This week’s message from Len Buttner was framed by the thought of what we need to pray in order to see unity within the Body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:1-6 says, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
We pray to see the Gospel preaching with renewed zeal, hope and with a powerful anointing of God’s Spirit to create a physical manifestations of great conviction, tears, crying out to God for mercy and forgiveness.
(Psalm 85:6) “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?
And to see the nation of New Zealand come under the power of God’s Holy Spirit and turn the nation back to God.
(Isaiah 64:1) “Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence.”
- That as we pray and ask God to search our hearts that He would grant us a deep conviction of sin, repentance, and a renewed fear of God. (Psalm 139:23–24) Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting
- That God would give us a spiritual hunger and fervency that we have never known before for Him
(Matthew 5:6) “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” - That God would bring the Body of Christ into unity, and into a place of been in one accord and to understand the power of agreement and to have undivided love in our churches and our families.
(John 13:35) “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” - That God would fill our hearts with a passion to see lost people saved and healed to bring in the harvest.
(Matthew 9:37-38) “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” - We pray that our government leaders and their families will be saved. Capture their hearts for kingdom work so they can help turn the hearts of others toward You and the good of our country.
Give them a desire to promote righteousness: the things that will honour You, not themselves.
Cut through any hypocrisy or tendencies to make their names known instead of Your name. Let them experience the joy of a pure conscience.
(1 Timothy 2:1-4) I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. - We are also exhorted to “seek God’s face,” by which is meant an insatiable hunger and unquenchable thirst for God.
(Psalm 27:8) My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.During the revivals under Hezekiah in (2 Kings 18:6) and under Josiah in (2 Kings
23:25) it is said that they “cleaved” unto God (cf. Genesis 2:24; Deuteronomy 11:22; 30:20). - Humility is essential to the onset of revival. Humility entails an openness to do whatever God says, wherever He leads.
Pride often manifests its ugly head in the form of self-sufficiency, a demand for control over what God is doing, a reluctance to trust God with our emotions, and an excessive concern for reputation and image.
(James 4:6) But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”