A Culture of Prayer
At HillCity Church, prayer is not just what we do; it is how we live.
"Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days" Daniel 6:10 This is one of my favourite passages in the Bible. A man who was taken as a captive to a strange land and rose to become the most powerful king official. His secret: A custom of prayer.
Prayer was not just what Daniel did, rather prayer was how he lived. Daniel did not just pray out of defiance or rebellion to the king, he prayed because it was his life. His life was predicated on continuous communion with God, done on a regular and consistent basis.
Imagine if this prayer custom of Daniel was shared by all the people in the community or in the city where he lived; then we would have had what is better described as a prayer culture. I believe that it was the "culture" dimension of prayer that Jesus referred to when he said "My House shall be called a house of prayer for all nations". Mark 11:17. A culture, so ingrained in us as individuals and as a worshipping community, such that even a death threat ( as in the case of Daniel ) would be too weak to stop us from observing it. This is the Church that I see: A Church that is so dependent on God that prayer has become not just our food but also the air we breath in.
How then do we develop a "culture of prayer" as a Church?
1. It must start right now with us - the Launch team. This is the foundation stage of the Church and we cannot afford to get it wrong. Remember, if the foundations be destroyed what can the righteous do? Psalm 11:3. Every member of the team must develop a personal lifestyle of prayer and intimacy with God. This is obviously more than just attending prayer meetings.
2. We must right from the very outset begin to teach on prayer and subjects that build the prayer life. The culture of a Church is often built by what is emphasized during preaching and teaching. Teaching about faith in God, intimacy with God, the reality of spiritual warfare, and holiness are some of the subjects that give impetus to our prayer life.
3. We must recognize prayer as being the life source for all that we do in the kingdom. Prayer is not just the fertilizer that ensure the healthy growth of a Church; rather it is the water and air that sustain the very life of the Church plant. Without it, any psuedo-experience of growth is nothing but a cancer; such is merely a disproportionate element of expansion that leads to weakness rather that health.
We cannot achieve much just depending on the custom of a single Daniel amidst us; we all must allow the culture of prayer to permeate us through and through. There is much work to do. May we not fail our generation. May we not fail God.
God bless,
Dr Joe Obisesan
N.B: Prayer meeting will hold this Sunday 15th September 2013. Time: 4 - 5pm. Venue: 6 Cape Gardens Ellenbrook.
HillCity Church
P.O.Box 2168
Ellenbrook WA 6069