Hope for the City (Stories from Tell Week)

Here's a powerful and wonderful account of one of our Community Group's experiences last week for the tell portion of our "Pray, Serve, Tell" theme for the fall.

Our Community Group went out to do the 'Challenging Outreach' one night last week in Boston's busy Prudential Center.The more that I do this outreach, which involves asking people about the biggest challenge they face, the more I am filled with boldness! This is largely because I am so delighted and surprised by people's willingness to open up about the things that matter most to them, even to a complete stranger, and even in academic and largely secular Boston. God is moving in this city!

As we asked people about the biggest challenges they faced, their answers moved us. Here are some of them.

• 'Going to work everyday even though I want to quit' 
• 
  
• 'Overcoming my father's Alzheimers' 
• 
  
• 'Adjusting to life in a new city'
•  
• 'Telling people that I'm adopted.' 

This simple question allows people to honestly share where they are at and opens up the opportunity to pray and be invitational with people. Last week, we prayed with a young Hindu man who was visiting Boston for a conference, invited an Asian couple to church for our Christmas services, and exchanged email addresses with a Buddhist gentleman who has since been in touch to find out more about FenwayChurch! 

Our CG had fun together meeting new people and were thankful for the opportunity to be a part of Tell Week.

To learn more about the Challenging Outreach click here.

Questions About the Holy Spirit

Two questions were asked this week after my message on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. You can listen to that message here: http://www.fenwaychurch.org/media.php?pageID=5

Questions are not surprising!  When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost in Acts 2, people asked questions (see verses 7-13), and Peter them.  In the same way today, when the Holy Spirit moves, questions often arise and they are worth answering.

For anyone but often people who have come from backgrounds where they have not seen supernatural things before, watching or hearing about some of the things that happen when the Spirit comes can make them feel uncertain or uncomfortable.  For example, on Sunday some people cried when experiencing the Holy Spirit. One young man was overcome by the presence of God and fell backwards.  While it is the person of the Holy Spirit that we are seeking, we acknowledge that certain signs and experiences often are associated with the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

If you have questions about what you are seeing or hearing, ask your CG leader about it at community group or feel free to email me with questions - dwhill@fenwaychurch.org

For now, let's address the two questions that have already come up.

1) Does baptized with the Holy Spirit and filled with the Holy Spirit mean the same thing?  Are they interchangeable?

Yes!  Jesus promised the disciples in Acts 1:5 that they would be "baptized with the Holy Spirit... not many days from now."  This promise was fulfilled in Acts 2:4 when the same disciples were "all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues."

In Acts 8:17, people being baptized in the Holy Spirit (which I described in more detail in Sunday's message) was referred to as receiving the Holy Spirit.  All these phrases are referring to the same thing and are used interchangeably in the New Testament.

2) Is it Biblical for everybody to speak in tongues at the same time like Betsy experienced in Zimbabwe?

Good question.  In Acts 2, all 120 people were speaking in tongues at the same time when the Holy Spirit fell upon them so it is certainly not without precedent.

Paul does encourage order when we come together to worship in public as a church.  In those meetings, Paul states that if someone speaks out in tongues he should only do so if someone can interpret it so the whole body can be edified and built up (I Corinthians 14:26-27).

These instructions by Paul point to the purpose of tongues.  Tongues enables a person to pray with their spirit and not just their mind (I Cor 14:14).  Tongues builds up the individual that is praying but not the church unless their is an interpretation (I Cor 14:4).  I have founded praying in tongues to be hugely encouraging and empowering for me in my personal prayer life because of those reasons.

We do need to proceed with wisdom and with Paul's instructions in mind when praying in tongues corporately.  Here's how I attempt to do that.

I would encourage people in our Sunday public worship gatherings that if they pray in tongues they should do so quietly and in a way that will not be heard by others.  Of course if they sense their tongues if for the whole body and there is going to be an interpretation, they should then approach our MCs to see if their is space in the meeting to speak the tongue. This helps keeps order in the service and prevents people who don't know about tongues especially non-believing guests from being confused.

In prayer meetings and other gatherings where guests are not involved, I have found that as in Acts 2, Acts 10, and Acts 19 when the Spirit moves when we gather corporately it can cause many people to erupt in praise and prayer in tongues as Betsy experienced in Zimbabwe.  I have usually found these times empower prayer and build up the body as we all individually feel ourselves being edified by the Spirit.

With that said, we do want to make sure we are explaining what is taking place to those who may not have experienced it before and help them understand and experience these gifts as they desire.

Our Dear American Friends... (A Note from Across the Pond)

I felt this note from a friend from Germany (who is deeply involved in the expansion of God's kingdom in many ways particularly through simple church planting) hit the right note this morning. I need more time to weigh everything that he is saying here, but I sense much of it is from God's heart.  I post it this morning because I believe we need to hear its message and consider this man's conclusions with the election and the state of our nation still fresh in our minds.

