"One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles." Luke 6:12
For thirty years, I led all night prayer meetings in Baptist Churches in three different states. In reflection, they had two things in common. They were either birthed in the face of great conflict or preceded a great decision. This should have come as no surprise. Jesus did some of His greatest praying, in the face of His enemies and before He led His followers.
When Jesus faced opposition, He got face to face with God. People have a way of getting in the face of a man or woman of God. When that happens, it is hard not to retaliate in kind. Something in the flesh cries out for vindication. Prayer is more than a knee bending exercise. It is a flesh killing enterprise. Taking a wounded ego to God in prayer, won't heal it or resurrect it. Prayer will keep it nailed to the cross, where it belongs.
Jesus chose to go mountain climbing and to pray all night, after religious people were enraged. These religious people were either opposed to WHAT He did, or the WAY He did it. They always are.
Praying is a how God's children receive His direction, protection and correction. Enemies will make a prayerless person believe that right is wrong, and wrong is right. Praying power provides staying power for moving in the right direction, in the face of a steep hill of opposition. Unless people get with God, they will either slow down or get off track. This only happens...every time.
“A man who is intimate with God will never be intimidated by men.” Leonard Ravenhll
In September 2012, I was contacted by a man who was calling on behalf of a wounded brother. I told him that the conflict was not ours to solve, because neither one of us caused it. However, we could intercede for the men who were at odds with one another. Too much was at stake for them to remain estranged. He agreed. I asked him to voice a prayer for his guy, and I prayed for mine. We asked God to keep their hearts tender to His touch and to guide them back to one another for His reconciliation. In March 2013, I received a report, that they had met, prayed together, forgave one another and were reconciled. Thank God!
Prayer clears the air, and it clears the room. When the fog of war fills the meeting or a conversation with confusion, blow it away with a breath of prayer. Special called business meetings are often held in Baptist churches to decide the future of their pastor. They usually pack the house. Call an all-night prayer meeting to seek direction for the church, and you can clear the room. Crickets chirping is a poor substitute for the Spirit's Presence.
Note to self: When the more you say it, the less people hear it, stop saying it, and start praying it. They may leave, but The Spirit will stay. Whose presence do you need more? His or theirs. Who needs to exert the greatest influence on your life or in the church? Them or Him? Keep praying.
Recently I read a personal testimony of a man who believes God led him in 2001 to usher in the second Apostolic Age. Interesting. For the past 12 years, he has been appointing apostles to take the place of the one's Jesus called. I am skeptical, but curious. When was the all night prayer meeting held? There has to be a balance between cessationists, and inflationists. If there is, I intend to find it. Those who believe God is through working in power and authority leave little room for hope. Those who call us to look to them and their friends for it, don't give us much either. But I digress.
Jesus was hounded by his enemies with relentless rage. Preachers of the Gospel who have no enemies, may want to check what they are preaching. The Gospel brings peace, but peace is always declared after the end of a war. Preaching that does not stir up a controversy rarely confronts sin. Confronting sin results in conflict. Handling conflict without prayer is like breathing without air. Neither one ends well.
Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, in the face of his enemies. The result of His miracle should be a warning light on the dashboard of many a weary pastor. Too many believe that if they do the right thing, or work harder at everything, people will be happier with them. The Bible says,
"He looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, 'Hold out your hand.' So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! At this, the enemies of Jesus were wild with rage and began to discuss what to do with him."
Luke 6:10-11
PASTOR ALERT: Jesus did the right thing, and yet it filled people with rage. In their estimation, WHAT Jesus did was right thing, but the WAY He did it was wrong. He healed on the wrong day. Opposition to a movement of God is an ancient strategy. The enemy rarely needs Plan B.
MEMBER ALERT: If the devil can't discredit WHAT your pastor did, he will disdain the WAY your pastor did it. The devil is flexible. He will also raise up opposition by reversing the argument. People who cannot make a case against the WAY a pastor did something, can always be influenced to oppose WHAT was done.
The issue is always the same. As it was in the day of Jesus, it is always about control. The devil wants it, and he won't share it. It must be taken from him. Gospel preaching enrages him. Preach it anyway. Before you do, and after you do, bathe it in prayer.
Mountain air will clear your mind, calm your heart, and give you courage for the battle in the valley. No matter WHAT, find a WAY to
TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!