As a church, on the 17th of each month, we will be praying for our Nation. Below is some information to help guide you as you pray. If you want to sign up for a time slot, please click the link: America Prays 2023
MODEL
Our model of spiritual awakening is based on the model outlined in the Book of Acts.
1. PRAYER
We believe that all human and spiritual transformation begins with prayer and is fueled by and sustained by prayer. The first thing the disciples did after Jesus ascended to heaven was to rush to the Upper Room and devote themselves to unceasing prayer. Acts 1:14, “They were continually devoting themselves to prayer.” The Holy Spirit uses prayer to unite His church and break down denominational, theological, ethnic, and socio-economic walls that separate us from each other.
2. UNITY
Unceasing prayer brought the disciples to a level of unity they hadn’t experienced before. There were a lot of rivalries, jealousies, and competition among the disciples, but when they devoted themselves to prayer, God began to unite them with one heart for one purpose. Acts 2:1, “They were all in one accord in one place.”
3. EVANGELISM
When the church is united, the Holy Spirit releases a fresh power in evangelism that results in exponential convert growth. Acts 2:37, “Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day.” Three thousand believers were added to the church in a single day when they began to walk in unity.
The purpose and outcome of unity is that people will get saved. The most credible witness to the world that Jesus is Lord is a unified church. Jesus prayed in John 17:21, “May all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Only a united church can heal a divided nation.
4. DISCIPLESHIP
Jesus never called us to win converts, but to make disciples. Once people make a decision for Christ, it is the church’s privilege and responsibility to nurture them and disciple them into full devotion to Christ. We believe that discipleship happens best through the local church, and especially in the context of small groups. Acts 2:42, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
5. SERVICE
The early followers of Christ were contagious and multiplied rapidly largely because of their passion for Jesus and their compassion for people. They were generous with their resources and shared with anyone who was in need. Acts 2:44-45, “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.” By the time we get to Acts 6, we see that the church took on the responsibility of feeding and caring for widows. We believe that a praying church is a compassionate church.
Serving the poor is not an add-on to the Gospel—it’s at the heart of the Gospel message. In His very first sermon, Jesus declared in Luke 4:18, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.” Jesus made it clear that the Gospel has a special application for the poor. James 1:27 confirms the importance of serving the poor: “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress.” Compassionate service confirms our message that God is love.
6. TRANSFORMATION
The disciples didn’t grow big churches that were insulated form church—they understood from the beginning that their calling was to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). The early followers of Christ transformed every culture and society they came into contact with. People would bring their occult books to the town square and burn them publicly and embrace Jesus as Lord (Acts 19:19).
In Acts 19:25-27, so many people in the city of Ephesus were getting saved and forsaking the worship of the goddess Diana and other gods that it was disrupting their economy that was built on idol worship. Acts 17:6 gives us insight into the kind of transformation impact they were having on cities: “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also.” Transformation of society is the real biblical evidence that a spiritual awakening is taking place in a city or nation.
PRAYER FOCUS
1. PRAY FOR UNBELIEVERS TO BE SAVED.
Pray that people’s hearts will be opened to repent of their sins and confess Jesus as Savior. Pray that every person in the world will be able to hear the Gospel in their native language. (Matthew 9:37-38; 24:14; Romans 10:1; 2 Peter 3:9; Acts 26:18)
2. PRAY FOR A NATIONAL SPIRITUAL AWAKENING.
Pray that Jesus will revive the Church and awaken our nation to the greatness and supremacy of Jesus. Pray that God will pour out His Spirit on America and forgive our sin and heal our land. Pray that millions of Americans will be convicted by the Holy Spirit, repent of their sins, and turn to God with all their hearts. (2 Chron. 7:14; Daniel 9:18-19; Psa. 85:6; Hab. 3:2; Acts 2:37-41)
3. PRAY FOR UNITY OF THE CHURCH.
Pray that denominational, theological, and ethnic walls will come down so that pastors will love each other, pray together, and serve each other. (John 17:20-23; Psalm 133:1; Ephesians 4:3-6)
4. PRAY FOR FAMILIES.
Pray that Jesus will heal, restore, and strengthen every marriage and family. Pray that husbands will love their wives like Christ loves the church and that wives will respect and submit to their husbands. Pray that the hearts of parents will be turned toward their children to love them and raise them in a God-honoring way. Pray that children will respect and obey their parents. (Genesis 2:24; Joshua 24:15; Psalm 127:3-5; Malachi 4:6; Ephesians 5:22-33; Ephesians 6:1-4)
5. PRAY FOR RACIAL RECONCILIATION.
Pray that God will heal our nation of racism and use the church to stand against racial conflict, violence, and prejudice. The church must lead the way in racial reconciliation by modeling love and respect for every person regardless of the color of their skin or their ethnic background. (Romans 10:12-13, Galatians 3:28, Acts 10:28, Acts 10:34-35, John 7:24, 1 John 2:9, James 2:9, Revelation 7:9)
6. PRAY FOR LIFE TO BE VALUED AND PROTECTED THROUGH ALL STAGES OF LIFE, BEGINNING AT CONCEPTION.
Pray for God to break the culture of death in America and restore a culture of life. Pray for legalized abortion to come to an end. (Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Proverbs 24:11; Deuteronomy 21:8-9)
7. PRAY FOR LOCAL AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS.
Pray that God will help them make wise decisions and govern with integrity, justice, and mercy. (1 Tim. 2:1-2; Rom. 13:1; 1 Pet. 2:17; Titus 3:1-2; Micah 6:8)