Month: January 2019

Today is our sixth day of fast. Already we have had many answers to prayers, and we want to thank and praise the Lord.

“And he prayed that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!’ … And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, ‘Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.’” (1 Kings 19:4,7 NKJV)

There are times when great success is followed by a time of profound disappointment and loneliness.

For Elijah, this time came immediately after having boldly and publicly stood up against the prophets of Baal. First Kings 19 says he longed for death under the broom tree (v. 4). Perhaps Elijah had unrealistic expectations after his victorious confrontation on Mount Carmel. Instead, he went into hiding with a heart full of fear and frustration.

When God allows the “train” of our prayers and ministry to finally “come in,” often the train stops, sometimes the momentum does, too. Getting the train back out of the station can take an overwhelming amount of energy. Christian leaders may struggle with exhaustion as they try to redirect and rebuild momentum for their next major challenge.

Elijah went through a dark period in his assignment, but in every moment of despair, God was present to care for his needs and keep him on course (vv. 5-7). Along our journey as ministers, we will experience times of loss, fear and frustration. But God will be with us to care for us and give us the strength we need to carry on.

Let us always be aware of His presence and keep moving forward in His grace.

—Eduardo Bogéa senior pastor of Iglesia El Calvario (Ontario Hispanic Foursquare Church) in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

TODAY’S PRAYER FOCUS

It is essential to pray for our leaders as much as we pray for our own needs

 

• Pray for the Holy Spirit to strengthen and revitalise every minister and all in leadership
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to make us sensitive to the Father’s voice.
• Pray for the protection of all pastors and their families.

 

Pray for all the local churches

Pray for New Zealand and the peace in Jerusalem

“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few.’ ” (Matt. 9:35-37, NKJV)

Jesus came to set captives free and bring spiritual healing to broken humanity. Harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd, describes what Jesus saw in the crowds as He went from town to town.

With His Good News—the gospel—Jesus introduced hope in the middle of hopelessness. People no longer had to live in fear or shame. A new kind of life had become possible.

Unwilling for things to remain as they were, Jesus responded with compassionate action. He challenged His disciples to get involved without judging or blaming others, to be labourers in His “harvest” (v. 38).

Jesus did this by introducing the Good News of God’s irresistible love and grace. The same challenge Christ faced—to set people free—is ours, and the need is greater than ever.

Where sin increases, grace overflows. May this be a time of overflowing grace as we pray and act, and may we be moved to compassion as we see people the way Jesus sees them.

—Dan Sneed founding pastor of The Shepherd’s House (Thousand Oaks Foursquare Church) in Westlake Village, Calif.

TODAY’S PRAYER FOCUS

• Pray that God will show us His heart for this generation and give us the keys to touch others’ hearts.
• Pray that our churches will become centres of hope for spiritually hungry people.
• Pray that we as leaders will continue to grow in spiritual and emotional health.
• Pray for unsaved family members so that they will experience the love of Jesus
• Seek the Lord to pray for a person and then invite him to a life group or to the church
• Pray for New Zealand and for peace in Israel.

Pastor

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17, NKJV)

Spiritual healing can take many forms. Working with men’s and women’s homes, we bring people in need and disciple them to become productive members of society. Through that ministry, I met Peter and Jenny.

Peter was involved in gang violence and was in prison. He was addicted to drugs and liquor. No one trusted him. Now, he is a delivery driver serving the prisons where he used to do time. God has performed miracles in his life, and he is married to a woman of God and has two beautiful daughters. Many members of his family have come to know Jesus, and he and his wife work in children’s ministry on Sundays.

Jenny came from a dysfunctional family. Her mother had depression, and her father was a heroin addict who was in and out of prison. At age 11, Jenny was raped and ran away to a life of drugs. She attempted suicide several times. She entered a home for women and learned about Jesus. He delivered Jenny from her drug addiction and suicidal thoughts. He broke generational curses. Now, she puts her whole trust in Jesus.

Peter and Jenny have both experienced spiritual healing and miracles, and in Christ, they have become “new creations” (2 Cor. 5:17).

—Ruben Reyna senior pastor of Living Word Christian Centre (Buena Park Foursquare Church) in Buena Park, Calif.

TODAY’S PRAYER FOCUS

Ask the Lord for a compassionate heart and the ability to reach out to those on the edge in your community.

Pray for the words to touch the hearts of those in your community who are hurting, and for protection for those in dangerous circumstances.

Rejoice and thank God for delivering His “new creations” out of sin and sadness.

