IT SHALL REVIVE AGAIN

IT SHALL REVIVE AGAIN

The dictionary defines revive (revives, present participle reviving; past and past participle revived) as: To return to life; to become reanimated or reinvigorated; to cause to recover life or strength; to cause to live anew; to recover from a state of oblivion, obscurity, neglect, or depression. It also means to restore, or bring again to life; to reanimate; to raise from coma, languor, depression, or discouragement; to bring into action after a suspension; to renew in the mind or memory; to bring to recollection; to recall attention to and to reawaken.

It is synonyms with: rediscover, resurrect and renew

Act 14:5-20 KJV 5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, 6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: 7 And there they preached the gospel. 8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: 9 The same heard Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. 11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. 14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: 16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. 18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them. 19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

We just came back from a wondrous Easter camp meeting celebration and I pray that the joy of His resurrection shall be our portion in Jesus name.

In the text that we read, Paul and Barnabas were on their missionary journeys fulfilling God’s purpose for their lives and ministry. It is my prayer for you that you too will be able to find out what is God’s purpose for your life and not only that receive the grace to fulfill it. There are many Christians living a purposeless life even though they seem to be okay but we will only be rewarded based on what we do for the kingdom. May you not labour in vain in Jesus name.

Even though they were in the center of God’s will, the text we read says they faced many adversities and oppositions.

In Chapter 13 of the book of Acts, they were attacked at Antioch after preaching the Gospel and they were expelled from the city.

Act 13:50 KJV But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

Who were the people that were after Paul and Barnabbas? They were their fellow unbelieving Jews who were pursuing them and contending with their Gospel messages being preached to the Jews and Gentiles.

Truly a man’s enemy are members of his household. They shall be put to shame in Jesus name

Every power trying to frustrate God’s business and purpose in your life shall be disgraced in Jesus name.

It was from Antioch where they were expelled that they ran to another city called Iconium. There they preached again the Gospel and many people believed and received their messages Act 14: 1

There are many of us that if we were in their shoes, we would go and hide and never venture into preaching again. Many would have given up. But not the Apostles. It doesn’t matter what you are facing now even though you are doing the work of the Lord, don’t give up and be courageous.

While they were preaching at Iconium where they ran to, something happened again:

Act 14:2 KJV But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

Act 14:5-6 KJV 5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, 6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

The same set of unbelieving Jews followed Paul from Antioch to Iconium and the Bible says they made the mind of people evil against the Apostles. In other words, they were antagonizing them, ridiculing them, countering their words and telling the gentiles that Paula and Barnabbas were false teachers and evil people. Do you know what, the people that had earlier believed the gospel and were rejoicing turned against Paul and they wanted to stone them.

Many things that happen to us are not ordinary or natural just like that. There are some of us that people used to admire and respect us; they listened to us but suddenly, they started antagonizing us and came against us. It is because their minds have been made evil against us by the forces of darkness but after this prayer, every power spoiling your name and reputation shall be put to shame in Jesus name.

People that loved you today and tomorrow are the same set of people abusing you, it means something is wrong somewhere and many of us are not careful to discern that this can’t be an ordinary thing, the devil is setting them up against me.

They ran from that place and went to another city called Lystra

Act 14:6-7 KJV 6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: 7 And there they preached the gospel.

While they were preaching the gospel, a miracle took place. A man that was born lame and had never walked was immediately healed and there was so much joy in the town that the people thought that Paula and Barnabas were gods and wanted to make sacrifices unto them.

Act 14:11 KJV And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

May God honoured your words and message as you share the Gospel in Jesus name. Paul and Barabbas became celebrities suddenly and the people of Lystra were happy with them. Then something happen:

Act 14:19 KJV And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

The Bible says certain Jews from Antioch (chapter 13) and Iconium (Chapter 14) came to Lystra and persuaded the people who were just celebrating Paul as gods to come against them. It was like what happened to the Lord Jesus in Jerusalem, today they sang hosanna and the next day they were shouting crucify him. These are the things that happen to us but in the name of Jesus, those powers shall be disgraced.

Paul was stoned

They stoned Paul, dragged him to the outside of town and left him dead there. What a tragedy. Every power that wants to terminate your life, calling and purpose be terminated in Jesus name. 

They left Paul there wounded and dead. Their mind was that at last they got him, his end has come, he will no longer preach and convert people and he will no longer fulfill the purpose of God. That was the mind of those certain Jews and the gentiles that stoned him to death but suddenly something happened.

Act 14:20 KJV Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

The Bible says, “Howbeit” it means “but” or “moreover.” In other words, as the disciples gathered around Paul, something strange and unusual took place. Even though he was given up to die and had died, yet something happened when the disciples gathered around him in a circle. Paul suddenly rose up and went into the same city where he was stoned. He was revived. He came back to life.

How did it happen?

The bible says as the disciples stood around him, they were possibly interceding and praying, ministering to their teacher and asking for god divine intervention and suddenly Paul came back to life. A man that was abandoned and left for dead rose up.

Can I pray for you, I don’t know whatever has been abandoned and considered as hopeless in your life, but here is the good news that life shall come back to them. Whatever is dead in your body, marriage, home, business will come back to life in Jesus name. it shall receive the quickening power of God. The resurrection power of God shall locate them and bring them back to life in Jesus name.

One more time, look at the process, the disciples gathered around him, they didn’t leave him but were praying. Many of us don’t feel or see the need of fellow Church members, we go through life as if we have no Christian friends, Pastors, fellow believers and people of God. There is much power in corporate prayers. Don’t abandon fellowship and suffer life challenges alone. We need another time like this. May the resurrected power of God change our lives in Jesus name. 

The disciples spoke to God and also spoke to Paul’s body and life came back into him. Speak to your body, business, marriage, job, school, career and destiny. Command the resurrected power to enter and revive it again now.

Job 14:7-9 KJV 7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; 9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.

Whatever is dead, cut down and destroyed shall revive again. Your job, business, marriage, etc shall sprout again. The Holy Spirit is depicted as “scent of water.” Life is coming to them in Jesus name.

Eze 37:3-10 KJV 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. 4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. 8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. 9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

God took Ezekiel to a valley full of dry bones and he was asked if there is any possibility of those bones living again? Ezekiel did not know because the bones were dry and scattered but when God asked him to prophesy over the bones, they came together, breath entered into them and they rose up a great army. You will rise again. 

It was the same resurrected power that brought Lazarus back to life Jn 11: 43-44, raised Jairus daughter up Lk 8: 54-55and brought the son of the widow back to life Lk 7: 14-15.

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