John Eckhardt - Crusaders church : a house of prayer for all nations

Contents

Preface

"M ost nations possess an innate sense of being birthed by a determined spirit that is bigger than a purely human agency. It is a divine consciousness of destiny often enshrined in anthems, national pledges, and constitutions. Whether it is acknowledged as divine or not, history eventually vindicates the sovereign hand of God in the affairs of men...If God's covenant is reflected in your nation through its name, its motto, its constitution, its national pledge, its prayers or some other national symbolyou must take it seriously. (Peter Morgan, The Nations, pp. 28,116).

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us.

Acts 17:26 ,27

God has a purpose for different nations. He desires for the nations to be an appropriate place for men to be able to seek after Him. He has determined the boundaries of nations for this purpose. The nations are created by God to provide a context in which men can find Him. Nations are responsible to provide law and order for the effective proclamation of the Gospel.

Peter Morgan, in his book, The Nations, states, "When a nation reaches a point where the community no longer serves as a context within which its citizens can hear and respond to the gospel, that nation has violated its purpose for existence. God does a nation and its people a favor by quick destruction rather than leaving it to gradually and painfully destroy itself" (p. 80).

This is why we are admonished to pray for all men, for kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty (1 Timothy 2:1,2). God would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

In order to be saved, men must have an opportunity to hear the Gospel and respond to it. Peace provides a context in which the Gospel can effectively be preached. Satan attempts to pervert God's purpose for nations by causing confusion and anarchy through wars and political instability. He also attempts to persuade governments to pass laws that hinder evangelism and prevent the preaching of the Gospel.

He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth;

he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder;

he burneth the chariot in the fire.

Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 46:9 ,10

Our prayers are necessary to see God's will done in the nations, neutralize the plans of darkness, and release the will of God. We must pray for the nations. We are commissioned to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). God has chosen us to be a part of His plan for the nations. This revelation and insight will help you fulfill your part in God's great, universal plan for the nations.

For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

Isaiah 61:11

Crusaders Church: A House of Prayer for All Nations

Chapter 1

A House of Prayer for All Nations: The Scriptural Basis

Raising Up Apostolic Houses of Prayer to Impact the Nations

First, we need to give the saints a scriptural basis for praying for the nations. Everything we do must be based on the Word of God.

Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

Isaiah 56:7

This verse is the scriptural basis for God's house being a house of prayer for all people. Jesus quoted this verse when he entered the temple and drove out the moneychangers. It is obvious that Satan has always desired to turn the house of God into anything but a "house of prayer.

The Church today is the house of David, and God is rebuilding the tabernacle of David. God has promised to pour upon the house of David, the spirit of grace and supplication.

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications....

Zechariah 12:10

This is a spirit of prayer and a spirit of favor. In other words, God will favor our petitions. David is a type of the apostolic and prophetic churches God is raising up around the world. The tabernacle of David is being rebuilt to cause the nations to seek after God.

After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

Acts 15:16 ,17

Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.

Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.

Declare his glory among the heathen: his marvelous works among all nations.

Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth .

1 Chronicles 16:7 ,23,24,28,31

This is the psalm that David delivered to the hand of Asaph after he brought the ark into Jerusalem from the house of Obed -Edom. Notice the many references to the nations. King David had a prophetic revelation concerning God's plan for the nations, and David was known as a man after God's own heart. The heart of God is in the nations.

Authors, Bill and Amy Stearns have stated, "Perhaps David's constant reference in his Psalms to the 'peoples' and 'the ends of the earth' suggest why he became a 'man after God's own heart'the heart that yearns after the world's lost" (p. 72).

The tabernacle of David must have the spirit of David who concluded his prayers with a prayer for the nations.

And blessed be his glorious name for ever and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and

Amen.

The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

Psalm 72:19 ,20

David subdued his enemies, and God has promised to subdue the nations under our feet (Psalm 47:3).

The prayers of an apostolic church will affect the nations. Our prayers will cause the residue of men to seek after God.

The second thing the saints need to know is that the nations are a part of our inheritance. We are joint heirs with Christ. The nations and all the people therein belong to the Lord.

The earth is the LORD'S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Psalm 24:1

Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.

Deuteronomy 10:14

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.

Colossians 1:16

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ....

Romans 8:16 ,17

The apostolic ministry is designed to bring us into a place of maturity in order to receive our full inheritance. This is the principle of Sonship . God sends forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts whereby we cry, "Abba Father" (Galatians 4:6).