By Abel Ukachi Amadi

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land,” (KJV).
Prayer brings down revival and the outbreak of the power of God. When you read the biographies of our forefathers in faith, who were most successful in winning souls, their secret is that they prayed for hours in the private. If we want revival, we should follow the footsteps of our forefathers.

The Bible said in Hebrews 6:12: “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Our forefathers wept and prayed and agonised before the Lord for sinners to be saved, and would not rest until they were slain by the sword of the Word of God. That was the secret of their mighty success. They wrestled in prayer till God poured out His Spirit upon the people and sinners were converted. The sun never rose on China for 40 years, we are told, without finding Hudson Taylor on his knees.

Conversion is the operation of the Holy Spirit, and prayer is the power that secures that operation. Souls are not saved by man, but by God, and since He works in answer to prayer we have no choice but to follow the Divine plan. Prayer moves the arm that moves the world. “And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God,” (Luke 6:12).

Prayer births revival. The prophets of old urged for a life of prayer. Prophet Isaiah urged for a life of prayer. Isaiah 62:6-7: “Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, and give Him no rest, till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” Prophet Joel urged the priests to weep at the altar lest the Lord give their heritage to reproach and the heathen would say: “Where is their God?” (Joel 2:15). And not only did they urge prayer, but they themselves prayed. Daniel prayed: “I will set my face unto the Lord God with fasting and sackcloth,” (Daniel 9:3-4). Ezra also wielded the same mighty weapon of prayer in every time of difficulty. “I fell upon my knees,” he says, “and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God,” (Ezra 9:5). Such was also the practice of the early Church. When Peter was in prison, it is stated that, “prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him,” and “many were gathered together praying,” (Acts 12:5-9).

Where there is no man to pray and ask for revival, sin takes over the church and desolation will reign unbroken. It was said in a certain town where there had been no revival for many years; the Church was nearly extinct and the youth were all unconverted.

There lived in a retired part of the town an aged man, a blacksmith by trade with a stammering tongue. He was deeply worried about the spiritual state of things in the church that he locked his shop door and spent the afternoon in prayer. He prevailed on the pastor to call for a conference meeting and when they converged, sinners broke out in tears under deep conviction. And what was remarkable was that they all dated their conviction at the hour the old man was praying in his shop. A powerful revival followed. Thus this old stammering man prevailed in prayer.

• Today’s nugget: Prayer births revival. Prayer: Lord send us revival. Prayer lines: 08033299824. E-mail: [email protected], Rev Abel UkachiAmadi, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God Nigeria.