David W.

P.s. I would welcome any questions or thoughts in the comments.

____________________________________________________

Our dear America – where do you go from here?

Today, Obama has been re‐elected; all the efforts of many Christian leaders, prayer movements, “prophets” and “concerned Americans” who have lobbied, written appeals, articles, books, letters ‐ some have even done films ‐ to warn not to vote for him have come to nothing. Many of them have behaved as if the future of the Kingdom of God is at stake. Well, it is not.

  

Can we, as foreigner who dearly love you as a people, say a few words into this situation? Because it is evident to us that God has a clear plan with your nation. But many don´t seem to see it, and therefore run the danger of fighting the wrong fight, wasting precious time and resources, and even endlessly call upon God to do what he just will not do.

The German weekly Der Spiegel, kind of a German Time Magazine, has a cover picture of Uncle Sam in bed, titled, The American Patient: The decline of a Great Nation. We think this is a prophetic picture. As your friends, we know, acknowledge and admire that America has had a great past. But how will your future look like?

God chastises whom he loves because he knows: pride will come before the fall, and humbleness and brokenness is the only condition he responds to. We personally sense we need to tell you: the destiny of your nation is in God’s hands, not yours. It is not at all about Obama or Romney, it is about God using all the nations in the world according to his global and unchanging plans. Did you ever allow the thought that God in his sovereignty is using Obama like a pawn on his chessboard to humble the US as a nation because he wants to show his grace to a nation gone completely self‐sufficient? A nation that is so full of independence, individualism, nationalism and trusting a greed‐ and fear‐based economy that there may be only one way open to heal it from its idolatry and re‐align itself with the Kingdom of God: a crisis beyond anything that America has ever seen?

In 2008, God has been challenged by a man standing up in public, preaching to the cheers of a huge crowd: “Yes we can!” We watched it; we saw the tears of excitement in the eyes of the people; the statements were received as if coming from the Messiah himself, and the electoral rallies had all the flavor of a religious revival. "Yes, we can" is the exact opposite of the King of kings saying: "Without me, you can do nothing!"

If God is the one who "deposes kings and raises up others" (Dan 2:21), does it really matter what are the names of the current puppets set in place by God that advance both the New World Order and the Kingdom of God? Neither Herod, Pilate nor Cesar were truly important for the development of the Kingdom. That is exactly why Kingdom people do not play in the Second League, but the First, the one that matters. The one that puts the Kingdom first, and everything else ‐ including their own nation ‐ second.

The problem of the current commotion and insecurities arises when even the people that call themselves after God keep confusing the Kingdom of God with the United States of America. And when that happens, especially through Christians with a public voice, then we have truly lost all perspective of the coming Kingdom of Jesus Christ and the predictions he has made that will precede his coming.  

America is being publicly humbled by God; and he is going to use Obama – and those after him ‐ to further advance his agenda that will lead all nations to kneel before that one true King Jesus very soon. If any nation wants to become a tower that reaches up to high heaven, it will be humbled by a God who will not share his glory with people relying on their own strength.

America, where do you go from here? What does this mean for you? The future is going to be very, very rough. Your securities will vanish, the economy will go down, the education system will become even worse, the streets more dangerous, the churches even more divided, the youth even more disillusioned – unless there is a true movement that abandons all those idols mentioned above, and radically repents, makes a radical alignment with the King of the Kingdom of God and his constitution, live the Law of Christ in all areas of life, first and foremost in the areas of sex, money, power and how we “do church”. This is a defining moment for you as a nation. You could go down, as the German journalist of ‘Der Spiegel’ predicted. Or, America could be literally re‐invented by Kingdom people who are ready to implode the prevailing myths about Americas greatness, and replace it by God’s greatness (my emphasis - DW). The King has even greater things purposed and would fulfill those purpose IF those who call themselves after Jesus the King, would turn away from their self‐made religion, self‐made churches and religious factions, self‐made visions of success, and their self‐made, harmless God.  

Can we lovingly but urgently call you back at this hour to begin and initiate a movement to reposition and repatriate yourselves into the eternal Kingdom, by submitting yourself not only in theory but also in practical deeds to Jesus the King, starting to obey the King and his liberating decrees in all the areas that count? You might even want to write a declaration of dependence on God and each other, because by idolizing anything else before and over God, you will become illegal aliens in the country that counts, where we all are called to have our home: the Kingdom, the one place where our true citizenship, nationality and allegiance lies (Phil 3:20). This is the only one country that will not be shaken, as it has an unchanging King.  

If there is any way that we can help you in this great challenge and task – we want you to know we will.

Wolfgang and Mercy Simson, Germany

Serve Week @ Fenway Church – The Pleasure of Serving

In the spirit of our desire to engage our communities through prayer, service and telling God’s big story, our community groups (CGs) will be serving their neighborhoods the last week of October. Below is an update and celebration of what we’re up to and why we’re doing it. 

