Pastor Ken Shared…
Everything flows out of a connection with our Father. The essence of prayer is to just get in on what God is already doing. He has it all mapped out through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Let’s just be aware that He is our source and supply and in Him we are complete. He knows all things and He is prompting and leading us always.
Scripture focus…
(1) I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. (2) Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit. (3) You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you]. (4) Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. (5) I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. (6) If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned. (7) If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. John 15:1-7 (NKJV)
Pastor Ken shared…
The most important fruit we are called to bear is the fruit of answered prayer. We have not because we ask not so the Lord is looking to us to ask. We have been invested in authority and to partner with God to accomplish His purpose and plan in this earth. Yes, He has chosen to need us; to partner with us. Nothing is too difficult for God and in this earth He does it through us. Amen. If you are bold enough to pray, He is bold enough to bring it to pass. Ask that you may receive that your joy would be full. The more you connect and abide in Him the less your prayers will be self-centered and the more they will be in line with Him. So rise up and be truly the giant that you are called to be in Him. If we would boldly pray the prayers that the Spirit of God is prompting us to pray today and the weeks, months and years ahead, we can turn this world upside down for Him. If a few rag-tag fishermen could turn the known world in the first century upside down so much so that we are still reverberating from the power and the effects of the gospel preached from that part of the world, then how much could we do where there are now millions of Christians across the globe? Stand up and be accounted for. Show up on God’s radar screen as I like to say. My goodness we could get things done right quick and usher in His return.
We are the mighty ones not the Devil, not this world. We are the victorious ones. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. This is the victory that overcomes the world, the flesh, the Devil, every opposition, every obstacle, even our faith in Christ Jesus. Jesus paid the greatest price not so we could just say we belong to such and such a church or have an iconic fish on the back of our car but He did what He did so that we could truly reflect His power and reveal His goodness to our generation so that we could turn the world around for Him. Prayer—what a privilege, what an honor to pray, to come boldly to the throne of grace this morning. Hook up with Him and just let Him inspire us to pray for things that eye hasn’t seen, ear hasn’t heard, and hasn’t entered into our hearts on our own. God is moving this morning. He is brooding this morning. He is hovering over this place this morning. Do you believe it? Something good is going to happen in here. One of my confessions every day is something good is going to happen. God is up to something good; just get in on it this morning. It takes just as much effort to believe for something good as it does to yield to the bad and be negative. We don’t live by the facts of our circumstances or by what we see or filter through our five physical senses. We live by faith in Him. The just live by believing not by seeing.
Perhaps one of the first lessons and principles we need to learn as pray-ers is we don’t go by what we see. Pastor Lynne has always taught us if you are having to go to the newspaper to find out what to pray about then you are behind what God is doing because He will inspire you, He will lead you, He will prompt you weeks, months, perhaps years ahead of what’s going to happen or what’s going down. I heard her say a number of times that she is praying out two years she feels like at times ahead of the plan of God for her life and the Church. Isn’t that good? Doesn’t that just strengthen you? God is not surprised at what’s going on in our lives. He is not nervous. The angels are not running around wringing their hands in wonderment and consternation and concern saying oh, my gosh, I don’t know if we are going to make it. No, God is seated. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. You and I are seated according to the mind of God with Him jointly at the right hand of the throne of God. The fact that we are seated according to Ephesians implies that we are in the place of authority. We are in the place of peace. Faith is rest. Amen. God knows exactly what needs to be done and how to get it done. He just needs us to walk with Him, cooperate with Him, yield to Him, and abide in Him. Abide simply means cultivating a heart that is just conscious and aware of His presence. That’s just the sweet spot in the spiritual journey He has called us to. Amen.
You know even a couple of words is a prayer. Sometimes the shortest prayers are the most effective prayers. The Apostle Paul I think said I make mention of you in my prayers. We don’t have to get in this tiny box that says prayer looks this way or that way. Prayer is just walking with God, talking with Him, listening to Him, celebrating Him, rejoicing in Him. Be grateful cultivating an attitude of gratitude or gratefulness. He is in us and we are in Him. That’s the hope of glory. That’s the hope of the world. As the called out ones, the believers, the sons and daughters of God grow a consciousness and live out their lives just aware of Him, abiding in Him, living in Him, and letting Him live in us. That’s the hope of glory. That’s were prayer is effective. That’s were our lives change. That’s where the world changes. When we abide in Him and He abides in us because it’s there everything changes for the better, everything flows effortlessly and organically from that place of abiding. That’s why Jesus in His earthly ministry was able to be so calm and collected and peaceful and never rattled, never nervous, never fearing even in the midst of a great storm in the sea of Galilee while the rest of His disciples were freaking out and it must have been a pretty serious storm because they were fishermen. They were used to storms on the Sea of Galilee and they were fearing for their lives so much so that they woke Jesus up. He was sleeping. He was sleeping. He was resting in the midst of a great storm. That should speak volumes to us this morning.
