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"Go west to the land of Cyprus; go east to the land of Kedar. Think about what you see there. See if anyone has ever
heard of anything as strange as this. Has any nation ever exchanged its gods for another god, even though its gods
are nothing? Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols! The heavens are shocked at
such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay, says the Lord. For my people have done two evil things: They
have forsaken me the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no
water at all! Jeremiah 2:10-13 (NLT)
God was speaking to the Children of Israel, incredulous that they had an omnipotent God at their disposal and they chose, rather, to call on worthless idols.You might be wondering how this relates to modern times or what significance this might have since we no longer have graven images that we bow down to.
We have at our disposal a God of power, a God who can bring people to their knees, a God who can change any situation, bring healing, do miracles, change leaders, even change the heart of a whole nation. Yet we forsake this power and instead we exchange it for something that has no power, a worthless idol. The power, the "living water" that we have given up is daily corporate prayer. "I also tell you this: If two of you agree down here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them." Matthew 18:19-20 (NLT)
This is a tremendous amount of power, that God will do anything we ask when we agree together in prayer. Yet, how often do we do this, monthly, weekly? How often did the early Church do this?
A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved. Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o'clock prayer service. Acts 2:43-3:1 (NLT) They met together daily, actually several times daily, according to the traditional Jewish prayer times. That's why there was miraculous signs and wonders and people were added to their number daily. They experienced the true power of God because they were of a single mind and purpose to do God's will. They weren't concerned about anything else. This was a fellowship of believers that was pure and without idols.
In contrast to todays fellowships, who's traditions have dictated that we are to meet one day a week, and if your really spiritual on Wednesdays, too. Then we are to sit and listen to a formal song service and preaching, devoid of any true koinonia(deep meaningful fellowship). In fact, we are to dress up, look our best and put on a facade that discourages us from being who we really are. There is a little corporate prayer thrown in so God will bless the service and the offering. So many people are dying in the Christian walk because they are smothered by this incredulous tradition that encourages a lack of daily commitment and allows us to walk around with no power, and living in sin and defeat.
What would we say about a church today that came together daily for prayer and worship and met in each others homes every day for teaching and fellowship? Would you be too busy to be involved? Thankfully the disciples and the early Church wasn't, for if they had been Christianity would have died out.
Other religions understand the importance of commitment, Jews pray 3 times a day, Muslims 5 times a day, we think we are doing well if we get together once a week.
If we practiced daily prayer together we would be invoking the most powerful way to bring people to Christ, to change our own lives to live in power and righteousness, and to change our neighborhoods and cities for Christ. Instead we use man-made programs that are proven "church builders". That is the cracked cistern that we have traded for the fountain of living water. Not only does this cistern not hold water but it has become stagnant, with the church members inside living in immorality with attitudes that are not pleasing to God and treating each other in a way that destroys our witness to the outside world.
The four fundamental problems in the church are:
•Prayer is almost non-existent.
•True Fellowship is discouraged by the aesthetic atmosphere that tradition dictates.
•Teaching is weak and full of man-made pet doctrines.
•Using the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given you are not encouraged by the leadership of the church.
I believe Satan has systematically fought against these because they all pose a serious threat to him.
Every great revival of the past has employed the principal of daily gathering people for the purpose of prayer, from the Disciples at Pentecost to our own modern revivals. When we see prayer restored we also see koinoinia fellowship, teachings centered on Christ, and the power of God restored.
Why is it that we don't get together to use the power of prayer that God would so freely give us upon asking? It is because of idols in our lives. Not the kind you carve out of wood or stone and bow down to, but the intangible kind such as work, family, TV, entertainment, just being too busy. How can I say that these are idols in your life? Because you refuse to take the time to do what would make a difference in eternity, but you have time do all these other things. Therefore, they are more important to you than God's work.
Three important questions: What is your idol? What would you say to someone who would ask you to pray with them everyday? Would you ask someone to pray with you?
God was speaking to the Children of Israel, incredulous that they had an omnipotent God at their disposal and they chose, rather, to call on worthless idols.You might be wondering how this relates to modern times or what significance this might have since we no longer have graven images that we bow down to.
We have at our disposal a God of power, a God who can bring people to their knees, a God who can change any situation, bring healing, do miracles, change leaders, even change the heart of a whole nation. Yet we forsake this power and instead we exchange it for something that has no power, a worthless idol. The power, the "living water" that we have given up is daily corporate prayer. "I also tell you this: If two of you agree down here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them." Matthew 18:19-20 (NLT)
This is a tremendous amount of power, that God will do anything we ask when we agree together in prayer. Yet, how often do we do this, monthly, weekly? How often did the early Church do this?
A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved. Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o'clock prayer service. Acts 2:43-3:1 (NLT) They met together daily, actually several times daily, according to the traditional Jewish prayer times. That's why there was miraculous signs and wonders and people were added to their number daily. They experienced the true power of God because they were of a single mind and purpose to do God's will. They weren't concerned about anything else. This was a fellowship of believers that was pure and without idols.
In contrast to todays fellowships, who's traditions have dictated that we are to meet one day a week, and if your really spiritual on Wednesdays, too. Then we are to sit and listen to a formal song service and preaching, devoid of any true koinonia(deep meaningful fellowship). In fact, we are to dress up, look our best and put on a facade that discourages us from being who we really are. There is a little corporate prayer thrown in so God will bless the service and the offering. So many people are dying in the Christian walk because they are smothered by this incredulous tradition that encourages a lack of daily commitment and allows us to walk around with no power, and living in sin and defeat.
What would we say about a church today that came together daily for prayer and worship and met in each others homes every day for teaching and fellowship? Would you be too busy to be involved? Thankfully the disciples and the early Church wasn't, for if they had been Christianity would have died out.
Other religions understand the importance of commitment, Jews pray 3 times a day, Muslims 5 times a day, we think we are doing well if we get together once a week.
If we practiced daily prayer together we would be invoking the most powerful way to bring people to Christ, to change our own lives to live in power and righteousness, and to change our neighborhoods and cities for Christ. Instead we use man-made programs that are proven "church builders". That is the cracked cistern that we have traded for the fountain of living water. Not only does this cistern not hold water but it has become stagnant, with the church members inside living in immorality with attitudes that are not pleasing to God and treating each other in a way that destroys our witness to the outside world.
The four fundamental problems in the church are:
•Prayer is almost non-existent.
•True Fellowship is discouraged by the aesthetic atmosphere that tradition dictates.
•Teaching is weak and full of man-made pet doctrines.
•Using the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given you are not encouraged by the leadership of the church.
I believe Satan has systematically fought against these because they all pose a serious threat to him.
Every great revival of the past has employed the principal of daily gathering people for the purpose of prayer, from the Disciples at Pentecost to our own modern revivals. When we see prayer restored we also see koinoinia fellowship, teachings centered on Christ, and the power of God restored.
Why is it that we don't get together to use the power of prayer that God would so freely give us upon asking? It is because of idols in our lives. Not the kind you carve out of wood or stone and bow down to, but the intangible kind such as work, family, TV, entertainment, just being too busy. How can I say that these are idols in your life? Because you refuse to take the time to do what would make a difference in eternity, but you have time do all these other things. Therefore, they are more important to you than God's work.
Three important questions: What is your idol? What would you say to someone who would ask you to pray with them everyday? Would you ask someone to pray with you?
Cracked Cisterns