17 August 2008
Responding to the Call to Pray
August/18/2008 01:58 PM
“If
My people which are called by My name, will 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.”
- 2 Chronicles 7:14
It is
such an awesome thing when God says of us,
“My
people.” Since we have been born
again and washed by the blood of Jesus, we belong to
Him. We are His possession and He is our Father!
With this awesome privilege comes a great calling. This calling is so great because we are called by His Name! We have been personally chosen and appointed by the name that holds the highest honor, authority, character, holiness and renown in the entire universe! There is no other name that is higher, and He has called us. One part of this calling is the call to pray.
Our Heavenly Father has put out the call, but it is up to us to respond to it. He promised to hear us, forgive us and heal our land. Notice, the first word of the verse above is the word “If.”
If we respond to the call to pray, things will change in our lives and in the lives of our families and friends. If we respond to this call, we can bring change in our churches, our state, our government, our nation and even beyond our borders. If we truly believe that prayer changes things then how can we neglect this call?
James 5:16 says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (makes tremendous power available, dynamic in it’s working).”
This kind of prayer described in James is not, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep…”. It is not a prayer prayed every now and then. The prayer of a righteous man or woman is full of passion and power. It is a consistent force that is effective!
We need the spirit of prayer to come upon us as the body of Christ. Here at Winter Haven Worship Center I believe that is just what is happening! The people of our church are coming alive and getting fired up. We are pressing into prayer and seeing results. Glory to God! Let’s stay fervent in prayer, seeking his face, and together we will see the power of God! We will see what God is longing for, the precious fruit of the earth. And that good will triumph over evil in the end.
Proverbs 15:29 “The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.”
Proverbs 15:8 “…but the prayer of the upright is His delight.”
When we respond to the call of prayer as the early Christians did in the book of Acts, we will see the move of God’s Spirit. In the 14th verse of the first chapter it says, “They all joined together constantly in prayer..”. The Holy Spirit anointed the disciples to preach and thousands were born again and many were healed. There were many signs, wonders and miracles performed in their midst as they…“devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” Acts 2:42. The disciples were even set free from prison with the help of angels because of the prayers of the church.
We have the key to revival. We have the key to the power of God and for every break through if we respond to the call to pray!
Do you have a testimony of answered prayer? You can be a blessing and encouragement to others by clicking on the comments button below and sharing what God has done for you!
kimconnor@whwc.org
- 2 Chronicles 7:14
With this awesome privilege comes a great calling. This calling is so great because we are called by His Name! We have been personally chosen and appointed by the name that holds the highest honor, authority, character, holiness and renown in the entire universe! There is no other name that is higher, and He has called us. One part of this calling is the call to pray.
Our Heavenly Father has put out the call, but it is up to us to respond to it. He promised to hear us, forgive us and heal our land. Notice, the first word of the verse above is the word “If.”
If we respond to the call to pray, things will change in our lives and in the lives of our families and friends. If we respond to this call, we can bring change in our churches, our state, our government, our nation and even beyond our borders. If we truly believe that prayer changes things then how can we neglect this call?
James 5:16 says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (makes tremendous power available, dynamic in it’s working).”
This kind of prayer described in James is not, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep…”. It is not a prayer prayed every now and then. The prayer of a righteous man or woman is full of passion and power. It is a consistent force that is effective!
We need the spirit of prayer to come upon us as the body of Christ. Here at Winter Haven Worship Center I believe that is just what is happening! The people of our church are coming alive and getting fired up. We are pressing into prayer and seeing results. Glory to God! Let’s stay fervent in prayer, seeking his face, and together we will see the power of God! We will see what God is longing for, the precious fruit of the earth. And that good will triumph over evil in the end.
Proverbs 15:29 “The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.”
Proverbs 15:8 “…but the prayer of the upright is His delight.”
When we respond to the call of prayer as the early Christians did in the book of Acts, we will see the move of God’s Spirit. In the 14th verse of the first chapter it says, “They all joined together constantly in prayer..”. The Holy Spirit anointed the disciples to preach and thousands were born again and many were healed. There were many signs, wonders and miracles performed in their midst as they…“devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” Acts 2:42. The disciples were even set free from prison with the help of angels because of the prayers of the church.
We have the key to revival. We have the key to the power of God and for every break through if we respond to the call to pray!
Do you have a testimony of answered prayer? You can be a blessing and encouragement to others by clicking on the comments button below and sharing what God has done for you!
kimconnor@whwc.org
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