Ms. Annie led us in worship…
Prayed…
Hallelujah. Lord, we worship You
We thank You for the privilege of being able to serve You
You are truly the almighty God
Thank You for being almighty in our lives, in everything we put our hands to
Father, You show off in a big way
What a privilege to worship You, we say thank You
Thank You for this beautiful gift in this wonderful woman, Father (Point to Ms. Annie)
We worship You in this place, we give You praise and we give You glory
And everyone that agrees said “Amen”
Pastor Folu shared…
Saints, Pastor Ray wanted me to share something with you. In the last week, I have seen in a new way the almighty-ness of our God. Let me give you a quick backdrop to this wonderful testimony. About three months ago, I and a few of the folks I get to pray with were ministering to people at the bus depot in the area. And we noticed this pastor and his son. They had a table set up there and they had T-shirts on that read “How can I PRAY for you?” They were giving out water and praying with people. So, I just stood to the side and watched them. I said “Lord, I like this.” Because there was so many people. This father and his son, who was probably close to 28 or 30 years old, were very busy. People were going up to them and they were giving them water and they were praying with them. I said “Father, give me wisdom to be able to do something like this.”
Saints, this was three months ago. So, I ‘d been praying about it and one of the ideas that came to my mind came from back in the day when I was in sales. One of the things I did, I approached a business called the Vitamin Shoppe and they gave me the okay to come into their business and set up a table to market my medical device. That started me thinking, “Lord, how can I bring what this man is doing into a business setting?” So, just for this month, I started approaching businesses in the area with the idea of coming into their establishment and setting up a table were we would have T-shirts on that say “How can I PRAY for you?” and also giving them bottles of water.
Think about this, saints. I am approaching businesses. So, obviously a lot of businesses said “No. Thank you very much but we don’t want to do that.” But we kept being persistent. So, we approached this one business called Five Dollar Pizza. It’s a franchise and there are a few of them in the area. I approached the owner and told him I would like to set up shop in his business and pray with people and just for this month. So the man looked at me and said, “I have one question for you. How you answer this question will determine if I let you come into my business and do what you want to do.” He asked, “What do you think of Muslims?”
And it just came right out of my spirit. It was so fast. I said “I love Muslims!” I said, “Where I come from, there is a number of Muslims. My Bible tells me to do good unto all men. So, yes, I love Muslims.” He looked at me and said, “You know what, that’s fine. You can come into my business and set up shop.”
Saints, wow! This God that we serve is truly an almighty God. That a Muslim man will allow you, a Christian, to come into his business and set up a table and tell people about Jesus. I mean if somebody had told you that was possible, would you have believed that? It just shows me how big God is.
So the other place we approached was Popeye’s Chicken. You know they gave us such favor! The manager did not even come out. When she heard what we wanted to do, she told her assistant, “Tell him to come and set up shop as long as he wants, anytime he wants.” I said to myself, “Is this really happening?” Since last Friday, we’ve been at the Five Dollar Pizza Friday night, Monday night, Tuesday night and we are going back there tomorrow night, Friday night, and Saturday night. And all next week, we are going to be at Popeye’s. The reason we are hitting it hard this month, as you all know, is a lot of people are more receptive to the things of the Spirit at this time of the year. On Monday night, there were six of us doing one-hour shifts, and last night, there were five different people.
I’ll say this, we learn from each other. When I saw this pastor at the bus depot doing what he was doing, I went to him. I said, “Who gave you permission to do this?” He said “Nobody, I just came and set up shop. The cops come by and see me and they are like, okay.” So, guess what my team and I did this past Saturday? We set up shop at the bus depot too (ha, ha, ha)! We went there, we set up our table, and we put water on the table and we had T-shirts that read “How can I PRAY for you?” and God just gave us tremendous favor. And two cops came by and looked at us and said, “You guys really need to get permission but whatever.” They just walked on (ha, ha, ha).
