The history of revivals in the Scriptures and over the ages, up till our contemporary times, shows that they gave rise to some definite missions endeavours. It is therefore true to say, after the awakening of a Church or an individual, most expectedly a mission effort should follow suit.
At this critical threshold of another revival, it is appropriate that we begin to put ourselves at a vantage position to move on mission for the King of kings as it may please Him. We are beginning to see showers of blessings here and there, but certainly the downpour will soon be here and it comes with lots of labours, particularly that of missions. It is in this light that the burden of this column this time around is addressing the matter of Missions – an up shoot of revival.
The revival of Acts 2 gave rise to efforts of great evangelistic outreaches that brought many into the Kingdom. This came as a fulfillment of Acts 1:8 (KJV) – But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Thousands of souls were added to the Church from one message, while all the believers became soul winners wherever they went, persecution or no persecution. All through the book of Acts of the Apostles, missions endeavors followed outbreaks of revivals. The whole of Asia of that time became reached with the gospel within two years on account of the revival. This explains that revivals lead to massive missions labours, which eventually lead to the salvation of many souls. We therefore need revivals now if the last unreached groups of the earth will be reached in record time. Also, failure to be on mission after the outpouring of revival, negates the heavenly expectations.
It has been estimated that more than five million people were won to Christ within a two year period on account of the 1904 revival.This is the norm with every revival.
Let us seek to establish this fact with two examples from both the Scriptures and the history of missions:
1. The Story of the Cambridge Seven
“The Cambridge Seven” consists of Stanley P. Smith, Dixon Hoste, William Cassels, Montague Beauchamp, Cecil Polhill-Turner, Arthur Polhill-Turner and Charles T. Studd.
These seven young men who came to be known as “The Cambridge Seven” were all Englishmen, but the story of how God used this handful of students really began in China, with a medical missionary named Dr. Harold Schofield. Dr. Schofield was a member of the China Inland Mission, the first Protestant mission allowed to penetrate into the interior of China and it was the mission pioneered by Hudson Taylor in 1866. Dr. Schofield had been a brilliant young doctor at Oxford who gave his life to Jesus and at the age of 29, God sent him to China as a missionary. However, Dr. Schofield was a man of prayer and so night after night, “leaving behind food and leisure,” he got on his knees and prayed that God would raise up Bible teachers and shepherds, especially from the universities and send them to China as missionaries. When Dr. Schofield died, he did not physically see much answer to his prayer. But God was working in such a way as not only to answer one man’s faith and prayer but to awaken an entire nation from its spiritual slumber. “The Cambridge Seven” was God’s answer to his prayers.
“The Cambridge Seven” revealed God’s power through their lives of fellowship, lives of prayer, and lives of devotion to their first love Jesus Christ. Their beautiful lives were a blessing to the whole world.
These seven young men toured the campuses of England and Scotland, holding meetings for the students for a whole month. God used these students to bring revival throughout Great Britain. Everywhere they went, the meeting place was always filled with people. Many people, hundreds, even a thousand were converted each night through the simple but heart-moving testimony messages, which told simply the grace of God in their lives and why they were going to China. Those who were converted at these meetings, went out and witnessed to their friends and brought them to Christ. Every night, it was the same messages and with the exception of Smith, none was a talented speaker, but people kept coming and coming. The Queen of England was pleased to receive a booklet containing “The Cambridge Seven” testimonies. God had used “The Cambridge Seven” to shake the foundations of a sleeping Church in England and awaken her newly to the Gospel of Salvation and World Mission. The influence of “The Cambridge Seven” even came across the Atlantic to the United States and led to the formation of Robert Wilder’s Student Volunteer Movement, an organization which toured college campuses, encouraging students to volunteer as missionaries. Fittingly enough, the last farewell meeting was held at Exeter Hall and ended with an address from C.T. Studd:
“Are you living for the day or are you living for life eternal? Are you going to care for the opinion of men here, or for the opinion of God? The opinion of men won’t avail us much when we get before the judgment throne. But the opinion of God will. Had we not, then, better take His word and implicitly obey it?”
The above quoted story shows how that in our contemporary time the same principle applies, that is, missions is an outcome of great revivals. Missions will continue to tarry when there are no individual and corporate revivals. It is therefore time for us to pray, “Revive thy work Oh Lord”.
2. Paul, the Apostle
The book of Acts 9:1-31, provides us with the story of Paul’s conversion. That encounter with the risen Christ led to his becoming the apostle to the Gentiles, with a mission to proclaim the gospel throughout the Gentile world. After his various discipleship experiences and his coming to Antioch on the invitation of Barnabas, Paul was sent forth with Barnabas by the Holy Spirit unto the first missionary journey:
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. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: (Acts 13:1-6).
And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. (Acts 15:36-41).
In the above passage, Paul and Barnabas were to return for the second missionary journey until an argument began that produced two teams of Paul and Silas, and Barnabas and John Mark. Paul’s team went on with the mission labour to many churches established during the first missionary journey. They also went for the third missionary journey and several other journeys, all for the kingdom to be established in the hearts of men everywhere. This helps us to understand that when a person receives divine visitation of revival from death to life, the next job is to do the mission assigned to him on earth. So also, it is expected to be with each of us that receives a revival, to be about our Father’s business. Revival therefore is for a purpose, fulfilling your divinely assigned mandate among the nations of the earth. Revival is never for show, enjoying good fellowship within the church building walls or any other thing, it is for action. As individuals and as a family, the same demand is placed upon us.
Conclusion
“The Cambridge Seven” received a divine visitation that prompted them unto action. Paul received an awakening in his life that made him restless for the rest of life that he said in Romans 15:20-21 (JB Phillips).
My constant ambition has been to preach the Gospel where the name of Christ was previously unknown, and to avoid as far as possible building on another man’s foundations, so that: ‘To whom he was not announced, they shall see; and those who have not heard shall understand.’
The awakening or revival you have received, who has benefitted from it and what kingdom gain did it bring to human beings? Is it not time to arise and do what others did, whose lives are still speaking and confronting our continuous slothfulness? Will you appear in heaven with empty hands and no trophies to bring before the Lord who gave His life for you and charged you to go and do as he did unto you?
Arise and act wisely now before the night of uselessness overtakes you, and that permanently.