Month: March 2014

40 Days of Prayer & Fasting: Day #31

by Dale, posted in 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting

Something Rare and Special Going On!

Yesterday morning, I read the following Facebook status from Gerald Wolfe that said, “If I lived anywhere near Albemarle, North Carolina, I’d join up with the folks at Prospect Baptist Church! There’s something rare and special going on there that should be the “norm” for Churches across the country!”  That statement peaked my interest.  Gerald did not give any further explanation, but someone from the church did, and I definitely want to share it with you.

“God has placed His hand on this place. It is not anything we do or can explain. It is a pastor in Stoney Benfield that had taught us through the Word about repentance, love & worship. There is a freedom of worship to clap, cry, laugh & love. There is a call to prayer & submission to the one Holy God. There is a challenge to keep the Main Thing the Main Thing. There is an expectation of meeting with the Lord every time the doors are open & that worship is out of the overflow of our personal time of worship, reflection & service throughout the week. There is a passion in ministry for the students, the children, the hurting, the addicted, the lost…this list goes on. …We can’t explain it, but we do experience it! No, we don’t get it all right. We are an imperfect people serving the Perfect God and we are so humbled and thankful that God had chosen to be here and pray that we remain amazed & humbled so that He continues to stay.”

I have one question to ask this morning, “Is something rare and special going on in your life this morning?”  If so, it will spill over into your family today and our church starting this Sunday.  Will you be a part of what should be the “norm”?

Isaiah 55:6-12

6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Reminder:  Our goal for these 40 days of prayer and fasting is that God would so revive and change us that we would both pray and act as the people of God for the glory of God!

40 Days of Prayer & Fasting: Day #30

by Dale, posted in 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting

Revival Opposition

As we have seen in our recent study, Nehemiah faced opposition from without (Chapter 4) and from within (Chapter 5).  God had called Nehemiah to do a work for Him and for His glory!  Whenever you move forward for God, expect opposition to come!

The saddest kind of opposition is that which comes from within.  How could anyone oppose the work of God?  I have.  How often He has spoken to me about witnessing to someone, bearing someone else’s burden, stepping out in faith, facing the conflict, etc., and I have argued, refused, and rejected to do what He had nudged me to do.  As a result, I miss out on seeing what God planned and missed out on the blessing of giving Him praise.

In another context, Sunday morning a dear saint of God went out the door after the service and remarked about how God had spoken to them.  They said, “I just wanted to raise my hand and praise the Lord, but nobody else around me was, and I was afraid.”  Yes, we should not let the fear of man be a snare to us (Proverbs 29:25) in worship, but we do.  But, what comes to my mind in that scenario is, would the way I live my life, the way I worship be such that I am in opposition to my brother or sister in Christ?  Am I hindering the work of God?

When God is at work and moving forward, I must not oppose it.  I must join Him in His work regardless of what man may think or how I feel.  Satan is always opposing us, the flesh is unprofitable, and the world needs to see genuine Christianity that brings glory to God!

This morning, as we are seeking the Lord in prayer and fasting for Him to do His work so we can give Him praise, ask yourself, “Am I any way opposing the work of God?”

Reminder:  Our goal for these 40 days of prayer and fasting is that God would so revive and change us that we would both pray and act as the people of God for the glory of God!

Passage to Read:  Ephesians 6:11-24

40 Days of Prayer & Fasting: Day #29

by Dale, posted in 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting

Behold Your God

As a follow up to yesterday’s music and message from Nehemiah 5, I ask that you watch this brief video from A. W. Tozer.  If we are to have revival, we must “see God again!”

Praying Church

Reminder:  Our goal for these 40 days of prayer and fasting is that God would so revive and change us that we would both pray and act as the people of God for the glory of God!

40 Days of Prayer & Fasting: Day 28

by Dale, posted in 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting

Preparing Your Heart to Worship Today!

One of the key elements of Men’s Prayer Advance is using the CPR method of prayer.  The acrostic is simply Confession, Praise, Requests.  As you prepare your heart to worship God throughout this day, may I encourage you to use CPR?

Confession – Pray through Psalm 51.  Don’t rush.  Let the Holy Spirit speak to you and show you what you need to repent and confess concerning sin.  Be honest.  Be real.  1 John 1:9, If we confess sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Praise – Pray Psalm 96 back to God.  Sing a song of praise.  Rejoice in the Lord in prayer!  Key in more on Who He is than what He has done.  Give Him praise!!

Requests –  Now pray for your family as they prepare to worship; for your drive to church to be a time of worship and praise; for the folks you invited to attend today; for your SS teachers, nursery workers, sound room guys, greeters, musicians, pastor, etc.  I promise, when you have confessed your sin and spent time praising the Lord, your request time will be fresh and invigorating rather than just a nothing list to pray through.

See you later on today as we worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; fear before Him all the earth! (Psalm 96:9)

Reminder:  Our goal for these 40 days of prayer and fasting is that God would so revive and change us that we would both pray and act as the people of God for the glory of God!

40 Days of Prayer & Fasting: Day #27

by Dale, posted in 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting

27 Spiritual Inventory

After 27 days of prayer and fasting, how has your life changed?  What is different about your relationship with Christ?  What will be different this weekend about how you will prepare to worship God on Sunday? Therefore, what will be excitedly different about your attitude of worship this Sunday?  May I encourage you to go back and review two earlier blog posts from this 40 day journey.  They give tips on how to prepare today for Sunday and then how to begin the day on Sunday.  After all, the Lord is seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).  Will you be one of those?

Saturday Preparation Tips

Sunday Morning Preparation Tips

Reminder:  Our goal for these 40 days of prayer and fasting is that God would so revive and change us that we would both pray and act as the people of God for the glory of God!