LEADERS ARE LIFE'S OFFENSIVE PLAYERS
“Give me one hundred men who love only God with all their heart and hate only sin with all their heart, and we will shake the gates of hell and bring in the kingdom of God in one generation.” John Wesley
God is looking for imperfect men and women who have learned to walk in moment-by-moment dependence on the Holy Spirit. Christians who have come to terms with their inadequacies, fears, and failures. Believers who have become discontent with ‘surviving’ and have taken the time to investigate everything God has to offer in this life.– Charles Stanley
Acts 2:42 They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and to fellowship, to eating meals together and to prayers.
43 A sense of awe was felt by everyone, and many wonders and signs (attesting miracles) were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed [in Jesus as Savior] were together and had all things in common [considering their possessions to belong to the group as a whole]. 45 And they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing the proceeds with all [the other believers], as anyone had need. 46 Day after day they met in the temple [area] continuing with one mind, and breaking bread in various private homes. They were eating their meals together with joy and generous hearts, 47 praising God continually, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved.
4HIM - The Basics of Life
1 Corinthians 1: 26 Just look at your own calling, believers; not many [of you were considered] wise according to human standards, not many powerful or influential, not many of high and noble birth. 27 But God has selected [for His purpose] the foolish things of the world to shame the wise [revealing their ignorance], and God has selected [for His purpose] the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong [revealing their frailty]. 28 God has selected [for His purpose] the insignificant (base) things of the world, and the things that are despised and treated with contempt, [even] the things that are nothing, so that He might reduce to nothing the things that are, 29 so that no one may [be able to] boast in the presence of God. 30 But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God [revealing His plan of salvation], and righteousness [making us acceptable to God], and sanctification [making us holy and setting us apart for God], and redemption [providing our ransom from the penalty for sin], 31 so then, as it is written [in Scripture], “He who boasts and glories, let him boast and glory in the Lord.”
We're looking to your promise of old
"To the church a revival means humiliation, a bitter knowledge of failure, and an open and humiliating confession of sin on the part of her ministers and people. It is not the easy and glowing thing many think it to be, who imagine that it fills the empty pews, and reinstates the Church in power and authority. IT COMES TO SCORCH BEFORE IT HEALS; it comes to rebuke ministers and people for their unfaithful witness, for their selfish living, for their neglect of the Cross, and to call them to daily renunciation, to an evangelical poverty, and to a deep and daily consecration. This is why a revival has ever been unpopular with large numbers within the Church. Because it says nothing to them of power such as they have learned to love, or of ease, or of success; it accuses them of sin, it tells them that they are dead, it calls them to awake, to renounce the world, and to follow Christ." 1909 by James Burns
Carman - Revive Us Oh Lord
To snatch the passing moment and
examine it for signs of eternity
is the noblest of occupations.
SPIRITUAL-AWAKENING
1. Ask God to bring deep conviction of sin, spiritual brokenness, a holy fear of God and genuine repentance among His people. There will be no revival without these elements and only God can produce them in His people. After all we cannot program or work up genuine brokenness and repentance. (2 Corinthians 7:10) "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."
2. Pray for deep cleansing, genuine repentance, and spiritual power to engulf pastors and Christian leaders. Revival and spiritual awakening are extremely unlikely without a mighty move of God in pastors and Christian leaders. Renewed pastors are absolutely crucial to a move of God in our day! (Ephesians 6:14-20)
"14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."
3. Pray for God to bestow spiritual hunger in His people and draw them to fervent intercession. God has to grant people the genuine faith and the fervent desire for prayer. With all our promotion and programming, we cannot “produce a genuine prayer movement. (Philippians 2:13) "for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."
4. Pray that God will bring loving unity in our churches and a deep harmony between our churches. Many churches need healing among members and many churches need to stop competing jealously with other churches. (John 13:35) " By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
5. Pray for God to fill His people with a passion to see people saved. (Only God can give a genuine burden for souls.) Until God’s people intensely pray for the lost and do aggressive soul winning revival will tarry. Be sure you are constantly praying for many lost people by name. (Romans 9:1-3)
"I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race,"
"I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race,"
6. Pray for God to give His people a passion for missions and starting churches. Great revivals produce an explosion of mission projects, new ministries and new church starts. Only God can grant a genuine passion for missions. (Matthew 28:19) "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"
7. Pray that God will call thousands into ministry, missions and Christian service. Many churches are dying for lack of soul winners, teachers and church workers. Furthermore, we can start only as many churches as we have church planters to start them. (Matthew 9:37) "Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few."