We were at the Five Dollar pizza store from 6 until 9 p.m. last night. One of the recurring themes that my team saw was how many people have been hurt by the Church. We started talking to this lady who was around 35 or 40 years old. She said “You know what? The last time I was in Church was over 20 years ago. One of the ushers at the Church I used to attend molested me and every time I think about Church, I think about this guy and so because of that I have not been in Church in all this time.” Thank God there was another woman there and she just lovingly talked to her about how that was not God. Yes this usher was representing God but that’s not how God… She said she knew. But all that time. Think about that. And she agreed that it would be beneficial for her to go back. And so we invited her here and fortunately we have this movie night going on tonight and she has kids so she may show up tonight.
And one of the things this Muslim man did on Friday night when we set up shop. I started telling my team that we need to patronize this man. He has been so gracious to open up his business for us. We decided to buy a pizza and I get in line to pay for it. He looks at me and gives me back my ten dollars and gave us the pizza. I said, “Lord, this guy is too much.” And then on Monday night when we got there and because I remembered what he did on Friday, I did not want to approach him to buy pizza. So, my team and I just sat there and he brings a box of pizza to us!
We were at Popeye’s on Saturday evening and what people know about this church out there is amazing. “Oh, is that that Living Word? I have heard about that Church.” Yea, it’s time for you to come and visit. Because so many people are unchurched and I just thank God for what God is doing through this prayer ministry, through Pastor Ray. This is how we get insights. When you come here God is quickening things to you. I have been sitting on this thing for three months. I said, “Lord, how can this thing work? How can we go into a business and pray with people?” And obviously what we do is pray with them about whatever their concern is. If they say it’s their mom or their dad or whatever. Then as the conversation goes I will say at the end, “There is another prayer that is very important. If you have not said this prayer, this is the most important prayer of all.” Then I go into the gospel message. “It is time right now to say that prayer. What do you think? Let’s take care of this right now.” And, Pastor Ray, we were so fortunate on Saturday. Larissa from the TV Department came with us to the bus depot. What God is doing out there it reminds me of the word that the Lord gave Brother Copeland that how God will meet people in place after place after place after place. You know we got to the bus depot and one of the things that was on my heart was to get on the bus and preach the Gospel right on the bus. You know God has given us opportunity to do that in time past. So, we were there about 11:30 and I kept on telling the team, “Please pray that God will give us an opportunity to get on the bus.” And nothing happened and it was 1 p.m. and we are scheduled to leave the bus depot at 1:10 p.m. leave and be back at Church at 1:30 p.m. At 1:05 a bus showed up and there was about 10 or 12 people on it. I said “Saints, let’s get on the bus.” We talked to the bus driver real quickly and so we are standing in front of the people and the bus driver even closed the door so there would be no interference. About five people raised up their hands to acknowledge that they received Jesus. So, that is what God is doing out there saints. It is amazing the doors that God is opening.
Ms. Mariam shared…
Last night, we prayed with 141 in the malls, just walking up to people in the malls. The people were very open, very receptive. I got to preach to a Muslim also. I had the opportunity to tell her the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac met with Abraham, met with Isaac and he will meet with you too. And I left her with those words “He’ll meet with you.”
Pastor Ray shared…
On Saturday, the whole fellowship hall was lined with tables filled with toys designated for all the different age groups. We had it set up so shoppers would bring in people one by one or two by two. That way you could take them to the right table, right age group. Each parent had a little card that said how many children they had and a lot of them had 5 or 6 children. They would end up leaving with huge bags full. However, when they got around to the other side of the fellowship hall, we had a prayer table set up with maybe 2 or 3 of us. As far as I know every person that came through wanted prayer. Nobody said “No, I don’t want that.” They would stand there and stand there and wait until we had opportunity to pray with them or for them.
Most all of them were saved and they just would melt. A lot of them started crying because, first of all, they are receiving toys for their children. Like you shared about the pastor giving out water but he was giving out the Word too. It reminded me of when you said a lot of the people had problems with church in the past. And I asked this one lady if she was saved, you could tell she wasn’t. She told me, “I am still upset. My mom died six years ago and she gave to the Church every Sunday a small amount of money but she always gave in the offering.” So, when her mom passed away the church refused to bury her mom in the cemetery that belonged to the Church because she didn’t give enough money over her lifetime. So that took this lady out. Maybe it’s good because that’s a religious deal anyway. But still it took her out of the church and she wasn’t interested in church and she had never been saved. So, she opened up her heart because of the toys that she received; that someone actually cared. And it was so easy to pray with her and she accepted the Lord. She had an eleven-year-old son at home and that was the next step for her to make sure that her son was born again also. She lived a distance away so I was able to give her some direction for good churches in her area.
