Saturday, August 10, 2013

Global 40 Days of Prayer: Devotional: Day 5



DEVOTIONAL DAY 5
AUGUST 10, 2013
  
Intention: 
What is revival? Isaiah 44 gives us a beautiful description of what God longs to do for his people and a picture of what revival is like. Revival is like drought breaking rain falling upon a parched and barren land. Within days the brown landscape is turned to lush green.

Scripture: 
 "For I will pour water on the thirsty land, 
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
 and my blessing on your descendants.
They will spring up like grass in a meadow,
like poplar trees by flowing streams." (Isaiah 44:3-4 NIV)

Reflection:  
This passage tells us three things about revival. First, revival is not worked up but sent down. It doesn't arise from the normal activities of church life. It comes down like rain when God chooses to send it. We can and must prepare the way (like the farmer prepares the soil), but only God can send revival.

    
Second, revival is not just showers of blessing but a flood. It is a mighty soul-drenching outpouring of his Spirit upon his people. It is God taking over his Church and saturating us with his powerful presence. How else will the streams of living water flow to unbelievers around us? Drawing water from half-empty wells will not do. We need this overwhelming flood to overflow our lives with love for others. This is what happened on the Day of Pentecost. Those first disciples could not contain the love and testimony bubbling up from joy-filled hearts. And this has been the marks of revivals ever since.

Third, revival will always impact youth. This has been a consistent feature of revivals throughout history. Young people have always been at the heart of every great move of God - a rising generation claimed for God.

But for revival to come there are preparations to make. God will not pour out his Spirit on hard and stony hearts. The soil of our hearts must be broken up and made soft and responsive. That's why 2 Chronicles 7:14 calls us to prepare the way through prayer and ongoing repentance. Do you want to be a part of what God is going to do? Then don't wait for someone else. Let God begin with you!

   
Prayer:
O Father, I come to you now. Search me and know my heart. Remove my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of my salvation and give me a willing spirit that delights to do your will. In the name of Jesus I pray.

 Continue in prayer using the 4 prayer points as the Lord leads you.   




Four Prayer points:
  
*Pray for a worldwide outpouring of the Holy Spirit for revival and transformation of the nations of the world.
 
*Pray for a billion people to find Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord.

*Pray for an end to abortion and for God to turn back the tide of death and immorality that is sweeping the nations of the world.

*Pray for a multiplication of prayer, praise and worship to God across the world as never before, to bring great glory to God.

Jesus
Today's devotional courtesy of:
Ian Malins (Author of "Prepare the Way for Revival")
 Omega Discipleship Ministries  

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