Embracing the Sacred Space Between Prayer and Revival

Devotional

Day 1: The Call to Gather and Pray Between the Porch and the Altar

God calls His people not just to gather for social reasons or to hear a word, but to a deeper place of prayer and intercession—a space between the porch and the altar where hearts are stirred, tears are shed, and destinies are changed. This is a place of solemn assembly, where the congregation is called to fast, to weep, and to seek God’s mercy for themselves and for the world. It is here, in this in-between place, that God promises to answer, to provide, and to remove reproach from His people. The call is not just to be present, but to be active in prayer, seeking God’s face for revival and transformation. [02:53]

Joel 2:15-19 (ESV)
“Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, ‘Spare your people, O Lord, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, “Where is their God?”’ Then the Lord became jealous for his land and had pity on his people. The Lord answered and said to his people, ‘Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.’”

Reflection: Where is your “between the porch and the altar” place—physically or spiritually—and how can you intentionally set aside time this week to pray and intercede for someone who is far from God?

Day 2: The Power and Priority of Prayer

Prayer is not just a ritual or a list of requests; it is the very place where power, strength, and transformation are birthed. In the space between the porch and the altar, prayer becomes the engine of spiritual life, moving mountains, bringing heaven to earth, and changing everything. It is through prayer that God’s people receive strength, see miracles, and experience deliverance. The call is to move beyond “gimme” prayers and to enter into deep, heartfelt communication with God, weeping and interceding for the lost and for the needs of the world. [20:12]

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have relied on your own strength instead of prayer? How can you commit to bringing this area before God in prayer every day this week?

Day 3: Embracing the In-Between Seasons

The “between” times—those seasons of waiting, uncertainty, or transition—are not wasted or insignificant. God often does His deepest work in the spaces between promise and fulfillment, calling and commissioning, or one season and the next. In these in-between places, character is formed, faith is tested, and God’s timing is revealed. Rather than rushing through or resenting these times, God invites His people to pray, to weep, and to trust Him, knowing that He is working even when the answer has not yet come. [24:04]

Romans 8:24-25 (ESV)
“For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

Reflection: Think of a current “in-between” season in your life. What is one way you can shift from frustration to faith, using this time to draw closer to God in prayer and trust?

Day 4: God’s Promise of Provision, Joy, and Anointing

When God’s people respond to His call to pray and seek Him between the porch and the altar, He promises to provide for every need—symbolized by the corn (provision), wine (joy and refreshment), and oil (anointing and empowerment). These are not just material blessings, but spiritual realities that sustain, renew, and empower the church to fulfill its mission. God’s provision is faithful, His joy is our strength, and His anointing enables us to serve and minister with power. [30:08]

Psalm 23:5 (ESV)
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need God’s provision, joy, or anointing right now? How can you ask Him specifically for these gifts as you pray this week?

Day 5: The Call to Be a Healing Presence in the World

God’s people are not only called to pray and receive, but to become agents of healing and restoration—a balm in Gilead—for those who are hurting, lost, or far from God. As we spend time between the porch and the altar, God fills us with His love and compassion, sending us out to be light, to share hope, and to minister to others in practical and spiritual ways. The church is called to be a place of healing, not just for itself, but for the world around it. [37:12]

Isaiah 61:1 (ESV)
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.”

Reflection: Who in your life is hurting or in need of hope? What is one specific way you can reach out to them this week as a healing presence, offering prayer, encouragement, or practical help?

Sermon Summary

In Joel 2, God calls His people to gather, to fast, and to weep between the porch and the altar—a place of deep spiritual significance. The porch was not just an entryway to the temple, but a central gathering place, a hub for both social and spiritual life. Yet, God’s call is not simply to assemble or to be social, but to move beyond the comfort of gathering and into the solemn, transformative space between the porch and the altar. This is the place where prayer, weeping, and intercession take precedence over activity and entertainment. It is here that God’s people are called to stand in the gap, to cry out for the lost, and to seek God’s face for deliverance and revival.

