Prayer is one of the most important factors in effective spiritual warfare. Prayer climaxes Paul's battlefield instructions in Ephesians 6. You must receive the Lord's armor from His hands. You can only be strong in the power of His might by spending time in His presence.

You have been frustrated from time to time by things you’ve seen that are wrong in your school, or your workplace, or your family, your neighborhood, or nation. There are primarily two questions here. (1) How do you cope with frustration, keeping a sweet spirit in the trial, loving people with God's love. And (2) how do you make a significant impact on things that are wrong around you. Both of these are spiritual issues. The enemy laughs when you deal with these problems as if they could be handled in your own strength.

We do not wrestle against human strength or the force of human ingenuity. We are up against the schemes of a spiritual enemy. We do not merely face human politics or earthly authority. We are up against principalities and powers, the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms.

And our warfare is not just defensive. We pray for the gospel to be spread, for lives to be changed, for the earth to be shaken by the mighty hand of God.

http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/

http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/

http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/

http://daveswatch.com/

As Ramadan has come to a close, pray for freedom from a religious spirit that keeps people in bondage to faith in their own works. Pray that believers will live out their faith in front of their neighbors and co-workers in a way that will attract them to Jesus Christ. Continue to pray that locals will have dreams and visions of Jesus Christ. Pray that they will hunger to know Him for who is truly is and connect with believers who can help disciple them.

A young doctor once told me about attending a symposium of Christian physicians. He said they raised the question, “What is the difference between a Christian doctor and a doctor who is not a believer?” Their conclusion was simply that a Christian doctor prays for his patients.

I can think of a number of spiritual gifts and spiritual fruit that God might use through a Christian physician. And I suspect some doctors who are not necessarily committed Christians pray at least occasionally for their patients. Still, I suspect they touched the heart of the matter simply out of years of practicing medicine.

Thinking of this made me wonder about the difference between a Christian writer and one who does not believe. I do not want to minimize Christian subject matter. But I think there are differences beyond what we write about. There will be some difference between a Christian journalist and one who does not know the Lord. What about a travel writer? What about a restaurant critic? I believe two differences are foundational; whom we trust and whom we please and honor.

Two ferry boats cross a river. One runs along a cable stretched across the water. The other does not. When the river runs smoothly, the operator of the one without the cable claims his fairy moves faster. And that may be true, although I'm am not sure. But when the river is raging the one without the cable will be swept away in the flood.

A writer who knows Christ has an anchor of meaning and confidence in the sovereignty of God that a writer who does not know the Lord does not have. That is not to say that she is not bewildered by evil or unfairness. A Christian writer may write about evil or tragedy that she has no answer for. But beneath everything she has a confidence that that there is an answer and God knows the solution even when we do not. A Christian writer may suffer from writer's block. But she knows that she can pray for inspiration.

Most of you are far too young to remember the television series The Millionaire. In it Michael Anthony, played by actor Marvin Miller, was “the confidential secretary to the trillionaire John Beresford Tipton.”  Each week on the show at the philanthropist’s Direction he gave a million dollars to an unsuspecting recipient. While Michael Anthony gave wonderful things, a million dollars, a much greater fortune in 1955 than it is now, he did not work for them. He worked for the eccentric trillionaire. He obeyed his direction. The checks were drawn from the wealthy man’s bank account. And the secretary had to please him and him alone.

A Christian writer ultimately writes to please God. God is the source of her insight. He is the one who calls her to write. I am not primarily focusing on how a Christian ought to write. Although we seldom get all of this together, these are fundamental principles of belonging to Christ. A Christian writer seeks to speak from God and for God. She seeks to honor God rather than herself. And in this motive the truth of what she has to say is anchored.

In John 7:18 Jesus said,

“He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.”

Who are you writing for?

A colleague asked a Christian worker for a copy of the Bible because she has close friends who are believers and is curious to know what it has to say. Pray that she will actually read the Word with an open heart, and that God will speak to her and open her eyes to the Truth in reading the Word. 

Today I want to share a guest blog written by my friend Alexandria who desperately needed a praying grandparent. Please read it all the way through. You will

 see the urgency for grandparents to cover their grandchildren with prayer. It is an understatement to say that for some people life can be so horrendously painful. Feeling as though they spend all or most of your energies fighting to survive the battles that sap your strength.

My life has felt like that in many ways, and even as I talk about it here, it still pains me as I look back and survey the many potholes and washed out roads that represent where I have been, and what I have come through. As I reminisce, I find there could have been a better way, and perhaps I could have lived a different life...if I had a grandparent praying faithfully over my soul as I walked through childhood toward the ever pulling future, wishing that Hope would somehow find me and set me free.

