May 2016 Blog Posts (18)

Most of us are aware that the Bible calls us to pray for those who have authority over us in government. But let me suggest that we need to pray quite as much for spiritual leaders whom God has raised up to touch our lives and strengthen His church. Many of you are already praying, hopefully daily, for your pastor, your Bible study teacher or that person who has a great influence in your life.

Beyond praying for those whom we know personally are some who teach and inspire us. Many of…

On a recent day, the sun was shining and the weather was warm. It was a beautiful day, perfect for being outside and enjoying nature. However, all the weather reports focused on the upcoming storms, predicted to hit during the night. No reports of the beautiful weather, just the warnings of pending doom. Life gets that way some times. We miss the joy of the present by focusing on the possibility of a troubling future. Morris West, an Australian novelist whose books were published in 27…

When members of the congregation or intercessors are considering praying for their pastor, here are some things to consider as they make steps to pray for them.  The closer the member or intercessor is to the pastor or the more formal the prayer relationship, the more deeply that person may be able to pray for their pastor's needs. 

Because pastors may not formally invite them into a prayer relationship, members and/or intercessors could consider praying for the…

Pray for God to be revealed  



Ask that the Lord reveals Himself to the nations in the Arabian Peninsula. Although the people are neither seeking nor asking for Him, we ask on their behalf that they may be found by the Lord. The Lord is present. Ask that an ever increasing number of people in the Arabian Peninsula will be found by the Lord. May the people come to know the work of…

In Matthew 23:9 Jesus spoke these words.

"And call no man your father on earth,

for you have one Father who is in heaven."

It is terribly important to grasp this truth. This is at the heart of the gospel. And the gospel is the heart of Christian theology. When Jesus instructed us to pray to God as our Father, and when Paul said God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying, "Abba, Father," the pattern was set for our relationship…

ionprayer

n prayer this morning I heard the Lord say, “Your victory does not lie in your defense but in your offense.” He followed this with a prophetic word (below) that will encourage you to resist the temptation to trust in your…

Every congregation needs three essential gatherings – one for worship, one for teaching and training (discipleship), and one in which the congregation meets God in corporate prayer. These are not exclusive one of the other. As the church gathers for prayer, there should be at the heart of the meeting, a worshipful disposition. The corporate worship experience…

Continue Reading here

I have begun thinking, studying and praying about writing a book on hope. I have already written a few preliminary things. And I want to share one of these with you today.

I have been frustrated at reading books that offer hope with no foundation of ultimate hope. They treat hope as if it were merely a hopeful feeling that could be drummed up without reference to our ultimate predicament. I want to show hope from the beginning of our anxiety. I have recently heard this problem posed…

Grandparent’s Day of Prayer- September 11, 2016  

Recently a Grandparent told me, “I am really worried because our grandchildren are growing up in a desperate moral and spiritual climate navigating in a world hostile to truth.” I agree, the enemy has launched an aggressive attack on all fronts using media, technology,…

As the summer months come, pray for those who are living in the low lands and along the sea in a country where there have been frequent power outages as well as lack of supplies. Pray that their basic needs will…

Wouldn't it be wonderful if our entire nation joined together in prayer for America, just like the Israelites convened at the sound of the trumpet to pray? Now, more than ever, our government needs prayer. Our families need us to pray. And we need God to heal our land.…

...in response to his frustration in asking for prayer to be more active in the ministries and activities of congregational life.

Most leaders/pastors do not value highly either the critical need to invite the congregation to the place of prayer (a prayer meeting or meetings throughout the week where prayer is the primary purpose; praying for the holy huddle but also for the culture and community) ... and to take…

There are four prayer streams in the life of the people of God that are critical.

1. The congregation gathered in and for prayer. Not preaching. Not teaching or training, but in prayer.
2. Smaller prayer groups. Not the entire congregation gathered, but slices of church life gathered for prayer. For example, at the heart of every ministry…

Today I want to speak to those of you who lead prayer times and prayer meetings. You have a great responsibility in helping people focus on God in prayer. Most of you are aware that the great tendency in corporate prayer meetings and possibly in private prayer is to focus on ourselves, our needs and immediate desires. Let me suggest that the next time you lead a prayer time that you try to stretch the prayer requests people lift to eternal perspectives.

You need to begin by praying…