When I arrived at the church, it was evident that it was an old schoolhouse (built in the 1930s). The new church members were doing their best to refurbish the building, but the carpet was worn, the walls needed repair, and the place was showing its age. But the people were alive in this house of prayer! They had something I didn’t have: the Holy Spirit. They had love, joy, and peace and were on fire for Jesus. I had sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll, and I was on my way to hellfire. I loved myself and only came as a favor to my mother. Boy, was I in for an awakening.
Prayer and Retro-green Carpet
Worship was weird. There was no organ, liturgy, candles, or robes. In fact, they didn’t even have a piano player. But they had life. They sang praise and worshiped with joy, sincerely singing to Jesus. I had never experienced that before. I thought, “That’s a little weird, but ‘okay.’” When they began to pray, however, it wrecked me. Something happened. Something shifted the atmosphere.
They announced several prayer requests, and a brother began to pray heaven down. As I bowed in respect, I noticed the nasty retro-green carpet. “Why do they keep this dingy carpet? This place is a dump.” As I attempted to distract myself, I began choking up for no good reason. “Get a grip on yourself, Don.” When Marquita offered me a tissue because I was visibly weeping, I had to get out of there.
Prayer that Moves
I ran to my car and bawled my eyes out. Why? What was going on? I had no idea but knew I had to get to work. So, I began driving as I was bawling. And then I started laughing with unbelievable joy. Then I sobbed again; again, I was ecstatic with joy. “Why hasn’t anyone ever told me about this?!” I asked. What I was experiencing was the presence of God. And my heart responded in faith, and I became born again.
How can a dump like that have the spirit move in such a way? Simply put, it was prayer. Every Saturday, the church met and cried out to God for salvations and revival. It was inconvenient, but the congregants were committed and figured out how to make it happen. Schedules were changed, and because of prayer, lives were changed. My life was transformed forever as a result of incessant intercessions.
Prayer to Player
As the church grew, the pastor became busier and eventually moved the congregation to a larger building. With the move, prayer was relegated to an afterthought, and as a result, God’s convicting Spirit was exchanged for talent and flesh. Sin entered the camp, and people started leaving the church. Eventually, the pastor became flakey, and I’m not sure what happened after that.
This is not unique to this church; many start with good intentions and succumb to the busyness of church business. They move from praying to playing, seeking to sleeping, and earnestness to laziness. Sport and entertainment crowd out any semblance of holy fire. These “churches” are not qualified to carry Christ’s name; they are mere 501C3 clubhouses. Jesus said in Luke 10:46, “My house is the house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.”
Prayer Be Gone
Much of the modern-day church is a den of thieves (that resembles a corporation). Their product is production, music, emotionalism, and religious fanfare. This is where the “prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means, and my people love to have it so.” And they “have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying ‘peace, peace;” when there is no peace.” Jeremiah 5:31; 6:14 How horrible. How abominable.
Lies, false promises, and false peace are what the preachers bring to the lost when what they need is truth and light. The crowds “say to the seers, see not; and to the prophets, prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits.” Isaiah 30:10. This is what the world wants; quite frankly, the preachers also like this, preferring to whip up the crowd with false hope in hopes of filling their coffers.
The Solution - Prayer
How do we fix this? What is the answer to the growing apathy and lethargy? How do we once again infuse life in these white-washed tombs filled with dead men’s bones? Prayer is the answer—fervent, effectual prayer. Prayer that moves God and changes man. Prayer that requires hours and not minutes. Prayer that brings sweat and tears and emotionally drains the flesh. Prayer that disturbs the quiet, interrupts the environment and penetrates the heavens.
Prayer humbles the flesh, relies on the Holy Spirit, and not only changes challenges; it changes people. It enables God to shape the body of Christ. It invites Him to melt away the sin and dross, invading the lives of his people. There is no shortcut. This is no “easy button.” No, friend, it’s prayer. Prayer enables God, disables flesh, and aligns the bride of Christ with the groom.
