Saints,
Have you ever noticed how God worked in a mighty way somewhere else in the world and then asked, “God, You are working in a mighty way in other places, would You do a mighty work here in our church, this city, this state or this nation?
During a Missions class, I asked God that very question. Is it possible that when we are awakened by the Holy Spirit to ask that question of God that He may be calling us out to pray for Him to do a mighty work? I believe this could be true.
This happened in the days of George Mueller. Before we look into that story though, let’s look at Mueller’s report from the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for 1896. This report reveals God’s heart in Mueller—it reveals God’s heart in a church. May God’s heart permeate every church!
“From our own midst as a church sixty brethren and sisters have gone forth to foreign fields of labour on earth; some of whom have finished their labour on earth; but there are still about forty yet who are engaged in this precious service.
Why should not the great and crying need for workers in Asia, Africa, and other parts of the world be thus met by thousands of churches in Europe and America following this divine plan of praying the Lord of the harvest that He would send forth labourers from among them?”
Yes Mr. Mueller, I agree. Yes, dear brother and sister, if God has awakened you to the need for a mighty work to be done by Him, than accept that as your calling to pray. Pray for more workers. Pray for revival. Pray believing. God can move and He will move. This is His plan. Will we join Him?
When Jesus saw the crowds in Matthew 9, He felt compassion and took action. His action was to call us to prayer,
Matthew 9:36-38 (NIV)
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Back to our story that took place during the days of George Mueller. This story is recorded on pages 89-92 of Answers to Prayer, by George Mueller. All of the quotes come from those same pages as well.
In 1856, a young Irishman named James McQuilken became a Christ-follower. After reading Mueller’s narrative, i.e. the first two volumes of Answer’s to Prayer. He was amazed at how God answered George Mueller’s prayers. He said to himself something like this: “See what Mr. Mueller obtains simply by prayer. Thus I shall obtain blessing by prayer.” Inspired by what he read, he began to pray that God would give him a spiritual companion, one who knew the Lord. Soon after prayer, God gave him a friend who was a believer. These two began to meet and pray regularly. They asked for God to bring more believers. So, by Autumn of 1857, four men met together for prayer in a small school house in the village of Kells in the parish of Connor, every Friday night. What did they pray for? They asked God for His blessing on their “various labours in the Sunday Schools, prayer-meetings, and preaching of the Gospel.”
“By this time the great and mighty working of the Spirit in 1857, in the United States, had become known, and Mr. James McQuilken said to himself. ‘Why may not we have such a blessed work here, seeing that God did such great things for Mr. Mueller, simply in answer to prayer?’ Soon others began to follow Christ. Their prayer meeting grew, but they only allowed believers into their meetings as they “read, prayed and offered to each other a few thoughts about the Scriptures.”
By early 1859, this small band connected with a Presbyterian church in Ahoghill. From this time, conversions multiplied rapidly. “Some of these converts went to other places, and carried the spiritual fire, so to speak, with them.” Mr. McQuiken travelled to other places such as Ballymena and Belfast, seeing many conversions in each place.
Mr Mueller continues,
“Such was the beginning of that mighty work of the Holy Spirit, which has led to the conversion of hundreds of thousands; for some of my readers will remember how in 1859 this fire was kindled in England, Wales, Scotland; how it spread through Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland, how the continent of Europe was more or less partaking of this mighty working of the Holy Spirit; how it led thousands to give themselves to the work of evangelists; and how up to the year 1874 not only the effects of this work, first begun in Ireland, are Europe generally. It is almost needless to add, that in no degree the honour is due to the instruments, but to the Holy Spirit alone; yet these facts are stated, in order that it may be seen, what delight God has in answering abundantly the believing prayer of His children.”
Saints, how about us? Do we see the need for God to move? Then what is our response? We pray. We pray Bible-based, Spirit-led, kingdom-focused, believing, intercessory, prayer-in-Jesus-name. Jesus promises to answer!
God, You are working throughout the world in mighty ways—reaching Asia, Africa, India and so many other places. Would you move again here? Forgive us for doing church without You. Forgive us for our pride, legalism, and critical spirit toward others. Please remove anything from Your churches that do not bring You glory or that are not according to Your plan. God, please, pour out Your Spirit again. Father, please cause revival in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the US, and the world. You are worthy, we are needy. In Jesus name, we pray, believing! Amen.
Desperate for God, compelled to pray,
Steve
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