PRAYING FOR LILONGWE CITY
Introduction
- God often raises cities to serve His redemptive and societal purposes — as centres of influence, justice, mercy, and revival.
- We should see the establishment of Lilongwe as capital city of Malawi as God's doing and all for a purpose. When this purpose is fulfilled God is glorified.
- When the purpose is not fulfilled God is concerned. We should also be concerned.
- God’s purpose for Jerusalem was very clear in 2 Chronicles 6:6
2 Chronicles 6:6
6 But now I have chosen Jerusalem as the place for my name to be honored, and I have chosen David to be king over my people Israel.’”
- Anything done to dishonor God’s name in Jerusalem would not be tolerated.
Ezekiel 8:17-18
17 “Have you seen this, son of man?” he asked. “Is it nothing to the people of Judah that they commit these detestable sins, leading the whole nation into violence, thumbing their noses at me, and provoking my anger? 18 Therefore, I will respond in fury. I will neither pity nor spare them. And though they cry for mercy, I will not listen.”
- Understanding the purposes of God for Lilongwe City will help shape our prayer focus for the City.
RECURRENT THOUGHT
God is concerned about fulfilling His purposes in Lilongwe City. Whatever concerns God about Lilongwe city, should be our concern and that should become our prayer agenda. Since this might vary from time to time, it calls for spiritual sensitivity.
The spiritually sensitive
- Hear what God says
- Willingly accept to be guided by God
- Are broken by things that break God
These are the people God is looking for so His purposes for Lilongwe City are fulfilled.
FOR GOD’S PURPOSES TO BE FULFILLED IN LILONGWE CITY
- God is calling us to be watchmen for Lilongwe City
- The position of watchman is a very privileged position.
- You see before everyone else sees.
- You sound the warning before the devil pounces on people so people will not die.
- Why does God want us to pray for Lilongwe City?
- God wants us to prosper. Lilongwe’s prosperity is our prosperity. When we prosper the Gospel prospers.
- Jeremiah 29:7
- 7 And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”
- God established Lilongwe as capital city for a purpose. That purpose must be fulfilled. He wants His will to be done in Lilongwe City as it is in heaven.
- Lilongwe City is positioned for influence, whether we like it or not. God wants the right kind of influence to trickle down from this city.
- God’s call to Ezekiel
- I want us to appreciate Ezekiel’s Recruitment Process, as watchman.
- In Ezekiel 2&3 the following transpire:
- The Spirit came into Ezekiel and set him on his feet. As the Spirit spoke, Ezekiel listened carefully to the words of the Spirit.
- He heard that God was sending him to a rebellious nation and God told him not to fear them.
- God gave him a message to take to the people, which he accepted. Ezekiel willingly ate the scroll.
- He was told to allow all the words of the Spirit to sink deep into his own heart first. The Spirit said, “Listen to them carefully for yourself.” May the words of God sink deep into our hearts.
- The Spirit lifted Ezekiel and took him away. Ezekiel went in bitterness and turmoil, but the Lord’s hold on him was strong. MAY GOD’S HOLD ON US BE THAT STRONG!!!!
- Ezekiel was taken to the colony of Judean exiles in Tel-abib, beside the Kebar River. He was overwhelmed and sat among them for seven days. MAY GOD OVERWHELM US SO WE ARE CONVINCED WE NEED TO BE WATCHMEN FOR LILONGWE CITY.
- Ezekiel 3:16-17
- 16 After seven days the Lord gave me a message. He said, 17 “Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from me, warn people immediately.
- The call for Ezekiel to go was very clear.
- Ezekiel is enlisted as watchman and warned about the seriousness of the business and its urgency. V18
- May God’s call to us be very clear, I pray. None of us should doubt that we have been called to this privileged position.
- God is calling us brethren, to pray for Lilongwe City. Have you heard the call?
- God wants us to see what is happening in Lilongwe City and to be moved
- God first of all talked to Ezekiel about the condition of the people of Israel and then lifted Ezekiel from Babylon to Jerusalem to show him what was happening in the city so he could appreciate why God was angry. God knew that if Ezekiel did not see what God was seeing, he could take things casually. That’s what we do.
- Getting Ezekiel from Babylon shows that there was no one in Jerusalem that God could entrust that responsibility to. No one had accepted the call.
- Ezekiel 22:30
- 30 “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.
- God would not waste time showing you anything if you have not accepted the call, or if you are not willing to see. Could it be the reason He is not showing you anything?
- God showed Ezekiel the following:
- Ezekiel 4-7 - God talks about the condition that Israel in.
- Ezekiel 8 - God takes Ezekiel through the City of Jerusalem showing him the abominations that angered Him.