Why We Serve 

Standing in the bright morning sun last Sunday, surrounded by college students from our church and gardeners at the Fenway Victory Gardens, I couldn’t help but think two thoughts – “why did they come?” and “this is so fun!”

A bunch of students (who probably would have preferred to sleep in) got up early on Sunday to serve at the final Community Participation Day at the Fenway Garden Society, kicking off Serve Week at Fenway Church. Rather than hitting the snooze button, they chose to sort through and clean up compost piles, plant daffodil bulbs and build and repair fences (with and for people they didn’t know). And why? My guess is that they want to be more like Jesus, who came as a servant among us (Luke 22:27).

But, I think it’s also because there is a pleasure in serving. When we give freely of our time, energy and talents to others, we experience the same love that our Heavenly Father has for us and gives us unconditionally. When we serve, we act out a quality of kingdom living, characterized by giving freely of ourselves for the benefit of others. Through service, we embody a key component of God’s character and, as God’s children, that is enjoyable and fun! 

How We’re Serving

This week, all of Fenway Church’s community groups are serving the different neighborhoods in which they meet. Here are some of the ways we’ll be serving our neighbors:

• Getting the word out about family and community services by helping Operation Peace distribute their newsletter throughout Fenway businesses and residences
• Offering warmth and love by serving free hot chocolate to residents of Jamaica Plain as they head home from work 
• Completing random acts of kindness for our neighbors in Jamaica Plain, East Boston, Quincy and Roxbury
• Preparing and sharing a meal with people rising out of homelessness
• Partnering with Abundant Grace Church to let residents in Oak Square know about their new location
• Receiving and sorting through bikes with Bikes Not Bombs for parts that will contribute to overseas economic development and programs wherein Boston youth get active, make friendships and are empowered as leaders in their community

Looking at this synopsis, I am amazed at the impact we’re having on the city! Powered by God’s love, we’ll be serving many of Boston’s neighborhoods and, in doing so, enjoying the fun of becoming more like Jesus. 

Prayer Walking

This Fall all of Fenway Church's community groups will be taking specific action steps to engage the communities and neighborhoods they live in through learning how to pray, serve, and tell together.  September's action will be prayer walking.  Below is a how to guide on prayer walking.  Enjoy!

PRAYER WALKING

What is it?

Prayer walking is simply walking through neighborhoods, observing what God is doing and what the needs of the community are, and praying into those things.

Abraham was a man who enjoyed a conversational relationship with God in which they walked and talked through prayer.  Once, God told Abraham, “Look around from where you are… Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you” (Genesis 3:14-17). Like Abraham, we want to walk through our neighborhoods seeking out God’s hopes, purposes and plans for them.

Prayer walking uses the power of observation to understand the areas we live in so that we can more effectively pray for them.  It also gives us an opportunity to imagine and visualize how God might transform the lives of the people in a neighborhood.

This type of prayer moves us beyond our own concerns to praying directly for the needs of our neighbors.  This prayer is called intercession.

How do you do it?[1]

Pray with a Partner/Group. 

• You can prayer walk alone, but prayers are more focused when expressed with a friend. If you go as a larger group, plan to break up into groups of 2-4 so you are not disruptive to the natural flow of the neighborhood.
• Pray audibly for clarity and agreement. It may feel awkward at first, but praying aloud enables us to agree together for things. This is very important because Jesus said agreeing in prayer is vital to its effectiveness. (Matthew 18:19)
• Pray as you walk, but also find locations where you can stop to pray.

Seek to Observe. 

• Invite the Spirit of God to accompany you, guiding your steps and your words.
• Be attentive during moments of silence, allowing the Holy Spirit to help you see with His eyes and pray in accordance with His heart.
• Note the needs and demographics of the community as you walk through it.

Pray with Purpose. 

• Pray for the present-hour needs of people and places that you see.
• Pray God’s Word. You can read scriptures or sing worship songs.
• Sketch a map to focus on select streets, buildings, parks, etc.
• Pray quietly. You can be on the scene without making one. In confidence of God's unfolding purpose which includes your preparation prayer, don't look to initiate gospel conversations during your prayer walk.
• Explain what you are doing to inquirers: "We're praying God's blessing on the neighborhood. Are there specific ways we can pray for you or others?”

Review after.

• Gather your full group and write down the prayers, people, and places that seem most important before you leave or when you arrive back at your meeting place.
• Use these observations to continue to pray for the neighborhood and ask God how your group might serve the needs of the community.

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[1] These guidelines were based on “How to Prayerwalk,” http://www.waymakers.org/prayerwalking/howto.html

The Vision of Fenway Church - Intro

This Sunday, I was in the middle of preaching from Acts 2 on our church's vision and values when the fire alarm at the club went off! Since the church is the people, not a building or service, we had no problem moving outside to the Fens. 

