Seek God for Increased Laborers and Sweeping Global Harvest

By Dr. Greg Frizzell | Published: August 11, 2010

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest (Mt 9:37-38; Acts 1:8; 2 Tim 2:1-4)

It is God’s heart desire to raise up faithful laborers for the Church and harvest of souls. In God’s word, believers are specifically commanded to pray for laborers for the harvest. (Mt 9:37-38) Today’s Church is starved for those who will labor fervently in prayer, preaching, teaching and missions. True revival always involves an explosion of dedicated laborers.  Indeed, the only hope for America is a flood of Spirit-empowered intercessors, preachers, laborers and witnesses. Furthermore, we not only need a flood of laborers, we need laborers who will declare God’s whole nature and full biblical truth.

As we pray for laborers, we must also consider whether we are willing to be God’s answer to that prayer. In other words, are we fervently laboring ourselves? Are we ourselves willing to boldly proclaim the God of Scripture and stand strong for right doctrine? Are we indeed willing for God to call our loved ones to dangerous foreign mission fields? May God help us fulfill Christ’s kingdom by not only praying for laborers, but by becoming laborers ourselves.

  • Lord of the harvest, thank You for the unspeakable joy of serving in Your harvest! Please call millions more into ministry, missions, prayer, preaching and Christian witness. Raise up a mighty army who will pay any price and endure any hardship to glorify Your Name. Father, please send forth a mighty flood of laborers into the harvest. Remove spiritual blindness, expose false religion and send forth a sweeping harvest of souls.

  • Lord, I repent and commit to be a faithful worker and to pray for laborers for the harvest. I trust You to fill me with a burning passion to labor and pray for Your kingdom and glory. As a church, we covenant to call and equip all members to be laborers in the harvest. Banish from our hearts the shallowness that fails to make disciples.

(Praying God’s Heart in Times Like These! “A Covenant to Seek the Reviver Not Just Revival, © Dr. Gregory Frizzell, 2009, www.frizzellministries.org, www.masterdesign.org/frizzell.html, by permission from the author. Download Covenant)

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Ask for the Saints to Have a Burning Passion to Glorify God and Exalt His Name Alone

By Dr. Greg Frizzell | Published: July 5, 2010

I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore (Ps 86:12, see also Jdg 7:2; Is 42:8; Rom 1:29).

It is God’s heart that His people continually exalt His name and glory! Throughout all Scripture, one thing is utterly clear — God will share His glory with no flesh! (Judges 7:2; 1 Corinthians 1:29) Yet concerning humankind, there is little question that our core sins are pride, self-will, self-exaltation and/or self-reliance. All of these elements come from a single root source — placing self over God. It was the original sin of Satan and the root sin in all mankind.

In Judges 7:2, we see God greatly reducing the size of Gideon’s army because He knew “they would try and take some of God’s glory.” Even in the great biblical text describing “the whole duty of man,” God said we are to “fear God and keep His commandments.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) Throughout both biblical Testaments, the constant emphasis is a total exaltation of God’s name and a total rejection of exalting men.

Historically, God’s greatest power is always through evangelists and revival leaders who are deeply humble and filled with a burning passion to exalt God. There is little doubt that true humility and passion for God’s glory are characteristics most desperately needed today. In a day of Fifth Avenue type publicity and promotion, there is genuine risk of prideful exaggeration and robbing God’s glory. Far too often, today’s publicity and promotion can cross the line into subtle exaggeration and pride. Denominations can drift into reporting that makes conditions (and us) look better than we actually are. Whether it is self, church or denominational pride, we must be very sensitive to any attitude, action or language that robs God of glory and praise. One thing is certain — God will share His glory with no man, program or organization! (Isaiah 42:8, 1 Corinthians 1:29)

In today’s generation of high competition and rivalry between Christians and various agencies, we must resolve never to take glory unto ourselves. True revival and spiritual power always depends upon deep humility and a burning passion to exalt God alone. Throughout history one principle is clear — God only commits His fullest manifest presence to those who “will not touch the glory.” Let us ever pray for hearts He can trust.

