Pray Network Forum

The Train Runs on Two Tracks

by John Kieffer

Think of each rail as Relationship and Strategy.

The tracks are laid on the ties/foundation of Prayer. It is hard work to lay the ties and tracks; but once in place, we can really move to where God wants us to go. Prayer is the work! Prayer is the foundation. Prayer is what ties it all together and keeps it level and balanced. Relationship and strategy must flow from prayer. If you try to lay the tracks of relationship and strategy without the foundation of prayer or run your train into town with out tracks, you will have a train wreck.

Prayer

Why is prayer so important? It seems like we pour a whole lot more time, energy and money into the planning of events than we do in actually praying for the event. Prayer is vital; because first of all, we need to hear from God about whether or not we should even be doing what we are planning. Prayer is vital because it prepares our hearts and purifies us as The Father speaks to us. Prayer is foundational because, out of hearing from God and humbling ourselves, we can grow in unity and love with each other. Prayer is crucial because it prepares the hearts of those we are inviting to hear the Good News. Prayer prepares the ground for all our relating and planning.

We envision every believer who will be attending praying for people to invite, caring for them as the Lord directs and being ready to share with them and be there for them at the event and ready to do the necessary follow-up after the event.

The prayer foundation is essential before we start laying the tracks of relationship and strategy, and more important than the train pulling into town. The Lord could do all His work through the power of prayer, or we can do all the work of putting on another event and loose the precious fruit of our labor.

1 Timothy 2:1, 3-4 - I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

We have found through the years that as Pastors and Christian Leaders come together in concerted humble prayer, a unity is forged that creates the right groundwork for healthy community. Out of this foundation of prayer comes community impact and transformation. Where God is at work we see a humble prayer movement bonding relationships and then wonderful ideas springing forth from the unity and love that has been developed in prayer.

Relationship

We started praying together twenty years ago. We started with a four day Pastors Prayer Summit and began meeting monthly for prayer at various churches across the Valley. Sometimes the Pastor wasn't available and we would pray in the churches parking lot for the pastor and congregation. Every year we make it a priority to get away and pray together at the Summit. The strength of relationship that is forged in this context is strong. As we have humbled ourselves before the Lord over all these years, we have bonded in true unity and love in the Spirit. Trust has been built and the ability to work through issues in a Godly and Biblical manner. We are enjoying healthy Christian Community.

Strategy is all about where we are going. What is the plan? How are we going to get there? What is the destination?

Matthew 24:14 - And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Matthew 28:19 - Therefore go and make disciples of all nations...

The destination seems clear; proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom to all nations.

The question is, are we laying the tracks to get us there? Are we doing the hard work of prayer and relationship building so we can reach our destination? We can't just roll into town, do a Gospel dump, and then leave with out teaching them to obey everything Jesus has commanded us. Jesus taught us to love one another and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

We need both tracks of relationship and strategy laid on the firm foundation of prayer to truly fulfill the great commission.

I just posted this blog on my website. I used a form of writing that R. A. Torrey used in his book "Studies in the Life and Teachings of our Lord" where for 346 pages, nearly every sentence is a question. Brilliantly done.

I'm no R. A. Torrey, but it was very fun to write this way. Let me know your thoughts, both on the questioning process, but also on how it helped, or distracted you?

Blessings, and enjoy:

Pray A.C.T.S. Why?

From January to April we prayed Psalm 119 on the
 Ranger Joe’s God and Country Show .

To see ALL of the Psalm 119 prayers,
 click here


We continue to go BACK THRU Psalm 119, praying the Key Emphasis for each stanza.

These prayers have now been turned into a book which you can purchase by clicking here. In addition to the Psalm 119 prayers there are two appendices with others prayers also (25 Days of Prayer During the Christmas Season and Praying in the New Year).

Each stanza has a Key Word, Emphasis and Application which succeeding prayers are built around. We are currently praying the key word for each stanza.

