A Church of Praying People
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 (2 Chron. 7:14).
Pray for the Church ~ Bufrey Dean
We must begin to pray, to pray as if our country and our lives depended on it, because they do.God can stop all these atrocities against His commands that have taken root in our country through something as simple as sincere prayer, a call to God to deliver us, to forgive us our sins of apathy and to protect us from the evil that is upon us.We must begincalling on our God to save us from the deception that charismatic preaching is using to lead us on the wrong path.must stop those who would take God out of our country, our schools, our churchesour government.
Our prayer must be to cry out to God, “Bend me, O Lord!” This must be a complete and total surrender of our will to God’s will.
In our church meetings, we must speak with a determined, yet simple message for God to break down any and all man made barriers and divinelybring togetheragain.
1. We must confess all known sin to God.
2. We must deal with and get rid of any “doubtful” area of our life.
3. We must be ready to obey the Holy Spirit instantly.
4. We must confess the Lord Jesus Christ publicly.
When finished, we must all be on our knees crying out to God.
In Wales , years ago, in 1904, it was the beginning of one of the greatest movements of God in all history. Over 1,000,000 people were added in Jesus Christ. The coming together was so great that the national culture changed dramatically.
· A rage of bankruptcies took place - All of the taverns and liquor stores went out of business.
· Work at the coal mines was brought to a near standstill — The mules that pulled the wagons were so accustomed to hearing foul language from the workers that after the men were saved the mules no longer recognized their voices or commands.
· The entire police force was dismissed for 18 months due to a complete lack of crime.
· One of the few court cases that was actually brought before a judge was unusual. The defendant came into the court and admitted his guilt, the judge led the man to Christ and the jury closed the case by singing a hymn.
The revival eventually made its way across the Atlantic and swept through America . There was even a daily column in the New York Times called “Today’s Converts” that listed those who were being added. Times seem to have totally changed and we have to admit that our world is nothing like that of 1904. I would have to agree our world is a darker and more sinful place where revival seems almost impossible.
What about God has changed from 1904 to today? What part of the power of Christ’s resurrection has diminished from then until ? What part of the work of the Holy Spirit has changed? Our churches have fallen on desperate times. We are in desperate times because we desperately need a movement of Almighty God and no one seems to realize it!
If God could bring revival in 1904 or any other time, He can do it here today! Let us carefully look at some of the conditions that God places on the outpouring of revival. Open your Bibles to 2 Chronicles 7:14. If my people, who are called by my name, will 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.
God is looking for His people to come together.
“If My People”
The “if” here is the beginning of the conditions that God is looking to be met before He shall act. It is clear that God is issuing a conditional promise to His people - do these things and I will respond. God expects specific things before He brings revival. These promises are only for those who place their faith in God. God is speaking to His people and no one else. We must understand that this is an exclusive prayer that God only gives to His people. We often forget that the work of revival always begins with God’s own people first, why? God must first renew His people before the real work takes place. The work of revival must begin with God, but is never meant to end there. For revival to be lasting and to truly make an impact, we must seek God and reach out to Him.
“Who are called by my name”
1. God calls us out from among the world. Being a Child of the King means that we are meant to stand out from the rest of the world. We must live differently than the world because we value different things, we value our eternal promise and we value a different lifestyle.
We are called to be an holy priesthood, where every believer carries the responsibility, not just the pastor or the deacons. We are called to be Children of the King in this world to share His truth and boldly seek His power.
2. We are known by a new name. Whenever Christ quickens us, we are a new creation and are given the opportunity to live a transformed life. When we became associated with His name, we are known as His children. Every person who claims to know Jesus either lifts His name or tears His name down.
“Will humble themselves[ourselves] and pray”
Why does God desire for us to humble ourselves? The word humble means to be in submission, to live in a state of surrender. When we humble ourselves, we are literally saying to God, you are in control of my life. To be humble means to be brought low. Remember that simple prayer, Bend us O Lord. We must humble ourselves, then, God bends us to His will.
What happens when God bends us?
