THE PRAYING CHURCH
Israel as a nation prayed corporately twice a day, at the hour of incense, only after offering sacrifices. For us, connectivity with heaven is possible 24x7 when we pray while offering messed up people as an integral part of our worship (Exodus 30:7-8; Mal. 1:11).
Going
out with liquid prayer to sow the gospel seed and coming back with harvest can
catapult you from a sinner into a saint (Psa. 126:5-6).
Saints
are those who make a covenant with God by making a sacrifice (Psa. 50:5).
In the
OT, Jews sacrificed animals to cover their sins; in the NT we cover sinners
with the blood of Yeshua to hide a multitude of sins (Jam. 5:20).
Prayer
is not a shopping list but a covenant to bring the kingdom of God on earth so
that His will is done on earth as it is heaven.
Prayer
does not change things — God does — when our utterance is matched with action.
Yeshua
did not ask us to pray for the lost. He asked us to pray for laborers.
Prayer
(tafilah) means self-examination. The priest washed his hands and feet and
examined himself to see if he can go inside the Holy Place and offer incense
and intercede (paga- hitting the mark).
NOT
YOU BUT GOD SPEAKS AFTER YOU OFFER A SACRIFICE
In
the OT, we do not find our Patriarchs praying very much. Every time they had an
encounter with God, they built an altar, offered a sacrifice, and worshipped
Him. Once the tabernacle was built, Israel as a nation prayed twice a day, at
the hour of incense after offering morning and evening sacrifices: “It shall be a regular burnt offering throughout your
generations at the entrance of the tent of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there.” Fire
from the Brass Altar on which sacrifices was made for atonement, was taken to
the Golden altar in the Holy Place and offered up with incense while the
congregation stood outside and prayed. The smoke wafted across the Veil on to
the Mercy seat in the Holy of Holies, whence God spoke to them (Exo. 29:42;
2Chron. 7:14).
Israelites
prayed a four-step prayer as they went up to the Temple for corporate worship.
“I exhort you to offer supplication, prayers, intercession and
thanksgiving for all people starting with all the rulers, because then we
will lead a peaceful, godly life.” God likes this kind of prayer because He
wants all people to come to know Yeshua and be saved” (1 Tim. 2:1-4).
Step 1.
Supplication (Techinnah): The priest put his hands on the
head of the sacrificial animal confessing, “We have sinned, and should have
perished but accept this substitute on our behalf.” Israel knew that without
the shedding of blood there is no redemption (Lev. 17:11; Heb. 9:22).
Step 2.
Prayer (Tefillah) means self-evaluation. Priest washed his
hands and feet at the brass Laver, and examined himself before going inside the
Holy Place to burn incense and intercede.
Step 3.
Intercession (Bakkashot): The priest took the
sacrifice-soaked ambers in a pan from the brass Altar, carried it inside the
Holy Place, and placed it on the Golden Altar near the veil. He then added
incense, which came from many nations. He stood in the gap, identifying with
the sins of the nations, and then pleaded on their behalf. When saints
intercede, after offering up prayers for lost souls as sacrifice, these prayers
reach the golden altar in heaven, causing thunders, lightnings and earthquakes
(Rev. 8:3- 5). God is always looking for intercessors (Ezek. 22:30).
Step 4.
Thanksgiving (Hodayah): The sweet-smelling smoke wafted
through the veil, touching the Ark of the Covenant where the Spirit of God
dwelt, and then rose out through the roof. All the devotees standing outside
then raised their hands, giving thanks to God for accepting their offering
(1 John 4:14-5). Today, all believers can pray everywhere, lifting up
their holy hands (1 Tim. 2:8).
TETELESTAI,
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Many
significant events took place during the hour of incense: Elisha’s encounter
with 400 priests of Baal (1Kings 18:36-40); Daniel’s encounter with Gabriel
about the prophecy of the 70 weeks (Daniel 9:21); Zacharias, father of John the
Baptist with the angel (Luke 1:8-20). Finally, the Spirit of God left the
Temple, at the hour of evening incense, leaving it desolate, announcing the end
of the Temple age and the beginning of the Church age (Matt.27:46; Luke
13:34,35).
Yeshua
cried out loudly “Tetelestai,” which means
“It is finished”, “mission accomplished” or more
importantly “paid in full” for the sins of the world. This victory cry of just
one word, “tetelestai” forever changed the history and destiny of mankind
(Luke 11:34-35; Matt. 27:50; John 19:30).
