Building Community of Peace in Prayer

We continue Wednesday nights praying for the Fruit of the Spirit, Love, which is Joy, Peace, and more….This past Wednesday Lo Richards led in prayer for the Peace, with special emphasis that the true peace if given by God. 

Being careless and worry free is not peace.  The Biblical concept of peace, shalom, is the wholeness, completeness, integrity, balance - to sum it up: nothing is amiss, resulting in harmony.  Psalmist says “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.” (Ps. 119:165)

On Wednesday I got a number of unusual text messages, informing me that it was a mental health emphasis day.  My first reaction was “are you hinting something?”  J  “do I need to go and seek help?”  Then one text message explained that Bell will donate five cents toward mental health in Canada.  I got prompts to mention to the church the importance of mental health, then I checked the calendar and learned that Mental Health emphasis month is in May, and it has been so designated since 1949.  So, I am loosing my peace and will communicate more on this by May J  However, as I got thinking, peace and soul prosperity is of utmost importance for total health. 

3^rd John 2 apostle is saying that we prosper and are in health as our soul is well.  How well is your soul?  We sing:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know,^a
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Is your soul well?  How is your mental and emotional health?

Peace is not something we can persuade ourselves of, or manufacture, or enforce.  True Peace is above our understanding, it comes from God and guards our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:6-7).  That’s why we pray for the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the Defender, the Peace Maker to come, to abide, to dwell in us.  When the Love of God is poured into our hearts (Romans 5:5) we experience peace of being reconciled with God.  Being reconciled to God we become ambassadors of reconciliation. (2^nd Corinthians 5:18-20)  Being at peace we carry peace with us into lives of others, peacemakers, peacekeepers of God.  We pursue peace with all people, which is true holiness without which we cannot see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).  The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:18)

Pray for peace in hearts of people you know, and your own, and claim this promise for your own mental health: “ You (GOD!) will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)

Building Community of Love & Trust in Prayer. Part 3.

Last Wednesday night we prayed for the Fruit of the Spirit - Love.  Clara Batiste led the members praying thanking God for His unconditional love (1^st John 4:19), and directed to pray for Love to be perfected in our church, in us, the people of the church, that our individual lives would demonstrate that the Love of God, which is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5) would be evident as we do everything in love (1^st Corinthians 16:14)

AS we pray for loving relationships in our church (1^st John 4:7) I could not help but think of different conversations I had over the year with people who see themselves as loving, yet also complain about lack of happiness, joy, peace; loving but afraid; loving but full of anxiety; loving some and hating others.  At a risk of being rude I comment that such do not understand what love is.  Our human love is not what God’s love is, it is not what the Bile presents as the ideal, poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

The love we are praying for is the fruit of the Holy Spirit being present in our lives.  It is not something we manufacture, it is not something we do.  Earlier in the week treasurer Onyango led devotional at the Board meeting with a question “What are the benefits of being in God’s Presence, and what are the consequences of withdrawing from His Presence?” The absence of God’s was immediately associated with fear, strife, and other defects, opposite from what the Fruit of the Spirit, love is (Galatians 5:22-23).  The true love gives joy, peace, patience, kindness, and more.  When we are truly loving we are not dependent on circumstances and conditions, but because of our relationship with God, because we are safe and saved in His Presence, we are at peace, we are glad, we are blessed.

Last week I shared with you that Biblical concept of salvation is always associated with Joy, which is the first manifestation of true love.  Perfect love cast our all fear (1^st John 4:18).  Pray for love that is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth., love which always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres; love which never fails. (1^st Corinthians 13:4-8).

Pray that this true love of God would be our way of life.  That our families will be depositories of God’s love, that our church would radiate true love into our community.

Building Community of Love & Trust in Prayer. Part 2

This week Adventists around the world continued in the 10-days of prayer, gathering at homes and praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  Wednesday night as the church comes together for prayer we focus on one aspect every week.  Earl Biggs led reflections on the first feature of the fruit of Holy Spirit – joy (Galatians 5:22-23).  The fruit of the Spirit is Love, which is: joy, peace …and more.  Joy is listed first.

