The Harvest School of Prayer is a 10 week journey that changes your prayer life forever (hopefully).  The graduation of the first Kileleshwa Covenant Community Church (K3C) School of Prayer was this past weekend at Jumuia Conference and Resort Centre in Limuru.  I am convinced the temperatures there got to sub-zero…it was freezing!

What comes to your mind when you think of Spiritual Warfare?  Is it a mystical, goose-bumpish affair reserved for those strange fellows who hover around the Intercessory prayer room?  Does it end when we say Amen?!  I found out that Spiritual Warfare and a lifestyle of prayer is a full time function for every Christian.  Very eye opening.  What has it been for you?

The Harvest School of Prayer is now running at the Kileleshwa Covenant Community Church on Saturday morning from 8am for the next 9 weeks.  It promises to be an awesome experience for all of us who signed up but I am convinced the effect of the journey will be felt by the entire church too.

The Bible does say that the church is a ‘house of prayer‘ so it should be disturbing that prayer meetings are usually the least attended.

I would love to hear about exceptions in your area.

It bothers every time I hear a church’s success being equated to its growth in numbers or financial giving. I don’t believe that this is God’s metric for success in ministry. I was grieved to discover that a Pastor I hold in high esteem felt that one of his churches was failing due to its failure to become self-sustaining.

Like any other organization, the Church must return to its Mission and Vision statements as a guide for measuring its success. Unless the objectives encapsulated in its mission include growing to 2,000 people in 2 years, that metric has no place in the evaluation of its success. If financial stability is a chief consideration, but is not a key objective within its Mission, then the Church should look into ways of establishing income generating projects. This happens to be an approach I favor.

But what income generating projects should a church seek to establish?  There are many options available but I feel they do not include charging the congregation for access to the basic ‘equipment’ for successful Christian living. Ephesians 4:12 says in reference to the leadership of the church that, ‘Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.’  Every Church must include in its mission the instructions in Ephesians 4:11-12 and should ensure the cost of accessing the ‘equipment’ is zero.  For instance, Prayer is essential in the Christian faith and is an area in which every believer needs to be well equipped in. Charging people a fee to learn how to pray is just plain wrong. Charging for prayer is even worse (premium service prayer hot-lines for instance). Income generating projects must not include anything that can be described as ‘equipping the saints for the work of the ministry’.

I figure that any church looking to start income generating projects should consider setting up a kindergarten / day care as a service to the congregation and the community in the area. A coffee shop is another idea that would do well depending on the location of the church. And how about a tape/book table?  There are many creative ways a church can raise money to meet its objectives.

The more churches push essential services into the income generating bracket, the worse they do at meeting their real objectives. Consequently, no matter how big the church grows in numbers, the believers attending that church would never grow to the level God wants for them to be. The church’s leadership would be failing terribly. The role of the church is to provide, as a free service, any thing that qualifies to be labeled under ‘equipping the saints for the work of the ministry’ and the success of the church should be in how well its members are equipped. All 10 or all 10,000 of them.

I hate to admit it.  But its true.  I do have a mask for just about every occasion. I have a mask for church, for public places, for close encounters with people I hold in high esteem…. The list is endless. Tragically, I have a face for prayer. It sounds dumb that anyone can put on a face for God but I probably do it more than I think.

I caught myself praying with my ‘prayer voice’ and face contorted to capture my sincerity. All the for the benefit of He who sees beyond my face and into my heart. How can I have a meaningful prayer life when I fail to be real with Him?

As long as I am putting on a mask, I can’t hear God speak to me. I am too concerned about whether my pronunciation sounded holy enough or my voice spiritual enough to actually here His still small voice.

It is important for me to be real before God because any other way is a pointless performance.

I think sometimes we sugar coat too much. In asking myself the question, ‘What are some of the ways that I have rebelled against God in the past?’ I find myself wondering why we don’t just say ‘How have you SINNED in the past?’. Sin is basically anything I say, think or do that doesn’t please God (Sunday school definition). I still sin.  I’m not perfect…yet.   I can’t fix myself up, that’s what God does for me.

If it is true (and it is) that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and it is true that the wages of sin is death but the Gift of God eternal life through Christ Jesus, then my past is summarized this way.

I did stuff that didn’t please God everyday. It was sin. The bill for my sin was certain death (spiritual and physical) and condemnation to hell where there is eternal torment (forever and ever and ever….) I tried to fix it by hanging out with my pals and seeking their acceptance and by being good. I was up Hell River without a paddle. But God had already paid the price for my sins. I had racked up quite a bill but there is no sin too small or too great for God. All I did was accept the Gift and walk into freedom and eternal life. Escapism at its best. Escaped Hell and I’m heading into Heaven. I can be sure of that one thing. Had I not done what Romans 10:9&10 says, I’d be doomed.

Like I said, I’m not perfect.  I still sin I’m just not in the business of practicing sin.  But I’m at the right place.  I’m on the path which leads to eternal life.  The right path. The path on which the price for my sin is already paid.

If you’ve never believed in your heart and said with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, you’re on the wrong path my friend. Today is the day for you, make this prayer and send me an email about it, I’d be thrilled to hear from you.

Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner. I can do nothing to save myself from my sin. Thank you for dying on the cross and shedding Your precious blood to pay the price for me. Now I turn from my wicked ways and ask you to forgive me. Please come into my heart and life and become my personal Lord and Saviour. I thank and praise you for hearing my prayer and making me a child of God. I will worship and serve you for the rest of my days. Amen.