Day 9
We did another "prayer pilgrimmage" from Union Station to the Capitol this morning. I really feel like our prayers are planting seeds that will reap a harvest.
Havest Joy
Isaiah 16:10 says, "Gone now is the gladness; gone is the joy of the harvest...I have ended all the harvest joys." I think joyful churches are churches that are reaping a harvest. The joy is proportionate to the harvest. I've felt lately the importance of us refocusing on reaching the unchurched and aggresively going after the lost in keeping with Luke 14.
I'm amazed at how much "joy" is talked about the in Old Testament--it seems to be an important barometer. I'm praying Isaiah 35 for DC. The last verse says, "They will be overcome with joy and gladness." Isaiah 28:5 says, "Then at last the Lord Almighty will himself be Israel's crowning glory. He will be the pride and joy of the remnant of his people."
Isaiah 22:11 says, "All your feverish plans are to no avail because you never ask God for help." I think praying and planning and inseperable. Planning without praying is worthless! I think I've wasted so much time and energy on the hampster wheel with my "feverish plans" but they don't get me anywhere. I'm been so impressed with Haggai 1:5. "Give careful thought to your ways: you have planted much but harvested little."
I don't want us to spin our wheels as a church. I want to make sure we're doing what "seems good to us" and "seems good to the Holy Spirit." I'm not content with doing "what seems good to us." Like Moses said in Exodus 33:15, "If you presence doesn't go with us, do not send us up from here."
I'm reminded during this season of prayer and fasting that "better is one day in the courts of the Lord" than a thousand elsewhere. I'd rather have one word of wisdom from God than a thousand words of wisdom from man.
I think prayer is the key to effectiveness--doing the right things--and efficiency--doing things right.
Culture Shapers
I read yesterday that America is on the verge of losing it's "majority prostetant" status. I think Protestants make up 52% of the country--down from 63%. I think it signifies something bigger. There is a war being waged for our culture. We can bury our heads in the sand and ignore the fact that we've "lost ground" or we can do something about. We can "curse the darkness" or "light a candle." I felt impressed today to pray for Christians to rise up in "culture shaping" professions--politics, entertainment, education, journalism.
One reason I love NCC is because it is comprised of culture shapers. I think we need to view culture shaping professions as "mission fields." I think we need to think in biblical categories and realize how strategic these occupations are.
Educators shape the mind. What is taught or isn't taught will form worldviews and paradigms. Politicians define boundaries. I believe a nation will blessed based on how closely it's laws approximate the laws of God. Where there is divergence there unrighteousness. We need some Christian entertainers--musicians, artists, filmmakers--who glorify God via creative expression. And we need people who compete in the marketplace of ideas via journalism--people who aren't afraid to speak the truth in love.
Collective Sin
Someone mentioned this morning that it is tough to pray for others when you've got sin in your own life. I have "gaps" I'm trying to close, but once we confess our individual sin, then God uses us to repent for the collective sins of the city. I felt impressed to repent of two sins this morning.
The first is the sin of Molech. The Israelites did human sacrifices--sacrificing their children to Molech, the god of the Ammonites. I don't know that I've ever "taken it to heart" or been impressed the way I was this morning. But is the sin of abortion any different? We have sacrificed millions of babies on the altar of convenience. God forgive us!
I think the second sin is sexual sin. We're in the middle of a nation wide battle to define right and wrong as it relates to marriage. There is sexual confusion because we call right wrong and wrong right. Lord forgive us for moving the ancient boundary stones.
I'm reminded that where sin abounds grace does much more abound.
Havest Joy
Isaiah 16:10 says, "Gone now is the gladness; gone is the joy of the harvest...I have ended all the harvest joys." I think joyful churches are churches that are reaping a harvest. The joy is proportionate to the harvest. I've felt lately the importance of us refocusing on reaching the unchurched and aggresively going after the lost in keeping with Luke 14.
I'm amazed at how much "joy" is talked about the in Old Testament--it seems to be an important barometer. I'm praying Isaiah 35 for DC. The last verse says, "They will be overcome with joy and gladness." Isaiah 28:5 says, "Then at last the Lord Almighty will himself be Israel's crowning glory. He will be the pride and joy of the remnant of his people."
Isaiah 22:11 says, "All your feverish plans are to no avail because you never ask God for help." I think praying and planning and inseperable. Planning without praying is worthless! I think I've wasted so much time and energy on the hampster wheel with my "feverish plans" but they don't get me anywhere. I'm been so impressed with Haggai 1:5. "Give careful thought to your ways: you have planted much but harvested little."
I don't want us to spin our wheels as a church. I want to make sure we're doing what "seems good to us" and "seems good to the Holy Spirit." I'm not content with doing "what seems good to us." Like Moses said in Exodus 33:15, "If you presence doesn't go with us, do not send us up from here."
I'm reminded during this season of prayer and fasting that "better is one day in the courts of the Lord" than a thousand elsewhere. I'd rather have one word of wisdom from God than a thousand words of wisdom from man.
I think prayer is the key to effectiveness--doing the right things--and efficiency--doing things right.
Culture Shapers
I read yesterday that America is on the verge of losing it's "majority prostetant" status. I think Protestants make up 52% of the country--down from 63%. I think it signifies something bigger. There is a war being waged for our culture. We can bury our heads in the sand and ignore the fact that we've "lost ground" or we can do something about. We can "curse the darkness" or "light a candle." I felt impressed today to pray for Christians to rise up in "culture shaping" professions--politics, entertainment, education, journalism.
One reason I love NCC is because it is comprised of culture shapers. I think we need to view culture shaping professions as "mission fields." I think we need to think in biblical categories and realize how strategic these occupations are.
Educators shape the mind. What is taught or isn't taught will form worldviews and paradigms. Politicians define boundaries. I believe a nation will blessed based on how closely it's laws approximate the laws of God. Where there is divergence there unrighteousness. We need some Christian entertainers--musicians, artists, filmmakers--who glorify God via creative expression. And we need people who compete in the marketplace of ideas via journalism--people who aren't afraid to speak the truth in love.
Collective Sin
Someone mentioned this morning that it is tough to pray for others when you've got sin in your own life. I have "gaps" I'm trying to close, but once we confess our individual sin, then God uses us to repent for the collective sins of the city. I felt impressed to repent of two sins this morning.
The first is the sin of Molech. The Israelites did human sacrifices--sacrificing their children to Molech, the god of the Ammonites. I don't know that I've ever "taken it to heart" or been impressed the way I was this morning. But is the sin of abortion any different? We have sacrificed millions of babies on the altar of convenience. God forgive us!
I think the second sin is sexual sin. We're in the middle of a nation wide battle to define right and wrong as it relates to marriage. There is sexual confusion because we call right wrong and wrong right. Lord forgive us for moving the ancient boundary stones.
I'm reminded that where sin abounds grace does much more abound.
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