Daniel Henderson's Posts

National Prayer Summit Gathering For Pastors and Leaders

Posted by Daniel Henderson on December 9, 2013 at 11:30

Join us February 17-19 in the Tampa Bay area for a national gathering of pastors and leaders as we collectively seek God and His blessing on our lives and churches.

This corporate, multiple-day experience of unscripted prayer, worship and Scripture will be conducted in the Prayer Summit format. Our time will be led by Daniel Henderson (National Director ofThe 6:4 Fellowship) and Dennis Fuqua (Director of International Renewal Ministries). Daniel and Dennis have collectively led hundreds of Prayer Summit experiences for leadership teams, pastors' fellowships, and entire congregations.

MAXIMIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE BY BRINGING A TEAM FROM YOUR STAFF OR CONGREGATION!

JOIN US AND YOU WILL RECEIVE:

- Encouragement and fellowship with like-minded pastors

- Refreshment in God's presence through prayer

- Equipping in prayer leadership that you can take back to your church

- Discounts for 6:4 Fellowship members and spouses!

Visit www.64fellowship.com/prayersummit for more details and schedule.

Why Prayer Misfires

Posted by Daniel Henderson on May 9, 2012 at 11:52

"The romance of prayer inspires us to get prayer in motion, but the reality of prayer as a long-term resolve often demands more than we were prepared to give."

"Why Prayer Misfires"

When it comes to developing a dynamic environment of prayer in the local church, many leaders misfire. Too often we take the approach of fire, aim -- ready. The compelling biblical priority of prayer attracts us to want to do something. The romance of prayer inspires us to get prayer in motion, but the reality of prayer as a long-term resolve often demands more than we were prepared to give.

I've thought of three reasons why our good intentions do not materialize into a vibrant, life-giving presence of prayer in the fabric of ministry.

1. A Muddled Heart Commitment

Recently, I've engaged in discussions with pastors who desire more prayer in their church but who exhibit a serious reluctance to commit their heart and soul to leading the prayer effort. In one case, the leader simply declared, "I don't have the spiritual gift of prayer." Since prayer is not listed as a spiritual gift in the New Testament, I immediately smelled an excuse. In reality, prayer is a clear leadership calling, not an elusive gift.

Another leader declared, "I can't be the champion of every ministry in the church." This smelled the same as the first one. It is true that leaders cannot give equal and primary passion to every ministry of the church. Of course, prayer is not a ministry department of the church -- it is the ministry heart of the church. Obviously pastors must choose certain ministry priorities above others. A strong argument can be made that prayer is near, if not at the top, of the list of key priorities. Every significant spiritual advancement in the book of Acts was preceded by extraordinary prayer by the leaders (Acts 1, 4, 6, 13). The apostles in Acts 6:4 chose prayer above the priority of feeding the widows. Paul instructed Timothy to make prayer his first priority in the leading and organization of the church (1 Timothy 2:1). Simply put, prayer is one ministry leaders must champion.

2. A Marginal Time Investment

Time is the precious commodity of life and ministry. Since a prayer environment is always the overflow of the leadership culture, leaders must invest substantive time seeking the Lord as a core commitment of their relationships, interaction, and planning. A cursory prayer-review of a grocery list of needs is insufficient. The "zipper" approach of opening and closing meetings in prayer does not instill a culture of prayer among the leaders. Prayer never manifests in the church beyond the level of passion it claims among the leaders. Quality and extended time collectively invested by the leaders in a Scripture-fed, Spirit-led, and worship-based experience of prayer is an absolute requirement for a prayer-ready church.

When the leadership teams prioritize time spent in prayer, the ministry departments will do the same. The Sunday services of the church will also reflect the value of prayer as one of the big rocks of the service. Pretty soon everyone realizes prayer is more than a slogan, an inspiring idea, or a good intention. Rather, it becomes a reality, as the evidence of a time investment will affirm.

3. A Minimal Financial Commitment

Churches invest millions of dollars into building a house of brick and mortar. We invest hundreds of hours every week into creating a house of programs. Many do not invest a dime into a commitment to building a house of prayer. We usually get exactly what we pay for.

Of course, we do not have to pay to pray, but in the purest sense the same thing could be said about many other ministries of the church that often receive multiplied thousands of dollars for staffing, activities, and supplies. Jesus made it clear: "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Luke 12:34). Churches who are serious about prayer need to consider substantive funding for staff leadership in coordinating the equipping and mobilization of the people. Money invested in training, retreats, a prayer center, and other helpful tools makes a strong statement about the real priority of what is arguably the first ministry of the church.

Ready, Aim, Fire

A congregation is best prepared for a movement of prayer when their heart commitment is firm, with a readiness to invest significant time and even substantive funding. Their aim must be clear: A prayer culture that ignites life-transformation and supernatural mission achievement for the glory of Christ. Then, when they begin to fire up a prayer passion, by the power of the Spirit, it will flame brightly -- just as the Lord Jesus intended.

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The Old Man in the Mirror

Posted by Daniel Henderson on April 30, 2012 at 14:29

"Since hardening of the attitudes typically sets in long before hardening of the arteries,

I must pursue those calisthenics of spiritual consecration that make me vibrant within."

"The Old Man in the Mirror"

Yesterday, I turned 54. It is truly hard to believe I am one year away from that golden age where AARP torments me with their recruitment tactics and restaurants give me the old-wrinkled-guy special.

Yesterday...

How did this happen? Just yesterday I was playing baseball with my buddies in the neighborhood park, enjoying dodge ball on the playground, running the mile relay in junior high, and catching touchdowns in high school. Just moments ago I was traveling on a singing team for my college, inspiring my peers as their Student Body President, and cramming for a theology exam in seminary.

Was it really almost 30 years ago that Rosemary and I exchanged vows? Can all our children really be in their 20s? Where did all those years escape when I was the young pastor, performing weddings for the children of those “mature” parents?

Alas, reality prevails. I have become that decrepit dude who has reached the age of balding, bifocals, bulging, and bunions. I thought only geriatric white-hairs in wheelchairs were grandfathers. Yet, I am one... twice.

The Old Man in the Mirror

If mirrors did not exist, I would be 35. It was Satchel Paige who asked, “How old would you be if you did not know how old you were?” My answer is still 35.

Paige also said, “Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it don’t matter.” I am working on that part. Just last week I was talking to a guy who looked pretty old. As we conversed, I noticed how worn his face was. His eyes had bags underneath. He looked like he had logged a good number of miles on his body. I felt a little sorry for him until he made some comment about his age, which happened to be five years less than mine. At my next opportunity, I looked at my face in the mirror. Let’s just say, it’s been on my mind ever since.

Grace to Choose

So, now I have a choice. I can become a grumpy old “prayer man” or I can trust God for the grace to make the rest of my life the best of my life. Thank God for the grace to choose door number two.

Of course, there are many other choices that accompany that one. I must choose to regulate my diet and reduce my portions. I can get serious again for the 100th time about exercise. I can even scrub the moon-crater-like pores on my nose and put some kind of magic lotion on my face to wage my losing war on these obstinate wrinkles.

Most importantly, I must make some spiritual choices. Paul, who really knew how to finish the race, said, “Exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:7-8). Since hardening of the attitudes typically sets in long before hardening of the arteries, I must pursue those calisthenics of spiritual consecration that make me vibrant within.

A Vision of Vibrancy

I love the biblical vision of the best kind of aging where it says, “Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him” (Psalm 92:13-15). While I cannot control the creep of crow’s feet and the appearance of age spots, I can cultivate the character of a fully-alive inner man that is fresh, flourishing, and fruitful until my final breath.

The Eternal Exercise Plan

First, I can exercise my feet, standing firm, “planted in the house of the Lord.” I find it sad when people mature physically but shrink into spiritual pygmies because they stop choosing to plant their lives in the place of passionate worship. I want to keep “pressing on” in my pursuit of God in my everyday practice of His presence. Someday, I want to be that old dude who the young people laugh at (but secretly admire) because he is unrestrained and cuts loose in worship, even if he looks like a "doofus." I don’t want to stay home and watch “senior citizens' church” as long as I can stand among the godly with my heart soaring in His presence in the courts of our God.

Second, I can exercise my tongue, “declaring that the Lord is upright.” When this kind of praise frames the substance of my speech there is little room left to whine about the parts that don’t work and complain about my pain.

Third, I can exercise my heart,trusting fully that “He is my rock and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” Of course, energy wanes, days get lonely, and the scoreboard of significance becomes blurred – but the Lord is still my security and there is no unrighteousness in Him. I will trust and obey these great truths – and be happy in Jesus.

Finally, I can exercise my eyes, focusing on the reality of eternal significance, not just the earthly vapor of this physical life. Paul says it this way: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). As a child I sang, “Be careful, little eyes, what you see.” As I approach the finish line I must sing, “Be careful, little eyes, HOW you see.”

A Birthday Resolution

Thank God that, in Christ and by His grace, every birthday can find me standing firm in worship, speaking loudly in praise, and trusting boldly in the One who is my rock and righteousness. And every day, I can see the world through the eyeglasses of eternity, even when I look at that old man in the mirror.

For more of Daniel's blogs visit us at: strategicrenewal.com - and - 64fellowship.com

"Time = Commitment"

Posted by Daniel Henderson on March 12, 2012 at 15:29

How important is prayer in the life of the church? Perhaps this is most accurately answered by

evaluating the amount of time actually given to

prayer when we gather."