When
his disciples asked their Master to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1-13), he
taught them to pray to the Father and not to some known or unknown god. In our
Parent-child relation with God, we can ask him for anything. As a wise, loving
Father, He will give to us only those requests that resonate with his will.
Yeshua revealed to them that the subject of their prayer must be the Kingdom of
God, “Thy Kingdom come on earth”. He further asked them to seek and to
find lost sheep (Luke 19:10); to knock and open the door for the poor and
hungry to have supper with you (Rev. 3:10). Ask and the Holy Spirit shall be
given to you (Luke 11:13).
Scripture
prophesied that in the last days, from sunrise to sunset, sacrifice (repentant
souls) and incense (intercessory prayer) will be offered in Gentile homes.
Incense (ketoret) means bonding, connecting or uniting. The ingredients
for incense came from many nations, so the prayer in the Temple was for the
bonding of many nations in the Body of Mashiach. God has said, “My house shall
be a house of sacrifice.” Yeshua redefined the Temple as, “My house shall be
a house of prayer for (bonding) all nations” (Mal. 1:11; 2 Chron.
7:12; Mark 11:17).
FIRST
OFFER A SACRIFICE, THEN PRAY
Prayer
is not just verbiage but both utterance and action. After Solomon
offered a huge sacrifice and then prayed, God talked to him: “If my
people who are called by my name…” (2 Chron 7:1-14). If believers
understood the divine order of offering lost souls as integral part of worship,
then the kingdom on earth would soon be a reality. The Gospels and the Book of
Acts are full of disciples (learners) but not the Epistles, as they all had
matured into Saints. In the end, God will gather all his saints (soul winners).
Yeshua gives fivefold ministry gifted elders to equip saints to edify the
church (growth and multiplication). Not all prayers, but only apostolic prayers
of the saints (who make a covenant with God with a sacrifice), reach the Golden
altar in heaven (Psa. 50:5; 51:17; 141:2; Deut. 16:16; Eph. 4:11-12; Rev. 5:8;
8:3).
God
promised, “If My people will pray, (after offering sacrifice) … then I will
heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:5, 12, 14). Yeshua reaffirmed that “My
house will be called a house of prayer for all nations (Gentiles)” (Mark
11:17). He prayed so hard that His sweat became like blood. Peter declared that
his core ministry would be prayer and the study of the Word (Acts 6:4). He
offered myriads of Jews as spiritual sacrifice (Acts 21:20). Paul travailed
like a mother in labor for people until Christ was formed in them (Gal. 4:19).
Then they became the hope of glory for the Gentiles (Col. 1:27). He asked us to
pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17).
We all
know that the fervent prayer of a righteous man can be effective and achieve
much (Jam. 5:16). Because she was persecuted, the NT church spent much of her
time in fervent prayer, and as they prayed, great numbers of people joined
them, and the church grew exponentially (Acts 6:6-7). We also know that great
prayer movements have preceded all the great missionary movements in the past.
The modern church needs to off-load a lot of excess baggage and get back on its
knees if she wants to fulfill the purpose for which she has been created.
PRAY AND PRAISE AND SAVE THE JAILOR
AND THE PRISONERS
The
apostles were always praying, asking for protection, boldness, miracles, open
doors and fruitfulness (Acts 4:28-30). The result was that a multitude of new
believers kept joining them (Acts 5:12-14). Their prayer included thanksgiving,
even in adverse situations (Eph. 5:18-21). Paul and Silas were in jail with
their backs torn and bleeding from a severe scourging, their hands and feet
were locked in stocks. Though they were hungry and thirsty, yet amazingly, they
prayed and sang songs of praise in the middle of the night, which the other
prisoners heard. Suddenly, God shook the jail, leading to their release and to
food, while the jailor and his household, and perhaps a few prisoners, found
salvation (Acts 16:24-26).
Paul
appeals, “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable
to God,” which is “our “spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1).
The Greek word latreia means “service” or “worship”. We honor and adore
God with our bodies, declaring that we are created in his image and in his
likeness for good works (Eph. 2:10). God has given 24 daily hours of “Body
time” to everyone, from the President to the common man. We need to check if we
are giving a Tithe of our “Body time.”
Latreia also
means “prostrating oneself before God.” The twenty-four elders are constantly
doing this before the throne of God, casting their crowns, showing their
humility and the worthlessness of symbols of greatness in the presence of God.
