The revivalist is a man or a woman of prayer. Every revival was birthed by a man or a woman who paid the price on their knees. Nehemiah prayed and cried out to God over a period of time before proceeding to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem. The early church prayed in the upper room before the day of pentecost arrived. In the Hebride's revival 2 old ladies prayed every night from 10pm - 4am for revival. 7 church deacons prayed every night in the barns, even in the cold of the winter. Evan Roberts prayed for 10 over years before Revival came to Wales. The list goes on.
The prayers of a revivalist are prayers of desperation. I remembered there was once when my jaw locked, and I quickly went to the clinic for help. The nurse wanted to put me in the qeue. I was desperate and knew that once my jaw muscles hardened it would be very difficult to put it back. What did I do? In a moment of desperation, I barged into the doctor's room. The Doctor knew the situation and immediately attended to me. Desperate prayers are not gentle knocks on heaven's door. Desperate prayers are loud banging on heaven's door. It is like Hannah crying out to God in bitterness of soul. It is like Rachel crying out, "Give me children or I die!"
It is no wonder Leonard Ravenhill said, "God does not answer prayers, God answers desperate prayers."
Such desperate prayers can only come as a result of divine inspiration and revelation of our generation. Why am I desperate? I see the divine reality of one generation slipping into the pits of eternal damnation. I see the fact that only a divine invasion of God power and glory from His throne has that capability of saving this dark generation from hell. This causes me to cry out "Give me revival or I die!"
Thus, the revivalist is a desperate man, banging on heaven's doors with tears of desperation.
The prayers of a revivalist are prayers of travails. Vision of revival is conceived within the spirit of the man but it has to be birthed into reality. In the natural, the birth of the baby can come only after the screams of travail of the mother. In similar fashion the vision conceived by the Spirit can only be birthed out through the deep groaning of the Spirit which we termed travailing prayers.
When I was a new believer, God birthed a vision of my family's salvation within my spirit. I started to pray for them and in the midst of praying, I started to groan, weep and cry for my family. In a matter of weeks, this vision was birthed and both my parents became believers.
Prior to revival, it is known that many would travail in prayers before the revival is finally birthed.
The Prayers of a revivalist are prayers of warfare
The
god of this world has blinded the eyes of unbelievers. This prevent them from seeing the truth. The revivalist understands spiritual warfare, he understands the delegated authority which Christ has given to the church and he stands in warfare against principalities and the powers of the land.
If you desire to be a revivalist, I challenge you to take on the posture of Prayer. Desperation in prayers need to be stirred up continuously by the Spirit. If you have lost it, ask Him to stir it up again!
2Chronicles 7:14
If My people who are
called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from
their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and
will heal their land.
