Better Together – Call to Worship & Devotional Thoughts
January 9, 2011
Acts 4 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
When were the disciples filled with the Holy Spirit for speaking the word of God boldly? When they were united together in prayer and of one heart and mind. When was grace powerfully working in all of them, when they were united in the work of proclamation of the gospel and the supporting of those among them. God has intended that we are better together and that coming together in prayer be part of His means of granting us unity and power.
General Shaw Clifton, International leader of The Salvation Army has proclaimed a world wide united call to prayer. Here is the full text of the Call, published on 1 November 2010:
Dear Comrades and Friends in Christ,
A GLOBAL CALL TO 24-7 PRAYER: A day and night cry for justice.
Following thorough preparation by the Centre for Spiritual Life Development (a department of International Headquarters) and prayerful consideration by the International Management Council, I have agreed to the launching of A Global Call to Prayer: A day and night cry for justice (Luke 18:7) to all Salvationists, to commence on 1 January 2011.
Therefore, I am writing to my fellow Salvationists around the world, to call you to united, focused intercession in relation to the need for justice for the oppressed, according to Luke 18.
The spreading corrosive influence of human trafficking, corruption, and impurities beyond imagining call for nothing less than Salvationists to be on our knees before the One who alone can bring about a restoration of justice in the earth, even a holiness revival. Indeed, the great need of the times in which we live and serve urges us onward in day and night prayer.
Many Salvation Army territories around the world are already engaged in 24-7 prayer, with more prayer rooms and prayer networks being developed continually.
In recent years The Salvation Army's Centre for Spiritual Life Development in London and the International Social Justice Commission in New York City have been established and are born of the Spirit. This call to prayer will produce a spiritual synergy the world over.
In Luke 18:8 Jesus concludes his teaching with the question, "However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Perhaps Jesus is looking for evidence of faith on the earth upon his return, in his chosen ones crying out to him day and night. May The Salvation Army be a part of the faith that he finds.
Yours in Christ, Shaw Clifton - GENERAL
---
Live holy, preach Jesus!
No comments:
Post a Comment