I have become more aware of the two big issues: the first
is the world ‘out there', the world
that God wants to reach. As we look at the state of the Western
world today it is in a mess. I would recommend the sobering reading
of ‘Morality' the 2020 book by Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks which
systematically uncovers the moral bankruptcy of the West (which
has very specific practical outworkings). There is a desperate
need for change.
The
second thing is the church.
To Israel He had said through Isaiah that they were to be “a
light to the Gentiles.” (Isa 42:6). To us
today Jesus says, “let your light
shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and
glorify your Father in heaven.” (Mt 5:16) If we dare
be honest we have abysmally failed to be this resulting in the
state the world is in today. We have carried on our spiritual
ceremonies and failed to impact the world around us because, even
though some of us have been doing a lot, it has rarely been as
‘the body of Christ' with his power and his revelation.
Whenever such truths really impact us, it is not that they are
to pull us down in condemnation for our failures (which is what
the enemy would seek to do) but challenge us to stand up and pray.
Prayer has always been the precursor to true revival, it is the
acknowledgement of the people of God of their helplessness and
failure with the recognition that only a sovereign act of God
can change things. But what to pray?
I
think it has been eighteen months that I have felt this call to
prayer but only today did I feel a specific way to pray. When
God moves on in His purposes, it seems so often He gradually reveals
His strategy, even though in essence it was there in His word
already. For those who will allow themselves to be moved by this
may I offer the following, no doubt very incomplete, things to
pray, to start pointing us in the right direction. Please feel
free to add what you will:
“Father,
please forgive us , cleanse us, envision us and
empower us and then release us as you start to move sovereignly.”
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To come in line with God's heart must mean first being honest
about our need, with the recognition that we need Him to change
our hearts in preparation for being part of what He is planning
to do, so we will start to become available to join in with what
He is doing.
“Lord,
please raise up an even greater army of prayer warriors
who will not only pave the way for these things to happen
but who will stand there overseeing the battle when it comes.”
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Prayer in incomprehensible ways, is seen as part of God's strategy
to mobilize His people and enable them to rise up and conquer
as Moses did of old (see Ex 17:10-13).
“Lord,
release faith and vision in your people in new ways that they
may become an army of witnesses in both word
and deed to the world around us.”
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Will we become available, will we be trained to be confident as
witnesses who move in both word and power to reach the hearts
of those around us?
“Lord,
please raise up an army of evangelists , anointed
by you to bring the life-changing conviction that is needed to
bring the watching world to its knees in submission to you as
they receive Jesus their Saviour and Lord.”
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The gifted ministry of the evangelist is the one divinely anointed
to remove blindness and bring conviction, bring the word of God
to bear on individual lives. Nothing less changes people.
“Lord,
please raise up an army of teachers , who will
be there to feed, teach and equip new believers with divinely
anointed understanding as they come as babes in Christ.”
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New believers will need to understand a new perspective and in
the excitement of all that happens, establishing them in their
new faith will be essential to enable them to stand in the years
to come.
“Lord,
please raise up an army of pastors who will
be there to feed, care for, protect and bring healing to the many
dysfunctional new believers come from this hurting and damaged
world.”
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The people in the world around us today are so confused, so hurting,
so anxious, so wounded, so disorientated, that they desperately
need loving care and healing.
“Lord,
please raise up an army of prophets who will
bring revelation to keep your people on track, warning them against
coming obstacles and distractions and revealing the way ahead.”
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Revelation is at the heart of the working of God and we desperately
need His vision, His insight, His wisdom to energize us, and move
us forward.
“Lord,
please raise up an army of apostles who will
come with the humility of divine wisdom that builds and strengthens
the rapidly expanding church and able to release your power in
your people.”
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The gift of the apostle comes as a strategic wise anointed overseer
to guide and equip and empower and enable the people of God, not
mere managers but equippers, envisioners, empowers, and senders.
“Lord,
please release faith in each of us , your children,
to enable us to receive your destiny for these days to be life
changers, world changers and those who glorify you.”
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We are all called to be active parts of this body, with changed
hearts and minds and wills, submitted to Him. This will require
time and ongoing daily enabling to achieve as we pray.
“Lord,
as I purpose to be available to you for you to achieve through
me whatever you want, please clarify in me your gifts
that enable me to be the unique part of your body you
want me to be. Amen.”
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My gifts from God that make me who am, the gifts you have from
God, are there just waiting for Him to energize and use them –
all the above things, and musician, administrator, Internet Techie,
writer, composer, whatever. A gift from God to be used
by God as God stirs them, opens doors for them
to be used, and then enables them to touch other lives and glorify
Him. May it be so.