In the Book of Mark, Chapter 11:17, Jesus himself calls His church, “a house of prayer for all nations’”. The question must be asked. Is this what your church is called? Is this what you want your church to be known for? I hope the answer is “yes”. If not, then you have just resigned your church to be like most other churches: spiritually anemic and of no consequence to the spiritual forces that are wreaking havoc on the very moral fabric of our society. Things like failing marriages, broken families, the secular humanistic education system, and corrupt government, are just a few of the areas where we see this taking place. Is this to say that our world is “going to hell in a hand basket”? Is the tide turned so far that our prayers would be of no consequence? Why bother? That is exactly what Satan and his hordes of demons whisper in our ears- isn’t it? You have heard it. But do you believe it? You see, what we believe, we will do. What are you believing and what are you doing? Is it possible that you are choosing to just peacefully coexist with the spirits and ideologies that exalt themselves against the knowledge of our God?
It is easy to be afraid of the darkness we see descending on our nation and world. In fact, it is quite understandable. It is natural to want to run to your local church home, and hide and hope that it will protect you and your family from the “slime” of the world. Unfortunately, we are seeing the consequences produced from that very behavior: the darkness, because it has not been contended with, is increasing. Yet, we know that to openly challenge the spiritual powers and principalities that rule our cities and culture is not something for the cowering Christian, the faint of heart or trembling hand to attempt. It is downright dangerous. So what can or should we do? How about asking our all-powerful, all- knowing God what He is doing, and then joining Him in it?
God is looking for churches that will answer His call to be a contending, praying church. He is not just standing by hoping that we will help Him win this terrible war, but rather He is calling us to join Him to enforce the victory that He has already gained! Lou Engle, in his book, A House That Contends, outlines the key aspects of this type of church:
- All relationships must be right in order for the church to walk in spiritual authority in prayer.
- There must be a clear focus or moral objective in prayer.
- The church must be committed to victory at all cost and by nature be on the offensive attack mode.
- The church must be determined to NOT GIVE UP until the victory is won!
- The church must be given to fasting and prayer, knowing that these are the only ways to gain victory over the principalities and powers of the air.
- The church looks to God to give revelation through scriptures, dreams, visions, or a still small voice (in other words- the prophetic) in order to win battles.
- The church does not just ask for answers to prayer, but they also proclaim prophetic, authoritative declarations in prayer.
- The church is made up of a praying people put feet to their prayers. Prayer is the power and foundation of all effective ministry.
There is no more time to waste- we have wasted enough! The choice is clear. Will we continue to sit comfortably in our church chairs and watch as the forces of evil openly reject the authority of Christ and oppose the work of His Kingdom? Or will we answer the call to join the forces of God that walk in His authority and wield the power of the Holy Spirit, by becoming a house that prays, a church that God can use to not only change history, but to ultimately prepare the way for His kingdom’s reign?