This period between Easter and Pentecost is especially critical this year with the Coronavirus Pandemic. I believe we are called to pray in the next great outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which will defeat Satan’s plans and will take the world closer to fulfilling the Great Commission of the Gospel of Jesus Christ going to all nations. A critical component advancing the Kingdom of God is Christians praying for and receiving the baptism with the Holy Spirit as promised us by Jesus in Acts 1:4-8.
We received guidance that in this time of social distancing when in many locations worldwide we can not meet face to face in groups, Jesus is calling Christians to enter Upper Rooms online and to pray for and to receive the baptism and/or infilling with the Holy Spirit. This guidance has launched the Upper Room Prayer Initiative. Please continue to pray that God will use these opportunities to pour out His Holy Spirit on many thousands of people who can become empowered witnesses to Jesus Christ. Thanks for your prayers for this initiative.
I believe our assignment as intercessors during this period between Easter and Pentecost is to continue to pray for true revival to take place that will not only transform hearts but entire societies. But what is it we are praying for when we pray for revival?
Doug McMurry, a historian of revival, provides seven core components that have characterized all great revivals down through history.
Each of these seven points provides a focus for our intercessory prayer work. They are listed below, each with an image the Lord may use to direct our prayer.
1. Surrender to the King
The Kingdom of God begins here, in the plain recognition that He deserves complete control of our lives, and our lives will be better for it.
2. Empowerment of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit, not “power and might” is the way Jesus chooses to reign in our hearts.
3. Heart Transformation
Let God write His Laws on our Hearts. He wants to change us to become pure in heart and loving.
4. Humility and Servanthood
Jesus gave Himself as a model for us to follow as Master, and the servant is not greater than the Master.
5. Love and Unity in Christ
Out of humility comes the possibility of unity within the Body of Christ.
6. Authority of Prayer
Jesus shares His authority with us–not worldly authority–but the authority of prayer.
7. Direct Connection with God
Jesus died so that every single follower can connect with God in a personal relationship; we need no “go-between.”
And as we are praying through this, let’s not just pray for others to experience them, but that we will too! The outpouring of the Holy Spirit must begin in our hearts.
Thanks for joining in this work of prayer for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Thank you Brad! Appreciate you all!
I’ve been hearing also that we need to pray in a new Pentecost!
Bless you and all laboring with you!
Love, LOVE this!!!!
So good! So timely! Count me in. Praise the Lord; let His glory come down!
So sweet living for Him and interceding in His name
Praise the Lord for He is my King!
Thank you Brad and Doug. I really liked the list and think it is a good place to move to and push through. This next season is not a new season, it is a birthing of prophetic life season! So many prophetic words, some need to be prayed into, You spoke about an awakening or revival. It is not a revival it is an awakening, the church is being awakened to pray against the evil around the world. The church in so much of the world has been asleep and with mundane services. Little attention has been paid to the teaching of warfare for the needs of people and the prayer for salvation for self and country and now the world. People see an illness and not evil, we need to pray for the saints to rise up to all the needs and teach, for it is a time now for Matthew 10 a time like this is a warning to to the church!
Thank you Brad and Doug. Thank you, I agree and that this is a move we need to make . This next season is not a new season, it is a season Birthing Prophetic Life. You mentioned an awakening or new season, it is not a new season it is an Awakening. The sleeping church has not been teaching warfare or prayer in effective ways and teaching /repeating the words of the bible parrot fashion. I must say not all churches but many. The spirit of mammon creating churches that seek money and wealth to enrich their lives and church. Repentance and seeking forgiveness from our Lord God is so important, move forward church. We are about to move into all Matthew 10 and in verse 23, “I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” Take care everyone and keep in prayer as you can. JOHN
We can also learn from the Second Great Awakening under Jonathan Edwards in Northamton, MA. Here Edwards had preached over 2, 000 sermons on the Benevolence and love of God. Then he preached a sermon on sin: “Sinners in the hands of an Angry God.” So many were convicted of their sin and the reality of a God of judgment as well as mercy that well over 300 joined the church on confession of faith. The Devil also woke up, and the Boston clergy began criticizing him. Indeed, there was growing opposition by a few in his own church who objected and he was eventually forced to resign. He was called to North Adams, MA, an Indian outpost. Here he wrote some of his greatest works, causing many to consider him the greatest theologian and original thinker in America. God turned a curse from the Devil into a blessing for the church.