May Pastor’s Chat
So far we have identified 2 hindrances to following Christ alone- pride and fear. These culprits must be put to death if we are to live for the Lord and not for self. However, it is not enough just to eliminate the sins that hinder us in following Christ. We must “put on” what will help us follow Christ (Ephesians 4:22-25). This month I want to challenge all of us not only to continue to guard against pride and fear but also to give ourselves to the Lord in consistent and consecrated times of prayer.
Prayer is to a believer’s spiritual life what breathing is to our physical life; we must breath to live and pray to grow spiritually. Spiritual weakness is certainly linked to prayerlessness. Jesus told a parable to teach “that men ought always to pray and not to faint” (Luke 18:1-8). Jesus also instructs us by His example. He often rose early and spent much time in prayer and communion with His Father. May God help us to follow His lead and have a longing for seasons of prayer and communion with God.
In preparation for the revival meetings in June and Vacation Bible School in August, I would like to call our congregation to a month of prayer and fasting. Would you prayerfully consider cutting something out of your life for the purpose of setting aside some time for prayer? Will you earnestly ask God to prepare your heart and the hearts of those in our congregation to seek the Lord and to be used of Him to reach souls for Christ? The prophet Daniel made such a commitment to pray in a time of great concern and burden for his nation when he wrote, “And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes” (Daniel 9:3). Let’s strive to follow Christ on our knees in dependent prayer!
With love and prayers, Pastor Mark
Verses on Revival Praying
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you” (Hosea 10:12).
“But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29).
“Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore” (Ps. 105:4).
“When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek” (Ps. 27:8).
“Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things” (Proverbs 28:5).
“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”
(2 Chronicles 7:14 ).
“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3).
“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee” (Psalm 86:5).
Quote on Revival Praying:
“There is no power like that of prevailing prayer- of Abraham pleading for Sodom, Jacob wrestling in the stillness of the night, Moses standing in the breach, Hannah intoxicated with sorrow, David heartbroken with remorse and grief, Jesus in sweat of blood, Add to this list from the records of the church your personal observation and experience, and always there is the cost of passion unto blood. Such prayer prevails. It turns ordinary mortals into men of power. It brings power. It brings fire. It brings rain. It brings life. It brings God” (Samuel Chadwick as quoted in Revival Praying, by Leonard Ravenhill).
Magnify! 