Pray for your City

Worship Tonight at PHOP

We will meet tonight at the new Pensacola House of Prayer (PHOP) building. 119 Industrial blvd. "40 days" may be over but prayer and worship for our city will continue throughout the year. We are excited that today is the first day in the new building. The picture is the new logo/banner being held by PHOP directors Pastor Arnie McCall and Tony Chavez. See you there

Day 42. Celebrate

Jesus said that the Sabbath was made for man. Today, Sunday, is our Christian Sabbath. It is the day we go to church and make God our priority. Most of us don't have to go to work. We don't go shopping. We try to worship and rest. And that is good. Go to church today and celebrate His goodness. Count your blessings. Pray for others, heal the sick, teach the children, preach the word. Celebrate.

Day 41. The new adventure.

Day 41 is always an awesome day. The best way to explain the feeling is to compare it to how Jesus must have felt coming out of the wilderness. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness fasting. He was alone and He was being tempted. It was during that time that God the Father was downloading information into his spirit about his purpose and his identity.

But on day 41 He "returned in the power of the Spirit" according to Luke 4:14. Power for what? Power to minister to the people. Power to preach the gospel and to proclaim the good news! The Kingdom of God as arrived!!!

I always feel different on Day 41. The weakness is gone. The mental pressure is gone. The hunger is gone. I feel God's pleasure, His joy, His love. I feel as if I have been drugged on a happy pill. 

Last night's final prayer meeting was a remarkable time of God connecting purpose and identity into all the people in attendance. As I have been praying for all the participants of this year's fast I keep hearing God say that He is connecting His people with thier identity and purpose this year. 2012 will be the year that your dreams of ministry will start to come to pass. If you were designed to be a Christian business person then God will begin to structure your life to head in that directions. If you have had a desire to write a book then God will begin to give you the tools to do that this year. If you have wanted to get more involved in your church, maybe working with the youth or on the worship team, then God will begin to connect you and prepare you for it. So be blessed and enjoy Day 41.

This is a picture from last night's meeting at Jubilee International. 

40 days!

We have less than 24 hours till 40 days is over. 40 days, when you are praying and fasting, feels like an eternity. Theoretically, if you do the same thing for 40 days it should be a habit. So I hope the prayer-minded lifestyle has overtaken you and changed you.

I know for me, every year I do this, I grow in my relationship with God. Things change and I recognize that I am more mature.

I hope you can make prayer tomorrow night at Jubilee Intl. 5910 N. W Street. We will meet from 7pm. We will use that time to worship, pray, and celebrate.

I have heard great testimonies of what God has done these past 40 days. If you have a testimony to share please email me. Jmiller@prayforpensacola.com

Child Illiteracy

Today our prayer target is child illiteracy. This is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty in our county. It must be taken seriously. Here are some facts

• 85 percent of all juveniles who interface with the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate.

• More than 60 percent of all prison inmates are functionally illiterate.

• Literacy is learned. Illiteracy is passed along by parents who cannot read or write.

• One child in four grows up not knowing how to read.

• 43% of adults at Level 1 literacy skills live in poverty compared to only 4% of those at Level 5

• 3 out of 4 food stamp recipients perform in the lowest 2 literacy levels

• 90% of welfare recipients are high school dropouts

• 16 to 19 year old girls at the poverty level and below, with below average skills, are 6 times more likely to have out-of-wedlock children than their reading counterparts.

When we talk about breaking strongholds that hold our city back this is a fundamental stronghold in our community. Malcolm Thomas, our school superintendent has specifically stated to us that it is a problem when 1st and 2nd graders in our community are not reading at grade level. Once a child is behind in reading they suffer every year. They never catch up. Functional illiteracy is when you don't read at your proper grade level. If kids continue to struggle up to high school they will eventually drop out. Did you know that the graduation rate in Escambia county is about 74%? That means 1 in 4 kids in Escambia County will not graduate traditional high school. This is appalling and a huge reason that our community struggles with poverty. It takes a village to raise a child. 

I am the problem!

We, as Christians, must lead others to Jesus. ALL ministry must be focused on that fact alone. The BIGGEST problem in the world is people who say they love God but don't know Jesus intimately. 95% of US citizens state that they are going to heaven when they die but probably less than 1% of have ever read through the whole bible. 70% of all abortions in the US are done by professing Christians or Catholics. Do you see the hypocrisy? The biblical Pharisee is not the religious leader (priest or pastor) we are the Pharisee! We are the hypocrite!

