All Powerful God,
Thank you for heroes in our police officers, other law enforcement, 911 operators, paramedics, nurses, doctors, and other first responders who form a first line of help in the event of trouble. Thank you for heroes in detectives, lawyers, and others who investigate, collect evidence, and work to convict lawbreakers in order to break the power of corruption, fraud, lawlessness, and wickedness. Thank you for the many heroes of our faith, the men and women whose courage, conviction, and actions have led generations of Christ-followers so that the Good News has been shared in almost every people group on this planet. Thank you for the power of your Holy Spirit that empowered your Church at Pentecost and continues to empower those who seek you first and desire to be filled with your Spirit. Today we pray that you would raise up a new generation and hero for this day and age – Christians who are full of the fire of God! Where we have been cooped up, let us get fed up! Where we have been locked up, let us get fired up! Where we have been swallowed by despair or fearful of what other people think, let us get freed up! Where we are frustrated, let us channel that frustration into Spirit-filled prayer, preaching, and actions! It is not an accident that a “nobody” like William Seymour who had “none of our advantages” saw the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Azusa Street that led to a worldwide movement millions strong. It is not an accident that much of today’s “Church” has none of the results of Azusa Street. We often don’t allow your Holy Spirit’s fire to purify us, to convict us of sin and save us, to free us from demons, to heal us from our diseases and iniquities, to do “signs and wonders” that show your POWER. We know there is no one more powerful and unstoppable than a person – and a Church – who is filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit and carries your Spirit and your Glory into every aspect of their lives. So, today, we pray you would awaken, O Lord, the greatest heroes in the world—the Spirit-filled believer and Spirit-filled church of Jesus Christ! May your Glory shine through us so that all will come to your Light and know you as Lord and Savior. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” (Proverbs 29:25 NIV)
“Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praisemore than praise from God.” (John 12:42-43 NIV)
“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,
to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. (Isaiah 42:6-8 NIV)
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit….” (Acts 2:1-4a NIV)
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39 NIV)
“This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” (Hebrews 2:3-4 NIV)