House of Prayer

“Shall be.” Those are powerful words from our Lord. Do we consider ourselves, and our churches, to be houses of prayer? Do we identify as houses of prayer when we consider ourselves, and consider our corporate calling together? My simple question to all of us today, is if the Father’s house shall be a house of prayer, and we cannot identify as one individually or corporately….are we His house? Are my home and my church a place where the Lord can lay His head to rest? Greater men than me have often repented of their prayerlessness. Today I am doing the same. I want my home and church to be a house of prayer. I want to see God move and answer believing-prayer. May the Church pray like our Lord Jesus.

To ministers and leaders, I want to share a quote from one of the great writers on prayer.

I know much has to--much must--be done in our ministries. People need us, God has called us! We have important work to do. All of this is true, but all eternal work we want to do and see done will be done in answer to believing-prayer. If you have one activity in the church, let it be prayer. If something has to be taken off the schedule, let it not be the prayer meeting. If there isn’t a prayer meeting on the schedule, dear pastor, lovingly burn that schedule and open the rusty hinges on the door to the prayer closet and the prayer room!

Leaders, if we are not a house of prayer….then we are the ones allowing merchandise to be carried through the temple. Without prayer, we are the ones making merchandise of people in the Church (2 Peter 2:3 KJV). What is all of our ministry for if it is not bathed in prayer and led by the Spirit? There is much that could be said here on the calling, effects, and purposes of prayer, but I will not ramble on. The Scripture defends itself nicely concerning prayer, and Jesus Christ commands it. May we repent if we’ve been too idle or busy to pray as we ought. To all of you, I repent if I have not prayed for you like I ought. May the Lord bless, strengthen, lift, and encourage each one of you today in your walk with Him, and in your fellowship with one another.