The "Empty Seats" Syndrome

Syndrome =  A group of signs and symptoms that together are characteristics or indicative of a specific disease or other disorder. 

I was inspired to write this brief article after hearing a quote from Apostle Paul Wondracek, Pastor, Praise Church in Cary, North Carolina.  In his sermon, he said, "Empty seats speak louder than filled seats."   

When I heard him say those words, I was immediately reminded of three local assemblies in which my husband and I were lead by the Holy Spirit to be a part of for a season.  Each of them had one thing in common-empty seats.  At first I did not concern myself with the fact that the church had more empty seats than filled ones.  But as the pastor continued to minister the Word to us, it was as though those empty seats kept crying out to me for help.  About several months later, I finally asked the LORD for the reason that that local church was not growing.  It was in the Women's Intercessory Prayer that He answered me.  You see, even though the pastor, who was of Jewish descent, taught the written Word, he had a tendency to mention what theologians would say; and the LORD revealed to me that the church was controlled by a religious spirit.  The LORD also said that He would not send flock there to be taught by a religious spirit.  Therefore, the seats remained empty.  After the LORD exposed the stronghold of that local church to me, the pastor and the lady in charge of women's prayer began to control prayer and turned mightily against my husband and I.  This was my first experience with the "empty seats" syndrome.   

I will not go into details about the next two experiences, but will only name the strongholds.  They are a "spiritual clone" and a "spiritual bat".  All three of these local assemblies had one thing in common.  They all lacked corporate intercessory prayer.  Which resulted in only a few people showing up for services which caused more empty seats than filled ones.   

You may be wondering how can we avoid the "empty seats" syndrome in our local church.  There's only one way!  And it is through corporate intercessory prayer (which include men and women).  It is when the members of the Body of Christ come together and rely on the Holy Spirit working through them to make intercession.  This is the only way these strongholds can be pulled down in the local church.  Now I'm not talking about people coming together and praying what they think or feel they should be praying.  I'm talking about allowing the Intercessor, the Holy Spirit, to pray along with our spirit what He know should be prayed.  This is the ONLY way to rid the local church from the "empty seats" syndrome!  And it is ONLY by the Holy Spirit Who intercedes through and for us.  He knows the mind of God.  He knows EVERYTHING. 

Romans 8:26

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 

If you are a pastor and it seems as though the "empty seats" syndrome is evident in your local church, please check the church's prayer gauge.  First of all, do you have corporate intercessory prayer (which include men and women)?  If so, are you allowing the Holy Spirit to make intercession or are you controlling the prayers?  The Holy Spirit's desire is to set your church free from the "empty seats" syndrome; but He can only do it as you allow Him.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Shalom †