Habakkuk 3:2 “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.”
I READ THIS STORY ABOUT FRANCIS ASBURY AND THOUGHT YOU WOULD ENJOY IT:
The sun was lowering and the air was like an oven when the stranger rode into town. With every step his horse kicked up little puffs of dust from the dry, powdery street. No one had seen the likes of him before. He was a stranger to these parts. no one knew for sure what to make of him. Leather creaked as he slid out of the saddle. The ground shook as the big man’s boots hit the street. He hitched his horse to the rail, looked around, stepped up on the wooden sidewalk and headed toward the saloon.
When his lengthening shadow spilled through the swinging doors a hush fell over the crowd. The bartender stopped pouring. The dealer stopped shuffling. The bargirls stopped smooching their marks. Even the piano fell silent. Chairs creaked, and necks craned as every eye tried to catch a glimpse of the stranger.
“Got any praying people around here?”
Those were the first words that Francis Asbury asked when he rode into a new town. “Got any praying people around here?” That’s how the Methodest became the largest and most influential Christian denomination of the 19th and early 20th century. They knew that God’s work prospered when Christians prayed.
THE LAYMAN’S REVIVAL
“WHO IS PRAYING WHERE YOU ARE?”
We can win this battle in the same way that our forefathers in the faith won theirs. But I’ve got to ask you something. “WHO IS PRAYING WHERE YOU ARE?” Where are the praying people in this place?”
UNIQUE FEATURES OF THE LAYMAN’S PRAYER REVIVAL
The first startling feature was the dominance of lay leadership and the absence of the famous traveling evangelists of previous eras. The second startling feature was that it began with prayer meetings rather than preaching services. Distress over religious decline led to a stirring among religious leaders in the summer and autumn of 1857. Spontaneously, all over America, noon prayer meetings for businessmen, huge prayer gatherings of clergy, and extensive house-to-house visitation by lay people lead to a nationwide revival that some historians believe preserved us through the Civil War.
REVIVAL COMES THROUGH PRAYER
MANY OF TODAY’S EVANGELISTS HAVE IT WRONG
Many believe that revival comes through slick advertisements and extensive planning. They think you can have a revival if you can get enough billboards and posters. They act like a revival comes through buying ads on TV and radio. They treat a revival as though it was some large political campaign with God as the candidate, but revival has never come through such means. Revival has always come in answer to the prayers of God’s people.
DO YOU WANT TO SEE REVIVAL HERE?
I believe that God wants to see spiritual revival here. Why do I believe that? Because the Bible says so.
Turn in your Bible to 1 Timothy 2:1-4. I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
God wants people to be saved. But he wants us to pray for them. God’s will is done in answer to prayer. That is why I say that prayer is vital to the success of any ministry.
IT’S TIME TO PRAY
According to God’s Word, it’s time for us to pray. When we begin seeking revival and winning the lost, we become involved in spiritual battle. The only way that a spiritual battle can be won is with spiritual weapons. 2 Cor. 10:4 tells us that we have the spiritual weapons which we need.
The main weapon is intercessory prayer.
In Eph.6 Paul describes the Christian’s armor. Armor is used for defensive purposes, and all of this armor is used to defend you. In verse 18, Paul describes how to go on the offensive. Our offensive weapon against the devil is prayer!
If you want to have revival, you must pray!
If you want to win souls, you must pray!
PRAYER AVAILS MUCH (James 5:16)
THINGS HAPPEN WHEN WE PRAY
I want to tell you when we pray here, God moves!
When we pray here God moves in Africa.
When we pray here, God moves in India.
When we pray here, God moves all over the world.
When we pray here, God moves here!
Prayer is standing before God.
There’s a bunch of drug addicts that are going to be destroyed out of America.
There’s a bunch of homosexuals in America that are bound for hell according to God’s Word.
There’s a nephew or a son that you want saved out of that group before hand?
Have you prayed that God will get you out of the mess that you are in.
This old world is dying to go to hell! It’s headed for destruction!
The bible says, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness. He has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.” Thank God there’s power to deliver. Have you called on the name of the Lord? Have you prayed and asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins and to come into your heart? Have you asked Him to save you?
“WHO IS PRAYING WHERE YOU ARE?”
Anticipate!!!
Bishop Bryan Strickland
To win this spiritual battle, you must pray!
