BBD 01.19.04 Fac Spiritual Break Out - Part 6 (Praying With Others)
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The Burning Bush Devotional
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01.19.04
Facilitating Your Spiritual Break Out - Part 6
(Praying with others)
Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything
that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where
two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of
them. - Matthew 18:19-20.
On July 1, 1857, Jeremiah Lanphier received an appointment as a city
missionary in New York City from the Dutch Reformed Church. Lanphier was
described as being a “quiet and zealous businessman.” How would he be able
to make any kind of difference? He decided to begin by holding a prayer
meeting at noon on Wednesdays and he randomly passed out a few invitations
for others to join him. The prayer meeting was held on Fulton Street a few
blocks from where the World Trade Center would eventually be located.
Lanphier relates what happened, “Going my rounds in the performance of my
duty one day, as I was walking along the streets, the idea was suggested to
my mind that an hour of prayer, from twelve to one o'clock, would be
beneficial to businessmen, who usually in great numbers take that hour for
rest and refreshment. The idea was to have singing, prayer, exhortation,
relation of religious experience, as the case might be; that none should be
required to stay the whole hour; that all should come and go as their
engagements should allow or require, or their inclinations dictate.
Arrangements were made, and at twelve o'clock noon, on the 23rd day of
September, 1857, the door of the third story lecture room was thrown open.”
Jeremiah had to pray by himself for the first thirty minutes but then a few
men began arriving until eventually five had come making a total of six
people. The next meeting was held on September 30th with 20 people
attending. On October 7th, the meeting had grown to over 30 and it was
decided to have the meetings daily. Within only a matter of months prayer
meetings multiplied until there were over 10,000 people praying together in
the city in these meetings. The movement spread across the country and to
England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. The result was that over one million
people came to know Christ as their Savior. Major social changes also were
brought about because of these new believers.
God used one person to start one prayer meeting that changed the world! What
would happen in your world if you asked a few friends to join you in prayer?
Invite them to your home, or ask your pastor if you can meet at church and
allow everyone to come that would like to be a part of it. What would happen
if you were to do that? Most likely God would use you to change the world
too! What a wonderful spiritual break out that would be!
(If you do start a prayer meeting please send me an email and let me know
about it. I think it would be a great encouragement to us all.)
Copyright © 2004. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
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