The Importance of Prayer by Jim Stillwell - Director of East Bay Prayer Furnace

E.M. Bounds wrote, “God does nothing except by prayer.” The uncreated God can do whatever He pleases at any moment, yet invites us to play a massive role in changing the spiritual atmosphere of our cities in the place of prayer. The honor and dignity that God gives human beings to partner with Him in prayer is a brilliant strategy to draw us into His heart and unite us with what He wants to do on the earth.

Prayer Is Vital To Missions And Evangelism

The prayer movement is not the next “cool” thing to hit the body of Christ. It is the pivot point at which God moves in the hearts of individual, cities, states, nations and ultimately the planet. Throughout history we can see God’s plan to have humans approach Him in the place of prayer to bring about a demonstration of His power. Psalm 132:7-8 “Let us go into His tabernacle; Let us worship at His footstool. Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength.” King David understood the value of calling people into perpetual 24/7 worship and prayer that would result in God displaying His power in his generation.

The great evangelist to Africa, Reinhard Bonnke, has said, “Evangelism without intercession is like a bomb without a detonator. Intercession without evangelism is like a detonator without a bomb.” Night and Day prayer is core to missions and evangelism having their full expression. In 1727 a German nobleman named Count Ludwig Zinzendorf gathered Christians together to his large estate in Germany, known as Herrnhutt, and began prayer meetings that continued 24 hours a day for 120 years. It resulted in the first Protestant missions movement in history. Night and Day prayer represents the reality that prayer will release people into evangelism to fulfill the call of Jesus to go and make disciples.

A Missionary Activity That Is Essential For Justice To Break In

Traditionally we think of missions as the “action side” of the Great Commission. There is also a “prayer side” to the fulfillment of the Great Commission. God is raising up missionaries who will express both of these dimensions that are necessary for the Great Harvest. In other words, God is establishing “intercessory missionaries.” Luke 18:7-8 “Shall not God avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, … 8 I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly.” Justice speaks of wrong things being made right. Through the finished work of Christ on the cross, He brought justice to everything contrary to God His Father. When we pray we are asking for God to release His justice over sick bodies, disunity in the church, crime in the streets, darkness that keeps humans in spiritual and emotional prison. Jesus connected night and day prayer to His justice being made known on the earth. It is God’s desire that men and women would be fully aware of His presence interacting with them and on their behalf. Night and day prayer is essential and a requirement for us to see the full expression of God in our society.

Press the Pause Button by Pastor Karena Lout

Years ago, Todd and I performed in a few shows in Branson, Missouri.  If you aren’t familiar with Branson, it’s an entertainment tourist attraction for families and seniors traveling by tour bus. Let’s just say, I hope most evidence from this time period will remain hidden. It was quite a funny and interesting time in our lives. We started out in the Andy Williams show at the Moon River Theater and later moved on to a musical about the life of Jesus called The Promise. The show ran six days a week, twice a day in a 2500 seat theater.

One of my roles in the production was an angel, where I got to fly over the audience, along with my twin sister. I had a lot of vision and expectancy in my heart as I took on this new job. During rehearsals, I remember the exhilaration I felt stepping off the catwalk and flying for the first time. I was excited to see how God was going to move in our shows. But over time, this “dream job” became very familiar and mundane. There were many times I would go out on stage and recite my lines without any thought or emotion attached at all. I was doing everything from a place of functionality. Even though we saw countless lives touched and changed through the Gospel, at times it felt like it was just another job I needed to make income.

One day as I was climbing the ladder up to the catwalk to prepare to fly, I felt an overwhelming sense of God’s presence begin to pierce my heart in a way I hadn’t felt before. I started weeping uncontrollably as the soldiers began to whip the actor who portrayed Jesus down the aisle below me. My heart was getting so moved by what Jesus endured for me that I forgot I was actually at work. I felt purpose behind what I was doing again. God started to tenderize my heart in a way that I really needed.