Kinda the closest I've ever gotten to an epic Jesus outdoor preaching moment. I'm thinking we should do some outdoor services this summer... anyone down?

Anyways, the preach got me thinking about the vision of our church and how important it is. Let me take a moment (or two) to describe it (ok it ended up being three separate posts, don't worry links below), and I think you will see why. Here it is...

Loving Others, Transforming Neighborhoods, Serving Nations

Loving Others -> Click Here

Transforming Neighborhoods -> Click Here

Serving Nations -> Click Here

Part I: Loving Others

The first of three parts describing the vision of Fenway Church

Loving Others

At the heart of Jesus' ministry and the early church was the greatest commandment. Jesus said everything in life is based on it, “Love one another.”

In the gospels, we see the incredible love that God the Father and Jesus the Son have for each other. John put it simply, “God is love.”

People who have genuinely encountered the love of God, through understanding the love Jesus demonstrated in his life-giving death on the cross, cannot help but respond with a similarly genuine love for others: their church family, those who still remain lost in their sin, and their Savior, Jesus.

Everything we do as a church is motivated by the love of Jesus as we express the love he's given us through getting to know and serve others. This reality is why visitors to our church the last few weeks have said the following things:

“It was awesome. I definitely felt the compassion.”

“I fought back tears throughout the service because I really felt his love... people made a point to welcome us and introduce themselves (at least 15 people).”

A love like that can change a life, can change a city, can change the world. Which gets us to our next part...

Part II: Transforming Neighborhoods -> Click Here

Part II: Transforming Neighborhoods

The second in a three part series on the vision of Fenway Church

Transforming Neighborhoods
You can't escape it... In the book of Acts, the early church transformed the cities they lived in. These early churches fed the poor, cared for widows, and rescued orphans. They preached the gospel fearlessly (and in the midst of great persecution and push back) yet were held in high esteem and enjoyed the favor of the cultures that they lived in.

Why? It is because they didn't just talk about love, but they demonstrated love. How? By working for the welfare of their cities and neighborhoods.

Imagine! The early disciples lived with the images of Jesus ministry to the poor and his sacrificial death on the cross emblazoned in their minds. They had watched him heal the paralyzed stranger, hug the outcast, feed the poor, and minister hope to the “least of these.” They watched him give away his life and be beaten, mocked, whipped, crucified because he identified more with sinner and beggar than he did with the religious and political establishment. Whatever difficulties the early church faced, the example of Jesus' life and death would motivate them to keep giving until lives, cities, and neighborhoods were transformed.

We too aim to seek the transformation of our neighborhood, starting with those who need it most. That's why our church members volunteer at the youth program at a local non-profit called Operation Peace. That is why we host family days and participate in park clean ups.

It's why several of our young men return to Abundant Grace Church twice a month to help lead their outreaches to at-risk youth.

It's why we seek to break down barriers and be a church that welcomes people from diverse backgrounds. It's why our DTP interns this summer will serve teaching computer classes, loving seniors, volunteering at youth programs, and hosting events for kids. It's why we won't be satisfied with just a growing church. We will only be satisfied when we see tangible transformation taking place in the Fenway.

The job won't be done until every person in the Fenway knows that we are present not because of our loud, large services but because they see us investing in the lives of our neighborhood like Jesus invested his life into ours.

Well not quite done...

Part III: Serving Nations -> Click Here

Part III: Serving Nations

The third in a three part series on the vision of Fenway Church

Serving Nations

Since our church's inception, countless prophetic words have been given about our involvement in nations. Pictures of bridges being built between us and other nations mix with the words, “You will gather quickly in order to scatter.” It constantly rings in our hearts and minds.

The focus of God's purpose in this world is to make the name and power of His Son's Name, Jesus, known among every people group, tribe, family, and nation. Matthew 28 lays out clearly that God's intention-- from Adam, to Abraham, to Jesus, to us-- was to send his image bearers to the ends of the earth until the whole world was full of the knowledge of his glory.

Thus, we don't just live to love one another or to serve our own neighborhoods. We live to serve and love all the peoples of the world.  Specifically, those who have yet to have a chance to know the love of Jesus and who will not unless someone goes to them. They are the last unreached people groups of the world.

We not only support our friends who have gone to lay down their lives to love and seek the transformation of neighborhoods across the globe, but each year, we are involved in sending our own members to areas of the world where these last unreached people groups live.

It has taken several years to get to the point where we can truly say we are beginning to scatter, but I am excited to know that within the next year or two, we will be sending out eight of our members to other countries and six of these members to the unreached nations of the world.

They will carry the same commitment to love others, preach the gospel, and seek the transformation of the nations and villages they will adopt; our own hearts, prayers, and money will travel with them as they lay down their lives like Jesus did for the sake of his unreached children.

