American Reformation Church Prayer Journal 33

ARC Prayer Meeting

Part of the many challenges issued at the American Reformation Church, especially for the men, is study, know, and apply the Scriptures to our lives and have a firm grasp on redemptive history. We must know the past in such a way that it grants us a keen eye for the future. God’s Word combined with an understanding of redemptive history provides a reliable rudder to guide the ship of life through the toils, snares, and traps of our fleeting lives here on earth.

Last week, we investigated a powerful Gospel of the Kingdom prayer written in 1659 for the purpose of advancing God’s Kingdom in the New World. This week we will continue down that historical road to see if we can discover some more prayer nuggets from the past to help equip us today to be more effectual in our prayer life as God’s people.

I came across this meme on Facebook which covered the topic of prayer and its impact on redemptive history. It stated, “John Knox prayed, and the results caused Queen Mary to say that she feared the prayers of John Knox more then she feared all the armies of Scotland. John Wesley prayed, and revival came to England, sparing that nation the horrors of the French Revolution. Jonathan Edwards prayed, and revival spread throughout the American colonies. History has been changed time after time because of prayer.”

I realize that it was not solely prayer in these instances. It was also preaching, teaching, and sacrificing to help spread the Gospel of the Kingdom in the earth in times past. For instance, in the case of Jonathan Edwards, it was his sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” that contributed greatly to America’s first Great Awakening. However, it is clear from all my studies of revivals and awakenings, the one major common denominator that was, is, and shall be is the commitment of God’s people to dedicate themselves to prevailing prayer.

We, as God’s people, have that opportunity once again to come together in prevailing prayer to call upon the name of the Lord and beseech Him to summon His saving power and show us His strength like He has done before in Jesus’ name.