REVIVE US AGAIN -- NAT'L DAY OF PRAYER (2014)

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, MAY 1, 2014

RiverWinds Community Center

West Deptford Ministerium

PREFACE:

I’m reading selected verses from 2 Chronicles 34.  This is the setting: Judah has forsaken Jehovah and prostituted itself before foreign gods living a lifestyle contrary to God’s word and commands.  Josiah, at the age of 26, repairs the temple and calls Judah to worship the LORD.  While repairing the temple, the Book of the Law is found.

2 Chronicles 34:1-33 (NKJV)
¹⁴  … Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given by Moses. ¹⁵  … Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan … [and]  ¹⁶  … Shaphan carried the book to the king, ¹⁸   And … read it [to] the king. ¹⁹  …  when the king heard the words of the Law, … he tore his clothes. ²⁰  … saying,

²¹  "Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for those who are left in Israel and Judah … for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do according to all that is written in this book."  

[And the LORD said to Josiah]²⁷  because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you," says the LORD.

³²  And [Josiah] made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin take a stand. So the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. ³³  Thus … the children of Israel … diligently serve[d] the LORD their God … all [the days of Josiah].

PRAYER (LET US PRAY):

LORD, today, from all four corners of this great land (N, E, S & W), believers are beseeching You for mercy.  We ask that, as in the days of Josiah, You would hear our prayer, forgive our sin and heal our land.  LORD, revive Your Church. 

I’m reminded of the words of the hymn writer William MacKay, “Revive us again, fill each heart with Thy love; May each soul be rekindled with fire from above.  Hallelujah!  Thine the glory, Hallelujah! Amen; Hallelujah! Thine the glory; Revive us again.”  Let it be Lord Jesus! 

We Your people are beat down on so many sides.  Sin surrounds us on every front – computer screens, TV, radio, media, education, and liberal postures within the Church – give us courage in this hour of trial to be strong and courageous.  Let our lives and words be infectious, making a difference in the culture in which we live … bringing people to You.  Revive us O Lord.  Yes, LORD, send revival!

In Jesus name we pray,

Amen!

Nat’l Day of Prayer, West Deptford Ministerium, May 1, 2014, RiverWinds, NJ (Theme: Revival)