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Persistence - Tuesday, April 24th, 2007

“Then He said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’: and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.”
Luke 11:5-10

Today is day 16. It feels like day 16. What does that mean? Well, it means that we haven’t even hit the half way mark. We haven’t even gone over the hump. And sometimes May 18th feels like a long ways away. I can honestly tell you that my legs feel week. I was in prayer time this morning, and I actually grew weary. While standing, I had to sit down. My mind was restless. I began thinking about numerous questions like…“Can I really keep this pace up? We haven’t seen the flood gates open upon the city of Dallas. Therefore, my mind begins to play tricks on my faith…you know, like is this worth it? Are we really going to see a change in the city of Dallas? What will happen tonight?” All these thoughts play into my mind. This 40-day tent revival looks like a major mountain to climb. It looks like the barriers are enormous. That was, until I heard the leader of our prayer time ask us to turn to Luke 11. Oh thank-you Jesus for your encouragement!

You see, this morning in prayer time we addressed the issue of perseverance. Revival isn’t going to happen overnight. It will take time. It will take patience. It will take work. Jesus knew this all too well. That is why when talking to His disciples Jesus explained the importance of perseverance through a story of two friends. One friend at midnight went and asks another man to borrow three loaves of bread. The man in return says, “Do not bother me; the doors has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.” Thankfully as the story continues, we find out that friend is given the three loaves that he asks for. However, the bread is not given because of their friendship; rather “because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.” The bread was provided! What does this mean? Well it means that we must be persistent in what we are pursuing for the kingdom of God. We mustn’t give up.

For myself personally, just because of the small sizes in attendance on certain nights or a note of discouragement I find in the center aisle of sawdust, I must continue to knock on the door and ask for the “loaves of revival” to come to this city. Jesus explained to His disciples, “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.” Thankfully, I recognize I am not alone in this pursuit of revival. People continue to persevere with me, and faithfully come in the morning to pray. Regardless of their own personal situations, people are coming together as one, so we may call upon the Lord for revival in this city. Case in point, two elderly women who faithfully come every morning to prayer arrived a bit late today. Why were they late? Because the elevators in the apartment complex weren’t working so they had to slowly walk down nine flights of stairs. What is so unbelievable about going down stairs? They rely upon walkers to get them around.

I thank God for the examples in the Bible and of others here today who persevere. Therefore, will you please join me and other committed individuals as we continually ask the Lord for Him to bring an outpouring of the Holy Spirit? Also, will you join me and “walk down” our own personal flight of stairs in order to actively participate INSIDE THE TENT with persistence? Let’s press on.
- klm
" We cannot organize revival, but we can set our sails to catch the wind from Heaven when God chooses to blow upon His people once again."

- G. Campbell Morgan


 
   
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