The Power of One Man's Prayer

"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." James 5:16 (NIV)

Charles Finney told the story of a town that had not seen revival in many years--the church was nearly dead. A blacksmith in that town was at work when he felt a great burden to pray for the church. He closed his business and spent the entire afternoon in prayer. He then went to the pastor and asked him to call a church meeting, to which the pastor reluctantly agreed. That evening, the house where the meeting was to take place was overflowing with people. No one spoke at first. Then one man cried out for someone to please pray for him. That cry was followed by another, and then another, until it was discovered that people were under conviction from every part of town. All those who came under conviction stated that it began at the very time that the blacksmith had been praying.

Moving the Heart of God

"Put on sackcloth, you priests, and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you who minister before my God; for the grain offerings and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God. Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD." Joel 1:13-14 (NIV)

How many of us can say that we weep and cry out to God for the souls of the lost, for the condition of America? Not me, I am ashamed to say. Oswald J. Smith says that revival praying--prayer that moves the heart of God--is like giving birth: it doesn't happen without hard labor. As I read the accounts of great revival preachers, that is the one thing they all had in common. They labored long and hard in prayer, with powerful results. I want to pray like that. If the condition of our world breaks God's heart, shouldn't it break our hearts too? Can we really expect God to be moved by our brief and shallow petitions?

What to Preach

"For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." 1Corinthians 2:2 (NIV)

"Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah." Acts 5:42 (NIV)

What was the overwhelming message of these revival preachers who were used so mightily by God? It was the message of Paul and Peter, the message of the early church--repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ. Their passion was to reach the lost and to bring about repentance, and they never failed to see results. Not only did they see results, but peoples' lives were forever changed and they became devoted to God. How different things are today. It seems to me that we don't hear that message much anymore--as if it's too much to expect people to respond to it. And those who do respond, quickly learn that God is just one more thing they have to fit into their busy schedule. Why is this? I think there is something missing in most of today's preaching--it's the Holy Spirit's power and anointing. When He is in control, the pastor doesn't have to convince people to become Christians, or to make Jesus the Lord of their lives. Instead they ask, as the man in Acts did, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

Getting Results

"And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NIV)

Paul stated it perfectly--It's really not about fancy speech or persuasive words. As you can see from the account of the Welsh Revival, and the story of Charles Finney, sometimes the cries of the people were so loud that the preacher couldn't even preach. This experience was repeated over and over again in various places where revival had broken out. When revival comes, it will be because the power of the Holy Spirit has come down, not because the pastor had a great sermon. The most eloquent words will fall flat if the Holy Spirit is not behind them.

Charles Finney

"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power..." 1 Corinthians 2:4

"The Spirit of God came on them in mighty, convicting power, and a Revival started. It then spread to the surrounding country until finally nearly the whole of the Eastern States was held in the grip of a Mighty Awakening. Whenever Mr. Finney preached the Spirit was poured out. Frequently God went before him so that when he arrived at the place he found the people already crying out for mercy. Sometimes the conviction of sin was so great and caused such fearful wails of anguish that he had to stop preaching until it subsided."

From The Revival We Need by Oswald J. Smith

 

The Welsh Revival

"Because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction." 1 Thessalonians 1:5 (NIV)

"It was 1904. All Wales was aflame. The nation had drifted far from God. The spiritual conditions were low indeed. Church attendance was poor. And sin abounded on every side.

Suddenly, like an unexpected tornado, the Spirit of God swept over the land. The churches were crowded so that multitudes were unable to get in. Meetings lasted from ten in the morning until twelve at night. Three definite services were held each day. Evan Roberts was the human instrument, but there was very little preaching. Singing, testimony, and prayer, were the chief features. There were no hymn books; they had learnt the hymns in childhood. No choir, for everybody sang. No collection; and no advertising.

Nothing had ever come over Wales with such far-reaching results. Infidels were converted, drunkards, thieves, and gamblers saved; and thousands reclaimed to respectability. Confessions of awful sins were heard on every side. Old debts were paid. The theatre had to leave for want of patronage. Mules in the coal mines refused to work, being unused to kindness. In five weeks 20,000 joined the churches."

From The Revival We Need by Oswald J. Smith

Producing Fruit Without the Tree

"Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Acts 2:41-42 (NIV)

Being set apart for God's purpose and allowing Jesus to live His beautiful life through us is what will lead to a great harvest of souls. When unbelievers see something different about us--something different in our attitudes toward money and the things that money can buy, something different in the way we face adversity and show love to our enemies, they will be drawn to the Christ in us. They will recognize that there is a power at work in our lives that they cannot explain, yet they are drawn to it. Today, our focus in the church is on the wrong thing. Vance Havner said it this way:

"If the time, money, and effort spent in trying to work up evangelism in lukewarm churches were spent in calling the churches themselves to repentance, confession, cleansing, and empowering, evangelism would be the natural result. We are trying to produce the results without the cause, the fruit without the tree. The New Testament epistle writers concentrated not on stirring up Christians to evangelize but rather on developing healthy Christians through spiritual food, rest, and exercise. Healthy Christians are naturally soul-winners, by life and by lip."

