Father's Dream for LI/NYC
"For thus says the LORD, "To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant, To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial, And a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name which will not be cut off. Also the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, To minister to Him, and to love the name of the LORD, To be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the Sabbath and holds fast My covenant; Even those I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples." The Lord GOD, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares, "Yet others I will gather to them, to those already gathered." Isaiah 56:4-8
Father's Dream is Jesus, loved and exalted in all of His Glory, bringing many sons into the Kingdom.
He is the manifestation of "The House of Prayer" that Isaiah saw.
He is the place where all nations converge in worship and prayer.
He is Father's Dream.
Long Island/NYC is part of Father's dream FOR Jesus. It is part of His portion - His inheritance - His reward. The region's rich spiritual heritage as well as its present and future glory has been designed by The Father to be part of a much larger gift fashioned especially for His Son. From the beginning, the region was marked for generosity, wisdom in finances, honor and refuge for the nations, artistic excellence and a sense of familial celebration that extends beyond nationality. Additionally, we we have grown to be a refuge and friend to Israel and the large population of diaspora Jews who dwell among us.
"A global power city, New York exerts a significant impact upon commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment. The home of the United Nations headquarters, New York is an important center for international diplomacy and has been described as the cultural capital of the world." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City#cite_note-culture4-23
While we may not display much of this beauty in the brokenness of our sin, the redemptive purposes of the region are intact and are part of our call in prayer. We are to be what Benjamin Nolot calls "Prophets of Beauty", calling out the true identity of our region. Additionally, we are to be missionaries to the region for the sake of the nations. The NY-Newark Metroplex hosts populations from over 190 nations. What happens here affects the world. Every soul that responds to His gift of salvation is a door to the nations. They are also a reason for celebration in Heaven because each saint is part of the riches of His inheritance. We, as sons and daughters of NYC/LI, are invited to join in with His prayers for the region for the purpose of His Joy and His Great Glory. You see, WE are part of Father's Dream for Jesus.
How does Prayer fit into Father's Dream?
Prayer is the primary activity that we engage in because, in an expression of pure genius, God linked land/regions to the hearts of people and creation itself to our will. The region is intimately affected by our agreements - whether in sin or in prayer. Nothing takes place on earth without agreement of some sort - whether it is agreement with our own mind or the father of lies or the Father of Lights. He has built our agreement into the fabric of His creation. Agreeing prayer is God's ordained government and because of Jesus, we have been restored into an agreeing partnership with God, the Father that releases restorative power through intercession, supplication and declaration. Let's respond to this reality by agreeing with Him in prayer until every soul on this Island is His.Our prayers joined to His prayers matter. They change lives eternally.
Prayer is also one of the love languages of God. It is birthed from God's own love, mercy and compassion. It is always His kindness and generosity, birthed by His own intercession that makes an intercessory mission form. He does the appointing and the anointing. The fact that there is intercession taking place on Long Island and in the region at large is a marker pointing to God's love, initiative and commitment to His Glory.
Historical results of corporate prayer:
Historically, Father has initiated wonderful prayer movements here that have generated remarkable responses from the region. Looking at our past can inspire hope for a richer present and future. Consider the Layman's Prayer Revival, New York 1857-58:
In 1856 a Methodist names William Arthur published a book of fiery sermons which closed with a prayer pleading with God to "Crown this nineteenth century with a revival of pure and undefiled religion...greater than any demonstration of the Spirit ever vouchsafed to man." His prayer was answered when the greatest revival in American history began the next year....In 1857 churches were sliding down hill. Thousands of Americans were disillusioned with Christianity.... America's moral recovery began when Jeremiah Lanphier, a concerned layman, started a noon prayer meeting for New York businessmen. Only six people came to the first prayer meeting on September 23, 1857 on the third floor of the "Consistory" of the Old Dutch Reformed Church on Fulton Street. By spring daily prayer meetings sprang up in many locations and daily attendance grew to 10,000. America's greatest Spiritual awakening was under way. It was called the Layman's Prayer Revival because laymen led it. ~Oliver Price http://www.openheaven.com/library/history/newyork.htm
That weak little prayer effort yielded 1,000's upon 1,000's of souls who saw the great worth of Christ and were added to God's kingdom. The region has since seen many other smaller "moves" of God's mercy through prayer efforts and leadership from all denominations. We, along with so many others in the area, are merely "re-digging" those "wells" so Jesus, the Lamb of God, receives the full "reward of His sufferings".
