Open Doors
Today, as the Underground, we come together in prayer and fasting. Every great move of God in the Bible and throughout history begins with Extraordinary Prayer and Fasting. From the other side of eternity, we will find that the most influential people were not, perhaps, Presidents or Prime Ministers but the people who walked with God through passionate prayer.
Strategic Focus: Open Doors
Paul celebrated that both in Ephesus (1 Cor 16:9) and in Troas (2 Cor 2:12) the Lord “opened a door.” At a key moment in the life of the early church, as they moved forward to possess new ground, they celebrated that God had “opened a door of faith to the Gentiles (Acts 14:27).”
Of course, none of these passages refer to an actual physical door being opened in those locations, although the Lord did send an angel to do just that, as well, on one occasion to bust the apostle out of jail (Acts 5:19). In these passages, it’s a turn of phrase, a metaphor describing something that they sensed had happened in the spiritual realm...Open Hearts, Open Homes, and Open Heavens in an entire city or people group!
We will ask the Lord to open a door in our context and our city.
Today’s Scripture:
Acts 2:17-21, 37-39
Read:
“‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
-Acts 2:17-21When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
-Acts 2:37-39
Move #1: Missionary Reflection
Meditate on this passage as a Missionary in your context. Consider the following questions:
What would it mean for the Spirit to be poured out on ALL PEOPLE in your context?
What vision and dreams might the Spirit be giving to people in your context right now?
What signs and wonders might the Spirit bring to your context?
Envision in your mind’s eye the various faces of
men and women in your context. Consider the “demographics” highlighted in this passage: young men and women, old men and women. See the Spirit being poured out on them.
Make note of Your Impressions and Observations.
Move #2: Pray Strategically
1. Turn those observations and impressions into prayers. (i.e., Sarah seems to have a passion for the homeless. Lord, help here to see that is a vision from you. Jim has been sick for two weeks. Lord, I pray you will heal him in a way that he will know it’s a sign from you.)
2. Pray for individuals from your context by name. Pray they will call on the name of the Lord and be saved.
3. Pray for the Spirit to be poured out on all people in your context. Consider Peter’s words, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Pray for repentance, baptisms, forgiveness of sin, a receptivity to the Holy Spirit, etc.
4. Now, ask the Lord to open doors in all the contexts that the missionaries and microchurches of the KCU are living. Ask for the outpouring described in Acts 2 to be realized in all those contexts.