Blasio Kugosi was tired. This schoolteacher from Rwanda was tired of simply sitting back in quiet discouragement over the lack of spiritual fervor in the church and his own spiritual life. So in 1935, Kugosi fasted and prayed for a week. During that time, God transformed him.
He began boldly preaching the gospel in the school where he taught, and revival broke out in Rwanda. Then, just days later, God used him to spark a similar revival in Uganda. But suddenly, Blasio died of a high fever. His ministry lasted but a few weeks. His impact? Decades!
The early church prayed one of the most dramatic prayers of the New Testament. They began by acknowledging God as sovereign Creator (Acts 4:24). They continued with the theme of God’s revelation through His Word, as written down by David (Acts 4:25-26). A third theme of this prayer was Jesus the Messiah (Acts 4:27-28). In the past, God had spoken through the prophets, but now He spoke through His Son (Hebrews 1:1-3). Just as He spoke through David and Jesus, the believers wanted God to equip them with greater boldness. Their prayer wasn’t for relief. The focus was on total faith and dependence on the sovereign power of God.
How did God respond? The room shook, and He filled them anew with the Holy Spirit—sending them out to speak the Word of God boldly (Acts 4:31).
Praying a prayer like this is still very applicable for believers in Jesus today. Let’s gather together and pray powerful prayers. And let’s acknowledge that the Creator, who sent His Son to earth to die and rise again, will give us the boldness and courage we need to carry out the building of His kingdom.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 5:1-47
More:
Read Psalm 80:1-19 and compare Asaph’s prayer with the early believers’ prayer. What are some similarities and differences?
Next:
What can you do to encourage revival in your life and church? As you consider God’s passionate love for you, what is your response?
Tom Felten on June 26, 2014 at 9:07 am
Marvin, prayers like the one offered by members of the early church are vital. We often try to press on in our own strength or ideas. When I do so, I end up feeling spiritually defeated. But God’s power and provision awaits! When we pray to Him, He truly does bring boldness to our witness and courage to our hearts.
LCC on June 27, 2014 at 1:15 am
Totally agreed with you, Tom. My experience is that prayers in His will as the Spirit leads, always fill me with power, peace and joy.
LCC on June 27, 2014 at 1:12 am
I am blessed reading this encouraging article. I read Acts 4:10-35 once again, and it helped me to get some insights on how to pray for our local churches here. Thanks Marvin. God bless and Shalom.
Winn Collier on July 4, 2014 at 1:00 am
prayer has been the precise place where my faith has seemed weakest lately.