I. FIRST THINGS FIRST WHAT IS REVIVAL?
J. Edwin Orr, a historian of revivals, defines revival as: A movement of the Holy Spirit bringing about the renewal of New Testament Christianity in the church and its related community. Theologian J.I. Packer memorably describes the series of events that characterize biblical revival: God comes down God’s word comes home God’s purity comes through God’s people come alive Outsiders come in Ultimately, revival is a work of God that is beyond human explanation. “If you can explain what is happening in a church, apart from this sovereign act of God, it is not revival.” Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Revival
AS YOU PRAY, IT MIGHT ALSO BE HELPFUL TO THINK OF REVIVAL ON VARIOUS LEVELS AS YOU PRAY:
SMALL – an individual youth group experiences revival
MEDIUM – an individual church is revived
LARGE – many churches in a community are revived XL – a whole region or nation experiences revival XXL – revival sweeps across nations. Most importantly here, ask the Holy Spirit every day, “What would revival look like?” Let Him show you, and then pray for that as a part of your daily prayers.
WHY PRAY FOR REVIVAL?
Because no revival has ever occurred apart from concerted prayer. This is not because God cannot work without prayer, but because he chooses to use prayer as a means for his work.
USING THIS GUIDE:
Each day you will have a:
THEME
PRAYER PROMPT SCRIPTURE READING
Read them and then jump right in to praying. And remember to keep your Top Ten List handy and pray for the people on your list by name each day.
There is minimal writing from here on out because prayer, not reading is the spark of revival!
II. LET’S PRAY!
- God Comes Down – sleepy Christians are awakened
DAY 1 – PRAYING FOR GOD’S GLORY
We begin by praying for God’s glory to be displayed in the church and in the world. This is the ultimate goal of revival. Remember to ask the Holy Spirit, “What would it look like for the Father’s glory to be revealed?” Oh, that you would burst from the heavens and come down! How the mountains would quake in your presence! – Isaiah 64:1
DAY 2 – PRAYING FOR THE SPIRIT’S OUTPOURING
The greatest revival in history was ignited by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the first believers in Jerusalem. The promised baptism of the Holy Spirit empowered the church’s expansion. We pray for the same power to be released today.
On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. – Acts 2:1-4
DAY 3 – PRAYING FOR GOD’S NAME TO BE KEPT HOLY
God’s glory is revealed through his holy love. Today we pray for that love and holiness to be magnified in our lives, in our churches and in our world, as Jesus taught us to.
Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. – Matthew 6:9
DAY 4 – PRAYING FOR GOD’S WILL TO BE DONE
God is glorified as his will is accomplished in our world. Today we pray that his will would be done in every sphere of life that the Spirit brings to our minds.
May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. – Matthew 6:10
DAY 5 – PRAYING FOR MIRACLES THAT WILL REVIVE THE CHURCH
Miracles show the world the reality of Jesus’ presence in this world by his Spirit. So today we pray for miracles to be multiplied.
And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” – Acts 4:29-30
- God’s Word Comes Home – unconverted churchgoers are born again
DAY 6 – PRAYING FOR GOSPEL PREACHING
Revival requires that the Good News about Jesus Christ be accurately and boldly proclaimed in the church. Today we pray for a renewed commitment to Gospel preaching that emphasizes the person and work of Jesus Christ and the gracious, free gift of salvation that he offers to all.
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” – Romans 10:14-15
DAY 7 – PRAYING FOR OBEDIENT RESPONSE TO THE WORD OF GOD
Revival is characterized by people eagerly responding to God’s voice. The call to salvation, recommitment, surrender, repentance, etc . . . is met with an enthusiastic, “Yes, Lord!” Pray that this would be the response of the people in our city.
Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” – Acts 2:37
DAY 8 – PRAYING FOR VICTORY OVER THE TEMPTATIONS OF THE EVIL ONE
Revival is always met by spiritual resistance from the forces of evil. Today we pray for their defeat by the faithful obedience of God’s people.
For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. – 1 John 2:16
- God’s Purity Comes Through – backslidden prodigals return
DAY 9 – PRAYER FOR REPENTANCE
Repentance from sin and renewed commitment to following Jesus has characterized all revivals. Today we pray specifically for those who have wandered away from the church or from the faith entirely to return. Pray for those you know by name.
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. – II Chronicles 14:7
DAY 10 – PRAYING FOR HOLY LIVING
Revivals are characterized by a new passion for holy living. Old habits of sin are discarded and new habits of holiness are adopted. Pray for the putting off of the old life and the putting on of the new. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. – Romans 13:12
DAY 11 – PRAYING FOR THE FEAR OF THE LORD
Revivals are accompanied by a new reverence for the Lord. Today we pray for that humble awe of God to be renewed.
A solemn fear descended on our city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. – Acts 19:17-18
DAY 12 – PRAYING FOR HUMILITY
Humility is the posture of God’s people that invites revival. Today we pray that a desperate humility will fall on city, prompting people to call out to the Lord Jesus. We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind. Yet no one calls on your name or pleads with you for mercy. Therefore, you have turned away from us and turned us over to our sins. And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand. – Isaiah 64:6-8
- God’s People Come Alive – Christians share the Gospel with boldness
DAY 13 – PRAYING FOR A RENEWAL OF PASSIONATE WORSHIP
In revival, people are filled with a hunger to receive the blessing of God. Today we pray for that hunger to be expressed through heartfelt worship in church.