From the time I was young I had a sincere desire to be good, to obey and to please, and so I put forth my efforts in that direction, as imperfectly as that was. Now I am not saying that I was a perfect child, but my heart wanted...longed for peace and order so badly that I was practically willing to do whatever it took to be in that space. The problem was, the house I grew up in was anything but that, and the anger that resided overflowed the walls that held us in and broke our hearts as if they were glass. It was a pattern for us kids, and it left us scrambling between episodes, wondering what the next trigger would be the blow-up. Would it be between my parents or laid out upon us kids, molding us against our wills, to people who were afraid and confused and well, broken...wounded and desperate for a place of love and safety.

But those places of safety never came, and we were left to try and navigate the anger and the violence as best as we could. But without a Godly intervention, we fell apart while trying to hold ourselves together, and thus began the continuation of this pain as we grew up into adults, defacing our perspectives, and keeping us from that peace that only Christ can bring into any one of our lives.

I know that my story, unfortunately, is not an isolated or rare occurrence in this world. I know there are all kinds of horrific things that happen to many people in all walks of life. I know and understand that it can be so overwhelming as we look on, wringing our hands, desperate for God to fix what we cannot even begin to fathom happening. It's easy for the desperation of others to become our desperation in that sincere desire to spare others the pains of injustice, or any difficulties that chafe against those we hold closely in our hearts.

But there is a weapon, and there is hope, and a way to make a difference, a big one, it's called prayer. I ended up spending my whole life falling into one abusive situation after another, but my broken compass and my search for that oasis from the pains of life never appeared. My quest to survive was hindered by the fact that I did not think that God could love a person like me. I could not believe that He wanted me as His own. Such deep scars surrounded my life and pains that made me feel so ashamed and so unworthy of love no matter who it was from, even God Almighty. 

Today, I am thankful to say that I have come to know the power of prayer. I have come to see how prayer has totally been the vehicle through which the power of Jesus is being called into my life. He is making old things new and leading me to that long awaited place of love and mercy that is so amazing and experienced through knowing Jesus as my Savior. He has lifted me out of the darkness, and He continues to heal me and strengthen me to glorify Him...and I know beyond a doubt that God began knocking on my door when He placed people in my life that began to pray for me. For me, I so desperately needed a miracle.

I have come to know Lillian Penner along this journey, and I am greatly touched by her dedication of encouraging grandparents to pray for their grandchildren. I am still just a mom, but I see with such great perspective how life is impacted when we pray faithfully for each other, especially the children. There probably is not a more fervent prayer that those that are planted from a deep love in the heart for those that God has blessed you with your grandchildren.

I want to encourage you to pray for your grandchildren, pray as though their lives depend on it. (Because like me, someday it just might.) We need to hold them up before our Heavenly Father and stand in the gap for these children so that Satan may not have a foothold in their lives that leads them into paths of destruction. If it was possible for me, a girl who longed to do what was right but ended up falling into sin over and over again, not only from others against me but my sins that were clouded by pain and destruction, then it can happen to anyone. It is life changing when we go to the Lord in prayer, not only for those we pray for but for us who seek His power and will to come against the darkness in this life we must live through.

Jesus never promised any of us an easy life, but He did promise us His love and power through the cross. It's time to draw on the greatest act of Love in the history of humanity, by pouring out ourselves for these precious children in prayer, calling upon the power of the cross to do its phenomenal work!

Guest blog by Alexandra Perse

I have developed “Thirty-one Scriptures to Pray for Grandchildren” that many grandparents have found helpful to pray for my grandchildren. Just by joining the mailing list on the right side of this page for grandparenting blogs and prayer suggestions and I will send you a free downloadable copy of “Thirty-one Scriptures to Pray for your Grandchildren.”   

https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/stories/10-dangerous-myths-about-the-persecuted-church/

10 DANGEROUS MYTHS ABOUT THE PERSECUTED CHURCH April 24, 2017 by Brian Orme in Advocacy

Myths can be dangerous. False narratives can slip into our minds through the news, casual conversations or even social media. The problem is—if we believe these myths, they have the potential to change the way we think, behave and engage the world.

I’ve fallen for many of the myths you’re about to read relating to the persecuted church. In some ways, this post is more of a confessional. But I believe many of these are widespread, and we need to call them out to embrace the full picture of persecution. Our brothers and sisters in Christ are counting on our prayers and support—and we can’t afford to follow false narratives.

1. IT’S ONLY PERSECUTION IF THERE’S VIOLENCE.

The persecution of Christians includes violence—and we’ve been reminded of this lately with the terrible attacks on churches in Egypt during Palm Sunday worship—but Christian persecution also includes the slow and steady ostracizing and oppression of Christian citizens. We call this the ‘squeeze’. Many regions enforce long-term efforts to push Christians to the margins of society by cutting them off from community life, access to clinics and even jobs—treating them as lower-class citizens. This is also persecution; it’s prevalent and pervasive in places like Bhutan, Vietnam, India and many other regions in the world. The media highlights violence, but the steady non-violent persecution of Christians is large-scale and unthinkable. It’s just not in the news.

