We’ve heard about the movement that birthed what is now known as the Haystack Revival. This movement saw 1,700 people in northern Connecticut repent and believe the gospel in less than 2 years. We’ve heard about the Billy Graham crusades and the millions of people who have responded to the gospel as this great man faithfully proclaimed it. We’ve heard about the Chinese house churches baptizing 500,000 new believers in one year.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard enough. I’m ready to see a move of God that parallels—or even surpasses—these great events.

This Sunday we’re going to talk about what we need to do for this to happen in our communities. I believe we need to pray. Jesus taught His disciples how to pray. He taught them the heart of prayer. We pray to get intimacy with and answers from God, not to be seen by others. (Matthew 6:5-15)

There is a revival pattern exemplified by Jesus which holds true to this day. The pattern is: pray (fast and pray), proclaim the gospel and watch people repent and believe.

Let’s look at what Jesus did. He was led into the wilderness where He spent 40 days praying and fasting. He overcame the devil’s temptations. Jesus then went throughout Galilee calling people to repent and believe—and they did just that. People began to follow Him. Among them are His 12 disciples whom He poured into for 3 years. Once Jesus was crucified for our sins, buried and raised from the dead, He spent additional time here on this earth with the remaining 11 disciples as well as some followers. Finally, He left after charging them to finish His mission. What did these followers do after that? They went to a private place to pray and wait for the promised Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came and filled them with His power. Peter preached a message to repent and believe and 3,000 people were added to their number in one day.

God moves when we pray. This isn’t a work we can do on our own. It’s a work only the Holy Spirit can do as we pray and depend on His directing power.

As we learn the story of Jesus’ model prayer this Sunday, let’s pray fervently “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…” (Matthew 6:10) Let’s tell God how much we want to see Him accomplish His work of reconciling the world to Himself. Once we see it, we won’t be able to stop talking about it!