Psalm 119:17-24

Emphasis                 You open my eyes to Your word

Today’s Prayer

Oh Lord, we trust You, and You alone to show us wonderful truths, to open our eyes (Psalm 119:18), so we trust You Father, to give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You. Lord we trust You to open the eyes of our heart that we might be enlightened enough to know the hope of Your calling on our life. And Lord, as You open our eyes, we trust You to show us the glorious riches of Your Son’s inheritance, that we can participate in, here, on earth, among the saints, not just when we get to heaven. And then finally Father, as we ask for forgiveness and humble ourselves, as a nation, and as Your church, show us the immeasurable greatness of Your power, in us, simply because we are believers, Your children (Ephesians 1:17-19)

Beginning with the month of May, we began praying The Book of James on the Ranger Joe’s God and Country Show .

James 4:13-17

13Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” 16But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. 17Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Today's Prayer

Oh Father, we brag in so many ways. We have convinced ourselves that bragging, and calling it planning is not sin. Father, we don't know what tomorrow holds for us. Forgive us Lord, as a nation and  Your church, for boasting in our arrogance, it is evil. Lord,  As we submit to You in this area please teach us what is good to do, giving us the grace to do it. In the Name of Your perfect Son, amen.

 

John 3:1-9

(NIV)

3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.â€

3 Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again.â€

4 "How can anyone be born when they are old?†Nicodemus asked. "Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!â€

5 Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.â€

9 "How can this be?†Nicodemus asked.

My Brethren it is with deep thought in my spirit that secretly Nicodemus was an disciple of Jesus at least reluctantly. After all his first response upon visiting Jesus that evening was both an declaration and an confession all rolled up in one. Nicodemus was obviously hungry for what Jesus had to teach he could've left the conversation at any time instead he remained what seemed a couple of hours 3/4 of chapter 3 as for the Lord He discerned already what was lacking in Nicodemus heart deliverance from the lie's of those he served with. Ultimately Nicodemus was pretty much in favor of Jesus demonstrated when he protested the arrest of Jesus during the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:45–51). In the end Nicodemus folowing his heart joined with Joseph of Arimathea assisting in the preparation of the corpse of Jesus for burial (John 19:39–42).

My dear Brethren just like Nicodemus let us continue to crave the sincere knowledge of the Lord of which there is no end , giving thanks and praise from our hearts.

By Leslie F. Horvath (servant of God)

Daniel 9:4-7
4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:

“Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.

7 “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame( as in the days of) the people of Judah and Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far,......... because of our unfaithfulness to you. In Jesus name Amen.

Warning to our beloved nation America, repent from the foolishness of turning your back from God, by pushing Him out from our children's schools and defacing any mention of His name from both federal and public view otherwise face the same judgement ancient Israel, God so greatly loves us He gave His son Jesus as atonement of our sins all paid in full with His blood that even the fogiveness of our sins according to the vast riches of His grace. It's been made so simple you see ; only need to confess your sins and put it all away (repent) and He even swipes the slate clean and promises to no longer remember them no more; a fresh start . At present our actions and conduct bring defilement ( corruption) to our nation even our national security just as in the days of Sodom and Gamorah , if we continue to push God away we have no recourse to cry or complain why God was not around to help we turned our backs on Him , yet Gods mercy and grace is forever enduring He remains the same yesterday , today and forever He strongly desires an eternal relationship with all of us, so open up your hearts and invite Him in His arms are wide open from east till meets west.

2 Chronicles 7:14
NIV.

14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Beginning with the month of May, we began praying The Book of James on the Ranger Joe’s God and Country Show .

James 4:11-12

11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

Today's Prayer

Father, we thank You that You are sovereign, that You are a just God, that You are the one who saves, and that You are the One who judges. Forgive us Father, as a nation and as Your church for thinking that we have the right to judge our brothers. Cause us Lord to not criticize our brothers. In the Name of Your Son, the One who died for us, amen

From January to April we prayed Psalm 119 on the
 Ranger Joe’s God and Country Show .

To see ALL of the Psalm 119 prayers,
 click here


Today we continue going BACK THRU Psalm 119, but this time praying the Key Emphasis for each stanza.

