Power of Prayer
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But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Why is it that today so many so call believers who do the right things but they do not have faith that God still does miracles today, they lack faith That God is still sovereign over their lives over this virus over this wicked world, They lack in Prayer because they feel its of no use. That what would what “could God really do they think to themselves. This is what the American Church has been boiled down to. A Form of Godliness but denying the power thereof.
You want to see a massive revival / you got to Pray
You want to see a huge move of God over this country / You got to Pray
You want Gods divine revelation / you got to Pray
You want God to lead you through the Fire / you Got to Pray
You want God to quench the turmoil in your Life / you got to Pray
You want God to come into your marriage /you got to Pray
Pray Pray Pray!!!!!! Awake my dear friends humble thy self before the almighty God bend thy knee pray seek Him and we will again see the Miracles of God
And be not like the hypocrites Pray with a certainty not that you command God but that you are certain that He will hear you that He will honor you and that if your and His will allighn He will give you which you seek,
“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.
Pray like you are speaking to your dearest friend for when we became reconciled unto the Father through that of the Son we became His friends.
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
So Pray.
How many of you would like to see 3,000 souls added to the Lord's Kingdom? I bet if we made a list of people for whom we are praying that God will save, 3,000 would cover lots of our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family members.
The disciples saw 3,000 souls added to the Kingdom following a single sermon preached by Peter. Who would't want to see something like that? (See Acts 2:14-41)
While it's not guarantee that simply doing what they did will produce the exact same results, doing what they did might lead to God doing something amazing in Hamilton Texas. If It is of His will we Know He desires for us to know Him.
Its happened Before
The 1860 revival had ripple effects all around South Africa. There was, however, no clear working of the Spirit in the Boland town of Paarl and the churches there still experienced dryness. In other parts of the Western Cape quite a few towns experienced revival. Rev. G.W. Van der Lingen, Dominee (Pastor) of the DRC (Dutch Reformed Church) in Paarl had been longing for revival in his church. At the beginning of 1861, there were some signs of the work of the Holy Spirit in his congregation.
At the beginning of 1861, Paarl decided to heed the global call of the Evangelical Alliance to participate in a corporate prayer week that took place annually in January. Already before this corporate prayer week, the Holy Spirit had moved amongst some young girls, who had responded to an invitation to come and hear about accounts of the Worcester revival during the previous year. When the speaker recalled the events, highlighting the role of young people, the meeting burst into simultaneous prayer. During the following week, the movement gained momentum among other young people in Paarl.
During that prayer week, Rev. Van der Lingen preached, saying, “Are you, the congregation of Paarl, being awakened by these cries of Revival? Wake up, you who sleep! Arise from the dead and Christ will shine His light on you! And what if you don’t awaken now? Will you then ever be renewed before the terrible awakening to take place in the hereafter?” It was during the week of prayer in January 1861 that revival swept through Paarl. There were heart-rending pleads for mercy and soul-wrenching confessions of sin.
Members of the Paarl congregation experienced lengthy periods of wrestling with self-examination, repentance and surrendering all to God. There were great cries for mercy and ultimately many tears of thankfulness and joy. Rev. Van der Lingen exclaimed, “How many years have I not served God as a servant? But what a great difference is serving Him as a servant and serving Him as a son! I only now understand the freedom.”
When the January week of prayer drew to a close, all those who had participated in it felt the urge to continue to meet for communal prayer. Crowds that had streamed to prayer gatherings increased daily, as did places allocated for prayer.
On 6 February 1861, Rev. Van der Lingen arranged a special meeting of approximately 100 prayer leaders of his Strooidak (Straw Roof) congregation (including women and children) to discuss their concerns. After experiencing the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit and His quickening power, the congregation was fearful that His presence would decrease over time and eventually stop. They wanted, therefore, to find ways of preserving and spreading the blessing.
At Van der Lingen’s suggestion, it was decided to divide each district into small cell groups that aimed to meet as often as possible. In conjunction with this new approach, he developed a set of guidelines which covered topics for discussion and prayer. By this means, he hoped to give everyone the opportunity to pray in public and to claim God’s promises and even greater blessings.
