer in Jesus Christ to the best-known mega-church pastors can speak this message. Thus, the church will have a unified message of hope in this time of despair. Let the church pull back from public debates of whether local churches should close and let us unify around the simple message of the gospel and speak it loud and clear. People are dying. People are terrified. Many have lost hope. Why don’t we just simply speak the true gospel? In a world of chaos, the medical experts seem relevant, the political leaders seem useful, the church seems to have no significance; non-essential, many see other gatherings as optional pursuits. We need to hone the uniqueness of our message - an offence to the Jews, and foolishness to the Gentiles. Let us speak the gospel of Jesus Christ boldly because it is salvation to all who believe from any race or tongue.
1 Corinthians 1:22-24 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Release
Pulling back in prayer, and simplifying our message, sets the stage for a massive release. With the church armed with prayer and the simplicity of the gospel, God’s people are released to do ministry, and an outpouring from the Lord ushers in a prophetic revival.
Lay Ministry
Elijah remained hidden for a while in the days of famine until it was time for the famine to end, and for God to send rain. He emerged to showcase the power of God to Israel and to refute the false prophets of Baal.
Joseph was enslaved and imprisoned. While in prison, he interpreted the dream of a baker and a butler. Joseph’s interpretation of the butler’s dream was that he would be released and restored to his position with Pharoah in three days. Joseph asked the butler to keep him in memory after being restored back to his position with Pharoah. However, for two years, the butler forgot Joseph. Until Pharoah had a troubling dream that needed to be interpreted. Joseph was released because He had the wisdom of God to interpret Pharoah’s dream; he was released because he had the connection with God to pacify Pharoah’s troubles.
Today, there are many Elijah’s and Joseph’s who are hidden, hindered, locked away, experiencing adverse troubles, etc, who because of their repentance, prayer, and simplicity will be released into ministry. Regular men, women, and young people, who know god and faithfully live for Him will emerge out of the shadows preaching, ministering, and prophesying. Believers who solemnly seek after God in this epidemic will shoot off by the hands of God to ignite revival locally and worldwide. This will not just be one great Elijah, or Joseph; rather, it will be many who were repenting and weeping for God’s people who will emerge with power to preach, prophesy and minister the gospel.
Prophecy
In times like these, prophetic utterance and revelation always played a pivotal role in Biblical history. From Joseph giving Pharoah prophetic wisdom to endure the famine on Egypt, to Elijah declaring that rain would come to Israel in a time of famine, to Elisha telling the king of Israel the secret war plans of the King of Assyria, Israel’s enemies. Prophecy makes a difference in a time of trouble and hardships.
Today, not all believers are prophets, but all believers can operate in the gift of prophecy. Joel :28 tells us of God pouring His Spirit upon all flesh, and they shall prophesy. The Apostle Paul speaking by the Holy Spirit, taught that all believers may prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:1, 5, 24, 31). God is pouring out of his Spirit so regular believers stationed across the world can give prophetic revelation, insight and utterances in the midst of the chaos, and show the world that Jesus is Lord.
