“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12 NKJV)
We have indeed come to the last days, and sadly, the love of many believers for God and the brethren is fast-growing cold, just as the Scripture has forewarned that “…because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matt. 24:12 NKJV).
It is sad but true that many believers and ministers of God today have become lovers of themselves, lovers of money, and lovers of pleasure rather than God (2 Tim. 3:1-5).
It is fast becoming scarce to find the true love of God (agape) among believers today, for everyone is all out for their gain and profit.
We obviously and urgently need true revival. But where are the agents and instruments of revival that God can use today?
From the Scripture and history, it is clear that God’s agents of change, reformation, or revival are men and women who are wholly on fire for God (firebrand believers).
The Church may remain in her state of spiritual lukewarmness, lethargy, and complacency until a new generation of firebrand ministers arises in the Church.
Our love for God, for the brethren, for the lost souls and heavenly things may continue to grow cold until men with true fire of God in their hearts and bones arise to proclaim God’s Word to us, just as Ezekiel prophesied to the dry bones of the house of Israel in his days.
Fire begets fire! How do we expect a minister of God who is spiritually dead or lukewarm to rekindle or ignite God’s love in our hearts through his preaching or teaching?
Such a minister of God can only excite or stir people’s emotions with his enticing and sweet words. But what good or profit is exciting people’s emotions when their spirits are dead in sins, and their souls are famishing for the truth?
Like Ezekiel, firebrand believers are the only hope of “dry bones” in the valley of sin today. A spiritually dead, cold, or lukewarm believer or minister does no good to perishing souls.
A man not on fire for God cannot set another man or nation on fire for God!
It will take firebrand men to overthrow principalities and powers ruling over our cities, nations, and continents. It will take men whose souls are on fire for God to storm the devil’s strongholds and prisons, release all his lawful captives, and bring them to God’s kingdom.
Moreover, it will take firebrand believers to birth corporate and national revival and restore righteousness, peace, and joy to our nations.
Although believers and ministers of God abound everywhere today, only a few are firebrands. Little wonder dry bones still abound in the valley of sin, exceedingly dry and getting drier day by day. Many people continue to grope about in total darkness, nations are waxing stronger and deeper in iniquities, and the Church remains in her backsliding.
Many churches today remain spiritually sick and cold simply because many ministering to them from the pulpits are also spiritually sick and cold – without God’s life, love, and fire.
Who are God’s agents of revival in the world today?
Who are the firebrand ministers of God in this generation?
Are they the most popular or the wealthiest ministers of God?
Are they the men of God with the loudest voice?
Are they the servants of God with the largest congregations or followers?
Not really!
Firebrand believers or ministers of God are known for their genuine passion and love for God, truth, righteousness, the people of God, the lost souls, and God’s kingdom.
Firebrand ministers are men with a strong addiction to truths, sound teachings, or wholesome doctrines. They are men devoted to intercession, the mission, and expanding God’s kingdom on earth.
Firebrand believers are those walking in the Spirit, yielding to the promptings and leadings of the Spirit of God. They are men whose affections are set on the things of heaven and not on the fleeting things of this world.
Firebrand believers are true disciples of Christ whose primary goal is to conform to the example and teaching of Christ wholly and to grow up into Christ in all things. They are men and women endued with power from on high to subdue earthly powers.
Their preaching and teaching always cut their hearers to the hearts, like Peter’s first sermon on the Day of Pentecost, bringing conviction and leading men to repentance and faith in Christ (Acts 2:37).
Like Ezekiel, firebrand believers are God’s mouthpiece to bring life and strength to dry bones or souls in the valley of sin (Eze. 37:1-14).
Like Elijah, they are God’s battle axes to break into pieces forces of wickedness (1 Kings 18:19-40).
Today, firebrand ministers are urgently needed on our pulpits to ignite or rekindle God’s love and fire in our souls.
Firebrand believers are also urgently needed in our streets to bring life and hope to the perishing souls.
Are you one of us?
Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, set my soul ablaze today for You and make me an agent of revival and reformation in my generation, in Jesus’ name. Amen.