Pray Network Forum

One of the top concepts in the corporate world these days is “the power of full engagement.” It’s a paradigm for managing your personal or organizational energy, and I think you would find it very helpful.

But recently I’ve been learning about the flipside of that concept: the power of full DISENGAGEMENT.

Let me explain why this is so important…

My baby blue 1976 Fiat was the favorite car I’ve ever owned. With 5-speed manual transmission and a responsive engine, it was a complete blast to drive.

But sometimes my Fiat was so much fun that I forgot to press the clutch before changing gears. The result was a horrible grinding sound, not to mention considerable embarrassment on my part. And occasionally my failure to press the clutch even resulted in the engine stalling.

Lately I’ve realized that God is getting me ready for a new season in my life, and I’ve thought about the lesson I learned years ago with that old Fiat: If you’re going to make a smooth transition from one gear (or season) to the next, you’d better press the clutch first.

In many ways, this seems a great paradox. In order to be fully engaged with the next gear, you must first take time to be fully disengaged from your present gear. Shortcuts simply don’t work. In fact, shortcuts will eventually cause permanent damage to the gears.

No one modeled the power of disengagement better than Jesus. When He saw that His disciples were facing burnout because of never-ending activity, He instructed them to “come apart” to a quiet place and get some rest (Mark 6:31 KJV). Then and now, those who don’t intentionally disengage from their daily grind on a regular basis will eventually “come apart” (i.e., fall apart) in unpleasant, unintentional ways.

Jesus realized the POWER in disengagement, especially when we use that time to better engage with our Heavenly Father. We repeatedly see Him disengaging from the crowds, and even from His disciples, to go pray in the wilderness or on top of a mountain. What was the result of such times? “Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14).

Isn’t that beautiful? After Jesus purposefully disengaged for a while, He was able to reengage with new strength and power.

Today, do you find yourself anticipating a new season in your life, but unsure how to get there? Or perhaps you feel stuck in “second gear,” unable to move on. Or maybe you keep hearing a loud screeching sound every time you try to move from one gear to the next.

If you can relate to any of these symptoms, I encourage you to discover—or rediscover, like I have—the power of full disengagement. Leave your friends and family for a few days. Disconnect from your work responsibilities, your smart phone, and your social media. Find a place to quiet your heart and rest.

As you take time to disengage and be still, you’ll experience the powerful message of Psalm 46:10: He is God—and you’re not! That is really, really good news, isn’t it?

Join us February 17-19 in the Tampa Bay area for a national gathering of pastors and leaders as we collectively seek God and His blessing on our lives and churches.

This corporate, multiple-day experience of unscripted prayer, worship and Scripture will be conducted in the Prayer Summit format. Our time will be led by Daniel Henderson (National Director ofThe 6:4 Fellowship) and Dennis Fuqua (Director of International Renewal Ministries). Daniel and Dennis have collectively led hundreds of Prayer Summit experiences for leadership teams, pastors' fellowships, and entire congregations.

MAXIMIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE BY BRINGING A TEAM FROM YOUR STAFF OR CONGREGATION!

JOIN US AND YOU WILL RECEIVE:

- Encouragement and fellowship with like-minded pastors

- Refreshment in God's presence through prayer

- Equipping in prayer leadership that you can take back to your church

- Discounts for 6:4 Fellowship members and spouses!

Visit www.64fellowship.com/prayersummit for more details and schedule.

#ReimaginePRAYER ~ Pondering Repentance ... and Revival and Renewal

Revival has ben hijacked by a specifc stlye of church protocol.

It refers to a annual series of meetings designed to produce an emotional response from the gathered faithful prompted by loud, fear-based ("hellfire and brimstone") preaching.

While the contrition and confession may have been sincere, the modes and methods utilized failed to produce a Spirit-led, Scripture-fed congregation of mature disciples.

• Repentance is more concerned with what changes inside than outside:
  • Begins with a response to the Holy Spirit (often sensed by feeling sorrow or grief over our sin)
  • But must be ore than that emotional response; our sadness must produce a cleansed, pure "heart"
  • ...and that must produce a change of mind (think differently; Romans 12:2)
  • "The Lord isn't slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient, because he wants everyone to (repent); ie, turn from sin and no one to be lost." (see 2 Peter 3:9)
• If we confess our sins is more than saying "sorry"
  • We must concur that what we have done, how we have thought or where we have failed to be act obediently, is sin
  • Confess = "agree with God that what the Spirit have convicted us of is truly sin
  • Conviction without contrition is weak; that sin will easily repeat 
• Three Transforming Questions
  1. What? ... is the sin God wants me to repent (turn) from?
  2. So What? ...why has the Lord pointed this particular issue to me (why is this sin hurtful to the Lord? to the Body of Christ? to our Christian witness?
  3. Now What? ... does the Spirit want to do in me, to make me more like Christ? (ask someone to forgive me? change an attitude? resume a spiritual discipline? research the issue biblically?)
• What is the difference between reviving renewing and repenting?
  • Repenting is a change of mind/direction; the old has gone, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17)
  • Reviving is to re-vive; regain life
  • Renewing is to restore something old to a fresh (but not necessairly new) state