In Luke 19:11-27, Jesus told a revealing parable about a nobleman who went away to receive a kingdom, leaving his servants to manage his affairs until his return. The parable points prophetically toward Christ’s own departure and promised second coming. But tucked into this story is a sobering verse that captures the spiritual crisis of our age: “But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us” (Luke 19:14).
Does that sound familiar? We live in a world increasingly defined by those very words. From university campuses to corporate boardrooms, from entertainment stages to political platforms, the message echoes: “We will not have this man to reign over us.” The rejection is loud, defiant, and growing.
Yet Jesus loves them still.
The Parable’s Promise and Warning
When the nobleman in Jesus’ parable returned as king, he rewarded his faithful servants by giving them authority over cities – a picture, I believe, of Christ returning after the Tribulation to establish His millennial kingdom. Those who proved faithful in small things during His absence will be entrusted with greater responsibilities when He reigns physically on earth.
But what about those citizens who rejected him? Their end was judgment.
The faithful servants in this parable were given money to invest and multiply. While we can’t know this for certain, could those gains represent something more valuable than mere currency? Could they represent souls won for the kingdom, hearts turned from rebellion to surrender, from hatred to worship?
If so, the parable takes on profound urgency. The King is coming. The question is: how many will we reach before He returns?
The Hardness of Heart We Face Today
The challenge confronting believers today isn’t simply indifference. It’s active resistance. We’re not dealing with people who are merely curious about Jesus or undecided. We’re ministering in a culture where many have hardened their hearts against Christ, where His name is mocked, His teachings dismissed, and His followers marginalized.
How do we turn such hearts around?
The answer isn’t primarily found in better arguments, sharper apologetics, or more compelling presentations, though these have their place. The answer is found on our knees. Prayer has always been God’s appointed means for softening hard hearts and opening blind eyes. Revival has always begun with God’s people crying out for a move of His Spirit.
This is exactly why the Great American Prayer Revival (GAP26) matters so much.
A National Moment of Unified Prayer
From March 1-4, 2026, thousands of believers across America will unite in prayer and worship as part of GAP26. Rooted in Ezekiel 22:30 – “I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land” – this movement calls Christians to stand together, seeking spiritual renewal and healing for our nation.
This isn’t just another event on the church calendar. This is a crucial opportunity to intercede for those who are currently saying, “We will not have this man to reign over us.” It’s a chance to pray for the kind of spiritual awakening that can penetrate even the hardest hearts.
History shows us what God can do when His people unite in prayer. The Great Awakenings that swept America in previous centuries didn’t begin with programs or strategies. They began with prayer. They began with believers who refused to accept the spiritual deadness around them and cried out to God for revival.
We need that same desperation today.
Your Role in Turning Hearts
Whether you’re part of a large church, a small home group, or joining online, your participation in GAP26 matters. Your prayers matter. God isn’t looking for eloquence or perfect theology in our prayers. He’s looking for hearts that genuinely care about those who are lost, those who are rebelling, those who are running from Him.
Think about the people in your life who fit the description from Luke 19:14. Maybe it’s a family member who grew up in church but walked away. Maybe it’s a coworker who ridicules your faith. Maybe it’s a neighbor who seems completely indifferent to spiritual things. They’re saying, in one way or another, “We will not have this man to reign over us.”
But they don’t have to stay that way.
Prayer changes things. Prayer softens hearts. Prayer opens doors that seem permanently locked. And when thousands of believers pray together, unified in purpose and passion, God moves in extraordinary ways.
Standing in the Gap
The nobleman in Jesus’ parable returned as king with full authority. Jesus will return the same way. The question for us is: what will we have to show Him? How many souls will we have reached? How faithfully will we have invested the time, opportunities, and resources He’s given us?
The Great American Prayer Revival gives us a focused moment to intercede for our nation, for the lost, for those whose hearts are currently hard against Christ. It’s an opportunity to stand in the gap, as Ezekiel described, and plead with God to do what only He can do – bring revival, soften hearts, and save souls.
Our forefathers depended on God in times of crisis. We should do the same.
Get Involved Now
The prayer event may be March 1-4, but the time to get involved is today. The next three weeks are crucial for preparation – rallying prayer warriors, gathering your church or small group, and laying the spiritual groundwork for what God wants to do during those four days in March.
Visit gap-event.org to discover how you can participate. Whether you’re a pastor looking for resources to mobilize your congregation, someone who wants to host a livestream viewing at your location, or an individual seeking to join in prayer from home, there are practical ways to engage right now. The website provides everything you need to prepare your heart and your community for this historic moment.
Don’t wait until March 1st. The preparation is part of the prayer movement. Start now – pray, share, and help spread the word. Join the GAP26 movement and pray with the specific intention of seeing God break through the spiritual resistance in our culture. Pray for those who are saying, “We will not have this man to reign over us.”
Because Jesus loves them. And He’s given us the privilege of partnering with Him through prayer to see them transformed.
The King is coming. Let’s make sure we’re found faithful when He returns. And let’s pray that many who are currently rejecting Him will be among those who welcome Him as Lord.
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The story of Esther in the Bible is a story of answered prayer. You can read her story in my illustrated ebook or listen to it on an audiobook.
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Here are links to my blog indexes, so please click one and keep reading!
My Books, Workbooks, and Fun Books
Knowing the Unknowable One
Opening the Treasure Chest
Walking Heart-to-Heart with God
Walking Heart-to-Heart with Each Other
Fighting the Good Fight of Faith
Christian Mysteries: Why I Love Them!
List of Some Nonfiction Books You Don’t Want to Miss
Index of Assorted Topics
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What a gracious comment! Thank you so much. I’ve never had a guest writer before, so I wouldn’t have any idea how to go about it. Since I’m pretty busy now, it’s not a good time to try to figure it out. But thank you so much for the offer. Best wishes and God bless!