Pastor Ray…
It’s nice to be back for sure. It’s always good to take a break but after awhile “I get to get back where I belong.” You can only take so much ocean and seafood. I am thankful for Pastor Folu and Pastor Tim to keep it going. It’s blessed.
Scripture focus…
(32) When Mary finally found Jesus outside the village, she fell at his feet in tears and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
(33) When Jesus looked at Mary and saw her weeping at his feet, and all her friends who were with her grieving, he shuddered with emotion and was deeply moved with tenderness and compassion.
(34) He said to them, “Where did you bury him?”
“Lord, come with us and we’ll show you,” they replied.
(35) Then tears streamed down Jesus’ face.
Let’s have a little selah. He was moved with great compassion for Lazarus so much so that He just began to cry. And it speaks so much to us for our prayers today, they must be heartfelt. The Word makes that clear but maybe we don’t always yield to that.
(36) Seeing Jesus weep caused many of the mourners to say, “Look how much he loved Lazarus.”
(37) Yet others said, “Isn’t this the One who opens blind eyes? Why didn’t he do something to keep Lazarus from dying?”
He did it in front of everyone and He knew that it would have a result beyond Lazarus coming forth.
(38) Then Jesus, with intense emotions, came to the tomb—a cave with a stone placed over its entrance.
(39) Jesus told them, “Roll away the stone.” Then Martha said, “But Lord, it’s been four days since he died—by now his body is already decomposing!”
(40) Jesus looked at her and said, “Didn’t I tell you that if you will believe in me, you will see God unveil his power?”
If we believe in Him and in His power, we will have His power operating through us, right now. And when we look around on the earth, it’s critical in these hours that the Church be one, united with what the Word has said.
(41) So, they rolled away the heavy stone. Jesus gazed into heaven and said, “Father, thank you that you have heard my prayer,
That is a big deal. The Word makes it clear. When we pray His Word, He hears the prayers and answers. Because the answer has already been given to us at the Cross.
(42) for you listen to every word I speak. Now, so that these who stand here with me will believe that you have sent me to the earth as your messenger, I will use the power you have given me.”
(43) Then with a loud voice Jesus shouted with authority: “Lazarus! Come out of the tomb!”
I love how He waited, so they could all see Lazarus come out of the tomb. And He didn’t say it casually but with intense emotion He spoke the Word.
(44) Then in front of everyone, Lazarus, who had died four days earlier, slowly hobbled out—he still had grave clothes tightly wrapped around his hands and feet and covering his face! Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him loose.”
(45) From that day forward many of those who had come to visit Mary believed in him, for they had seen with their own eyes this amazing miracle!
(46) But a few went back to inform the Pharisees about what Jesus had done. John 11:32-46 (TPT)
Wow. That just tells us that not everyone today will absolutely believe even though they see it before their eyes. They just have a blockage.
We believe in Jesus’ name, eyes are being opened, hearts are being softened, and more and more are coming into God’s eternal light. Freedom from every blockage, freedom from every chain that would try to hold them down or hold them back, symptoms, sickness, disease, whatever it is, poverty and lack—all of it has been canceled on the Cross.
One nation under God, indivisible. This morning we are in unity, one accord. We know that the Word is true, what the Word has told us to do, that we have been given the power and the authority and anointing to do it. For the Lord is good and His mercy endures forever.
A lot of people have confessed “what a rotten year 2020 has been.” Well, it is not over yet.
If we hold fast our confession, “Every day is sweeter and every day is getting better.” It beats saying every day is sourer and everyday gets worse. No. Hallelujah! We’re moving on to better days in Jesus’ name.
Much of the media has said that the Church or some leaders are acting like COVID is over. Well, we declare “it’s over!”
That’s why we are acting like this. It’s done! We’re free in Jesus’ name. Hallelujah! In Him washed in the blood, covered, protected in the blood because He overcame at Calvary.
Ms. Annie led us in worship…
Pastor Ray…
It’s not time to move away from the confessions that you’ve been confessing. It’s not time to move away from the Word you’ve been standing on. But it is time to move up even to a greater degree and remind ourselves of the standard that God by His Spirit has sent and given unto each one of us. So, instead of moving away from, move up into a greater degree of expectancy, belief, faith to receive the increase that’s been given individually but also the increase that’s brought forth corporately for the body of Christ.
