In my previous blog I listed 10 Growth Principles so let’s examine the last two, number nine and ten.
9. Healthy Churches saturate everything in prayer. They don’t just talk about praying they pray. They believe in the power of prayer to change impossible situations and people. They pray for lost people by name, future leaders for their church, finances and resources to do more for Christ. They know that if anything eternal is going to happen it will be because of God’s power not our savvy methodologies.
Why are we surprised by this one? Do we really believe that the Lord desires to answer our prayers and bless His church? Acts 2:42 says,
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
The growth of the church in Acts was directly related to their dependency on prayer. When we work we get what we can do, but when we pray we get what God can do. Which would you rather have? Sometimes we treat prayer as simply another activity that we just have to do rather than passionately believing that when we ask God to bless His church, He will.
Whatever the barriers that are hindering your church can be overcome by the power of prayer.
10. Healthy Churches believe in 1 Corinthians 3:6. That verse says, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” They know that it is the touch of the Holy Spirit upon a congregation that causes growth and vitality. That anointing is sought by growing churches and when it comes, God receives all the credit and glory.
Healthy churches know that it is God who gives the increase. This verse does indicate that we have an important part as we are faithful in planting the seed (God’s Word) and watering it, but the growth is up to the Lord. If we will be faithful in sowing good seed and believing in the power of prayer, God will bless His church.
What can you do as a leader to move your church to new levels of health?
I would love to hear some of your ideas!
Keep the Son in Your Eyes,
Mike James
