If you have read any number of Pray for Denmark.com postings since March 2004, you will have noted a recurring mention of prayer for revival/renewal, evangelism, and church planting as major concerns. We began this blog on that note and continue to hold the same concerns in 2010. Perhaps we need to spell out why we have concern for these areas.
First off, let me underscore that we believe God laid on our hearts to put this blog online. I (Bill) had long wanted to visit Denmark again but couldn’t quite understand why the way was not open to do so. That is, until the Lord seemed to say that going to Denmark merely as a tourist or to visit relatives was an insufficient reason. Such a trip would have to be motivated somehow by some aspect of ministry.
Once Pray for Denmark.com went online, it wasn’t long before God answered prayer as dear friends provided the funds to make the trip. That wonderful journey in 2006 put me in touch with a number of wonderful, godly Danish pastors, churches, and ministries that have helped us get a better understanding of evangelical ministry in Denmark.
What I saw during the 2006 trip confirmed what I already had known from my first visit to the country in 1952. In a land with a state church (the Folkekirke), there is a small but viable minority of conservative, evangelical believers in free church denominations, in various para-church organizations and even in the Folkekirke itself that have been praying for the very same things that God has laid on our hearts. Don’t for a minute believe that there are no praying Danes who have similar concerns as ours for a great spiritual awakening to come to Denmark. Many believers and churches in Denmark have been lulled into powerlessness in a highly secular society.
Brad and I are Americans of Danish descent. So we perceive the role of Pray for Denmark.com to be that of encouraging those outside of Denmark, especially those with similar Danish heritage or interests, to join with believers in Denmark who are committed to praying for revival/renewal of believers and churches, an increase in aggressive evangelism, and a resurgence in the planting of new bible-believing, evangelical churches. Revival is assuredly needed in every country worldwide, but God has placed Denmark on our hearts specifically. Because we are American citizens in no way obviates the need as well for a sweeping revival in our own country.We believe Denmark is greatly in need of a revival that would turn the country upside-down spiritually and undoubtedly spread to the rest of Europe as well.
And what do we mean by revival? It is a fact that over time, believers can become lukewarm and lethargic. The need for revival amongst God’s people has its roots in Old Testament history and the declensions and revivals amongst God's people Israel. Though given initially to Israel, 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) spells out clearly what can be expected to happen when believers in any age become serious about revival: “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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
The British pastor D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones underscored clearly and accurately the meaning of revival: “You cannot revive something that has never had life, so revival, by definition, is first of all an enlivening and quickening and awakening of lethargic, sleeping church members. Suddenly the power of the Spirit comes upon them … they are humbled, they are convicted of sin … then as a result of their quickening and enlivening, they begin to pray. New power comes into the preaching of the ministers, and the result of this is large numbers are converted. So the two main characteristics of revival are, first, this extraordinary enlivening of the members of the church, and, second, the conversion of masses of people who have been outside in indifference and in sin.”
All spiritual awakenings begin by prayer whether through the prayers of a few or many. Dr. A. T. Pierson affirmed this truth when he wrote, “From the Day of Pentecost, there has not been one great spiritual awakening in any land which has not begun in a union of prayer, though only among two or three; no such outward, upward movement has continued after such prayer meetings have declined.”
General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, said: "You must pray with all your might. That does not mean saying your prayers, or sitting gazing about in church or chapel with eyes wide open while someone else says them for you. It means fervent, effectual, untiring wrestling with God. This kind of prayer be sure the devil and the world and your own indolent, unbelieving nature will oppose. They will pour water on this flame."
When revival comes to Denmark, biblical preaching and love for the Word of God will again become central in the churches, nominal Christians will regain their “first Love” (Revelation 2:4) as they fervently renew their commitment to Christ, and the salvation of unbelievers will suddenly become an active and heartfelt burden. Indeed, in a very real sense Denmark needs to be re-evangelized.
Join with us and with Danish believers who are committed to praying for revival fires to break out in this small but influential Scandinavian country. God has done it many times before in other areas of the world. Pray that it would happen once again—this time in Denmark. Nothing that may seem impossible to humankind is impossible to God.
PRAY that Satan’s stronghold on Denmark will be broken as God’s Holy Spirit revives His church and empowers His people for evangelism and the planting of new churches.
PRAY that lukewarm and indifferent Danish believers of whatever denomination will realize that revival in Denmark must begin with them through repentance, confession of sin, and “fervent, effectual, and untiring” prayer for a nationwide awakening.
PRAY for the mobilization of Danish, pastors, leaders, believers and intercessors claiming the conditions and promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14 for revival in Denmark.