With bowls full of the prayers of the saints, they reverently prostrate
themselves before the Throne of the Lamb, constantly praising God (Rev.
5:8-12). Even though Moses grew up in the palace of Pharaoh, the most powerful
monarch on earth at the time, he was the humblest man on earth, and so God made
him the greatest leader of all times. He always would fall on his face before
the Lord and pray (Num. 16:1-4). Yeshua also prayed with vehement cries and
tears (Heb. 5:7).
It has
been said, “It is not the great men who change the world but the weak, in the
hands of a great God.” We listen to all the bad news in the media and then do
nothing. Through the media, the world is calling out to the Christians to pray
and turn the bad news into good news. Reading about great heroes of faith no
more makes you a hero, than reading about a great missionary makes you a
missionary. It is doing exploits in the name of Yeshua that makes you great
(Daniel 11:32).
EVERYBODY BUT CHRISTIANS PROSTRATES
Abraham
fell on his face and God spoke to him (Gen 17:3). Moses fell on his face and
saved his people from being consumed (Num. 16:45). Daniel interceded and
started an intergalactic war (Dan. 8:17). Angels and Elders in heaven
constantly fall on their faces and worship God (Rev. 7:11). Yeshua prostrated
and prayed and offered himself as sacrifice (Matt. 26:39). Hindus prostrate
themselves before their idols, whilst Muslims kneel down before their “Allah”
five times a day, and the Sikhs bow their foreheads before Guru Granth Sahib,
their holy book. However, the followers of the Most High Living God, enjoying a
Father-son relationship, have the freedom to pray everywhere (1 Tim. 2:8),
anytime and in any position (1 Thess. 5:17). They can pray while sitting
(Acts 2:2), standing (Mark 11:25), prostrating (Matt. 26:39; 1Cor. 14:25), even
while walking (Luke 13:33-35). However, eventually “every knee shall bow,
and every tongue shall confess that Yeshua is Lord” (Phil. 2:10-11).
LIFT YOUR HANDS AND YOUR VOICE AND
CHASE OUT DEMONS
Those
who loved to pray in synagogues and on street corners articulating impressive
prayers with fancy words. Yet, the Lord called them hypocrites (Matt. 6:5). In
the NT churches, they lifted their voices as well as their hands to pray,
because the raising of hands shows submission to God (Acts 4:24). In the past,
when a king was about to lose a battle, he and his followers would raise both
their hands as a sign of surrender before the victorious king. Lifting holy
hands in submission to King of kings, praying everywhere, is the first step in
making the Devil flee from the land. However, when confronted with demons, you
are not to pray but to rebuke and command them in the name of Yeshua to chase
them out. For this you need to go with those who know how to wield the “sword
of the Spirit” in demon-infested areas (1 Tim. 2:8; James 4:7; Mark
16:17; Eph. 6:17).
PRAYER WALK, BREAKING CURSES FROM
THE LAND
God
says, “Ask of Me and I will give the nations for an inheritance and the
uttermost parts of the earth for your possession” (Psa. 2:8). The Lord
wants all nations to stand before His throne. He also wants the gospel to reach
the ends of the earth, because He does not want anyone to perish. He wants
everyone to go prayer walking: “I desire that men pray everywhere lifting
holy hands” (1 Tim. 2:8), breaking curses from the land, setting the
people free. The land cannot be cleansed without intercessors (Isa. 59:12-16;
Ezek. 22:24-30; Heb. 7:25). Raising hands also means blessing. The best way to
break curses is to restore relationships between the fathers and their sons
(Mal. 4:6).
PRAY FOR LABORERS UNTIL YOU BECOME A
LABORER
The
Lord had compassion on the lost of this world. But he did not say to pray for
the lost; he said to pray for laborers. When he sent out teams of migrant
workers (Luke Chaps. 9-10), He said, “The harvest is ready but there is
an acute shortage of harvesters.” Yeshua laid out a specific strategy
for world evangelism: “Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth
laborers into His harvest fields.” Harvest is not the problem. Despite the
huge Christian manpower force in the world, there is a critical shortage of
harvesters equipped with sickles for reaping the harvest of souls. Many
governments impose compulsory training of youth in military camps to ensure
availability of soldiers at all times. Mormons do the same. It is time that
Christians were sent, not to Bible schools but to labor camps, to learn how to
wield a sickle. Bible school is the last place where they will learn anything
about harvesting. They should be mentored not by bookish theologians but by
those who have come up the ranks through fruitful ministries in the harvest
field (Matt. 9:37-38; Luke 10:2).
