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THE CITY, AND WHY CITY PRAYER?
by: Pieter Bos
date: 1/30/2006
Category: Nations
Towards a "City Prayer Antwerp"; meeting with pastors and intercessors, Antwerp.
16 January 2006. Brief handout notes by Pieter Bos, Facilitator City Prayer
Movement Netherlands, Serving the Nations.
This is the 3rd article that introduces the book “The City Called”, to be released autumn 2006
THE CITY, AND WHY CITY PRAYER?
1 CITIES ARE GOD'S IDEA.
God promised "large, flourishing cities you did not build" to the people of Israel
(Deut 6:10). He is also the "architect and builder" of the final city to look forward
to (Heb 11:10). Cities are also considered a royal/divine reward for faithful
service (Luke 19:17; 1Kin 9:11,16). Many prophecies include as a blessing the
"restoration of cities" (Isa 61:4, among many.) In other words: The concept of
city comes from God, and he is favorably involved with cities.
2 CITIES ARE PERSONS, TALKING AND WITH RESPONSIBILITY.
Many scriptures make us wonder whether cities are not more than many inhabitants
and many buildings. Cities are addressed like persons: "Daughter Zion" (Isa 62:11),
Daughter Tyre (Ps 45:12), Virgin, Daughter Sidon (Isa 23:12), Virgin, Daughter
Babel (Isa 47:1, Ps 137:8). This is a personal, even intimate form of address,
clearly indicating that cities are (corporate) persons. Also: they are presented
as talking: "You (Babel) say to yourself: "I am, and there is none besides me"
(Jes 47:10, id Zeph 2:15; Rev 18:7). Also, cities are warned for being judged for
their deeds (Jonah 3:1-2)". Modern speech also indicates this: "Washington is
reserved", "Moscow is indignant". In other words: cities are corporative "persons",
even VIPs in international relations.
3 CITIES FUNCTION AS "LEADER OF NATIONS".
The city, both historically and by God's design, is inter-national, inter-racial,
inter-cultural. We found that the city is positioned in a spiritual hierarchy:
individual >national > international, or rather: man > nation > city, viewing
cities as leaders of nations.
Many scriptures illustrate this: Jerusalem: "Gate to the nations" (Ezek 26:2; Ps 110:2)
"Nations will come to your light" (Isa 60:3; Rev 21:24). Babylon: "Mistress of
kingdoms", "Eternal Queen "(Isa 47:5,7,9). Tyrus (Isa 23:3,8,17; Ez 26:16-18, 27:33).
Nineveh: (Nah 3:4). This applies to modern cities as well: Before WWII
London-Paris-Berlin set the scene; after WWII it was Washington and Moscow.
Financially New York and Frankfurt lead the world. Amsterdam and San Francisco are
"gay capital," Los Angeles is the international entertainment-leader. The religious
leaders are Jerusalem, Rome and Mecca.
Conclusion 1
Cities Are (Corporative) Persons, To Take Full Account Of!
4. "NATIONS/CITIES" ARE THE MAIN STAKE OF THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE.
In Luke 4:5-6 Satan claims all nations as his possession, and Jesus indeed
recognizes him as the "Prince of this world". However, after the cross, Jesus
announces a "change of the guard": "Now I have been given all authority in the
unseen and in the seen worlds, therefore you, church, go, bring all nations in
discipleship relation with Me" (Matt 28:18-19). Ps 2 is from then on being fulfilled:
Jesus comes with his rightful claim on all nations (Ps 2:8), but Satan stirs the
"raging of the nations" (Ps 2:1-2; Hand 4:25-26) towards extreme nationalism
(Zech 11:8, Matt 24:7). Jesus' goal is the harvest of the "nations/cities"
(Matt 24:14, Luke 24:47, Matt 25:32, Rev 21:3,24,26)
5. THE CHURCH IS A CITY FOR THE CITIES!
The Church is according to her design and calling spiritual, inter-national,
inter-racial, inter-cultural. The Church is (therefore) also City, "heavenly
Jerusalem, our mother" (corporative person; Gal 4:26). The Church is also Virgin
Daughter, even BRIDE; the heavenly Jerusalem, prepared as a bride" Rev 21:2-3,10-11.
The Church should be, without tension (!) intercultural (!), as illustrated
practically in Acts 13:1, and as illustrated theologically in Gal 3:28 and Col 3:11.
In theses scriptures Jew-Greek stands for national divides; slave-free for social
divides; male-female for the gender divide; circumcised-uncircumcised for theological
and/or traditional divides; and barbarian-Scythian for cultural divides.
The Church (Bride) Antwerp has the "ministry of reconciliation" towards City
(Virgin) Antwerp, concerning these five terrible societal divides (2 Cor 5:18-19).
6 THE RELATION BRIDE ANTWERP - CITY ANTWERP: SALT!
The Bride Antwerp has been commanded to be salting salt to the city of Antwerp!
The Bride Antwerp has been established for no other purpose than to be salting
salt to the city of Antwerp! In case she loses her saltiness she is not worth
anything but being thrown away and trampled (Matt 5:13)! Jesus underlines this
very strongly: "Woe to you, Betsaida, Chorazim, Capernaum, Woe to you, Antwerp...
for Tyre, Sidon, Sodom and Gomorrah the judgment might be more bearable than for
you" (Matt 11:20-24). In other words: the miracles that God is still doing, are
not for the believers or for the congregations, but for the City, in order that
she may repent, as in the case of Nineveh.
- GOD gives City ANTWERP a Bride ANTWERP to bring the city before the throne of God.
- INTERCESSION for the CITY of ANTWERP is: the Church functions as "SPIRITUAL CITY COUNCIL".
Conclusion 2
From (Matt 28:19 to Matt 11:20-24, from) "You, Church, make all nations disciple
nations" to "Woe to You..." is a societially challenging dynamic. The Body of
Christ Of Antwerp Is Responsible For The City Of Antwerp.
Conclusion 3
The Bride ANTWERP is God's Only Instrument, but Also God's Specifically Called
And Trained Team Member, to Save the CITY of ANTWERP from Judgment.
Conclusion 4
If the Bride ANTWERP, in holiness, in unity, in love and in City prayer identifies
with God's love for her city, then she can expect God's power and Spirit and
love and concern: "Should I not be concerned for Antwerp, that great city...?"
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