1. Bending opens us to His guidance (Psa. 32:8)
2. Bending causes us to know His grace (I Pt. 5:5)
3. Bending gives us a gentle heart (Mt. 11:29)
4. Bending leads us to true greatness (Mt. 23:12)
5. Bending gives us spiritual garments (1 Pt. 5:5)
6. Bending gives way to eternal glory (Phil. 3:20 & 21)
Once God bends us, we cannot remain the same. Then we are to pray. One of the key principles of revival is a harmonious effort in prayer. When we pray in harmony are bringing our lives to intersect with God and in the moment, something amazing happens; He pours Himself into our lives. This is why prayer is so absolutely vital.
Prayer is the foundation of a growing relationship with God; without prayer thatwill never truly grow. We must be in harmony with God if we ever want to experience revival in our lives. The principle of prayer flows out of us in the church.
1. Prayer needs to be in one accord with the brethren. (Acts 1:14)
2. Prayer was steadfastly a major part of the life of the church (Acts 2:42)
3. Prayer is vital to seeing a divine display of power (Acts 4:31)
Revival is nothing more than God stepping in and filling you with His presence and power in a spiritual way. God develops that relationship with you, and you then, willexperience personal revival.
“And seek My face[to be revived] .”
The Hebrew word for seek means to intend to find or to deeply desire. In essence, to seek something from God means to first have the deep desire to see it happen and then to actively and persistently pursue it.
One of the major reasons why churches in America never see a movement of God is because they don’t want it badly enough. There is a personal price that has to be paid in finding revival. It is opening our self to the leading of the Holy Spirit and then obeying what the Spirit says.
In 1904 those people from Wales wanted to see revival so badly that they stayed at the church and prayed until 2 am. We struggle to gather a handful of people to pray for an hour. The church today does not see God moving because we have stopped seeking.
God said these words to Jeremiah: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. We will only truly find God and His reviving power when we really and truly desire that which only He can give us. Once that desire is there, then we must pursue it.
“And turn from their [our] wicked ways.”
Our first challenge is to confess any known sin. Revival will never happen in our life until we let go of our sin. Sin is nothing more than pure bondage and it holds us in place like a wrapped body chain.
Why is it that God desires confession?
1. Confession is a realization of wrongdoing.
Most children get themselves into trouble from time to time. I know that our children do sometimes get into trouble, it’s not their fault that they act like their . When your children get themselves into trouble and have to be punished, how many of you ask them if they know what they did was wrong?
We are God’s children and confession is merely telling God what it is that we have done wrong. When we confess we are admitting the fact that we have done wrong.
2. Confession renews our relationship with God.
God does not work through sinful living; it is absolutely impossible. God moves in our lives when the path has been cleared. When we confess our sins to God, it clears theand God moves because he loves us. He is faithful to forgive and cleanse our lives.
3. Confession seeks God’s assistance.
When we confess our sin to God it is seeking Him to take the chains that bind us and set us free. God never forces us to do anything that we don’t want to do but when we confess, we are asking for God to send us His help. A much needed song in our services is written by John Newton:
Lord, Revive Us
visit Thy plantation, grant us Lord a gracious rain;
Allwill come to desolation,unless Thou return again.
Keep no longer at a distance, shine upon us from on high;
Lest for want of Thine assistance, ev’ry plant should droop and die.
Lord revive us, Lord revive us,
All our help must come from Thee;
Lord revive us, Lord revive us,
All our help must come from Thee.
Surely once Thy garden flourished, ev’ry part looked gay and green;
Then Thy word our spirits nourished, happy seasons we have seen.
Dearest Savior, hasten ,Thou canst make them bloom again;
Opermit them not to wither,letnot all ourhopes bevain.
What was it that made the Welsh revival so powerful and so successful for the church? It had nothing to do with the preacher’s ability to deliver powerful sermons. It had nothing to do with the length or frequency of his prayers, even though this was important.
I believe that revival takes place because we pray for God to bend us. Our prayer is the product of a deep hunger more of God and less of and we can do. It is a submission to the complete purpose and plan of our Almighty God. The power comes from sincere abandoning of self and an absolute embrace of what God desires.
I firmly believe that God has the desire to bring revival to us. The only question that really remains, is do we have the desire to be revived? If we want to experience personal revival, today is the day to seek God. If we want to see a real live revival, today is the day to seek the Holy Spirit. If we want our homes, our churches and our community to see a mighty outpouring of power, today is the day to seek Jesus. If God is tugging at your heart today, come and seek His power from on high. God’s promises are sure and certain! There are four essential words that are vital to our coming together in God’s name.These four important words are:
FAMILY
FRIENDS
FAITH and
FELLOWSHIP
May God bless us all.
