The Precursor to Revival
"Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of
Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of
the Holy Spirit." - Acts 2:38
In 1935, Blasio Kigozi, a schoolteacher in Rwanda, Central Africa, was deeply
discouraged by the lack of life in the church and the powerlessness of his own
experience.
He followed the example of the first Christians and closed himself in for a week
of prayer and fasting in his little cottage. He emerged a changed man. He
confessed his sins to those he had wronged, including his wife and children. He
proclaimed the gospel in the school where he taught, and revival broke out
there, resulting in students and teachers being saved. They were called abaka,
meaning "people on fire."
Shortly after that, Blasio was invited to Uganda to share with the Anglican
Church there. During the 10 day Anglican meeting in Kabale, he called the
leaders to repentance and many responded to his message. A few weeks later,
Kigozi was called back to Uganda to attend the church's synod in Kampala, but on
the way he contracted tick fever. Shortly thereafter, revival swept through the
Church of Uganda throughout 1937 and then across the entire country. Hundreds of
thousands of lives have been transformed over the decades through this mighty
East African revival. It all began with a discouraged Christian setting himself
apart to seek the fullness of God's Spirit.
Is there a sin in your life stopping the outpouring of God's Spirit? Today in
prayer, repent from any and every sin in your life and let Jesus Christ fill you
with His Spirit.
"The first time Jesus appears, in the first Gospel, the first instruction he
gives is 'Repent.' From then on, it's his most consistent message. In all times
and every situation, his advice is to repent. Not just the scribes and
Pharisees, not just the powerful-he tells even the poor and oppressed that
repentance is the key to eternal life." - Frederica Mathewes-Green
God's Word: "'The time has come,' he said. 'The kingdom of God is near. Repent
and believe the good news!'" - Mark 1:15
By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2005, Devotional E-Mail DEVOTIONS IN ACTS
pkennedy6@yahoo.com