e-Prayer

Praying Hands

Jesus was usually kind and compassionate. He went out of his way to demonstrate the love of God to all types of unlovable people. However, there was at least one time when he was anything but kind.

Matthew, Mark and John each record the day when zeal for God's house consumed Jesus to the point of violently driving men from the temple. Here was Jesus, the love of God incarnate, swinging a whip, kicking over tables and generally making a mess of status quo religion.

Why did Jesus get so mad that day? Here's the official explanation in His own words:

Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations?' But you have made it a den of robbers. (Mark 11:17)

Applying this short text to the 2010 Initiative there are several lessons for our Every Nation churches:

• God expects churches to be praying churches. It is quite possible, even common, to plant and grow big churches without prayer. But, it is absolutely impossible to plant and grow strong and healthy churches without prayer.
• If a church is not a house of prayer, it will become a den of robbers, a social hall or a dead religious institution. No church or church movement can keep its focus and fulfill its destiny without prayer being top priority.
• Praying for our local church, our city and our nation is not enough. To make the 2010 Initiative happen, each Every Nation church must pray for the world.

Reaching the nations for Christ is at the heart of our vision and the 2010 Initiative. This great vision cannot be accomplished with man's wisdom, power or resources. It will only happen as we cry out to God for his wisdom, his power and his resources.

History-shaking movements have always been the result of fervent prayer. It is not enough just for the leaders to pray, God is looking for a people of prayer. The reason is simply that in the end, God will get the glory, and we will be able to testify that it happened "not by might not by power but by the Spirit of the Lord."