Our staff at CPC often reads through a book together. We then meet and dialogue about our findings. This has been one of the most profitable things we’ve done together.
Recently, we began reading Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire. This book was written years ago, and both myself and Tim had already read it in the past. But we thought that it could be helpful to go through it once again, together as a team.
The book tells the story about the Brooklyn Tabernacle, a church in New York City. This church has been incredibly influential in the community, and God has used its music to make a difference globally. It has grown to become one of the largest churches in the US. The amazing thing about the story of success how simple they kept things.
Jim Cymbala, founding pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle and author of the book, discusses many things that worked in getting the ministry going. But it all came back to one simple element: prayer. It seems that almost on every page, prayer is mentioned or highlighted again and again.
The church prayed. The pastors prayed. The choir prayed. Everyone was praying! And God blessed those prayers in an incredible way.
He talked about the effectiveness of prayer and how it was one of Satan’s key targets against our spiritual life:
Satan’s main strategy with God’s people has always been to whisper, “Don’t call on God to do great things. You’ll get along fine if you just rely on your own cleverness and energy.”
Pin drop. Drip, drip, drip…
That silence was my response when I read that paragraph. Why? Because I am guilty of this FAR TOO OFTEN.
He goes on further:
The truth of the matter is that the devil is not terribly frightened of our human efforts and credentials. But he knows his kingdom will be damaged when we lift up our hearts to God.
This book really caused some introspection. I pray, but do I really pray? Am I regularly on my face before God lifting up the needs of my family, my friends, our people? I need to be. It isn’t an option – it is an essential.
Every pastor wants his church to be a praying church, but it must start with him. If prayer is an essential to the pastor – something that fuels him and gives him passion and perspective – it will be contagious to the congregation. If pastors don’t pray, churches won’t pray. If our churches aren’t praying, we’re in serious trouble.
Check out this zinger by Cymbala on the subject:
If our churches don’t pray, and if people don’t have an appetite for God, what does it matter how many are attending the services? How would that impress God? Can you imagine the angels saying, “Oh your pews! We can’t believe how beautiful they are! Up here in heaven, we’ve been talking about them for years. Your sanctuary lighting – it’s so clever…” I don’t think so.
As I read this book again, God has challenged my heart in this area – big time. I hope I can be the type of pastor that leads out in this area in such a way that those around me catch a unwavering passion for it as well. After all, what is more important to a human soul than communication with God?
Get a copy of the book by clicking here.
Read a bio on Jim and Carol Cymbala here.