  • Sovereign God and Christ, all glory, praise and honor belongs to You. Your Name is the only name to be praised and Your kingdom is the only one that matters. Lord, please banish from our hearts every desire to over-exalt ourselves, people or organizations. Guard us from the slightest hint of self-exaltation or reliance on human strengths. Fill us with a holy passion to exalt your name and glory at all times. Empower us with a resolve to spread Your fame and kingdom in all the earth.

  • Lord, You deserve all praise, glory and attention all the time! You alone are the source of all power and righteousness. Your name and kingdom are the only ones to be praised. By Your grace, we covenant to exalt and praise You alone. Save us O God from the slightest hint of robbing Your glory.

(Praying God’s Heart in Times Like These! “A Covenant to Seek the Reviver Not Just Revival, © Dr. Gregory Frizzell, 2009, www.frizzellministries.org, www.masterdesign.org/frizzell.html, by permission from the author. Download Covenant)

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Distinctive, Distinguishable Faith

By P. Douglas Small | Published: July 5, 2010

Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14) I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. (Jn 10:9)

I cannot forget the conversation. I was stunned. How could this new acquaintance believe what she was saying? She was so blindly confident of her perspective. “Buddhism and Christianity are much alike,” she declared. “They both seek truth. They encourage all humans to be good.” She had immigrated from China. Living in the Bible belt, in a city known for Christian tourism, she had never even visited a Christian church. She had never heard the gospel clearly.  And she had obviously never seen the radical difference between Buddhism and Christianity. How could it be? Has the image of Christianity become so fuzzy that a Buddhist cannot distinguish between the followers of Jesus and other world religions?

  • God, like Israel in the days of Solomon, the nations are coming to us. They are living and settling among us. But they are not learning of you. They are importing their gods with them. They are building their own temples and shrines. Altars to idols are now throughout our cities.   You are the incomparable Yahweh. Show yourself among the gods. Reveal yourself in ways that leave the millions among us with foreign gods – speechless. Fill them with questions. Help me to build relationships that would open dialogue. Help me live so that they see a difference and know that Christianity has answers found nowhere else. God, send a revival to the immigrant population of the US, that could trigger a national awakening with global implications.

Rev. P. Douglas Small, Project Pray, Awakening America

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Lord, Save Our Nation & Spark a Global Revival

By P. Douglas Small | Published: July 5, 2010

These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.

Acts 17:6

In barely three-hundred years they did it! They turned the world upside down. The rag-tag band of disciples transformed the pagan Roman Empire into a Christian nation. They faced the lions. They put out the fires of persecution. They shut down the pagan shrines. Wow! We cannot even imagine such an impact on our culture.

And they did it without political action committees, without pressure on Roman Senators. They did it through prayer, systematic city-by-city church planting and by an empowering every-member-a-witness philosophy.

And then, suddenly, having won – they lost. As pagans flooded into the new popular churches endorsed by a Christian Emperor, the church failed to disciple its new converts. They failed to insist that the same strategy they had used to conquer paganism – every believer living in vital connection to God – was also necessary to sustain the movement. They let the lights go out. And what followed were the dark ages.

We are letting it happen again. With a passive laity that is deeply dependent on clergy and worship events that are performance driven, we are losing the culture.

  • God have mercy on us. For your glory and the sake of your bride, infuse your church with a renewal of the Holy Spirit. Cause Christians to burst forth with fire in their hearts and blazing message of repentance honored by your convicting, silencing presence. Save the nation from itself. Hear the prayers of your people. Let the earth see a nation saved – turned back to you, and let it spark a global revival.

Rev. P. Douglas Small, Project Pray, Awakening America

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Pray for Believers to Seek First God’s Kingdom and Righteousness in Every Area of Life

By Dr. Greg Frizzell | Published: July 3, 2010

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Mt 6:33, see also Ps 27:8; Mat 6:9-10; 2 Cor 7:1; Heb 12:14; Jas 5:16)

The Biblical and Historical Importance — It is God’s heart desire that His people focus on His kingdom and righteousness. In Matthew 6:33, God clearly defines the top priorities for every believer and church. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” In this foundational command, believers find God’s priority focus for their prayers. While our loving God certainly wants to bless His children, His central priorities are Christ’s eternal kingdom, righteousness and glory.

