|
During the past year the Holy Spirit has lead me to
pray some specific themes or Prayer Pleas that can be found in the Bible. Last year
I finally wrote these down and found the total was seven and each started with
the letter “R” in the English language.
Introduction
As is frequently the case, this is written from a personal
perspective – mine. This leaves the reader the freedom to consider these
thoughts and either accept or reject them. I try to stay as close to the Bible
as possible in writing. There are some subjects that have come up but in the
absence of strong Biblical proof those have been foregone. The other prevailing
factor is personal experience. This is both good and bad. I have read a great
number of religious books that are written primarily from a hypothetical point
of view. The authors did not have direct and personal involvement in the
matters they wrote about. Some are good reading but I prefer to hear from
someone who has experienced what they are writing about in most cases.
Both Sharon and I are writing and sharing what we believe is
grounded in the Word of God and in many cases we have personal experience in
those matters after a period of 40 years of full time ministry in a
fairly large number of nations, mostly in Asia and North
America. So once again, you may choose to accept or reject what we
offer for you to consider.
Since the JPN web site is presently being viewed from 86 nations representing many languages the first letter of the Seven Prayer Pleas has no
particular meaning. The point is what these seven points mean when we use them
in prayer. The list of seven with some definitions for clarity is given below.
- Revival - Revival in a Christian context generally refers to a
specific period of spiritual renewal in the life of the Church. The key
factor in revival is the restoration of the Church to a vital and fervent
relationship with God after a period of decline. Revive - Be brought back to life, consciousness, or strength
or restore from a depressed, inactive, or unused state.
- Restoration – Return to original condition, get or give new life or
energy, putting together what was torn or broken.(Relational Restoration) To cause relationships to return to
the original or former state. Restoring the connections between people.
Reconciliation – To make compatible, bring into one accord,
reestablishing good relations. 2 Cor 5: 18 All this is from God, who
reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of
reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in
Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us
the message of reconciliation. NIV Reconcile
- To exchange, adjust and to restore to Divine Favor & Divine Order.
Rebuilding – Build again, reconstruct, renew, and regenerate. Make
something by combing parts or materials.
Return – Come back to a place where one has been before. Go back
to a previous state. Go back to a point of departure.
Repentance - Turning away from sin, disobedience, or rebellion and a
turning to God. In general, repentance means a change of mind or a feeling
of remorse or regret for past conduct. True repentance is a "godly
sorrow" for sin, an act of turning around and going in the opposite
direction. This type of repentance leads to a fundamental change in a
person's relationship with God.
Restitution – A sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury,
redemption, recovery of that which was lost. “Pay back”
Personal Application
Global or Strategic
For
approximately one year, I have used these seven themes in my daily personal
prayer times. In the beginning these were applied on a global or strategic
level. For the end of 2006 I prayed for that year to be the year of “Revival”,
“Restoration” and so on. This was a daily plea in my prayer. After fifty years
of intercessory prayer I am still not sure about the effectiveness of such
general prayers. Does my small voice make a difference in the vast world that
has such great spiritual and physical needs? The one thing I am sure about is
the strong urging of the Holy Spirit that these are specific prayer pleas that
I have been instructed to present in my prayers on a daily basis.
This directive was repeated for the year of 2007. Did I have some hopes or goals
for the world in general? Yes! But, true intercessory prayer still takes place in the absence
of feedback or even frequently without seeing the fruit of its labor for long periods of time. In
fact, some answers do not occur during the life time of the intercessor! We do
see answers but we do not pray because of answers.
Personal Level
In recent
weeks we have begun to apply these seven pleas for individuals and families
that we have been praying for. It is quite proper to ask God to revive a person (see definition). It is
very Biblical to pray for a person to return.
In Luke 15 the Prodigal Son “came to himself” and then he said “I will go to my
father” (Return). There were many
factors in the story of this young man who left home and lost everything. The
main point was that he returned. We
can literally spend days discussing what is wrong with family and friends away
from God, family, and church. Why not pray earnestly for that specific deciding
factor – return? By the way, I noticed that the young man’s father saw him
“when he was yet a great way off” Luke 15:20 Could it be the father was outside
the house praying and watching by faith for his missing son to return?
As you
begin to pray for your loved ones or others take your time and look through
these seven pleas and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you how to pray for them
in respect to what each plea means in their lives.
Local Churches
Looking over the
list of seven Prayer Pleas it is easy to identify needs that exist in many
churches that may be relative to the prayer points. Many or most local churches are in need to revival,
true spiritual revival. Not just three days of special singing, fellowship and
preaching. Life changing, soul saving, family restoring revival is needed.
We have
served as pastor for 4 local churches in 3 nations. In each case we experienced
times of revival. Sometimes the revival just slowly slipped in to the church.
After some time church members began to comment that souls were being saved,
delivered or healed in each service. In some cases a week of revival was
planned but, was preceded with special fasting and prayer. Our local church in Ohio experienced both
types of revival. Healing took place in homes. In one case 4 young
children were playing together and then began to praise God. All four of them
were baptized with the Holy Spirit with no adults present. Another time
Evangelist Alva Wilson came in the winter and area local churches came out in
large numbers. One night 40 Methodist church members came and God ministered to
them through healing and miracles.