For us in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area… I am just reminded, year after year we’ve confessed and declared over and over, “Minnesota is moving more in God’s right perfect way.”
It’s not time to move away from that. It’s time to move over even into a greater degree and confess it more liberally and with a greater expectation that it is coming to pass—moving more over into God’s will and way in every way! And the Church, the believers would be more in one accord than ever before. It wouldn’t matter what stream of ministry, wouldn’t matter how people were raised or the past but that the Church would rise up now at last.
If you could agree with us right now for Minnesota and we’ll agree with you for where you are connecting with us from. The state of Minnesota is moving more in God’s right perfect ways. And the words that have been declared over the state of Minnesota (Holy Spirit declared words, prophecies that have been spoken about this part of the nation) that these things would begin to come forth even in a more clearer way as we pray.
In this same way, Jesus stood outside Lazarus tomb and said “Roll away the stone!” knowing that when the stone was rolled away, Lazarus was coming forth. And in that same way we say, “Roll away the stone of doubt and unbelief!” And know that God’s will is coming forth in these days and this State is moving more in God’s perfect ways.
Let’s not put any limits on that. Whatever needs to happen, we believe it will happen. If people need to be moved out of positions of authority in order for others to be moved in, we believe for that.
Wherever you are watching from this morning outside of the United States, we agree with you for your nation to move more in God’s perfect will and ways in these days, right now.
Let’s believe every day of September, we’re moving and moving, things are changing, things are being rearranged. We are not moved by what we see negatively. We are moved by the Word. It’s true for your country.
State by state by state, the United States. Let’s see these things moving and changing and turning. Hallelujah. A steady move. It’s like moving out of an older place, a home, and moving into a new place. It’s like moving out of how our lives were and moving into new days, greater authority, more revelation about what was done on our behalf at Calvary—moving into new, better, greater, more fulfilled days of God’s great glory and power now in these days. Hallelujah.
We’re not commanding or demanding of the Lord. We’re commanding and demanding that the enemy would take his hands off! And we use that precious holy blood of the Lamb that was shed for us at Calvary and we push back on the enemies’ ways. We push him back, out, away, down! We declare those things the enemy had pre-planned for these days, are lost, defeated in the name of Jesus.
We have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and we can testify every single day “We’ve overcome, and we are overcoming!” Hallelujah Thank You for the precious holy blood of the Lamb! We’ve been made to be over-comers! Gaining more territories for God! Gaining! Gaining! Gaining! Moving out the wall of our expectation, moving out the walls that have tried to hold us down or away.
We pray for the body of Christ all over the earth! Steady. We will stay steady in the things we are called to do! Just being faithful to speak what You’ve said, Lord, to stand on Your written Word, faithful to walk in love, to keep on contending, keep on declaring, keep on moving in Jesus’ name.
We pray for the local bodies, this body here at Living Word Christian Center. We lift up and pray over our Pastors, Mac and Lynne. We get beside them, behind them. We believe what was called for them to carry out on the face of this earth, it shall be carried out in Jesus’ name! Hallelujah!
We pray for an even greater momentum in this church based on the Word of God, based on prayer contending on the things we have been called to do—we shall do it! We pray over the vision. We get that vision right up there and out there in Jesus’ name! Hallelujah! It shall all come to pass! Glory! Glory! Glory! Glory!
We pray over the increases in finances in the name of Jesus. We have not left the land of more than enough! We will not turn around and go back. We’re turning ahead and staying on the attack. Hallelujah! Great operations of agreement! Great momentum! Great insight! Great answers, great revelation as to what You’ve said about this place, about that place, about ministries everywhere!
We pray over the leaders, pastors in the name of Jesus! Glory to God! Thank You, Father! What pastors have been called to do, we set ourselves in agreement that it all shall continually come to pass! Hallelujah! The increase, the momentum that was stored up, for breakthroughs in finances! Hallelujah! Transfers, transfers in Jesus’ name will not be trapped in the past, will not be held back but in Jesus’ name we shall continually contend. Glory! Thank You for it, Lord.
Let’s sing about the blood, make a big deal about that blood. Without the shedding of the blood, where would we be? Without the Cross, we would be so lost but with the Cross and with that precious holy blood that was shed for each of us individually and for the whole body of Christ… Oh, thank You for the blood of Jesus this morning.
