“And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.’” Mark 11:17 NIV
Names matter. Right now, I am just a few weeks away from being a first-time grandpa! I am so excited and expectant. This means that right now, my daughter and son-in-law are in the process of choosing a name for my grandson. And since I didn’t even get to name my own kids, I am pretty sure I will not be allowed to give any input to the naming of my grandson. Any other dads get kept out of the name game?
Anyway, the point is that names are important, and they matter. They often reflect the hopes and dreams a parent has for their child. Names also matter biblically. There are numerous accounts in scripture where names are given and even people whose names were changed. Take Abraham, and Sarah, and then in the New Testament there is Peter. Again, names matter.
With that in mind, it is important for us to see that it matters when Jesus gives His Church a name. There are other descriptors of Jesus’ Church in the scriptures, but this one came out of the mouth of Jesus and He quotes from Isaiah the Prophet to show that this is a name that has always been on the heart of God.
It is His House, and the owner of the House gets to name it. And it is in the naming of His House that Jesus reveals His hopes and dreams for His House. That it would be a House of Prayer for All Nations.
This is an incredible statement. It reveals that Jesus desires and hopes that people, all people, every nation, tongue, and tribe would find the Father’s House and find it a place where because of Jesus, they can now communion and be in right relationship with the Father. That the Father’s House would ultimately be about prayer and relationship. And that all other activity in the Father’s House is to serve this end.
This means that prayer and mission are not mutually exclusive. They are not separate things. They go hand in glove. What seems to be true throughout the history of the Church is that where the Church is praying the most, the Kingdom of God is growing the most. The naming of the House reveals the hopes and dreams of the Father that all people might enter and be drawn to the place where Heaven and Earth meet in deep relationship with the Father.
When we think of catalyzing a mission movement in the Texas District, we understand that to mean that prayer must precede and sustain that movement. That a prayer movement precedes and sustains a mission movement.
I believe these words from David Butts in his book, Forgotten Power, are very helpful.
“Evidently, Jesus believed that the people who were a part of God’s House should live in accordance with the naming of the house.”
It is a joy and honor to serve our King in His Kingdom as we walk together. I invite you to join all those in the Texas District as we humbly yield together in living in accordance with the naming of the House.
If you would like more information or resources to help stimulate a posture of prayer in your local context, please contact Pastor Ben Gonzales from the Texas District at bgonzales@txlcms.org.
By Rev. Ben Gonzales
Area B Mission Strategist