"Time = Commitment"

In his classic book, Spiritual Leadership, J. Oswald Sanders wrote, "Mastering the art of prayer, like anything else, takes time. The time we give it will be the true measure of its importance to us. We always find the time for important things." [i]

Sanders' conclusion is clear. Time, not words, ideals, or good intentions is the real evidence of our commitment to something. This is true in all other matters of relationship. Our commitment to caring for our family is measured ultimately in time. Our desire to have a good marriage is ultimately linked to time. Our commitment to developing a vital relationship with God is measured in time.

Clearly, this idea is relevant to our personal life and urges us to allocate significant time to our pursuit of Christ in prayer. However, in this devotion, I want to think of the priority of prayer in the life of the church with specific application to our corporate gatherings. How important is prayer in the life of the church? Perhaps this is most accurately answered by evaluating the amount of time actually given to prayer when we gather.

The Average Sunday Gathering

Think of the Sunday services you attend. Typically, time allocations look something like this:

Teaching – 45%
Singing – 30%
Announcements – 10%
Prayer – 10%*

* These prayer components are usually seen in the brief opening prayer, closing prayer, prayer for the offering, and perhaps a snippet of prayer interspersed in the singing.

The Average Leadership Conference

Recently I attended a national pastors’ conference where the sessions looked something like this:

Teaching (Preaching & Seminars) – 80%
Singing – 15%
Announcements - 3%
Prayer – 2%

I found it odd that in a gathering designed to encourage church leaders, show them models of ministry, and equip them for effective leadership – so little time was given to the vital engagement of praying together.

The Average Church Week

If you look at the average calendar of activities at a church you might find a pattern like this:

Bible studies – 30%
Social activities – 40%
Singing/worship – 20%
Prayer gatherings (or prayer time within other existing gatherings) – 10%

The Average Small Group

When we gather in homes for mid-week connection, it can often look like this:

Social time – 15%
Bible Study/Discussion – 60%
Sharing about personal needs – 15%
Prayer – 10%

The Average Leadership Team Meeting

When the leaders gather, the allocation of time can vary. However, overall you might find a pattern very much like this:

Planning/discussion/problem solving – 80%
Biblical study – 15%
Prayer time – 5%

As I consult with churches about their prayer culture, one of the key points of evaluation is the amount of time actually given to prayer in the leadership gatherings. Beyond this, we often evaluate the time spent “praying about things” (requests, etc.) vs. time spent “seeking the Lord” (a worship-based approach). This factor is a core determiner for a growing prayer culture in a church.

Early Church Pattern

We cannot know for certain, but it is helpful to evaluate the pattern of the early church in terms of their time given to prayer.

We do know that before the church was launched, the disciples gathered for 10 days for united prayer in the upper room leading up to Pentecost. We do know that prayer was one of the four vital components that defined the daily pattern of the gathered church. Acts 2:42 explains, "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." Perhaps this was a 25% allocation of time to prayer.

When the early church faced persecution they did not gather to plan their defense or spend hours strategizing an appeal to the government. Rather, the Bible says, “they raised their voice to God with one accord” (Acts 4:24), which represents an instinctive allocation of precious time at a strategic moment.

Refusing to become absorbed in designing an enhanced program to feed the widows, the Apostles directed the church to find seven wise, spiritual, and respected men to handle that task. The leaders declared their vital time allocation in these words: "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word" (Acts 6:4). Perhaps you could argue that this was a 50% allocation of time to the priority of praying together.

In Acts 12:5, Peter was put in jail, "but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church." It seems clear that this is an allocation of many hours to the priority of collective prayer.

Acts 13:2 describes the vital time allocation of the church leaders in Antioch where it says, "they ministered to the Lord and fasted." It is clear they spent hours and even days in this focus as they waited on the Holy Spirit for clear direction.

The Power of Time Invested

Sanders is right. The real value we place on something will be seen in the actual time we give to it. I am not suggesting some legalistic discipline of watching the clock in order to be sure we are proving how disciplined we are to focus on prayer. Rather, this raises the deeper issue of our heartfelt delight in seeking God, evidenced in our desire to give Him time. This is not a matter of the clock, but a matter of the heart.

When we give substantive time to prayer, things change. We behold His glory and are transformed into the image of Christ. We discover a deep and authentic unity. We are in a place to know the clear direction of the Holy Spirit. We experience supernatural enablement to accomplish the mission of the Gospel. The fruit of our ministry effort is produced by the Holy Spirit, not human talent or cleverness. The outcome of our ministry rises to God’s glory as it is all done in God’s power, by God’s direction.

Does your church, leadership conference, small group, or staff team desire any of these powerful benefits? Then give more of your heart-felt, worship-based time and attention to seeking God’s face. He will be honored, you will be blessed, and His mission will be advanced in His power, for His glory.

[i] J. Oswald Sanders, Spiritual Leadership. Chicago: Moody Press. 2007. P.

"He Is Worthy! We Are Needy!"

Posted by Daniel Henderson on March 6, 2012 at 14:32

"If crises or grocery lists are the motivation for our prayers, we will be woefully inconsistent. Ultimately our prayers should not be spurred simply by our circumstances, but by His character."

"He is Worthy! We Are Needy!"

Peter Lord, one of my heroes and mentors in prayer, often says, “Most Christians pray out of crisis or from a grocery list.” His wisdom reveals not only the reality of our prayer behavior, but the flaw in our mindset and motivation in prayer.

Crisis and Grocery List

Crisis praying is certainly focused in the right direction. When we are in urgent situations we should look to the Lord. Psalm 34:6 says, “This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” However, when the primary and sporadic motivation of our heart for prayer is triggered by the pain of our circumstances, we have reduced God to a heavenly rescue squad that exists chiefly for our emergencies.

Grocery list prayer, while very common, is an approach to God that stems from our persuasion that prayer exists for us to inform Him about our problems, hoping He will order the universe according to our expectations. These expectations are usually rooted in our desire to avoid suffering or difficulty. God is reduced to a heavenly vending machine that exists for our temporal satisfaction.

The Model Prayer

Over the years I have taught on the model prayer Jesus prescribed in Matthew 6:9-13 (often described as “The Lord’s Prayer”). Sometimes the series has been deep and thorough, taking 10-12 weeks to complete. On other occasions, I have reduced the teaching to a one-sermon summary. Recently, I was asked to teach on this model prayer at a church in Calgary and was impressed that the prayer can be reduced to two primary ideas: 1) He is worthy, and 2) We are needy.

He is Worthy

The model prayer is essentially divided into two parts. The first segment is entirely Godward in focus. When we pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we are exalting God. We are declaring His worth. As John MacArthur notes, "This is a prayer that in every phase and every petition, beginning and closing and all in between focuses on God. His person, His attributes, and His wonderful works are the thrust of this prayer.”

We Are Needy

The second segment is a declaration of God as our source. We recognize and declare that we are needy. In prayer we resolve that we trust Him for our physical, relational, and moral needs. “Give us this day our daily bread (physical), and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors (relational), and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (moral)."

Consistent Motivation

Every believer has experienced the confluence of positive surges and negative declines in prayer. Our motivation can wane and wander into the weeds. If crises or grocery lists are the motivation for our prayers, we will be woefully inconsistent. Ultimately our prayers should not be spurred simply by our circumstances, but by His character.

Jesus wants us to experience consistency in our spiritual pursuit in prayer. A daily conviction that He is worthy and we are needy provides a pure and passionate motivation in prayer. One person may make a seven-figure income, live in a multi-million dollar home, and have perfect health – but He is still worthy and that person is still needy. Another person may be jobless, homeless, and friendless. God is still worthy and that person is still needy. One person is young, another is old. One person is a seasoned Christian while another is a brand new believer. He is still worthy and we are still needy. The motivation never changes.

The Ultimate Purpose

As we mature, we advance to fully embrace the ultimate aim of all of our prayers, fueling the depth of our motivation. The model prayer says it clearly: “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Prayer exists to advance His kingdom through our lives, exhibit His power in our lives, and extol His glory in everything.

When Paul wrote his epistles from prison he relied on “prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:19). His heart passion was clear when he wrote, “According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (vv. 20-21). This is the motivation of a clear-headed, pure-hearted, and eternally-focused Christ follower.

Motivation for a Lifetime and Beyond

So when you wake up tomorrow morning feeling weary and discouraged, remember: He is worthy and you are needy. Pray. When you come home from a hard day at work, exhausted and frustrated – and you are not in the mood to attend the prayer meeting – remember: He is worthy and you are needy. Pray. When things are going smoothly and life is feeling problem-free, remember: He is worthy and you are needy. Pray.

One day when we stand in His presence among the saints of all the ages and myriads of worshiping angels, we will still declare that He is worthy. “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" (Revelation 5:12). We will even then continue to rejoice that we encountered Him when we were needy. “For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). All things will consummate in His glory. “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!" (Revelation 5:13).

With all this in mind, let’s pray the right way, for the right reason, and for the right purpose. We will be encouraged, equipped, and empowered to live as true disciples in this world as we consistently grow to know Him and make Him known.

Hearing His Voice?

Posted by Daniel Henderson on February 27, 2012 at 10:30

"Hearing His Voice?"