PRAY that revived and renewed Danish believers and churches would be awakened to a new vision of mission, including aggressive evangelization on behalf of the unsaved both in the homeland and worldwide.
First off, let me underscore that we believe God laid on our hearts to put this blog online. I (Bill) had long wanted to visit Denmark again but couldn’t quite understand why the way was not open to do so. That is, until the Lord seemed to say that going to Denmark merely as a tourist or to visit relatives was an insufficient reason. Such a trip would have to be motivated somehow by some aspect of ministry.
Once Pray for Denmark.com went online, it wasn’t long before God answered prayer as dear friends provided the funds to make the trip. That wonderful journey in 2006 put me in touch with a number of wonderful, godly Danish pastors, churches, and ministries that have helped us get a better understanding of evangelical ministry in Denmark.
What I saw during the 2006 trip confirmed what I already had known from my first visit to the country in 1952. In a land with a state church (the Folkekirke), there is a small but viable minority of conservative, evangelical believers in free church denominations, in various para-church organizations and even in the Folkekirke itself that have been praying for the very same things that God has laid on our hearts. Don’t for a minute believe that there are no praying Danes who have similar concerns as ours for a great spiritual awakening to come to Denmark. Many believers and churches in Denmark have been lulled into powerlessness in a highly secular society.
Brad and I are Americans of Danish descent. So we perceive the role of Pray for Denmark.com to be that of encouraging those outside of Denmark, especially those with similar Danish heritage or interests, to join with believers in Denmark who are committed to praying for revival/renewal of believers and churches, an increase in aggressive evangelism, and a resurgence in the planting of new bible-believing, evangelical churches. Revival is assuredly needed in every country worldwide, but God has placed Denmark on our hearts specifically. Because we are American citizens in no way obviates the need as well for a sweeping revival in our own country.We believe Denmark is greatly in need of a revival that would turn the country upside-down spiritually and undoubtedly spread to the rest of Europe as well.
And what do we mean by revival? It is a fact that over time, believers can become lukewarm and lethargic. The need for revival amongst God’s people has its roots in Old Testament history and the declensions and revivals amongst God's people Israel. Though given initially to Israel, 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) spells out clearly what can be expected to happen when believers in any age become serious about revival: “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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
The British pastor D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones underscored clearly and accurately the meaning of revival: “You cannot revive something that has never had life, so revival, by definition, is first of all an enlivening and quickening and awakening of lethargic, sleeping church members. Suddenly the power of the Spirit comes upon them … they are humbled, they are convicted of sin … then as a result of their quickening and enlivening, they begin to pray. New power comes into the preaching of the ministers, and the result of this is large numbers are converted. So the two main characteristics of revival are, first, this extraordinary enlivening of the members of the church, and, second, the conversion of masses of people who have been outside in indifference and in sin.”
All spiritual awakenings begin by prayer whether through the prayers of a few or many. Dr. A. T. Pierson affirmed this truth when he wrote, “From the Day of Pentecost, there has not been one great spiritual awakening in any land which has not begun in a union of prayer, though only among two or three; no such outward, upward movement has continued after such prayer meetings have declined.”
General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, said: "You must pray with all your might. That does not mean saying your prayers, or sitting gazing about in church or chapel with eyes wide open while someone else says them for you. It means fervent, effectual, untiring wrestling with God. This kind of prayer be sure the devil and the world and your own indolent, unbelieving nature will oppose. They will pour water on this flame."
When revival comes to Denmark, biblical preaching and love for the Word of God will again become central in the churches, nominal Christians will regain their “first Love” (Revelation 2:4) as they fervently renew their commitment to Christ, and the salvation of unbelievers will suddenly become an active and heartfelt burden. Indeed, in a very real sense Denmark needs to be re-evangelized.
Join with us and with Danish believers who are committed to praying for revival fires to break out in this small but influential Scandinavian country. God has done it many times before in other areas of the world. Pray that it would happen once again—this time in Denmark. Nothing that may seem impossible to humankind is impossible to God.
PRAY that Satan’s stronghold on Denmark will be broken as God’s Holy Spirit revives His church and empowers His people for evangelism and the planting of new churches.
PRAY that lukewarm and indifferent Danish believers of whatever denomination will realize that revival in Denmark must begin with them through repentance, confession of sin, and “fervent, effectual, and untiring” prayer for a nationwide awakening.
PRAY for the mobilization of Danish, pastors, leaders, believers and intercessors claiming the conditions and promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14 for revival in Denmark.
PRAY that revived and renewed Danish believers and churches would be awakened to a new vision of mission, including aggressive evangelization on behalf of the unsaved both in the homeland and worldwide.