The Great Need of the Church in This Hour
(This Blog is adapted from the introduction to David’s new book How to Pray – and Change Your World)
The alarm is sounding.
“Pray!” cries the Holy Spirit to a slowly awakening global Church.
The world is in great need, with billions living in spiritual darkness. Before Jesus returns to earth, God the Father, wanting no one to perish, desires to usher in the greatest spiritual harvest of souls that history has seen. The keys to this are prayer and mission. But there is a problem.
Revivalist Leonard Ravenhill put it best when he said, “We have many organizers, but few agonizers; many players, few pray-ers; many singers, few clingers; many fears, few tears; much fashion, little passion; many interferers, few intercessors; many writers, but few fighters. Failing here, we fail everywhere.” (Or, as I like to put it, succeeding here, we succeed everywhere.)
Prayer is powerful.
Prayer is our spiritual life breath.
Prayer is a means to intimacy with God.
Prayer creates a pathway of destiny for our children to walk on.
Prayer helps build a marriage, a business, a ministry.
Prayer opens doors of opportunity.
Prayer co-creates with God as he advances his kingdom on earth.
Prayer makes it easier for people to come to Christ.
Prayer, when answered, fills us with joy.
“Until now,” said Jesus to his disciples, “you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (John 16:24 NIV) With an invitation like this, you would think that we would respond enthusiastically. Yet prayer is one of the hardest aspects of the Christian life to be consistent in, and the area that Satan will fight us in the most. Few subjects arouse a greater sense of guilt in our hearts than prayer. We know that we ought to pray; we know that we need to pray; and yet, the vast majority of us know that we don't pray to the level we should.
I can watch television for an hour effortlessly. To pray for an hour requires much more focus and discipline. I can read a magazine or be on the internet for half an hour, but to read my Bible for that time takes more effort, even though I know its words are so life-giving. Jesus revealed the reason why: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:38 NIV) All agree that prayer is vital – our spirit is willing. But weak human nature often overcomes willing spirit.
There are three phases in becoming powerful in prayer: desire, discipline, and delight. The Holy Spirit gives us the desire to pray. It then takes discipline (overcoming the loud excuses of our weak flesh) to persist in prayer. If we do, prayer will become a delight. The problem is that we want to jump from desire to delight in one step. Discipline is the price we have to pay to get from desire to delight. When we get there, it will be worth it.
As a pastor friend once said, “Prayer is not a fringe activity, but the core business of the Church. Prayer is both the price and doorway to the supernatural dimension.” What lies on the other side of that doorway is worth sacrificing for. God wants you to discover an adventurous life of prayer and its power to change a life, a family, a nation, and the world.
“Whenever God determines to do a great work,” wrote great Victorian preacher Charles Spurgeon, “he first sets his people to pray.” As you read this book, may the Holy Spirit do this for you.
(If you would like to purchase a copy of How to Pray - and Change Your World, you can by going to our website www.spiritlife.org.nz There you will also find links to worldwide online stores.)