We believe in the power of the blood, confess the authority that has been given unto us through that precious power of the blood. We’ve overcome. We will overcome. We shall continually move forward contending by and through the power of the blood and the Word that’s written out for us.
We lift up along with that blood, every word of prophecy that’s been declared for centuries over this time we are living in right now. We believe it is all coming to pass. Every word from heaven will come to pass at last. Hallelujah.
We believe we’re stepping over into some uncharted places we’ve never been to before. It will not be the way it was in the past. Thank You, Father, for what was done in the past, what You did but what You are doing now and what will happen in the future, our days and weeks and months and years that are to come. Thank You for the blood.
Ms. Annie led us singing Thank You for Your Blood
All those that were in the churches and ministries (Pre-COVID) all over the earth, faithful, stirred up, moving more and more in increase, but now, several months later, there are those that are still out… Father, I lift these people before You today. We believe because of Your Word which calls for increase, because of Your Word that calls for each one of us to prosper and be in health, be the head and not the tail, above and not beneath… I call it all back. I speak to the increase that was before COVID and then it turned into a decrease, that it would continually increase and there would be momentum in the body of Christ in these days.
I know it’s already begun but I’m asking in September that it would begin to a greater degree and more and more and more numbers, the numbers will increase in every way—numbers of children in school, people in church, in the chapel. And it won’t be the way it was, but it will be greater. There will be momentum in the body of Christ like never before because we will begin to know without a doubt, we’ve overcome! We’ve overcome!
That will be a continual word for us “We have overcome!” Because You overcame on the Cross, that COVID has been overcome! Every lie will be exposed! Every plan of the enemy will come to nothing and increase and momentum, great momentum—hallelujah! Oh! Increase upon increase! More and more and more! Even over into overflow! Oh! My! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! The move of Your Spirit, the glory of Your presence everywhere. Hallelujah! Lord!
The joy of the Lord will be everywhere and with that joy, strength would come forth. We’ll be what You’ve called us to be, over-comers, faith-filled overflowing with Your great glory, Lord! The glory of God! Oh, thank You, Lord. Thank You, Father.
Ms. Annie led us singing in tongues…
Pastor Ray…
We so lift You up and worship You, Lord. We do see with the eyes of our faith that there is more of us than there are of those. We are surrounded. We are protected. Through that precious blood of Jesus, we’ve overcome every single situation, every day. Thank You for it, Lord.
Toward the end of John 17, Jesus already prayed for the disciples. Then He turned and lifted His prayers for us.
Scripture focus…
(20) “And I ask not only for these disciples,
but also for all those who will one day
believe in me through their message.
(21) I pray for them all to be joined together as one
even as you and I, Father, are joined together as one.
I pray for them to become one with us
so that the world will recognize that you sent me.
(22) For the very glory you have given to me I have given them
so that they will be joined together as one
and experience the same unity that we enjoy.
That’s our prayer today, that we would be in one accord.
(23) You live fully in me and now I live fully in them
so that they will experience perfect unity,
and the world will be convinced that you have sent me,
for they will see that you love each one of them
with the same passionate love that you have for me.
(24) “Father, I ask that you allow everyone that you have given to me
to be with me where I am!
Then they will see my full glory—
the very splendor you have placed upon me
because you have loved me even before the beginning of time.
(25) “You are my righteous Father,
but the unbelieving world has never known you
in the perfect way that I know you!
And all those who believe in me
also know that you have sent me!
(26) I have revealed to them who you are
and I will continue to make you even more real to them,
so that they may experience the same endless love
that you have for me,
for your love will now live in them, even as I live in them!” John 17:20-29 (TPT)
Pastor Ray…
Thank You for Your presence in our lives. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for Your power. We just so welcome You all day, every day, every minute, second of our days. Thank You. You said in Your Word that You would lead us and guide us, and it would be always into the truth of what Your Word has said about us, for us. Thank You for restoration of things that have been ripped, torn, and divided up. Restoration times and days, wholeness, health in every way. Thank You for the anointing You have put within us. We know it will not leave. We stir up the gifts You have put in us today. By faith, we believe we will be right where we need to be and things are working out right on our behalf.
We thank You for it, give You all of the glory, and all of the praise. You are so good. You are so great. You do miracles. You’re always working. You’re working right now. Your power is great. Hallelujah. Thank You for this day. We’re blessed in every way, what we do. Thank You so much for Your presence that always goes with us in Jesus’ name. Amen.