What Pastor Folu had said before, that if you just go around doing good, just go out and do good, people respond. You know restaurants or wherever, you just be good to people and they are open.
I looked over this morning again to see what Brother Copeland prophesied. I wanted to read it again and then I found something that will go along with it.
The following prophecy was given by Kenneth Copeland on November 3, 2017:
On Friday, November 3, 2017, the Lord spoke the following words to Brother Copeland concerning the year 2018: “2018 is the Year of the Holy Ghost and fire.”
Pastor Ray…
You know it takes fire to go and set up a table at Popeye’s (ha, ha, ha) or Five Dollar Pizza. If you don’t have the fire, you won’t have the desire and you won’t do the thing which He is showing you to do.
[CONTINUED]
The Big 18 for 2018: 9 fruits of the Spirit; 9 gifts of the Spirit.” That time is not just coming, says Brother Copeland. “It’s already here.” But, as His sons and daughters, “we’re going to have spiritual explosions going on throughout 2018—particularly in the areas of holiness and cleansing.”
You know, a few days ago we were at home in the kitchen there, and the—you know, the—Cindy was showing us the new 2018 calendar and all the pretty pictures and everything, you know. We were looking at all these. It’s a beautiful calendar. And I stopped and I looked at that and the Lord said this. It wasn’t audible. But it was close. He said, “2018 is the year of the Holy Ghost and fire.” Luke 3:16, “John answered saying unto them, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose; he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire.” Glory to God.
And then He said, “The big 18 for 2018; 9 fruit of the Spirit; 9 gifts of the Spirit”. Whoa! Hey, it ain’t coming. It’s already here. Glory to God. But we’re going to have spiritual explosions going on throughout 2018 in the areas, particularly in the areas of holiness and cleansing.
Pastor Ray…
To me, that means repentance. It’s a spirit of repentance coming over the people.
[CONTINUED]
And notice what he was talking about there in that scripture in Luke 3:16. “Whose fan” – talking about Jesus – “is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.” You can’t put His fire out. Now the chaff; what is chaff? Well, chaff is the sticks and the stubble and the hay and stuff. You know, you get through sifting the wheat and so forth, and you got nothing but that trash left. I want all the trash out of my life. I’m on fire! You remember the scripture said, you know, He will judge with fire and so forth? And I shouted out loud one day, “I don’t want to wait till judgment! Set it on fire now! I want to burn it now!”
I want to burn all this hay and stubble. I don’t want none of it in my life. Praise God. I don’t want anything to get in the way of the anointing of God in my life. Hallelujah. I don’t— (Tongues) Thank you, Jesus. I don’t want anything impeding the fruit of the Spirit—or the—Gifts of the Spirit. Because without love you ain’t nothing but noise, brother. But with love, whoa! Hallelujah! Come on January! Throughout the United States. Throughout the United States. Throughout Canada. Throughout all of North America. Hallelujah. And the big 18. The 9 fruit of the Spirit and the 9 gifts of the Spirit flowing through the Church like never before.
Father, we receive it in Jesus’ name. Thank you, Lord. And we declare boldly without reservation that—Jesus is Lord over America!
The following commentary was taken from the Revival Study Bible On Acts 2:2:
The Wind of a Revival Tornado
On the day of Pentecost, the Spirit of God moved in “like a violent rushing wind.” Each word is significant. Wind denotes respiration, or a breeze. It is frequently rendered “breathe” because in the spiritual sense it is the bringer of new life and the sustainer of the life it brings. Violent denotes the power to move things and rushing indicates the ability to carry or bear something. These three words point to God’s power to breathe life, power to move opposition, and power to bring the accomplishment of God’s will. That kind of action is perhaps best demonstrated by the activity of wind known as a tornado.