ELECT RULERS, THEN RULE THE NATION
THROUGH INTERCESSION
God not
only wants us to pray for our rulers, so that we may lead a peaceful and godly
life, but he also wants our rulers to be saved (1 Tim. 2:1- 4). The blood
of Yeshua has made us priests and kings to reign on earth, beginning now. We
will continue to do so for a thousand years and even forever (2 Tim. 2:12;
Rom. 5:17; Rev. 5:10; 20:6; 22:5). We are servant kings who do not lord it over
others. The best way to accomplish both our priestly and kingly roles is to
provide a prayer shield for “all” politicians by name, so that they do not get
corrupted. God wants us to pray, not just for wisdom and understanding for good
governance by our politicians, but also to keep praying until they “come to
the knowledge of truth and are saved” (1 Tim. 2:4). Thus, we will rule
this nation by targeted intercession.
For
this, the local churches must gather the names of “all” politicians, judges,
and officers, “all” those who have rule and authority over us and start praying
for them regularly in our private and corporate prayers. The simplest way is to
farm out the names to other intercessors. The best way to govern this nation is
to have righteous rulers. Therefore, election time should be busy prayer time
for Christians. Every political party and every candidate should be bathed in
prayer, every polling booth should be prayer walked, and every ballot box
protected from the evil one. We should pray that only those who will facilitate
the coming of the righteous kingdom should be elected.
The
early church prayed for boldness to face the constant threat of persecution
from their authorities, as well as from non-believing Jews and Gentiles. The
large influx from other faiths was the main reason for their persecution.
However, there is no such problem with the modern church as there is hardly any
growth by conversion. Most of the growth is either biological or by transfer or
by sheep stealing. There will be no significant growth by conversion until
ordinary Christians start praying and proclaiming the gospel (Acts 4:17-20).
Myopic
Christians mistakenly see faith as a private affair. Although Yeshua died and
suffered shame publicly for them, they are simply hiding in bunkers. The
Scripture says that cowards will be leading the pack of murderers, sexually
immoral and others, who will not make it to heaven (Rev. 21:8). Praying to the
Lord to send bunker busters to transform hiding Christians into hell’s gate
busters should be on our daily prayer menu. If the early apostles needed
boldness, then we certainly do, too (Acts 4:29). If you are not being
persecuted, then it is time for a “persecution audit” to learn why the Devil
does not think you are worth a slugfest.
PRAY FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH
But for
persecution, there would be no United States of America, which was inhabited
predominantly by pilgrims who had been victims of religious persecution in
Europe. Like the Jerusalem victims who planted churches, the American pilgrims
also did the same. A century later, after many natives had become Christians,
settled in villages, and became farmers, godless marauders slaughtered them for
their land. It is time for serious communal repentance. Every year, thousands
of Christians are killed worldwide. In the last decade, Sudan killed
2 million and displaced 5 million fellow citizens, which makes the Tsunami
disaster a tempest in a teacup.
Saudi
Arabia alone bankrolled billions for its own strident version of Islam called
“Wahhabism” dishing out hefty doses of hate through Islamic centers all over
the world. Bin Laden, a Saudi, and his Al-Qaeda has recruited 40,000 suicide
bombers ready to destroy kafirs (infidels) through Jihad (holy
war). Anti-conversion Apostasy laws, even rape as a weapon, are brutally
applied. North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Iran, Maldives, Somalia, Bhutan,
Afghanistan and many Communist, Islamic. Buddhist countries are also leading
persecutors. Innumerable victims are maimed, raped, put in prison, their
homes destroyed, starved to death, or made refugees in their own countries.
Their only crime is that they are Christians. It is a sad indeed that some
comfortable churches neither pray nor help their suffering brothers and
sisters. However, now there is growing awareness of the persecuted church,
although it remains an ‘uncomfortable’ subject. Unfortunately, along with
Corona crisis persecution of Christians has also become a global pandemic.
Paul
often asked for urgent prayers that effective doors would be opened. Similarly,
there should be constant prayers going up for effective, influential doors to
be opened for the gospel. Yeshua has promised that when He opens a door, no one
can shut it. We should pray for open hearts, open wallets, open homes, and open
heavens (1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 2:12; Col. 4:3; Rev. 3:8, 20).