Written to Oak Grove PBC, Sylacauga, AL where Elder Dean is pastor
The Glory of the Bride ~ LeRon Dean (1986)
How lovely is the Bride in white; the Bridegroom to behold.
Her garments washed by His shed blood; her beauty is untold.
He sees her as she really is; His view is crystal clear.
Her view of Him through darkened glass doth yet so dim appear.
If she should see some beauty there, when at herself she'd look,
It's Him, not her, to glory in; His image she mistook.
In patience she'll abide until their love they consummate.
E'er dwell in New Jerusalem He did for them create.
Reflected glory from the source is lovely, yes indeed.
Remove the source and what is left? 'Tis naught we must concede.
All glory is ascribed to Him; she has none of her own,
And as she labors to please Him, she'll note their love has grown.
Her duty is unto Him here as she gives praise to Him
By helping others on their way exalting Him to them.
His labors in behalf of her are finished and still yet;
He intercedes to God for her; her needs are always met.
Characteristics of a Praying Church ~ Leonard Davis
Savior we come unto Thee, for we see our unworthiness before our eyes. Your glorious love was shown to us as You were hanged upon the cross and died in our place. Our God, our Lord, came as a savior to redeem us from our sins and iniquity. His perfect life was given that we may live and have life more abundantly. Should not these words ring in our ears and cause us to humbly assemble in the house of worship? The congregation of the church should be made up of people with true hearts, without hypocrisy, praying and praising the Lord. A church of praying people is a church glorifying the Lord, and in so doing they are zealous of all spiritual gifts with which God has blessed them, especially those gifts that edify the church. The daughters of Zion are to sing and rejoice in the Lord, for He said that He will be in the midst of them.
The Apostle Paul often stressed the importance of prayer. Moreso, he impressed upon us the fact that prayer was necessary. Should not the church, the bride of Christ, be expected to talk to the groom? Do not the children of this world speak unto their fathers, when they need something? Even our Lord felt prayer was important—He was constantly in prayer to His Father. In His many examples, We learned where to pray, how to pray and when to pray. Some examples taught us what not to pray for:
· “I pray not for the world…” (Jn. 17:9).
· “When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men (Mt. 6:5).”
· “When ye pray, use not vain repetitions…(Mt. 6:7).”
· “And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt (Mt. 26:39).”
· “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mt. 26:41).
A church of praying people will confess their faults one to another, and pray for one another, that they may be healed. In such, we should look to the Lord for the needs of the church and to bless it as He deems necessary. The people of the church are neither to be an offense to each other nor unto others but be one in unity to the praise of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We are to assemble ourselves and draw nigh unto God in prayer, for therein we will find peace and joy. As Paul did for the church (Rom. 1:9) and the church for Peter (Acts 12:5), we are to pray without ceasing.
Pray for the brethren, and pray for wisdom and spiritual understanding. A church of praying people will be attentive to the things of the Lord and desire less of what the world can afford them. We need to pray as a people that we may be counted worthy, in the blood of Christ, to be heard and to know that our prayers will be heard. We seek His mercy and grace, but do the thoughts of our hearts deserve such?
Many times “we know not what we should pray for as we ought [individually or collectively as the church] “but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26). With the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we will be heard and mercy extended.
The church as a whole body needs to take heed to the word of God and pray, for we know not what the morrow may hold, nor the time when the tomorrow may never come. A church of praying people realize that they were lost and full of sin, so weak and worthless, undone without a plea, that if not by the grace of God and His tender loving kindness, they would ever be in a cloud of gloom and sadness. The church can see the nail-pierced hands and feet, the crown of thorns on His head, the wound opened in His side and His rent and tattered flesh all evidences of their sins that He bore. We can do nothing but fall upon our knees blending our voices in prayer, praise and proclamation of His glory knowing that our Savior, Jesus Christ, is more precious than anything this world can afford. How this unity uplifts our spirits, our hearts and our hopes to our great King and God! Our communion is sweet so much so that our hearts burn with the fire of the Holy Spirit as we share that love divine.
