REVIVAL TRAINING
Luke : Chapter 18
1) Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2) He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3) And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4) “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5) yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” 6) And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7) And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8) I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Book of the Month
Sammy Tippit told his fiancée, “I can’t promise we’ll be rich, but life won’t be boring.”
Sammy had no idea what an understatement that would become. Beginning in the bars of Baton Rouge and the nightclubs of Chicago, Tippit has shared the news of life-changing faith in Christ all over the world – including in the middle of a revolution in Romania, the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda, and war in Burundi and the Congo.
Sammy’s lifelong adventure has come at a great price. He’s been cursed, threatened, arrested, deported, and blacklisted. He’s also been personally broken, ravaged with illness, and devastated by grief.
Yet he continues to preach to in stadiums, in open fields, and via satellite technology to hundreds of thousands around the globe. For all other books…
The Method of the Evangelist: Strategic Prayer
I want to welcome you to day 6 of week 2 of our study on revival and evangelism.
Today, I want to talk to you about persistent prayer. Often, when we start praying for revival and praying for evangelism, we live in an instant generation and we want revival to come right now. You know, we started this day – 21 days is coming up and we wanted to have revival but it’s 21 days is up .. it doesn’t work that way. You’ve got to give yourself to a life of prayer .. of praying persistently and not giving up.
Jesus spoke a parable to that end about a little widow lady who was persistent to an unrighteous judge and because of her persistence, he gave her what she wanted and then Jesus said this is the way you are to pray – you are to pray persistently.
That’s very interesting because Jesus wasn’t comparing God to the judge .. we may be like that little .. little lady but God is righteous and God cares about people but that judge didn’t on those two counts. But, what prayer is is intimacy with God.
So why do we have to consistently and persistently pray?
First of all, it changes – us. You see, the reason for continually coming before God’s throne is not to change someone else. Remember what the purpose of God in our life is? It’s to change us. Let me share an illustration that I think will help you understand this.
I told you about my mother – how I prayed for her for 25 years. My mother wouldn’t talk to me – she didn’t want to hear anything. But one day, when I was having my quiet time – I was so burdened for my mother and I’d prayed for her .. it’d been about 10 years of praying for my mom and it just seemed like – you know – it was hopeless. And the Lord spoke to me and He said to me, “Son, the problem is not your mother – you’re the problem.”
I said, what do you mean Lord?
And He spoke to my heart and He said .. you my mom had a tough life .. my dad was sick and my mom was the bread-winner and she had to go to work early in the morning – came home late in the afternoons and then she had to take care of us kids and then my dad was sick and had to take care of him. It was a rough life for her and you’ve never once told her – how you appreciate her sacrifice.
And man, I was convicted in that prayer time. I called my mother on the phone and said, Mom, I just need to ask your forgiveness .. I said I’ve been an ungrateful son. And there was silence .. I didn’t know what she was going to say .. And she said, “Sammy I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”
And you know from that point on, my mother started opening up .. it took a long time, but she started opening up and I began to be able to share Christ with her. You see, I was praying for her and God showed ME something about me.
So the purpose of persistence in prayer is not necessarily to change the person you’re praying for .. but as you pray, as you come into God’s presence .. God’s going to change you and He changed me.
So pray – believe – don’t give up.
Now, I want to encourage you to do something. I talked to you about your testimony yesterday .. and to write out your testimony .. I want you to write out something else .. I want you to make a circle – and in that circle put you. You’re in that circle. Then I want you to make another circle and put your family – and write out your family members’ names. Then I want you to make a broader circle – that’s your friends – and write out those people that you’re close to. And then write a bigger circle – your acquaintances .. and write them. And then in that circle – those circles that you made – those concentric circles that you’ve created .. I want you to list the people in those circles who need Jesus. And I want you to begin to pray for them. And don’t give up – every day you pray for those people who are in those circles who need Jesus Christ.
And you persist in prayer .. ever how long it takes .. if it takes 5 days, 5 hours, 5 years, 25 years .. and you pray for them until God answers that prayer. God will do it .. And by the way, my grandmother prayed for my father and she died didn’t seeing the answer to the prayer. But God answered her prayer. And he was saved long after .. in fact, it was 25 years after my grandmother died – God saved my dad.
So, you don’t give up .. you don’t lose heart .. you don’t grow faint or weary in your praying .. You persist in your praying
About Sammy Tippit Ministries
STM has been providing inspiration and help around the world for nearly 50 years. Sammy Tippit, founder and president, is a world renowned counselor, teacher and evangelist with experience serving and helping people in over 80 countries. Sammy provides materials that help people tackle a broad array of social, societal, psychological and spiritual issues. He is particularly passionate about making materials accessible to other countries around the world. Sammy is married to Debara “Tex” Tippit, and they have two children and five grandchildren.
Sammy Tippit Ministries is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization.
Contact: info@sammytippit.org
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