Fairly often I encounter Christians who describe God “speaking to them.” It is as if the Almighty actually verbalizes His unique direction right into their eardrums. Frankly, I am skeptical. I do not hear voices nor to do I see detached hands writing on the wall. Yet, the Bible is clear that Christ is living and active among His people and He has commanded the churches to “hear what the Spirit is saying” (Revelation 2 & 3).

The Bible is prolific about the importance of hearing God’s voice – in both Old and New Testaments. Yet, how do we understand God’s pledge to speak to us without slipping into some kind of extra-biblical, subjective mysticism? Let’s try to understand.

The Priority of Hearing God’s Voice

Throughout the Old Testament, the precursor to obedience was hearing God’s voice, most often through His commandments revealed in the divine Scripture. Dozens of times in Exodus, Deuteronomy, Joshua, and Jeremiah we find references to the voice of the Lord in connection with His revealed commandments. “Today you have proclaimed the LORD to be your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His judgments, and that you will obey His voice” (Deuteronomy 26:17). In Daniel 9, the sins of God’s people are described as a failure to hear and obey God’s voice (9:10, 11,14). The Psalms describe God’s voice speaking through His creation (18:13, 19:3, 29:3-9, 68:33, 77:18).

In the New Testament, Jesus announces that His sheep will hear and know His voice and follow Him (John 10:3, 4, 16 & 27). He also declared that everyone who is of the truth hears His voice (John 18:37). He predicted that day when His voice will resurrect the dead from the grave (John 5:25 &28). In Revelation 3:20 He calls on those within the lukewarm, self-sufficient Laodicean church to hear His voice as He knocks on the door, offering restored fellowship. The book of Hebrews calls us to not harden our hearts when we hear His voice.

How Do We Hear God’s Voice?

His voice is contained in and consistent with His revealed word – Throughout the Scripture, hearing God’s voice is synonymous with obeying His commands. The Bible is “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). In the closing verses of the New Testament we are warned not to add or take away from the revealed word (Revelation 22:18-19). The sufficiency, authority, relevance, and transformational power of the Scriptures trump any individual revelation of the “voice” of God.

His voice is apprehended and applied by His Spirit – 1 Corinthians 2:9-12 says it so completely (read it well).

“But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”

The indwelling, all-knowing life-tutor of the Holy Spirit gives us understanding to hear and apply the voice of God in His word. Those who do not have the Holy Spirit do not hear or understand the instructive voice of the Holy Spirit. First Corinthians 2:14 says, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

His voice is comprehended and confirmed among His people – The assembled church and gathered leaders in the Book of Acts heard from God as He spoke to them by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:2, 15:28) as they waited on the Lord and sought His will. The confirmation of a community of godly believers is a necessary dimension of the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Characteristics of the Voice of God

When the Lord’s voice resounds it is precise, powerful, and penetrating. God’s will is clear, not muddled or mysterious. His voice brings the exactitude of His word to our hearts and minds in order to direct and confirm. His voice is powerful. By His command all of creation emerged and by His voice He rules over creation (see Psalm 29). The voice of Christ was authoritative and powerful during His earthly ministry (Luke 4:26). In Revelation, His voice is depicted as the force of “many waters” (Revelation 1:15). God’s voice is also penetrating, cutting deep into the heart and soul of man, where real change occurs (see Hebrews 4:12). The mouth of the risen Christ is described as a “sharp two-edged sword” (Revelation 1:16).

Our Response to the Voice of God

We respond in obedience – The primary word associated with the idea of the voice of the Lord is “obey.” (Even a casual search in a concordance will demonstrate this convincingly.) As Mary said at the first miracle of Jesus, “Whatever He says to you, do it” (John 2:5). The defining characteristic of those who “hear from the Lord” is a life of Christ-honoring obedience, not some irregular state of emotion or braggadocio.

We respond in trust – Psalm 29 is a dramatic depiction of the many aspects of the power of the voice of the Lord. At the end of this Psalm we find a powerful application of what it means to recognize and receive the voice of the Lord: “The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace” (Psalm 29:11). When we hear His voice we rely on and receive from Him as our source of strength and peace. The “peace be still” (Mark 4:39) of Jesus' voice is evidenced through a life of trust.

We respond in intimate surrender –The living Christ, walking among the churches, says, “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”(Revelation 3:20). This invitation to restored, intimate fellowship with Jesus requires our response of surrender as we open our hearts to His presence and Lordship.

Today . . . IF You Will Hear His Voice

Our ultimate response to His voice is very clear (Psalm 95:7, Hebrews 3:7, 15; 4:7). "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”

Finding Daily Renewal in the Lord Jesus Christ

Posted by Daniel Henderson on January 18, 2012 at 11:57

Finding Daily Renewal in the Lord Jesus Christ

Daniel Henderson

The best-selling author and preacher of the 20^th century, A.W. Tozer, said that the most important thing about a person is what comes to mind when they think about God. This is true every moment of every day, compelling us to renew our minds according to the truth.

Because the hardest thing about the Christian life is that it is so “daily”, we must embrace a biblical, fresh, and intimate experience of the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Keeping our mind stayed on Him empowers us with peace, power, and endurance for the race set before us.

For many years, I’ve enjoyed daily mental and spiritual renewal in the biblical answers to the core questions of life, starting with the question, “Who is God?” A particular exercise of focusing on the name and character of the Lord Jesus Christ has been a “game-changer” for me. I wrote an acrostic that has focused my thoughts on a daily basis. Below, you will enjoy this exercise that has come to mean so much to me.

Take time today, and in the days to come, to meditate on the names of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let them renew your mind, encourage your heart, and empower your trust and obedience as you follow Him.

My Lord Jesus Christ

My Jesus is the . . .

Light of the World, so I will invite His warmth and radiance into all the dark and cold places of my life that He might expose and cleanse my sin and selfishness.

Only Wise God, so I can boldly ask and receive from Him all necessary insight, guidance, and direction for my life today.

Rock of my Salvation, so I will rest secure and safe, knowing that He has already done everything to save me and to keep me in His love forever.

Desire of all Nations, so I will passionately proclaim His truth and beauty in every place, expressing to others the delight I have found in Him.

Justifier, so I do not have to work today to be accepted by God, but can simply live in the grace that has made me pure and lovely in His sight.

Emmanuel, so I will enjoy and practice His wonderful presence in my life today, knowing that He is with me always.

Strength of My Soul, so I come to Him in humility, delighting in my weaknesses, that His power may be demonstrated through me in every situation I encounter.

Unchanging Friend, so I will enjoy His faithful companionship and rest securely in His always-reliable love and commitment to me.

Savior, so I will kneel before His cross in grateful worship and will live by faith in the One who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Cornerstone, so I will confidently base my well-being on the truth of who He is and allow Him to build my life by His strength and stability.

Healer of my Soul, so I will come to Him with all my hurts, disappointments, and fears to receive His supernatural touch of wholeness, encouragement, and peace.

Resurrection and the Life, so I will let Him live through me today in the triumph He has already achieved over all sin and death.

Image of the Invisible God, so I will draw near and gaze upon Him in intimacy today that He might reveal the fullness of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to my heart.

Shield of my Salvation, so I will trust Him today to protect my faith and to preserve my life in Him by His promise and power.

Truth, so I will come to Him with all my doubts and questions, receiving counsel from His reliable word and consolation from His Spirit in order to live with confidence in this world.

-------------

Also for your encouragement, you will find below some new words for the classic patriotic song, “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.” These revised words speak of “My Jesus ‘Tis of Thee.” Perhaps you will find a quiet place to sing this hymn of worship to Him today as you “glory in Christ Jesus.”

My Jesus ‘Tis of Thee

My Jesus ‘tis of Thee, sweet Lord of liberty, of Thee I sing

In love, for me You died, through grace I’m justified

By faith I’m sanctified, let freedom ring

My Master all for Thee, I stand here new and free, Your name to praise

Loosed from the chains of sin, the contest I will win

Oh, let Thy grace pour in, Your song I raise

Let worship fill this place, true joy on every face, sweet freedom’s song

Oh, may my heart awake, and from Your life partake

The yoke of men to break, ever brave and strong

Our Lord and God to Thee, Author of liberty, to Thee we sing

Long may Your church be bright, with freedom’s holy light

Uphold us by Thy might, great Savior, King

Words by Daniel Henderson - © Daniel Henderson

To the Tune of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” - Music by “Thesaurus Musicus” 1740 – Ascribed to Henry Carey, c. 1690-1743

The Six Best Things You Can Do For Your Pastor

Posted by Daniel Henderson on October 24, 2011 at 15:12

As we approach the final days of Pastor Appreciation Month please partner with us in supporting pastors. You can give your pastor a membership to The 6:4 Fellowship by clicking here. You can pay his way to our powerful national conference in May 2012. For more information, click here. We also hope you will make a generous contribution to help us in our ongoing efforts. You can do so HERE .

"As one pastor said, 'You can sit on the shore and watch us row. You can get in the boat and help us row. But, please don’t just sit in the boat shooting holes in the bottom.' Few things are more demoralizing to leaders than coping with non-contributors who function as high-maintenance Monday morning quarterbacks."

"The Six Best Things You Can Do For Your Pastor"

Every church has a strong presence of involved, grateful members who bring joy to their leaders. During this month of emphasizing “Pastor Appreciation” many have already expressed their gratitude in a practical and meaningful fashion. As I reflect on the things I have learned after almost 30 years of pastoral ministry, I want to recommend specific ways to express your support – not just this month, but all year long.

