[Acts 2:6 KJV] “Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language”
Look at this account!
[Matthew 9:18-26 KJV] “While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.”
“And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him , and touched the hem of his garment: for she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.”
“But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, he said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth.”
“And they laughed him to scorn. But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land”
Every revival and church growth throughout the Book of Acts was hinged and sustained on four key pillars;
- Miracles: supernatural manifestations
- Messages: the ministering and publishing of the word and testimony
- Mutual connection: the community we build
- Ministry: the ministry to the weak, vulnerable, and marginalized
The thin thread that tied these four together is the noise or publicity. People will only call on a God they have heard of and know. We must, therefore, strive to publish the testimony and spread the noise abroad.
What gathered the people on the Day of Pentecost was not the coming of the Holy Ghost but the noise; the news of what God was doing is what drew the people.
Until we begin to publish what God is doing, people will never be drawn. We must publish the testimony of what God has done and not even what God is doing. Tell the story of His works among us in the years gone by and not what you are believing for.
Sometimes, the services and publicity go wrong; because we publish what we are believing for as though it has already happened. What I want you to rather do is to tell the world about what you have seen in the meetings.
Tell of what you have seen, heard, touched, and handled. Share what God has done before and not what God is going to do. When we learn of what God has done before, we can build our expectations and hopes. Share the things you have seen and handled so that the hopes and joys of your hearers will be complete.
[1 John 1:1-4 KJV] “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)”
“that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”
The key things that drive the revival, church, and soul-winning are the testimony, testifying, and the publishing of the testimonies and messages.
A typical message to publish goes like this
Are you weary? Are you burdened with guilt and condemnation? Are you afflicted? Are you tired and thirst?
I want to invite you to a place, a family, a community meeting where God visits. I am inviting you this Sunday at 9 am to come and see what God is doing. He shows up when we meet; he shows up when we invite him through prayer, singing, and worship.
The last time we met, God showed up and healed a lady who had been bleeding for 5 years. According to the testimony of the lady, she had been bleeding in between her periods for 5 years. She had seen doctors but none was able to help her. So when Pastor called for the sick she decided to try Jesus, and while the ministration she felt this burning sensation for a while and it stopped. She went to the restroom to check and realized that the bleeding had stopped.
I remember the last time pastor was serving communion, there was this elderly man in the meeting, who was unable to lift his hands in years; but after taking the communion he could lift his hands.
God always shows up when we meet and call upon Him. The next meeting could be somebody’s set time to be saved, healed, liberated, touched, or restored. You could be that person God wants to save and redeem.
This is a typical message that will save the lost, add them to the church and keep the revival fire going.
What have you seen, what have you heard, what have you handled; go out and make noise about it. You don’t know who needs to hear to believe and connect.
Stay blessed
Simpe Bediako