God is always concerned about His people. Time after time in the bible we see God judging His people. He expects His people to be responsible to His purposes. God is concerned with the heart and attitude of His people more that any other people on this earth. He will judge all people groups at the end of time but He will judge His people today.

"if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

God puts the responsibility of taking care of the people of this earth upon His people. I want to stress the greatest problem in this earth is that the people have stopped making Jesus a priority. The bible says we are cursed if we don't pursue Him. The bible says we are blessed if we do make Him our priority. Our problems in this country stem from the 95% who profess salvation but rejected the value of His word. Rejection is not just verbal statements. Rejection is as simple as ignoring Him and His ways.

As we finalize this last week of fasting, ask Jesus to speak to us and reveal to us where we stand with Him and how we can begin to make Him our priority!

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself." John 12:32

40 Reasons to fast Part 4 (31-40)

31.  Restore the streets Isaiah 58 - -If the streets have spiritual potholes and are all broken up then there is no reason anyone would want to live there. Fasting will restore the streets for people to live safely and in a place that allows commerce and trade.

32.  To save a friend’s life from imminent danger. Daniel 6:18 - -Daniel was sentenced to die for worship God. The king who made this law also fasting to save Daniel from the law.

33.  To repent on behalf of a nation. Daniel 9:3, Joel 1:14, Joel 2:15 and Jonah 3:5 - -These prophets repented on behalf of the sins of their nation and their people

34.  Before starting a new ministry. Matthew 4 - -Jesus did not do one recorded miracle before this 40 day fast. The was the pre-cursor to his 3 years of public ministry

35.  Fasting in secret will be rewarded openly Matthew 6:18 - -Blessings such as healing, prosperity, etc. Once again, we do not fast for the rewards spoken about in Isaiah 58 but regardless, if we fast correctly then God will take care of us.

36. Fasting will happen while Jesus is gone and until his return. Matthew 9:15 and Luke 5:33 - -Fasting is an expression of love. We wait in expectation for Jesus to return just as a new bride waits for her husband to come home from work or a business trip. I remember when I met my wife and we started dating I lost all hunger. I could hardly eat anything. My pastors would make fun of me. It was a physical sign that I was indeed in love with my girlfriend.

37.  Certain types of sickness and demons only come out by fasting Matthew 17:21 and Mark 9:29 - -This is an interesting verse. It is not in some original biblical texts but yet is can be proved out through experience that this is a true statement. Just like Isaiah 58 talks about the purpose of fasting is to set captives free we can see how fasting will cast out demons (and set captives free)

38.  Fasting allowed Anna to recognize the Christ when he showed up. Luke 2:37 - -Fasting on a regular basis positions you to hear the voice of God more clearly. Anna was able to recognize the messiah even when others didn’t see anything but a baby.

39. Fasting with prayers and giving allows your prayers to be heard by God. Acts 10:30 - -Cornelius was a non-Jew that feared God. He faithfully prayed, gave alms and fasted. He was the first Gentile believer. It says that his prayers and alms were waiting in heaven and God released the answer to those prayers in the right moment.

40. Fasting with worship allowed the Holy Spirit to speak prophetically. Acts 13:2 - -Fasting and worship should be a regular part of our life. Fasting once a week on before church or corporate prayer would be great starting point. As you regularly fast and worship you will begin to hear the Holy Spirit speak prophetically. It was during this moment in Acts that God separated Saul and Barnabas.

 

Re-imagine Peru

Praying for mission groups today. I forgot to mention re-imagine Peru. Greg and Linda English take teams to Peru every summer. My prayer is that we send p/t and f/t missionaries all over the world.

40 reasons to fast. part 3 (21-30)

This is part 3 of a 4 part series on 40 reasons to fast from the bible. Each of these following statements start with "A reason to fast is ...." This is great information to help you realize how much God talks about fasting in the bible and the value that fasting has on helping others. Fasting is a form of serving. On a side note, we will be meeting tomorrow (Friday February 10th, 2012) at First City Church in Pensacola, 1301 E. Gadsden. See you there for an evening of worship. 