2. CHRISTIANS ARE PERSECUTED MOST IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

The Middle East is a very difficult region for Christians to live out their faith in public. This is true. In places like Iran, Qatar and Eritrea, being a Christian is dangerous and risky, and it could cost you your life. However, if we’re talking about large-scale persecution, we have to think through the implications of countries like India, North Korea, Nigeria and even China. We don’t see these locations in the news as often, but persecution here—by sheer numbers—is overwhelming and far outnumbers the Middle East. Not that we need to compare regions, but it’s wise to be aware of how vast the issue really is. The Middle East is a dangerous place for Christians, but it’s not the only place.

3. PERSECUTED BELIEVERS JUST WANT A WAY OUT.

This is an important myth to dispel. We should pray for relief and human rights, but many Christians in these difficult regions are asking for us to pray for perseverance. They want to remain in their homeland to be a witness for the gospel. Sometimes they need to leave the region, but many believers ask us for prayers for strength, vital resources and critical training to remain bold in the midst of persecution for the glory of Jesus Christ.

4. IF ISIS WERE WIPED OUT, PERSECUTION IN PLACES LIKE IRAQ AND SYRIA WOULD DISAPPEAR.

Indeed, ISIS is a violent offender of Christianity. Their terror efforts are wicked and all over the news. However, as widespread as ISIS is in the Middle East, when they are ousted, persecution in the region will not disappear. In a recent conversation with one of our Middle East field agents, I asked if Christians would breathe easy upon the complete removal of ISIS. His response: “No. As long as Muslims believe the Koran, Christians in the Middle East will face persecution. It’s about theology.” We want ISIS out, but that doesn’t end the battle for human rights in the Middle East—specifically for Christians. It’s just not that simple.

5. PERSECUTION HAS BEEN WORSE.

False. We are living in a time when persecution is at an all-time high. Over 200 million Christians face persecution on a regular basis. Every month, 322 Christians are killed for their faith; 214 Churches are destroyed, and 722 acts of violence are committed against Christians. We’ve gone through tough periods in the past, no doubt, but, globally, it’s never been more intense than it is in this very moment of history.

6. GOD USES PERSECUTION FOR PUNISHMENT.

Let’s be honest; this is an elitist view. It’s too easy to look down on cultures that are less developed and misunderstand their lack of development for lack of spiritual growth or obedience. It’s simply not true. More technology, development or economic advancement doesn’t equal stronger spirituality. And to add, God uses persecution as part of His sovereign plan to spread the gospel and strengthen believers. Persecution was prevalent in the early church and the apostles, especially with Paul. We will not always understand God’s ways. Throughout history, God has used persecution to purify and spread His church.

7. PERSECUTION ALWAYS HURTS THE CHURCH.

It does hurt the church in the sense of pain, suffering and loss, but God has a way of leveraging all of these things to spread the gospel—just like He did in Acts—to strengthen the church. It’s hard to wrap our minds around it, at least it is for me, but God uses persecution for the advancement of His Kingdom. That doesn’t mean we should embrace it or pray for it, but when it happens, God always uses it for His purposes and sovereign will.

8. GLOBAL PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS DOESN’T AFFECT THE CHURCH IN THE U.S.

False. I’m guilty of this one—and it’s dangerous to think this way. We are one Body. When one part suffers, we all suffer. That’s why it’s so important to stay in the know about what’s happening globally in the church. When a bomb goes off in Egypt, a bomb goes off in the church everywhere. When a believer in India is kicked out of their village for their faith, we’re all kicked out of our village for our faith. When a believer is imprisoned in North Korea, we’re all imprisoned. Knowing this. Feeling this. Believing this… is so critical. That’s why we listen, learn, pray, fast, grieve and worship together. We are one Body.

9. CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION IS JUST CULTURAL.

There are many cultural complexities, this is true. From Somalia to Syria, cultural differences are deeply embedded, and they contribute to persecution—whether it’s governmental, nationalistic or faith-related. However, persecution goes much deeper. At the very root of it all—there’s a spiritual issue and battle. What we’re fighting against is not physical. As Paul states in Ephesians, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” This element of persecution shouldn’t be overlooked.

10. THERE’S NOT MUCH WE CAN DO…

This is, perhaps, one of the most dangerous myths out there. It’s easy to blow off Christian persecution as something distant, unchangeable and too complex to change. However, there are so many things we can do—every day—to enter the battle and lift up our brothers and sisters who are suffering around the world for their faith. Prayer is our greatest weapon. It goes beyond strongholds, and into places we could never venture. And if you believe the book of Acts, prayer can break chains, release prisoners, bring aid and relief to suffering saints like no other resource. We can also volunteer to be an advocate and create awareness, write letters, sign petitions and lead prayer groups. (Sign-up to get involved HERE.) And, of course, we can also give—to provide urgent relief and aid, Bibles, Christian literature, safe houses, counseling—and even resources to rebuild homes and churches.

I encourage you to take action. Ask God for His leading. And take one small step today to lift up persecuted believers all over the world.