THE DISUNITED AND DYSFUNCTIONAL CITY
CHURCH
Yeshua
prayed for His city by name. “Oh, Jerusalem, how often I have wanted to
gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings…!”
(Luke 13:34). The Scripture asks us to pray “to keep the bond of unity.”
There is only one God, one Yeshua, one Spirit, one Body, one hope and one
baptism. Although it has many members, there is only one Body. If its members
do not function together, then that body becomes dysfunctional, and soon
disintegrates. Christianity is all about relationships, and mutual love is the
most effective medium for keeping the Body united, functional and reproducing
(Eph. 4:1-6, 15-16).
Mongolia
was a country of Buddhists, Muslims and Shamans that had no Christians. Some
Christian missions had been fishing there for many years, but with no Mongolian
fish in their net. They assumed that the Mongolians were a very slimy people.
However, in 1990, God revealed that Mongolians were not the problem; it was the
disunity among the missionaries that prevented the Holy Spirit from working
among them. Initially efforts to bring about unity were met with strong
opposition. However, once they got together, the Holy Spirit convicted them and
they repented, fasted, prayed and shared the Lord’s Table. Now just in the last
two decades, over 70,000 new believers have come to the Lord, gathering in
humble house churches (Act 4:32; Matt. 12:25).
OBTAIN A MAP, SURROUND THE CITY, LAY
SIEGE AND REBUILD IT
The
Lord told Ezekiel to draw a map of the city on a clay tablet, and to lay a
symbolic siege against it. Further, he was asked to eat only frugal meals
cooked on dung, drinking only a measured amount of water, sleeping on one side
with his face set against the city. The Lord commanded this severe penance on
the prophet, to bring the city to repentance (Ezek. 4). When Israel sinned and
polluted the land by worshipping the golden calf, the Lord refused to dwell
among them. So, Moses had to pitch the tabernacle outside the camp (Exo. 33:7).
God
will not dwell in your polluted city. You need to obtain a detailed map of the
city and spy out the land (Num. 13:1-2, 17-25). Prayer walk every nook and
cranny, crying out to the Lord, breaking all the curses that have come upon it
because of our iniquities (1Tim. 2:8; Lam. 4:12-13). As Joshua did, so we must
surround the city until the strongholds come tumbling down. Like Nehemiah, we
must survey the city in the middle of the night, then start rebuilding the
fallen walls using local manpower and resources. Like Jonah, we must prayer
walk through the city until its rulers and the entire population comes to
repentance then like Ezra, we must restore worship all over the city.
A few
Christians in a pilgrim city in India decided to soak the city with prayer
walking. Just a month later a local secular Newspaper reported that unexplained
dramatic changes were taking place in the city. The police reported that there
has been a drastic drop in the crime rate in the city. The potholed roads had
been repaired. The dirtiest place in the middle of city where they used to dump
rubbish had been turned into park for families to visit. Mysteriously a crack
had appeared in the famous stone idol in the temple. Soon after this a house
church movement started in the city.
ANSWERING YOUR PRAYER IS CONDITIONAL
Yeshua
assured us that wherever two or three of us agree, He will do it, provided it
is within the will of God (Matt. 18:18-19; 1 John 5:14). Our request must
be such that it will “bring forth fruit that remains” then whatever
we ask, he will ask the Father in heaven to do it. This prayer unit then
becomes a disciple-making hub. These form networks build supply chains to meet
the disciple-making needs of the city. Yeshua will not agree to your wasting
resources in unfruitful religious activities, nor will he listen to your
prayers until you begin to bring in replicating fruit (John 15:16).
BIBLICAL PRAYERS
· Pray for the Kingdom – “Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is
heaven” (Matt. 6:10).
· Pray for the nations –“Ask of me and I will give you nations
for an inheritance….”(Psalm 2:8).
· Pray for healing of the land –“If My people will pray, I will
heal their land...(2Chron 7:14).
· Pray for the city - where I have made you captive as in its
peace you will have peace (Jer. 29:7).
· Pray for rulers – because God likes it and you may live in
peace (1Tim. 2:1-4).
· Pray for the sick and for each other – so that you may be
healed (James 5:15, 16).
· Pray for your enemies and those who hate you and persecute
you (Matt. 5:44).
· Pray for every human habitation – lifting up your holy hands
(1Tim. 2:8).
· Pray for self - that you do not fall into temptation (Matt.
26:41).
Comments
Post a Comment