Getting down when it counts

With reference to my last post on the site I thought I would continue the theme about prayer by quoting directly some text from Tony Campolo in the book Stand up and be counted (Page 128 Chapter 9) wrote this . . . . . .

Getting Down when it counts

Its up to us. Now. The means of seeing God’s will being done on Earth as it is in Heaven is on our hands, in our lives. But we can’t do it alone, as much as we’d like to. We need the help of our pastors, church leaders and others in positions of spiritual responsibility, for in some respects they are the ones who hold our destiny in their hands.

If we are going to be challenged as Christians and to challenge others too, we ought to pray for them, that they also will be open to what God would have them do. . . it’s the smaller, more intimate churches, where you know you’re a name and not a number where God is especially at work.

We need to pray for ourselves, our fellow church members and our church leaders, that with us they will catch the vision and help to further God’s kingdom on earth in our homes, on our streets, in our workplaces, in pubs – and in churches. The responsibility is awesome, for this is God’s work we are on, and this fact alone ought to cause us sober reflection and contemplation. Those who lead us in worship and head the ministry of God’s people have an incredible responsibility, for, as James warns, those who teach the word of God will be held more accountable for what happens to people than anyone else (James 3 v 1). For this reason alone we ought to pray and intercede for them, that when revival comes they aren’t just prepared but are also at the forefront of it.

In the Bible, the prophets arose because the people prayed for God to raise them up. When the children of Israel felt that they were living in a spiritual wasteland, they prayed that God would give them a prophet, and God answered they prayers. In Bible days, the revivial of a people and the renewal of the nation always began with prayer. Without prayer there were no prophets.

Its up to you!