Which Miracle Do We Need: Reviving or Resurrection?

I just got the latest International House Of Prayer(henceforth referred to as IHOP), and they were interviewing one of the gals there who has been with IHOP since it's inception. They asked her "Why do you give your life to prayer?" This was her reply:

"I give myself to prayer because I am weak. I am not strong enough to do this life without being a person of prayer. I am beginning to see that prayer is the way the Father runs His kingdom."

To me that was a profound statement. Now I know all the verses about having the strength of Christ and greater is He that is in me...etc, etc. I don't discount those at all. However, I think in the midst of claiming those verses, we have somehow turned it around and got it all backwards. Somewhere along the line we thought we had the power and really we have nothing. It's only the grace of God and His loving kindness that calls us to Himself and the sacrifice of His Son that even allows us to approach such strength and power.

But that all aside, I don't know about you but everyday more and more I see people being called to the like of prayer. And it's not just the middle aged woman with the semi devout christian husband whose kids have grown up so she has all day to spend with her head in the clouds hearing another word from God.

I know some of you are mad at me, but the other half of you are rolling your eyes. Come on admit it. That's the picture you get when someone says "intercession".

Regardless of that, that reality has been changing in a radical way that is ever increasing in intensity and speed. "Intercession" has become the heartbeat of thousands upon thousands of people of all ages from all walks of like. The young, the old, the single person, the family, men, women, and children(and they're the ones that are really about to blow up the apple cart of reality, here in a minute), the stay at home mom, and the corporate executive.

Yet the fiercest opposition to this movement isn't the "unsaved" and the "unchurched", As a matter of fact I've talked with people and shared with them what it's like and they say "where is there a church that does that?" They are searching, they are hungry, they are the sheep without a shepherd.

So I take a look around. What do I see? Not a thriving church by any means. Oh, they may be a legend in their own mind but in reality they’re just as hurt and searching as the next unchurched guy. The world has known it for years. If we just stopped and listened fro two seconds instead of trying to convert and reason everything away, maybe we wouldn’t be in the spot we are.

All though it’s negative, it’s the truth. So what’s one suppose to do? I look around and my biggest enemy is the church! Some say it’s dying. Others say it’s living. Some say it just needs to be “revived” like the valley of dry bones. One thing is for sure. God is burning away all the self comfort, religion, falseness, and lies. All the things that we have erected around us to create the image of ourselves and our church organization that we have come to know, and love. The sad part is what we once knew was false, we no longer recognize as just a facade. We actually believe the lie that we have told others.

All my frustration, confusion, and angst about ministry and people and everything, has all come down to this:

The church is obviously dying so what are we suppose to do? What is the miracle that needs to be done here? Is it the healing of the sick man at the pool of Bethesda being raised up from being down and broken, or the raising of Lazarus from the dead?

In other words, are we suppose to jump in and try to be a catalyst for healing and renewal, or does the entity and institution that the church has become to be known as have to completely die and then be raised up from the dead?

It seems to me God has been trying the former, only to be left with no alternative but to let the latter take place. Now I don’t presume to speak for God on this, in fact I don’t ever presume to speak for Him at all.

Compared to the above post this seems opposite, but really it’s not. Either outcome requires the passion, hope, faith, and ambition previously mentioned. To not have that, is to think that it will die and then it’s over. I certainly don’t believe that’s the case at all. I know that it will be either healing or resurrection, I’m just at a loss as to which one I’m suppose to facilitate.

So that my friends is the question. Not a pleasant one, but one that must be addressed, studied, and answered.

Whatever the outcome, these things have forced people into a flight or fight stance when it comes to the life of prayer. It’s either make the attempt to make you life a life of prayer or don’t. There is no middle ground. It’s not a “well I kinda pray”. You go through seasons where you are or you aren’t. Sometimes the seasons are measured in days, sometimes weeks, sometimes months, sometimes years. Take a look around at all the “successful” ministries. Ask them how long they’ve been praying and they will always tell you “years”. So the longer we put off praying the longer the results will be put off.

How are we to partner with the Son of Man in this hour? What are the preparations that must be made for the Bridegroom? What is it that we are being called to do? Everyone has their place, from the person who irons the linens and trims the candle wicks, to the best man and maid of honor. If just one minute detail is missed, however insignificant it seems, things will be incomplete and the Bride will be late in meeting her Bridegroom.

Here’s to hearing the word of the voice of the Lord in this hour.

As it is in heaven, let it be on earth.
J