C. Peter Wagner: "Secure the unity of the pastors and other Christian leaders in the area and begin to pray together on a regular basis.
There is no substitute for the unity of the pastors of the city as a foundation for effective spiritual warfare.
The reason for this is that the pastors are the spiritual gatekeepers of the city. This is not to disparage numbers of gifted lay leaders and full- time Christian workers who are not pastors.
But it is to point out that in a given city the highest spiritual authority has been delegated to pastors. If we don't know this, Satan certainly does and he does his best to keep pastors from getting together, especially to pray.
When asked where one starts when attacking the evil influences over a city, Dick Bernal says that it must start with the churches.
'Pray that the pastors of your city will unite in an all out effort
to rid your city of alien entities.' [The Barnal Report, December 1989, p 2]
It is important for pastors to understand that the unity required to take a city for Christ is not doctrinal unity, legal unity, political unity or philosophy of ministry unity, but spiritual unity. The basis is mutual agreement as to who the real enemy is.
Too many pastors have been under the impression that they are
each other's enemy.
This, I am happy to report, is breaking down rapidly and dramatically across our nation. Our country is in too much of a spiritual and social crisis to allow the bickering to continue.
Francis Frangipane says,
'Today God is calling us to cease fighting with one
another and to become a family that fights for each other.'
I couldn't agree more.
[Francis Frangipane, The House of the Lord (Lake Mary, FL: Creation House, 1991), p.146]
Although it might be ideal to think of one hundred percent of the pastors of an area in spiritual agreement and praying together, in many cases that is unrealistic.
If we wait for one hundred percent, we may never get to the battle. It is almost inevitable that certain pastors will be grumpy, indifferent, burned out, hung up on some doctrinal issues or even effectively screened out by the forces of darkness.
Still, it is realistic to expect a consensus of a considerable number of influential pastors who will agree to meet together for two hours once a month or so to pray.
Until that happens, it is not wise to proceed much further. Joel says,
'Gather the elders...into the house of the Lord your God,
and cry out to the Lord; (Joel 1:14).
(Google image added and my emphasis)
#101 Rule #2: The Pastors
By C. Peter Wagner
(pp. 167 - 168) Regal Books
Father, when our leaders plan to start a new work in a community nearby, may we support them with our sincere prayers.
May they seek the support of the pastors there, to begin praying together for the success of the new work.
Thank You for the urgings of Your Holy Spirit for them to come together for spiritual unity, and to hopefully bring renewed hope for the pastors there.
Bless them as they gather at times and learn to pray for one another's ministries, thus breaking down the walls of division
among them.
I ask this in the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.
Today’s Bible verse: Ecc. 2:26 "For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy."
Today’s quote: Dr. Charles F. Stanley -"The apostle Paul gave Timothy instruction on living a life pleasing to the Father. (see 1 Tim. 4:15). Then He added the reminder to be 'absorbed' in these things. We, too, should saturate our minds with the principles of God. The Lord desires that your faith have excitement. He will use your fervor to draw others to Himself
Some thoughts today: In reading 1 John 1:5-2:2, we see that he had been transformed, and wants us to be transformed, too! He had an intimate relationship with Jesus, and recommends our having one, in order to share in his joy.
~ If you'll humble yourself to Christ's authority in your life, you'll find Real Life! Jesus is the official Bridge between God the Father, and mankind. (Read it for yourself here in 1 John 1:5 - 2:2) ~ Jesus was the "test tube" of the Father's image for us. We are to follow His example to begin to know the love of God for us, and to taste His Goodness.
8th- Thursday’s post: #102 Rule #3: The Body of Christ
C. Peter Wagner 10th- Saturday's post: Why Wait? Jean Oathout 11th- Sunday evening's post: Gone. All Gone Sharon Jaynes 13th- Tuesday's post: #103 Rule #4: The Spiritual Preparation C. Peter Wagner  A popular post: What Hardships Do You Need to Go Through? One day Paul is stoned and left for dead in Lystra, and the next day he leaves with Barnabas for the neighboring city of Derbe to preach some more..." |
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