This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: People from nations and cities around the world will travel to Jerusalem. The people of one city will say to the people of another, ‘Come with us to Jerusalem to ask the Lord to bless us. Let’s worship the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. I’m determined to go.’ Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord of Heaven’s Armies and to ask for his blessing. – Zechariah 2:20-22
DAY 14 – PRAYING FOR UNIFIED PRAYER
Revival brings Christians from diverse backgrounds together in unity. Today we pray for that unity across the Christians and churches of our city.
I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. – John 17:21
DAY 15 – PRAYING FOR GODLY LEADERSHIP
No revival occurs without God raising up godly leaders to facilitate it. Today we pray for the pastors in our churches to pray for revival and teach revival.
So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.” – Acts 6:2-4
DAY 16 – PRAYING FOR BOLD WITNESS
Revivals always produce a new boldness in testifying about Jesus. Today we pray for believers to be filled by the Holy Spirit with boldness to tell others the Good News about Jesus Christ.
After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness. – Acts 4:31
- Outsiders Come In – The lost are saved
DAY 17 – PRAYING FOR GENUINE CONVERSION
No true revival occurs without genuine converts being added to the church in unusually large numbers. Today we pray for the lost to be born again and produce fruit. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. – Acts 2:47
The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord. – Acts 11:21
DAY 18 – PRAYING FOR A FRESH PASSION FOR THE LOST AND EVANGELISM
Revival fills God’s people with faith and enthusiasm to see their lost friends, family and community transformed by the Good News about Jesus. Today we pray that evangelism is embraced and celebrated across the city.
There is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away! – Luke 15:7
DAY 19 – PRAYING FOR THE CARE OF THE NEEDY
Revival changes the community in which it occurs. Christians love their neighbors with greater intensity, including meeting physical needs. Today we pray for acts of kindness and care to multiply across our city.
This is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. – Isaiah 58:6-7
DAY 20 – PRAYING FOR PERSEVERANCE
Today we pray for God’s church to be unrelenting in its prayer for revival. O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray day and night, continually. Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord. – lsaiah 62:6
Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. – Luke 18:1
Will you commit to continue praying for revival? If so, pray the prayer below. Then sign it and date it. Finally, commit to join a corporate prayer meeting at Mountain View, if you have not already done so, and join the rest of the church in unrelenting prayer for revival!
“Lord, I resolve to never stop praying for revival. I commit today that I will pray for revival every day and that prayer for revival will be on my dying breath. Give me strength to do this impossible task. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Date:
Signature:
DAY 21 – CELEBRATE!
Today we praise the Lord Jesus in faith for the ultimate revival that will occur upon his return.
I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the
end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever. – Revelation 21:22-22:5
PRAYER & FASTING FASTING
Giving up food or something special for a spiritual purpose.
PRAYER
Prayer is the conversational part of the most important love relationship in our life, our relationship with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. God longs for an open line of communication with us. Only an act of our will is required to pray.
REASONS FOR FASTING
God desires relationship with us. He is chiefly interested in our trust and obedience. He is the object of our motivation. Fasting is an expression of our desire to seek and please Him. Fasting displays to God that He is more important than even food.
Fasting works! Prayer and fasting work in synergy. Once when the disciples failed to exorcise demons, Jesus explained that in such instances prayer and fasting were required. Fasting moves God to action. Of course, this does not mean that we can manipulate God by fasting, but for some reason there are times God desires us to underline our requests with fasting.
WHAT SHOULD I FAST FROM?
There are several kinds of fasts, and there is no formula for determining which kind of fast, or duration is most appropriate for you. The following are three Biblical examples of fasting:
ABSOLUTE FAST
Taking in nothing including water. This is extreme and should NOT be attempted without first talking to your doctor.
NORMAL FAST
Withholding food, but not liquids like water and juices to maintain strength and health.
PARTIAL FAST
In the Bible, Daniel and his companions ate vegetables and drank water, but not the King’s meat and sweets. This type of fast may be more appropriate if you have certain health issues. For some people, giving up chocolate or coffee may be a real reminder to pray.
SOUL FAST
Intentionally bringing your mind, will and emotions under the Lordship of Christ by removing things that take up time, mental space, or emotional energy. This fast is great if you have health issues that prevent you from fasting food, or if you wish to refocus certain areas of your life that are out of balance. For example fasting from social media, books, sports, shopping, TV, Netflix, Internet, leisure activities, etc., can create space for you to cultivate a renewed hunger for God and His Word. MOST IMPORTANT – Ask God what He wants you to abstain from and what is He wants you to add to your life for these 21 days? Then get some accountability and do it with joy and perseverance!
COMMUNITY – Fasting is best done alongside other people, so find an accountability partner who will keep you encouraged. Let them know what you are fasting from and check in with them every day for the 21 days. “If you search for the Lord your God, with all your heart and soul you will find Him.”– Deut. 4:29