Why not spend spring break at IHOP-KC getting equipped and resourced to start, grow and/or sustain a prayer furnace on your campus or in your region? IHOP-KC will be hosting 2 Spring Break Luke18 Fuel Schools in March 2010.
Wes and a few of our Luke18 staff sat down and took some time to explain why you should spend your week of spring break at IHOP-KC.
“ 7 Now shall not God bring about justice for His elect, who cry to Him day and night…? 8 I tell you that He will bring about justice for them speedily.” (Lk. 18:7-8; NAS)
God ties intercession as essential to the breaking in of justice for those in need. This justice comes in partnership between Jesus and His people. There is a mystery and a majesty of intercession that we must seek revelation on. In intercession we basically tell God what He tells us to tell Him and He does the rest. This is how He has chosen to operate His kingdom; in partnership with His people. It is profoundly simple, seemly weak in the world’s eyes, yet accessible to all.
When we as God’s workers, do works of justice out of a place of intimacy with Jesus we are positioned to be energized to love God and people far better than if we tried in our own strength. God has chosen to use the things that men consider weak (i.e. prayer and fasting) to triumph over evil. “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood when we pray, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness… in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 6:12). Thus, we are contending for power to confront the demonic forces behind injustice. Power to heal the sick is far better than only helping the sick with care or finances.
Through intercession we are united to God’s heart for the people and the places we pray for. Love is expressed in a practical way through intercession that releases deliverance to those in need.
“11 You also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.” (2 Cor. 1:11)
“19 This will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer…” (Phil. 1:19)
We must have a vision for justice in our prayer life and our prayer meetings. Let us pray always, not lose heart and stand in confidence that God will give speedy justice to those who cry out night and day.
Having a vision for intimacy with Jesus as a foundation to your prayer meeting will keep the focus of your meetings on encountering Jesus. If our primary focus is on encountering God and not on speaking to and binding Satan our prayer meetings will be enjoyable and sustainable. The latter element is there at times, but it is not our primary and regular focus. We want to create an environment that makes it easy for people to come and rest in the presence of God and meet with our creator face to face. When our prayer meetings are focused on the preeminence and supremacy of Jesus Christ, all of our circumstances are diminished, our enemies are defeated and we can stand in confidence in the place of prayer.
When we have a vision for intimacy with Jesus in the place of prayer, we gain a right view of God as a tender father and a passionate bridegroom. Prayer positions us to be energized to love God and to love people. We love others far better as we regularly encounter God’s heart. When we connect with God regularly, we gain the “oil of intimacy” spoken of in Mt. 25:3-4.
“That the world may know that You… have loved them as You have loved me.” (Jn. 17:23)
In John 17:23 Jesus prayed that we would know that the Father loves us as much as the Father loves the Son. That is an astounding statement. The uncreated God loves me just as much as God loves Jesus.
Get a vision for encountering the living God and His heart of unrelenting love in the place of prayer. Encountering truths like these in the place of prayer are essential to sustaining prayer long term.
Once you have started your prayer meeting and you have a few weeks, months or even a year under your belt, how do you sustain it? How do you keep your prayer meeting going week after week? How do you fuel people to keep the fire burning? You must have vision, and your vision must be fueled by the message.
Most people will try anything once, but there must be a vision for something greater than yourself, greater than your meeting in order to sustain your prayer meeting over years. Your vision must transcend your own ability to accomplish goals, yet also be clear enough for people to wrap their mind around and get behind.
Your vision must also be founded up on the message. Here at IHOP-KC we have determined 4 primary pillars that fuel everything that we do. These 4 pillars are intimacy with Jesus, intercession, end-times, and justice. The messages that come out of IHOP-KC will fall into one of these categories and the direction that we are headed is filtered through these as well.
I have found even in my personal life that setting these 4 areas as a foundation for personal devotion, bible study and setting up an action plan for the Word has catapulted my time with God. My encouragement to you is to make your vision personal. Give yourself, your time and your energy to your vision in a personal way, not just for “your ministry.” Let the vision God has given you be your guide regardless of if you “have a ministry” that is leading others. Once you have a vision, get an action plan for the Word based on your vision and begin to unpack the layers of that vision. You can’t sell others on your vision if you are not sold yourself.
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