We prayerfully thank Him for cleansing our hearts and minds, enabling us to subdue this fleshly will, as we continue to drink from the fountain of life flowing from Jesus Christ into our beings. Knowing that we are strangers here below and this is not our home, we seek a glimpse of our heavenly home as we sojourn here below. We assemble together as a congregation of His saints to separate ourselves from the toils and cares of this world. Jesus Christ is the light of our day; as He speaks to us, our souls delight in feeling His indwelling presence with each and every one of us that is multiplied by our gathering as the praying body of Christ.
Praying people praise His name and sing songs of redeeming love, as we look to Him to be our guide pointing us in the way that we should go. Our daily toils and cares are but a small grain of sand compared to the enormous wonders that God has in store for us when we reach the shores of that eternal home. Glimpses are ours for the asking when we pray for His blessings—no need to wait until we cross over the river into that eternal day.
We know that our Redeemer looks down from heaven and watches over all His people, as with Stephen “being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55). We bow down our heads when we pray, but Jesus requires us to look heavenward where He is interceding on our behalf unto the Father until He returns. He is going to return and call up all those that the Father has given Him—the church, His bride. Oh, wouldn’t it be wonderful to have the church assembled and bowed down in prayer praising God when the last great trumpet sounds. The voice of the Lord calls unto His children to arise with this earthly tabernacle fashioned into an immortal body like unto His and meet Him in the sky on the way to that eternal home. “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thes. 4:17). Yes, we’ll be with Him in that home where we will sing His praises, be in His presence and see the glory that was given unto Him, and never have a need to pray again.
HALLELUJAH ! WHAT A SAVIOR!
Amen & Amen
Bride of the Lamb, Awake, Awake! ~ Edward Denny (1796-1889)
Thy spirit, through the lonely night, From earthly joy apart,
Hath sighed for One that’s far away— The Bridegroom of thy heart.
But see! the night is waning fast, The breaking morn is near;
And Jesus comes, with voice of love, Thy drooping heart to cheer.
Bride of the Lamb, awake, awake!
Why sleep for sorrow now?
The hope of glory, Christ, is thine,
A child of glory thou.
He comes—for oh, His yearning heart No more can bear delay—
To scenes of full unmingled joy To call His bride away.
Then weep no more; ’tis all thine own His crown, His joy divine;
And, sweeter far than all beside, He, He Himself is thine!
The Bride’s Chamber ~ Hulan Bass, Lockhart, TX
First, “Preach the word” (2 Tim. 4:2).However, the “word by itself kills” (2 Cor. 3:6) “but the spirit giveth life.”
Preaching the word or letter is scriptural, but it is not "The Gospel." 1 Thessalonians 1:5 informs us of the requirements of the Word becoming the gospel. “For our gospel came not into you in word only, but also in power, and in The Holy Ghost, and in much assurance.”
So, the Gospel requires the presence and leadership of the Spirit. Now, knowing this, we can then follow the gospel, always realizing that if it is not accompanied with the Spirit it is not the gospel, but the Word only.
With this ingredient, we follow the gospel, as it goes about its various assignments, always being delivered by the God-called preacher, with its applications and appeals being directed only to the born-again elect child of God.If it is not directed only to the born again elect child, then it cannot be heard or understood spiritually (John 8:43).
Now, concerning the gospel [not justthe letter of the Word,] it will lead us into two distinct areas every time, or both. Namely, the Spirit leads preacher who leads the congregation. It is never “thepreacher leading the Spirit.”
Paul says, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). Paul further admonishes to “Follow him” (1 Cor. 4:16); (Phil 3:17).But if you study the context, Paul is always implying that first Christ or rather the Spirit of Christ is leading him.articulated this fine point, I now am ready to amplify my major thrust.
When a God-called preacher is following the Spirit [which is the leader] into various fertile fields of the gospel, we will learn that each and every endeavor leads either into: the classroom, or the Bride's Chamber.If it is only the Word or letter, it will always be "the Classroom." If it is Spirit-led, then it becomes the gospel (1 Thes. 1:5).Sometimes, the Spirit may forbid us to experience the Bride's Chamber, but rather lead us only into the Classroom. But while there, the Spirit, through the preacher, may “show or point you to the Bride's Chamber” without your having manifestly experienced entering.Holy of Holies itself—the Sanctum Sanctorium—in the Tabernacle of the Old Testament is also a figure of the Bride's. This is where the Lord promised to meet with them and make His presence known between the cherubim's—the Shekinah Glory.This is a picture of the height or crown of spiritual joysthis earth. This is the ultimate spiritualexperience of the Child of Grace while here-bound.
