Why is the Prayer House Empty? As Cities Burn, What is the Place of Prayer?

First.  Is the Prayer House empty?  

I may have a skewed view.  Let me know if so.  But I don't see prayer and the House of Prayer for all Nations thriving around me.  



 




The High Priest of Heaven, Jesus, is in the prayer house.   Jesus is always present and welcomes abiding with him in the Father's will.  











I do see a very dedicated few keeping the doors open and pressing forward.  
I do see the call to honoring the presence of the Lord and building the house of prayer. 

I do see some ministries doing amazingly beautiful things in this arena.   I don't see the grass roots involvement and abiding in prayer on any consistent or impacting level in local churches.  At least where I live.

In our region the involvement, intensity and attendance at regular prayer is minimal compared to the number of believers.   

While a pandemic rages (175,000 dead), cities burn, churches are closed and sued, believers around the globe are bullied with hunger and starvation, the church remains content to...

• Hold services - if the government will let them.
• Keep the status quo - so we can?  What - retain our high impact on society?
• Speak message after message to individual believers sense of well being.... while the society we are called to transform with the Gospel literally burns.

We need corporate Prayer - United Prevailing Prayer in the face of such overwhelming turmoil and destruction.  

But where is the Call???  

The fasting?

The Cry for the Nation? 

There are "paid employees of the Kingdom" who don't lead, attend, impact their church or the wider local churches with prayer --- by being leaders of it.  

They pray alone while they lead hundreds.  

The hopes of revival through prayer ....?  What are they?  

The prayerfulness of our pastoral leaders of our churches?  

Certainly in times of crisis we place our bets on things we trust the most. 

Where does prayer factor?  

Trust in God?

  
Is this just our region?  
Poor articulation of ministry or leadership?  

Again, how are you seeing it?  

I see those with a compelling call to establish prayer, walking as if through mud. 

The cry of their hearts, to establish prayer in the hearts of the people of God, moves forward like a dribble not a river.   Yet, the response God in the experience of the Lord and his presence is phenomenal and ever growing.  


Some have been at it a long time. Sowing faithfulness to the faithful God.
They generally appear discouraged about the results and outcomes. 
Typically their open houses of prayer are not well attended.   

Example.  Churches of hundreds host 2 hrs week of prayer and most often fewer than 10-15 attend.  

That is not a call to prayer by the spiritual leaders of the nation, the local church, the inheritors of Christ's abundant victory and suffering. 

These dedicated few believe prayer is the critical alignment for the Bride.  

They focus on ministry to God and worship as abiding presence.   The Lord meets them in every gathering and speaks profoundly.  Often just two or three gathering in faithfulness to uphold the intercession and abide in his presence.  He is present and encourages these stout heart-ed fore runners with ever increasing grace and encouragement.  

But it can wear them down. 

So I ask, has prayer always been like this? 

Is it like this around the world? 

Why does it appear so unimportant?

What could happen if it wasn't? 

So, why am I saying the prayer house is empty?  

Welsh Revival 1904-05

On November 7th, 1904 Moraih Chapel was filled to capacity for a prayer meeting that lasted until 3:00 a.m. Soul winning spread through the coal mines. Profane swearing stopped. Even the miners' horses were puzzled when their masters stopped cursing. Orders to the Bible Society "for Scriptures from Wales during November and December, were over three times the amount for the corresponding months of 1903..." The Times said this resulted from the Welsh revival, adding that this demand showed no sign of falling off.
 
and 

The Salvation Army set apart January 19th, 1905 for a day of confession, humiliation, and prayer throughout England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. All day prayer meetings were held in many of the principal cities of the British Isles, according to the London Times. The meeting was marked by "fervent prayer and any one who felt called upon to pray." 

Fires of spiritual revival and moral recovery were spreading.

Coal miners crowed into prayer meetings that lasted till 3:00 a.m. and then washed, ate breakfast and returned to work. Many drunkards confessed their sins and received Christ. According to the London Times of February 2nd, 1905 due to the Welsh revival many men abandoned dens of iniquity. Employers noticed a great improvement in the work produced by their employees. A judge named Sir Marchant Williams said that his work was much lighter especially regarding drunkenness and related offenses. 