Sincerely,

Brian
Senior Content Director, Open Doors USA

A 300 year old church in Massachusetts faced a major challenge. Its ‘young people’ were in their ‘60’s. Their annual budget was $15,000. Most neighbors who passed the drab building with a drive-in congregation thought the church was closed. The neighborhood was now an Italian and Jewish enclave unlike the congregation of forty people with no Jews and one Italian. The church had no bridge to the community and no presence in its neighborhood. It was seen as having no value by the community, despite its rich heritage. It was on the verge of death.

A new pastor spruced up the church – a sign of life to the neighbors. Then he surveyed community needs attempting to determine a pathway for the church to serve the city. Of all the community needs, the one that seemed to fit what they could offer was a day-care for single, working moms. The goal was not a money-making enterprise, but a ministry, targeted to the children of the poor. The center opened with one teacher and two students. In a year, they were caring for thirty-seven children, and twenty-four of those were on government subsidies. Three children were assigned to the day-care by the courts, having been abused or neglected. By the end of the first year, the day-care budget was larger than that of the church. The staff was Christian, but all the kids came from non-Christian homes. Daily, they sang hymns and choruses. They heard Bible stories. They were taught moral principles, wrapped with love and grace. There was music, art, cooking, and medical services. It was ‘total’ child care, with parental interaction as well.

Day-care is not the most reasonable route to church growth, the pastor acknowledged, but it was the route God used to reconnect them to a missional purpose and begin to reconcile lost people to Christ. The pastor recalled, “One mother came into my office, and the first thing she said to me was, ‘Tell me more about Jesus. My daughter has never been the same since she started coming to your day-care center.’ That woman and her daughter are now in church every Sunday.” According to the pastor, “Nine Jews have become members of the church. One of them was formerly the director of the Jewish Community Center, and her daughter works for the day-care center.”

One thing is clear, the community no longer thinks the church is closed, and they have found other ways to serve their city. There is a food pantry and care for homeless street people. They have a weekly television show run by members. They teach English to city-residents. They were given a nine-room, six bedroom house to use as a refugee center. Hundreds have been served through that ministry.

A Cambodian church has now been launched. To reach youth, they opened a coffeehouse, and now the median age in the church has gone from the ‘60’s to the ‘30’s’. Home Bible studies, evangelistic in nature, have also served as a bridge. Some forty-five percent of new members came through the Bible Study door. They woke up the sleeping missional dimension in their congregational life,^[1] and a dying church was revived. Revivals that focus on the renewal of its members are not revivals at all. Revivals must have a missional dimension. They must resurrect a collective burden for the lost. With a fresh missional consciousness, the congregation asked, “What can we do together to touch this city?” It must re-center members, not in a new experiential spectrum, but in the middle of compassionate ministry.

If your church closed its doors today, would anyone but its own members notice? Would the community be saddened because such a great community transformation partner was gone?

Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

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P. Douglas Small is founder and president of Alive Ministries: PROJECT PRAY and he serves in conjunction with a number of other organizations. He is also the creator of the Praying Church Movement and the Prayer Trainer’s Network. However, all views expressed are his own and not the official position of any organization.

^[1]       Robert Greenway and Timothy Monsma, 112-113.

National Prayer

It’s time for grandparent warriors to raise a shout and carry the light of Christ to our grandchildren. It’s time we utilize the greatest weapon in our arsenal; it’s time we exercise the Power of Prayer!

Grandparents are in a spiritual battle for the lives of the next generation; however, the battle isn't ours, it is the Lords. The way to walk through this struggle is to tightly grip the hand of Jesus and stay in close communication with him. Only as we release our concerns for our grandchildren to Him are we free to cling to His hand. We cannot grab his hand when our hands are full of our worries and concerns, only when our hands are empty can we tightly hold His hand. 

The enemy wants to disintegrate and divide our families, rendering them chaotic, restless and unfruitful. Grandparents let’s not let the enemy distract us or dull our desires to pray for our grandchildren and their parents intentionally. Prayer is our best weapon to defeat the enemy. 

I believe it’s our place as grandparents to get on our knees, humble ourselves, seek God’s face, repent of our sin, and intercede for our grandchildren, their parents and our nations. Then having done all, we stand firm in our faith that God has heard and will answer our prayers according to His will. 

"Do not be afraid or discouraged . . . .

For the battle is not yours but Gods."

II Chronicles 20:15

This struggle with the enemy is why Christian Grandparenting Network (CGN) is proclaiming the National Grandparents’ Day on September 10 as a Grandparents’ Day of Prayer. We believe the battle for the hearts and minds of our precious grandchildren and their parents will be victorious with praying grandparents who sense the urgency and the need to unite in prayer. 

Will you help us call grandparents to join in prayer on September 10? This event could be in your church, in your home, in a retirement complex, or any meeting location you choose. CGN will provide step-by-step guidelines, resources, and online tools to help you create a successful event that will engage grandparents in prayer for your event. 