The “between” is a space we often overlook. It is the time and place between calling and fulfillment, between promise and provision, between the start and the finish. Throughout Scripture, God uses these in-between moments to shape character, deepen faith, and prepare His people for what’s next. Abraham, David, Joseph—all experienced long seasons of “between,” where waiting, praying, and trusting were required. The same is true for us. The space between the porch and the altar is not wasted; it is where God does some of His most important work in us.

God promises that if we will occupy this space with prayer and weeping, He will answer. He will send corn (provision and harvest), wine (joy and the Holy Spirit), and oil (anointing and empowerment). These are not just material blessings, but spiritual realities that sustain, refresh, and equip us for the work ahead. The call is not just to be used by God, but to know Him deeply—to desire His presence more than His gifts, and to let that desire drive us to intercede for others.

This is a season for the church to wake up, to move beyond surface-level engagement, and to embrace the solemn call to prayer and intercession. The world is in need of healing, and God is looking for those who will stand between the porch and the altar, willing to weep, to pray, and to believe for transformation. In this in-between place, God promises to meet us, to change us, and to bring revival.

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Key Takeaways

1. The Significance of the “Between” Spaces God often does His deepest work in the spaces between our beginnings and our breakthroughs. These in-between times—between calling and fulfillment, between promise and provision—are not wasted. They are seasons where character is formed, faith is tested, and intimacy with God is deepened. Embracing the “between” means trusting God’s timing and allowing Him to shape us for what’s ahead. [24:04]
2. Prayer as the True Work of the Church The central call is not to activity or entertainment, but to prayer and intercession. Jesus called His house a house of prayer, not a house of miracles or programs. The place between the porch and the altar is where the church’s true power is found—where we weep for the lost, intercede for our world, and seek God’s face for revival. This is the work that changes everything. [14:45]
3. Moving Beyond “Gimme” Prayers to Intercession Many struggle to move past self-focused prayers, but God calls us to a deeper place of intercession. True prayer is not just about asking for blessings, but about weeping and pleading for others—especially the lost and the backslidden. This shift from “gimme” to intercession is where spiritual maturity and breakthrough are found. [16:57]
4. God’s Promises for Those Who Stand in the Gap When we occupy the space between the porch and the altar, God promises to answer with provision (corn), joy and the Spirit (wine), and anointing (oil). These represent not just physical needs, but the spiritual resources necessary for life and ministry. God’s answer is certain for those who will pray and intercede in this sacred space. [30:08]
5. The Call to Know God Above All Else Being used by God is a blessing, but the greater call is to know Him intimately. Moses and Paul both longed to know God more than to simply be used by Him. This desire leads us to the place of prayer and weeping for others, fueling a passion for God’s presence and a burden for the lost that transforms both us and our world. [32:00]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:07] - Smiling and Setting the Tone
[02:53] - The Tabernacle and the Temple Porch
[07:53] - Called, Commanded, and Commissioned
[08:52] - The Place Between the Porch and the Altar
[10:03] - The True Meaning of Calling
[11:32] - Fasting and Solemn Assembly
[12:19] - The Seriousness of the Hour
[13:44] - The Call to Reach the Lost
[14:45] - The House of Prayer
[16:57] - Moving Beyond Selfish Prayer
[17:34] - Practical Tools for Prayer
[20:12] - The Power and Purpose of Prayer
[24:04] - The Importance of the “Between”
[30:08] - God’s Promises: Corn, Wine, and Oil
[32:00] - The Anointing and Knowing God
[37:12] - Being the Balm of Gilead
[44:16] - Call to Prayer and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Joel 2:15-19 (ESV) — 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly;
16 gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.
17 Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, “Spare your people, O Lord, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
18 Then the Lord became jealous for his land and had pity on his people.
19 The Lord answered and said to his people, “Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.”