Here are some examples that I have encountered.

Ex.  The National Day of Prayer.  2014  Central Oregon. 

One of the largest churches in our area hosted a mid-day prayer meeting (thank you for serving and leading this way) on the mall of the city.  Beside the leaders from other churches who were scheduled to pray there was a small handful of people who attended.   

Great urgency in the leaders. 

Zero urgency beyond them. 

It is now NO URGENCY IN THE LEADERS?  

Maybe it was the time of day?  
People are working.   

We have things to do.  Right?

Here's a description of the Welsh Revival prayer meetings -  

The revival fires burning in Wales in 1904-05 spread through England, Ireland and Scotland. Prayer meetings multiplied. As many as 2,000 attended a prayer meeting in the city of Bradford. 

In the City of Leeds, Samuel Chadwick reported that his church was never empty all day. An amazing work of grace transformed life in a factory.

  

We all know what urgency looks like.  Many have experienced urgency in prayer and the deep cry for God's deliverance and healing.   

There is a growing army of Saints who believe the Lord intends to sweep the nations with his compelling love
and to restore us to the
deepest devotion to Christ Jesus.  

 

Is the prayer house empty because we rely on other gods to rescue us and provide for us and deliver us?   

Is that why so many are taking God to task and judging him?   

Jeremiah was told by Israel:

17 mBut we will do everything that we have vowed, make offerings to nthe queen of heaven oand pour out drink offerings to her, pas we did, both we and our fathers, our kings and our officials, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, and prospered, and saw no disaster. 18 But since we left off making offerings to nthe queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything qand have been consumed by the sword and by famine.” 19 And the women said,2 “When we made offerings to the queen of heaven rand poured out drink offerings to her, was it swithout our husbands’ approval that we made cakes for her bearing her image and poured out drink offerings to her?”

Money

Deception
Political power
Personal power
idols of our age
????

It is clear to me, the church of Jesus Christ needs to AWAKEN - REPENT and humble themselves in prayer.  

An interesting thing.   The Lord said to Israel. 
Since you will not serve your God in your own land.  You will now serve foreign gods in a land not your own.  Jeremiah 5:19


"It shall come about when they say, 'Why has the LORD our God done all these things to us?' then you shall say to them, 'As you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so you will serve strangers in a land that is not yours.' 20"Declare this in the house of Jacob And proclaim it in Judah… Jeremiah 5:19




Example 2 -  24/1's - 24 hours continuous worship and prayer 

In the past, a few years back, our region has hosted 7 of these.   To my knowledge they had not occurred prior to this.  These 24/1's had worship teams and intercession carried by multiple ministries and churches working together.  Such a great time with Jesus as the focus and praise and worship flowing for 24 hours straight.

Besides the opening bell and first few hours that fit within everyone's "event schedule" there are typically many hours of just the worship team, sound person and one or two others.  

Please note.  These have been some of the most amazing times in the Lord's presence.  But there is an ache in those ministering to the Lord when before them is an empty house. 

So, within the struggle we search for reasons.  We search for answers.  We look for compelling options to move things forward.  

Quite possibly we actually step outside the most compelling reality of all; God's life giving assignments come packed with their own grace and power to walk with the Spirit within them.   We are offerings to the Lord (Romans 12:1-2)  We are servants of the Lord Jesus (John 12:24-26).  We are part of a much larger Kingdom that is coming in diverse and manifold ways throughout the world.   

We are not all the same. Doing all the same things.  Making all the same types of ministries and churches.  OR are we?  Do we have a McDonald's view of the Kingdom of God?

If the poor and needy, the broken and the wounded were part of the math, I would be on board 100%.  Sadly the church has left them behind --- and the very heart of God - for what reason? 

 
Every church trying to be like the corporate successful church.   The mega church?  

So test the waters.   Stop the show.  Call a prayer meeting at the mega church.  See who shows up?   I don't know maybe we will be pleasantly surprised.  
Many are praying so. 

I understand Kingdom success to be measured in the fiery eyes of Jesus and in relationship to him and his worship of the Father.   In Jesus I see success as....

