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Revival In Kenya
Preparing
the Way of the Lord
As
it is written in the Prophets: "Behold, I send My messenger before Your
face, Who will prepare Your way before You."
Mark 1:2
I
write this article not as a Kenyan, nor an African, or even an African-American.
Rather as a student of revival, a revivalist at heart, and one with a desire to
see the “ultimate revival” that will usher the King and His Kingdom into our
midst. Neither do I write it as one who is “gullible” and swallows anything
and everything he is fed. While I have earned degrees in Biblical Studies and
Theology, as well as, an honorary Doctorate of Divinity – still, it isn’t
through the means of higher education that I have processed my conclusions. I
write this as one who has been met by God. I write it as one who has tasted of
the Powers of the world to come. I write this as one who has been apprehended by
Jesus Himself and now made a prisoner of His love.
With
the preliminary address out of the way, let us tell what great things God has
done – only to realize that whatever language I can put this in, I will remain
with the remarks left behind by the Queen of Sheba upon her visit with King
Solomon…
I didn't believe it
until I arrived here and saw it with my own eyes. Truly I had not heard the half
of it! 1
Kings 10:7 NLT
THE
NATION
-
Kenya
is a nation in transition both at the political level, as well as the spiritual
level. Upon our arrival, all television channels were broadcasting the
inauguration of a new Constitution for the nation. Dignitaries from all levels
and surrounding countries were gathered in Nairobi for this historic event.
Three years ago this was a nation in turmoil after the presidential elections.
Looting, burning, killings were rampant and the global news networks carried
this tragedy on the air.
However,
in only three years a stable change has come. Has it been only by the hard and
tedious work of political parties working hard for social change, or is it
something “other-worldly” being ushered in by an invisible Kingdom of
righteousness?
It
is my opinion that it isn’t coincidental that a monumental and historic change
is taking place in the natural and at the same time an even greater climate
change is taking place in the spiritual world.
The Apostle Paul said, “First the natural, then the spiritual”
1 Corinthians 15:46.
THE
MAN –
God
will often use one man to bring about change in a nation. God used Moses to
deliver an entire nation from Egyptian bondage. He used David to unite a nation
into solidarity under one throne. In spiritual awakenings He used men like
Jonathan Edwards in the 1700’s and Charles Finney in the 1800’s to bring
about what is known in America as the 1st and 2nd Great
Awakenings of Revival.
Here
is no exception. God chose a man of exceptional education and background in the
medical field concerning DNA research, especially that which deals with cancer
and HIV/AIDS. God chooses whom He wants – “You did not choose Me, but I
chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your
fruit should remain…” John 15:16
I
witnessed the passionate love he has for people – and their love for him. In
our caravan of cars that snaked through the towns and villages between Nairobi
and Kisumu, our destination for revival, at every point we stopped without
exception, when Dr. Edward Owour would step out of his vehicle, within a couple
of minutes a crowd of a hundred or more people would be assembled around him.
I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. On the city streets traffic would
come to a halt as people recognized the man of God, got out of their cars and
voluntarily came to him for
prayer and salvation.
No
signs announced his coming; no PA systems to recognize his voice; no television
cameras to draw attention to the man. Nor, would he want attention drawn to him.
In his own words he declares: “I am only a humble servant of the Lord.”
Nevertheless,
he is not a man without his critics. Critics abound. The self appointed
spiritual police who feel it is their God called duty to find flaws with any
ministry that is doing anything supernatural. However, he is in good company.
Jesus Himself was not without His critics in His day. Like Jesus, his critics
are not from those “without” – rather from those “within”. Today’s
Pharisees and Sadducees are alive and well still doing what they do best.
Telling everyone else how it is “suppose to be done” when they
themselves have never “done” to begin with.
You
won’t find him in the latest Christian magazines, or on the most popular
Christian networks. Why? If the work were so astounding why wouldn’t they be
flooding after him to be the first to showcase this new historic work of
revival?
Because
of money.
Not
that he’s after it or charges for his appearances. Rather it is just the
opposite! He never takes an offering, never charges anyone anything. There’s
not even a link on his website to “donate”! This is an offense to those who
make their living promoting their latest “debt free” gimmicks. How could the
networks survive without a monthly
“GIVE-ME-ALL-YOU-GOT-A-THON-OR-WE-WILL-GO-OFF-THE-AIR”? Perhaps, if God
isn’t supernaturally favoring certain ministries with finance to do what they
feel God has called them to do – He hasn’t really called them. I do
apologize for digressing to this level, but it certainly is something worth
pondering.
KISUMU
– CITY OF REVIVAL
Far
to the west of Nairobi is the seaside city of Kisumu, located on beautiful Lake
Victoria. It is a city that has experienced this revival move once before. A
high ranking government official in law enforcement told me privately and
personally that since the revival began, crime has gone down, witchcraft related
crime is down, and the overall crime rate is at a historic low. All because of
revival.
