Two weeks ago, my father passed to glory at the ripe age of 93.

I stood together with my brothers, my mother and my family next to the coffin, and later we committed his body: Earth to earth, dust to dust, ashes to ashes, believing in the resurrection of the dead.

You can preach it, profess it, but when it’s your own loved one – what do you believe?

What do you really believe about what Jesus has done?

As I share with you, it’s painful because the loss leaves a gaping hole. He was a great encourager – affirming you and showering you with kindness, always applauding the little that you do and commending it.

We will miss him. But I see the sunrise. I see us in glory. I see us with resurrected bodies when Jesus returns.

LOOKING AHEAD TO A GLORIOUS SUNRISE 

There are many passages about revival in the Bible, but Luke 1:67-79 is the one that has gripped me.

The birth of John the Baptist triggers a prophecy by his father Zechariah. Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied saying: 

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David…” (Luke 1:68-69 ESV)

This is where Zechariah connects the miraculous birth of his son with the coming of the horn of David; he connects John the Baptist with the promised Davidic king who is Jesus Christ. 

Filled with the Spirit, Zechariah sees the birth of his son as a prelude to the coming of Messiah, the launching of God’s salvation for humankind. 

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins…” (Luke 1:76-77 ESV)

The next passage is about the coming of Jesus Christ. This is how Zechariah describes the visitation:

“…because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79 ESV)

As Luke begins to records the Gospel, he is thinking ahead. He can see this being fulfilled in the resurrection, ascension, and return of the Lord.

In context, this is the sunrise that we inherit in Christ. 

Now dear friends, between now and that glorious sunrise – which is the basis for all our hope – there are going to be what I call “mini sunrises”.

I say it on the basis of how God visits His people, particularly recorded in the Old Testament. I see God bringing revival to His old-covenant people. I see it in church history.

Because this God can be counted on, and He knows exactly when this nation needs revival.

THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY IS COMING

We’re 4 months away from Celebration of Hope (COH) and we’re taking our final steps towards God’s sunrise. God is breaking in on the land.

Let me provide some perspective on COH by crystallising what it’s about.

It’s about uniting as One Body. It’s on the Father’s heart, and it’s wonderful that we have over 170 churches that have signed up to be partner churches.

It’s about proclaiming the One Name. We gathered in one place in 2015 (at the Jubilee Day of Prayer) to exalt the Lord and seek the blessing for our land. In the years after that, God began to say: “You’ve sought me in prayer – now You need to proclaim me and what I’ve done”.

There is only one place for solid hope. The world is overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty. But God says there is hope – there is hope in my Son.

It’s about reaping a bumper harvest. I believe this year there will be a great homecoming – so many lives coming to know Him. 

It’s also more than that. The grain is swollen and it’s swollen with life. We are beginning to see that people who come to the Lord – their hearts are swollen with love for Christ, and they are ready to abandon all and follow Jesus.

Because they do, it’s going to be a bumper harvest of people being sent out with a sense of mission into the fields. Some will go as cross-cultural workers, but many will also go as professionals to carry this Gospel.

It’s a bumper harvest that will go beyond the land as the Spirit of God falls upon the people here.

It’s about anticipating a mighty visitation. COH is more than a project to be done. In His wonderful grace and for His salvation purposes, God is preparing the world for the return of his glorious Son. We believe COH will be a door for revival. 

We see vast numbers coming to the Lord – but that’s just the seed of revival. Revival is God’s reign in the land. When God visits the land, His light and His kingdom advances.

WHAT WILL THIS VISITATION LOOK LIKE?

• Social righteousness in the land. Christians practising social righteousness and showing neighbours what it means to live under the rule of God.
• Shalom, actual peace and security. We live in turbulent times. The peace and security of Singapore can never be taken for granted, but our hope is in the Lord.
• Lives being set free through Gospel power. Whether it’s gambling addiction or hostility in the home, people are going to experience the fullness of life that Jesus has come to give (John 10:10). 
• The shining witness of the Church, its radiance and nations coming to its light (Isaiah 60:1-3). 

He is on the shores, He is breaking forth and it’s a glorious sunrise. Are you ready for it? 

This article was adapted from Bishop Rennis Ponniah’s message at a Celebration of Hope (COH) gathering for pastors and marketplace leaders on January 22, 2019.

COH is about personal evangelism on a mass scale, culminating in Gospel rallies at the National Stadium on 17-19 May 2019. In the coming months,
PRAY: Let the Lord lead you to think of 4-5 people to share the Gospel with.
ENGAGE: Care and bless your pre-believing loved ones and friends.
GATHER: Invite them to the Celebration of Hope.