Is God’s House Still a House of Prayer?
January 31, 2011 by Admin
Filed under Church, Faith, Inspiration & Entertainment, Leaders
by Darryl Izzard
Bishop Iona Locke, one of the leading ladies in ministry featured this month in Gospel Today, recently shared her thoughts about the move of God among the Body of Christ today. “God is turning His eye back to the local assembly. Miracles, signs and wonders are coming back to the local assembly. Prayer needs to be the largest service in the week—my house shall be called a house of prayer.
When I was coming up, we didn’t chase our forefathers because of what they had, we chased them because of their relationship with God. When we heard them pray and we saw their life, we became hungry for God. We wanted “that†kind of relationship. We wanted “that†kind of holiness. It’s about returning back to “that.â€
IS THE CHURCH TODAY CONSIDERED THE HOUSE OF PRAYER?
Think about it! What is your church known as… the church with an iconic leader, the largest building in the city, the church with the best choir or is it known as the House of Prayer?
How long has it been since someone referred to your church as a “praying church?” How much value is placed on prayer in your church? Better yet, how much time does your congregation spend together in prayer?
Your answer may just reveal a deeper truth… “The little value we put on prayer is evident from the little time we give to it.” E.M. Bounds
Now more than ever before, we need to become the “House of PRAYER.” According to Matthew 21:13, “And he said unto them, it is written, my house shall be called the House of Prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”
This text clearly put’s the emphasis on prayer as the primary function that characterizes God’s house. Really, how long has it been since someone referred to your church as a “praying church?”
According to Newsweek’s recent poll on prayer for Newsweek, statics show the 87% of Americans believe God answers prayers. However, believing is not enough. We must pray!
Bishop Iona Locke said it best as a Bishop in the forefront of the body of Christ; “Prayer needs to be the largest service in the week.†It really is the foundation for success in every endeavor sought after by the believer.
The early church was a praying church:
Acts 1:14 “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication”
Prayer must be a continuing activity in the church.
Acts 1:24 “And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,” Prayer seeks to know Gods choice.
Acts 2:42 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and
fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Prayer must be an
established, permanent, steadfast and unmovable function of the church.
Do you feel God’s house is still the house of prayer, or have we replaced prayer with other things that were never really a priority on God’s original agenda for the New Testament church?
I have noticed that in this time in the “Body of Christ”,prayer is relegated to a quick GOD said it, that settles it and then ends with a run away “Amen”. Where has the reverencing of the LORD’s house gone! What has happened to spending time with Him corporately gone?
It does not take all night to pray the word of GOD over His people nor situations for which we are seeking answers to,however,it would be nice if we could bask in His presence long enough to receive some answers.
TO THE FEMALE BISHOP, HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS: 1 Timothy 3 (King James Version)
1This is a true saying, if a MAN desire the office of a bishop, HE desireth a good work.
2A bishop then must be blameless, THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE…
TITUS 1:6-9
TITUS 2:3-5
1 TIMOTHY 2:11-14
1 TIMOTHY 3:1-13
EPHESIANS 5:22-33
Amen to this word I beleive as leaders we’re the example many Pastors etc tell the saints/congregations to come to prayer but they don’t attend I came up when the older saints were on the altar prostrate before the Lord weeping calling on the name of the Lord they led by example so until more leaders take the word as written and put into action Joel 1:13 Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God. We stand by 2 Chronicles 7:14 but let’s do it! If Jesus our Lord prayed as much as He did and got away and alone my Lord we should be running to prayer, I guess we don’t truly beleive what we’re praying..Help the Church
I wholeheartedly agre with the dear bishop on most of her points and they are points well taken,but if I may add some additional considerations to this view point,I think I will,if I may.It was Jesus as a “praying leader that invoked and enlighten his disciples and followers to make a sincere and singular,”Lord teach us to pray”,It was the Bishop Mason’s,and Mother Boyd’s,E M Bond’s and Andrew Murray’s of yeateryear that demanded of there followers and adherers to follow the Bibical and living epistle example of prayer, that is before you and more importantly before the throne.
I also would imagine that this shall be called a house of prayer,is that which is in motion and progress,a continual construction,if you will,prayer is one of the main “building materials” to erect and fortify kingdom agendas and business,prayer in active and intimate relation with the Father (in seceret),House of Prayer is the visible evidence that that kind of secret and deep “lifestyle is a priority and it over flows with tangible and meas-sureable results”. We still use phones now days as they did back 50 years ago,many things have change within and to that industry,bottom line communion or communication is what all this connecting is about,we just do it different ways,NOW DAYS.