As perhaps never in history, believers are inundated with busyness and distractions. For many saints, Satan’s most effective ploy is “weapons of mass distraction.” Few generations have so evidenced the dangerous heart condition of the “word being choked by the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches.” (Matthew 13:22) For many believers, the most damaging distractions are actually “good things” that are crowding out the “best.”

Today’s Church is tragically afflicted with the “Martha syndrome.” (Luke 10:38-42) I define this syndrome as being so busy working for God we spend very little time with Him in prayer, surrender and kingdom focus. When this becomes the pattern, our voluminous efforts are seriously lacking in full empowerment. And while many of our efforts may be biblical and right, they are seriously lacking in full empowerment of the Holy Spirit. (John 15:4-5) Though we are busier than ever, we see fewer and fewer lasting results.

When believers and churches become fully focused on expanding God’s kingdom, growing in righteousness, fervent prayer and spreading His glory, full blessing are the promised results and power! (Matthew 6:33) In a day of rampant materialism and self-seeking religious shallowness, revival depends much upon a renewed focus on Christ’s kingdom, righteousness and self surrender. Saints, we do not simply need “more” prayers. We need more prayers of the “right type, power and focus!” “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16b) We need hearts utterly committed to the sacrifice of true biblical discipleship, not a fleshly preoccupation with earthly blessings and comforts.

  • Gracious God, Your kingdom and righteousness are worthy to be sought above all else! Forgive us when our prayers are more on earthly needs than kingdom priorities. Forgive us when we prioritize personal gain over holiness and sacrificial service. Fill us O God with a passion to seek Your face and glorify Your name in all the earth. Teach us to place Your glory and kingdom above any costs revival might require. Thank You for Your promise of abundant grace and blessing. May Your kingdom expand and Your name be praised in all the earth.

  • Lord, You are worthy to be first in every area of my life. I repent of placing other concerns ahead of Your kingdom and righteousness. I now covenant to seek first Your kingdom and righteousness in all I pray and do. As a church, we commit to seek Your kingdom and righteousness above all else. Guard us from the shallowness and self-focus that can so easily become our practice. May Your kingdom advance and Your name be praised in all the earth!

(Praying God’s Heart in Times Like These! “A Covenant to Seek the Reviver Not Just Revival, © Dr. Gregory Frizzell, 2009, www.frizzellministries.org, www.masterdesign.org/frizzell.html, by permission from the author. Download Covenant)

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Liberated to Serve One Master

By P. Douglas Small | Published: July 3, 2010

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will by loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24

In a culture where personal freedoms are the measure of all things, the idea of a master is so out-of-place. Imagining ourselves free, we have become slaves to impulse, materialism, self-ingratiation, leisure and greed. Paul warned us, that if we let sin reign we would end up obeying it. We would fall back under the influence of the very thing from which we were redeemed.

We see our relationship with God in such static terms, such positional ways. “I’m saved!” we declare. But there is a behavioral dimension. Only by yielding ourselves as slaves to righteousness, only by doing right things, do we prove our liberty. Only by being made an instrument of righteousness to we prove the imputed righteousness within us. We need grace to embrace the disciplines that move us to obey from the heart, what God has asked of us.

So many among us have been set “free from” something. But we have never been liberated enough to be “free to” – free to pray passionately, free to worship with abandon, free to publicly declare allegiance to Christ, free to lay every potential idol on the altar, free to sell all and follow Jesus.

  • You are the treasure of our lives. You are calling us to a journey. Some of us you may call to abandon our nets and sell our boats – to a radical change –as you did the disciples. And it will be the best decision we ever made. Set us free from this world. Set us free to follow you. I know – to be a true disciple demands the discipline of a soldier. Give me the grace to begin the exercise regiment today.

Rev. P. Douglas Small, Project Pray, Awakening America

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It’s the Worldview, Stupid!

By Ron Boehme | Published: July 3, 2010

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 14:12).

Two worldviews are currently fighting for supremacy in America and other nations around the world. One is the Christian worldview upon which this nation was founded that finds its roots in the teachings of biblical revelation.  Generally speaking, a conservative political and social philosophy is consistent with the Christian view of life. Christians, or traditional values people, vote conservative if they’re consistent with the Bible’s perspective.

