Peace to Brothers -- Grace to All

Peace to Brothers -- Grace to All

Words of Faith 5-20-2021

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2021

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Ephesians 6

[23] Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [24] Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

      There is little doubt but that the letter to the Ephesians calls us deeper. Paul’s final prayer was one for peace among the brothers and love with faith that comes from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The earnest hope and blessing of Paul were that grace might be extended to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

      The Ephesian letter calls us as people, families, and church to deeper prayer and a more careful walk.  We are called to walk as an empowered tortoise in true community.  We are called to seriously connected prayer.  What can happen in such a situation?  More than we might imagine or think.  Here is an example.

      In 1722, there was a Moravian community in Herrnhut in Saxony that was fraught with bickering and wracked by dissension.  Not knowing any other approach for this fragmented situation, the pastor began to pray and covenanted to remain in prayer for revival. His name was Pastor Zinzendorf, and he did not give up easily.  Finally, after five years of prayer, revival came on May 12, 1727. There was a great outpouring of the Lord’s presence. Christians were aglow with new life and power as dissension vanished and unbelievers were converted.

      Zinzendorf later recalled: "The whole place represented truly a visible habitation of God among men."  A spirit of prayer was immediately evident in the fellowship and continued throughout that "golden summer of 1727, as the Moravians came to designate the period.

      On August 27 of that year, 24 men and 24 women covenanted to spend one hour each day in scheduled prayer.  This round-the-clock "prayer watch" continued nonstop for over 100 years.  Can you imagine?  For over 100 years, the Moravians of that community "all shared" in the needs of life and the life of prayer.  What happened?  Sixty-fine years later, this small Moravian community had sent 300 missionaries to the ends of the earth.  The impact is immeasurable.

      Some will remember that it was the Moravians who were used in the conversion of John Wesley, an Anglican priest who, after becoming a Christian, was one of the key preachers sparking the Great Awakening of the mid-1700s.  Countless thousands of souls were impacted by a movement of God that was ushered in by a single man on his knees.

      The question is this:  Are we ready to start praying?  Are we ready for genuine revival?  Are we ready for genuine community?  Are we prepared to devote ourselves toward the movement of grace that God has planned for our communities and our world?

      Father God, use me as a vessel of Your grace.  Through prayer, connect me for the needed covering of Your people and leaders.  Bring the outpouring of Your grace and mercy that is so needed in our day.  In Jesus’ Name.