This is trulythe earnest, joy, foretaste of the glory of God. You may have only been in the Outer Place —the Holy Place, before.sermons of the Word or letter only, speak to the mind. However, if the sermon is endowed with the Spirit and its leadership, it then speaks to theheart.
Also notice, as the Spirit leads, we follow. No man can command the Spirit (Ecc. 11:5; 1 Cor. 2:9-10). Observe in Rom. 8:27 the operation of the Holy Trinity.
“And he that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”There you have it—the mind of the Spirit is in harmony with God, the Father and the Son.The Son then calls the preacher who follows the Spirit, which leads us into the gospel, then into the Bride's Chamber.
I feel many times my studies have opened my mind's door of understanding, and in the pulpit before the congregation my desire is to lead them into the Bride's Chamber, but the Spirit may forbid such entry, only allowing the Minister to “show or point" one to The Bride's Chamber.I know by experience that many times I have "seen"it but was not permitted to enter therein. The main difference is that "seeing it" you joyfully understand it, but when the Spirit allows “entryinto it” you notonly see it but “feel it.”Then is when shouts of praise go up. Then is when tears of joy are shed. Then rejoicing is to the full.
A regenerated born-again elect child of God under the sound of the gospel may or may not feel it but no doubt will see it.difference is whether the spirit allows entry only into the Classroom, or maybe, even into the Bride's Chamber.is the fullness of joy (Song of Solomon 4:16).this context, Solomon magnifies the wonderful encounter“Awake, O north wind; and come,thou south, blow uponmy garden, that the spices thereof mayflow out. Let my beloved come into His Garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.” Here the Bride's Chamber is expressed as a “garden.” Especially notice, it becomes His Garden (Song of Solomon 4:12). The Bridegroom favorably affirms and gives His approvalof theide's Chamber with a beautiful description: “A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed…” This is the Bride's Chamber.
If we are not only to see but enter therein, we must start prayerfully, that the Preacher will, with the approval and leadership of the Spirit, be endowed with the “preached gospel” and not just in Word or Letter only.The Worship Service begins with songs of praise and adoration, and reaches an elevated plateau of adoration till the “Spiritual presence” of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Husband, is felt.before the minister enters the pulpit, the knee is bowed in humility and prayer is rendered.Then and only then can such God-honoringpraise lift us higher not just to see, but feel the glory of the Lord.is ultimate timely joy of rest for the tired laborer.is on his pilgrimage and sojourn on this mundane earth looking for and seeking for an heavenly abode where even now - timely, he can enter into sweet rest—the's Chamber.If not, may we at least have the view from the Classroom to see it.
The Classroom is the place of “instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). Being taught is important, but the experience of the Bride's Chamber is the higher level where shouts of joy are heard.
The assembly of the saints is not to be forsaken (Heb. 10:25).The classroom is better than no attendance at all, but may we all pray for entry into the Bride's Chamber.“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be Praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His Holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great king” (Psalms 48:1-2). This is the manifestly declared difference in just sitting in the Church and spiritually entering into the Kingdom (Matt. 6:13).
The Kingdom is another way of expressing the Bride's Chamber.Again, (Rom. 14:17) “For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
I pray, may it be the mind of the Spirit to grant just such encounters.
Banner of Love, September 1995
I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord ~ Timothy Dwight (1801)
I love Thy kingdom, Lord, the house of Thine abode,
The church our blest Redeemer saved with His own precious blood.
I love Thy church, O God; her walls before Thee stand,
Dear as the apple of Thine eye and graven on Thy hand.
If e’er to bless Thy sons, my voice or hands deny
These hands let useful skills forsake, this voice in silence die.
Should I with scoffers join her altars to abuse?
No! Better far my tongue were dumb, my hand its skill should lose.
For her my tears shall fall for her my prayers ascend,
To her my cares and toils be given till toils and cares shall end.
Beyond my highest joy I prize her heavenly ways,
Her sweet communion, solemn vows, her hymns of love and praise.
Jesus, Thou friend divine, our Savior and our King,
Thy hand from every snare and foe shall great deliverance bring.
Sure as Thy truth shall last, to Zion shall be given
The brightest glories earth can yield and brighter bliss of heaven.