Six Recommendations

Pray – As I’ve written in recent weeks, the Apostle Paul was aggressive and unapologetic about requesting prayer for his life and ministry. He understood the mysterious and glorious link between the prayers of God’s people in the blessing of God on his ministry.

When we intercede for our leaders, God uses our prayers to change situations and hearts. When we express gratitude for our leaders, God uses prayer to change us. It is hard to be a critic and a prayer supporter at the same time.

When we pray for pastors, it is a win-win arrangement. They need the prayer; we need the practice.

Communicate – We don’t want to be like the husband who failed to communicate his appreciation to his wife. She expressed to him one day, “You never tell me you love me.” He responded, “I told you the day we got married and if I change my mind I will let you know.”

Love and appreciation fail to bless another if they are not communicated. It is possible that all ten lepers healed by Jesus were grateful, but only one returned to give thanks (Luke 17:11-19). Too often, that one-in-ten expression is the experience of pastors. Many in the church are grateful for a pastor’s faithfulness, example, sermons, family, and leadership. Few take time to specifically and practically communicate their feelings.

Believe me, the critics don’t hold back in their e-mails, notes, and negative words. The grateful majority needs to rise up and say so. I have been astonished in past years when I was called away from a church at the specific and kind expressions that came in during my final days of service. I often thought, “I never knew they felt that way.” Make sure you let your pastoral leaders know how you feel this month. Be specific and encouraging. It will go a long way to strengthen their hearts. And, don’t forget similar expressions to the spouse and family members. They can also be overlooked.

Give – In a national study, clergy ranked in the top 10% of the population in terms of education but were only 325th of 432 occupations in terms of salary. Most pastors serve and sacrifice far beyond what people realize, yet most lack the resources to get away and recharge as they should. Tangible expressions of gratitude go a long way. Gift certificates to restaurants, tickets to sporting events, an overnight get-away, and cash gifts all provide a special blessing for the often-strapped pastoral budget. In one church, a family gave us the key to their mountain cabin. Schedule permitting, our family was able to enjoy much-needed time away that made memories and refreshed our lives in ways we could not have otherwise afforded.

Protect – My wise friend Leith Anderson has noted, “Change agents need protectors.” Pastors are targets of change-resistant antagonists. These people seldom play by the biblical rules of relational authenticity. In an effort to control the agenda of the church they back-bite, circulate rumors, and subtly seek to undermine the leadership.

Critics usually lose momentum when they cannot find a listening ear. I often say, “You may be lord of your tongue but I am also master of my ears.” Protect your pastoral leaders by refusing to give an ear to these destructive voices. Insist that they go directly to the leadership or cease and desist.

Beyond this, gossips and controllers need to be confronted about their divisive behavior according to the principles of Matthew 18:15-17. When the entire body works biblically to deal with spiritual disease and maintain godly health, the church prospers, pastors are protected, and Christ is praised.

Serve – Overloaded and weary pastors are often surrounded by members who are not doing their share to steward their own spiritual gifts and serve the mission of the church. Those who serve with passion and perseverance help lift the load and build up the church. Servants usually have gracious and godly attitudes since those who are pulling on the oars seldom have the time or desire to rock the boat. As one pastor said, “You can sit on the shore and watch us row. You can get in the boat and help us row. But, please don’t just sit in the boat shooting holes in the bottom.” Few things are more demoralizing to leaders than coping with non-contributors who function as high-maintenance Monday morning quarterbacks.

Discern – Churches are not perfect and pastors are 100% human. There will always be things we do not like about the ministry. We will always have preferences that are disappointed by the pastor’s leadership or approach. It is important that we discern which issues are really worth our concern. There are usually few hills worth dying on.

When leaders have to spend energy resolving concerns over non-essential issues, it distracts and dissipates their effectiveness. Focus that should be given to meeting real needs and leading in the vital mission of the church gets squandered by needless squabbles.

Good Returns

Hebrews 13:17 tells us that our spiritual leaders watch out for our souls as those who must give an account to God. This is a serious and sacrificial obligation. This verse exhorts us to support them wholeheartedly so they can lead “with joy and not with grief for that would be unprofitable for you.” Joyful leaders are profitable leaders. When they feel that their leadership is a grievous task, no one benefits. The Amplified Bible says, “Do your part to let them do this with gladness and not with sighing and groaning.”

Let’s all reap the profit that comes when we encourage and appreciate our spiritual leaders. The positive advancement of the work of the Gospel depends on it.

Three Strategic Prayers for Our Spiritual Leaders (Part Two)

Posted by Daniel Henderson on October 11, 2011 at 15:30

Three Strategic Prayers for Our Spiritual Leaders (Part Two)

Daniel Henderson

Charles Spurgeon noted, “I know of no greater kindness than for my people to pray for me.” Every wise church leader seeks and cherishes the prayer support of his people. Yet, why do we pray? How should we pray? What should we pray about?

In Part One we began to unpack Paul’s appeal for the prayer support of the believers in Rome as we looked at Romans 15:30-33. Paul wrote,

Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Why and How

We saw last week that we should pray for our spiritual leaders because they need it and ask for it. More significantly, we pray because we regard the name and honor of Christ and because we love the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The nature of our prayers is described by Paul as “agonizing” prayer. We strive with all of our energies, feeling the great weight of the spiritual burden of the Gospel’s cause and spiritual battle.

Three Specific Prayer Targets

Paul describes three specific needs that are pressing on him as he serves the Lord and travels in obedience to the call.

First he seeks prayer for protection from spiritual enemies. He asked the Romans to pray that he might be “delivered from those in Judea who do not believe.” In this context, Paul was journeying back to Jerusalem where his most violent opponents would come against him.

He was not concerned with survival but with the satisfaction of his mission. On one hand Paul said, “Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:20-21). On the other hand, when faced with inevitable threats on his life, he states, “Chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:23-24). Paul’s prayer request was rooted in a longing to effectively finish his task, not a fear of dying.

Today, Western believers do not feel so compelled to pray this way since our leaders are seldom threatened. Yet, I am reminded of a story told to me by a church member named Ted. While on a plane in California Ted sat next to a man who appeared to be praying and fasting during the flight. Ted eventually asked the gentleman about his evident devotion. Indeed, the man was praying and fasting – to Satan. Ted learned that this man had joined other Satanists in a commitment to fast and pray once a week for the downfall of the marriages of Christian leaders. Indeed, the battle is real, the attacks are subtle, and our prayers are vital.

Second, Paul asks the church to pray for the prosperity of his ministry efforts to the saints. He stated, “...that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints.” In taking funds collected from the gentiles, he faced the possibility of rejection, suspicion, or division depending on the response of the Jewish believers in Jerusalem.

Still today, we need to pray for the soil of the hearts of God’s people to be receptive as the Word and work of the ministry is shared by our leaders. So many times the enemy fuels misunderstanding, confusion, and criticism, which undermine the fruit of Gospel ministry.

Third, Paul sought prayer for the provision of his personal needs by the believers in Rome. After a long, demanding journey Paul anticipated making it to Rome, by God’s will and with his joy intact, but needing personal refreshment from the saints there. Whether they speak openly about it or not, our leaders need the refreshment of encouraging words, thoughtful actions, and supportive expressions of kindness.

High-Impact Prayers

When we review Acts 21:17 – 28:31 we find the answers to these prayers. Paul’s gift to the believers in Jerusalem was accepted. In addition, the Jerusalem church rejoiced in the work of the Gospel and wanted to learn more about the spread of grace.

While in Jerusalem, the antagonistic Jews attacked Paul again, seeking to kill him. The Roman military, seeing their hatred and learning of their murderous plots, sent him to Caesarea (under the guard of 470 soldiers!) where Paul appeared before several Roman magistrates. Eventually, Paul sailed to Rome to appeal to Caesar. On the way, they experienced shipwreck and Paul was bitten by a viper – only to survive everything. Throughout it all, the Roman church was agonizing in prayer for Paul’s protection.

Paul was under house arrest in Rome so he did not make it to the 11:00 a.m. worship service to enjoy the refreshment of the believers there. However, it is apparent that believers were able to come to him and refresh his spirit. Most notable was a man named Onesiphorus, of whom Paul spoke in his final letter (2 Timothy 1:16-18).

As we see these amazing answers to prayer we must obey the call to pray for our leaders. God invites us to play a vital role in the advancement of His Gospel purposes as we intercede for pastors and missionaries.

The Peace that Comes Through Prayer

Paul’s appeal for prayer ends with this benediction: “Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.” Prayer replaces worry. Prayer produces a Christ-alignment in our hearts that results in unity, trust, and spiritual health. For the sake of the Gospel, for the good of our leaders, and for the spiritual health of our own hearts – let’s resolve to pray for those whom God has appointed to shepherd our souls.

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A full sermon on this subject is available at Strategic Renewal. Along with the DVD you will receive a group study guide and a special interview with Pastor Leith Anderson, President of the National Association of Evangelicals. Go to http://www.strategicrenewal.com/cddvd/your-most-strategic-investment-cd-dvd/

Three Strategic Prayers for Our Spiritual Leaders (Part One)

Posted by Daniel Henderson on October 11, 2011 at 15:28

Three Strategic Prayers for Our Spiritual Leaders (Part One)

Daniel Henderson

I am not much of a bowler but I know that it is virtually impossible to get a strike if the ball does not hit the head pin. Satan is a calculating and destructive enemy of God’s people. He knows how essential it is to eliminate pastoral leaders in order to decimate the church and thwart the work of the Gospel.

