March 2005

Revival needs prayer and unity

I read recently that Charles Finney said that the two prerequisites for revival are prayer and unity.  Whilst they are not revival in themselves, they are the two vital pillars of it and this really struck a chord in me.

If you think of the praying described in Acts 1 before the day of Pentecost, there seems little doubt that unity was at its very heart.  Of course we need to define what the type of unity we are looking for is.

I think it is this: seeing the bigger picture and working and agreeing with others for the wider common good.  In other words, as I heard in a recent talk, the issue is not just you or me succeeding at a personal level (good though that may be!).  The analogy was used of a galley being rowed by, say, 20 oarsmen where there is an exponential increase in power as the unity of their rowing increases.  The more they are able to pull together the greater their combined power will become so it is not about individual performance but all about working effectively together.

What is the relevance of the above to our situation as Christians in London?  Firstly, no one individual or church or even denomination will be able to effect the changes we all long to see no matter how successful they may be in their own individual spheres.  Secondly, there is an exponential increase in power available to the wider body of Christ if only it will resolve to function effectively as one body, wherever possible, throughout the city of London.  Of course, we will still have our own local activities and responsibilities but, the challenge is to begin to relate together to the greater picture for the greater good.

Surely this is where prayer comes in to the equation because, when we pray together, the body is relating to its head and only then can it begin to function properly.  Certainly, one of the most exciting prayer meetings I can remember was when we were joined for the recent evening of Prayer and Worship by Pastor Agu and many of the members of Jesus House when I believe we tasted “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1).  There was such a oneness between us as we prayed for our city including a section when Pastor Agu himself led us in a time of prayer for unity in the Church: the very thing I am writing about.

I know these are not new themes but the potential of passion for unity married with passion in prayer and worship is worth re-emphasising.  I do strongly encourage anyone who can join us at “Festival of Life” on Good Friday in the Excel Centre, Docklands to do so (the programme starts at 8pm).  For those who don’t know, this event is a bi-annual one involving thousands of Christians in united prayer and worship (with teaching) for revival.  It is hosted by Pastor Agu Irukwu and The Redeemed Christian Church of God (of which Jesus House is a member Church).