Today we shared from the final chapter in the book, The Battle Plan for Prayer, from Alex and Stephen Kendrick, something that we also shared back in 2017-18. This last chapter encourages us to pray for revival. It basically summarizes the past 34 chapters in the book and asks the reader to think about all of those different elements, putting them together to pray for a turnaround of our attitudes towards prayer and about what God can really do in our world in 2021.
The prayer is for you, for me, for the church, for the world and ultimately for the glory of God. The challenge is to ask him fervently and continuously to do marvelous work in our day; not just now, not just soon, but for the rest of our lives.
Alex and Stephen share their desire to not give in to the general sense of helplessness about the state of our country and other nations of the world. They encourage us not to give into the apathy, the fear, and the inevitability that no one can do really anything about it. So this conversation is timely for not only a new year, but the events of the last 36 hours.
We should not fall into the trap of becoming disinterested churches that aren’t making a mark for Christ in our community and neighborhoods. We should not fall into the trap of tolerating our own sins, being consumed by our own selfish pursuits, and living a lifeless religion while millions of people are dying without Jesus.
The chapter is a very direct, in-your-face, call to action to encourage us to the humble and repentant hearts that we need to truly stimulate a revival within ourselves and our world.
So…think about this…what would the world look like if we saw God’s Spirit poured out in abundance on us? God has a track record of doing this! He’s helped revive families, restored broken lives, and salvation has overcome addictions and self-destruction.
There’s no reason we can’t see all of these things and more. Unless we decide not to pray. Unless we decide not to care. Unless we decide to believe the enemy’s deceptions, instead of believing the proofs and promises of God’s word, across time.
Once again, scripture clearly lays out the raw ingredients that have consistently led to revival. The first comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 7 verse 14: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
In the Book of Joel, chapter 2 verses 12 and 13 it says, “Even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart and with fasting, weeping and mourning and rend your heart and not your garments.”
When Jesus announced the arrival of his earthly ministry in Luke chapter 4, he declared, “the spirit of the Lord is on me,” with whom he would set the captives free, open the eyes of the blind and release the oppressed from their bondage.
That same Holy Spirit is still here for believers and he is STILL able to work mightily in us…IF we are God’s surrendered people.
The secret to revival, is united, repentant, humble prayer. A prayer that is persistent. A prayer that is extraordinary, believing that what God wants is always better and more important than what we want!
God simply wants people that are devoted to him. People that are in love with him. People whose hearts are ready to be used for reaping the Harvest. And most importantly, people whose lives are surrendered to his word and then ready to receive the blessings that only he can provide.
We need to seek him with all our hearts.
OUR PRAYER:
Lord God our Father in heaven, we need you. We’re desperate for you. We pray now in the name and through the blood of Jesus that you would stir up faith and repentance among us like never before. We ask that you would soften our hearts toward you and break our hearts towards sin. Unite your church in fervency, fasting, and devotion to prayer, desiring nothing more eagerly than our desire for you and your glory to be poured out upon us. May we humble ourselves and pray, turn from our wicked ways and seek your face until you heal our land. Have mercy on us Lord. Forgive us. Cleanse us. Heal us. Send Revival, oh Lord, bring millions to saving faith in your son Jesus and cause us, as your children, to be solely devoted to serving you, loving you and extending love to others. May the world see your glory and may your name be honored and adored among the nations in our generation. In Jesus name, we pray in faith, amen.
Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Alyssa
Driving Notes 