Century Baptist Church :: Prayer

II Chronicles 7:14 states, "...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." Jesus' relationship with the Father was built on prayer. We see time and again throughout his earthly ministry, Jesus withdrew from the crowds to a solitary place to pray. The Apostle Paul exhorts us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Simply put, prayer is the greatest privilege we have a Kingdom Citizens and disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer - the kind described in Scripture - requires commitment, persistence and sacrifice. It is selfless labor. John Wesley, a famous evangelist who spent two hours a day praying wrote, "God does nothing except in response to believing prayer." Hudson Taylor, the great 20th Century missionary to China wrote, "Prayer power has never been tried to its full capacity. If we want to see mighty wonders of divine power and grace wrought in the place of weakness, failure and disappointment, let us answer God's standing challenge, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not!'"

A story is told of Five young college students who were spending a Sunday in London, so they went to hear the famed C.H. Spurgeon preach. While waiting for the doors to open, the students were greeted by a man who asked, "Gentlemen, let me show you around. Would you like to see the heating plant of this church?" They were not particularly interested, for it was a hot day in July. But they didn't want to offend the stranger, so they consented. The young men were taken down a stairway, a door was quietly opened, and their guide whispered, "This is our heating plant." Surprised, the students saw 700 people bowed in prayer, seeking a blessing on the service that was soon to begin in the auditorium above. Softly closing the door, the gentleman then introduced himself. It was none other than Charles Spurgeon.

It is our desire for Century's "heating plant" to be fueled by prayer. Nothing - not programming, great facilities, long-range plans, or abundance of finances - can substitute for God's people on their knees seeking His face.