Prayer for Revival and Reformation Pt 4

 

We have been praying for the revival and reformation of God’s church in the U.S. these past three weeks (To catch up see Pt 1, Pt 2, and Pt 3). But last week we began praying with more focus for revival and reformation of God’s church in Oklahoma. Today, we will end this short series, still lifting up the churches in Oklahoma. And the passage I have in mind is toward the end of Romans.

 

Paul was concerned about the potential divides in Christ’s church in Rome, many of them ethnically caused, but also brought about by pride (Romans 14:1-15:3) and false teaching (16:17-18). It’s into this section Paul offers his readers Jesus freely offered in the Gospel, and makes applications:

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God… May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:4-7, 13).

 

Around Jesus is drawn together a people often divided by tribal affiliations, ethnic distinctions, pride, and at time, false teaching. They are drawn together to Jesus, which means they have turned away from those disruptive allegiances, to have total allegiance for Jesus. This means they and we are to grow together, committed to each other in ways that cement our commitment to Jesus, who is graciously committed to us, his people.

 

With that in mind, I could see us praying for Christ’s church in Oklahoma along these lines: 

O God of endurance and encouragement, who has given us your Scriptures of endurance and encouragement so that we might have hope; grant us to live in such harmony with one another in accord (in unity and solidarity) with Jesus, so that together we may – with one voice – glorify you. And that we would welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us to your glory. And, O God of hope, fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that together and by the power of your Spirit, we might abound in hope! 

Isn’t this thing our Lord Jesus prayed for, and surely the Father will one day fully answer his prayer: “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:20-21).

 

Pastor Mike


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