PRAYING HEAVEN'S AGENDA

In church history, there was a man, John Hyde by name. He prayed to the extent that he was nicknamed "Praying Hyde". He went to India on missions and he was also used by God in Shrewsbury revival. He was passionate about heaven's concern and he prayed, "Give me souls or I die". History will not forget John Knox. He was passionate about the things of the Lord. He saw the need for the salvation of many in his day. He was concerned about how multitudes were going to hell in numbers. As a revived man, he prayed, "Lord, give me Scotland or I die". These men could have asked for palatial mansions and the best cars money could afford in their time. However, the fire of revival that was burning in their soul pointed their attention to what was germane in the heart of God - Souls. Revived men pray to take territories and capture hearts of men for the Lord. John Wesley was used by God to spread revival fire around Britain and his ministry sent missionaries around the world. He was known to spend the first two hours of each day in his prayer room with a bible wide opened in his front. That room was called "Power House of Methodism."

Over hundred years after Wesley's death, someone wanted to buy liquor in a town where he once preached. He couldn't find liquor to buy. He asked why the shops weren't selling liquor. He was told that a man named John Wesley preached in that town and since then, no one sold liquor in that town. We can pray about so many things but the prayers that touch the heavens and get their attention are prayers that reflect the agenda of heaven on humanity. God is more concerned about seeing souls saved, baptized, healed and established in the faith than anything else. Those are the concerns of heaven. If a revived man sees abnormal trends in the society or the church, he'll raise a prayer altar first before any other thing. When you see prostitutes and fraudsters around you, what's your reaction? Do you pity them or you pray for them?

When you hear about unreached peoples that have not heard about Christ most of whom you may never meet in your lifetime, do you ever think of praying for them.? These are the prayer concerns of revived men not "sudden breakthroughs". If Jesus were to attend our prayer meetings, will He be happy about the prayer points raised? Think about the prayer points that occupies our prayer meetings today. Is it kingdom-centred or self-centred? If a Pastor is revived, he would lead his church to pray about the concerns of heaven. If an Evangelist is revived, he would point the body of Christ to what matters to God-Souls, and lead the church to win them whilst not forgetting the place of prayer. How many prayer altars have we raised for terrorists, prostitutes, and the unsaved? I'm not talking about cursing bad people from the altar but heart-felt prayer from a heart filled with love seeking the salvation of their souls. I am guilty of laxity in this as well and I've been trusting God to give me a heart that loves what he loves more so that my prayers can align with His will. Our generation hasn't experienced revival because we are not praying the kind of prayers that birth revival.We need to go back into history to learn how the generation that experienced revival prayed. Prior to the Azusa street revival, the prayer team prayed all nights for months sometimes with their heads in crates of egg asking to see God's glory. Truly, they saw the glory of the Lord. My heart is focused on these things and it is a growing burden in my heart. Until you're revived, your prayer points would only focus on what satisfies self. God is looking for men that will pray down His glory.