The Right Time
Randy G. Keyes

It is time to seize the moment. Pick up the phone, knock on some doors, and talk to someone at work or at the store about the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. It is easier now to
win someone to God than ever in our lifetime. Right now anyone can be a soul winner.

“It shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.”
I Chronicles 14:15

Like David, the church is poised for the greatest victory of our lifetime. We have heard the sound of “going” and are ready to march forward. Some people may ask how this can be a time of great triumph when we are seeing the world’s economy crumbling. How can we take heart when every day we are bombarded with bleak statistics and predictions from financial experts? Like David, it seems the enemy has gathered against the church to bring destruction, but it is God who controls all things, and He has a plan.
It is the right time for revival!

God, no doubt, is preparing society to be receptive to the gospel. In times like these people are able to see that material things like houses and automobiles the things that people make a priority are really not that vital, and they to turn to God. The home equity that people relied on to send their children to college, pay off bills, or for retirement has evaporated. Each month thousands of people are laid off, as long-time businesses succumb to our deepening recession. They are facing the question of what really matters in this world their relationship with God. But are people willing to listen to the message of the gospel in such times?

We just need to look back to the birth of Pentecost in modern times to find our answer. The Apostolic movement in the early 1900s was born during very difficult economic times. Pentecost

Yes, times are tough, but it is especially important that we do not become fearful. Fear is a negative motivation. When we operate out of fear we bind the hands of God. We cannot be so concerned with our own financial troubles that we cannot see what God is doing in the world. We must face these times with the confidence that God will supply our needs. Pentecost probably experienced its greatest growth during those years, and we are seeing the same kinds of results today. The churches that are foundational to the Apostolic movement began during this time. Should we pray for God to end these trying times? Absolutely not! It is wrong for us to pray for God to not allow these things to happen because God uses adversity to bring about great revival.

During the Great Depression, in the 1930s, the church did not escape hardship. Christians had to trust God day-by-day to miraculously put food on their table. They did not have medical insurance or money for the doctor, so they had to pray for God to miraculously heal them and their children. God supplied the needs of His people in the past and He will do the same today.
I also believe God will supply the needs of the church and its missionaries miraculously. While one church member may suffer financially, another will be blessed to make up the difference.

Some are truly sacrificing to meet their commitment to missions, and I am aware of and appreciate their sacrifice. On the other hand, recently someone received an unexpected inheritance and gave $10,000 above their pledged commitment to missions. God will help us to support those who preach the gospel to the four corners of the earth.

Times are tough, but it is important that we do not become fearful. Fear is a negative motivation. When we operate out of fear we bind the hands of God. We cannot be so concerned with our own financial troubles that we cannot see what God is doing in the world. We must face these times with the confidence that God will supply our needs. It is then that we free God to work. We need to see ourselves as David and Israel, posed for victory.

How do we know the time is right? Long ago when altar calls were given to get souls to the altar, the preacher would tell the scariest story and then beg them to come. Now people readily accept the gospel. You can hardly talk to anyone who will reject what you say about the Bible or salvation. I am surprised at how anxious people are for answers. Never have I seen in all of my years of ministry a time when people were more receptive to the gospel. It seems that on any service night when an invitation is given, whether it is a Sunday or a Wednesday night, the altar is quickly filled with hungry souls.

Just recently while I was preaching the one-year anniversary on a Sunday morning for Brother Becerra’s daughter work in Denair, approximately fourteen adults came to the altar. Most of them received the Holy Ghost. We are having services here in Modesto where we are continually baptizing people throughout the service.
The time is right!

Yes, I believe the church is posed for the greatest harvest we have ever experienced. I expect that in the next twelve months we will baptize more people in Jesus’ name and see more people receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost than we have ever witnessed in any prior year of our history. We will have crowds that will stagger our minds! It is time to seize the moment. Pick up the phone, knock on some doors, and talk to someone at work or at the store about the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. It is easier now to win someone to God than ever in our lifetime.
Right now anyone can be a soul winner.

The church cannot sit idly by when the harvest is so ready. We need to be more aggressive in our evangelism than ever before. If we are then we can be confident that the miraculous power of God will follow us. Jesus promised in Mark 16 that “these signs” will follow those who believe those who go and preach the gospel. It is the act of going and doing that brings about God’s miraculous power. If we are not going then signs, and miracles will not accompany us.

If we move out into the harvest fields more aggressively, we will have signs and wonders. We will see great increase and great revival. We must not perceive these present times as a tragedy, but as a time of great opportunity. I believe this could be the very last harvest season for the church. Christ’s coming is soon. That is why we have to do everything we can to preach the gospel at home and abroad. It is our great commission. The wind is blowing. The harvest is ready.
It is the right time!