“Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.” (Matthew 12:29)
As we move toward the end of the summer, many of us may be thinking about the spiritual miracles we still are waiting for God to answer. A prayer principle Jesus refers to with His disciples includes waging a spiritual war against a real enemy, “the strong man.” Paul referred to them as “principalities and powers” (Ephesians 6:12). To bring about a spiritual transformation in a person’s life, all of us know this requires winning a spiritual battle. This kind of prayer most often happens when we are filled with “spiritual dependence” on the power and work of the Holy Spirit. The issue is not just a legalistic “prayer list” we go through, but an “intentionally,” a spiritual focus that we cultivate. It is a “kingdom way” of thinking that miraculously leads to spiritual transformation in a person’s life we are praying for.
On the CCD, we believe prayer is not preparation for the battle, prayer is the battle! The battles we wage for the hearts and minds of people in our day are fought and won, "not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power" (1 Corinthians 2:4). It is God alone who creates the divine moments that draw an irreligious person to Jesus (John 6:44).
Apart from Him we can't do anything (John 15:5). We know things happen when a Christian intentionally prays that doesn’t happen when a Christian doesn’t intentionally pray! It is through intercession and dependence on God, that these strongholds of the enemy are broken in a person’s life (2 Corinthians 10:4). The result is a testimony of life change. Every one of us is a believer today because someone intentionally prayed for us. Jesus regularly prays for us (Romans 8:34).
We are SO thankful for the testimonies of life change we hear about from our pastors. Almost without fail, life transformation happens because someone is intentionally praying and when churches come together in unity to pray. Thanks for focusing on the vision the Lord has revealed to us as we move forward:
mobilizing everyone in unity
blessing your community
bringing people to Jesus
becoming Christlike disciples
Also, thank you for serving so well on the Chicago Central District. Let’s continue to be Christ in Action. You are loved.
Larry McKain, Superintendent
Chicago Central District
Church of the Nazarene