Success is doing the will of the Father.   
Success is worship and abiding in Jesus in fruitful garden of the Father. 
Success is laying down our lives as a living sacrifice to the glory of his name. 
The results seem to be at rest with the Lord.   

"I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."…Matt 16:18


We search for reasons.  We are practical and capable people - Americans.  And his Kingdom is "other" and his thoughts are not our thoughts.

Could the Father be stripping us?  Could he be bringing us back to the deepest relationship available? 

Could he be revealing Jesus in splendor and glory and awakening pockets of surrender and love?  

Could he be freeing us from the grips of the gods of this age and the idols of our times?   

Could he be calling us to simply love his presence? 

Are we inclined to hunger for him alone?  

What if he only met us at the point of our desire for him?  

Could the prayer house be empty because of the intensity of the presence of the Lord?
That he is seeking a holy and set apart people?  
Or the very lack of it?

Could it be that we encounter that holiness in the presence of the prayer house?  

• Our Korean brothers and sisters get up nearly every morning before work and seek the Lord in corporate prayer.
• Our Pakistani brothers and sisters cry out daily in prayer and intercession -- often for us!
• Our Ugandan friends in Jesus pour out more prayer in a day than we seem to muster in a month. And yes they pray for us also.  

 

Are we turning away from the pursuit of God?  

While he is running after us with incredible love?  

"Behold, you will call a nation you do not know, And a nation which knows you not will run to you, Because of the LORD your God, even the Holy One of Israel; For He has glorified you." 

6Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. 7Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.…Isaiah 55:5

Something big is brewing.   Under the surface and deep in the hearts of the Saints, a clarion call is emerging.  

It is a call to alignment and righteousness.   A call back to Jesus.   

Alignment. 

1. Arrangement or position in a straight line or in parallel lines.

2. The process of adjusting parts so that they are in proper relative position:

How is it that corporate prayer, abiding in Jesus and honoring his presence do not translate into a House of Prayer of all Nations?  

We need a few more holy fools to be wandering the world in the crazy love of Jesus.  

Are you one of them?  

Take a new step into the depths and riches of knowing Jesus.  Pray. 

Start today. 
Inspire - Pray - Decree 
Listen to or read the Scripture - Psalm 27:14 wait for the Lord. 
Grab some time and steal away with Jesus.  Make it as important as food

You will tap into the grace of God.
The Father sent Jesus to restore us to him and he is longing to know us in Christ.  (John 17:3)
United Prevailing Prayer changes everything - Hebrews 5:7-9!

1. 10 Keys to Praying with Power
http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/11/10-keys-to-praying-with-power-moving.html

2. 10 Keys to Sustaining Supernatural Life
 http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/12/10-keys-to-sustaining-life-in.html

3. Why is the Prayer House Empty?
http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/11/why-is-prayer-house-empty-or-is-it.html

4. Intimacy with Jesus Beyond Religion?

Feedback?  Ideas?  

I would love to dialogue with you. 

Share your comments.  

2017 

Transfiguration! 

Look forward, eyes filled with Abundance, Boundless, Victorious vision in Jesus.  

 Get a copy of my Prophetic Review 2016 - Salvation's Mountain Erupting with Open Doors, Shifts and Invitation.   Encouragement, focus, wisdom and insight into the prophetic seasons of the new year.  
www.jeffreynoldsministries.com 

Thanks for Reading!   

I love your comments. Ideas and thoughts.
Please share em.
Re-shares are great. thank U.

The dialogue is awesome.  Thank you. Testimonies?  Share em with me.   

Re-Shares lov em.  Thank you! With much love in Jesus 

You can do this thing!  He's got you. 

Jeff Reynolds   --- 

Brother Jeff

Jeff Reynolds Sr. Leader Capstone Christian Fellowship jeff@jeffreynoldsministries.com jreynolds@mycapstone.org

Your comments and thoughts on this topic are welcomed.  
What do you think?   
Are we on the verge of........?   


Thank you for reading.   

In the Lord, 
Jeff Reynolds.  Apostolic leader
Global Kingdom Harvest Ministries
www.gkhministries.com 

jeffR@gkhministries.com