Yet, we can all make a powerful difference in opposing the attacks of the enemy. Samuel Chadwick wrote, “The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.” Oswald Chambers agreed: “The prayer of the feeblest saint who lives in the Spirit and keeps right with God is a terror to Satan.” When we pray for our leaders, we counteract Satan’s attacks and play a vital role in the advancement of Christ’s cause.

Paul’s Word on Why, How, and What

Paul understood this, which is why he often called on the churches to pray for him. In Romans 15:30-33, we find one of the less familiar but most powerful appeals for prayer. This passage offers vital guidance for us all as we intercede for our spiritual leaders.

As Paul wrote to the Romans (probably from Corinth), he reflected on his planned visit with them on his way to Spain. First, he was going to deliver a love gift to the persecuted believers in Jerusalem, which he had been collecting among the gentile churches. He knew his serious need for prayer support in these ministry endeavors so he appealed to the believers to pray for him.

Why We Pray for Spiritual Leaders

In Romans 15:30 Paul writes, “Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me.” Most obvious, we see Paul’s basic encouragement to pray when he says, “I beg you.” The Greek, “parakaleo”, simply communicates Paul’s effort to come alongside these believers, urging them to pray. But there is something even deeper here.

Paul writes, “through the Lord Jesus Christ.” Certainly we pray, only because of the finished work and present intercession of Christ (Hebrews 7:25, 10:20-22). Most literally, Paul is urging us here to pray because of our regard for Christ. As the Amplified reads, “for the sake of our Lord Jesus.” Our prayer for pastors and missionaries must ultimately be motivated by our love and worship of Jesus Christ because it is His name, His cause, and His glory that are at stake. When we are Jesus-worshipers we will also be reliable, passionate intercessors for our leaders.

Third, Paul says that we should pray “through the love of the Spirit.” The most literal interpretation of this phrase speaks of our love FOR the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Prayer is a vital part of supernatural power and Gospel advancement. Because we love it when the Holy Spirit is working in extraordinary ways, we should commit our hearts to pray for our leaders. If we are dissatisfied with the level of spiritual power in the pulpit or ministries of the church, our love for the Holy Spirit compels us to pray for a greater manifestation of His presence and work.

How We Pray for Spiritual Leaders

Paul’s appeal for prayer intensifies as he continues with this urgent appeal: “Strive together with me in prayers to God for me” (v. 30). This is not a casual word about shallow, short, simple prayers. The Greek work here is sunagonidzomai, which communicates the idea of agonizing with another person in the midst of an intense struggle. Paul is asking them to join him in feeling the weight and warfare of all he is facing. This is a heart of real intercession. Yet, we are so often casual and complacent in our prayers for leaders.

The late David Wilkerson, a pastor and founder of Teen Challenge, spoke about our need for a greater sense of spiritual anguish in a powerful message (see “Anguish” by David Wilkerson on YouTube):

“Whatever happened to anguish in the house of God? Whatever happened to anguish in the ministry? It’s a word you don’t hear in this pampered age. Anguish means extreme pain and distress – the emotions so stirred that it becomes painful; acute, deeply-felt inner pain because of conditions about you, in you, or around you. Anguish...the sorrow and agony of God’s heart.”

He continues, “We’ve held on to our religious rhetoric and our revival talk, but we’ve become so passive. All true passion is birthed out of anguish. All true passion for Christ comes out of a baptism of anguish. You search the Scripture and you find that when God determined to recover a ruined situation He would share His own anguish for what God saw happening to His people. He would find a praying man and he would take that man and literally baptize him in anguish.”

This month, as we recommit to pray for and support our church leaders, let’s ask Christ for a fresh sense of intensity. He is worthy of our passionate intercession. Our love for His Spirit’s supernatural work compels us to pray. As we do so, we can feel the serious nature of the work of the Gospel and agonize in His presence as He shares His heart with us, for His glory.

(Part two will outline three specific prayer targets to pray for on behalf of every spiritual leader.)

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A full sermon on this subject is available at Strategic Renewal. Along with the DVD, you will receive a group study guide and a special interview with Pastor Leith Anderson, President of the National Association of Evangelicals. Go to http://www.strategicrenewal.com/cddvd/your-most-strategic-investment-cd-dvd/

Intimacy Precedes Impact

Posted by Daniel Henderson on February 10, 2011 at 8:27

Intimacy Precedes Impact

Daniel Henderson - Tuesday, February 08, 2011

The life and ministry of Jesus is our ultimate model for living. One of the principles that resounds in the Gospel accounts in and through His life is that authentic intimacy precedes eternal impact. Because every true believer has a longing for intimacy with God and desire for a life that matters in the lives of others, it is important to study the example of Jesus and choose to walk in His steps.

Jesus’ Pursuit of Intimacy

Prior to starting His public ministry, the Lord Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness in prayer and fasting, enjoying solitary communion with the Father. This incredible model stands in dramatic contrast to our modern rush to public ministry as we tend to speed our way through academic preparation, job placement, and ministry output. The pattern of empowering intimacy can get lost in the fray of productivity.

Prior to selecting the apostles, Jesus spent all night in prayer (Luke 6:12), demonstrating the kind of intimacy that produces good leadership choices. Today we tend to rely on nominating committees and popular voting rather than extraordinary alignment with the heart and will of God through prayer.

Mark 3:14 describes His design for the twelve He selected where it records, “Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach.” Jesus first wanted His followers to “be with Him” in order to learn His ways, experience His heart, and understand His power as essential ingredients to life-changing impact.

Throughout His ministry we find Jesus relentlessly modeling intimacy with the Father as He rose up early in the morning to pray (Mark 1:35). He retreated to solitary places to pray (Mark 6:46; Luke 5:16), took His disciples with Him for seasons of extraordinary prayer (Luke 9:28, 22:40), and trusted the Father for strength and wisdom to fulfill His mission (Matthew 26:39; John 17).

Learning from Him

The great incentive for our praying is to walk, live, and serve as Jesus did. I often say that there is a sense in which Jesus was the only one to walk this earth who did not need to pray, but did – in order to help those of us who do need to pray, but don’t, learn how to do it. He was fully God and fully man. As divine, He enjoyed constant union with the Father. As man, Jesus' prayer life modeled for us what it meant to consciously rely on the Father.

Early Leaders Learn and Live the Lesson

After Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection the work of the Gospel would be advanced through a small band of 120 disciples. They could not accomplish the mission without the supernatural empowerment of the Spirit. Again, intimacy preceded impact as Jesus commanded them to wait in an upper room where they prayed for 10 days.

The early disciples demonstrated this truth throughout their high-impact advancement of the Gospel. As soon as the church was birthed, they locked in to a pattern of pursuing intimacy (Acts 2:42). After facing persecution they came back to extraordinary worship-based prayer (Acts 4:23-31). When coping with the growing pains of rapidly advancing ministry, the leaders remained resolute on their need for intimacy via collective prayer and the Word (Acts 6:4).

Paul also embraced this model of extraordinary intimacy prior to public ministry when he spent three years in the Arabian desert prior to his public ministry (Galatians 1:17-18). While we do not know the exact details of his time in Arabia, there is no doubt that a pursuit of a great intimacy with Christ was part of his experience. The launch of international missions emerges from a season of intimacy as Paul joined the leaders in Antioch as they fasted and ministered to the Lord (Acts 13:1-2). From the depths of a prison, Paul was beaten, bloody, and bruised – but He worshiped, sang, and prayed. Miraculous impact followed. The prison shook, prisoners were released, the Gospel went forward, and before the end of the night the jailor and his family were converted and baptized (Acts 16:25-34).

In all of these instances, early church leaders were not just praying “about things” but were spending time “with Someone” as the life-source of all they were called to be and do. They had learned from Christ’s model and were resolute to do His work in His power.

Empowered Living

In a recent interview with Pastor Alistair Begg, he noted, “We can do more than pray, after we have prayed, but we cannot do more than pray before we have prayed.” He went on to suggest that for every minute of our sermon delivery, we should spend 15 minutes in prayer. This would equate to 10 hours of prayer prior to the Sunday message. What a great goal and illustration of the principle of intimacy preceding impact. (You can see excerpts of this interview at www.64fellowship.com).

As we seek to influence others for Christ in this life, there are many tools and opportunities. Still, we must remember that ministry is not so much a thing that we produce for Jesus. Rather, it is the power of His life, working in and through us. Intimacy precedes and sustains impact. As Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5).

“Lord, let us seek You passionately, then allow you to live Your life through us to change this world by the power of Your Gospel.”

Transforming Prayer

Posted by Daniel Henderson on January 26, 2011 at 15:35

It's no wonder so many people (and even pastors) are discouraged with prayer. Instead of a genuine encounter with God, prayer is little more than a grocery list of requests. Maybe you, too, seek God's hand rather than His face.