Usually when people are encouraged to pray in public, requests are more numerous than praises.  We are more aware of our needs than are willing to express our gladness.  Yet, for the redeemed, for those who are saved – the joy of salvation is overflowing.  When you read Habakkuk 3:17-18 it is one’s salvation and not material things that is the source of Joy.  Isaiah 12 – the shortest chapter in this prophetic book – is all about the Joy of Salvation, which is in God who saves. 

So, pause and ask yourself “Am I rejoicing in Salvation I have received from God?  Am I glad and happy being set free, redeemed, liberated, healed, by Christ, the Lord of my Salvation?”  I invite you to think on this, because true religious experience is full of joy!  Real Christianity is all about salvation, freedom, blessings abounding in God, who is the author and doer of our salvation.

Psalmist David in his prayer of repentance says it best (Psalm 51)  ¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.  ¹¹ Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.   ¹² Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.  ¹³ Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.

Notice what brings the joy of salvation – being restored to righteousness, entering God’s presence, receiving Holy Spirit.  Only then we are ready and fit to evangelize, to share this joy with others, to witness so others may be converted, changed, turned to freedom too!  This liberating Joy of the Lord gives us strength (Nehemiah 8:10)  It is Paul’s personal experience of salvation that gave him joy even in prison, and moved him to write to all believers “Rejoice in the Lord always!” (Philippians 4:4) – not in your possessions, achievements, human relationships, but in the Lord who gives salvation.

Jesus says “I came that your joy may be full” (John 15:11) and he invites us to ask for the Holy Spirit, for our joy may be always full (John 16:24).  Cherish the Joy of Salvation!  May your countenance express gladness that you found Jesus, happiness of relationship with God of the Universe.  And remember that God answers even before you call (Isaiah 65:24), but you must call in prayer to have the answer manifested!

Building Community of Love & Trust in Prayer

January 7 – 17 believers around the world are investing 10 days in prayer.  In the North American division, of which we are a part, thousands of churches are meeting to pray.  The West church plant had been coming together at different homes.  We are using the same curriculum to pray weekly for 3 months for the unity of the church, and in my blogs I would share a few suggestions for you to participate in this intercessory prayer.

Read the final discourse of Jesus to his disciples before the cross – John 15 – it is a passionate appeal to abide, to dwell in Christ, followed by Christ’s instructions on how – by the Holy Spirit!   Ask yourself this question: “are my actions, attitude, disposition are result of the Holy Spirit dwelling in me?”  Praise God if your fruits are not your own, but of Christ who dwells in you, and the Holy Spirit producing!  And pray that Christ would continually abide, and teach you how to surrender yourself to Him (John 15:4)

As we prayed together in church past Wednesday, we read the promise of Joel 2:28-29 about Holy Spirit being poured out on all generations.  Imagine our community experience what early believers encountered on the Day of Pentecost – teens receiving the Holy Spirit, having visions from God, elderly having dreams and edifying, encouraging others – all united by the Same Spirit – the Holy Spirit!  Not our agenda, not our interests, no self exalted – but all in sync with Christ by the Holy Spirit!  Pray that our families, our youth, our leaders, our senior citizens will be under the Influence of the Holy Spirit, being transformed and renewed (Romans 12:2).  Imagine how cohesive our work would be when we are all in unity!

These 10 days of prayer take on special significance this year because of the upcoming General Conference session.  In July about 2005 delegates and their families from all countries of the world will come to San Antonio, Texas with one expectation – for the Holy Spirit to move through them in guiding the church and setting directions for the next 5 years.  Pray that all involved representing the world wide church will be surrendered to Christ, that not individual interests and agenda but God’s will would be put forth (Galatians 2:20).  Under the Holy Spirit rule there are no divisions (1^st Corinthians 1:10).  God’s wisdom is available for those who ask in prayer (James 1:5)

We are to trust that God leads the church by His Holy Spirit.  The love of God casts out fear and need of control, permitting one to trust that God is in control, and is influencing minds and hearts of all his servants.

As you pray this week claim John 14:23 that God would make His home with you.