Living sacrifices and Praying for Revival
The way we worship is by willingly laying down our whole lives to God as a sacrifice. By giving our entire lives to God we begin to know what God’s will is- Romans 12.1-2
We see several examples of this in the bible Hannah’s life, Abraham’s life, those mentioned in Hebrews 11 as the heroes of faith and Jesus himself willingly laying down his life and becoming obedient even to the death of the cross.
The bible says in 1 Samuel 1 :24-26 “After he was weaned she took the boy with her, young as he was along with a 3year old bull an ephah of flour and a skin of wine and brought him to the house of the Lord... I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he shall be given over to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there”. Hannah sacrificed the baby back to God. The bible says that in those days the word of the Lord was rare. When Samuel’s life was given as an offering or a sacrifice God responded with His voice and His word of revelation. Samuel’s name means God hears. Samuel heard God, loved Him and was always faithful to do what he says. When we give our lives fully to God, God can use us to bring His will on earth. William booth said "the greatness of a man’s or woman’s power is the measure of their surrender".
Abraham sacrificed his son Isaac on the altar by being obedient to God even when he didn’t understand. Abraham didn’t withhold his only son. He loved God more than his son and trusted God. Because of his obedience and willingness to sacrifice his son God not only revealed himself as Jevovah Jireh, the Lord our provider but also gave Abraham a vision. On Mount Moriah Abraham saw a vision of the cross that will provide forgiveness for all mankind. We see others who were prepared to sacrifice all in the book of Hebrews not fearing torture, persecution, imprisonment and even death. Today God is calling us to take up our cross and follow Him.
As we return to the Lord in humble prayer and fasting, like in Hosea chapter 14 let us pray “Lord forgive all our sins and receive us graciously”. May God cause our branches to spread; may the beauty of Jesus shine through us like an olive tree; our lives be full of the Holy Spirit and anointed, may we blossom like a lily. May we be like a cedar of Lebanon sending down roots; may our shoots grow may we become fragrant full of scent like the wine of Lebanon ( new wine – through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit); may people dwell under our shade (Like the green fir tree); may we flourish or revive like the corn. May our fruitfulness come from the Lord. Revivals of the past were answers to prayer. The day of Pentecost was birthed in prayer . As we pray may we see a great awakening in this nation and nations of the world. Lord visit us with visions and dreams may we have an open heaven and Holy Spirit filled powerful encounters that everywhere people will know that Jesus is alive.