A DENOMINATIONAL CALL TO PRAYER FIRST FRIDAY FAST

Prior to the Great Awakening, Jonathan Edwards, along with several colleagues, issued what was called “The National Prayer Accord.” It was a call to united prayer throughout New England. God moved in response to those prayers, and America experienced an incredible awakening.  The National Prayer Committee and Awakening America Alliance have issued a similar “National Prayer Accord” for 2020 in an effort to call churches across the nation to united prayer, looking for another awakening in this country. For more information on the National Prayer Accord, go to: Prayerleader.com/prayer-leader/a-national-rhythm-of-prayer.

One of the foundations of the Accord is the establishment of rhythms of prayer:

• Weekly – one-half to one hour of private or small group prayer
• Monthly – one- to two-hour individual church prayer gatherings
• Quarterly – one- to two-hour local, multiple-church prayer gatherings
• Annually – unite for the National Day of Prayer

While some churches meet for prayer more frequently than this, for others the National Prayer Accord is a challenge to call the church to prayer. It would be great to see our churches engaging in private, small group, and corporate prayer, as well as uniting with other churches in a rhythm of prayer for awakening in our churches and in the country.

FIRST FRIDAY PRAYER AND FASTING

As a part of the National Prayer Accord, even if you can’t participate fully in all aspects, we encourage churches and individuals to set aside the first Friday of the month as a day of fasting and prayer for the awakening of the church and the advancement of the Kingdom. Whether you fast one meal or the entire day is between you and the Lord. We are calling the church to united prayer. This could be done personally and as a part of a monthly prayer gathering.

In recognition of:

• Our invitation to intimacy with the Father – Luke 10:41-42; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; Psalm 27:4; Joshua 24:14-15
• Our absolute dependence on God – Isaiah 40:31; Matthew 6:25, 18:20; Proverbs 3:5; Ephesians 6:18
• Our command to be holy people of God – Psalm 139:23-24; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 2 Peter 1:5-8; Ephesians 4:23
• Our need for a deep brokenness for lost people – Matthew 9:36-38; Acts 16:9-10, 20:22, 24; Luke 15:4; 19:10
• Our commission to make disciples who make disciples – Luke 6:40; Acts 1:8; 2 Timothy 2:2; Matthew 24:14; 28:18-20
• Our recognition of the moral, spiritual, and social challenges facing our churches and our nation – Micah 6:8; Psalm 10:17-18; Deuteronomy 10:19; Luke 4:17-21; James 1:27

WE CALL THE CHURCH TO FOCUSED, UNITED PRAYER:

• FOR THE DENOMINATION —
  • That the Missionary Church would be white-hot for Jesus – that we would love Him more and more (Matthew 22:37).
  • That the Missionary Church would remain committed to the Word and fully dependent on the leading and power of the Spirit of God (Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 143:10; Hebrews 4:12).
  • That the Missionary Church would intentionally pursue holiness of heart and life (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15).
  • That the heart of the Missionary Church would be continually broken for lost people (Matthew 23:37).
  • That the Missionary Church would lead in our commitment to the multiplication of disciples among all people groups, foreign and domestic (2 Corinthians 9:10).
  • That the Missionary Church would be leaders in ministry to the social needs of our nation (Proverbs 31:8-9; Isaiah 58:6-7).

• FOR CHURCH PLANTING –
  • For protection of our pastors, families, and ministries from the evil one (Matthew 6:13).
  • For God to draw everyone into discipling relationships that see life transformation in the people around us (2 Corinthians 9:10).
  • For God to bring the right leaders to churches who will be seeking new pastors (1 Samuel 16:7).
  • For God to bring healing in the strained marriages some of our pastors and spouses are experiencing (Colossians 3:13; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Joshua 24:15).
  • For an outpouring of funding for the multiplication of disciples and churches. We really need $500-600K this year (2 Corinthians 9:8; Psalm 34:10, 132:15).

• FOR CHURCH REVITALIZATION —
  • That our churches will not only know but also embrace the truth that apart from Jesus we can do nothing (John 15:5).
  • That our churches will help each individual in the church have the connections they need to journey together on their walk with God (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).
  • That our churches will take responsibility to equip those in the church to go out from the church to form relationships with those who need to discover God (John 17:18).
  • That those in our churches put our commitment to God and our worship of God higher than the traditions and political leanings that can become idols and replace God (Matthew 15:8-9).
  • That those in our churches slow down enough so that we open our eyes and notice the lost and needy around us (John 4:35).
  • That those in our churches will learn to walk as Jesus walked, with minds that think like Jesus, hearts that love like Jesus, and actions that reflect Jesus (1 John 2:6).

• PASTORS AND LEADERS – 
  • That God will give special strength, wisdom, and endurance as they minister in an ever-changing world (Ephesians 3:16).
  • That God will protect their families and give them the resolve to care for their homes as much as they care for the church. Pray God will help them find the right balance (Ephesians 5:25).
  • That God would provide during and after this pandemic we currently face. Pray especially for those who have lost or will lose their ministry positions (Philippians 4:19).
  • That pastors will seek the Lord first rather than looking for the best strategies and ideas from others (Matthew 6:33).
  • That pastors will find a good rhythm between work and rest (Matthew 11:28-29).

• BETHEL UNIVERSITY –

• That God might make Bethel a hotbed of revival – a truly robust, historic, echoing revival throughout the entire church, inspiring the church to its first love of God (Revelation 2).
• That students will come to personal, saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, be sanctified in character, and live a life worthy of their calling (Ephesians 4:1).
• That God would use Bethel to equip students in all fields for His purposes on Earth:  
  • an alumnus to become a Supreme Court Justice and legislate the justice of Jesus (Isaiah 42), 
  • one to cure cancer through the unusual understanding of He who holds together all things, both visible and invisible (Colossians 1), 
  • one as CEO of a Fortune 500 company whose godly ethics utterly change an entire industry (Romans 12:2),
  • an artist whose creative gift melts the hearts of kings and queens and authorities of all kinds toward the heart of the Father (Proverbs 22:29),
  • an evangelist in the order of Paul or Billy Graham, who reaches all corners of the globe with the Good News (Acts 13:47),
  • that Bethel would be protected from an aggressive political agenda to reduce religious liberties in hiring and curricula, namely LGBT concerns,
  • that God might grant unusual creativity in Bethel faculty, staff, and administrators to defeat barriers of entry by under-resourced students,
  • that God would populate Bethel with students, sufficient in number and fit for her mission.

• WORLD PARTNERS –

• That God will give us inroads into unreached areas of the world (Isaiah 60:1-5; Acts 6:9-12).
• That God will raise up additional leaders who can ignite disciple making movements and help existing movements to be effective (Mark 6:15; Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 9:10).
• That God will grant wisdom to react effectively to a post-virus future (Proverbs 2:3-6; James 1:5).
• That God will empower a mobilized, united global church (Luke 24:46-48; John 17:20-23).
• That the US Church will reawaken to the unreached of the world (John 4:35).