We've been looking at the requirements for genuine Christian revival this week. It will help us to take another look at intercessory prayer as a key requirement for Christian revival. Let's move into the realm of Christian revival and politics. The level of Christian participation in the hot issues of politics today somewhat unnerves me. I'm not saying we shouldn't get involved, that today's political climate shouldn't concern Christians. What I want to get across is exactly the opposite message, only from a different angle. I am bombarded daily with emails and messages concerning today's politics. Do the activities and actions of our government concern me as a Christian? Absolutely. Will I voice my opinion? Absolutely. So what does politics have to do with genuine Christian revival? Intercessory prayer. Intercessory prayer is the most important activity the Christian can participate in to affect today's political environment.
"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1Tim. 2:1-4 KJV)."
Don't be fooled. God knows exactly what the leaders of the USA are doing. God knows exactly what they're planning to do. I hear of how godless this nation has become, and is becoming, every day. Where are the intercessory prayers of the Christians?
When is the last time you prayed for President Obama? When's the last time you prayed for your representatives in the Congress and Senate? I'm not just speaking of formal lip-service prayers. How about praying for your governor and state representatives?
If we truly want to change the course of direction the USA is moving in, or is being moved in by our politicians, we should seriously start interceding for them with God. 1Timothy 2:3 tells us this is good and acceptable in the sight of God.
If we truly want a nation-changing Christian revival, we should seriously start interceding for our politicians as well as for each other. God bless...
"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 (2Chr. 7:14 KJV)."
I've heard this Bible verse quoted many times over the last few weeks. The formula for genuine Christian revival is contained within its words. Three items are listed:
humility - if my people shall humble themselves
pray - if my people will make intercession in prayer
repentance - if my people will turn from their wicked ways
Humility is coming before the God broken in spirit. The broken spirit will lead us to see and acknowledge our shortcomings when we're in the holiness of God's presence.
Godly sorrow for our failures and rejections of God's leading will compel us into genuine repentance and intercession. As we become reconciled to the One whose name is Holy, we can't help but feel the pain and sorrow of those we know and love who need reconciled to God.
We consider revival to be when countless sinners come to the knowledge and acceptance of God's saving grace. Look closely at whom this verse is directed. "If my people, who are called by my name." This is a direct statement to the church, not to sinners.
True, lasting, genuine revival must start with the believer. It must start with the Church, the body of Christ. We can choose to humble ourselves or eventually the mighty hand of God will do it for us.
We can choose to come to repentance, turning from the wicked ways of our flesh, or we will one day stand before God and plead for mercy.
How can we lay claim to so great a salvation in Jesus Christ and not take the time to share it with at least one person we know? How can we be so justified in the presence of God when we know friends and loved ones who need reconciled to God?
The key ingredient to bringing mighty Christian revival lies in intercessory prayer. The burden for the lost will grow when we begin interceding for them, standing in the gap between mercy and wrath. God turned Job's suffering when he interceded for his friends (Job 42:10).
2Chronicles 7:14 says God will hear us in our brokenness. He will respond to our genuine repentance. He will answer our intercessory prayers. He will forgive the sins of all and heal the land.
My friends, Christian revival is about the forgiveness of sin for all humanity. It's about the healing and restoration of all things God originally created humanity for. Genuine Christian revival is about Jesus Christ. "For God so loved, he gave... that whosoever believeth in him should not perish."
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12 KJV)."
Let's humble ourselves before God, turn from our iniquity, and begin interceding for the lost souls of our families, our friends, our communities, and our world. Let's begin to proclaim the name of Jesus to a world which is so desperately trying to abolish it. God must respond with genuine Christian revival. He promised it in 2Chronicles 7:14. God bless...
"And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10 KJV)."
Job suffered horribly. God trusted Job to remain true. Satan was convinced Job would curse God and die. The end of Job's story excites us. He endured and God gave him double what he lost. Are we missing something in the excitement of Job's blessings? We love knowing God reversed the fortunes of Job. We lay claim to this as a promise God will do the same for us.
There's a nugget of truth in this verse we may be overlooking. Focus on the phrase "when he prayed for his friends." There's tremendous power in this statement. God had instructed Job's friends to bring a sacrifice and Job was to pray for them. God required this because Job was accepted by God (Job 42:8). The word pray, as used in these verses, means to intercede. They brought their offering to Job. It was Job who was to intercede for their errant ways.
The word captivity in verse 10 means prisoner. Job was a prisoner to his suffering. God set Job free from the prison holding him captive when he interceded for his friends. We pour our hearts out to God when we suffer, looking for God to intervene. Job's restoration came when he prayed for his friends. Is it possible that God would release us from the bondage of suffering if we were to start making intercessory prayers for our friends? Just my thoughts for today. God bless...
