Revive and Restore

 

‭Revive and Restore

 

Luke 11:1 NKJV‬

[1] Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

 

It always amazed me, every time I read this, prayer is what the Disciples of Jesus wanted to learn.

They could have asked Jesus to teach them anything else they could imagine.

Heal the sick.

Cast out evil spirits.

Bring the dead back to life.

But to be taught and learn to pray, what a life changing experience.

 

We hear very often that prayer changes things.

It definitely does!  But it may not be in a way that you think.

I don’t believe the Disciples fully understood what they were asking.

You see, prayer is one of the Greatest skills we are given.

Jesus hears their request, and teaches them.

 

‭Matthew 6:5-13 NKJV‬

[5] “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. [6] But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. [7] And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. [8] “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. [9] In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. [10] Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. [11] Give us this day our daily bread. [12] And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. [13] And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

 

Prayer is found throughout the whole Bible, but this was different than they had heard before.

Jesus invites His disciples into a personal relationship with God the Father!

He gives us the invitation to call upon God as His children!

That is what prayer is! It is the way to communicate with the Father. It is a child calling to a loving parent.

It’s that child looking and trusting that they belong to GOD!

The sad thing is that many, many people don’t know how to pray or what to pray.

Because many people are not taught how to pray!

We have taken prayer and made it into something that was never meant to be, self indulgence.

 

Coming to the Lord in prayer gives us the opportunity to lay every thought, every burden, every request at the foot of the Altar of God!

It makes us trust in the supremacy of God. It shows Him that we believe that He is faithful and true to His Word.

 

It is being brave to approach the Father with our requests.

 

 

The National Day of Prayer is coming up May 2, 2024.

Throughout our nation Christians will gather to let the request of a people be known for this land.

 

Many will call for peace. Many will ask for a revival of sorts in the hearts of people.

 

What will you pray for?

What petition will you bring to the Throne of God!

 

My question is this.

 

When do we start to mature in our walk with the Lord?

I believe we start to mature when we start to pray for the Kingdom of God before we pray for ourselves, our Nation or anything else!

It’s when we put our agenda aside and pray for His agenda.

 

” Thy will be done”.

 

It means to pray for the things that we know burdens the Father’s heart!

It is asking for wisdom and discernment to make proper decisions for the Good of this Nation and its people to exemplify the Kingdom of God!

 

It is understanding to the best of our mortal ability, no matter what evil is happening around us we will stand against it!

Not just stand against it, not allow it to overtake us because even the evil in the world God has to use it for the good of His Kingdom!

 

‭Habakkuk 3:2 NKJV‬

[2] O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid; O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy.

 

Habakkuk simply prayed for revival.

What is revival?

means to live, to cause to live, it’s the restoration to life of rebuilding of restoration to well-being.

 

This is what the focus of the National Day Of Prayer should be on!

But in order for there to be a revival in our Nation, there must first be revival in our hearts!

This word revival gets used often to try and re- spark the flame in us that has gone dim.

 

Too often we just pray for “revivals,” only when we finally see the debilitating devastation that we have allowed to happen.

We forget that it is for us to “stir into flame” the gift of the Spirit which we have already received from God!

It is our gift from Him, but we allow the flame to go out and die.

Revival is the improvement in the condition or strength of something.

 

Revelation 3:2

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die,

 

Revival is a work of God, it has nothing to do with us. There is only One thing that we can and must do for revival, cry out to God and plead for His reviving work in our lives, in our Spirits, our hearts, our minds!

 

Don’t pray for revival in the Church or our Nation, if you are not praying for a revival in your own heart first!

Lord revive me!

Stand together as brothers and sisters in Christ with One Father in Heaven through the only begotten Son Jesus Christ of Nazareth during this Day of National Prayer!

Pray for forgiveness. Ask for mercy. Seek wisdom and understanding.

 

Let the revival of this Nation start in you!

 

 

Pastor Ed