The other worldview that has gained ascendancy in American life in the past forty years could be described as atheist, secular, or progressive (that’s what they like to call themselves). These words are all synonyms. Generally speaking, a liberal political or social philosophy is consistent with the atheist view of life. Secularists or progressives vote liberal if they’re consistent with their worldview.

Thus conservatives share a Christian view of reality. Liberals share an atheist view of life. That’s not an opinion–it’s just a fact. Not all conservatives are Christians; Not all liberals are atheists. However, Christians tend to be conservative and secularists tend to be liberal. It can be no other way. Choose your worldview carefully. Your nation’s future depends on it.

  • Farther – help me to see all of life you’re your point of view. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Rev. Ron Boehme, Director, YWAM US Renewal

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Plead for God to Rend the Heavens in Sweeping Revival and to Give Us the Nations in Spiritual Awakening

By Dr. Greg Frizzell | Published: July 2, 2010

Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence… Isaiah 64:1 (see also Ps 2:8; 72:11; Acts 2:1-2; 4:30-31: Eph 5:26-27; Rev 22:17, 20)

It is God’s heart to rend the heavens in sweeping revival of the Church and a mighty harvest of lost souls for Christ’s glory and kingdom. Beyond question, a predominant purpose of God is sweeping revival and spiritual awakening. Throughout all history, evangelism, discipleship and missions explode far deeper and further during times of great revival.* Thus, the greatest way we can further evangelism, discipleship and missions is to passionately seek God for sweeping revival! Absolutely nothing glorifies God, spreads Christ’s kingdom and purifies the Church like heaven-sent revival! For this reason, we must pray fervently, effectively and strategically for revival and spiritual awakening. (2 Chronicles 7:14; James 5:16-18) .

We must also pray with great faith and hope. It is crucial to keep our eyes squarely on the One with whom nothing is impossible. If we let our eyes focus on the overwhelming darkness of today’s world, we will surely slide into defeat and doubt. Let us never forget the awesome power of God’s activity in history’s great awakenings. Several historic awakenings have produced conversions equaling ten to fifteen percent of entire nations in just two to four years. Not only do conversions and church growth explode rapidly, the converts tend to be far more genuine and lasting than typical patterns today. In the 1904 Welsh revival, such massive numbers of converts joined churches in just six months.* To put it in perspective, a similar awakening in America would produce 30-35 million new true converts actually joining churches in less than a year! Obviously, that would change everything from Washington to Hollywood and everything in the middle!

It is further vital to note that history’s great revivals never come from prayers that are brief, general or shallow. They come from the effective fervent prayers of those who pray with strategic biblical depth and detail. Believers, we are not only to pray effectively — we are to pray with a bold faith and passion to see the nations come to God. (Psalm 2:8; 72:11) We are also to pray much for the peace of Jerusalem that Israel and all nations may come to Christ.” (Psalm 122:6; Romans 9:3)

  • Sovereign God, we praise You for Your awesome power to shake entire nations for Christ! We ask You to “rend the heavens” and show forth Your awesome glory and manifest Presence. We ask You to move so powerfully that over thirty million Americans will be saved in a single year. Lord, please cause Your glory to sweep the whole earth bringing unprecedented millions to Christ. Give us the nations for the glory and kingdom of Christ! We ask You to purify the Church and prepare Christ’s Bride. For Your glory O God, pour out Your Spirit greater than any previous awakening. Blessed God, we pray for one last great harvest before the glorious return of Your Son. Purify Your Bride O Christ! Cause us to wash our robes white. May Your name be praised in all the earth!

  • Lord, I repent of neglect and commit to fervently pray for sweeping revival, awakening and global harvest. I covenant to make revival, spiritual awakening and kingdom expansion my personal priority. Lord, I trust You to fill me with powerful intercession for revival and spiritual awakening. As a church, we covenant to pray consistently and deeply for spiritual awakening.

(Praying God’s Heart in Times Like These! “A Covenant to Seek the Reviver Not Just Revival, © Dr. Gregory Frizzell, 2009, www.frizzellministries.org, www.masterdesign.org/frizzell.html, by permission from the author. Download Covenant)

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Disciplined Disciples in America?

