Foundations for Christian Mission, Student Workbook, SW04

/ 3 8 9

F O U N D A T I O N S F O R C H R I S T I A N M I S S I O N

Let God Arise! (continued)

Conclusion: Respond in Humility to the Sober Call to Prevailing Prayer for the Inner City

Dear friend, let me ask you a question: What do you take to be the critical need of the hour for the inner cities of America? In my mind, it is not merely the infusion of more business and money, nor simply a new influx of better politicians, better urban crime-stopping initiatives, family planning seminars, nor food programs. The critical need for the city is for the Lord to make his presence known within it. The decisive factor that will lead to a transformation of America’s inner cities is God’s visitation, repeated outpourings of the Holy Spirit in the midst of his people in the city. Such visitations of the presence and power of God would revolutionize these communities; God’s visitation would create such a variety of healing, compassion, and justice that no one, not even the most politically liberal-minded hopeful or stubborn atheist could explain it. Psalm 68 is a testament to what can occur when the Lord comes down, rather, arises and scatters his enemies, and leaves in his wake the blessings of his great heart love for humankind:

[1] God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him! [2] As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God! [3] But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy! [4] Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the LORD; exult before him! [5] Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. [6] God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.