This is the vision of our church. This is a cause worth living for.

Intro to Our Vision Posts -> Click Here

The Gospel & The Kingdom

Yesterday, we started our Rooted Series in a packed club.  God was definitely present.  I preached on "The Seed" from Jesus' parable of the sower found in Matthew 13.  You can listen to the message here.

The Big Idea from yesterday's message was that the gospel proclaims that there is a Kingdom, a King, and a Way.

The parable of the sower (which Jesus called the key to all his other parables, Mark 4:13) begins first and foremost with a sower who is sowing seed.  Luke tells us that “the seed is the word of God.” (Lk8:11)

Jesus as he stands in the boat preaching this parable is the sower of the seed.  His words are the word of God (the gospel).

Matthew gives us additional insight into what the seed (the gospel) is.  “The seed is the word of the Kingdom.” (Mt13:19)  Jesus' gospel message was a proclamation of the reality of his coming Kingdom.

As we start this series, we want to understand what the gospel is saying. What is the seed, the word of his Kingdom, that Jesus is sowing into the world?

First, through Jesus' preaching, God is saying, "There is a kingdom!"  Jesus during his trial would tell the Roman governor Pilate, "My Kingdom is not of this world." The gospel begins with a simple proclamation that a Kingdom that is not of this world exists, and it is entering our present reality.  It is a Kingdom of among other things hope, healing, and freedom.  A Kingdom where there is no sin and death.

The second thing the gospel says is there is a King.  This statement makes complete sense for wherever there is a kingdom there must be a King who reigns over it!  The King that is proclaimed in the gospel is the man, Jesus.  A King who came to earth as a peasant, to live a selfless life, and die a brutal death. So that he might rise from death, in order to make life in his Kingdom possible. 

The third thing the gospel says is there is a Way into the Kingdom. The gospel proclaims not only is there a Kingdom and a King, but that the King has made a Way for a person to enter his Kingdom.  

King Jesus through his death made a way for us to be cleansed from sin and through his resurrection made a way for us to be freed from the power of death. Since sin and death have not part in the realm of the resurrected King, we must first be cleansed from sin and freed from death in order to enter into the life of the Kingdom.  

Jesus' death and resurrection made a way for those who believe his message to enter the Kingdom.  When we understand and accept there is a Kingdom, a King, and a Way, we are repenting (changing our way of thinking).  We end our old lives where we were our own rulers (and headed towards death) AND begin new lives with Jesus as ruler of every area.  We demonstrate this decision through baptism.

This new life is life in the Kingdom, life with the King Jesus, a life heading in a totally new direction.

As we continue this series, we will be taking an expansive look into what this new direction and life with Jesus looks like and how we can be firmly rooted in it.

Something I Learned by Investing in Others

ONE LESSON I have learned over the last 6 years is that when I invest in and disciple others, when I take the time to focus on others instead of myself, I learn and grow.

This week, I had the opportunity to spend time one on one with 3 young men in our church.  In our times together, we prayed, talked, assessed our lives, read scripture, and made decisions to take specific actions in the coming week in our journey of following Jesus.

One young man I was encouraging to come to Father daily asking for what he needed for that day. The next day in prayer, I thought - wow I should do that too - and I did!  Another young man I was encouraging to pursue the gifts and fillling of the Holy Spirit (I Corinithians 14 & Luke 11).  It reminded me to spend more time praying in tongues in my personal prayer times, and I did. Finally, a young man asked me whether he was teachable or not, and we had a fruitful conversation.  Today, the Holy Spirit started asking me if my heart was teachable.  Was my attitude the attitude I had encouraged him to have?

These relationships illustrate a significant principle.  As I invest in others, I become more like Jesus myself.

This principle is the beauty of discipleship - it is not just me teaching someone else - but through the relationship that is fostered in discipleship we BOTH become more like Jesus.

Daily Prayer Guide - Our Future Jan.7

"They shall build up the ancient ruins; 

they shall raise up the former devastations; 

they shall repair the ruined cities, 

the devastations of many generations." 

(Isaiah 61:4)

This week has been filled with many life giving moments.  Mainly, I believe because when I take the time to learn to walk with Jesus my life becomes filled with life.  Guess that's what Jesus was referencing when he said, "I want you to have life and have it to the full." (John 10:10)  Strange how in the midst of partially starving ourselves and saying no to our bodies, we can find fuller living then when we are indulging in all the world has to desire... that is the wonder of life with Jesus.

As we come to the end of this week, two things stand out to as having had the greatest impact on me this week.  

One is our corporate times of prayer.  I am so encouraged listening to and agreeing with the prayers of my brothers and sisters - what passion, what love for God, what incredibly compassionate hearts for those they encounter in their lives.  They make me want to be more like Jesus and through their faith make me want to keep coming back to the place of prayer.  If you haven't made it out to a prayer gathering this week, you need to make it out Saturday night just to hear some of our brothers and sisters praying (January 7 from 6-8PM at 874 Beacon Street).  