Crowds
began to gather on a Thursday for a meeting that wouldn’t even begin until
Saturday morning. By Friday night over 1 million people were already in the
stadium…waiting. All night they waited on God. Not on a man. By Saturday
morning it was standing room only shoulder to shoulder all over the stadium
field surrounding the platform in the middle of the field. Outside another half
million people were watching by big screen television and listening via an
outside PA system.
Could
something like this ever happen in Europe or America? Only God can say regarding
the future, but I can confidently say, “Not today.”
I
expected what I would have expected in America. First, a lot of singing, praise
and worship. Perhaps some well-known recording artist would pump up the crowd
with their latest hits. Then would come the “preaching” – at least an hour
or more – finally would come the invitation for salvation and lastly a few
miracles. What I expected and what I experienced were two totally
different things.
Before
the special guest and other dignitaries were even seated in a tent with a view,
the man of God had taken the platform and was declaring: “Only in Kenya
does revival start like this. In a moment the Glory of God is going to visit
this place.”
And
the Glory of God did visit. In what could only be described as orderly Holy
Ghost pandemonium, the Fire of God fell on nearly 2 million people at once.
Around the entire stadium thousands of people went down under the Power of God.
Mowed down as if some unseen cannon fire had exploded in their midst.
Immediately thousands of workers and ushers scoured the field gathering up those
who were demonically manifesting, as well as, those who – just didn’t get
up. In front of, and around the platform they were laid out on the ground.
The ushers quickly went and gathered others and did the same with them.
I
was a spectator in a chaotic, yet orchestrated realm of sights and sounds that
only the Mighty Holy Spirit can be in charge of. I thought of the critics of
revival how they would throw out the verse – “Let everything be done
decently and in order.” Ignoring the fact they personally have never had
the occasion to use that verse in context. Whose order do we want? Man or God?
This is God’s order of business to change and alter lives for all eternity.
Instantly
miracles were taking place, witches and demoniacs were being delivered by the
Power of God, the cripples were walking, the blind were seeing, the deaf were
hearing. THIS IS GOD!
For
the next 5-6 hours in the hot African sun we witnessed and heard the testimonies
of those who were once in bondage physically, spiritually, mentally or
emotionally. Now they are forever changed because Jesus has visited His people.
THEN
CAME SUNDAY –
Sunday
was a repeat of Saturday just at a higher level that can only be comprehended by
personal experience. Saturday when the Power of God hit, as I said, I was a spectator
watching these wonder working miracles play out before me. Sunday I was a participator.
Whether it was voluntary or not, I cannot say, all I know is when the Glory
of God came down Sunday morning I was caught up in something I had no control
over. Nevertheless, I willing yielded myself to what God was doing to me and in
me. I shook as though someone had me by the shoulders shaking me. I laughed,
then I cried, then, I was laughing again. It was spiritual ecstasy.
The
miracles Sunday were at a proportion that eclipsed everything that had taken
place the previous day. Scores of children, who belonged to the school of the
deaf, could now hear. One little girl said through sign language that a Man
appeared in front of her, touched her ears and clapped His hands. She instantly
heard for the first time in her life. She then said this Man quickly flew
over the crowd of people that was gathered and then went straight up into the
sky!
You
can’t make this up. Out of the mouths of babes He has perfected praise. Many
who were born blind could now see. I heard the testimonies of those who were
demonically possessed and controlled say the voices were no longer speaking to
them and they were in the right mind. The list is endless.
Nevertheless,
let me put this into perspective. Sunday night mothers put their children to
bed, as they had done before. Only this time, these same children heard the
gentle, loving sound of their mothers voice telling them, “Good night, I
love you” for the first time in their lives. Others whose small fingers
had plied the faces of those same mothers – touching eyes, nose and mouths –
now for the first time looked into the eyes of love that previously had carried
them wherever they went. Without revival this would have never happened.
REVIVAL
BRINGS CHANGE –
True
revival brings change personally and socially at all levels. When revival comes
to the individual it will change their perspective on sin. It will no longer
have an appeal to them or draw them into compromised living. It requires
holiness within, as well as, without.
True
revival will cause those who worshiped false gods to turn to the true and living
God. I witnessed those who publicly denounced their false god and religion and
embraced Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Why? Because they said they had
witnessed the miracles and healings, and recognized their god could not do the
things they had seen and heard.
True
revival will even change those in government. Public commissioners and governors
prayed to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and to forsake all sin – in
front of this mammoth crowd of people.
In
my estimation this is more than “revival” it is a national awakening to
prepare a Church without spot (sin) or wrinkle (compromise) to meet the King of
Kings and Lord of Lords.
That
is the ultimate revival – the revival that will never end. I can only pray and
believe that what I have received is contagious and it will spread around the
world.
I
would close with a word of wisdom for the critics, doubters, and outright
unbelievers. Before speaking a word against the Lords anointed, or the move of
God in our midst – I offer the words of a Pharisee named Gamaliel:
“And
now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan
or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot
overthrow it--lest you even be found to fight against God."
Acts 5:38-39
Eddie
T. Rogers
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