A great number of extraordinary experiences occurred, and many people were seen to be living in tremendous fear and distress, as like those who had a death sentence. They became aware of the evil things that they had done in their lives. One man said, “In the past I knew that I was a sinner, but now I can feel it.” Rev. Van der Lingen told them that conviction of sin was not enough; they had to seek Christ and His forgiveness until they knew that they had received forgiveness and moved into a life of joy and victory.
Pentecost
By May 1861, there was once again a yearning in the congregation to come together for communal prayer and plead for a special blessing. It would appear that the vision of cultivating God’s presence was beginning to dim in some quarters at this time.
In one cell group, Gideon Malherbe, son-in-law of Rev. Van der Lingen, suggested that cell groups should come together each evening for communal prayer during the ten days between Ascension Day and Pentecost Sunday. They intended to follow the example of the first Christians, who had met regularly for prayer whilst waiting in Jerusalem to be baptised with the Holy Spirit. Just like these early Christians, they too would plead for the promise of the Father.
Without seeking Van der Lingen’s approval or participation, this cell group published an invitation in De Kerkbode (the church newspaper) for all existing prayer groups in Paarl to participate in corporate prayer from 9-19 May 1861. Rev. Van der Lingen was at first reluctant to join the meeting. However, there was a gradual build-up of expectation during the week, mingled with cries for mercy. Not only did Rev. Van der Lingen finally relent, he became God’s anointed vessel of blessing on Pentecost Sunday, 1861.
Increasingly, congregants started to attend prayer meetings. Just prior to Pentecost Sunday 1861, the Strooidak Church engaged in ten days of prayer, just as the early Church in Jerusalem had done whilst awaiting the Lord’s promise of the power of the Holy Spirit.
The prayer meetings of May 1861 were well attended. On Pentecost Sunday, there was great expectancy in every heart, and they were not disappointed. During the morning service, nothing happened, but during the afternoon service, there was a powerful presence of God when Rev. Van der Lingen prayed. He had a supernatural experience with the Lord while he was standing in the pulpit.
As Rev. Van der Lingen started to pray, he cried with tears of deep emotion. Then he said: “Father, Father… who is He… come and stand between Him and us… in crimsoned garments from Bozrah, He who is splendid in his apparel…” (Isaiah 63:1).
Initially, the congregation could not understand what was happening. Sometime later, Rev. Van der Lingen explained, “While I was on my knees, and prayed that God would fulfil His promise, I saw snowflakes moving up to heaven, and then suddenly lightning came out from the throne of God. Then, the Mighty One, with His garments dipped in blood, positioned Himself between the snowflakes and the lightning to protect the people from the lightning.” Initially, he did not understand the meaning of this vision, but he realised that the snowflakes were the prayers of Christians that could not be accepted by God without the blood and intervention of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A powerful revival broke out, which has been described as the beginning of a ‘second’ revival in the Southern and Western Cape. A year later, it was Rev. Van der Lingen, himself, who suggested the congregation should meet for communal prayer during the ten days between Ascension Day and Pentecost. When this news began to spread to neighbouring congregations, they too decided to follow Paarl example. Over the next few years, more and more congregations joined in.
Widespread 10 days of prayer
As a direct result of this, the 1867 Dutch Reformed Synod advised all congregations to conduct ten days of prayer in the run-up to Pentecost Sunday every year. This tradition became a major blessing to the nation. The annual 10 Days of Prayer before Pentecost Sunday impacted Afrikaners for many decades. Many Afrikaners look back to a particular Pentecost prayer season as the time they were converted. Soon afterwards, the Wesleyan Methodist Church adopted the same concept.
The increasing attendance of prayer events coincided with an exceptional interest in worship services. The role Rev. Van der Lingen played in the awakening is significant, operating on the periphery and insisting that he needed to step aside to let God speak through His Holy Spirit. While he had done little by way of organising prayer meetings himself, the fact that his congregation had done so on their own accord had made a deep impression on him. In one of their prayer initiatives, he was requested to speak at the conference of the Evangelical Alliance, 16-17 January 1861. The essence of his address at this occasion (repeated in English the following day and performed on his behalf by Dr. Andrew Murray) was that revival should not be expected to emanate from pastors, but from the Holy Spirit after persistent prayer.