Observation Questions

In Joel 2:15-17, what specific actions does God call His people to do, and where are they supposed to do them?
According to the sermon, what was the significance of the porch in the temple, and how was it used by the people? [02:53]
What are the three things God promises to send in response to prayer and weeping between the porch and the altar? (Joel 2:19; [30:08])
The sermon mentions that the “between” space is often overlooked. What are some biblical examples of people who experienced “in-between” seasons? [24:04]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God calls His people to gather “between the porch and the altar” instead of just anywhere in the temple? What does this location represent spiritually? [08:52]
The sermon says that the “between” times in our lives are not wasted. How might God use these seasons to shape our character or faith? [24:04]
The pastor said, “This house is not a house of entertainment... This is a house of prayer.” What does it mean for a church to be a “house of prayer” rather than a place of activity or entertainment? [14:45]
The promise of corn, wine, and oil is both physical and spiritual. What do these represent for us today, and why are they important for the church? [30:08]

Application Questions

The call to stand “between the porch and the altar” is a call to prayer and intercession. When was the last time you prayed specifically for someone who is lost or far from God? What would it look like to make this a regular part of your prayer life? [08:52]
The sermon challenges us to move beyond “gimme” prayers to interceding for others. What are some self-focused prayers you tend to pray, and how can you shift your focus toward praying for others this week? [16:57]
The “between” seasons can feel long and uncertain. Is there an area of your life where you feel stuck “in between” right now? How can you trust God and seek Him in this season instead of just waiting for it to be over? [24:04]
The pastor mentioned using prayer guides and practical tools to help deepen prayer. Have you ever used a prayer guide or a specific prayer plan? If not, would you be willing to try one this week? What might help you grow in your prayer life? [17:34]
God promises provision, joy, and anointing to those who pray and intercede. Are there areas in your life or in our church where you need to see God’s provision, joy, or anointing? How can you specifically pray for these things? [30:08]
The sermon said that knowing God is even more important than being used by Him. What steps can you take to pursue a deeper relationship with God, not just to serve Him, but to truly know Him? [32:00]
The pastor encouraged us to think of someone who is a backslider or far from God and to pray for them. Who is one person you can commit to pray for this week, and how can you reach out to them in love? [44:16]

Sermon Clips

I'm glad for the calling I have on my life. And I'm glad for the calling that God called me to be a preacher. But first of all, He called me to be a saint. He called me to be a child of His. He called me to walk with Him and talk with Him way more than He called me to preach the gospel. I wish I had a little bit of help here tonight because it's true. Amen. God is going to change our destiny if I can get us to that place that's in between and get us to...To pray and get us to weep and get us to that place of what God has really called me to. Amen. I'm glad I'm a preacher, but I'm going to hear you right now. I'm called to pray way more than I'm called to preach. Amen. I'm called to weep for the lost way more than I'm called to preach to the lost. [00:09:31] (51 seconds) #PowerOfPrayer

This house this house is not a house of entertainment. It's not. It's not a house of entertainment and this house is not a house of entertaining. In other words we have guests and we like to eat and have dinners and all these kinds of things because fellowship is part of the last day church. It's part of what they did to help people come to church and all those kinds of things and I'm all for that. But we're not here just to be entertaining. Amen. This is a house of prayer. It's what Jesus said. He didn't call it a house of miracles. He called it a house of prayer. He didn't call it any other kind of house but a house of prayer. [00:14:48] (48 seconds) #MiraclesBeginInBetween

This place between the porch and the altar is a place. It's a solemn place. Amen. It is a place where miracles happen. And it is a place where healing and deliverance takes place. Amen. But it's that place that prayer is started. It's that place amen that we have to get to where we're weeping and we're praying for that deliverance to happen. For that healing to happen. Where we're weeping and praying for the lost to be set free. To come back to God and to know God. We've got to weep and pray for our world. [00:15:36] (37 seconds) #BeyondGimmePrayer