Pray that we have the heart of God and that we will reflect Him

Seek the Lord for His presence lead and guide us at home and church

Pray that we will experience His power and His move in the church.

Pray for our country New Zealand

God Bless,

Pastor

“When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,

Then You knew my path.

In the way in which I walk

They have secretly set a snare for me.” (Ps. 142:3, NKJV)

Is your spirit overwhelmed within you? Do you feel you are about to explode from extreme pressures from within and without? Have you been treated unfairly or even abused? Then you may identify with David as he wrote Ps. 142. He was likely hiding out in a cave. We may feel we are in a cave of sorts, hiding what is really going on in our lives.

What can we do? Cry out to the Lord! Really, cry out! Plead your case before Him.

Ask the Holy Spirit to pour forth the right words by praying in your spiritual language. Declare, “You, O Lord, are my refuge … Bring my soul out of prison” (vv. 5,7).

Then, repent of the things you have done that have resulted in this place you find yourself. Forgive those who have wronged you—truly forgive them, knowing that sets you free to receive spiritual healing.

—John and Sonja Decker assisting ministers of Westside Church (Bend Foursquare Church) in Bend, Ore.

 

TODAY’S PRAYER FOCUS  

• Share with the Lord the ways you feel overwhelmed, and ask Him to help you pray.
• Repent of any sin that has contributed to your condition. Ask God to help you forgive others who contributed to your condition.
• Ask the Lord to deliver you from any bondage, lying, perversion or pride, in Jesus’s mighty name and the power of His blood. Ask Him to lead you to safe, competent ministers who will lovingly assist you to total freedom.

 

• Pray for the ministries in the church
• Seek the Lord to brake any barriers from hindering people to receive Jesus
• Pray for church growth by salvations, baptisms and spiritual
• Pray for our country and for salvation for the Jewish people.

 

 

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” (3 John 2, NKJV)
What does “spiritual healing” look like? Is spiritual care the same as soul care?
Spiritual care and soul care are very difficult to separate. When I first came to Christ, the focus was on the “spiritual man,” which seemed to me to be separate from the “emotional man.” I was told to be careful about my emotions, that they could get me into trouble.
I have found out that is truer than I could have known. Unfortunately, it was the opposite of what I understood then. My “spiritual man” suffered when my “emotional man” was neglected. I did not realize they are basically the same.
In Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Peter Scazzero shares that “Emotional health and spiritual maturity are inseparable. It is not possible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.” When I read this more than 10 years ago, it rocked my world. Now my life, family and church receive spiritual healing through nurturing the soul realm.
—Craig Lawrence senior pastor of New Life Community (Pomona North Foursquare Church) in Pomona, Calif.

TODAY’S PRAYER FOCUS

• Is there deeply spiritual, emotional soul care in your life?
• Ask the Lord and others to give you wisdom in developing a plan for care that covers all areas in your life.
• Pray that God will help you with an honest assessment of your whole being, so you can develop honest accountability.
• Ask Him to draw close to you. Speak to Him as a son would speak to the Father
• Start praying for a friend or a family member whom you can bring to Jesus.
• Keep praying for the church that it will multiply and bear fruit.

We will be meeting for prayer at our home at 7PM

God Bless
Pastor

 

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt. 4:17, NKJV)
Keys give us access to things and places—access we normally would not have.
I believe Jesus gave us a key for spiritual restoration when He preached His first message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17). He was saying the kingdom of God was now accessible, and that repentance is the first step to enter it.
The Passion Translation instead of the word “repent” says “Keep turning away from your sins and come back to God” (Matt 4:17, TPT). Repentance is much more than simply changing your mind; it is a powerful term for turning your life around and coming back to God.
True repentance affects our views of God and sin. Repentance is to see our true spiritual condition and turn to God, who lovingly extends His forgiveness and restores our relationship with Him.
Let us live lives of true repentance, preach restoration boldly and see many people restored by Jesus.
—Adriana Barahona co-pastor of Angelus Temple Hispanic Foursquare Church in Los Angeles

TODAY’S PRAYER FOCUS
• Pray for those who need Jesus, that they will see their true spiritual condition and turn to God.
• Ask the Lord to grant you the ability to humbly accept your need for repentance, that you may enjoy the blessing of a transformed, restored heart
• Pray that you will abide in Him and be filled with His power to overflow
• Pray that you will be able to have quality time with on a daily basis
• Pray for the salvation of your family members.
• Pray for the church