Month: July 2013

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:1-13 NLT – shameless persistence

Reading: Luke 11:1-13 NLT

teach us to prayOnce Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

Jesus said, “This is how you should pray:

“Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. Give us each day the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation.”

Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story:

“Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.

“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

“You fathers—if your children ask[e] for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father – May your Kingdom come and your will be done in me. May I rely on you for my daily needs.. and give me a merciful, forgiving heart. May I be as ready to give mercy… as I am to receive it. Come Holy Spirit… fill my heart and mind… and guard my lips. And may I be persistent and persevering in prayer for those you have placed on my heart. Lord Jesus – align my life with your Kingdom purposes… that my prayers and petitions might honor and please you. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Holy Is Your Name” – Bebo Norman

Morning Reading: Acts 16: 16-24 ESV – discernment of spirits

Reading: Acts 16:16-24 ESV

image
Philippian Slave Girl

As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling.

She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days.

Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.”

The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.

Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Prayer: Holy Spirit – Give me the gift of discernment that I might know which spiritual manifestations come from you… and which do not. And give me the courage to speak the truth in Jesus’ name… regardless of the cost.  All to your glory. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Mission’s Flame” – Matt Redman

Morning Reading: Acts 16:11-15 NLT – prayer meeting

Reading: Acts 16:11-15 NLT

down to the river to prayWe boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days.

On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Lead me by Your Spirit to those whom You have already prepared to welcome You into their lives… people who are searching, seeking, a relationship with God but don’t know You… people who will open their hungry hearts to You, the Bread of Life. Holy Spirit – Give me a listening, discerning spirit that is open to Your guidance as I go about my daily activities. And help me to create space in my daily routine for the unexpected… for “God moments” to stop, and listen, and share with others the Good News of what You have done for me. To God be the glory. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Down to the river to pray” – Alison Krauss

Morning Reading: Acts 16:6-10 NLT – help us

Reading: Acts 16:6-10 NLT

Modern mosaic, “Vision Telling Paul to Come over to Macedonia,” in Veroia (ancient Berea), Greece
Modern mosaic, “Vision Telling Paul to Come over to Macedonia,” in Veroia (ancient Berea), Greece

Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.

That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.

Prayer: Holy Spirit – Quiet my heart… clear my mind… calm my spirit – so that I can hear you when you guide me. Give me the discernment to distinguish your voice from the noise within and about me. And give me the will to obediently follow where you lead me. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Here for You” – Matt Redman

West Belfast: there and back again

Sunrise from West Belfast
Sunrise from West Belfast

Peanut Gallery: Can any good come out of Belfast? The answer is a resounding YES!

Belfast, Northern Ireland (UK) is Europe’s last best hope. But it is taking a movement of God.

“Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.” 
Psalm 20.7 (NLT)

Northern Ireland is struggling… and the communities that make up West Belfast are on the bottom of the pile. Economic stagnation, unemployment, poor health and education, cramped housing, general poverty, teen pregnancy, and crime… all contribute to the highest suicide rate in Northern Ireland. Kids roam the streets at night with nothing to do and nowhere to go. As they congregate, police move them on from one place to the next. It’s not an environment I’d want for my kid.

While some areas of Northern Ireland are prospering, predominantly Nationalist West Belfast is being left behind.

It’s been 15 years since the Belfast Peace accords (Good Friday Agreement) were signed and while everything has changed, nothing has changed. There is no peace… only a fragile truce, or cease fire, which is being strained to its limits by extremes in both the Nationalist and Unionist communities.

One woman said: “The young people involved in the current round of protest and violence never lived through The Troubles. We are reaping the harvest of my generation’s unforgiveness… and passing it on to our children.”

And yet, in the middle of it all, God is pouring out His Spirit… lives are being changed and the Kingdom of God is at hand… accompanied by signs and wonders. Believers from all sides of the divide are sacrificially pouring out their lives in worship and prayer… and in untold acts of kindness and mercy. The invisible Church is rising up… and God is moving among His people.

Robin Mark captures the mood in “Revival in Belfast” while the video background overviews the city. More later….
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Revival in Belfast – Robin Mark (with video of Northern Ireland)

I hear the voice of one calling, prepare ye the way of the Lord. And make His paths straight in the wilderness. And let your light shine in the darkness. And let your rain fall in the desert.

As sure as gold is precious and the honey sweet, So you love this city and you love these streets. Every child out playing by their own front door. Every baby laying on the bedroom floor.

Every dreamer dreaming in her dead-end job. Every driver driving through the rush hour mob. I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones. You’re going to send revival, bring them all back home.

I can hear that thunder in the distance. Like a train on the edge of town. I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit. “Lay your burdens down, Lay your burdens down”.

From the Preacher preaching when the well is dry. To the lost soul reaching for a higher high. From the young man working through his hopes and fears. To the widow walking through the veil of tears.

Every man and woman, every old and young. Every fathers daughter, every mothers son. I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones. You’re going to send revival, bring them all back home

I can hear that thunder in the distance. Like a train on the edge of town. I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit. “Lay your burdens down, Lay your burdens down”.

Revive us, Revive us, Revive us with your fire!