Two is the daily schedule of early morning prayer and fasting has produced a certain rhythm to my life that causes me to end up praying throughout the day as I go about various activities.  I have been so much more aware of Jesus' presence with me.  This awareness has encouraged me greatly and I am seeing God move and give me faith for things in ways I don't typically experience.

As we enter into this last day, Isaiah 61:4 reminds us of what our future will be.  We will be those, though once lost and wounded, who now build up, raise up, and repair.  Through our love and hope many will be encouraged and built up.  Through our faith and the Spirit of God, many will be raised from death to life.  Through our compassion and diligence, households, neighborhoods, and whole people groups will find their societies transformed into communities of hope, love, and genuine care for each other.

On Saturday night, we will pray into this future.  We will pray into this task that lays before us.  We will pray that the Holy Spirit will anoint us so that we may continue to partner with Jesus to build his church, raise sinners to life, and repair the lives of many.

Why not join us?  Or, let your amen be heard right now where you are as you join your spirit with ours in faith that God will do it.

Love and grace in Christ Jesus.  It is a joy to labor with you for the desires of the Father's heart.  I thank God for you and this week he has given us together.

Love,

David W.

Daily Prayer Guide - Planted Oaks Jan.6

"That they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified."

(Isaiah 61:3)

What is God's purpose in the proclamation of the gospel, the anointing of his messengers, the binding of broken hearts, the freeing of captives, and the comforting of those who mourn? 

It is two fold.

First, it is for the good of those who were once far from God but have now been brought near by faith. Their healing and restoration is so that they might be planted with roots growing and surging deep into Christ and that from from this relationship they would grow into mighty oaks bearing the fruits of righteousness.  Imagaine, the person that once felt their life was crumbling into ashes, whose heart was broken from mourning, now rooted and established in the love of Christ bearing the fruits of the Holy Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and goodness.

Second, the result is that the power, majesty, steadfast love, and glory of the LORD is revealed through our transformation.  As John Piper says, "God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in him."  God longs to exalt his Son and his name, and therefore he longs that we be completely and fully satisfied in him.  God calls, anoints, and transforms because he wants to display his glory and goodness in us!  This is our inheritance, this is our future.

Prayer Points

Father God, thank you that your desire is to bless me.

Jesus, thank you for healing me, restoring me, and giving me a hope and a future.

Holy Spirit, continue to make this truth ever real to me.

Father, pour out a revelation of your goodness in my life that I might be fully satisfied in you so that you may be glorified.





Extension of Early Morning Prayer

This morning God showed up at early morning prayer (EMP).  It truly felt like a holy moment lasting for more than 30 minutes.  At the end of prayer, God confirmed by speaking to multiple people who were there that we were to continue our corporate daily prayer gatherings. 

What does that mean?  It means tomorrow we will again meet at Ruggles for 6AM prayer.  Saturday we will meet for our previously scheduled 6-8PM church prayer meeting.  Beyond that we will together continue to weigh and assess how long to keep meeting for daily early morning prayer.

What are we longing for?  Themes that emerged this morning (and throughout the week) were a greater measure of the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives, a deeper understanding of Jesus' love for us, and the salvation of our family members. 

What is our passion? Like Jacob (Genesis 32:24-26) and the persistent widow (Luke 18), we will not stop coming to God until we receive the fullness of what he has for us in this season.

Sarah Neslund captured this mornings encounter with God well.  I pray you will be encouraged by it.  For those pondering a Biblical model for this type of persistent prayer, our model is the Jerusalem Church which met every day and was devoted to prayer. (Acts 2:42-47)

Sarah's account of today's prayer gathering:
David encouraged an attitude of reception and invitation for the Holy Spirit to fall, inviting anyone to receive prayer and be filled. At least four people expressed a desire, but even after at least 25 minutes of intense spiritual prayer, that sense of urgency, of desperate thirst for the Holy Spirit still remained. And we agreed that, yes, we are contending-- our appetites have been whet and now we are hungering for more. Even though he can fill us, even when we don't ask, as a lover He seems to be romancing us, leading us closer, causing us to long more for Him. And to this we are responding with passionate pursuit, declaring, "WE WANT MORE OF YOU, GOD."

We will wrestle with him, clinging tightly until we get more of Him! We want to be filled; to receive His presence and experience all that it confers- spiritual gifts, power, love, compassion, mercy, courage and conviction. And, we will not easily relent. No. Just as he has pursued us, so we pursue Him fervently with that same intent of Jacob-- to receive His blessing and a greater impartation of the Holy Spirit. And, like Jacob, knowing it may cost us everything or just something, we lift up our hands in full surrender and complete desperation saying, "There is no place I'd rather be and no joy outside of You. You are my only desire and I don't want to be anywhere without you fully there."