Check out this website for blogs, endorsements, testimonials and promotional materials and free downloads. www.grandparentsdayofprayer.com

For additional information, contact the Prayer Directors

Lillian Penner  lpenner@christiangrandparenting.net

Sherry Schumann,  sherry@christiangrandparenting.net

The priests in the Old Testament were assigned, as were the Levites, to cities. They were required to live there. Priestly ministry was never confined exclusively to the temple. Priests were not to become other worldly. Ray Bakke, sociologist and missiologist, says that twenty-five types of urban ministry can be found in the historical books of the Old Testament, and they were carried on by the priests. They were agents of health care, there to eradicate plagues and to certify cleanliness for the good of all. They were charged with maintaining corporate conditions in the city that made life safe. They were charged with pastoral care. They looked after families. They were educators. Their ministry was no narrow ministry focused only on soul care.^[1] Through the priests, prayer and care came together. Their walk with God and their daily interaction with people made them social change advocates and agents. They were in the community, walking the streets, not salt in a salt box!

The average church is completely unaware of the city-social environment around it. In fact, we disconnect the church from the city in stark ways. When Rusty Dotson pastored an inner city church in St. Louis, his facility was at the heart of the city-wide gay festival. Thousands passed by his empty and dark facility. The city was at his doorstep and the church was closed. He decided that if any such opportunity came again, the lights of the church would be on and the doors open. When the festival took place the next year, his church offered free food and drinks. They entered a float in the “gay pride parade.” They advertised themselves as the church “that would leave the light on for you.” As the float made its way through the animated crowd, church members waved and smiled. Three television stations were covering the parade and it was being syndicated across the nation as well. When Pastor Dotson’s float was in front of the reviewing stand and live on television the church van pulling the float caught on fire. The parade was halted. Parade officials were frustrated. There was little for the television anchors to do but talk about “the church that kept the lights on!” They had to ponder the question as to why an evangelical church would participate in a gay pride parade. The answer was both awkward and obvious. It was a message of God’s love and grace, a refusal to be excluded.

The harvest around us, passes our empty buildings. In one depressed and drug-infested section of Miami, intercessors discovered fourteen church buildings. Only two had any activity at all Monday through Saturday. One had an office open a few days a week to serve the needs of its members. The church had a base for ministry in a need saturated area, but it was unengaged. Most telling was the discovery that drug dealers preferred the parking lots and alcoves of the abandoned church buildings for drug deals. The absence of light gave place to the darkness.

Cities lead nations! They have a ‘prophetic’ quality about them. We see the city as bricks and mortar, asphalt and concrete pathways. In truth, every city is spiritually alive with a unique personality and purpose. The Biblical idea of ‘nation’ is not primarily a geographically bounded region, but a distinctive ‘people group – an ethnic and kinship network.’ We have not finished our obligation to heaven until we are praying for every tongue and tribe, every kinship group – then in love, making of them disciples.

• This blog is an excerpt for the newly released The Praying Church Handbook – Volume IV – Intercessory Prayer and Mission. Purchase today>
  
• PRODUCT SPECIAL: New release – The Great Exchange – Why Your Prayer Requests May Not Be Getting Answers – On Sale for  Limited Time for $9.99. Purchase today>
• Give a donation to PROJECT PRAY>

P. Douglas Small is founder and president of Alive Ministries: PROJECT PRAY and he serves in conjunction with a number of other organizations. He is also the creator of the Praying Church Movement and the Prayer Trainer’s Network. However, all views expressed are his own and not the official position of any organization.

^[1]       Ibid, 69.

Easter weekend is a big weekend for the church. It is not so much that we don’t have the opportunity to celebrate the fact that Jesus is alive all year long. When I was in high school I was at a church summer camp where God was at work. I walked around and randomly said, “Jesus is alive.” I wanted to remind people that no matter the miracle they were experiencing it doesn’t compare to the miracle that Jesus is alive. But one of the great things about Easter weekend is that, not only are we extra focused on that fact, but the world at large is more focused. In the church in the USA, Easter is often referred to by pastors as, “the Super Bowl” of the church calendar. Given the opportunities that are there here are some great things to pray for this weekend

An openness to the Gospel- Some people will be open to hearing the message of Jesus now more than any other time of the year. Pray that their mind would be open to the truth.

Harvesters to bring people in- I have heard that 8 out of 10 people would come to church if they were invited by a friend. Pray for opportunities and boldness during this time.

Pastors as they prepare to present the message- Most churches will have a presentation of the story of Jesus on Easter. With a ministry committed to engaging 100,000 people to pray for pastors you know I need to bring that up. 

Friendliness in churches- Again this is often times when people who normally wouldn’t go to church decide to show up. Pray that when they get there they would be drawn into the love of Christians.

Awakening among fellow Christians- The same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead dwells in us. Pray that this realization sinks deeper into who we are. May that truth create a thirst in all of our hearts to live in the Spirit’s power more the rest of the year.