My newest book, Transforming Prayer - How Everything Changes When You Seek God's Face, we discover how to:

Pray to seek God's face NOT just His hand.
Pray with your heart fixed on God's glory NOT just for personal satisfaction
Pray from the treasure of God's word NOT simply from a list of your own ideas
Pray according to the Spirit's instruction NOT only from human reason
Pray with a heart completely surrendered to His will NOT with a hurried personal agenda
Pray in anticipation of living triumphantly in the war-zone NOT with a satisfaction with the comfort zone.
Pray that God would change you NOT that He would simply change things.

Transforming Prayer presents life-changing truths and practical handles to get you started in a fresh adventure in your time with God. You will enjoy "trophies of transformation" throughout the book as individual stories of life-change are told. Discussion questions for each chapter are contained in the back of the book, making this a great tool for your next small group or Sunday School study.

For brief video introductions to each chapter, free downloads, and more information about the book, please visit www.transformingprayerbook.com.

Counterattack - How Satan Steals, Kills and Destroys

Posted by Daniel Henderson on January 26, 2011 at 8:38

Counterattack

In these early days of a new year, you have likely already experienced some level of spiritual discouragement or defeat. Any fresh resolve by a Christian to follow the Savior, walk more closely with the Lord, or make a difference for His mission is met with spiritual counterattack. The devil is intolerant of our spiritual progress.

We all know we are in a spiritual battle against an unseen foe and his army of minions. As Christians we have the assurance that “greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). We are challenged to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” and to “put on the whole armor of God” in order to live in victory (Ephesians 6:10-11). A vital part of that victory is that we pray always, with all kinds of prayer, with all perseverance, for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18).

Knowing the Enemy’s Tactics

The Bible says that “we are not unaware of his devices.” The Bible and practical experience reveal the nature of Satan’s character and strategies. We know, for instance, that a primary tactic is to attack believers at the relational level, doing all he can to engender unforgiveness, misunderstanding, and discord. When we fall prey to his efforts we “give place to the devil” (1 Corinthians 2:10-11; Ephesians 4:27).

As we seek to understand and overcome his tactics we must remember Jesus’ words, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). In this new year, we want to fully experience and walk in that abundant life Jesus promises. Satan seeks to counterattack through his efforts to “steal, kill, and destroy.” Let me suggest three practical ways this happens in our lives. I have seen that it is not uncommon that our enemy will seek to steal our time, kill our desire, and destroy our spiritual potential.

He Steals Our Time

Paul writes, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16). We are to live wisely in evaluating and maximizing our time and opportunities because we are in a context of spiritual battle with the forces of evil. If we allow the enemy to steal the moments of life, he has neutralized our primary commodity for living and doing well.

For me, this seems so subtle but incessant. I typically am up no later than 5:30 each morning. My first endeavor is to spend time with the Lord. Yet, a barrage of distractions of every variety comes against my mind in those early morning hours. I am learning that when the devil steals these moments, my entire day lacks spiritual vitality and focus.

If he cannot distract us from the time we try to dedicate to spiritual renewal, he will keep us so busy that we do not find the time in the first place. Whether through distraction or busyness, our time for spiritual renewal is lost – and the devil’s strategies prevail, sadly, with our cooperation. Of course, this happens slowly and incrementally, not all at once. Sometimes the loss is so gradual we hardly miss it, but when his pilfering is complete, we stay busy for God with no quality time with God.

He Kills our Desire

We all know the joy of a heart that cries, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Psalm 42:1-2). The object of our spiritual enemy’s thievery is to neutralize these longings. The demons delight when the summary of our spiritual temperature has been reduced to “lukewarm” or a lost “first love.” With powerful moments of spiritual focus and renewal gone, our spiritual desire suffocates. For lack of cultivation and nurture, we lose interest in spiritual intimacy.

He Destroys our Potential

The “Destroyer” ultimately seeks to wipe out our potential for Christ. When our time has been stolen and desire has been killed, we stand on the precipice of losing our spiritual integrity and impact for Christ. We may attend church, serve, and appear to be spiritually vibrant – but it has become the shell of an empty life, no longer abiding and without the evidence of supernatural spiritual fruit. The enemy has systematically, gradually, but effectively accomplished his mission.

Rising Above

If this assessment of the nature of the spiritual battle is accurate, then we must go back to that first front in which the attack comes – our time. Certainly we are reminded that daily time with the Lord is essential as the inner man is being renewed day-by-day (1 Corinthians 4:16). We also need to find that vital “Sabbath” pattern where we can cherish substantive time in the rhythm of the weekly journey to give the Lord our undivided attention. Then, there should be those seasons of extended prayer (perhaps fasting) when we lock ourselves away to experience an extraordinary encounter with the living Christ. For me, this amounts to an extended personal retreat or a Prayer Summit for several days with other believers.

By His grace, we can rise above the cunning counterattacks of the enemy and declare from the reality of our daily experience, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

P.S. – I have also observed that this same kind of attack comes against church leaders and congregations. Satan steals our times of corporate communion with Christ through distraction and busyness. He kills the passion of the church to seek God’s face. Instead, we become content with a treadmill of religious activity. Eventually, the church loses all supernatural impact and instead becomes a frenetic collection of superficial programming; the battle is lost and the mission suffers at a corporate level. May the Lord give us eyes to see this temptation and grace to repent and return to the heart of spiritually authentic ministry.

Why it is "Good" to Give Thanks!

Posted by Daniel Henderson on November 20, 2010 at 8:16

Every Sunday morning for over 20 years, with very few exceptions, I've been privileged to gather with a group of prayer partners to read a Psalm then spend an hour in worship-based prayer. The worship in the word is sweet and the Spirit always guides us as we take time to specifically focus on prayers for the Sunday services of the church and all God wants to do through them.

Recently, we enjoyed an hour of prayer from Psalm 92. The first verse of the Psalm is very familiar but, as often happens, struck me in a fresh way. It reads:

“It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.” Psalm 92:1-2

Maybe it is just me, but I am noticing that during these ever-difficult days in our nation, people are either responding with a deeper gratitude for the simple blessings of life or they are lapsing into grumbling about how tough things are. One thing is clear; it is still GOOD to give thanks to the Lord, even in 2010 – especially in these very challenging times.

But why?

I have considered the reasons it is good to give thanks to the Lord. I see a HEAVENWARD reason, an INWARD reason, a BACKWARD reason and a FORWARD reason.

A Heavenward Adoration

With a HEAVENWARD view, it is truly good to give thanks to the Lord – because in our gratitude we again recognize the priority and power of God’s glorious and unchanging character. Our financial security, family situation and personal health may be uncertain – but He never changes. When we give thanks, our hearts and minds are “renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created” us.

In gratitude we remember that while life may feel bad, God is still good – all the time. When thankful, we can rejoice in the name of the Most High God who is sovereign, just, gracious, merciful and true - -in spite of the earthly forecast. As Psalm 92:2 says, “To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness every night.” Gratitude makes our theology real and practical every day.

An Inward Transformation

From an INWARD standpoint, it is good to give thanks to the Lord because it changes us. Isaiah 26:3 reminds us, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Gratitude promotes peace in the midst of the storm. “Whatever my lot – Thou has taught me to say, ‘It is well’ with my soul.” We are able to count our blessings rather than complain about our burdens. Anticipation can replace anxiety and worship can replace worry when we realize how good it is to give thanks.

Psalm 107:22 declares, “Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing. “ Just as Old Testament sacrifices were accompanied by thanksgiving, so we sometimes have to sacrifice in order to give thanks. We sacrifice our self-trust, human reason, personal expectations, disappointments and even our very real pain in the midst of trials. We come to our Living God and say “thank you” in faith. The result is that we are able to declare His works with joy. Joy is an abiding well-being that transcends circumstances because is it rooted in spiritual reality. Truly, gratitude rearranges the interior of my troubled and doubting heart.

A Backward Recognition

From a BACKWARD angle, it is good to give thanks for the Lord because we recognize the pattern of His wonderful works in our life. Christians can be very forgetful, just like nine of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19 who never came back to thank Jesus for healing their bodies. One returned to receive a healing of soul in his worshipful gratitude.

Psalm 107 repeats the call five times, “Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! “ (vv. 1, 8, 15, 21 & 31). Reflect on His wonderful works in the story of your life. What has He done for you? Can you see the pattern of His faithfulness and care? Don’t forget all He has done. His past works will change the way you look at your present situation and your future path.

A Forward Anticipation

Finally, it is good to give thanks to the Lord from a FORWARD standpoint. We learn that some things in this life simply cannot be trusted. The Stock Market. Politicians. Big business. Media. People. Ourselves. But, when we give thanks we are reminded in the One in whom we can trust for the next chapter of life. “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, then life is worth the living just because He lives.” If the living God is good, has been good – the He will be good with every step I take into the future.

God’s Good Will

Hebrews 13:15 gives this command to our hearts, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” Also, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 is clear, “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

So, God’s good will for your life is to give thanks – and there are many reasons to do it. Let the fruit of your lips give thanks to His name today. By Jesus Christ, and through His life in you, it can happen – and it will be good. He has promised.

Kick-Starting Pastoral Leadership in Prayer

Posted by Daniel Henderson on August 21, 2010 at 9:14

Kick-Starting Pastoral Leadership in Prayer

By Daniel Henderson

One of the greatest challenges in creating a strong prayer culture in a church is getting the senior pastor and the leadership staff to make prayer a priority in the life of the congregation. One church that has succeeded in doing this is WoodsEdge Community Church in The Woodlands, Texas.

