Whenever God wants to do something great in the world, He first stirs his people to pray! This was the case with the early church. It could be argued that the early church began in PRAYER 10 days prior to Pentecost when Peter first preached!
And I think of what took place during the JESUS MOVEMENT of the late 60’s and early 70’s …
Kay Smith, Pastor Chuck Smith’s wife, began praying! She prayed for hippies! Hippies she would see at the beach and around town. One of them happened to be none other than Greg Laurie. She would pray for Greg as he walked home from school.
I also think of the “Revival In Wales “ 1904 …
A young man by the name of Evan Roberts heard one of the men in his church pray, “Lord, bend us …” It resonated with him. He began praying, “Lord bend me” and the Lord did and it changed his outlook. Soon he was praying the Lord would give him 100,000 souls!
On October 31, 1904 Evan brought his four-point message to his home church. #1 “Is there any sin in your past that you have not confessed to God? On your knees at once. Your past must be put away, and yourself cleansed.” #2 Is there anything in your life that is doubtful – anything that you cannot decide whether it is good or evil? Away with it. There must NOT be a cloud between you and God. #3 Do what the Holy Spirit prompts you to do. Obey promptly, implicitly, and with unquestioning submission to God’s Spirit. #4 Publicly profess Christ as your Savior!
His cry became “Bend the church and save the world!”
As matter of public record, the culture in Wales changed! Taverns closed. Gambling went out of business. Prostitution houses shut down. Families were reunited. Friendships restored. Debts paid. Divisions in churches were healed!
Prayer is always the first stage in God’s plan to change the world.
I agree 100% … let us pray .. let us storm the throne of the Father … and may our city and country and world be rocked with the gospel …
Hear me when I call, O God, my righteousness;
Unto Thee I come in weakness and distress.
Hold my trembling hand, lest helpless I should fall;
O hear me, Lord, hear me, O hear me when I call.
Hear my cry, O God, attend unto my prayer;
More and more I need Thy mercy and Thy care.
Clouds of doubt arise and faith grows weak and small;
O hear me, Lord hear me, O hear me when I call.
Hear my voice, O God, and cleanse my soul within;
Mercy do I need for all my doubts and sin.
Only in Thy grace I trust my all in all;
O hear me, Lord, hear me, O hear me when I call.
Hear my prayer, O God, I need Thy cleansing power;
Let me feel Thee near each moment of each hour.
Hold my trembling hand, lest helpless I should fall;
O hear me, Lord hear me, O hear me when I call.
“Hear Me When I Call” – Tillit Sidney Teddlie,
Love this bro, pray, pray and pray some more.
I’m so fired up about Mosab coming. I am praying for God to use me to reach out to the Muslim believers. I have invited two people I have yet to meet to meet them on Labor Day weekend. It should prove to be quite an encounter if the Lord so leads. I’m praying His will be done. I’m also praying for local Muslims. Where is the nearest mosque, anyone know? I’m praying about that too. Let us pray and come against the spirit of fear that has a hold on the Muslim people. Bless you Greg, Stephanie, Greg and wife, Anointed Sara and Peter, and Ms. Lovely Lili (sorry if I misspelled your names) And bless everyone who is a part of Calvary. Shalom and love, Pat