Wow. What a statement! Pastor Larry Kirk shared this with the group of church planters at Mission to North America's church planter training that I attended in Florida. It is so simple and I know it, but I need the reminder so often. God, the sovereign powerful God of the universe, uses the prayers of his people to accomplish his purposes in building his Kingdom in his world. And yet, I am so slow to pray boldy for God to do this very thing.
In Isaiah 37 God declares to King Hezekiah that he has saved his people and will strike down the Assyrian army (185,000 people!) who is threatening to destroy the people. Why will God do this? Well, in Isaiah 37:21 he says to Hezekiah through the prophet Isaiah that he will do this "because you have prayed." Because he had prayed. Because he had prayed. Because he had prayed. Wow.
God has called us to an incredible task: multiplying the gospel through church planting in Muncie, IN. A task that apart from his sovereign mercy and power is impossible. More impossible than striking down the Assyrian army. Yet God will be pleased to do it "because we have prayed." If the vision for us from Part 1 of this reflection is to see the Kingdom of God advance as we seek the good of the city in proclaiming the gospel and serving the city, than the power for its accomplishment will only come from God. So, we will pray. We will pray that God will transform the hearts of those in our city. That those in rebellion against God will hear the good news that the King has made a way to pardon rebels, and that they will turn towards him. That God will bring justice and mercy to the brokenness of our city. That God will make the name of Jesus great in the city of Muncie and build his Kingdom. And we will storm the throne room of Heaven with confidence, not in ourselves, but because of the blood of Jesus, and persistantly plead with God to do this very thing in our midst.
Join with us please in praying for our city and God's grace and mercy to triumph over the darkness of our hearts.
One thing that I am doing in light of this, is making the words of this song by Rend Collective my prayer for Muncie.
"Build Your Kingdom Here"
Come set Your rule and reignin our hearts again.
Increase in us we pray.
Unveil why we're made.
Come set our hearts ablaze with hope
like wildfire in our very souls.
Holy Spirit, come invade us now.
We are Your church.
We need Your power in us.
We seek Your kingdom first.
We hunger and we thirst.
Refuse to waste our lives
for You're our joy and prize.
To see the captive hearts released.
The hurt, the sick, the poor at peace.
We lay down our lives for Heaven's cause.
We are Your church.
We pray revive this earth.
Build Your kingdom here.
Let the darkness fear.
Show Your mighty hand.
Heal our streets and land.
Set Your church on fire.
Win this nation back.
Change the atmosphere.
Build Your kingdom here.
We pray.
Unleash Your kingdom's power
reaching the near and far.
No force of Hell can stop
Your beauty changing hearts.
You made us for much more than this!
Awake the kingdom seed in us!
Fill us with the strength and love of Christ.
We are Your church.
We are the hope on earth.
Build Your kingdom here.
Let the darkness fear.
Show Your mighty hand.
Heal our streets and land.
Set Your church on fire.
Win this nation back.
Change the atmosphere.
Build Your kingdom here!
We pray!
Build Your kingdom here.
Let the darkness fear.
Show Your mighty hand.
Heal our streets and land!
Set Your church on fire!
Win this nation back.
Change the atmosphere!
Build Your kingdom here!
We pray!
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