Youth South New South Wales

A Call to Prayer for Revival and Reformation – November 12

I am sure that you are all aware that our new General Conference President, Pastor Ted Wilson has in his brief time in office, very earnestly and intentionally called the world church to revival and reformation.  Essentially his theme has been that we live in urgent times and that we need a greater outpouring of the Spirit so that with renewed clarity and focus, we can tell the world of the soon coming of our Lord and Saviour.  Finally his call is for us to seek the Lord earnestly so that we can be a people whom the Holy Spirit can powerfully use to witness to His transforming grace.

At the time of Annual Council the General Conference Executive Committee on October 11, 2010 voted to endorse a document calling the global church to revival and reformation. See Adventist World, dated January 15, 2011.

Next month Pastor Ted Wilson will be travelling to the South Pacific Division to attend the year end meetings of the Division Executive Committee.  Following that he will be coming to Melbourne for Sabbath November 12.  On that day the Victorian Conference has invited membership to a major regional meeting here in the city of Melbourne and at that time Pr Wilson will preach and share.  Given the presence of Pr Wilson I thought that this would be a good opportunity for the church across Australia to join together on November 12 for a time of prayer, seeking the Lord to renew and revive us. 

In speaking to the Victorian Conference leadership they are very happy to include a time of corporate prayer in the morning worship service on November 12.  What a great opportunity for us together with our world church leader, to join in earnest prayer across Australia, praying for the Lord to renew and revive us through His Spirit for the challenging task we have in presenting the Gospel message to all.

So my appeal is that, as a national church family worshipping in over 500 congregations across Australia, we will be found together on our knees during worship service time on Sabbath morning, November 12.  I believe there is something inspiring and powerful about the thought of our people right across our vast country, earnestly beseeching the Lord together in prayer. 

WHAT TO DO

• It may be good for you to introduce the time of prayer and talk briefly about the need for revival and reformation.

• If you have not already planned your preaching topic for Sabbath, November 12 you may like to theme the whole of your church service around this topic.

• The simplest and most time efficient way for a time of prayer – and for many the most comfortable - is to invite your congregation to join together in small groups to pray.

• It can be helpful to suggest some matters for the groups to bring to the Lord in prayer.

WHAT TO PRAY FOR

• To give us a new picture and understanding of what God has done for us and is doing for us in Christ.

• To give us a renewed love for the Word and prayer.

• To ask the Spirit to reveal and convict us of areas of our lives which need to reflect more fully God’s ideals for His children.

• To ask the Lord for forgiveness and cleansing.

• To fill our hearts with new love for each other.

• To prayer for the outpouring of the Spirit on us as a people.

• To renew in us a sense of boldness and commitment to personal witness and mission.

So fellow leaders of God’s people I trust that you will lead your people in a time of earnest prayer on Sabbath morning, November 12.