- Ezekiel 9 - God allows Ezekiel to witness the marking of the faithful and the killing of the unfaithful. God is not happy with those who are not moved; those who don't care. Ezekiel intercedes for the unfaithful.
- Ezekiel 9:8
- 8 While they were out killing, I was all alone. I fell face down on the ground and cried out, “O Sovereign Lord! Will your fury against Jerusalem wipe out everyone left in Israel?”
- Ezekiel 10 - Glory leaves the temple.
- Ezekiel 11 - Ezekiel witnesses God's judgement on the unfaithful leaders and God's glory leaving the city. Ezekiel intercedes for the unfaithful.
- Ezekiel 11:13
- 13 While I was still prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah suddenly died. Then I fell face down on the ground and cried out, “O Sovereign Lord, are you going to kill everyone in Israel?”
- Ezekiel 9:1-7
- Then the Lord thundered, “Bring on the men appointed to punish the city! Tell them to bring their weapons with them!” 2 Six men soon appeared from the upper gate that faces north, each carrying a deadly weapon in his hand. With them was a man dressed in linen, who carried a writer’s case at his side. They all went into the Temple courtyard and stood beside the bronze altar. 3 Then the glory of the God of Israel rose up from between the cherubim, where it had rested, and moved to the entrance of the Temple. And the Lord called to the man dressed in linen who was carrying the writer’s case. 4 He said to him, “Walk through the streets of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of all who weep and sigh because of the detestable sins being committed in their city.” 5 Then I heard the Lord say to the other men, “Follow him through the city and kill everyone whose forehead is not marked. Show no mercy; have no pity! 6 Kill them all—old and young, girls and women and little children. But do not touch anyone with the mark. Begin right here at the Temple.” So they began by killing the seventy leaders. 7 “Defile the Temple!” the Lord commanded. “Fill its courtyards with corpses. Go!” So they went and began killing throughout the city.
- God sends His angel to put a mark on those who were moved by Jerusalem’s situation and to kill those who did not care about the City; including old and young, girls and women and little children.
- God expected even little children to weep and sigh because of the detestable sins being committed in their city. Let us teach our children to get bothered with the things that bother God.
- God is bothered when we don’t care about Lilongwe City. He wants us to weep and sigh because of the detestable sins being committed in Lilongwe City.
- If the man carrying the writer’s case passed through Lilongwe City, would you be marked on the forehead?
- The first to be killed were the 70 leaders in the temple. God didn’t care about defiling the temple. That’s how angry God was.
- God wants us to see and be moved by Lilongwe’s situation. He is ready to take us through this city and show us the condition of the city and tell us what is bothering Him.
- We don't only need newspapers to tell us what is happening in this city; as watchmen God wants us to use our privileged position to tell Lilongwe what is happening in secret.
- God wants to reveal the secrets of this city that are an abomination to Him.
- Can God count on you? Are you willing like Ezekiel?
- Some of the things we are busy praying for are not even God’s concern for this city. We pray amiss.
- I pray we shall not waste time praying for things that are not even on God’s agenda. May God help us.
- One thing we can be sure of is that God wants all men in Lilongwe City to be saved. Lost souls is God’s main agenda. You will not go wrong praying for this.
- God wants us to understand the gravity of disobedience
- Ezekiel 3:18-21
- 18 If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths. 19 If you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in their sins. But you will have saved yourself because you obeyed me. 20 “If righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and ignore the obstacles I put in their way, they will die. And if you do not warn them, they will die in their sins. None of their righteous acts will be remembered, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths. 21 But if you warn righteous people not to sin and they listen to you and do not sin, they will live, and you will have saved yourself, too.”
- God gives a clear job description for a watchman, which was to deliver warnings to the wicked but also to the righteous people who turn away from their righteous behaviour.
- Ezekiel would be held responsible if someone died in their sin because he did not warn them.
- There are people and situations in Lilongwe City that need urgent prayer and God is expecting us to act with speed. If you have heard the call, don’t wait for anyone. Just go and do it.
- God will show you how to handle every situation and every strongman in this City. The most important thing is your obedience.
Conclusion
- The call to the position of watchman for Lilongwe City is a serious one and must be regarded as such.
- It calls for spiritual sensitivity. This is a personal choice if you want God to use you in praying for Lilongwe City.
- There are consequences for refusing the call. If I were you I would say yes to the call.
Prayer
- God help me to understand the importance of watching over Lilongwe City and to accept the call to be enlisted as watchmen for this City.
- God help me to be spiritually sensitive so that I will be concerned about what concerns you in Lilongwe City.
- God help me to remain obedient to the call and to be urgent in prying for Lilongwe City.