These prayers have now been turned into a book which you can purchase by clicking here. In addition to the Psalm 119 prayers there are two appendices with others prayers also (25 Days of Prayer During the Christmas Season and Praying in the New Year).

Each stanza has a Key Word, Emphasis and Application which succeeding prayers are built around. We are currently praying the key word for each stanza.

Psalm 119:9-16

Emphasis                 Reflecting on Your ways

Today’s Prayer

Father, the very act of memorizing scripture causes us to meditate on Your precepts which then moves us to reflect on Your ways (Psalm 119:15). Forgive us Father, as a nation and as Your church, for losing the art of meditating. Lord may we focus on those things which are true and honorable, right and pure, lovely and admirable, only the excellent and praiseworthy things Father, do we want to delight in (Philippians 4:8). In so doing Lord, we know that You will not allow us to forget Your word (Psalm 119:16).

Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 166 | Wed 04 Jul 2012

KENYA - CHURCHES BOMBED and AL-SHABAAB 

by Elizabeth Kendal

Kenyan-assisted military operations to rout al-Shabaab in Somalia are being blessed with success. Gradually, order and security are being restored to large tracts of Somalia. Facing immense pressure, many al-Shabaab militants are shedding their uniforms, ditching their weapons and fleeing south into eastern Kenya where they disappear into the refugee population, sheltered by sympathetic Islamists who have fled war and famine. Just 80km west of the Somalia border and with as many as 500,000 Somali refugees, Kenya's Dadaab refugee camp has become a major security problem for Kenya. Aid workers have been kidnapped and held hostage in Somalia, mines and grenades have been used to kill Kenyan soldiers, and several refugee leaders have been executed. Many aid organisations no longer let their foreign workers serve in Dadaab because it is simply too dangerous.

Kenya recently experienced its worst terror attack since the 28 November 2002 bombing of the Israeli-owned Paradise Hotel in Mombasa when18 died. National police spokesman Eric Kiraithe declared that this most recent attack 'is the worst in terms of the numbers killed, the manner of execution, the anger behind it and the anguish it has aroused as well as the national impact it has had' (Reuters 2 July).

On Sunday 1 July seven militants launched simultaneous attacks on two churches in the eastern town of Garissa (about 90km south-west of Dadaab) at 10:15am. The congregations were at prayer when the militants threw grenades and started shooting. Five militants attacked the Africa Inland Church, killing 17 people and wounding some 60, including many women and children. The church's two security guards were amongst the dead. The other two militants attacked the Catholic Church just 3km away, leaving three believers wounded.

As Al Jazeera notes, Garissa serves as a military base for Kenyan troops fighting al-Shabaab in Somalia. Whilst the pro-Shabaab Twitter site Al-Kataib boasted of a 'successful operation in Garissa', al-Shabaab has not actually claimed responsibility. This leads many to believe that Dadaab-based al-Shabaab-sympathisers might be to blame, inspired by Boko Haram's attacks on churches in northern Nigeria. 

On Monday 2 July Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga told an audience in Garissa that al-Shabaab was acting 'in desperation . . . reacting to the progress made by our forces in Somalia'. He made it clear that Kenya would not be surrendering to terrorists and would continue the fight against al-Shabaab. PM Odinga's assessment is accurate, for al-Shabaab is indeed desperate. Their principal state sponsor, Eritrea, has run out of funds since the fall of Mubarak (Egypt) and Gaddafi (Libya), benefactors keen to help fund belligerence against Ethiopia. The al-Shabaab stronghold of Kismayo, the last major city al-Shabaab controls, is presently surrounded by Kenyan forces that aim to have control of the southern port city by August. As al-Shabaab's remnant transitions from a jihadist force into a terrorist network, war will diminish but terrorism will doubtless escalate and Kenya will be targeted.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL -

* bring healing, comfort and peace to the grieving and traumatised survivors of the 1 July terror attacks in Garissa.

* be an impassable defence, protecting his threatened people, the churches of Kenya. 'As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore.' (Psalm 125:2 ESV)

* lead and empower Somali and Kenyan forces to bring al-Shabaab jihad, repression and terror to a decisive end.