Quotation taken from Repentance as a Church Priority by Vance Havner. For more information on the author, visit www.vancehavner.com.

Glory to God

"Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. Let the priests, who minister before the LORD, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, "Spare your people, LORD. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?' Then the LORD was jealous for his land and took pity on his people." Joel 2:15-18

The prophet Joel has some instructions for God's children--how they can appeal to God, receive His forgiveness, and avoid His wrath. We would all do well to heed those instructions because God is not pleased with America. Joel's first order is to call a serious prayer meeting. This meeting isn't just for the faithful few--he wants everyone to participate: not even the children are excused, or those getting ready for a wedding. Next, the priests are to lead the people in repentance--to humble themselves and seek forgiveness for their sins as well as those of the people. They are to come to God weeping, broken over their sin. Joel then tells the priests just exactly how to pray--how to persuade God to show mercy when they really deserve judgement. What is the final petition that moved the heart of God? It's about His name. He wants the nations to know Him. The mercy He shows to His inheritance will bring great glory to His name.

We should pray the same way--that revival in our church, our community, our nation will bring great glory to God and no one else!

Living Up to That Name

How can we, as set-apart Christ followers, bring honor--not shame--to the name of Jesus? Paul gives us the answer in the book of Philippians:

"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Philippians 2:1-13 ( NIV)

Set Apart

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—" Romans 1:1 (NIV)

When you think about the early church, what was it that made them so effective in reaching their world? They had no seminary degree, no special evangelism training. In fact most of them were just ordinary men. Peter preached and 3,000 were saved. Today we rejoice if one person makes a decision for Christ. Just as Paul, was set apart for the gospel of God, so were the other disciples of that time. What does it mean to be set apart? It means that you have turned your back on the world and the things of the world. You are dedicated to God's purpose for your life. It means that you have crucified your flesh and that Jesus now lives his life through you. You no longer rely on your own strengths but on the power of the Holy Spirit.

How can one person make a difference in today's world? By being set apart for God's purpose--by being different from the world. That means trusting God in difficult circumstances, having peace when others are panicked, demonstrating love to those who curse you, experiencing joy in the midst of pain, refusing to compromise on what you know to be true, showing Christ's love to a hurting friend, giving your best in every situation. In other words, let Jesus live His life through you. There's nothing attractive about someone who is living their life for their own selfish gain, most of the world is doing that. But to let Jesus shine through you brings light into a dark world. He is the power source!

 

Pleasing God

"Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:7-8 (NIV)

God has a complaint against Israel--they have forgotten His goodness toward them. In response, they give some outrageous suggestions as to how they might get back in His good graces. Are they being sarcastic, as if they knew there was nothing they could do to please Him? God's answer is both simple and profound--in fact, they already know what is good. This is what God requires:

"To act justly"--just do what's right. Treat people as you want to be treated, honor the law, be fair.

"Love mercy"--don't just show mercy, love it. When we realize God's mercy toward us, we will love showing mercy to others.

"Walk humbly with your God"--when we really grasp our need for forgiveness, when we have a correct view of who God is and who we are, we will desire to walk with God and we will do it humbly.

Three simple things--that's all it takes to please your Father. It's really not asking too much.

Be Encouraged

"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him." 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NKJV)

It's easy to become discouraged when you have been earnestly praying for something and God is just quiet. Our human nature wants to see results. His silences are always for our good--to teach us patience, perseverance and faith. We all know that God is always working, whether we see it or not. Prayer lays the groundwork for powerful movements of the Holy Spirit--it is the firm foundation on which God can build a lasting work.

Our God is a God who sees--El Roi is His name. Just picture His eyes searching the whole earth to show Himself strong on your behalf!

The Wake Up Call

"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five of them were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep." Matthew 25:1-5 (NIV)

Jesus tells this story to illustrate what it will be like at the time of His return. Not all will be prepared for that hour. In fact, those waiting for His return will fall asleep when He takes longer than expected. When the bridegroom's arrival is announced, they wake up. Everyone looked like they were ready, but looks can be deceiving. Half of them had the Holy Spirit (oil) and half did not. Those who did went in to the wedding banquet. Those who did not were rejected by the bridegroom.

This story is a wake-up call for all of us who have been sleeping. Most people in our churches have lamps but we don't know if the person sitting next to us has oil for his lamp. That is why it is so important for us to let people know the bridegroom is coming soon!

In verse 13 Jesus says of His return: "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."

 

Business as Usual

"As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Matthew 24:37-39 (NIV)

The world today is experiencing most, if not all, of the signs of the Last Days mentioned in Matthew 24--wars and rumors of wars, uprisings, famines, earthquakes, an increase in wickedness, false prophets and persecution, just to name a few. Yet in many churches it is business as usual. The pastor is preaching about love and peace while half the people in church are not prepared for Christ's return. There is no talk of the signs that are everywhere, no urgency to share the gospel with the lost, no repentance on the part of believers. The Bible says that the people of Noah's day were completely caught off-guard and were destroyed. Jesus tells us that it will be the same when He returns to earth. Is this not scary?