I have really enjoyed going through Paul’s letter to the church of Galatia on Sundaymornings. His letter is so rich and helps us where we are today as a church. This SundayI want to share a prayer that I pray for our people found in Ephesians 1. It will show the progression that we all need to be in as a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.
As I look around at churches that are making a global impact, I can’t help but see the church found in Brooklyn, New York, called the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church. The Pastor’s name is Jim Cymbala. He has written several books talking about the prayer ministry that has opened their church up for the Spirit of God to transform lives in their neighborhood. One of the books he has written is, “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire.” The title alone is enough to get the book and read it. It shows the emphasis they place on prayer in their church. He says, “From this day on, the prayer meeting will be the barometer of our church. What happens on Tuesday night will be the gauge by which we will judge success or failure because that will be the measure by which God blesses us. If we call upon the Lord, He has promised in His Word to answer, to bring unsaved to Himself, to pour out His Spirit among us. If we don’t call upon the Lord, He has promised us nothing. No matter what I preach or what we claim to believe in our heads, the future will depend upon our times of prayer.”
Jim goes on to say, “Teaching is good only where there’s life to be channeled. If the listeners are in a spiritual coma, what we’re telling them may be fine and orthodox, but unfortunately, spiritual life cannot be taught. Pastors and churches have to get uncomfortable enough to say, ‘We are not New Testament Christians if we don’t have a prayer life.’”
I have noticed a climate change in our church ever since we started our Front Row Ministry on Wednesday mornings at 6:30 a.m. It does make a difference in the Spirit Realm when the church places it as a priority to call upon the name of the Lord. But I believe that we are only scratching the surface. We have often said that as we grow, we want to grow because the Spirit of God is drawing people and lives are being changed. Brooklyn Tabernacle Church has had a prayer ministry on Tuesday night for years. If you don’t show up early then you may not get in the building. That’s what you call, “Power in Prayer.” I am not recommending that we start a Tuesday night prayer meeting and try to duplicate what someone else is doing. I do, however, want to have a church that is passionate for prayer. When we fervently pray, we unleash the power of God. Whether you come on Wednesday morning from 6:30 – 7:30 a.m. or pray during that time in your home or workplace, let’s humbly bow together and seek the heart of God for those who are lost, hurting, or discouraged. Pray for our families to thrive and be filled with the Spirit of God.
This Sunday night at 6:00 p.m. our Haiti team will be sharing about their experience in Haiti. We will also look at the possibility of returning next year to build another church.
I am looking forward to a powerful time of worship on Sunday. Ask God to help you to find a need and fill it, or a hurt and heal it today in Jesus’ Name.
Joy in Jesus!
Pastor Mike
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