The Moravians

1Thessalonians 5:17 

"Pray without ceasing."

Have you ever heard of the Moravians? Today they are not very well known in the church, perhaps they never were as popular as say, the Vineyard church. However they had an incredible impact on the world. In fact, it was a group of Moravians showing humility and example on a ship crossing the Atlantic ocean that impacted John Wesley powerfully.  Their lives directly effected his life, and eventually lead to his salvation. During a severe storm the Moravians remained calm, singing hymns and worshipping Jesus. Wesley was deeply touched by this.

Now, who were the Moravians? You can read all about them all about them in a lot of different places, today they are still functioning in several parts of the world. However I want to take a look at a very specific part of their history. 

At one time the Moravians were just a group of Refugees being cared for on a piece of land in Germany called Herrnhut, by a certain Count Zinzendorf. They were Christians, as was the Count, and they had an increible life serving the Lord. They preached the Gospel and were some of the first missionaries into many countries all around the world. 

When they arrived in Herrnhut, they began a prayer service. They prayed, and prayed, and then prayed some more. Then, 100 years passed and they were still praying! The Moravians prayed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for a century! They were incredibly devout and out of that prayer came revivals all over the world. 

For example, we can see one huge effect they had through of their impact on John Wesley. Wesley's  Methodist teachings are still held all over the world today. In Kansas City, Missouri we have the International House of Prayer, who have also been directly effected by the Moravians prayer life. For many years now the House of Prayer has held intercession for the world 24/7.  

Now the Moravians were not the only people to have such prayer lives. We can see not only in the Bible, but all throughout history groups of people who devoted themselves to prayer, and nations were changes. Evan Roberts prayed for hours every day, sometimes for days on end before the Welsh Revival broke out. 

We could take a more detailed look at every revival in history, but there is one common event, prayer. Prayer has the power to change individuals, it has the power to change nations. Without prayer Billy Graham would be just another motivational speaker. It was through prayer the Elijah raised the dead, and through prayer the Jesus fed the five thousand and calmed the angry sea. 

The Moravavians who started that hundred year prayer meeting, and Count Zinzendorf are all gone now. The power of prayer remains though. We have access to that power, but only on our knees before King Jesus. We have the ability to effect the world as well. Unfortunately though most of us have lives that are too full of the world to have any kind of potent prayer.  We can pray 8 hours a day, but if there is sin in our lives it will be to no effect. Let's return to the old paths, seek lives of Holiness, and pray. We can bring nations to Jesus.