A City for His Name

National News story: Indianapolis Woman turns away robber through prayer
Watch here: http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?cl=16228041

In August 2004, the Lord accosted me with a question out of Isaiah 66:1-"Heaven is my throne, the earth is my footstool.Where is the House you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?"

I remember answering..."YES LORD! I'll build your house!" Since I was in Nashville serving in a broken community on the east side, I assumed it would be there. I never thought that it would be a physical building and I always viewed the "resting place" as one found in human hearts and the homes in which they live.

In April 2007, I was invited to speak at the Sunday morning service of a church in North Carolina. As I was seeking the Lord's direction about what to say, His spirit gently whispered, "Look at the Star." As I responded to this direction, I began to look outside of the windows and up at the sky. The only "star" that I saw was the sun and I thought, "Well, I don't really see any stars but that one is big!?" Again I heard the whisper, "Look at the Star." In wonder, my eyes landed on a copy of our local newspaper "The Indianapolis Star." Suddenly, as if I had popped on some 3-D glasses and commenced to watching a three dimensional Disney creation, the words underneath the title of the Indy Star LEAPED to the forefront of my vision: "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty." 2 Corinthians 3:17.

WOW!I grew up in the Bible belt and moved to Indy from a place known as "the Buckle of the Bible belt", but I have NEVER seen a scripture printed under the title of a local mainstream newspaper, much less the largest publication in the state! I was completely and utterly astounded. THEN the Lord said to me, "SEE, I have placed My Name on this city." He then began to show me many other signs and miraculous wonders that point to the reality of this fact. The newspaper heading is a literal sign that the Lord of Heaven and Earth has chosen this city (among others) to be known among the nations as a city where the Lord actually DWELLS.

Another sign was when the Indianapolis Colts played one of the most astounding playoff games in NFL history (or at least that I had ever witnessed) and orchestrated a miraculous win over the New England Patriots to advance to the Super Bowl in 2006. A close friend of mine who was on the field playing in that game, shared with our church that he could literally feel the prayers and the power of God on the field at a certain point. Is it possible that God would use a bunch of overpaid men in tights, who are worshiped and idolized by nations, to bring everlasting Glory to His Name? Upon accepting the prized Vince Lombardi trophy, Tony Dungy exalted the name of the Lord. Not only that, but the city of Indianapolis and the name of the Lord was used in the same sentence, on the stage of the world's largest sporting event. He has placed His name upon this city.

In 2008, I had another undeniable encounter with the King. In fact, I had one encounter that set forth a series of completely unexpected and humanly indescribable confrontations with the Eternal One. Encounters that would FOREVER change the lens through which I view life, ministry, and eternity. During one of these, Jesus asked me very clearly, "Jonathan, will you contend (fight,labor,spend oneself) for My Name in this city?" Moved to tears and gripped with His burning desire for a place, a whole city as a dwelling or "resting place", I responded with a groaning "YES"!

His voice then boomed through Jeremiah 29:7, challenging me to contend for His name -
"Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."

As I began to learn how to operate under this new command through an intense season of fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit began to teach me innumerable mysteries.
He would lead me to certain areas of the city to share and proclaim the Gospel.He gave me blueprints to begin rebuilding the devastated places in our city, starting on the East Side. He would set up appointments for me to meet with prominent individuals, city, church, and business leaders. But in the midst of this season of intense biblical revelation,accelerated establishment, and unmerited favor; one thing began to resound clearly, GOD IS RAISING UP WHOLE CITIES UNTO HIMSELF and INDIANAPOLIS IS ONE OF THEM. While clarifying my mandate as a builder, He confirmed our corporate destiny even more by showing me what the name of this city will be called when it's all said and done: "And the name of the city shall be called, "The Lord is There". Ezekial 48:35

Just in the past four weeks I have witnessed incredible wonders. In Broad Ripple, I watched as an 18-year old boy came back from a drug induced "trip on acid" and into the urgent reality of his dire need for a Savior. My friends and I witnessed him fall to the ground and get set free under the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, vowing Himself to be a Son of God forever, and chucking every other entanglement that he had in his pockets, away and into the McDonald's parking lot in which we were standing. I saw him under the influence of Jesus, check himself into rehab the next morning.I also just witnessed him break up with his girlfriend, be reconciled with his mom, move back in with his family, and hear a clear Word directly from the Lord about what to do with the rest of his life.

I have witnessed a single mother of five girls, having played the role of both mother and father, walk one of her daughters down the aisle for the first time, and give her away in marriage to a true man of God. I could feel God's pleasure as the two openly shared the fact that they were celebrating their virginity and had chosen to let God be glorified in their bodies until marriage, so that He could be glorified in their union.

Finally, we have witnessed a robbery take place that turned into a moment of salvation for two individuals, that has now gone before the eyes of the nation. Again proclaiming the Glory of the Lord and announcing the placement of His NAME and His FAME upon this City. This is not a news story to be taken lightly or written off as another feel good, warm-fuzzy. Just like the story of a police officer who was shot in the head back in 2008, but survived miraculously, as the city held prayer vigils on the hospital lawn...this story is a clear wonder from the Lord and a clarion invitation to the body of Christ in Indianapolis to spend ourselves in the place of prayer. Never before has a city been so poised for a measurable move of God. This is happening, and it is real. God is raising up this city to be a light among the nations for what happens when God breaks in and chooses a whole city as a dwelling or "resting place".

This reality does not replace the fact that Jerusalem is the Holy City of the Lord, but these cities are to be a prophetic sign; foreshadowing the quickly approaching King and the Kingdom that is coming to be established eternally on the earth. As the Church at Indianapolis, we cannot continue to work without a clear understanding and agreement of what our work is unto. Therefore, let us pray and ask the Giver of Life for eyes to see, and ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church in this hour. May the power of God loose the enemies hold on the hearts of the broken in this city and may His fame continue to spread throughout the land. Amen.