When the atmosphere is just right, God unleashes a tornado against the human heart. Divine truth strikes like lightning. God’s voice thunders, bringing heavy conviction and repentance. Torrents of rain in the form of God’s saving and delivering power pour forth from heaven upon men, women, and children.
• Like a tornado, a revival draws attention to an unseen power. Anyone who has ever witnessed a tornado is left awestruck by its mighty power. Spiritually speaking, a mighty revival tornado captures the attention of sinners. With their desires fixed on fleshly and material things, a swirling move of God’s Spirit causes them to weep, tremble, pray, and cry out for God’s mercy until their lives are transformed.
• Uke a tornado, revival purifies the atmosphere. Before a tornado hits, the atmosphere is hot and heavy. Disease-carrying mosquitoes may hover over swampy areas. Smog may blanket a valley. But when a tornado passes through, it cleanses the atmosphere. Revival comes to deliver people from the swamps of sin and the foggy skies of unbelief. The holy gaze of God makes you feel naked and exposed. You cannot hide your sin anymore. As you confess and repent, the work of the cross applies death to the sin in your heart. Chains of bondage fall off. Addictions and demonic strongholds crumble by the power of God And you are left clean and pure in His presence.
• Like a tornado, revival brings awesome power. In an atmosphere of revival, believers and sinners alike are brought low in humility and repentance, and then are raised in power to live righteously victorious in an anti-God, sin-filled world. Revival finds its way into places where spiritual drought abounds and the water of God’s truth no longer springs up into everlasting life. It goes where the fruit of the Spirit is no longer evident and the tree has become barren. Where hearts have become like the dry, cracked desert sand; where there is moisture and very little life.
We should all pray, “Bring the violent, rushing wind, Oh God! Bring a revival tornado!” (BP)
Ms. Annie led us singing All Consuming Fire
The following is a prayer for our nation by Pastor Lynne Hammond:
Father, in the name of Jesus, and according to your Word, we pray for those in authority in our nation. We lift up President Donald Trump, his family, his staff and cabinet members. Let Your Word cling to them and let them not depart from your plan. Strengthen them with mighty power by your Spirit to stand against wickedness, lies and deception. Guide President Trump’s decisions; let Your light shine upon his path and show him the path of reversal for every evil way. Continually surround him with godly men and women who impart wise counsel to him. Cause the way of the wicked to be set to confusion and come to nothing. Deliver us from the traps and snares the enemy has laid for us, and let the wicked be caught in their own devises and be brought to shame.
We take authority over the plots and plans of the enemy against this nation. Let prideful and lying lips be silenced in Jesus’ name. Slanderers will not be established in America. We pray for our Congress, our Supreme Court, our Military leaders and our intelligence agencies. Let the wisdom that is from above reign in this nation and be constantly speaking to our leaders. We exercise the authority you have given us to tread down all the power of the enemy. We cast down and demolish imaginations and arguments that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God, and we bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. We bind spirits of strife and division, civil wars and tumults, spirits of hostility, lawlessness and blasphemy, and fires from hell that have burned in our cities.
We speak grace and peace over America. We pray and believe for the voice of truth, salvation, revival and restoration to be proclaimed and heard across our land. Grant unto your servants everywhere that with all boldness we may speak your Word. We pray for a mighty outpouring of your Spirit with signs, wonders and miracles. We expect the wisdom of this world that is earthly, sensual and devilish to depart and vanish until Your, mighty work in America becomes a beacon of hope for all people everywhere. We expect the voice of rejoicing to be heard in our nation for your goodness, mercy and prosperity, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pastor Ray….
We believe it. Right? It’s not a religious thing we are doing. It’s what we have been commanded to do, lift up, pray for those that are in positions of authority from the president all the way down through.
Continued praying…
In our own cities and states – positions of authority in our own church
Praying for our pastors – covering them in the precious blood of Jesus
Not one weapon formed against them can prosper
But everything they set their hands unto there is prosperity!
Spirit, soul, and body
We lift every member of their family and cover them in the blood of Jesus
Our Church shall do what it has been preplanned from heaven to do – all of it!
The vision shall come to pass; the finances shall come in
And we shall do what we have been called to do
And we thank you for it in Jesus’ name