I'll tell you what the problem is. Don't get mad at me. I'm just a messenger tonight. I'll tell you what the problem is. If you can't talk to God you're stuck in the gimme prayer. Gimme gimme gimme gimme. I want I want I want I want. Bless me bless me bless me Lord. But there's more to prayer than gimme gimme gimme bless me bless me. Called weeping and praying for the lost. [00:16:49] (31 seconds) #PrayerChangesEverything

Prayer is us communicating with God let me tell you what prayer does prayer is where our power comes from I don't have any power to to to heal anybody or to see anybody delivered or or to see anybody set free from drugs and alcohol and and depression and things I don't have any power to do that but when I begin to pray something happens when when you begin to pray come on somebody something begins to happen amen when we pray prayer changes everything not just some things prayer can change everything Amen Prayer will give you strength Like you've never had in your life Prayer brings heaven down the earth Prayer will move mountains [00:19:34] (50 seconds) #TheSpaceOfBetween

That word Between Is a place And this is what I felt God Speaking into my spirit It's a place that we often find ourselves Watch this It can be a space The definition for between Can be the space separating two objects Or Two places Two regions Two Two Two places that we go to You get stuck in between Between the House and the church Between Do this a lot Between the church and the office I do a lot of this Between the house And The laundromat And the other day They had a wreck down here at 99 And I got I couldn't go do what I wanted to I had to make my way around And around And I got stuck between It's that place We often find ourselves In between If you want to talk about time It's that period Separating Two points of time Amen [00:21:28] (63 seconds) #GodUsesSpecificTimes

That space between right and wrong the apostle Paul talks about he was also torn in between what's this in between going to be with Jesus and finishing his job on this earth Paul talks about that amen that space between God putting a burden and a call to do something and and the actual moment when it begins to take place you can talk about Adriana and I can talk about Blaine and the Joni and I can talk about others that that have gone and done stuff and been and and and but there was that space that drives you crazy that's in between what do you do you weep and you pray amen [00:26:15] (42 seconds) #Paul’sBetweenBurden

God is always going to supply our needs. Come on, somebody. He's always going to help us with what we have need of. Amen. And I'll tell you, this church needs some corn. We need some harvest happening. We need both physical and spiritual renewal. Come on. We need God moving in our midst. We need God doing things. And then the wine, of course, that represents the Holy Ghost. It represents joy. The joy of the Holy Ghost is my strength. Amen. That represents being refreshed and renewed and gladness. Amen. It signifies God's goodness and the things that He's done in our life. Come on. We need that freshness. Some of y 'all need to get that frown off your face. And smile every now and then. Some of y 'all need some joy back in your life that God put in a long time ago. But you seem to have lost it. I'm preaching to somebody right now. Some of us need that joy of the Holy Ghost and that refreshing in our lives so that we can say, Oh, I feel the Holy Ghost. [00:30:13] (89 seconds) #CornWineAndOil

Then the third thing is the oil, the anointing of God, the blessings of God, the spiritual empowerment of God. Amen. Where God empowers us to be used by Him. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be working without the anointing of God. I don't want to preach without the anointing of God. I don't want to pray for people without the anointing of God. God and it all goes back to me praying and weeping in between the porch and the altar I can get that if I go and pray come on somebody I can have the oil of God if I can go and pray and you can't you can't go with your sacrifice without oil it's linked to the spirit of God you can't you can't sacrifice and do all the parts that God is requiring us to do without the oil see we need corn and we need we need the joy we need the wine and we need the oil because it represents everything about the church [00:32:00] (80 seconds) #DesireToKnowGodMore

There's things in God that that we haven't reached and attained to in a long time there's places that we haven't approached God in a long time come on somebody amen I'm talking to everybody in this room right now I know I'm in the Holy Ghost amen and we're called to this we're called to this we're we're commanded to go to this place [00:33:28] (35 seconds) #BurdenForBacksliders

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