As you enter the Easter weekend I pray that you experience the hope His death and resurrection brings and your heart would be drawn to pray for all of those who still have yet to experience that hope. 

 Tags: Cross, Easter, Forgiveness, Gospel, Resurrection

One urban pastor used the following procedure with new members. He asked, “How did you come to Christ?” It was not the church to which he wanted to connect them, as much as to Christ Himself. He wanted to hear their ‘Jesus’ story! He asked a second questions, “What were the circumstances that led to your faith in Christ?” He wanted them to think through the events that brought them to Christ – to see His guiding and pervasive hand in their lives. Third, he asked about their most enjoyable faith experiences through the years. The second and third questions were both calibrated toward mission. In the second, they often recalled personal pain and confusion before their decision to follow Christ. The pastor made the connection that such circumstances are common and often the gateway to faith. He made notes. He looked for opportunities to connect them to others with their own story. The third rehearsed meaningful faith and community experiences. Many recalled some outreach effort or community service involvement (social action, a mission trip, food drive, care of the homeless, etc.). Last, he would ask, “If you could wave a wand and create a future for this church, what would it look like?” With that, they solidified their commitment to the congregation’s future, and unlocked possibilities for the church in which they could be emotionally and spiritually invested.^[1] This pastor kept encouraging them to act on their experiences, their abilities and dreams. “The greatest tragedy to befall a person is to have sight but lack vision,” (Helen Keller).^[2]

Becoming missional means we move beyond from prayer for our narrow slice of pain to prayer for the harvest. We move beyond seeing the church as a place of nurture for us and our families and see it as a place of nurture and healing for the city – for all people in the city, Christians and non-Christians. We cease to see the church as a kind of religious social club that is exclusive to its members and their guests, and we see it as a missionary enterprise engaging the neighbors and the city, at every angle possible. We release the pastor to be a holy man of God, a missionary trainer and mobilizer. We give him as a gift to the city.

We move from being members, to missionaries – in whatever sector of the culture God has planted us. We cease to be a ‘come to’ church, and we again embrace a ‘go ye’ gospel. We shift our focus from the church, to the city. We become inclusive without compromise. We recalibrate our resources until our budget becomes a theological statement about our mission. Everything we do is bathed in prayer. Everything we do is with the lost and the mission in view. Everything we do at the church must be designed to touch the city and the world.

Worldwide, Christian churches spend more than 85 percent of their resources on themselves. Less than 15 percent goes to outreach, evangelism or mission causes. In U.S., 95 percent goes to home-based ministry, 4.5 percent to cross-cultural efforts in already-reached people groups, and only 0.5 percent to reach the unreached. American evangelicals could provide all of the funds needed to plant a church in each of the 6,400 people groups by specifically earmarking only 0.2 percent of their income. Praying and giving are to be partners in missions. Christians collectively have an annual income of $12.3 trillion. But only $213 billion is given to Christian causes, 1.73 percent of total income. Of that, only $11.4 billion goes to foreign missionary causes. Of that money, 87 percent goes to sustain work among those who have already become Christians. Only 1 percent goes for work among an unreached people group, the utterly unevangelized.

The church has all the resources necessary to reach the unreached peoples of the earth, in fact, it has over 100 times those resources necessary to plant native churches among these people groups. It simply does not have the resolve. Leonard Ravenhill claimed that Christians spend more money on dog food than missions. Ravenhill declared:

Today the church in the city must proclaim and live the whole gospel. It cannot consign concern for everyday human needs to government and expect to be relevant to people. It must provide for the care and nurture of its members, help feed the poor, heal the sick, counsel the distraught, care for the widows and orphans, and preach the Word with boldness. It must avoid the dichotomy that separates evangelism from social ministries and see both as ways to bear witness to the transforming power of the gospel.^[3]

Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

• This blog is an excerpt for the newly released The Praying Church Handbook – Volume IV – Intercessory Prayer and Mission. Purchase today>
  
• PRODUCT SPECIAL: New release – The Great Exchange – Why Your Prayer Requests May Not Be Getting Answers – On Sale for  Limited Time for $9.99. Purchase today>
• Give a donation to PROJECT PRAY>

P. Douglas Small is founder and president of Alive Ministries: PROJECT PRAY and he serves in conjunction with a number of other organizations. He is also the creator of the Praying Church Movement and the Prayer Trainer’s Network. However, all views expressed are his own and not the official position of any organization.

^[1]       Bakke, 88-89.

^[2]       DeAnn Sampley, A Guide to Deaf Ministry: Let’s Sign Worthy of the Lord (Grand Rapids, MI; Zondervan, 1989, 1990), 52.

^[3]       Paul Hiebert and Eloise Hiebert Meneses, Incarnational Ministry Planting Churches in Band, Tribal, Peasant, and Urban Societies (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1995), 346.

