An Article of Faith

While God uses all of us differently, there is a biblical pattern in the New Testament Book of Acts for how God uses people to spread His Word.
First, God calls all of us to pray: “They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.” (Acts 1:14 NLT.)
Second, God wants us to share: “After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the Word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31 NLT.)
Third, God expects us to lead: “Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, ‘Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. ... So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!’
“Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins, turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles – all who have been called by the Lord our God.’ Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, ‘Save yourselves from this crooked generation!’
“Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day – about 3,000 in all. All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.” (Acts 2:14, 36-42 NLT.)
We can find the same pattern throughout church history into our present day. In every work of God’s Spirit, God wants to use people like you and me to pray, share, and lead. This is our part to play in the supernatural work of revival.
Can you imagine it?
What if thousands of prayer warriors pleaded with God for spiritual awakening? What if voices were raised sharing revival truth in communities across the nation? What if leaders called the world to spiritual renewal and laid down their agendas to partner with other leaders in issuing that call? What if believers everywhere earnestly sought the manifest presence of God? And what if God heard from heaven and healed our land, bringing millions to Christ as in other great seasons of revival? (Taken and adapted from: OneCry: A Nationwide Call for Spiritual Awakening. Visit www.onecry.com.)
“If My people,” declares the LORD, “who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV.)
Jessie J. Charpentier Sr. is pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church in St. Martinville.