Happy Caldwell - Saving our cities : you can change your city for God

Contents

Introduction

God wants to be the God of every city in the world! Think for a moment about the cities in the various nations of the earth. Jerusalem means "City of Peace. Christopher Columbus named the first place he set foot in Central America San Salvador, which means "City of our Holy Savior." Then think for a moment what God intended for the nation of England, as it is stately named, "The United Kingdom," or America, which is called "The United States." It is time for us, as the body of Christ, to grasp and fulfill the vision God intends for the cities and nations of the earth!

We have many examples here in America: Los Angeles means "The City of Angels"; Corpus Christi, "The Body of Christ"; Salem, "Peace." If you will take the time to research the history of your city, you may find somewhere along the line that God had a part in the founding of it.

There is an interesting theme that runs throughout the Word of God God is a God of cities, and He has a specific order for us to follow in preaching the gospel to our cities. For instance, in the book of Acts, we can read the last commission Jesus gave the disciples before the Holy Spirit descended:

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 1:8

Many times when we read that verse, we only focus on the first half of the paragraph. Some of us get so caught up in the power of God that we forget what to do with it. It is important that we receive the power of the Holy Spirit, but notice the reason: to be witnesses in our city (Jerusalem); state or province (Judaea); nation (Samaria); and elsewhere in the world!

All through the New Testament, we are exhorted to heed the words of Jesus and to keep them in the midst of our hearts and minds. In Acts 1:8, we see a precedent Jesus has set for us to follow in ministering the power of the Holy Spirit to the people of the earth: first to the city, then the state or province, then the nation and elsewhere in the earth.

We see that God cares about the nations, but what makes up a nation? What makes up a state or province? It's not the scenery. It's not the industry or the wildlife. It's the cities!

The term "city" does not refer to buildings and utilities and transportation. The term "city" is defined as an "organized population center ." When you look at your city, it does not just consist of the skyscrapers, the post office, or the general store. People make up your city. Just like the church is not a building but a group of people, your city is the people. Remember this: God is a God of people and people make up cities. There are no cities without people, only empty blocks of cement and asphalt.

Many have endeavored to reach a city. However, after the newness, the excitement, and the momentum were gone, so was the commitment. For this reason, probably the most important chapters, and at the same time the least exciting, are the ones that deal with character, diligence, integrity, and commitment. The roots of character are what hold a spiritual tree in the ground as it grows. Without character, there will never be any lasting work to reach your city.

In 1979, when God told us to build a church in Little Rock, specifically a spiritual production center , He not only told us, "I will deliver the city into your hands for the preaching of the gospel," but He also told me I was not the first preacher He had called to do what He wanted done. He told me I was the seventh.

That is pretty humbling when you know you were not God's first choice! I asked Him who the others were and why they failed. He not only showed me who they were, but He showed me where each church had made its mistake so I would not make the same ones.

I don't pretend to suggest others have not made a difference in their cities. They have. I also am not suggesting that we have a Christian city or a perfect city. We don't yet. However, I know the principles and formulas I am sharing in this book have worked in our city.

I have waited several years before writing this book. I wanted to prove that God is a God of cities before I wrote about it, because God tells us to prove Him (Malachi 3:10). He does not worry; He cannot lie; and if we trust Him, apply His Word, and don't get weary in well doing, we shall reap.

It takes hard work and diligence to accomplish a vision. It takes honesty and integrity to stay humble and small in your own eyes. You must always remind yourself that it is not you, but God working through you, that has wrought the victory.

You are strategically placed in your city for a purpose. You are there because God created you and He has something for you to do. He has placed your church there for a reason and a purpose. He has placed your pastor there for a reason and a purpose. That purpose is to advance the kingdom of God according to His plan for your city.

Not only do I have a vision for my city, but I also believe I have found a scripture about "Little Rock" in the Bible! In Matthew 16:18 Jesus said to Peter, Thou art Peter [rock], and upon this [little rock] I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Well, in the records at the court house in Little Rock, Arkansas, it is recorded that the city name is "Little Rock," and the township in which it is located is called "Big Rock." How about that!

I don't believe it was a coincidence that I was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. I love our city. Many times when my wife and I fly in and out of Little Rock, we are blessed when we see the skyline, the office buildings, and the homes that the people occupy. Something happens in our hearts when we look at our city. God has given us this city in the Spirit. Little Rock, Arkansas, is on the inside of us, in our hearts. Even though we don't know all the people living here, we have laid down our lives for them.

There are approximately half a million people in the metroplex where we minister. These people have the same choice as any other populated citythey must decide if Jesus is to be their Lord or not. My wife, myself , and our church have been placed by God to be a visible pathway for them. We believe with all our hearts that "Jesus is Lord over Little Rock...and your city too!"

Chapter 1

EdenA City of Beginnings

Although men build cities today, God built the first city. In Genesis 2:8, we read: And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Most of the time when we read this scripture, we only think of the garden of Eden, but God says He planted a garden eastward in Eden.

The city of Eden was real and God built it. The name Eden means, "City of Beginnings" or "City of Peace." The city of Eden was planned by God to be a city of peace, delight, and pleasantness. Eden was a beginning. Then, God planted a garden east in that city and placed the man whom He had formed in it. You might say Adam was the first suburbanite!

Archaeologists discovered and excavated a city which the Babylonians called " Eridu ." The name of this city translated in English is "Eden." When the British excavated Eden in 1918, the statement they included in their findings was that the city was extremely prosperous. Ancient writings say, "Near Eridu [Eden] was a garden, in which was a mysterious sacred tree, a tree of life, planted by God, whose roots were deep, while its branches reached to heaven, protected by guardian spirits, and no man enters." (See Halley's Bible Handbook, Archaeological Note: Eridu , Traditional Garden of Eden, pp. 65 ,66 .)

If we read further in Genesis 2, we find that a river flowed out from the city of Eden to water the Garden; and from the Garden it divided into four heads. The geology surrounding these four rivers was of very high quality: gold, pearl and onyx (Genesis 2:10-14). Located on the Persian Gulf, Eden was the house of man, animals, and most of our fruits and vegetables. Eden was the cradle of civilization.