For me, the Upper Room stands for a place where we pray for revival. Do you have a passion to see revival in Pakenham. The kind where at least 10% of Pakenham pour into Churches. Where sleepy Christians wake up, wayward Christians return, and seekers turn to Jesus. Where there is true unity, passionate worship, study of the Word, prayer, and caring to the poor and abused. How much of your thoughts, dreams, and prayers are occupied with this vision? It is important to Jesus, and so it aught to be important to His followers. Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples, baptising and teaching them. It all begins with focused prayer. Consider these 5 points from Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane Matthew 26:36-39;
- DEVELOP A PERSONAL EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE.
Every genuine ministry flows naturally from a right relationship with our Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Jesus demonstrated this before He went to the Cross. Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed,” “My Father,…” (Matt 26:39)
- JOIN WITH OTHERS
He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” (Matt 26:37,38) We are built for community, and it takes a community to reach a city. There is real power when God’s people join together in true unity to watch and pray.
- HAVE A PLACE AWAY FROM DISTRACTIONS
“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane,” (Matt 26:36) We live in an age of distraction. We are always so busy, and our phones are distracting us wherever we go. Jesus had a habit of going to quiet place, out of the way, to be with His Father.
- CULTIVATE A BURDENED FOR MISSION
“He began to be sorrowful and troubled.” (Matt 26:37) We cannot imagine the burden Jesus was carrying as He was preparing to go to the Cross. But it is the will of God for us to carry a burden for reaching the lost. We cannot carry this burden in our own strength. Jesus said; “Without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). So we are called to join together and bring our burden to God. For Him to empower and enable us to carry it out.
- HUMBLY ACCEPT GOD’S WILL
Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matt 26:39) We have to know that we cannot expect God to do our will, but His Will must be done. And remember, things may not work out as we expect or plan. We must humbly acknowledge that He who sees and knows all, knows what is best.
Consider these Puritan Prayers;
Gracious Lord, Thy name is love, in love receive my prayer. My sins are more than the wide sea’s sand, but where sin abounds, there is grace more abundant. Look to the cross of thy beloved Son, and view the preciousness of his atoning blood; Listen to his never-failing intercession, and whisper to my heart, ‘They sins are forgiven, be of good cheer, lie down in peace.’ Grace cataracts from heaven and flows for ever, and mercy never wearies in bestowing benefits. Grant me more and more to prize the privilege of prayer, to come to thee as a sin-siled sinner, to find pardon in thee, to converse with thee; to know thee in prayer is the path in which my feet tread, the latch upon the door of my lips, the light that shines through my eyes, the music of my ears, the marrow of my understanding, the strength of my will, the power of my affection, the sweetness of my memory. May the matter of my prayer be always wise, humble, submissive, obedient, scriptural, Christ-like. Give me unwavering faith that supplications are never in vain, that if I seem not to obtain my petitions I shall have larger, richer answers, surpassing all that I ask or think. Unsought, thou hast given me the greatest gift, the person of thy Son, and in him thou wilt give me all I need. Amen
O God of the highest heaven, occupy the throne of my heart, take full possession and reign supreme, lay low every rebel lust, let no vile passion resist thy holy war; manifest thy mighty power, and make me thine forever. Thou art worthy to be praised with my every breath, loved with my every faculty of soul, served with my every act of life. Thou hast loved me, espoused me, received me, purchased, washed, favored, clothed, adorned me, when I was a worthless, vile soiled, polluted. I was dead in iniquities, having no eyes to see thee, no ears to hear thee, no taste to relish thy joys, no intelligence to know thee; But thy Spirit has quickened me, has brought me into a new world as a new creature, has given me spiritual perception, has opened to me thy Word as light, guide, solace, joy. Thy presence is to me a treasure of unending peace; No provocation can part me from thy sympathy, for thou hast drawn me with cords of love, and dost forgive me daily, hourly. O help me then to walk worthy of thy love, of my hopes, and my vocation. Keep me, for I cannot keep myself; Protect me that no evil befall me; Let me lay aside every sin admired of many; Help me to walk by thy side, lean on thy arm, hold converse with thee, That I may be salt of the earth and a blessing to all. Amen