Why Am I Here?

I remember sitting in an intern class at the Clementi clubhouse. It was a session for interns to be equipped on how to grow into a leader.

One of the most poignant moments for me was when the Pastor taught on the topic - Why are you here today? Or simply put, why do you want to be a leader? Gulps... squirming in my seat.. looking around... who me, I asked myself? erm erm... because my cell leader asked me to be one... erm erm... because I can organise events for people... erm erm.. I really don't know.... just can't put a finger to it..

So we flipped to our notes...

First reason - because you have an godly ambition to become a leader. Wow, you mean it's actually ok for one to have an ambition to be leader? Of course. We cannot deny the desire within us to do great things, especially if it is for God. Some express it in their response to do great exploits for God. Oh because God deserves our all!

Second reason - because you have a call of God on your life to be a leader. God spoke to you personally. You just know it. People confirmed it. Some even have signs to confirm it. That's it.

I could almost hear a needle fall in the room. Why? Because the above reasons were not my reasons. I neither had ambition or a call to lead. I eagerly leaned forward to hear what the third reason was...

The heavens opened and the angels rejoiced. The trees in the fields clapped their hands and shout hallelujah! Alright, I'm exaggerating... but that was just about how I felt when I heard the third reason. Simply ecstatic! mixed with feelings of much relief, of course =) Third reason - because you are grateful to what God has done in your lives. Yes, this is it... for me.... and it is good to know...

Years down the road, here I am, re-visiting this question - not out of doubt, but out of finding the resolve within me as I forge ahead. Why am in the House of Prayer doing what I am doing? Why am I here?

Again with three reasons, I searched my heart...


1) Responding to the Call to Build the House of Prayer
Have I heard the call to build the House of Prayer? God is looking for both a place and a group of people to dwell and partner with. Isa 66:1-2; Acts 7:49. If I have heard this call, what is my heart response?

Let's also get over this thinking that "I did not hear from God personally". Do you want a personal post from God on your facebook to invite you or the heavens to open and the clouds arrange themselves in a way that spells your name? I confess I do, arrghh...sometimes... to qualify that "Yes, I got THE call. God visited me powerfully yesterday. He sent angels to confirm it." I learn to laugh at myself and move on. O me of little faith! No wonder Jesus taught His disciples in Matt. 18:1-5 to be childike in their faith and stay humble, just like the little children. Unless we put aside our spiritual and human pride, we cannot receive what God says with a teachable and open heart, let alone heed His call.

Check.


2) Skill / Talent
The expression of how the House of Prayer is built is based on the "Harp (worship) and Bowl (intercession)"model as seen in Rev. 4 & 5. It depicts the heavenly worship in the Throne room of God, where intercessory worship goes on day and night before the One who sits on the Throne. Approximately 1,000 years before the birth of Christ, King David set the Ark of the Covenant in a tent that became known as the Tabernacle of David, a place of continual prayer and worship. He appointed 288 skilled prophetic singers and 4,000 skilled musicians to minister before the Lord in intercessory worship. (1Chron. 13; 15-16; 23; 25; 2Chron. 29; Neh. 12)

What skill and talent is needed to build the House of Prayer? It'll be great if I can sing or play a musical instrument skilfully. Even if I can't, I think I can be a doorkeeper, or find myself useful. Oh yes, I can pray. How can I forget that... And also with the administrative gifts He's blessed me with, I can serve.

Check.


3) I am ambushed by the Lord
Somehow I am here. I was seeking to grow to know the Lord deeper. I was seeking to grow as a believer. My seeking led me to the wilderness. Where am I? What am I doing? How come this is so different from what I used to know and do? Yet I know I am growing in the Lord. And then I realised that there is nowhere else I'd rather be, there is nothing else I'd rather do. For God has so ruined my heart with His great love and I just want to do what is on His heart... I just want to be the kind of people He is looking for and be in the place He dwells.

Check.


So this settles why I am here. Whatever your reason is, one or all of the above (list of reasons not exhaustive), it counts!

As I forge ahead, I seek to do the following:

1) Grow in the messages that God has given to us as a House:
(A) Intimacy with God, Bride of Christ, Sermon on the Mount, Song of Songs)
(B) Forerunners Ministry, Understanding End-Times, Book of Joel and Revelation, Understanding Israel..
(C) House of Prayer

We have to keep digging and growing deep in these messages as God unravels more to us progressively. Let the word grow in the good soil of our heart and produce fruit, fruit that will last. Many have heard these messages but because they did not go deep (no root system) or are choked/distracted by life's demands, there is no fruit produced (either the wicked one came and snatched away what was sown in their hearts or they stumble because of there is no root system in their lives). Matt. 13 - Parable of the Sower. Wide is the gate that leads to destruction. We have to strive to enter the narrow gate. (Lk. 13:24)

2) Develop the I-H-O-P Lifestyle
This is non-negotiable if I were to forge ahead. To live a life of Intercession (agreeing with what is in God's word), Holiness (wholeheartedness), Offering (living a life that is poured out extravagantly unto God and others) and the Prophetic (be the voice of God in such times). To ignore cultivating this lifestyle will be like trying to run a marathon without training for it. Either I'll get injured (my sports doc told me that some injuries can last really long and thus 'cripple' me in the race that I run) or not finish the race (yikes!) that God has marked out for me.

3) Learn the Harp & Bowl model
To understand the biblical model of intercessory worship and engage my heart in it, setting my gaze on the One who sits on the Throne.


Meditations....
Titus 2:11-14 ~"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, (oh how I love this verse) looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."