Daily Prayer Guide - Comfort for the Faint Jan.5

"The LORD has anointed me... to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit..." (Isaiah 61:1-3)

The world is full of mourning.  The mourning of death, incurable diseases, broken relationships, emotional pain, and more.  An abused child mourns the loss of security, trust, and innocence.  The grieving parent mourns death of a young child.  The tired woman mourns the pending divorce from an unfaithful husband.  The Lord is very aware of the distress of this world.  He knows our lives can become charred and fragile by the harshness of life.  He knows our lives can waste away disintegrating into nothing but ashes.  This He knows, and this is why he is the God of all comfort. (1 Corinthians 1:3)

It is a part of the missionary calling is to comfort the afflicted. One must not be surprised when he discovers great darkness and sadness in the world.   As this passage demonstrates, bringing comfort really is a significant part of the missionary calling.  So much so, that the prophet interrupts his sequence of statements to elaborate on God's promise to those who come to Zion (his church) in mourning.

To those who feel like their life has come to nothing, God promises a headdress - a sign of beauty, purity, and acceptance (typically worn out weddings or by priests).  To those who are mourning, the oil of gladness - pressed down, shaken together the joy of knowing were loved spilling over into our hearts.  To those worn down by life, the garment of praise.  Why?  Because you will find the anointing of God is strong enough to bind up any heart, break any bondage, take your sadness and clothe you with gladness.  Those who have encountered the anointed ones of God will be clothed with praise!

Yet, we come to those who are mourning with quiet hearts and meek spirits.  We come along side them in the place of prayer and in the realities of life.  We weep and cry with them, and we ask God to comfort them.

Prayer Points

Father, comfort all who mourn. (Pray for those who God puts on your heart)

Father, give to your children who mourn - a beautiful headdress, the oil of gladness, and the garment of praise.

Father, strength the faint hearted in our church, in our families, and in our lives.

Father, break our hearts for those who are truly mourning.

Father, may those your heart years for come to know you as the God of all comfort.

Amen.

Daily Prayer Guide - The Year & the Day Jan.4

"To proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, 

and the day of vengeance of our God..." 

(Isaiah 61:2)

Yesterday at early morning prayer, God was speaking clearly to us about being God's laborers in the harvest.  In answer to the call of Isaiah 6, we were responding in prayer, "Lord, send me."  Pastor Dave encouraged us at the end of prayer about how meaningful it was that each of the attendees gathered had made commitments to be a witness for Jesus in the city of Boston.  We were all reminded that if Pastor Dave had not heeded God's call to come to Boston in 1989 we would not be here right now. Praise God for a man who did not just say "send me" but actually went!

The anointing of God empowers us for the task (see previous days).  Does God have a message that he expects us to proclaim as we go out into our world to be witnesses for Jesus?  Yes, he does.

The message has two parts.

We get to tell the greatest news ever known to mankind - we are living in the age of the Lord's favor!  Since Jesus' death and resurrection, we are living in a time in history where salvation is freely available.  On the cross, Jesus paid the debt from sin you owed, purchased you out of slavery to sin and Satan, and earned you the right to share in his future inheritance - heaven's riches.  Though each one of us was indebted due to our sins, in bondage to self, and unable to earn God's favor, God by his grace and mercy through Jesus Christ has shown unmerited favor to humanity and welcomes every person who puts their faith in his Son Jesus to enter into fellowship with Him.  What hope we have to proclaim!

It is exceedingly good news when we also proclaim that not only does God save us out of our sinful condition but also saves us from a future judgment sentence.  We live in the year (age) of his favor, but this age will have an end.  There will be a day of the vengeance of our God when he will destroy all that is evil and corrupt, when he will banish Satan and his forces to eternal torment, and when he will send those who despised or refused his offer of grace to the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  The proclamation (good news) that we get to speak of is that this day of vengeance need not be dreaded.

Friend, you need not be uneasy.  God offers you today the gift of faith in his Son Jesus so that the last appointed day can be one of rejoicing for you as you are welcomed with a mighty throng into the new heaven and new earth, NOT one of weeping, judgment, and hell.

Prayer Points
Father, thank you for extending an age of grace to humanity.
Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross to save me from my sin and the judgment to come.
Father, make me a speaker of your truth.
Holy Spirit, empower us to proclaim the reality of this year of favor and the coming day of vengeance.
Jesus, may you get all the glory you deserve (the salvation of many) as the reward for your suffering.

Daily Prayer Guide - Good News Jan.3

"The LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound." (Isaiah 61:1)

What is the purpose of the anointing of the Holy Spirit?  Why should we long to be clothed with the anointing of God?  Simply put, the Lord anoints to set the captive free.