There are many times we succumb to going through the motions of life, forgetting the purpose behind it all. We get so busy with what we’re doing that we forget why we started in the first place. Whether you’re a pastor, at home raising your children or leading a business meeting, if you don’t have vision and passion for what you’re doing, you may find yourself steeped in dullness and burned out. We were created to be fully alive, our hearts connected so that we can thrive in the places God has put us.

Sometimes we need to press the pause button, to remember and ask why. Why am I at this particular job? Why am I giving my time to this or that? Why was I born at this particular point in history? If our hearts aren’t connected, aren’t moved, then even the really good things we’re doing can feel futile. I encourage you today to take time with Jesus and ask Him to remind you of the vision He has for your life. He really is involved in every aspect of our lives. There is no separation. It’s finding Him in the little things, the big things, even the not so thrilling part of our lives that we come to understand Jesus is ever present with us.

I pray that our loving Father will show you the endless opportunities He has for you each day you wake up. I pray that He will soften and tenderize your heart even more and that you will experience the real connection He paid for!

“My heart is confident in you, O God, my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises. Wake up, my heart! Wake up, O lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song.” Psalm 57:7-8 (NLT)

With Love, Karena

Do it Again, Daddy! by Pastor Brent Lokker

I’ve loved playing with my boys at every age of their young lives, but some of my most tender memories are of my interactive play with them in their early toddler years, when I would show them my love and affection mainly through my touch and eye contact. We could play a simple game over and over again without it ever getting old, like when I would lie flat on my back and hold them straight up above me with outstretched arms, face-to-face, so that our twinkling eyes locked onto each other. After an anticipatory moment of waiting in that position, I would quickly collapse my arms and engulf them into my chest. They would squeal with delight and I would giggle right along with them in utter joy! Theywould say to me, “Do it again, Daddy!” I needed no coaxing. I would immediately hoist them up for another round of affectionate play. Just thinking about it all these years later instantly brings me back to the sweetness of those adorable toddlers of mine, making me laugh all over again.

My boys didn’t have to twist my arm to make me do that. They didn’t beg me and bug me until I somehow relented against my will. No. The truth is, I wanted to have fun with them, because I absolutely loved being with them and laughing with them. They couldn’t keep me away even if they tried (which, of course, they didn’t). At first,I had to initiate the playful love because they hadn’t experienced it before, so how could they know? Once I gave them the experience of how much fun I could be, there were times when they would approach me and initiate the playful encounters. Either way, it was every bit as fun for me as it was for them.

How much more your heavenly Father enjoys you! His tender affection for you isn’t something He has to conjure up, and He certainly isn’t waiting for you to beg Him to give you some attention. This is the way Papa’s heart always is toward you. He had to initiate true love first or you wouldn’t even know what it was. But the more you experience His genuine affection, the more you learn to initiate fun times with him. Either way, your Papa adores you.

Wild horses couldn’t drag Him away from you! He wants to be with you—not just for this moment— but for every moment throughout all eternity.

(This is an excerpt from Brent's book, Daddy You Love Me: Living in the Approval of Your Heavenly Father) www.DaddyYouLoveMe.com

A Quick Thought About Freedom by Pastor Brent Lokker

As I was thinking about the early fathers and mothers in America who sacrificed so much for us to have the freedom we enjoy, this thought struck me: Although we often think of freedom as synonomous with independence (which is one aspect of freedom) those who fought to gain our freedom were quite interdependent. They desperately needed each other and had to work together closely to make it through the extreme hardships they faced. Those who isolated themselves didn't fare well.

As followers of Jesus, we've been given a freedom beyond our wildest dreams. Yet, the way to live out that freedom is not in isolation, but in community, connection, and interdependence. We need each other! God planned that way.

"It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?" (Galatians 5:13-15, The Message Bible)

I'm so glad this is God's plan--for us to need each other and learn how to love well. I'm also glad that so many of you have chosen to go there with us. We need you!

Happy Independence Day and Interdependence Day! Use your freedom to love well!