A prayer covenant – let’s ask for a move of the Holy Spirit
The summer is nearly half over, and we’re well into our study of the fruit of the Spirit – the character traits He produces in those who have surrendered their lives to the Lordship of Christ. We’re finding new ways of partnering with the Holy Spirit to bring about life-change as He transforms us into the image of Jesus. I want to expand our study of the Holy Spirit in one small, but powerful way.
The pastors’ group of which I am a part has decided to covenant together to pray for the “manifest presence” of the Holy Spirit in our churches, Sylvania, and Lucas County. The words “manifest presence” simply mean that we desire obvious, clearly visible, observable displays and evidence of the Holy Spirit revealing Himself in our midst. We’re not hoping merely for signs – we’re praying for face-to-face and heart-to-heart encounters with God’s Spirit in ways that leave us breathless and wanting more; ways that are powerful and life-changing.
Pastor Joe Keblesh of Saint Matthew’s Episcopal expressed his hopes in these words: “For quite some time I have been struggling in my soul over seeing God the Holy Spirit show up at St. Matthew’s in a powerful, undeniable way that brings renewal, revival, healing, deliverance, the Gifts of the Spirit, and mostly a more profound and deeper hunger for Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, for His Word, and for service to Him and ministry to others.” He clarified it by saying, “I am talking about a ‘Pentecost’ type of showing up, one that transforms and empowers lives beyond our understanding or imagination.”
Pastor Igor (Beau) Beaufils of Family Christian Center added that conviction and repentance are critical needs as well. “You can’t get to renewal, revival or deliverance without conviction and repentance.” What Pastor Beau clearly tells us is that for the Holy Spirit to truly move in a life or in a congregation, we must be willing to be convicted by Him for our sins and shortcomings, and personally repent – turn to go the right direction. Then and only then can the Holy Spirit bring spiritual renewal, revival, and deliverance from our lazy or selfish or spiritually-wandering ways.
The pastors have shared that each of us have the same very real hunger for a Holy Spirit led revival and renewal in our own lives and in our churches. We believe this is a “God-implanted prayer of the heart.” It was on my heart as I designed the summer study about the fruit of the Spirit and when we selected Max Lucado’s book about having the heart of Jesus; it was on Pastor Joe’s mind at a recent Parish Vestry meeting, and shortly before that as he wrote about the Holy Spirit in his church newsletter; it has been a heart-felt desire with Pastor Beau, and in Pastor Andy Weigand’s prayer times (McCord Road Christian) and with Pastor Mark Bartsch of Toledo Mennonite. We have decided to form a Covenant of Prayer to pray together – and for our churches to pray together – for this outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We have joined our hearts together to pray for the Holy Spirit to be manifested (made clearly evident) in our lives, in our churches, and in the wider area in which our faith communities serve: Sylvania and Lucas county.
Like my fellow pastors, I am asking you to join with me and with the saints in these other “sister” churches in this Covenant of Prayer, inviting God the Holy Spirit to have His way in us individually, in each of our churches, and then spreading out into Lucas County and southeast Michigan as well.
We ALL need to be involved in this important prayer. Each of you need to agree to join with the rest of the Quarry Ridge family to ask that God’s Spirit would reveal Himself in mighty and wonderful ways over the upcoming weeks and months of the summer and early fall.
“Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.”
(Jesus, in John 14:11-17)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
(Apostle Paul, in Philippians 4:4-9)
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Apostle Peter, in 2 Peter 1:3-8)
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
(Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
“When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.”
(Jesus, in John 16:8-15)
We’re covenanting to join together to ask Jesus to answer our prayer – a prayer for a tangible and amazing move of the Holy Spirit in our personal lives and in the life of our church and in our fellow churches in Sylvania and the region. The Body of Christ needs a fresh empowerment from the Holy Spirit, and each of us needs to ask God for this fresh indwelling and clear evidence of Him working in us and through us.
This Covenant of Prayer is yet another component of our summer discovery of the qualities the Holy Spirit produces and develops in us. As we surrender ourselves to Him, and willingly partner with Him, the Holy Spirit works to make us into the image of our Savior, Jesus Christ. This prayer is an important part of the community working together to usher in an exciting and God-enthused renewal of the church.
Will you pray with us?
Here is how you can pray:
• Ask God for a fresh outpouring of His Holy Spirit in your life.
• Invite the Holy Spirit to convict you of personal sin that needs to be confessed.
• As the Holy Spirit brings things to mind, pray repentantly and expectantly for God to change you through-and-through.
• Ask God to grant a powerful and undeniable move of the Holy Spirit at Quarry Ridge. Ask for a “Pentecost style of showing up!”
• Ask God for a mighty move of His Spirit in the congregations of Saint Matthew’s Episcopal, McCord Road Christian, Family Christian Center, and Toledo Mennonite, among other churches in our city and region.
NOTE: As you pray, if you sense God’s voice, please take the time to comment to this blog and share what God is doing and saying.
