The scriptural mandate is that every church should function as a house of prayer. Listen to Samuel Chadwick: “There is a marked absence of travail. There is much phrasing, but little pleading. Prayer has become a soliloquy [monologue] instead of a passion. The powerlessness of the church needs no other explanation. . . . To be prayerless is to be both passionless and powerless.” Some congregations exalt preaching methods and preaching styles. Others emphasize theological systems. Still others are dominated by music, drama, and entertainment. But when Christ has the preeminence, the Father’s house will function as a house of prayer (Mark 11:17; Isaiah 56:7).
Perhaps one reason revival has largely bypassed this generation is that many believers have imposed specific criteria on the Spirit. It seems we are only willing to accept an extraordinary work of grace with the following stipulations: “It must be on my turf, my terms, and my time.” Anything that does not meet these requirements is rejected. Isn’t it high time to take off the straitjacket on Deity and let God be God? We must trust the all-wise God to do His work in His way. He initiates, and our role is simply to cooperate with His instructions. God’s time and God’s terms, as well as His choice in location, are His sovereign call.
God’s plan is larger than any individual, church, or group. Territorial shepherds and cliquish sheep may violate Christ’s desire for oneness among His followers. But when the Holy Spirit is poured out, all believers become “knee-deep” in love. God’s sheep are magnetically drawn to these spiritual outpourings, so regardless of what others may do, or leave undone, you cannot afford to neglect these burdens.
Deep Concern
Before God rescues a desperate situation, He births deep concern in someone’s heart. Solomon Stoddard, the grandson of Jonathan Edwards, was the very influential pastor of the Congregationalist Church in Northampton, Massachusetts. He prayed for, preached for, and believed for revival. His church experienced five seasons of harvest throughout his thirty-five-year pastorate. These “harvests” were periods when large numbers of conversions occurred. Other churches did not pray, believe, or preach for revival. Paralyzed by unbelief, they became gridlocked by inertia, and they saw nothing of the extraordinary works of God. But under Stoddard’s prayerful and expectant leadership, his church experienced repeated times of refreshing.
Moses was overtaken with a prayer burden for Israel. God had threatened to wipe His rebellious people from the face of the earth. So, Moses stepped between God’s wrath and his nation. He cried, “Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written” (Exodus 32:31–32). Travailing prayer is desperate and often animated; it puts everything on the line. …
*Taken from Harold Vaughan’s newly published book NEXT LEVEL PRAYING from Christ Life Ministries.