Over the
past several years we have visited the USA and have observed many local
churches that once thrived and only suffered from a lack of seating. Now these
formerly beautiful full church buildings are nearly empty with the remaining
few struggling to pay the utilities and a salary to keep a pastor. Why? There
are probably a number of causes. Many of the Prayer Pleas would apply in
praying for that kind of church. God will guide you in how to pray.
Leadership (Religious & Secular)
1 Tim 2:1 I
exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable
in the sight of God our Saviour; 1 Thess 5:12 Dear brothers, honor the officers
of your church who work hard among you and warn you against all that is wrong.
13 Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love because they are
straining to help you…TLB
Church Leaders. In the world today there are
thousands of wonderful pastors, missionaries, and church leaders that are doing
their very best to hear and follow the Voice of God. Each of these precious
workers has their own problems and struggles. They spend most of their time
ministering to the needs of others. Frequently they have no one to share their
burdens with and to seek counseling from. They need your prayers, support, and
encouragement.
Government Leaders. The scripture in Timothy starts with
kings and mentions, “all that are in authority”. This can include schools,
local communities, towns, cities, state governors, legislators and literally
the national leaders including kings, queens, presidents and prime ministers.
Many organize protests and participate in political campaigns and these are
fine if conducted properly. What would happen if those same people spent as
much time in prayer for the leaders as they do in talking and promoting the
political process?
Nicolae
Ceauşescu served as the national leader of Romania from 1965 until December
1989. He was known as a cruel and repressive dictator. He killed all those that
rose up to oppose him. He called a large support rally on Dec 21, 1989 in Bucharest. This “support”
rally soon turned hostile and he and his wife were taken prisoner. They were
executed on Dec 25. A little know fact is that the last couple years of his
reign of terror Romanian pastors under the cover of rain and night quietly
walked around his palace and prayed for God to deliver their nation from this dictator’s
tyranny.
Cities. Cities are becoming one of the most
important political and ethnic geographic entities on the earth. Some city
budgets are greater than those of nations. City mayors now wield power once
held by presidents of nations. In many nations the population is rapidly
exiting the countryside to try to find work, food, and shelter in the cities.
The cities are now filled with the homeless, unemployed, and desperate people
who have turned to crime and evil to meet their needs and desires.
Cities
often take on a character or spirit of their own. Frequently cities are named
after famous people. The names come from different languages and carry
significant meaning from the time of the establishment of the cities. For
example: Los Angeles “City of Angels”;
Tokyo “Eastern Capital”; Pyongyang,
North Korea was
originally named 왕검성. This
roughly translates to King Sword Characteristic. The names have been changed
many times throughout history. One hundred years ago it was such a Christian
leadership center it was nicknamed, Jerusalem
of the East.
Many or all the cities are in need of prayer and it is proper to use
the Prayer Pleas when seeking God for yours and other cities that He lays on
your heart to pray for. Again, take a few minutes to look over the Prayer Pleas
as you pray for your city. It surely needs revival, there are probably is a
need for reconciliation and restoration. Follow the direction of the Holy
Spirit as you pray. Believe that your prayer does make a difference!
Nation. Acts 17:26 He created all the people
of the world from one man, Adam, and scattered the nations across the face of
the earth. He decided beforehand which should rise and fall, and when. He
determined their boundaries.
2 Chron 7:13
If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to
devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 If my people,
which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my
face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will
forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Ps 33:12
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD: and the people whom he hath chosen
for his own inheritance.
There are
many historical accounts both in ancient and recent times of whole nations
experiencing revival. There have been great revivals recorded in England, Wales,
America, Korea, India,
Indonesia
and many more. I am amazed at how many have taken place and have wondered how I
could have been in ministry for nearly 40 years and am just now learning of
these great spiritual events that impacted whole nations and large cities. Here
is a summary a revival that took place in New
York City 150 years ago. That revival eventually
impacted the entire nation. Fulton Street
Revival. God raised up a praying businessman, Jeremiah Lanphier. On
September 23, 1857 he began a noontime prayer meeting on Fulton Street in the Financial District
of Manhattan. Out of a city of 1 million people, six people showed up a half
hour late. The group decided to meet the next week and there were 14. The next
week there were 23. The following week there were 40. Within weeks there were
thousands of business leaders meeting daily.
God moved so powerfully that the prayer meeting spread across the
nation. It is estimated that nearly 1
million people were converted out of a national population of 35 million,
including 10,000 weekly conversions in New
York City for a season. What could happen again today if some
began to cry out to God on behalf of their city and nation? Is it possible for
that to happen again?
Seven Prayer Pleas Today
We have
restarted the personal Prayer Watches in our home at 10:00am and 10:00pm JST and have invited others to join us if possible. At the present time we are
praying one Prayer Plea per day. We have been applying that particular one plea
on a personal level for family and friends. We also have been praying on a more
global strategic level for the cities and nations around us.
Consider
taking one Prayer Plea per day and including that in your daily prayer time. This
would take you through the Seven Prayer Pleas in one week. You may only want to
do this once or you may find God may be directing you to follow this as a
pattern for a certain period of time. This was just a personal directive that I
have been following for nearly a year now but felt that it should be shared
with others.
It is my
hope and prayer that something in this article may encourage you in prayer. May
your prayers be ever more effective and powerful to the Glory of God!
God bless
you as you pray!
Daniel
& Sharon Corbett
”Reaching One Among Millions”
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
