I believe we need to be evangelizing the lost. I believe we need to have people on the mission field doing evangelism and discipleship. I believe we need people in the mission field doing the mercy deeds (clothing the poor, feeding the hungry, etc.). But, I feel like the Church has missed the place of humbling ourselves and proclaiming to God that we cannot do it without him, which is essentially prayer. We cannot do it if we leave one of our key tools (Prayer) in the tool box.
2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
- If they will pray
Matthew 9:37-38 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; (38) therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
- Jesus speaking on how to “Reap a Harvest” in your evangelism campaign. His clear direction was to “Pray Earnestly”.
Luke 18:1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
Luke 18:7-8 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? (8) I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
- Cry to him day and night. I believe he’s talking about prayer.
- I believe Justice includes wining the lost, feeding the poor, healing the sick, restoring wholeness and holiness to the human heart.
- He (Jesus) will bring Justice when we cry (pray) to him “day and night”. Night and day prayer, 24 hour a day prayer. Luke 18:1 prayer that never stops. Night and day prayer rooms are being raised up all over our nation and all over the earth.
- Prayer (intercession) is when we agreed with what God says he will do.
- Worship is when we agree with who God says He is.
- When he comes back will “he find faith (people of prayer) on the earth”? I believe we have lost faith in and missed the value of prayer in our current Church culture.
These principals are demonstrated clearly in Acts 1&2
Act 1:4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; (5) for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
- Jesus told the first disciples don’t leave the place of prayer until you receive power from the Holy Spirit.
- The Disciples, being people of faith (Luke 18:8), did what Jesus told them to do.
Act 1:13-14 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. (14) All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
- They went to the upper room and prayed together (all of them) and in one accord.
- Some believe the time from Jesus’ Ascension to Pentecost was about 10 days.
10 continuous days of prayer. - Men and women, young and old praying “together” (corporate) and “in one accord” (Unity).
- How do we structure our prayer meetings, what format do we use, so that we can be “Together” and “in one accord”? This is one of the most important questions if we are going to be “Joyful” in the house of prayer.
Then the power came.
Act 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. (2) And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. (3) And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
- They were all together in one place (a cooperate prayer meeting).
- The Holy Spirit falls so powerfully that they feel the power and presence of God on them. They “felt God move”.
- Unbelievers that were lingering around were stirred and began to ask questions.
Acts 2:14-47
Peter seizes the opportunity, stands up and preaches a powerful sermon. He gives a brief history of Jewish tradition and explains how Jesus is the awaited Mesiah. Then 3000 people get saved. I believe that one key aspect of the 3000 people being saved was that from the time of Jesus’ ascension until the day of Pentecost all the disciples had stayed in the upper room and “IN ONE ACCORD were DEVOTING themselves to prayer.”
