| |
Building & Implementing Citywide Prayer
by Lynn Heatley
http://www.prayercommandpost.org <http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=2787109&s=5914432>
National City Impact Roundtable Workshop
April 11-13, 2005; St. Louis, MO
Step 1 It begins and continues with Prayer!
"I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing…John 5:19 “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. Ps 127:1
1. Receiving a burden to pray for your city.
2. Building – getting your blueprints from God.
3. Gathering with others to pray - Divine connections for kingdom partnerships.
4. Discovering agreement in prayer (agreeing with the “nod of God”).
5. Resourcing yourself on your journey.
6. Staying faithful - Continue to pray and obey.
7. Accountability in prayer.
8. Character qualities to inherit the earth: Matt 5:5 / Psalm 37
Step 2 Assessment 1: Overview of Your City/Region
(After surveying the land)…I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace. "I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So they began this good work. Nehemiah 2:17-18
1. Asking the key question: What is God already doing? -Making the Rounds-assessing & blessing!
2. KEY= Who are the ones that love their city? Love = Authority
3. Who are the leaders that see the church in a unified way (one church, many congregations)?
4. Regarding Your City:
§ What is the ethnicity? Primary Age Group? Socioeconomic?
§ What gifts does your city have? How does your city serve the region (does it have a specialized function…ie medical, educational, armed services, primary business, etc)?
5. Are there stories of unresolved pain in your city that seem to linger in the present day? Where is healing and reconciliation needed?
6. What are the past words, insights & declarations that need to be revisited & prayed through?
Step 3 Assessment 2: Who Is Missing from the Table?
God has combined the parts of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 1 Cor 12:24-26
1. The 5 Sectors of Leadership within a City that represent different gateway…. (who is missing)?
§ Congregational Leaders
§ Governmental Leaders
§ Marketplace Leaders
§ Educational Leaders
§ Indigenous & Ethnic Leaders
2. Various styles of Leadership- see Bill Hybels “Courageous Leadership” chapter 7. Learn to honor, affirm and bless the various styles and sectors of leaders. We have need of thee!
Step 4 Team Formation and Ongoing Unity
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! …… For there the LORD commands his blessing, even life forevermore”. Ps 133:1-3
1. What leaders are beginning to emerge?
Key areas to look at: Do they have favor, wisdom and integrity? Are they a team player and have a servant’s heart? Do they desire God’s glory over their own? Are they well respected in the church/city?
2. Is God beginning to form a city servant team? If yes, how is prayer being mobilized to support the ongoing process?
3. Keeping Relationships a top priority – don’t get so focused on end-results that would hinder the ongoing relationship building. Remember that God values the journey of how we get somewhere just as much as when we arrive at our destination!
4. Different Teams for Different Functions. Mobilize prayer effectively by identifying specific gifts.
(see subcategory sheet). This is easier to accomplish when a centralized base is established.
Step 5 Remaining faithful in the ongoing journey towards transformation
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”. Gal 6:9
1. George Otis has identified 5 Common Threads in Transformed Communities:
1. Persevering Leadership*
2. Fervent, United Prayer*
3. Social Reconciliation
4. Public Power Encounters (with God and with evil)
5. Diagnostic Research
* the first 2 were found to be primary factors in every transformed city.
6. Stay focused on the goal being God’s glory and pleasure, not success by the world’s standard.
7. Continue to pray for spiritual application (REVIVAL) and practical outflow (REFORMATION).
City transformation will have both. Pray and Obey. (See Acts 4:33-35 and other scriptures)
8. Keep your heart pure, stay in community, take showers along the way and keep looking up!
Heart Application: Transformation in our inner man is an ongoing need as we seek to serve the Lord in bringing His transformation to a city. It is hard to give away that which we do not possess ourselves. “Freely you have received, freely give”. Matt 10:8
People Application: You can not do it alone! Who are the others that God is wanting to join you together with for a unified work towards city transformation? It will require love and endurance to continue to walk the path together. “Endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. Eph 4:3
Practical Application: What is the plan? Who is going to do the vision? How will it be funded? Who will help bring accountability and shepherd the process? All necessary questions and more!
“Now may the God of peace ….make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever”. Heb 13:20-21
RESOURCES – Must Reads!
“Taking Our Cities for God” by John Dawson
“City-wide Prayer Movements” by Tom White
see <http://www.cityreaching.com/> <http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=2787108&s=5914432> for ongoing information
|