8. Pray that God will pour out His Spirit like a mighty purifying flood. Ask God to purify our “motives as we pray for revival. After all it is possible to pray for revival for selfish or ambitious reasons. Our motives must be solely for: (a) the glory of God, and (b) the increase of the kingdom of God. We must not pray for revival just to solve our own problems or make our church successful in the eyes of men. (James 4:2) "You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God."
9. Pray for a mighty move of conviction and salvation upon communities of cultural influence. Some key examples are Hollywood actors and producers, government officials, educators, teachers, and college professors, news and media people, talk shows hosts, comedians, homosexual activists groups, and the music industry. (1 Timothy 2:1-2) "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."
10. Specifically pray for God to pour out His Spirit in a fashion even greater than He did in America in 1858 and Wales in 1904. (Ten percent of Wales’ population was saved in five months!) Ask God for a modern day of Pentecost in the United States and Canada. (Mark 11:22-24; John 14:13-14.) "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23 "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."
(Copied by permission from A Powerful Prayer Life by Gregory Frizzell)
"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."
(Copied by permission from A Powerful Prayer Life by Gregory Frizzell)
The following are Scripture prayers that you can use to plead with God for revival. These requests are based on the Word of God and are the revealed will of God for the church. Plead these Scripture prayers with confidence and persistence. As always, begin by praying for yourself and then move to interceding for the other believers concerning revival.
O God, revive the believers of _________________________ Church so that we may rejoice in You (Psalm 85:6)
Restore, O God, the believers of _______________________ Church; make Your face to shine on us that we may be delivered from our backsliding (Psalm 80:7).
Rise up and help the believers of ________________________ Church; restore us to Yourself because of Your redeeming love (Psalm 44:8).
Father, grant a spirit of brokenness and repentance to the believers of ____________________ Church (Isaiah 57:15).
Living God, give the believers of________________________ Church a fresh and powerful vision of Your holiness (Isaiah6).
Almighty God, create in the believers of__________________________ Church a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within us (Psalm 51:1).
O Lord, do not take away the sense of Your presence from us and do not take away Your Holy Spirit from us (Psalm 51:11; Revelation 2:5).
Holy God, cause the believers of _______________________Church to acknowledge our transgressions and to see that our sins are ever before You (Psalm 51:3).
Father, cause the believers of __________________________Church to be receptive to and responsive to Your holy Word (Nehemiah 8:8-9).
Father, cause the believers of __________________________ Church to be broken and humble, trembling at Your Word (Isaiah 66:2).
Lord God, cause the believers of _______________________ Church to call on Your name and to stir ourselves to lay hold of You (Isaiah 64:7).
Father, stir the believers of ____________________ ________ Church to remove anything from our lives or church that would hinder our experience of revival (Luke 3:4-6).
God, convict the believers of ___________________________ Church of any unforgiveness and bitterness. Give us no joy, peace, or rest until this is dealt with (Ephesians 4:30-32).
Father, as the deer thirsts for the streams of water, so cause the believers of __________________ Church to thirst for You (Psalm 42:1-2).
Lord, I plead that the Holy Spirit will work powerfully among the believers of ________________________ Church (John 16:7).
Revive us, O God, that the believers of _____________________Church will obey Your holy Word (Psalm 119:88).
O Lord, heal our backsliding; love us freely; turn Your anger away from us (Hosea 14:4).
Though our sins testify against us, restore the believers of ___________________ Church for Your great name's sake (Jeremiah 14:7).
Father, I plead that You will convict and save those who belong to this church who have been deceived about true salvation and are actually lost. Have mercy on them and save them (Matthew 23:27-28)!
Lord Jesus, enable the believers of _______________________ Church to return to You as our first love (Revelation 2:4).
Father, convict the believers of ________________________ Church of the sin of compromise. Cause us to hate this sin and to deal immediately with it (Revelation 2-3).
Lord Jesus, break the believers of ______________________ Church from a spirit of self-sufficiency and grant us a spirit of dependence on You (Revelation 2:17).
Father, I plead that You will create a spirit of praise among the believers of __________________ Church (Psalm 150).
