Raised with Christ 9
Chapter Thirteen: Reviving Prayer
The author of Raised with Christ: How the Resurrection Changes Everything, Adrian Warnock, continues with the topic of revival, and focuses in on prayer. And he immediately grabs the reader’s attention by stating that:
- this chapter on prayer is “potentially the most important chapter in this whole book”
- ‘reviving prayer’ will lead to the most dramatic and immediate changes in the average Christian’s experience, but
- we need to overcome our prayerlessness.
Got your interest? Well, here are the highlights of the chapter – but they’re no substitute for getting into the book yourself. What has the resurrection of Jesus got to do with reviving prayer? It motivates us to pray with boldness because we know God is alive and more than able to answer prayer, given that He is able to raise the dead!
Revivals in history started with prayer meetings. Is there a particular type of prayer that is one of the catalysts for a sovereign Lord to bring revival? Adrian uses the prayers of Elijah in 1 Kings 17-19 to reveal the nature of reviving prayer. In sum, it looks like this:
- plainly recognises the situation requiring God’s intervention (“don’t deny it or put a brave face on it”)
- passionate intercession before God, consistent with His biblical revelation
- calling on God to act today as He has in history. viz. “Do it again, Lord!” (see Hab 3:2)
- a heart centred on God’s glory and not our own
- asking God to bring repentance – He does it, not us
- asking God, in a bold manner, to act – and when He does don’t be floored (contra. Acts 12:15)
- be persistent in waiting on God, and discerning as to when the answers from God are beginning to flow.
My own life is not characterised by consistent reviving prayer. It needs to be. What about you? Your church?
The churches in Melbourne need revival. This wonderful city needs revival. What about where you live?
The challenge presented by Adrian is right on – ask the One, who is in the business of bringing life where there is death, to send the fire of revival.