FACTORS THAT PROVOKE THE RAIN OF REVIVAL

There are two major factors that provoke this rain of revival. The first is when we come to the acknowledgement of our offences and turn back to God with all our hearts-Hos. 6:1-4; 2 Chron. 7:13-14.

The second is when we come to the knowledge of the great need of revival in our lives and cry out to God for it- Zech. 10:1; Heb. 13:1-2. This was what happened in the time of Elijah. After he told king Ahab to go and eat and drink, for there is a sound of a heavy rain; he went up to the top of mount Carmel to pray ad intercede for revival- 1 Kgs. 1:41-45.

The coming of physical rain is a representation of the spiritual rain of revival. The rain that heaven released in response to Elijah's prayer was a heavy down pour of a symbolic rain. Those of us that the Lord has shown mercy and opened our eyes to see the present state of the church do not need to be told the great need for revival rain in our churches.

 The case is so serious that darkness is growing faster and thicker everyday and the churches and many of those that constitute them can so vehemently oppose the clear revelations and messages from they so zealously serve and worship. It is very strange and contradictory today that preachers and zealous tongue talking Christians see nothing wrong with one who calls himself or herself a child of God and yet cannot be differentiated from a child of the world.

Many of our so- called Christians are made pastors, elders and leaders in or churches today but they refuse the messages of corrections from the owner of the church. This calls for urgent outpouring of the rain of revival that will soften the fallow ground of every heart for repentance and true reconversion of the churches of today. Our mindset about  Christianity, the church and the ministry is very strange when compared to the scriptures and the early church, Christianity and ministry. Only the extra-ordinary divine visitation and violent wave of the Holy spirit will awaken the present church from her slumber to cal upon God for mercy in true repentance and conversion. The present Christians are like Jonah running from the presence of God; and the sign which the Lord has given unto us is like that of Jonah- Jonah 1; Matt. 12:38-42.

Today's churches are full of rebellious, stubborn and idolatrous members, like in the days of the earthly ministry of Christ; yet, we constantly pronounce blessings on them without confronting them with the truth that sets free because it will offend them; these are members who always sit in church pews asking for signs and wonders from their pastors.

They are like Zedekiah who was an idolatrous king and lived in constant rebellion against God's warning messages, yet sent his officials to prophet Jeremiah to request miraculous deliverance from his enemies instead of repenting first from idolatry.

As Elijah slaughtered the prophets of Baal before the heavy rain of revival could come; so will it be in the end-time revival. Preachers and teachers who are not telling their people the truth will be swept away by the coming flood of judgment, which will be followed by heavy down pour of revival rain and harvest.