The desire to pray
The subject of prayer is on the hearts of many in church leadership. There is a longing for authenticity in church life which is really a cry for God’s presence.
According to recent in-depth research, 32% of believers are stalled in their spiritual growth or dissatisfied with their local church. This number grows to 49% for new believers. (Reveal Now, Willow Creek Community Church)
Fewer than 4% of believers find prayer to be an enjoyable experience. (Phillip Yancey, Pray, Zondervan)
And 50% of believers never feel the presence of God in a church service. (Revolution, Barna)
Brothers and sisters, we cannot talk about prayer without understanding that prayer involves a two way relationship with God Himself. The God of Genesis Chapter One wants to draw near to us and reveal Himself.
This is not about grueling labor and duty. It is not about guilt and law. On the contrary, it’s about God’s incredible heart of love for His people.
The problem
The statistics below are not the reason we need to pray; on the contrary, they are the fruit of prayer-less-ness. Consider:
1500 senior pastors a month are quitting the ministry disillusioned and burned out.
There is a steady flow of good people walking out the back door of the church.
Only one U.S. denomination is experiencing positive growth (1% per year).
Over 70% of youth upon graduating high school drop out of church.
Christian youth and young adults increasingly accept homosexuality as normal and acceptable.
The Southern Baptist Association in Texas has figured that it now costs over $30,000 to win and baptize one adult!
In addition:
“Never before in the history of telecommunications media in the United States has so much indecent (and obscene) material been so easily accessible by so many minors in so many American homes with so few restrictions.” U.S. Department of Justice
“We are seeing an escalation of the problem in both men and women who regularly attend church,” said ChistiaNet.com president Bill Cooper.
“The most recent studies available suggest that one out of every two people - that's 50 percent of the people sitting in our pews, are looking at and/or could be addicted to Internet pornography. Truth be told, that statistic could be even higher” (Insight for Living Website, Chuck Swindoll)
It’s in the Scriptures
Jesus mentioned days like this:
“And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matt 24:12, ESV)
Another version says it like this:
“Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.” (Matt 24:12, NLT)
But, here is the good news! Those who thirst for God’s mercy will discover that God is more than willing to pour out His presence on our thirsty hearts if we would simply take the time to ask. God is already pouring His Spirit out on thirsty hearts around the world and has promised His Church in the last days the same power and presence that was available to the early church.
“And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.” (Acts 2:17-18, ESV)
The Lord is drawing His people back to the place of intimacy with Him while growing in maturity prior to His return. A deep, spiritual hunger for God is arising all across the earth. This spiritual hunger spans a wide variety of congregations, church expressions and age groups.
These activities, however, are not the result of any man’s carefully planned church-growth strategy. They are part of God’s plan and are strategic to the discipleship of men and women around the world.
Jesus said, “My Church will be called a house of prayer.” In this statement, Jesus gave a simple and easy to understand direction for Church leaders for every age. When you combine this mandate with the Great Commandment, to love God wholeheartedly, we have both the way and the means to change lives and see genuine discipleship that will fuel fulfillment of the Great Commission. And when that happens, the stage will be set for Jesus’ return.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14
(excerpted from The Praying Church, by Tom Grossman, Sr.)
