Another short email about an even bigger problem.
Dear New Hope,
My friends, if you have a heart for missions, please join us Saturday morning at 7:30am for prayer. We are blessed to have Barnabas (our Cambodian mission partner) with us and we plan to spend a good part of the hour praying for him and the work of the gospel among the nations.
Speaking of prayer…in our Scripture for Sunday, Jesus walks into the temple and sees lots of “activity”, but it was devoid of God’s presence. It had the appearance of success, but it was clearly off-mission. The religious leadership and the “congregants” were still engaged in religious duties, but it was empty of true devotion. Jude uses fitting metaphors that describe this type of religion: “waterless clouds; fruitless trees in late autumn.”
So when Jesus walks into His house and sees the “fruitless trees” of empty worship, He is understandably upset. They had corrupted His house. They had carried on ministry in the flesh without the spirit. They had grown comfortable “doing worship” without the presence of God. Indeed, if a name could have been ascribed to the temple at this stage in history, it would be: “Ichabod” for the glory of the Lord had departed. (See 1 Samuel 4:21).
In his righteous anger, Jesus declares: “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations!”
How far God’s people stray from prayerful dependence upon the Lord. How quickly do we turn to man-made activity instead of Spirit-led worship. How sad it is when a church continues religious rituals but do so without the presence of the Lord. Indeed, if a name could be written above the doors of many church buildings today, it would be: “Ichabod” for the glory of the Lord has departed.
Here’s the million dollar questions:
- Does your life demonstrate dependence upon the Lord, or is it a flurry of man-made activity?
- Does your prayer life at home reveal that God richly dwells among you, or could it be called Ichabod?
- What if God’s presence were removed from the church you attend? Would anything change? Would we notice?
- What name would be written above our doors?
I read an article recently called: “It’s time to bring back the church prayer meeting.” It was a sad indictment of the American church, revealing that God’s house is really not a house of prayer anymore.
A fictitious reporter sits in my office and interviews me for an article which will run on the front page of the New York Times. After she peppers me with questions about the awesome people of New Hope and the incredible life change that we often see at the church, she ends with this question: “Craig, it is evident that you love your church. It is clear that you are totally in love with your congregation. You talk about New Hopers like they are your favorite people in the world. But, be honest with me: if you had the power to change one thing about the church, what would you change?”
I look at the reporter, and with tenderness of heart and tears in the eyes, my answer would be: “The one thing I’d change is to see a clear evidence of people depending on God in prayer. I’d like to see a strong commitment to prayer gatherings where pastors and people have a hunger to lift up petitions to the Lord. I’d like it to be said that New Hope is a house of prayer where all our activity is fueled by the engine room of prayer.”
That’s what I would change. That is what I pray for. A better posture toward prayer and our complete dependence upon God as a church.
By the way, one of the key rooms in our Phase 2 renovation will be a “24 Hour Prayer Room.” It will be the very first room in the front corner of the building. That is intentional. We want prayer to be first and center to everything we do. If you have a heart to make a financial investment in this prayer room, we estimate it will cost $20,000 to complete. More than money, though, we want hearts engaged in prayer. For over 10 years, our pastors & elders have made a consistent ask to our members: Commit at least 1x per month to a monthly prayer gathering. We offer it again, without guilt or manipulation…but with an earnest desire to see Christ magnified among the nations.
You are loved,
Craig Trierweiler
