Powerful or Powerless because of Prayer or its lack!
It’s just a few hours before our Wednesday evening prayer meeting and I have been seeking God’s wisdom and leading as to how and what we are to pray tonight as the church gathers.
We find ourselves living in the church age period of the Laodicean church. The very last Church Jesus addresses in His seven letters to seven Churches in chapters two and three of the book of Revelation.
It is in this period in church history that the church, especially in our western society, thinks it can and does operate “without God”.
Let be reminded of this by Jesus words – Rev 3:14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
This is a church that was powerless because it was prayerless!
Today, sadly so much of the Church is void of power because so much of the Church is void of prayer. If the Church would pray more, the Church would have more power – not in and of herself, but in the person of the Holy Spirit.
We would see more community and society change that surround Churches that prayed!
Let us be reminded that the battle is won on our knees.
When the early Church was waiting for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as promised by Jesus, they were in a prayer meeting in Jerusalem!
When the Church was challenged in that Peter and John were commanded by the authorities, after they had been beaten, to not preach the gospel or the name of Jesus, the Church gathered and prayed.
This is what happened when they did – Acts 4:24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:
Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the LORD and against His Christ.’
27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
The power of the Holy Spirit fell, the Church was filled with courage, faith and strength, and the ground shook!
I invite you to become a person who by prayer is used by God to see His Church shake the ground once more! This is the Church fellowshipping to the glory of God!
See you Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings here at CCSH as we pray and call on God’s power to fall here at Calvary Chapel Secret Harbour.