* redeem this suffering and use it to awaken Muslims to the deficiencies of Islam, so that the hearts of Somali and Kenyan Muslims might be made receptive to the Gospel.

* remove all terrorists from the Dadaab refugee camp and turn the hearts of their sympathisers (Proverbs 21:1), so that humanitarian aid and Gospel ministry can resume for the benefit of hundreds of thousands of desperately needy Somalis; may they soon be able to return to secure homes, with food in their stomachs and the gospel seed planted in their hearts.

To view this RLPB with hyperlinks, visit the Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin blog http://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.com


SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE

KENYA - CHURCHES BOMBED and AL-SHABAAB 

On Sunday morning 1 July, seven militants launched simultaneous attacks on two churches in Garissa in Kenya's east. The congregations were at prayer when militants threw grenades and started shooting. Seventeen people died and some 60 were wounded in the main attack at the Africa Inland Church, while three believers were wounded at the nearby Catholic Church. Garissa serves as a military base for Kenyan troops fighting al-Shabaab in Somalia and is just 90km west of the Dadaab refugee camp, home to some 500,000 desperately needy Somali refugees. Infiltrated by Islamic militants fleeing military operations in Somalia, Dadaab has become a major security problem for Kenya. Please pray for believers in Kenya; also for God's intervention to end al-Shabaab and for the spread of the Gospel amongst Somali and Kenyan Muslims.

We suggest that churches and fellowships using the above Summary might also provide a copy of the listed prayer points to be used in their worship by people who are leading in prayer.

For more information, updates and helpful links see Elizabeth Kendal's blog 'Religious Liberty Monitoring'

http://elizabethkendal.blogspot.com

Previous RLPBs may be viewed at http://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.com

This RLPB was written for the Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (AEA RLC) by Elizabeth Kendal, an international religious liberty analyst and advocate, and a member of the AEA RLC team.

If this bulletin was forwarded to you, you may receive future weekly issues direct by sending a blank email to

join-rlpb@hub.xc.org

A few years ago, the Lord had me involved in a prayer assignment, of great magnitude.  Much prayer had already gone up over a major issues that affected us locally.  I was one of the principle prayer leaders and needed God's Wisdom on encouraging others how to pray.

I came to the point where I had to seek the Lord and ask Him what was on His Heart that would show me how to pray.  I did not get silence from the Lord.  Soon the Lord led me to scripture and directed my thinking to pray in line with the principle found in the scripture that He led me to.

In our Nation, we are faced today with a major crisis as a nation.  Many of us pray and then make up our minds in what seems to be a logical way.  Some are just upset with the choices in front of them that they do not know what to do.

What all of us should be doing, is not to rely on ourselves, but to look at God's Word, and ask Him for Wisdom--(James 1:5).  When we have an impression or hear something--write it down.  Writing what we heard down--(Habakkuk 2:2), gives opportunity to check what we 'heard' with the Holy Scriptures.  If it agrees, then that may be how God may want us to pray and respond.  It is important that we take time to listen to what God says.

I encourage all to consider the above in praying for the upcoming elections.  Don't think for a moment that the choices before us are the only choices--Let God lead us to what He wants.  The Lord's Prayer has a principle that can guide our praying--May Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.  (Matthew 6:10).

Yes, it is time to humble ourselves--and pray--and seek the Lord--(II Chronicles 7:14)--especially for our Nation.

An Invasion of Locusts

Joel, a prophet of Israel came from literally nowhere to take the country of Israel by storm.  They had, had a great catastrophe.  As you read Joel 1:1-4 you learn that four different locust groups came and ate the vegetation.  By the time the locust attacks were done the land was dry and the people were starving. 

Into this horrible situation a confident prophet strode and said: The word of the Lord has come to me.  This natural disaster was many years in the making.  It made his pronouncements easier to make.  He told them that the locust swarms and invasion were so bad that you must remember to tell them to your children for the next four generations so they will be warned of the consequences of walking away from God.