In 1867, the Dutch Reformed Church Synod encouraged churches to observe Ten Days of Prayer before Pentecost Sunday as an annual practice. This led to many blessings and spiritual fruit over the next 150 years in the Dutch Reformed Church. After the 1860-1861 revival, several other revival periods followed during the next 60 years in 1868, 1874, 1884-1885, 1889, 1895, 1897, 1901-1905, 1923 and 1927.
So what did the Apostles do that led to the adding of 3000?
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
It says that after Jesus ascended to heaven, the disciples gathered to devote themselves to prayer. Verse 15 says there were 120 at that meeting. 120 people were gathered for the purpose of prayer. Then when the day of Pentecost arrived, it says they were all together in one place. While they were there, the Holy Spirit filled the room, and more importantly, the Holy Spirit filled them. They spilled out of the room and some amazing things happened. One of those things was seen in a fisherman named Peter (yes, the same Peter who denied Christ three times about a month and a half before). Peter stood up, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and preached a sermon where 3,000 people were saved.
Now, there is not a perfect connection between the first part of the chapter and the latter part. The text does not say that they were praying in the room before the Holy Spirit fell upon them, but why wouldn't they be? How often do we see this group praying, every time they get together?
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
This is the verse immediately following the 3,000 saved souls) says, "And they devoted themselves to the apostle's teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." The opening of Chapter 3 shows that Peter and John were headed up to the temple to pray. On their way to pray, Jesus healed a guy through them and they got in trouble; but just after they were released,
And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:
‘Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.’
“For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
This records the prayer of these men and their friends. And that prayer concluded with the place shaking and being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31).
How about when there was trouble with the distribution of bread to the widows in Acts 6? What was it that the apostles needed to devote their time to? Oh yeah, prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4). PRAYER
Our list could go on and on. Remember when God rescued Peter from prison? What was everybody doing when Peter got to Mary's house late that night? Praying! (Acts 12:6-17). And in Acts 14 we see that Paul and Barnabas appointed Elders in every church and with prayer and fasting committed them to the Lord (Acts 14:23). The point is that the disciples prayed. Often. Maybe every time they were together. If you were a disciple in the First Century, you were known as someone who prayed.
And I like to think that the disciples prayed together from the day of Ascension to the day of Pentecost. Tradition celebrates the Day of Ascension 39 days after Easter (Ascension is the 40th day). Pentecost is celebrated is 50 days after Easter (including Easter day). This year, Ascension was May 5th. Pentecost is May 15th. This is 10 days of steadfast Prayer and supplication
I propose that we, the saints of Faith Baptist (and anyone who would like to join us) make a special effort to prayer and fast for Ten days. Let's pray more than usual. Let's be a people who are marked by prayer. If you are a disciple in the 21st century, shouldn't people think they same thing about you as they did of the disciples of the 1st Century? Lets be specific about our Prayer consistent with our prayer. Not just having a form of Godliness but believe faith in the Power of God to hear our prayer not just to Hear it but to answer it.
Do you desire to see a huge move of God, Pray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Do you desire to see the earth shake by the power of Gods people on their knees ? Pray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To you desire to see a massive revival across this wicked nation we must PRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Will you PRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What can you do in addition to your normal prayers? Is there a meal, or a couple meals, a day, or a couple days that you can fast? Can you join in fasting with others? How about getting together with others for prayer? How about setting alarms throughout the day to pray?
Pray.......Pray......Pray , and Pray in a way you have Faith in God that He can answer your Prayer that He can shake the Ground that you walk on therefore PRAY with a intensity with a power.
Do You want to see 3000 added to the Kingdom of God We must come together and pray without ceasing we must Fast for Him sacrificing food with Prayer to the one who gave the ultimate sacrifice for us. Do you really want to see
America on Fire for God leading the nations leading the missions holding the banner of truth of Christ once again We Must Pray