Some thoughts on the Day of the Crucifixion of Jesus

Psalm 31:5: Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

This Psalms prophetically contains the words that Christ spoke on the cross just before he died.  The verse also makes a prophetic statement that Christ himself has committed himself to God, El Emet, God of Truth.: “thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth” that shows the commitment Christ had at His death to the God of Truth.  He totally committed Himself to the word/the covenant.  Thy word is truth (John 17:17).

The ancient meaning of Jehovah Elmet is: The deed that is done and revealed (to us) through the urging of the Strong leader, leading us to the mighty covenant—(the Truth).  Christ on the cross, committed himself to the very word He brought to us while He was on earth.  That word has life—life which overcame death.

As we examine Jehovah, El Emet, that name has a deep meaning, especially as we study what happened on the Cross of Calvary, when Jesus was crucified.  Through the death of Christ on the Cross, we have Christ committing Himself to life.  Today, Jesus is alive, and was seen by many witnesses after his resurrection, and is now seated on the right hand of God making a place (John 14:3) for us and making intercession (Hebrews 7:25) for us.  I should note, that if Jesus is making intercession for us, He is watching over us. 

The work of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary and meaning of this name provides a hope, a direction, and life for us which is found in the covenant that we have receive from the Almighty God.  (See also Jeremiah 29:11)

For further study on the name Jehovah El Emet—see also Day 30 Jehovah EL EMET Lord God of Truth  יְהוָ֗ה אֵ֣ל אֱמֶֽת in the group titled ‘Names of God’.

What are the barriers to our fulfillment of the Great Commission?

1. A lack of organized prayer for the city.
2. The absence of congregational missional training.
3. The lack of vision or a burden for the lost.
4. The rural mentality, even of city churches.
5. The failure to steward witnessing opportunities – an almost total lack of evangelism consciousness.
6. The disconnect of Christians from non-Christians – the insulation of believers into comfortable holy huddles.
7. A lack of unity and collaboration between congregations. Independence. Self-serving activities.
8. The intoxication of busyness.
9. The generational gap and the aging church.
10. Buildings that are unappealing or not designed for outreach.^[1]

There are two cultural obstacles, both of which are deadly. There is growing cultural resistance to evangelism from the outside. Faith as it is permitted in the public square is being redefined. There is a decided shift to pluralism. America, like Israel before us, is rejecting Yahweh! The second barrier is not “the destruction of religion [but]…it is the transformation of religion from a ‘single-faceted religious meaning system, to a multi-faceted religious meaning system’.”^[2] These national shifts to pluralism as a cultural norm are alarming, but they should not paralyze us. Our God performs quite well in contests with idols.

The greater barrier is our own resistance to change, a “take us as we are” posture, self-justifications for not reaching outward to those we now classify as “unreachable!” The harvest we must reap is the most unusual we have ever faced. They do not know the Bible stories or easily believe the principles. They may challenge the Bible itself. They have shed traditional values. Their mentors, from the ‘60’s, created a culture of experimentation and rebellion – a dynamic that needs redemption and redirection, but not death. This is the age for experimentation and cultural confrontation. Sadly, this generation sees the church as unhelpful to their personal needs and at cross purposes with their personal desires: “What could the church do to help me with my alcoholism? Or my addiction? Or my anger?” Seventy percent of those who express faith will relapse at least once following their initial commitment to Christ. They will require great patience and sacrificial discipling. Few will have an existing faith support system to sustain and encourage them. Further, they struggle with the reality that they do not fit into the traditional church and do not want to conform to the current membership profile. They long for religious experiences that do not have the trappings of “traditional church.” Many are not sure they want to be a member of “the church” as it is or as they perceive it. Do we have the resolve to reach such a harvest?

Malcom Muggeridge once charged, “one of the most effective defensive systems against God’s incursions has hitherto been organized religion.” He called the church “a refuge for fugitives from God” whose voice was drowned in religious noise, whose purpose was confused and obscured in the maze of creeds and dogmas. In the church, he charged, “one could get away from God.”^[3] George Barna charges, “recent decades have seen the impact of the Church wane to almost nothing.”^[4]

Most Christians will say that they want their church to grow and to see new people come to Christ, but is saying, “We want our church to grow!” the same as saying, “We want to reach the unreached!”? Growing our church by finding ‘Christianized people’ who are basically like us is not the solution for a national revival that brings cultural transformation. We must open the church to those who are unlike us. To reach the unreached, the church must become seeker-sensitive and simultaneously Spirit-led. We must be seeker-friendly and Christ-exalting. We must be anchored by holy values, and such a tether, become seeker-driven and plunge ourselves into the culture, concerned about the lost.

We have not learned to separate convictions from compassion. Biblical love will never violate Biblical truth – but the arm of love is longer than the arm of truth. Love is unconditional. It is blind and accepting of all. This harvest is filled with people whose behavioral profile is inconsistent with a church that emphasizes holiness of heart and purity of life. We must never let love muzzle truth. Conversely, we must never let truth bind love. Agape reaches to the lost, but only by truth are they set free and liberated. If we allow truth to lead, we may love conditionally. If we love wildly and freely, truth will follow. Love needs to lead truth.