Six years ago, Senior Pastor Jeff Wells would have described his ministry as a typical church that made plans, then asked God to bless them. Today prayer is fuels every aspect of the church. This change in direction came about because Wells and his team took some very specific steps to make prayer a priority.

• Honest evaluation.

Pastor Wells and his leadership team spent time at a retreat in candid discussion and prayer as they considered what their prayer commitment should be versus what it was in reality. They compared their behavior as leaders and a congregation with the biblical standard set by the early church in the book of Acts, which saw prayer as the main work of ministry. After this time of assessment, the WoodsEdge leadership team called the entire church to three days of prayer and fasting as a first step toward charting a new direction with prayer at the center.

• Accountable redirection.

As a result of their time in retreat, the leadership team committed to emphasizing prayer. They began by setting clear expectations for what their own examples in prayer should be among the flock. They also redefined the role of elders to comply with the principle of Acts 6:4 to give themselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the Word. Practically, this worked out in several ways. First, the pastors committed to spending an hour a day in personal prayer with the Lord. Then the weekly staff meeting changed from a business and communication meeting to a worship and intercession meeting. Now the pastors and staff take a full day of prayer offsite several times a year. The pastors also recruited personal intercessory teams to pray for them and their families.

• Shared experiences.

Wells and his team read and discussed key books on prayer; a couple of their favorites were Jim Cymbala’s Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire and Jack Deere’s Surprised by the Power of the Spirit. In each case they talked about how the points these books raised, both inspirational and instructional, could apply to their context. They even took a trip to the Brooklyn Tabernacle, which Cymbala leads, for that church’s well known Tuesday night prayer meeting. Other prayer experiences they shared as a church included prayerwalks and concerts of prayer. The leadership declared a prayer emphasis for 2009, encouraging the congregation to raise the bar of their personal prayer lives.

• Communication.

Wells let the congregation know about this new commitment to prayer via the pulpit and emails. He also began multiple communications monthly teaching on prayer and clarifying the leadership’s vision.

• Consistent, visible practice.

The pastoral staff and elders began leading the Wednesday night prayer service, which had consisted of prayer after the worship team rehearsal. Over time the service grew. Today the prayer gathering begins with an optional hour of solitude during which people can come to the altar, pray at their seats, join a prayer group, or receive prayer from a prayer partner. The heart of the service begins with over 30 minutes of worship. Wells then leads 45-minutes of prayer that focuses on personal needs, ministry concerns, and other issues that the Holy Spirit puts on his heart. Other leaders are available to pray with people and often will lead in prayer as they focus on specific issues.

• Sustaining systems.

Approximately three years into the prayer emphasis, the church hired a full-time pastor to coordinate the prayer ministry. Doing so ensured proper training, communication, and organization for the prayer service, various prayer emphases throughout the year, and other weekly prayer events. Some of the changes Wells believes the church has experienced directly because of prayer include people sensing God’s presence more strongly, the church having more impact on the community and internationally, and some members experiencing physical healing.

Today the church’s website declares that the most important service of the week is the midweek, church-wide prayer experience, and a foundational statement in the church’s vision statement says, “We long to become a church that is a great house of prayer.”

DANIEL HENDERSON is an author, president of Strategic Renewal (www.strategicrenewal.com), a professor at Liberty University, Pastor of Prayer and Renewal at Thomas Road Baptist Church (Lynchburg, Virginia), and a facilitator who travels to more than 35 venues a year, equipping pastors and churches in prayer. His most recent book, Defying Gravity - How to Survive the Storms of Pastoral Ministry (Moody) was written to encourage pastors in their spiritual leadership journey, which includes a vital focus on prayer.

Five Reasons Why Pastors Struggle to Lead in Prayer

Posted by Daniel Henderson on August 21, 2010 at 9:06

(Adapted from Fresh Encounters – Experiencing Transformation through United, Worship-based Prayer; by Daniel Henderson; NavPress)

From my personal struggles and interactions with many of my peers, I discovered five basic reasons why pastors sometimes resist leading the way to a dynamic prayer ministry in the local church:

1. Many grew up in a prayerless church environment.

There is a Brazilian proverb that states, “The heart cannot taste what the eyes have not seen.” Today’s pastors often lack firsthand experience of what a dynamic prayer-energized church looks like.

Many pastors recall sparsely attended prayer meetings they’ve attended in the past. These sleepy prayer sessions featured a litany of personal requests or those for a third cousin twice removed.

Accordingly, some pastors are happy if they can provide such a prayer gathering for three people who want to unload their various burdens. But a church where the majority of the people gather in dynamic, worship-based prayer does not register on most pastors’ radar screens.

2. Most were trained in a prayerless educational process.

I went through seven years of formal undergraduate and graduate-level theological education at excellent institutions. While grateful for all the fine classes and grand truths, I never had a professor or pastor personally influence me in the area of prayer. Oh, there were great sermons on prayer and theological truths about prayer, but no one took me aside and taught me to pray by praying together on a regular basis.

Today, church leaders commonly receive many years of instruction about the ministry of the Word, while practical mentoring on the prayer ministry in the local church is neglected completely.

Few churches offer real teaching and practical instruction on prayer. The churches of my youth did not—or if they did, it certainly did not capture my attention. So how was I to learn? How do other pastors catch the passion?

3. All minister in a prayerless, success-oriented culture.

“Man of prayer” no longer ranks high on the typical list of desirable leadership traits for the local church pastor. Usually, the driven, over-achieving, “can-do” person is most admired in our society—and our churches.

Recently, I was in Utah teaching a prayer seminar at a statewide church leadership conference. After my session, a man approached me explaining that he was the chairman of the pastoral search committee for a congregation in that area. He pulled out a list of more than eighty-five desirable attributes for their next pastor. The inventory had been compiled through a recent survey of the congregation. Many of the qualities centered on communication skills, management ability, pleasant personality, and strong pastoral care interests. Nowhere on the list was there any mention of the priority of prayer as an essential characteristic for the new pastor. American society tends to value strong, natural leadership, dynamic programming, entertaining services, and impressive technology. The idea of a pastor locked away in extended prayer does not strike the average churchgoer as a mark of effective leadership.

Some church members think it wastes time if the pastor spends energy attending prayer meetings. Many pastors realize this and decide not to go against the grain.

4. Some battle a prayerless personal life.

It is hard to take the church further than you have journeyed in your life. This sense of failure and guilt immobilizes many pastors in the church prayer ministry. Pastors know they should be leading the way, but as one leader wrote, “If I wished to humble anyone, I should question him about his prayers. I know nothing to compare with this topic for its sorrowful self confessions.” 1 These unfortunate confessions often lead to unnecessary excuses. As a result the prayer ministry is without leadership and everyone suffers.

5. Every pastor is a special target of the enemy.

The “Master of Distraction” does not have to lure your pastor into scandalous sin. He simply needs to distract your pastor with good church activities. As long as the primary leader does not tap into the supernatural work of prayer, the church will be content to engage in a nice, socially pleasing ministry, but will have little Spirit-empowered impact.

"Dreaming of a New Day in Pastoral Leadership"

Posted by Daniel Henderson on July 28, 2010 at 21:31

Recently, I enjoyed the honor of providing teaching and leadership in prayer at the Moody Bible Institute’s Pastors’ Conference in Chicago, Illinois. In addition, I was joined by both my sons, who helped lead worship for the prayer sessions, and my brother, a pastor from Texas, who assisted in the prayer times and co-taught my workshops. It was a great reunion of “the brothers” from two generations.

For over twenty years, MBI has served pastors through this conference with a strong emphasis on biblical teaching and practical training in church leadership. For the last two years, they have allowed me to lead an early morning prayer session for those willing to attend. Last year, it was in an auxiliary auditorium and attracted hundreds of pastors each day. This year, they moved it into the main auditorium and graciously promoted it as a plenary session. Again, hundreds of pastors came each morning as we engaged in powerful sessions of Scripture-fed, Spirit-led, worship-based prayer.

A Bold Decision

I applaud the leadership of MBI for this commitment. Strange as it sounds, it is a bold move, as very few pastors’ conferences today give any priority to extended sessions of prayer. Content is always king. Music is usually paramount. Articulate and dynamic personalities are the draw. Prayer is typically an “opening” and “closing” formality in most cases. Thank God for Moody’s willingness to begin to find the balance we see in Acts 6:4 where the culture of church leadership was marked by a commitment to “prayer and the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). It did not matter who led these sessions at Moody. The victory is in the fact that they existed at all.

The Biblical Ideal of a Young Heart
Last week, after the first morning prayer session, a young man who appeared to be in his early 20’s approached me. He was blessed by the prayer time and asked if I led events like this at other pastors’ conferences. He asked what I felt about the attendance that morning. I told him I was thrilled that 400 or more came. In his idealism, he responded, “I was shocked that all of them did not come. I thought pastors were supposed to be committed to prayer. These are the guys leading our churches. No wonder we are in the condition we are in.” I tried to explain to him that it was an early hour, men were tired and perhaps they had scheduling conflicts. He was not to be deterred. His angst was obvious. I fear his concerns may be more legitimate than I wanted to admit. In all honesty, I had to search my own heart as I wondered if I would have attended if I were not leading the sessions. We all fight the battle of prayerlessness, distraction, and apathy.