The Lord anointed Jesus, and he anointed Peter, and he anointed Paul.  He will anoint you too.  The Lord anointed Ananias (Acts 9), a man who had a quiet time one day, so that when he laid his hands on the newly saved terrorist named Saul, Saul's eyes popped opened, scales fell off, and Saul himself was clothed with the life-empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.  And in that story, we see the vitality of the anointing of God.

The Lord anoints an apostle like Paul and a regular believer like Ananias and uses them to be his messenger and conduit of salvation in this world.  God chooses to manifest his power in the lives of those who are far from God and without hope in this world through the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

For the Christian, God has called us to be witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, and the ends of the earth; and he fully intends to anoint us for this task.  He anoints us to preach. He anoints us to bind up. He anoints us to proclaim without hesitation the joyful truth that the prison gates have been flung open.

If we long for the poor to know peace and security, if we long for the brokenhearted to know love, if we long for those bound in chains to sin and Satan to be free, if we long for hell to be plundered and heaven to be full, than we must long for the pouring out the Holy Spirit. As we step out in faith as Ananias did, the anointing of God will set even the most bound prisoner free. This reality is Good News.

Prayer Points

Father, teach me to trust the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Father, send me to the poor, the captive, and the prisoner.

Father, give me the boldness to step out in faith into where your Spirit is calling me.

Father, release your anointing upon my life and our church that we might fulfill your mission in this world.

Daily Prayer Guide - Anointing Jan.2

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me..." (Isaiah 61:1)

Jesus claimed that this verse applied to him at the start of his ministry in Luke 4.  The Spirit of God had come come upon him at his water baptism (Luke 3:22), and he was now prepared to do what God had sent him into the world to do - destroy the devil's works. (I John 3:8)

The Spirit of God anointed Jesus for a specific task.  We see what the task was in Acts 10:38.

"God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him."

Jesus dealt a death blow to Satan on the cross hurling down the accuser of the brethren and paying the ransom price to redeem his people out of Satan's kingdom where they were bound as slaves to sin.  When Jesus returns, he will banish Satan from the world forever and destroy all evil.  Until then, Jesus anoints his followers with the same Spirit of God that Jesus himself was anointed with.

In the Old Testament, priests were consecrated (see yesterday's post) and anointed (Exodus 30:30).  We as  Jesus' followers are also priests, a kingdom of priests (Revelation 1:6)!  We are set apart to continue Jesus' ministry of doing good and healing all who are oppressed of the devil AND are anointed by God with the power to do it.

Let's pray for that!

Prayers

Father, thank you for Jesus - The Anointed One.

Father, thank you for sending Jesus to destroy the devil's works.

Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross to free me from the kingdom darkness.

Holy Spirit, come upon me now.  Anoint me and fill me with your power.

Jesus, thank you for setting me apart to participate in your redemptive ministry on earth.

Jesus, thank you for anointing me for this task.

Daily Prayer Guide - Consecration Jan.1

"As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth." (John 17:18-19)

Consecration
The word consecrates first definition is to be set apart.  Jesus set himself apart from the rest of humanity; he did what no other human throughout of all of history could do.  He rejected the devil's temptations, lived a life free from sin, and offered himself as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

The Reason
His reason for consecrating himself is that we his followers could be sanctified in truth.  The word sanctified also has the meaning of being set apart but with the added connotation of being purified.  Jesus did not need to be purified because he had no sin, but we all have need to be purified from our sin.  We need to be set apart for God's work in the world ("so I have sent them" vs18) as Jesus was set apart.  We also need to be purified from our sins and the effects of sin upon and within us.

Our Response
Thus, we start this year consecrating ourselves - reminding ourselves that we have been set apart and cleansed by Christ Jesus through the faith that we have in him as the truth.

Today at our service, we will be praying through several passages of scripture. Why not join us as you read the passages below (out loud!) and consecrate yourself to Lord as we start the New Year?

Psalm of Confession - Psalm 130
Reminder of Truth - Romans 8:33-39
Blessing for the Year - Numbers 6:24-26

Week of Prayer & Fasting (January 1-7)

Week of Prayer & Fasting (January 1-7)
We will be starting 2012 with a week dedicated to prayer & fasting. Join us for corporate times of prayer & worship throughout the week.

Out of town?
Join us in prayer by returning to this blog each day to read and pray through the daily prayer guides that will be posted to this blog each day from January 1-7!  You can also subscribe to this blog via email in the sidebar to receive the prayer guides by email.

Looking for helpful guidelines on how to pray and fast?
Check out this blog post that I wrote on how to pray and fast.

Gathering Times
Sunday - Worship & Prayer Service @ 11AM
69 Kilmarnock Street (Usual Sunday Service Location)

Tue, Wed, Thursday - Early Morning Prayer 6-7AM
874 Beacon Street  2nd Floor

Saturday - Prayer Meeting 6-8PM
874 Beacon Street  2nd Floor
(We will be joined by Abundant Grace Church!)