The greatest resistance to revival and renewal is in the church. Do we have the courage to change?

Share your thoughts a comment below>

• This blog is an excerpt for the newly released The Praying Church Handbook – Volume IV – Intercessory Prayer and Mission. Purchase today>
  
• PRODUCT SPECIAL: New release – The Great Exchange – Why Your Prayer Requests May Not Be Getting Answers – On Sale for  Limited Time for $9.99. Purchase today>
• Give a donation to PROJECT PRAY>

P. Douglas Small is founder and president of Alive Ministries: PROJECT PRAY and he serves in conjunction with a number of other organizations. He is also the creator of the Praying Church Movement and the Prayer Trainer’s Network. However, all views expressed are his own and not the official position of any organization.

^[1]       Ray Bakke and Jon Sharpe, Street Signs – A New Directions for Urban Ministry (Birmingham, AL: New Hope Publishers, 2006), 140.

^[2]       Ron Dempsey (Faith Outside the Walls).

^[3]       George Otis, God’s Trademarks (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books/Chosen Books, 2000), 32.

^[4]       George Barna and Mark Hatch, Boiling Point (Ventura: Revell, 2001), 311.

Let’s have some fun today. What locations could we pray more? Where are some places that would have a big impact on our life? How much do you pray in each of these locations?

Shower

Two points for the shower. First the bookends of our days, getting ready for the day or bed, are great times for more prayer. As we prepare our body and mind we might as well prepare our spirit. Second, often our best thoughts come in the shower so why not engage God in that process.

Waiting in line

So much of our life is spent waiting. Maybe that drives you crazy. It can feel so unproductive. By praying while waiting you can be touching the world in the most productive way. 

At your work or school

You don’t need to work in a monastery to be about the life of prayer. Walks to the copy machine can be moments with God. Routine tasks can be seasons of praise. I imagine that most of us would like more of God’s involvement in the part of our world we spend so much time. 

Where you have fun

One of the dangers of our age is to separate God from the ordinary activities of our life. I am not saying that the next ball game that you go to needs to be what you imagine of a prayer meeting. But try acknowledging God in your heart a couple times. You will be surprised how amazing it can be. 

Church

This might seem like something that goes without saying, it is not something that goes without saying. We live in an age where it is easy for church services to become a spectator sport. Give your heart to prayer when you gather with others from the family of God.

Where you sin most

Now this may seem like a strange thing to say, but think about it with me. What is the sin that you struggle with the most? Don’t worry you don’t need to confess to me. Is there a location where this happens the most? If yes, then you have two choices. First, and best, is to flee that location. But if that is not an option making that place a place of prayer should help. 

To be fair I could have picked any location Christians go to and suggest that we pray there more. The Bible calls us to a life of prayer. This is not about guilt but about opportunity. Anywhere that you go it is a location that you can spend time with God. 

I have a passion to intentionally praying for my grandchildren, great-grandchildren and their parents. I feel God wants me to share my passion with other grandparents, which encouraged me to write the book, Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for your Grandchildren. The book encourages grandparents to pray for their grandchildren and their parents and provides resources to help them pray effectively. The book is a great resource for Grandparents’ Day of Prayer on September 10, National Grandparents Day.

Josh Mulvihill, PhD, Pastor to Children and Families, Grace Church | Eden Prairie, MN wrote recently, “Lillian Penner has written an excellent book on prayer that I wish I could get into the hands of every grandparent. You should purchase this book for four reasons: You will be trained to keep Scripture central to your prayers; Lillian equips you to be an intentional grandparent who focuses on the spiritual growth of grandchildren; You will find many practical tools to help you develop the habit of prayer for grandchildren; and Lillian rightly understands something that Oswald Chambers once said, ³Prayer doesn¹t equip us for greater works ­prayer is the greater work.² When grandparents ask me for a book on prayer, I always recommend Lillian¹s book and I highly recommend it to you.”

This book won’t make you the perfect grandparent, but it will give you resources to Grandparent with a Purpose.

Soft cover book, retails for $11.99 plus shipping, however, for a limited time I have a special offer of $10.50 including shipping in the U.S. I will include 3 bonus prayer cards:

1. Suggestions to Pray for Children in School: Preschool, Elementary, High School and College
2. 31 Scriptures to Pray for your Grandchildren
3. More A Scriptures to Pray for your Grandchildren

The eBook is available for $3.99 from Amazon or Redemption Press on the website which is excellent for foreign orders to save shipping cost.

To Buy Now: On this website click on the Purchase button, complete order form, and the book and bonus will be shipped immediately for orders in the U.S.

Order soon before the special offer expires.

By Lillian Penner, Co-Director for the Prayer Ministry of Christian Grandparenting Network, info@gdptpr.com