The locust came in, in waves.  The first was a swarm.  This group ate the tops off the grain, flowers, etc.  It was the most productive part of the plant.  It is the place where the beauty and food was located in many cases.  (Not counting vegetables that grow underground and even those are affected by the chewing off of the tops)

The second wave came in and ate much of the stem, thereby destroying much of the plants ability to produce.  Its ability to thrive is severely compromised.

The third wave came in and ate the vegetation down to stubs at ground level.  This vegetation would then die or be nearly without viability.  It has little or no defense.

The fourth wave came and ate the roots and seeds of the plants and in so doing destroyed all possibility of life existing.

These waves took place over a period of years and were warnings that God was disciplining them.  It is clear that they did not listen. 

In the west we have also received similar warnings over the years.  These are the signs that I believe are warnings of God’s discipline.

The first sign was in 1963 when the Supreme Court changed the way we view prayer in school.  It could no longer be a teacher led prayer and quickly became interpreted as no prayer in school.  When this happened the prayer cover for America was blown away.  (The church was mostly silent because they were manipulated into believing that it was Biblical.)  In the 60’s the list of the most often done misbehaviors in school were chewing gum, throwing spit wads, talking, shoving people and stuffing people in a locker.  In the present decade the worst misbehaviors are drugs, sextexting, gangs, massive disrespect and lawsuits.  The protective layer of prayer is gone over our schools.

The second sign came in 1973 where two different Supreme Court decisions took the stems of our society down.  (The church was intimidated into being mostly silent.)  We lost our moral fiber when abortion on demand became legal.  A world without a moral base is in deep trouble.

The third sign came in 2001 when America was attacked.  No I don’t believe that God caused 9-11, I believe that He allowed it as a wake-up call.  (The church was cautious because they didn’t want to appear to say that God did this and be accused of serving a vindictive God.  We were cowed by arrogance.)  This showed us that we really have little or no defense against a determined enemy.  That day we lost our sense of security.

The fourth sign came in 2008 when the financial sector of much of the world was taken down.  It came about because of one thing greed.  It was the greed of those who attempted to manipulate money.  It was also because of the ones who expect that those who work want to care for those who refuse to work.  This is greed as well with a helping dollop of laziness.  This state leaves society reeling under the burden of instability. 

I am not a pessimist by nature.  But today I want to say prophetically that unless we do what they did in the time of Joel we will have similar results.  We have reached the days of critical mass.  We have destroyed by our silence the prayer covering for the world, destroyed our moral base by allowing abortion on demand and other things of that ilk, believed in the lie that we can protect ourselves and decided that we can care for ourselves without God.  We have left God out of everything.

I believe with every fiber of my body that if we will return the prayer covering to our world it is not too late.  It will not be easy, but God is calling the church to take up its place again. 

♥ We can no longer stand on the sidelines being intimidated by the fear of rejection or worse.  We will need to find the God of the Bible and obey what He leads us to do.

♥ We will need to reestablish prayer to its prominent place in the Body of Christ.  In the places where the church is growing prayer is preeminent.  Many of them have daily or weekly prayer meetings at 5 AM.  Most of them have protracted periods of prayer (40 to 120 days). 

♥ We will need to leave our comfort zones behind.  One of these comfort zones will be the “safety” of our own.  In other words we will need to quit sniping at Christians that have different labels.  Instead we need to meet together and repent of our attitude of “winning the world for Christ alone.” Where God is moving in a country or city Christians are meeting together to repent.

♥ We will need to practice self-denial.  We as the individuals and the church need to go into our inner rooms, where we will pray and fast before the Father.  Then obey what he says.

Next time some practical things the “church” can do.

