Preparing for real revival – part one
The beginning of the year – many churches use this time for a time of prayer and fasting. It is a time to begin again, clear the air, or whatever you would call it.
The Lord has used it to bring a fresh breeze to many churches. Here is a step-by-step process a pastor can lead his church through.
One of these days, maybe even in Missouri, some church will do this and a national revival will be started. Let’s pray to that end.
A Concert of Prayer is a time for people to pray together corporately for revival. A leader reads a passage of scripture, suggests how to pray, then allows a few minutes for individuals and groups to pray together. The guidance of the leader enables the group to stay focused and alert for a longer period of time. Below is an example of how to lead, organize and pace a concert of prayer. If you keep it moving as suggested in the outline, this can be done in one hour.
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2. Read Acts 3:19-20 (NKJV) 19Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20“and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before…
3. Welcome the group. Explain that the purpose of this meeting is to ask God to do a mighty work in our lives, in the life of our church and all over the state.
4. Say, “Let’s bow our heads and our hearts to ask Jesus to make this a time of refreshing for our souls. Invite Jesus to come into our prayer time as our guide into His will. Welcome the Lord to this place.” (Allow one minute for private, individual prayer.)
5. Read Psalms 63:3-4 (NKJV) 3Because You’re loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. 4Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
6. Say, “As we continue in our prayer time, take turns praising God for something He is to you. Just speak a brief sentence prayer.” (Allow one minute for individuals to pray briefly and out loud.)
7. Read Psalms 46:10 (NKJV) 10Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
8. Say, “Now quiet your thoughts and your fears. Simply be still before Him, thinking only of His supreme authority over all the earth. He is truly Lord above all powers and governments and rulers in this world.” (Allow 30 seconds of silent prayer.)
9. Say “Now find a partner for our next prayer.” (Allow a moment for people to pair up.)
10. Read Isaiah 6:5 (NKJV) 5So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”
11. Say, “In the presence of a holy God, we should experience a greater sense of our sin. With your prayer partner, ask God to grant you a deep sensitivity to sin in your life, to begin to really hate it, and to deal with it in a radical way – showing real repentance.” (Allow pairs to pray together for one to two minutes.)
12. Read Ephesians 3:14-19 (NKJV) 14For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, (that He may enable you), 18 … to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – 19to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
13. Say, “In the presence of God we should sense His love. If you hunger for spiritual reality, together with your partner, ask God to help you comprehend and experience the love of Christ ‘which passes knowledge.’” (Allow one to two minutes of prayer in pairs.)
14. Read Psalms 16:11 (NKJV) 11You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
15. Say, “In the presence of God we should experience joy. Ask God to make His presence so real to you, that you may taste the joy waiting for you in eternity. Pray that joy will spill out of your life into the lives of others.” (Allow one to two minutes for prayer in pairs.)
16. Say, “Now you two find another pair to join with for our next prayer. You should be in groups of four.” (Allow a moment for people to move together into groups of four.)
17.Read John 16:12-13 (NKJV) 12I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
18. Say, “The Holy Spirit’s assignment is to communicate the person of Christ and the direction of Jesus Christ in your life. Ask Him to train you and your friends to immediately respond to His promptings and direction in your life.” (Allow three to four minutes for the groups to pray together.)
19. Read Galatians 5:25-26 (NKJV) 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
20. Say, “Pray that God will bring loving unity in our churches and a deep harmony between our churches. Many churches need healing among members and many churches need to stop competing jealously with other churches.” (Allow three to four minutes for the groups to pray together.)
21. Say “Now you four split up, and everyone move into groups of five to join with for our next prayer. You should be in groups of five.” (Allow a moment for people to move together into groups of five.)
22. Read Acts 13:2-3 (NKJV) 2As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3Then, having fasted and prayed and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
23. Say, “Revival and spiritual awakening are extremely unlikely without a mighty move of God in pastors and Christian leaders. Renewed pastors are absolutely crucial to a move of God in our day! Pray for deep cleansing, genuine repentance, and spiritual power to engulf pastors and Christian leaders.” (Allow three to four minutes for the groups to pray together.)
The content of this prayer outline is compiled from Don Pucik, associate executive director, of the Arkansas State Baptist Convention, Henry Blackaby, Glen Shepherd, J. Edwin Orr, and others.
The remaining content will be continued next month.
Remember – Missouri matters. (Ron Barker is personal evangelism/spiritual awakening specialist for the Missouri Baptist Convention. You can contact Ron at 573-636-0400 ext. 651 or e-mail him at rbarker@mobaptist.org.)