January 17 “What Will You Have Me Do?”

Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
 
WE continue today with our look at prayer’s power to revive souls through the book “Firefall 2.0 How God Shaped History through Revivals” by Malcolm McDow & Alvin R. Reid. Today we’ll see how prayer ignited a great change primarily in northeastern U.S., parts of Canada and even unto the seas through what has become called “The Layman’s Prayer Revival of 1857-1859. Let’s continue to be alert to the meaning of “Revival”. Revival is salvation to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and then to live into our Lord’s teachings. Revival is turning from sin’s death to becoming alive in God. Here is what happened in The Layman’s Prayer Revival of 1857-59:
 
The Problem:
Under the leadership of Jeremiah Lanphier, this revival ignited during a small noonday prayer meeting in September 1857 in the Old Dutch Reform Church on Fulton Street, Brooklyn, New York. The residents of New York City exhibited a deep decline in godly affections. The old downtown North Dutch Reformed Church employed Jeremiah Lanphier to influence their area of New York City for the gospel. Lanphier was a forty-year-old single businessman filled with enthusiasm. Like most leaders of this revival, Lanphier served as a layman. He began his assignment on July 1, 1857. He put together a folder describing the church and commending his lay missionary work. But he was overwhelmed at the enormity of the task. He prayed, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?
 
The Solution:
This led him to a novel approach. Lanphier had found prayer to be a great source of comfort. He had noticed how the businessmen were “hurrying along their way, often with care worn faces, and anxious, restless gaze.” He presented to the church board the idea of a prayer meeting for businessmen. Their response was less than enthusiastic, but they agreed to allow Lanphier to proceed.
 
Determining that the noon hour was the most feasible time for a prayer meeting, he printed and distributed a handbill publicizing the meeting. He promoted the meeting with great zeal. At first, Lanphier prayed alone. Then, one joined him, and by the end of the hour there were six. Prayer meetings had been held before, but this was different. Former meetings tended toward formalism and routine. These meetings inaugurated by Lanphier were free and spontaneous.
 
The following Wednesday, there were 20, and on the third, 30 to 40. Those present determined to meet daily rather than weekly. On October 14, 1857 over 100 came. At this point, many in attendance were unsaved persons, many of whom were under great conviction of sin. By the end of the second month, three large rooms were filled.
  
   As we stop here today, note these reasons Mr. Lanphier went to pray: 1) A passion for people – Mr. Lanphier was eager to begin his assignment to evangelize the gospel in New York City. 2) Humility – “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” is being humble to call on the name of the Lord to seek not our own ideas but the Sovereign Lord’s leading. 3) Mr. Lanphier was a layman, “Like most leaders of this revival.” Know this: you don’t need to be a professional minister to minister the gospel. Mr. Lanphier was serious about his faith. He wanted to do as Jesus – pray to the Father for the people of his area. 4) Mr. Lanphier began alone – alone my friends. How often have prayer efforts in your church felt lonely? Stay with what God has told you to do. Wait for him to respond. 5) God is the author of his revival. We are his tools. Mr. Lanphier was willing for God to use him.
 
Prayer: What will you have me do, Lord? Your Kingdom come, your will be done through me, through my church and in my city as it is in Heaven. Amen.