By P. Douglas Small | Published: July 2, 2010

Endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. – 2 Timothy 2:3

I did it again – I drove around the parking lot searching for a convenient spot. Inside, I looked for a soft pew. The words – hardness, soldier, endure – are not my kind of terms. They don’t build Sunday attendance. We see the church as a performance – the choir, the special music, the praise band. Even the preacher is rated as a good or bad speaker. God wants us to be a force. We prefer to be an audience. God wants to deploy us as an army. We prefer to be on vacation.

  • God, forgive us for being spiritually out-of-shape and unable to be rapidly deployed into some danger zone, some place on the planet that needs a demonstration of your love in action. Forgive us for being more like a MASH unit, than a group of veteran marines.

Rev. P. Douglas Small, Project Pray, Awakening America

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Cry Out for an Explosion of Sound Doctrine, Balanced Theology with Full Exaltation of God’s Glory and Grace

By Dr. Greg Frizzell | Published: July 1, 2010

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.—  (1 Tim 1:17, see also 1 Chr 29:10-13; Is 42:8; 1 Cor 1:29; Eph 1:3-6, 2:7-9 ;)

God purposes that His people continually proclaim sound doctrine, holiness and the glory of His grace. Only in truly knowing and exalting God do we find full life and meaning. All life, glory and truth are in God alone. Our very reason for existence is to know, love and glorify God for Who He truly is. The heart of Scripture is to declare God’s holiness, glory and grace in Christ. The predominant biblical message is God’s holiness, man’s sinfulness and his utter dependence upon grace in Jesus. Humankind has immeasurable value for one primary reason — we are made in God’s eternal image and are valuable to Him.

In reality, all meaning and truth revolves around God and His glory, not us. Biblical theology and right doctrines not only matter — they are everything! Indeed, spiritual truth is the foundational essence of all we are and do. Jesus proclaimed, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:6, emphasis added) For these reasons, sound biblical doctrine and theology are the very heart of discipleship, evangelism and worship. When God is proclaimed in all His holiness and glory, He sends forth His presence in manifest saving power.

Until our view of God and doctrinal truth is correct, nothing else is truly right. Unless we fully proclaim God’s holiness and truth, our evangelism is shallow and unbalance. The sad result is many religious “decisions” that are not true “conversions.” Yet tragically, much religion is dangerously infected with teachings that overly humanize God and deify mankind. The obvious intent is to create a “god” in our own image. A “god” we create is one who says what we want him to say and one we can control for our own ends. Of course, any such “god” bears little resemblance to the one true God of Scripture. The consequence of shallow evangelism and/or preaching is many “church members or attendees” who do not know the second birth. (John 3:8)

Many churches now even pride themselves on minimizing biblical doctrine and theology. Saints, if there is to be genuine sweeping revival, we must witness a major rise of sound theology, right doctrine and high exaltation of God’s grace. Obviously, only the Holy Spirit can empower such a widespread return to knowing and proclaiming God and doctrinal truth. For just such a movement, we must fervently pray and do our part to proclaim God’s holiness and glory!

  • Father, You alone are life, light, glory and truth. Cause us to proclaim Your full holy nature and glory. Fill us with burning hunger for the whole council of Your word and sound doctrine. Consume us with the exaltation of Your glory and grace. Forgive us for neglecting to declare Your whole word and holiness. Please pardon the ways we have sought You without total reliance upon Your grace and Spirit. Guard us from proclaiming a “god” in our own image. Save us from robbing You of glory that is Yours alone. Fill us with hearts to ever-exalt Your sovereign grace and glory.
  • Father, I praise You that You want me to know You in all Your glory and truth. I repent of creating any god in my own image and ignoring You as the God You are. Forgive me for trying to fit You into my own likeness rather than wholly seeking and living by Your truth. As a church, forgive us for having ears for false teaching and world-views that ignore Your full holy nature and truth. Please grant us the determination to major on biblical theology and sound doctrine. Cause us to exalt Your Sovereign grace as our only hope and strength. To You alone be all praise, glory and honor!
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