The current worship/prayer movement was not initiated by our brilliance but by the Lord in His mercy. It is simply our appointed time to respond as a generation by adding our prayers and tears to the prayers of those who have gone before us. Allowing history to tutor us, we look at the "Layman's Prayer Revival" as a catalyzing marker of encouragement. Surely, if a daily, one hour prayer meeting could spark revival in the 19th Century (and this is only one example), then how much more can a 24/7 regional prayer-mission base, partnered with Island-wide responses in varied worship communities, release in our day? Perhaps, that is why Father spoke His dream for Jesus to be experienced as a House of Prayer into our hearts. He wants us to take up the baton; to hunger and thirst for the "more of Him" that we both need and desire.
It’s no great revelation that the New York Metroplex needs a shift in its spiritual climate. Her people are desperate to know the God who is True Love. We see prayer, in faith, as a servant to releasing that love. Agreement with God and each other in prayer is like turning on a light switch that releases and reveals God’s powerful affection; in this case releasing a revelation of love, reformation and restoration to broken people and darkened circumstances.
In summary, how is building a location-based House of Prayer part of Father's Dream?
So...we pray for and labor toward building central "prayer furnace"; a place where the flame of devotional love can be nurtured and fueled by focus and longevity in a sustained, worship-filled-prayer-filled environment. We trust that the spiritual climate here will shift as we continue to engage with and agree corporately with the Father's Dream over the region.
God truly cares so deeply for our families, our schools, our communities. His Love tugs on our hearts, calling on us to engage with Him in Prayer so that together, we can release power and compassion as practical expressions of mercy and social justice . . . and again, this is why we’re building a House of Prayer on Long Island. It’s merely a reasonable response to the extravagant, compassionate invitation we've been given to partner with God.
Keep this in mind . . . it is always prayer that precedes the movements of God. God created us, in His image, to “rule” with Him by joining in agreement through prayer. (Genesis 1, 1 Kings 8, Psalm 115.) It's our best hope for change . . .
"For thus says the LORD, "To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant, To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial, And a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name which will not be cut off. Also the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, To minister to Him, and to love the name of the LORD, To be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the Sabbath and holds fast My covenant; Even those I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples." The Lord GOD, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares, "Yet others I will gather to them, to those already gathered." Isaiah 56:4-8
Father's Dream is Jesus, loved and exalted in all of His Glory, bringing many sons into the Kingdom.
He is the manifestation of "The House of Prayer" that Isaiah saw.
He is the place where all nations converge in worship and prayer.
He is Father's Dream.
Long Island/NYC is part of Father's dream FOR Jesus. It is part of His portion - His inheritance - His reward. The region's rich spiritual heritage as well as its present and future glory has been designed by The Father to be part of a much larger gift fashioned especially for His Son. From the beginning, the region was marked for generosity, wisdom in finances, honor and refuge for the nations, artistic excellence and a sense of familial celebration that extends beyond nationality. Additionally, we we have grown to be a refuge and friend to Israel and the large population of diaspora Jews who dwell among us.
"A global power city, New York exerts a significant impact upon commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment. The home of the United Nations headquarters, New York is an important center for international diplomacy and has been described as the cultural capital of the world." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City#cite_note-culture4-23
While we may not display much of this beauty in the brokenness of our sin, the redemptive purposes of the region are intact and are part of our call in prayer. We are to be what Benjamin Nolot calls "Prophets of Beauty", calling out the true identity of our region. Additionally, we are to be missionaries to the region for the sake of the nations. The NY-Newark Metroplex hosts populations from over 190 nations. What happens here affects the world. Every soul that responds to His gift of salvation is a door to the nations. They are also a reason for celebration in Heaven because each saint is part of the riches of His inheritance. We, as sons and daughters of NYC/LI, are invited to join in with His prayers for the region for the purpose of His Joy and His Great Glory. You see, WE are part of Father's Dream for Jesus.
How does Prayer fit into Father's Dream?
Prayer is the primary activity that we engage in because, in an expression of pure genius, God linked land/regions to the hearts of people and creation itself to our will. The region is intimately affected by our agreements - whether in sin or in prayer. Nothing takes place on earth without agreement of some sort - whether it is agreement with our own mind or the father of lies or the Father of Lights. He has built our agreement into the fabric of His creation. Agreeing prayer is God's ordained government and because of Jesus, we have been restored into an agreeing partnership with God, the Father that releases restorative power through intercession, supplication and declaration. Let's respond to this reality by agreeing with Him in prayer until every soul on this Island is His.Our prayers joined to His prayers matter. They change lives eternally.