Dreaming of a Better, Biblical Balance
As I reflect on the conversation, I do wonder about where pastors really are in their true passion for Christ through prayer. On a broader level, I wonder why pastors’ gatherings, particularly major conferences, feature so much emphasis on information with so little real time dedicated to the actual experience of praying together. As I thought of all the answers that might be proposed, I have decided to leave it up to you, the reader, to draw your own conclusions. Most of my ideas really are not edifying to share in this context.

Rather, I want to take a positive approach and consider what it might look like in the days ahead if major pastors’ gatherings began to move toward a better balance between prayer and the Word. Of course, it could be argued that because prayer is mentioned first in the priorities of the early church leaders in Acts 6:4 (and in the example of Jethro’s three-fold advice to Moses for establishing leadership priorities in Exodus 18:19) that prayer should have a more prominent place than the Word. Realizing this may sound like heresy, I would like to suggest the possibility of equal time: fifty percent prayer and fifty percent preaching. How about one-third prayer and two-thirds preaching? How about one-fifth prayer and four-fifths preaching? Any of the above would be a monumental move toward biblical balance, fresh power, and extraordinary unity.

A Radical Scenario
Imagine with me the possibility of an upcoming national pastors’ conference, held in a major city, conveniently located somewhere in the central U.S. Let’s call it “The Reconfiguration Conference.” The slate is filled with the ten most popular preachers, all with blockbuster books and mega-churches. A half-dozen Grammy Award-winning Christian artists are scheduled to provide the music. No expense has been spared in promoting the conference and every imaginable technological tool has been arranged to make the conference “high-impact.” Thousands of pastors have registered and are beginning to arrive with great expectancy of an experience that will really pump them up.

However, the conference planners encounter a major complication. All ten of the keynote speakers and every one of the musicians slated for the program happen to be in the same city the day before for a different event. That night, the airport in that city is shut down by fog and is projected to remain closed for three days. None of the featured platform personalities can get to The Reconfiguration Conference.

After a stressful night of reconfiguring The Reconfiguration Conference, the organizers step to the platform for the opening session with the shocking announcement. They share, “Due to circumstances beyond our control, none of our speakers or musicians will be able to attend. Nevertheless, God has clearly spoken to us about an even better plan. We have a small, local worship band ready to help us for the next three days – and we are going to spend every session at the feet of Jesus in prayer.“

It is rather fun to imagine the response from the crowd. Would they be disappointed? Thrilled? Angry? Eager? Of course, the real question is, how many would actually stay? What would they do instead?

Imagine the Possibilities!
Imagine if the pastors did stay – with open hearts, eager to seek God’s face, worship in spirit and in truth, and call out in faith to our great God. Consider what could happen if thousands of pastors spent hours together in simple but sincere worship, praying from the Scriptures, following the prompting of the Spirit.

More specifically, think on these possibilities:
• Pastors would discover a fresh spiritual delight and joy in the presence of Christ
• Pastors would find fresh encouragement in the application of God’s Word in the course of praying from the Scriptures for several days
• Pastors would experience an organic and powerful unity, together on their knees
• Pastors would open their hearts to Christ in ways that might cultivate fresh repentance, faith, and commitment to His Lordship
• Pastors would open their hearts to one another, experiencing deep healing and bearing each other’s burdens in a posture of prayer
• Pastors would receive fresh vision and direction from the presence of Christ, even as they did in Acts 13:1-2
• Pastors might find greater reward at the feet of Jesus than they would have in the crowd listening to gifted speakers and talented musicians

It could be the “accidental” beginning of a new day. It might spark a genuine revival. It might ignite a fresh passion for pastors to go home and lead their churches in similar experiences.

Dreaming of a New Direction
It does not hurt to dream, even if you have to create bizarre scenarios to make it work. Yet, this is the kind of dreaming we desperately need if things are going to take an exponential and supernatural step in the “revival” direction.

Yes, I think it can be, should be, and must be. Thank God for places like the Moody Bible Institute, along with other conferences, that imagine these possibilities and take steps to move in that direction. God is able, if we are willing. The world is waiting for a fresh revelation of their only hope – which is Jesus Christ, living through a revived church. May that hope burst forth among pastors all around our nation for Christ’s glory.

Copyright © 2010 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.

Secrets to a Powerful Prayer Culture

Posted by Daniel Henderson on July 14, 2010 at 10:42

"Secrets to a Powerful Prayer Culture"

by Daniel Henderson

Last week I had lunch with my friend Woody. He is a seasoned, unassuming pastor whom God has used to lead an incredible church in the community where I live. While I do not attend his church, I have numerous friends and relatives who enjoy the passionate worship, solid messages, and array of practical applications.

A Pastoral Turning Point

Woody’s journey is an inspiring example of how God changes the heart of a leader, radically reshapes his ministry approach, and shows Himself strong through a praying church. I have heard Woody tell the story on numerous occasions that for many years he made his strategic plans for ministry, hoping God would bless and join the leaders in what they were trying to accomplish. (By the way, this is the predominant approach to church leadership today). He describes it as “trying to breathe life” into all the programs he came up with. Woody and his team would attend national conferences to see how everyone else was doing ministry, then try to duplicate those “success stories.” Soon, it seemed he was trying to “wear someone else's ministry clothes.” A year later, he would return to the same national conference only to discover that the “model church” had already discarded the approach Woody’s team was trying to imitate.

A few years ago, God spoke to Woody in his industrious, clever, but weary state of being. The Sovereign Christ challenged Woody to resign as “God” and let God be God. Woody responded by concluding that from that time on, he and his leaders would seek the Lord first (and as long as necessary) until they had clarity about where God wanted the church to go. As he describes it, “We had been trying to make Acts 2 happen, but suddenly realized Acts 1 came before Acts 2.” This turning point was the beginning of a genuine culture of prayer that is now the essential DNA of Blue Ridge Community Church.

Supernatural Blessing from Seeking Hearts

I have enjoyed the privilege of praying with Woody and his leaders. When they pray, they get on their faces and stay there until God is finished with the prayer time. Three times a day, the staff leads the church in prayer times at the church. Before making any major ministry decisions, they spend significant amounts of prayer together to find the mind of Christ, not just drum up their own ideas. Before they begin any new initiative God leads them to launch, they sponsor 168 hours of continuous church-wide prayer. Every month they have multiple church-wide prayer services.

Since this profound transformation of their leadership approach, God has blessed Blue Ridge beyond Woody’s imagination. The large campus is overcrowded to the point that they are now praying about what Jesus wants next. Satellite campuses? Additional buildings? New churches? They really do not have an agenda about the next step; they just want the will of God. I believe they will find it on their knees, as is their pattern. The Lord will launch a powerful new chapter of blessing for the sake of people who do not know Jesus in the region, for God’s glory.

Five Keys to a Prayer Culture

Woody’s journey and the fresh reality he is enjoying in his church illustrates some key principles I have embraced about a prayer culture in a church. Here is a quick review of those ideas:

1. A prayer culture is not a prayer program – Many leaders want a quick fix and decide to start some new prayer events. Often these activities simply attract the same praying minority of the church but do not infect the rest of the church culture. There may be pockets of prayer energy, but not a prayer culture.

2. A prayer culture always emanates from the epicenter of church leadership – Pastors cannot point the way to a prayer culture, they must lead the way by example – praying with their fellow leaders and the congregation. The prayer level of the church never grows beyond the personal example and passion of the senior leaders. These leaders are always characterized by substantive time spent praying together. This pattern sets the culture of every department, ministry, and gathering in the church.

3. A prayer culture is fuelled by experience, not explanation – One pastor friend preached on prayer every Sunday for a year. Later, he confessed that all of these sermons did not ignite a culture of prayer. In fact, this abundance of information without corollary practice probably broadened the gap between knowledge and true obedience. Prayer is more caught than taught. The life-changing prayer virus spreads as leaders and people spend more time together in prayer, not by talking about the idea of prayer.

4. A prayer culture is sustained by the right motive – As I have taught extensively in the Fresh Encounters seminar (available from Strategic Renewal on CD or DVD for small groups) our motives cannot be approval, church growth, or even revival. Ultimately, the only enduring motive for prayer is that God is worthy to be sought. As we seek His face, not just His hand, we experience the power of Scripture-fed, Spirit-led, worship-based prayer that continues to fuel the hearts of a growing army of prayer-energized saints.

5. A prayer culture is ultimately the secret to supernatural mission achievement – Prayer is not the only thing we do, just the first thing we do – leading to the ultimate thing we do, which is making disciples of Jesus Christ for His glory. Real prayer brings us close to the heart of God and transforms us to become world-transformers through the demonstrated and declared gospel message.

What Could Happen?

I am praying for the day when Woody’s journey becomes the norm for the vast majority of pastors in our nation. This passion drove me to do what I am doing through Strategic Renewal. As I travel and equip leaders in regional and national pastors’ conferences, so many are indicating a holy dissatisfaction with anything less than a prayer-energized ministry. As I speak in prayer conferences and churches, I see a growing passion for Jesus’ ideal of the church as a house of prayer. Change is occurring. A real desperation is arising in hearts, leading to a deep resolve to discover direction, power, and impact at the Throne of Grace. Together we can do our small part – and look forward to what Christ will do in fulfilling His BIG part in reviving the church and transforming our sinful society by the power of His truth.