An Invitation to Pray for Courageous, Knowledgeable Leaders and Intercessors
Pleading with God to raise up those burdened to see God's glory and salvation across the lands.
Prayer Insights from George Whitfield (1714-1770)
In his urgent prayer for revival,1 Whitfield begged the Lord to raise up another generation of pastors and evangelists who would share his burden for God's glory and the souls of men.
In his prayer, Whitfield envisions the emergence of dedicated men chosen by the Head of the Church to serve in a significant role:
These men will be deeply knowledgeable in Scripture: profoundly aware of God's greatness and holiness, and passionate about the doctrines of grace.
They will prioritize spiritual over personal ambitions: being willing to endure hardship and ridicule for their faith, and seek divine approval rather than worldly recognition.
Their preaching will be heartfelt and emotional: and their ministries will be marked by a powerful presence of the Holy Spirit, accompanied by miraculous signs and wonders.
I would also add that these would be praying men and their praying would be frequent: deeply aware of their need and of the power of the Lord in answers to their askings.
His prayer was profound over 250 years ago and resonates today. Where are these to come from if we do not ask of our Savior for them? As He chose the Twelve, pray He choose men such as is needed now.
Whitfield’s Prayer
"Yeah that we shall see the great Head of the Church once more ... raise up unto Himself certain young men whom He may use in this glorious employ.
And what manner of men will they be? Men mighty in the Scriptures, their lives dominated by a sense of the greatness, the majesty and holiness of God, and their minds and hearts aglow with the great truths of the doctrines of grace.
They will be men who have learned what it is to die to self, to human aims and personal ambitions; men who are willing to be 'fools for Christ's sake', who will bear reproach and falsehood, who will labor and suffer, and whose supreme desire will be, not to gain earth's accolades, but to win the Master's approbation [approval] when they appear before His awesome judgment seat.
They will be men who will preach with broken hearts and tear-filled eyes, and upon whose ministries God will grant an extraordinary effusion [unrestrained expression] of the Holy Spirit, and who will witness 'signs and wonders following' in the transformation of multitudes of human lives."
[Insert] Lord, may these be men of prayer. May they start on their knees and role up their sleeves. May time in the prayer closet be heard in the pulpit. We pray You would raise them up once more.
Amen.
May we echo this prayer in our days.
Our land is in peril. People in it are in mortal danger. We have the answer. We hold the key.
The Church is splintering and drifting before our eyes. Many have fallen and adopted the world’s systems and beliefs. Many more have never truly known the Lord.
What is being asked is that, we who can, should pray as Whitfield, and ask the Lord to raise up a generation of Joshua’s, of Gideon’s, of Daniels, of disciples who love Him more than things. Those who stand and proclaim, preach, and pray. Who ask our Lord for men with courage and conviction, with servants hearts to lead those in darkness to the Light.
Maybe that’s you. Or me.
But certainly, it is you and me who can pray thus! Will you?!
Get off the sideline. Get into the prayer room. Stand in the gap. Cry to the Maker. Plead with Almighty. Be like Abraham, Moses, Nehemiah, John. Give Him no rest. Do not grow weary. Strive, struggle, and strain with God; do not let Him go til He release the blessing!
What About You? Will You Pray This With Us?
We are asking you to make a small commitment, and pray this short but powerful prayer that the Lord may hear and answer.
Will you pray Whitfield’s Prayer at least once per day for 5 or 10 or 15 days in a row? Starting today through the end of the month of September is 15 days. Let’s join in prayer these two weeks. Can we count on you? Like, or comment, share, repost and let us know you’re in the Prayer Group on this.
Until next time, grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Credit for Whitfield’s Prayer
Image by Brigitte Werner from Pixabay
That's an important distinction you point out. We are full of the type-A and lacking in the type of Whitfield's prayer (who have learned what it is to die to self, to human aims and personal ambitions). It is vital we not mistake the two, lest we follow the man, not the Lord.
I understand this prayer. But sometimes we mistake having a "type-A personality" with being a man of God, and they're different. I was in a church once that mistook a forceful personality for spiritual maturity. Western society insists that we talk about the Christian life, which isn't necessary the same as living it! Yes, we may need some talkers. I myself am not a talker (I'm a writer) but admire those who are. That said, doing is more important than talking about it.