By Pastor Jeff,
Prayer has always been the cornerstone of the Christian faith as well as many other religions. As I studied many of the former Revivals it is sometimes overlooked as the main reason that the Holy Ghost could move with such signs, wonders, and power. The first century church when faced with persecution for preaching about Jesus, did this in Acts 4:31, “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
We need again to be shaken and a refilling of the Holy Ghost as the Church of old!
The thing you noticed about the prayer that was being brought about in any Revival what stands out to me is not so much the frequency but the intensity as those often found themselves prostrate before our almighty God in repentance and desire to become one with the Spirit.
The word that stands out to me is the word “travail”, the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah often made mention of the travail that comes from a woman in labor. As a man I can’t attest that I can sympathize with a woman in labor, but in prayer I’ve have experienced deep sometimes painful prayer which I have found parallel accounts with those in the midst of Revival. One thing I do know about a woman in labor is that when it starts it does not end until you have a birth. I pray this is the same with us, Paul spoke of this in Galatians 4:19, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you”
I, in future Blogs as the Lord permits will be sharing some of my experiences in travail for whatever the will of Jesus Christ is in my life. Many churches say they desire Revival but the sacrifice that comes with it is not what they are willing to sign up for. Prayer involves time and time is the one thing we have the hardest thing to give up. I believe Jesus is returning soon and I don’t want to see anyone miss it. So if it means a little lost sleep, missing my favorite TV show, even a meal or two, count on me to put my best foot forward.
picture care of; shadesofgrace.org
My Thoughts about Revival 