The House of Prayer

With a great deal of attention on the Lord rising up houses of prayer all around the world, we can over look that they are for something. The House of Prayer is for all the people. Right now many are feeling the pressure to be a part of the prayer movement, and this pressure is good in that it aids the process of true refinement. But not everyone is called to the house of prayer for service. Most people are called to the house of prayer to be served.

The Peoria Prayer Center is a place were people of prayer can serve the body of Christ and the societies of the world through intercession. We are in the place of prayer so that others can be in the place of their callings and not be alone. We want to befriend and cover others. In the past where the people of prayer walked in this ministry of service those people served became demanding. The intercessors became worn out by the constant requirement to pray for this thing and that think while many others lived lives of entertainment and rest. Envy snuck in and people called to intercessors want to be preachers, teachers, leaders and most anything else. It was like a virus of “you can be it all, have it all, don’t need anyone else” had invaded the church.

Weakened by this situation and failing to have deep wells of refreshment to drink from , the people of prayer slipped away from the place of service and continued to pray on their own, in their own way and without the needed connections of responsibility and accountability. The prayer movement became invaded by pride as each one sought to do what was best in their own sight. Presumption and boldness joined with this pride and intercessors were proclaiming to spiritual leaders directions, truths and actions they should be taking but failed to do. A little jealously and a few wounds of rejection started to grip hearts as conflict and competition arose in the body of Christ as to who were the true spiritual people, who were the ones hearing from God, who had the real authority.

All the conditions of this previous cycle have not yet been healed and resolved. God is still sending out His call to build a house of prayer and there are still numerous issues surrounding it. Spirits of elitism, triumpulism and rebellion are still around and open to anyone who is open to having them influence their life. What I am saying, in short, is that opinions and ideas about a house of prayer are a varied and diverse as people you will talk to. These ideas are used to build camps of division, isolation and separation. Knowing that they exist will help us keep on turning to the Lord for their redemption.

I am writing this mainly to the people who serve with me at the Peoria Prayer Center. I want them to know and be at peace with the nature of the calling I think we are to labor under as we build a community wide house of prayer that endures for 100 years. We are still digging out for the foundation. But the time will come when we reach the bedrock of Christ Jesus alone and then we can start to build a lasting foundation on that. This is not a “vision statement” to which I want you to ascribe. Relationships will last far beyond what we can see and we want to build on relationships, not gifts, callings, talents or abilities. Loving God and others is that which will not fail.

Here is a bullet list of issues I encourage you to take to the Lord.
• The call to intimacy with God is not the same call as to the prayer ministry. God’s call to intimacy is for all people and not so much a call as a life of authentic relationship.
• From the place of communion with God the people of prayer are to pray for all people, all nations. We are to intercede for business, media, art, education and numerous other issues. The Kingdom of God is within people and people are taking it into the world.
• No calling of the Lord is better than another. The spirit that says ministry is better than business or that prayer is better than media is not of the Lord. “Apostle” means “sent one”. Sent people, people called of God are going to take the Kingdom to the world.
• True holiness can serve in evil places.(RE: Daniel, Ezekiel, Paul)
• Some callings are for a lifetime and some are for a season. God doesn’t take back a calling, but that is different than a calling lasting forever. (A person could be called to be single, then called to marry, then called to be a mom, then called to remain single again later in life after the death of their mate.)
• While each of us is to be a dwelling (house) of the Lord, having organizations that serve the Lord in equipping and discipleship are also a part of His ways. People are the church, yet we build buildings and have organizations we call churches. To say we don’t need literal houses of prayer because we are all called to be His dwelling place would also be saying we do not need churches because we are all called to be the church.
• Time was made for man, not man for time. You and I have the time we need to live the life God has called us to. While we seek to make the most of every opportunity, we do not need to hurry, be anxious or be opportunist. We have time for love to mature. We have time for character, wisdom and knowledge to grow. We have time for God and time for others.

Mark 11:17 And He began to teach and say to them, "Is it not written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS'? But you have made it a ROBBERS' DEN."

Isaiah 56:7 Even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples."