Day 11
The Plagues and Pestilence
When the church fails to be the church, it lays a wake of devastating consequence within society. It doesn’t take the most spiritually discerning individual to see that society is rapidly becoming hardened toward Christianity. I dare say that in the United States, a nation that was founded upon Judeo/Christian principles and has been known since its founding as a Christian nation is becoming increasingly hostile to true biblical Christianity. Sometimes we use the excuse, “These are the signs of the times”, or “Our nation is undergoing judgment.”
There may be truth in both of those statements; however, I am firmly convinced the reason society is becoming increasingly hardened toward Christianity is for the simple fact that the church is not being the church. Paul urged the church in Ephesians 6:19, “and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.”
Paul’s simple request of the church was to pray for him as he proclaims the gospel. The sad reality is that Satan has convinced the majority of all Christians not to proclaim/share the gospel although the Bible clearly teaches that it is every Christian’s call and duty. What is even more frightening is the fact that so few are willing to take the time to till the ground through the power of prayer for those who are sowing the seeds of the gospel. A prayerless church is a powerless church.
In Matthew 13 we find Jesus telling the parable of the seed and the sower. Jesus tells of one who is casting seed everywhere he goes. As a farmer, he would be a bad steward of the seed. However Jesus tells us that the seed He speaks of is the Word of God. Jesus tells us in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age”. In other words as you go, cast your seed everywhere and to everyone making disciples and teaching God’s Word. The result is not ours but God’s. We are simply being good stewards of the gospel seed, casting it as we go and leaving the result to God.
Although the end result is God’s, Paul told the church of Ephesus to pray as he proclaims the gospel. The sower of the seed sowed seed on the roadside, on the rocky places, in the thorns, and on the good soil. As we begin to pray, we begin the process of tilling up the soil for the seed to be sown in the good soil.
A farmer who does not prepare the soil prior to the sowing of the seed is not only foolish but also a bad steward of the seed. Every farmer knows that preparing the ground is the most vital element in producing a good crop. When the church fails to prepare the spiritual soil by refusing to pray, they are likewise foolishly being bad stewards of the gospel seed.
The stony, thistled spiritual soil of this modern day has proven difficult to sow the seed in. However this should encourage us all the more to pray. Our hearts should be so stirred with the compassion that Jesus had when He cried out to the stony-hearted inhabitants of Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.”
Untilled land unsown with the gospel seed that has the power unto salvation will only produce a crop of pestilence. The pestilence of sin plagues the unevangelized land leaving the citizens hopelessly lost to live out their lives in the immorality and the lusts of their flesh. So often we fuss about the ways of the unevangelized, but how should a lost person act other than as a lost person? “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:14,15).
The condition of the spiritual soil within the land is no doubt a direct result of the spiritual drought within our churches that has opened the door wide for the devourer leaving the land desolate for the pestilence of sin to settle in. We fuss about the immorality and sin that has plagued our society. Sexual perversions of all sorts have become the norm; families are being torn apart; and drugs, crime, violence, and overall disregard for humanity are now a part of daily life. However, the plague of sin is simply the symptom and not the cause. It is the fever that allows us to know our bodies are sick. Clearly, the biblical cause is the spiritual drought that has gripped so many of our churches. The time for revival is now! The fields are white unto harvest. Let’s stand up and reclaim this land in the name that is above all names, Jesus.
Day 11 Prayer Guide
- Ask God to reveal any sin or mindset that would prevent Him from hearing your prayers.
- Repent of any such hindrance and ask for God’s forgiveness.
- Ask God to remove any doubts and keep you focused on Him.
- Seek the Holy Spirit to consume you during this time to lead you. Be obedient to Him.
- Ask yourself why you serve God. If it’s not out of love, repent.
- Spend some time praising God for the fact that He is able. Quote some scriptures or some of His characteristics to Him in praise.
- Pray that the people of God will repent of sins and mindsets that dishonor and hinder Him.
- Pray that the people of God will seek the presence of God in their lives and their churches life.
- Pray that the people of God would hunger and thirst for Him and therefore, seek His face.
- Pray that our churches understand spiritual warfare and engage in it.
- Ask God to raise up a mighty army of prayer warriors.
- Pray that the people of God will stand in faith knowing God can reclaim this land.
- Pray that our churches would be devoted to, and peruse the things that honor God.
- Pray that our churches will be a house of prayer.
- Pray that our churches will be a shining light upon the hill.
- Pray that the people of God would see the need for revival and begin to seek God for it.
- Pray specifically for revival in your church. Pray for your pastor and church leaders.
- Pray that the people of God will be broken hearted over the lost.
- Pray that the church will be a gospel centered church with a heart to evangelize the world while starting in their own back yard.
- Pray that the church would stand up to their calling and loose heaven on this earth.
- Pray that the power of God would fall on the church moving them to prayer and sowing the gospel seed.
- Pray as a result that the plagues and pestilences in society will be reversed.
- Pray for a great awakening in your community. Name off streets and neighborhoods.
- Do not be judgmental in this, but pray that if there is any within the church who do not have a genuine relationship with Jesus that God would convict their heart and save them.
- Make a list of individuals who are not saved and begin petitioning God for their salvation.
- Pray for repentance of sin and a great awakening in our nation.
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