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After Jesus was raised from the dead, He met
with His followers many times during a period of forty days. He did far
more than prove that He was alive. He spoke again and again about the
Kingdom of God: the advance of God's kingly love among all the peoples
of earth. On the last day He was with them, He told them to stay in
Jerusalem and to wait for “the promise of the Father.” Just after Jesus
was received into heaven, His followers gathered together in Jerusalem
to do exactly what Jesus had told them: to wait for the promise of the
Father. But it was not a passive waiting. They waited by praying
earnestly for ten days. They sought God zealously with their hearts
aligned with “one mind” concerning the promise about the Spirit of God.
They prayed persistently through the many other promises about the
Kingdom of God that Jesus had spent so much time teaching them.
As we read their prayers, and as we listen to what poured out from their
hearts in the days that followed Pentecost, we get a good idea about how
they prayed. Their prayers and statements sprang from the written Word
of God. They prayed in fervent, hope-filled passion for God to fulfill
His promises regarding His kingdom on earth. Christ is again calling His
church to unite in prayer. We are compelled to pray because the great
troubles that shake our world have no human solution. Even more, we are
called to pray because of the wonderful promises that God has purposed
to accomplish by Christ's life and power among the peoples of earth. It
is time now for God's people to gather again in persistent, united
prayer. What better way to unite in prayer than to consecrate ourselves
to seek God for ten days, as Jesus' first followers did, culminating on
the day of Pentecost?
Following the example of the first followers who “joined together
constantly” in prayer (Acts 1.14) during the ten days between the ascent
of Jesus and the descent of His Spirit on Pentecost, believers will be
organizing ways to pray together night and day beginning Friday, 6 May,
(Ten Days of Prayer toward a Greater Pentecost) through the end of
Pentecost Sunday, 15 May, 2005. The following prayer guide provides a
simple way for you and your church to pray in united hope and faith with
Christians all over the world:
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Ten Days of Prayer toward a Greater Pentecost
The Glory of Christ and the Transformation of
the Nations 6-15 May 2005. Now is an ideal opportunity for God's
people to gather again in persistent, united prayer. What better way to
unite in prayer than to consecrate ourselves to seek God for ten days,
as Jesus' first followers did, culminating on the day of Pentecost?
Participate with others from all over the world seeking the healing of
their nations and the coming of the glory of the Lord.
From 16 May 2005 onwards use the
Global Day of
Prayer web site as an on-going resource for ideas and stories of
what others are coming up with. |
