Picturing Theology

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P i c t u r i n g T h e o l o g y

Let God Arise! (continued)

God for his gracious work for us in Christ, and be grateful for the opportunity to come before his presence through the blood of Christ. Above all else (all needs, petitions, and desires), our God is worthy in himself to be worshiped and adored! Next, we move to the Admission portion of our prayer time. After acknowledging the glory and majesty of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, we then spend ample time admitting our faults and neediness before his mighty hand. Let us learn to bow before the Lord in humble confession of our sin, and the admission that we are powerless, helpless, and defenseless without his oversight, provision, and grace. Let us not hide our sin but readily confess it. Let us not protest our innocence nor boast in our spiritual accomplishment (Luke 18.9-14), but honestly humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord in order that he might lift us up (1 Pet. 5.6). God does in fact resist those who are proud (i.e., those pretending to be sufficient and adequate in their own wisdom, strength, and power) and gives his grace to the humble (i.e., those willing to admit their powerlessness and desperation before the Lord, James 4.6). Finally, the “ Availability ” portion of our concert focuses on our joyful dedication of our lives to the Lord for his glory and purposes. During this time we dedicate ourselves afresh to the Lord, affirming our death with Christ and our resurrection in him to new life for God’s glory and praise (Rom. 6.1-4). We surrender all we are and everything we own to Jesus Christ in order that he might separate us to his causes and interests, and that he might be pleased as a result of all that we are becoming, doing, and achieving in our lives. Paul makes this point when he says to the Corinthians in 2 Cor. 5.9-10 (ESV) “So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. [10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” Our intent and explicit aim is to please the Lord! In prayer, therefore, let us place no confidence in our own fleshly wisdom or strength. Further, let us abandon all reliance on worldly wisdom, and fully consecrate ourselves in dedication to be and do whatever the Lord Jesus demands, however taxing, difficult, or costly. In humble prayer, may we in the thousands bow our knees to the Lord in authentic surrender, allowing his Spirit the right and privilege to lead us wherever he determines, by whatever path and for whatever purpose he may so ably direct (John 3.8). Only this kind of radical, unconditional availability to God will allow him to use us when he pours his Holy Spirit out upon the inner cities of America!