Examples of great revivals of God’s people fill the Holy Scriptures. The history of the Church of Jesus Christ reveals pockets of mighty revival. Each of these revivals, the overpowering presence of the Holy Spirit upon God’s children, brought about through heartfelt, broken, humble, repentant prayer, and often in expectant fasting.
We are all too familiar with the words of 2 Chronicles 7:14:
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
However, we are not very familiar with the spirit of these life-retrieving words!
“Merciful, Holy, Father, You are indeed a God of mercy, and Your mercy has a name, Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ, You have already poured out Your wrath against the sin of all mankind. The very blood of Your dear Son, Jesus, is the only reason You should listen to, and answer my prayer. I look to the Name and the Cross- as the foundation of my plea for Your Church, in America and beyond. I ask You grant to us the glory of the promises I find in Your Word:
“And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
41 Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.” (Jere. 32:39-41)
“And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” (Ezek. 11:19-20)
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jere. 29:11-13)
“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” (Ezek. 22:30)
LORD, I humbly attempt to stand in the gap for my brothers and sisters. Please do not hold my inadequacies against them, but hear my heart.
I request of You, gracious God, to move among Your people in every local gathered church in America and the rest of Your world, to do whatever You deem necessary that might bring about conviction of sin and an awareness of Your Holy Presence resulting in revival and awakening. Move us toward our knees, but continue in moving us onto our faces at Your feet. Precious, present, Holy Spirit, exalt the Most High God, the very image of God the LORD Jesus Christ, in our midst. Exalt our Creator, Sustainer, Savior near to us.
Forgive us, as we have left our First Love, and no longer know how to love You as we ought. Forgive us, as we have put aside the Supernaturalness of the Church, and chased after church as the world would do church. Forgive us, we have forgotten the Holy Spirit and became dependent upon the “Board of Directors” for guidance.
Father, You have set us in the world to be ambassadors for Christ, may we, as Your Church, once again take our position faithfully, lovingly, truthfully as we make Him known, the Lamb of God Who was slain for the sins of the world. LORD, I wait – Amen, Come, LORD Jesus!
