"The very zealous Moravians had found a
worthy leader in Zinzendorf. He was a man of
serious devotion, fervent prayer, and was known
for his commitment to radical holiness. In modern
terminology, we would say that he had a tremendous
hunger for God." Unnamed quotes by Pitts
Evans
As
we arise in 24-7 prayer, it is important that
we look at our historical roots. Understanding
the historical beginnings of day and night prayer
should challenge us for the future. The prayer
movement is quickly spreading around the world,
but it is not without commitment and hard work.
As we begin establishing 24-7 prayer in our cities
and see the largeness of the task, we may be tempted
to ask ourselves several questions. "Is 24-7
prayer possible for our city?" "Has
this ever been done before?" "Can we
have faith for such a big venture as day and night
prayer? "Will it be worth it? "What
is the value of such intensity in prayer hour
after hour and day after day?" These questions
are legitimate because we need to really believe
in prayer in order to pay the price. It will cost
each one of us time and effort. We can't begin
and then quit. We are in this for the long haul.
These questions have an answer that should
motivate each one of us to continue. Yes,
this has been done before. In fact, there has
already been a 100-year, non-stop prayer meeting
with absolutely fantastic results. Day and night
prayer is certainly possible. The way has been
paved before us in the spiritual realm. It has
been done in a place called Herrnhut (meaning
"on watch for the Lord") in Germany.
It can, therefore, be done in your city. It is
going to be worth more than we can right now comprehend.
And it is of the highest value. This 24-7 prayer
meeting launched a worldwide missionary movement!
The results of the 24-7 prayer movement that you
and I are entering into will shake the entire
world and will reach from one nation to another.
There will not be a place on earth that will not
be touched dramatically by 24-7 prayer. Therefore,
we must not give up because of the difficulties.
We must look forward with anticipation to what
God is going to do through united prayer and fervent
devotion.
"For
more than one hundred years, beginning on August
26, 1727, there was a Moravian brother or sister
somewhere engaged in prayer, twenty-four hours
a day, seven days a week. Among the brethren
this meeting was known as the 'Hourly Intercession.'
There was literal prayer without ceasing for
one hundred years. The prayer focus soon moved
from those at Herrnhut to lost souls in Europe
and around the world. The Lord gave the entire
community a burning desire to see sinners come
to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and this
fueled young Zinzendorf's fire for evangelism."
An
Intense Devotional Life
The
Moravian 100-year, continuous prayer meeting was
started in 1727 by Count Zinzendorf. He was
a deeply spiritual man and traced his intense
devotional life to one event on a single day when
he visited an art gallery and saw a portrait of
Christ wearing a crown of thorns on his head.
At the bottom of the picture was written, "All
this I did for you, what are you doing for Me?"
"The nineteen year old Count was powerfully
touched in a very personal way by the Holy Spirit.
From that moment, Zinzendorf realized that he
could never consider himself a follower of Jesus
Christ and continue to live the carefree life
of a European nobleman. To the horror of friends
and family, he dedicated the rest of his life
to the service of Jesus Christ."
Count Zinzendorf gave inspirational leadership
through the love that he had for the church and
for prayer. His acceptance of even strangers,
his selflessness and the great love for the Lord
and people inspired others. He had a powerful
interest in prayer. He would set aside whole days
and nights to fast and pray when he was a university
student. This 100-year, non-stop prayer meeting
began because of his faithfulness in prayer in
his small corner of the world called Herrnhut.
The group of men and women he led in this 100-year
prayer meeting were called the Moravians. The
Moravians followed the example of Zinzendorf in
living a holy and loving life. "In every
detail of their lives - in business, pleasure,
in Christian service, in civil duties - they took
the Sermon on the Mount as a lamp to their feet."
Their powerful motto was "In essentials,
unity; in nonessentials, liberty; and in all things,
love." Their testimony has spread all
around the world but it began during one Communion
service.
"The
Holy Spirit fell on the group as on the day
of Pentecost. Hearts were radically changed,
and prayers were answered beyond expectations.
Many more villagers began to set aside time
for earnest prayer. Soon, prayer was gong on
24 hours a day. Even the children organized
prayer circles. This wave of prayer did not
cease for a hundred years. So transformed was
the village that John Wesley, visiting in 1738,
called it the happiest place on earth!"
Joe Martin
The
Moravian Mission Movement
"The
focus of prayer at Hernnhut became world missions.
The Lord gave the entire community a renewed
call of the Great Commission, to go into all
the world and preach the gospel. This resulted
in the greatest concentration of Christian workers
being sent out into foreign missions since the
first century. 'In the two decades that followed,
the Moravians sent out more missionaries than
all Protestants and Anglicans had sent out in
the previous two centuries.'"
Shortly
after this 100-year prayer meeting started, Count
Zinzendorf felt strongly that they were to spread
the gospel of Jesus to the unreached people around
the world. The focus of prayer became world missions.
They all felt the call of the Great Commission.
So many workers were then sent out to the nations.
The continuous prayer meeting that God is presently
initiating around the world will have the same
focus. This is the time to bring in the harvest
in every nation of the world. As we pray we will
receive the heart of God for the nations. We will
receive the burden of the Great Commission, and
we will receive the anointing to reach our neighbors.
We will no longer be able to contain or restrain
the empowering and convicting force of the Holy
Spirit. This is where we are headed.
I would like to tell you my experience in the
harp and bowl prayer meetings that I am involved
with in my church. I believe that we are beginning
to move into more prayer for the nations and for
the lost. Last week almost every prayer was concentrating
on the lost. As we were praying Scripture, there
was a harmonious direction in prayer towards the
harvest and towards lost souls. God is directing
our intercession. His heart is towards the lost
and the nations. This prayer meeting was very
powerful, and I believe it is because God is saying
something. He seems to be showing us that it is
time for all of us to open our eyes and look onto
the fields, for they are ripe for harvest (John
4:35). He is beginning to focus us onto the
lost just as he did with the Moravian prayer movement.
This prayer movement that we all are becoming
part of is going to usher in the second coming
of Christ.
Ways
to Apply the Moravian Example in 24-7 Prayer Meetings
Let
the Moravian example challenge you to rise up
higher in prayer than you have ever been before.
The following quotes taken from the Moravian prayer
movement are ways to apply this in your prayer
meetings.
Additional
24/7 Prayer Resources
Additional
links for Web
Site and Prayer Networks
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