Part 47 - Revive us Lord!
What we pray for says a lot about what matters to us. Over the past few weeks it has been great to pray for the needs of our community, as they are in a temporal sense. So our temporary needs are that we want the Lord to help people do their jobs well, for the sick to be healed, for the economy which is struggling etc. But we must not let the temporal squeeze out the eternal and that has been a possibility.
My big challenge to myself, and I offer this to us as a church, is are we praying for eternal things with as much if not more fervour? Are we praying for people to be saved as a result of this crisis? We must pray that our country will be shaken out of its lethargy and sleep, but more than this that the church in our country will. Look at how Jesus speaks commandingly to the churches in Revelation 2-3. It is they that he wants to wake up!! For decades, evangelism has been exceptionally hard in this country, with only a few glimmers of hope of large numbers of conversion (predominantly among students in big centres, and internationals.)
The book of Revelation makes it clear that the Lord uses severe trial and natural disaster to rouse a sleeping world and a deaf church. These things are 'God's megaphone' (C.S.Lewis).
Obviously revival comes in God's timing and it isn't something that we can force or coax Him into. But there is a power in even two people getting together and interceding for a village, town or even country. Richard Bewes says that his missionary parents saw the revival in East Africa, that began in one region when his Uncle Joe sat under a tree and prayed with another. Jesus says 'Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.' (Matthew 18:19).
I guess I am saying that I feel a burden to pray for this, but I know that I am small and weak, so quick to give up. Will you join with me in praying this? Are there two or three people who would like to seek God to revive our town, country and our little church? Let me know if that's you and we can pray together.
Si Walker, 09/05/2020