Ruling in the Gates: Chapter One

The Birth of The Prayer Movement

Since John Dawson's groundbreaking book at the end of the 1980s Taking Our Cities for God, there has been an acceleration of the body of Christ in strategic spiritual warefare and in prayer. Since then men like George Otis Jr. and others have taught us about spiritual mapping and prayer walking. David Bryant and Concerts of Prayer have called us together to pray for revival, and Mike Bickle bought us the Houses of Prayer concept. The result is that there is more more united, purposeful and strategic prayer going on right now that perhaps in the history of the nation.

Instead of individual saints and churches praying in a discursive way, haphazardly flinging "Scud missles," the body of Christ is now praying "smart bombs" in a concerted way that is shaking our cities.

Being an analytical person by nature, there was one area that dissatisfied me - even with all the smart bombs going forth I felt that in some major ways we were still unfocused. Stephen Covey taught us in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to begin with the end in mind. In other words, we will never be able to be effective in anything we do unless we first know why we are doing it and what our goals are. Your eschatology (what you believe about the future) determines your teleology (where you are going personally - your goals).

I have found that many people are praying for revival without even defining what revival really is. (If you ask one hundred prayerful saints what revival is, you will probably get one hundred different answers). Some define revival as spiritual manifestations (as in Toronto and Pensacola). Others classify revival as souls getting saved - something I classify as an awakening (when sinners are saved).

Regardless of all the definitions of revival that are out there, the simplest definition of revival I think most of us can agree on is revive - re meaning "again" and vive meaning "to live" (to resuscitate it). In my understanding of Scriptures, revival is for God's people (shown in Psalm 85:4-6 and in the revivals of King Josiah, Hezekiah and Jehoshaphat) to re-awaken them to go forth in a commitment to serve God.

But is that really an end goal? If someone has to be revived, then they are obviously backslidden. In other words, revival shouldn't be an end; it should be the norm for the church - the starting point for us as Christians to begin to really do the work of the gospel. With that being the case, what then should we be praying for?

To order Ruling in the Gates, click here.

		Preparing the Church to Transform Cities


Pastor Mattera's book is a sorely needed clarion call to awaken the sleeping Church. E.A. Kampouris former Chairman and CEO American Standard I read your book "Ruling in the Gates" and it has really changed my life. I have been inspired through your book. Pastor, I want you to know your book has been a great blessing to the Church I am ministering - now we have an open vision to build God's Kingdom and not build our own church. Pastor Jeff Foulstone AOG Church Kantale, Sri Lanka	CHAPTER ONE The Birth of The Prayer Movement Since John Dawson's groundbreaking book at the end of the 1980s Taking Our Cities for God, there has been an acceleration of the body of Christ in strategic spiritual warefare and in prayer. Since then men like George Otis Jr. and others have taught us about spiritual mapping and prayer walking. David Bryant and Concerts of Prayer have called us together to pray for revival, and Mike Bickle bought us the Houses of Prayer concept. The result is that there is more more united, purposeful and strategic prayer going on right now that perhaps in the history of the nation. Instead of individual saints and churches praying in a discursive way, haphazardly flinging "Scud missles," the body of Christ is now praying "smart bombs" in a concerted way that is shaking our cities. Being an analytical person by nature, there was one area that dissatisfied me - even with all the smart bombs going forth I felt that in some major ways we were still unfocused. Stephen Covey taught us in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to begin with the end in mind. In other words, we will never be able to be effective in anything we do unless we first know why we are doing it and what our goals are. Your eschatology (what you believe about the future) determines your teleology (where you are going personally - your goals). I have found that many people are praying for revival without even defining what revival really is. (If you ask one hundred prayerful saints what revival is, you will probably get one hundred different answers). Some define revival as spiritual manifestations (as in Toronto and Pensacola). Others classify revival as souls getting saved - something I classify as an awakening (when sinners are saved). Regardless of all the definitions of revival that are out there, the simplest definition of revival I think most of us can agree on is revive - re meaning "again" and vive meaning "to live" (to resuscitate it). In my understanding of Scriptures, revival is for God's people (shown in Psalm 85:4-6 and in the revivals of King Josiah, Hezekiah and Jehoshaphat) to re-awaken them to go forth in a commitment to serve God. But is that really an end goal? If someone has to be revived, then they are obviously backslidden. In other words, revival shouldn't be an end; it should be the norm for the church - the starting point for us as Christians to begin to really do the work of the gospel. With that being the case, what then should we be praying for? To order Ruling in the Gates, click here.