Prayer is also one of the love languages of God. It is birthed from God's own love, mercy and compassion. It is always His kindness and generosity, birthed by His own intercession that makes an intercessory mission form. He does the appointing and the anointing. The fact that there is intercession taking place on Long Island and in the region at large is a marker pointing to God's love, initiative and commitment to His Glory.
Historical results of corporate prayer:
Historically, Father has initiated wonderful prayer movements here that have generated remarkable responses from the region. Looking at our past can inspire hope for a richer present and future. Consider the Layman's Prayer Revival, New York 1857-58:
In 1856 a Methodist names William Arthur published a book of fiery sermons which closed with a prayer pleading with God to "Crown this nineteenth century with a revival of pure and undefiled religion...greater than any demonstration of the Spirit ever vouchsafed to man." His prayer was answered when the greatest revival in American history began the next year....In 1857 churches were sliding down hill. Thousands of Americans were disillusioned with Christianity.... America's moral recovery began when Jeremiah Lanphier, a concerned layman, started a noon prayer meeting for New York businessmen. Only six people came to the first prayer meeting on September 23, 1857 on the third floor of the "Consistory" of the Old Dutch Reformed Church on Fulton Street. By spring daily prayer meetings sprang up in many locations and daily attendance grew to 10,000. America's greatest Spiritual awakening was under way. It was called the Layman's Prayer Revival because laymen led it. ~Oliver Price http://www.openheaven.com/library/history/newyork.htm
That weak little prayer effort yielded 1,000's upon 1,000's of souls who saw the great worth of Christ and were added to God's kingdom. The region has since seen many other smaller "moves" of God's mercy through prayer efforts and leadership from all denominations. We, along with so many others in the area, are merely "re-digging" those "wells" so Jesus, the Lamb of God, receives the full "reward of His sufferings".
The current worship/prayer movement was not initiated by our brilliance but by the Lord in His mercy. It is simply our appointed time to respond as a generation by adding our prayers and tears to the prayers of those who have gone before us. Allowing history to tutor us, we look at the "Layman's Prayer Revival" as a catalyzing marker of encouragement. Surely, if a daily, one hour prayer meeting could spark revival in the 19th Century (and this is only one example), then how much more can a 24/7 regional prayer-mission base, partnered with Island-wide responses in varied worship communities, release in our day? Perhaps, that is why Father spoke His dream for Jesus to be experienced as a House of Prayer into our hearts. He wants us to take up the baton; to hunger and thirst for the "more of Him" that we both need and desire.
It’s no great revelation that the New York Metroplex needs a shift in its spiritual climate. Her people are desperate to know the God who is True Love. We see prayer, in faith, as a servant to releasing that love. Agreement with God and each other in prayer is like turning on a light switch that releases and reveals God’s powerful affection; in this case releasing a revelation of love, reformation and restoration to broken people and darkened circumstances.
In summary, how is building a location-based House of Prayer part of Father's Dream?
- First, He is worthy of the fire of unceasing adoration
- It is also a reminder that He desires intimate love with all of us... 24-7
- Corporate, 24-7, Worship-filled Prayer expressed here on earth is a lens into what is occurring around His Throne eternally
- Nothing of eternal worth happens outside of the context of agreement in prayer. If we want to see His Kingdom expressed and released here on earth, it must be conceived and manifested by the means of faith expressed in prayer that is birthed from Heaven
- There are a gagillion benefits to having a "house of fiery love" open around the clock for all who are tired, hungry, thirsty and lovesick to pour their hearts out before the Lord
- Love inspires Love, music inspires music, art inspires art, kindness inspires kindness and prayer inspires prayer
- ________ (your added reasons)
So...we pray for and labor toward building central "prayer furnace"; a place where the flame of devotional love can be nurtured and fueled by focus and longevity in a sustained, worship-filled-prayer-filled environment. We trust that the spiritual climate here will shift as we continue to engage with and agree corporately with the Father's Dream over the region.
God truly cares so deeply for our families, our schools, our communities. His Love tugs on our hearts, calling on us to engage with Him in Prayer so that together, we can release power and compassion as practical expressions of mercy and social justice . . . and again, this is why we’re building a House of Prayer on Long Island. It’s merely a reasonable response to the extravagant, compassionate invitation we've been given to partner with God.
Keep this in mind . . . it is always prayer that precedes the movements of God. God created us, in His image, to “rule” with Him by joining in agreement through prayer. (Genesis 1, 1 Kings 8, Psalm 115.) It's our best hope for change . . .
