James 4:3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures (NIV).
John Knox was passionate about the kingdom. He saw the need for the salvation of the lost and reformation among believers. As a revived man, he prayed, "Lord, give me Scotland or I die".
The Lord answered that prayer. One man put a whole nation in his pocket through prayers. It is on record that the Queen of Scots said, "I fear the prayer of John Knox more than all the assembled armies of Europe".
Another man in church history was John Hyde. He prayed to the extent that he was nicknamed "Praying Hyde". He went to India on missions and he was used by God in Shrewsbury revival. He was passionate about souls and he prayed, "Give me souls 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 land 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 the power house of Methodism.
Over hundred years after his death, someone wanted to buy liquor in a town 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 concerned about seeing souls saved, get baptized, healed and established in the faith than anything else.
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 people groups that have not heard about Christ most of whom you may never meet in your lifetime, do you ever think of praying for these people.? These are the prayer concerns of revived men not "sudden breakthroughs".
If a Pastor is revived, he will lead his church to pray kingdom prayers. 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.
One revived man the world will not forget is Nicklaus Zinzendorf. He committed the Moravians to a 24-hour prayer chain. The Moravians prayed for 24 hours for about 100 years non stop. They prayed the will of heaven down on earth, sent out missionaries and through their prayers, souls came to the Lord.
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. My heart is focused on these things and it is a growing burden in my heart.
A generation prayed to see the glory of God on earth and they saw it but my generation is fervently praying for the world to see their glory yet no revival. What a pity!
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.
Father, let your holy fire burn in me.