Father, enable us to deal with anything in our lives and our church that we have placed above You (Exodus 20:1-2).
Have mercy on the believers of ________________________ Church and restore us to a right relationship to Yourself (Psalm 51).
O God, grant the believers of __________________ Church a burden for lost souls (Romans 10:1).
Father, create within the believers of ______________________ Church a spirit of prayer and fasting (Colossians 4:2).
Lord, reveal to the believers of _________________________ Church what is not pleasing in Your sight. Give us an unceasing burden about these things until they are dealt with (Psalm 139:23).
O God, cause Your people of __________________________ Church to love You with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37-38).
Father, cause Your people of ___________________________ Church to love each other with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:39).
Restore, O God, the believers of _______________________ Church; make Your face to shine on us that we may be delivered from our backsliding (Psalm 80:7).
Rise up and help the believers of ________________________ Church; restore us to Yourself because of Your redeeming love (Psalm 44:8).
Father, grant a spirit of brokenness and repentance to the believers of ____________________ Church (Isaiah 57:15).
Living God, give the believers of________________________ Church a fresh and powerful vision of Your holiness (Isaiah6).
Almighty God, create in the believers of__________________________ Church a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within us (Psalm 51:1).
O Lord, do not take away the sense of Your presence from us and do not take away Your Holy Spirit from us (Psalm 51:11; Revelation 2:5).
Holy God, cause the believers of _______________________Church to acknowledge our transgressions and to see that our sins are ever before You (Psalm 51:3).
Father, cause the believers of __________________________Church to be receptive to and responsive to Your holy Word (Nehemiah 8:8-9).
Father, cause the believers of __________________________ Church to be broken and humble, trembling at Your Word (Isaiah 66:2).
Lord God, cause the believers of _______________________ Church to call on Your name and to stir ourselves to lay hold of You (Isaiah 64:7).
Father, stir the believers of ____________________ ________ Church to remove anything from our lives or church that would hinder our experience of revival (Luke 3:4-6).
God, convict the believers of ___________________________ Church of any unforgiveness and bitterness. Give us no joy, peace, or rest until this is dealt with (Ephesians 4:30-32).
Father, as the deer thirsts for the streams of water, so cause the believers of __________________ Church to thirst for You (Psalm 42:1-2).
Lord, I plead that the Holy Spirit will work powerfully among the believers of ________________________ Church (John 16:7).
Revive us, O God, that the believers of _____________________Church will obey Your holy Word (Psalm 119:88).
O Lord, heal our backsliding; love us freely; turn Your anger away from us (Hosea 14:4).
Though our sins testify against us, restore the believers of ___________________ Church for Your great name's sake (Jeremiah 14:7).
Father, I plead that You will convict and save those who belong to this church who have been deceived about true salvation and are actually lost. Have mercy on them and save them (Matthew 23:27-28)!
Lord Jesus, enable the believers of _______________________ Church to return to You as our first love (Revelation 2:4).
Father, convict the believers of ________________________ Church of the sin of compromise. Cause us to hate this sin and to deal immediately with it (Revelation 2-3).
Lord Jesus, break the believers of ______________________ Church from a spirit of self-sufficiency and grant us a spirit of dependence on You (Revelation 2:17).
Father, I plead that You will create a spirit of praise among the believers of __________________ Church (Psalm 150).
Father, enable us to deal with anything in our lives and our church that we have placed above You (Exodus 20:1-2).
Have mercy on the believers of ________________________ Church and restore us to a right relationship to Yourself (Psalm 51).
O God, grant the believers of __________________ Church a burden for lost souls (Romans 10:1).
Father, create within the believers of ______________________ Church a spirit of prayer and fasting (Colossians 4:2).
Lord, reveal to the believers of _________________________ Church what is not pleasing in Your sight. Give us an unceasing burden about these things until they are dealt with (Psalm 139:23).
O God, cause Your people of __________________________ Church to love You with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37-38).
Father, cause Your people of ___________________________ Church to love each other with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:39).
Jeremiah 29:7
"Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you.
Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."
"Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you.
Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Disclosure: Much of what is in my posts are things I have compiled through the years and I do not know if they have copyrights. What I do know about origin or website I give credit and have tried to always post a link to the origin. I do not market anything in any way on this blog -- I merely hope it will encourage and inspire others.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