More than physically tiring, the prayer journey around the world, was emotionally draining and spiritually challenging.  Having worshipped with underground believers in China, met down a dirt road and sat around a campfire in India, posted a guard nearby so we could have a prayer meeting in Yemen, it was good to be back home. I reflect on that three-week trip during special occasions.  One of those occasions is July 4, Independence Day for Americans.  Among other things, we celebrate the freedom to worship without fear of governmental interference, without what the Apostle Paul calls, “a yoke of bondage”.  In Galatians 4 it is shown that the gospel is freedom, but the Mosaic law is the covenant of bondage. Hence Paul bids his readers to, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). Having worshipped and prayed with people who live in such a yoke, I am grateful without limit, to live where I can worship without fear. Americans will celebrate the 4th of July this week with fireworks, parades, and Bar B.Q. along with various other means of festivity.  Even as I join in these types of freedom celebrations, I give thanks for being free from bondage.

 There are times when, due to circumstances, we are alone. Perhaps a husband has died, a child has moved away, or a friend has rejected us, even in a crowd we may feel moments of loneliness. But in reality. We are never alone. God is hear. Prayer. reach out to Jesus; pull Him to your side. Then forget self all to others, you weren' ment to go it lone. God hold me in your arms, with you in my life, I am never really alone. remain hear beside me as I reach out in love to other   

Beginning with the month of May, we began praying The Book of James on the Ranger Joe’s God and Country Show .

4You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? 6But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” 7Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Today's Prayer

Lord, thank You for being so clear, You want us to be humble, not friends with the world. You want us to have clean hands and a pure heart, not be double minded. Father, forgive us as a nation and as Your church for focusing on throwing a celebration, when You are calling for brokenness. Father, cause us to realize that dealing with the evil one BEGINS with submitting to You. In the Name of Your Son, the One who submitted completely to You, even going to the cross, amen.

From January to April we prayed Psalm 119 on the
 Ranger Joe’s God and Country Show .

To see ALL of the Psalm 119 prayers,
 click here


Today we begin going BACK THRU Psalm 119, but this time praying the Key Emphasis for each stanza.

These prayers have now been turned into a book which you can purchase by clicking here. In addition to the Psalm 119 prayers there are two appendices with others prayers also (25 Days of Prayer During the Christmas Season and Praying in the New Year).

Each stanza has a Key Word, Emphasis and Application which succeeding prayers are built around. We are currently praying the key word for each stanza.

Psalm 119:1-8

Emphasis                 Walking in Your paths, Your law, Lord

Today’s Prayer

Lord, when we think of “Walking in Your paths, in Your Law” (Psalm 119:3) we are reminded of “abiding” in You. And so Father, we abide in You, we continue in You, we walk in Your laws because we know that when we see You, we will be confident and unashamed (1 John 2:28). Lord, the writers of scripture wrote, so that we would not sin, but we praise You Father, that when we do sin, we have an advocate with You, Your Son. He is the One who, out of Your love for us, gave up His own life, not only for us but for the entire world (1 John 2:1). Lord, that is love, Father, that is unconditional love, that He died even for those who will not turn to Him. Forgive us, as a nation, and as Your church, for not loving unconditionally, and show us Lord, how to love like that, for Your word tells us that love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10).

Another post, this one from today

http://www.ctmprayer.org/?p=2770

Mark S Mirza

www.ctmprayer.org

Posted on my web page:

http://www.ctmprayer.org/?p=2745

www.ctmprayer.org

We would welcome your partnership in prayers. Scriptures call us to agree together in the Lord, what better way to do so than on a common day of prayer. To partner simply e-mail us with your name and contact info at pray@creationcare.org. You will receive periodic concise prayer alerts.

If you'd like to partner but aren't sure how, here are some ideas

-download the prayer points and pray through them on the day of prayer. http://prayerforcreationcare.creationcare.org/blank.php?id=59
-pray these points or alerts with one or more believers.
-offer a prayer during meals on the day of prayer and at other times.
-host a local event at your church, community center, or a local home.
-host a prayer call with others around the global day of prayer.

For ongoing prayer, join the EEN Prayer Team. Simply e-mail us at pray@creationcare.org.

The Third Awakening

The title got you didn’t it.  Well to tell you the truth I am excited.  A friend posted something this morning about truth.  It was awesome.  It got me to thinking that her message would not be popular in our culture where the idea of truth is nothing more than what is true to you.