I was listening to something yesterday on the Believer’s Voice of Victory broadcast and George Pearsons and Gloria Copeland were talking and George was sharing about how some years ago he and his wife were believing for wasn’t happening. They were getting nervous about it and they went and talking to Brother Copeland and he said “Oh, kids. I love you guys. Let’s just roll this care over onto the Lord.” Just the spirit of how they were sharing about Brother Copeland and how he was expressing the love and compassion for them but at the same time the truth was they just needed to roll that care over onto the Lord. He was going to take care of that for them. When I think about Jesus sleeping in that boat, I think wow, that’s really our place right there. He was just resting, trusting. He knew who He was. He knew why He was here. He knew He was right in the will of God and He knew when He got to the other side of the lake the Lord would show Him what to do. It allowed Him to rest. Amen.
If we could just let God paint on the canvas of our heart the true revelation of who we are and who He is, the bigness of who He is. I think prayer would be much more joyful and effective. Things would change much more quickly. Nothing is impossible for Him. He knows the way forward. He knows exactly what we need to pray about this morning. So I just encourage you this morning to close your eyes and open your heart and invite Him to cast fresh perspective on your soul. Invite Him to whisper in your ears just what you need to hear.
Prayed…
Lord this morning we thank You for Your endless love and goodness
You know us personally and intimately
You paid the ultimate price on the cross
Rolling over ever care onto You – not worrying over one single thing
Thank You for Joy in the journey!
Reminding ourselves we are the victorious ones seated with Jesus
The Greater One lives in us
Lack – You are nothing compared to our God
Standing up on the inside in faith
No weapon fashioned against us shall prosper
Magnifying Your name and goodness
Rejoicing and receiving the salvation of our souls
We are in the palm of Your hand
Worshipping You for all that You are!
Praising You for answers and help – receiving them in Jesus’ name
Brother Hagin said many years ago how important it is to balance the scales of prayer and worship. Just living conscious of His presence is prayer in itself. Prayer is your life. Walking, talking, and listening for His voice. We worship You this morning. We yield ourselves to You.
Annie led us in worship…
Continued praying…
Holy Spirit move through us – bringing us to a place of rest in the promises of God
Take us higher Lord – we are hungry for You
Increase our knowledge of You – increase our capacity to hear and walk with You
Ready us Father!
Condemnations, weight, and sins be dissolved – free to live for You fully
Open, open the way – clean out the clutter in the Church
Lead us to that place of abiding – help us to see it
A new discernment in the hearts of people
Seeing and knowing the season
Angels we release you today making crooked places straight
Shake the Church to the place of devotion – calling the wayward ones
We send out an invitation – come back to the One who loves you
Family, friends, and associates – we cast a wide net!
Calling for a gathering for those that are hurting
Contending today for a healed and whole Church – in sync with Your Spirit
Everything that needs to be in place – be right
Putting our confidence in our Father
We speak peace over the Church all over the face of the earth
Let us be discerning now
We yield now to our prayer language
The Holy Ghost is giving us inspiration and utterance now
We call for a fresh supply
We lift up the nation
That plan is foiled – pushing that back
Releasing light on that part of the world – today
Pleading the blood of Jesus over England – over the coastland
Calling an awakening there – moving of Your Spirit to call an awareness
Clouds be parted for the glorious gospel to shine
Meetings to be planned and prepared
Calling the souls in that country – for Your Kingdom Father
Millions across the British Isles and territories
Picking up all the prayers from past generations
It must open Father
A front moving over that nation – miracles, signs, and wonders!
One nation at a time “Get ready!” One final call!
Thank You, Father, that You are brooding – like the calm before the storm
Calling for all the ingredients – hunger, dissatisfaction for status quo, parched hearts crying out for the rain
Make us ready in this country – fan the flames of revival
Teach and lead us that we would not stay in this place
Longing to go where You are Lord
Break us loose from our normal, from that which binds and holds us back.
Launching forward in new momentum – ordained and orchestrated by You
Thank You Father, we bless You – it’s all in Your hands
We worship and bless Your name
Thank You for this time with You
We will go into this day abiding in You, trusting in You, and resting in You
Speaking blessing and declaring favor over Your people today