The keys are flying under my fingers with a massive thought about this trend.  If we believe what the media, organizations and yes a few churches say, Christianity is a dead dog.  Well, I’m here to say oh no its not.  Here is what our culture says about people who take their faith in Jesus Christ seriously.

Your religion is bogus: in an article where the author was talking about putting in rooms of prayer for another religion.  Christians don’t deserve a place.

We can now decide what sex we want and abort the one we don’t want.  We are fearfully and wonderfully made.

It is claimed that same-sex marriage is not only acceptable but preferred.  This is put forth by both people in high government office and church councils.  God ordained that we it should be a man and woman.  Genesis 2:24

When a law maker (Kansas) says that we should ban the teaching of evolution in the public school because there is no scientific evidence for it, they are treated like they are an ignorant bohemian.

A child is shouted down and cursed at for singing a patriotic song at a political rally because it had God in it. 

On Sunday I was teaching a bunch of preteens about Biblical Literacy.  I told them that they should carry their Bible to school and read the passage that I ask them to read during the week.  Their eyes en masse got big and said, “We are not allowed.” 

That’s enough of that!  Now for the good stuff.

I believe that in America we are on the verge of the Third Great Awakening.  That means that a major outpouring of God’s Spirit is on its way.  This Great Awakening will be different that the other two. 

The first Great Awakening was led by traveling revivalists.  They were Jonathan Edwards and George Whitfield.  They primarily spoke to the church.  (In the 1730’s and 1740’s most people went to church so the church needed awakening)    They mainly focused on repentance and living your life for God in front of people.

The second Great Awakening was led by revivalists, lay preachers and ordinary citizens.  It focused on salvation, holiness, changing culture, and living life of the Lord.  This started about 1790 and lasted until about 1880.

The third Great Awakening will be led by committee Christians who don’t listen to what someone says about them or does to them.  Listen “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”  1 John 4:4

Here are the marks of what it will take for the third Great Awakening to take place:

1. There will be great repentance in the Christian faith.  2 Chronicles 6:12-42 tells us that Solomon prayer 6-8 times to heal our land.  In every case the healing takes place when the people repent of their sin.  When the churches get out of the way and allow the Spirit to show what He would like to do, then the Awakening will begin.
2. There will be a huge outpouring of prayer.  People will be spending the hour that Jesus asked His disciples (you are one) to watch and pray with Him for one hour.  That seems to be a minimum.  This Great Awakening will be led by unnamed masses that will take seriously their call to pray and will begin to take the idea of one hour as a beginning point. 
3. There will be many who will be called to fast.  Fasting in combination with prayer will one of the catalyst for the Awakening.  These fasts will be of many varieties.  They could be the simple 3 or 4 day fasts of our grandparents.  It could also be the longer 10 day, 14 day and 21 day fasts that Scripture talks about.  There may even be a few who are called to do the 40 day fast that Jesus did.  Note this is a calling.  (A major note here: Jesus said when you fast.  Matthew 6:16, 17  He didn’t say if, but when.  The joys and benefits for fasting are many.)
4. There will be many who will put Christ first.  (Matthew 6:33)  They will trust Him alone for their life.  Oh yes they will do everything they can to provide for themselves, but will let the worry of life (6:34) to be placed in His hands and not carry it around anymore.
5. There will be a massive upsurge in people wanting to know the God of the Bible and not the God they see lived out in the average Christian.  To accomplish this there will be churches, businesses and organizations that will sponsor “Getting to Know God” events.  These will be multi-hour events where people will be given resources to search out God for themselves in the Word.
6. There will be people, who God will rise up to teach people how to pray, be a prayer warrior and intercessors.  These people will be the new itinerant evangelists.  It appears that they will not all be big names, in fact they may be the “little people” who God can use to do this.
7. There will be a lot of people who will understand what it means to sacrifice, be willing to be persecuted and in some cases die for the cause of the Great Awakening.

YES it is coming.  Get on board!  There is no other name on earth by which we may be saved.  (Acts 4:12)  So let’s get together and invite the Holy Spirit to reign in our culture.