21. To help our family Isaiah 58:7 - -So many times we don’t want to help our own family. We avoid the cousin who borrowed $1000.00 years ago and is still broke. We avoid the uncle that struggles with alcoholism.

22. God will guide you continually Isaiah 58:11 - -Fasting is usually directed to the needs of other but it is good to know that God has a reward for those that fast with the right priorities. He will guide our steps. He will take us in the right direction.

23.God will satisfy your soul in a drought or time of difficulty. Isaiah 58:11 - -This implies that drought is inevitable but a person of fasting is satisfied during this time.

24. God will strengthen your bones. Isaiah 58:11 - -This is a very specific promise for those that feel week and tired. Those that have bones that are creaking. Those that feel pain.

25. Our life will be like a watered garden. Isaiah 58:11 - -A watered garden is green and full of life. This is a continuation of the promise that he will satisfy us in a drought. Those around you may be brown and wilting but you will be flourishing.

26. To rebuild waste place Isaiah 58 - -Fasting will rebuild the waste places in the city and in the community. There are very specific waste places in our city. Places were poverty has destroyed the streets, the houses, the family structure and the infrastructure that keep things in order.

27. Raise up the foundations of other generations Isaiah 58 - -Fasting will set the foundations on solid rock and allow the generations that come to have something solid to build upon. Contrast this with Matthew 7 and building upon the sand. Fasting for your children and the children of the community.

28. Repair the breech Isaiah 58 - -The watchman on the wall must notice that there are holes in the wall or the walls are broken. A city with a broken wall will never be safe. The criminals will come in and out as they please. Fasting allows us to repair the breach and bring safety to the city.

29. Restore the streets Isaiah 58 - -If the streets have spiritual potholes and are all broken up then there is no reason anyone would want to live there. Fasting will restore the streets for people to live safely and in a place that allows commerce and trade.

30. To save a friend’s life from imminent danger. Daniel 6:18 - -Daniel was sentenced to die for worship God. The king who made this law also fasting to save Daniel from the law. 

40 reasons to fast (11-20)

I am continuing with 40 reason to fast from the bible. I am posting reasons number 11-20 today. Remember these are posted to help you understand biblical reasons on why we fast as Christians. This stuff is not talked about too often in the modern church. We don't fast and pray just for the fun of it. There are specific biblical reasons to fast and specific outcomes because of the fast. PrayforPensacola's "40 days" tends to focus on points 14-20 listed below. We pray and fast to change our community. 

11. When others are sick. Psalm 35:1 - -When others are sick we can fast for them. David had a heart after God and he considered fasting for his friends a priority.

12. When overwhelmed with problems. Psalm 69:10 - -David was feeling very overwhelmed in this psalm. He is pouring out his hurts, shame and depression to God. Fasting was a part of his healing process. He fasted and wept before the Lord seeking His help. This is something that we should take to heart. When you feel overwhelmed with depression and sin, begin to fast and pour your heart out to God.

13. When feeling poor and needy. When your heart feels hurt and betrayed. Psalm 109:24 - - This is similiar to point 13. Fasting will help you manage hurts.

14. Loosen bonds of wickedness Isaiah 58:6 - -There are strongholds that hold people, cities, regions and countries in bondage. Fasting loosens the bonds that hold people captive. These bonds of wickedness could be religions (Islam), mindsets (liberal), worldview (atheism), addictions or emotions (depression).

15. Undo the heavy burden Isaiah 58:6 - -God considers us burdened when wickedness holds us down. People are held down with depression, heaviness, struggles, poverty, and incorrect worldviews, etc.

16. Set the captive free Isaiah 58:6 - -Fasting will set the captive free from these burdens.

17. Break the yoke Isaiah 58:6 - -A yoke is a piece of wood put on an ox to control his direction and use him for plowing the field. This is an analogy of slavery and a burden. No one wants to spend their life under the hand of a taskmaster controlling your life and making you go where they want you go. But yet many people are slaves to habits, addictions and sickness. God puts the ability and power in your hands to break the yoke over others when you fast.

18. To teach us to share with the hungry Isaiah 58:7 - -When we fast we have extra food that we can share. The money we would have spent for breakfast, lunch or dinner can be given to the poor and homeless. We start to pay attention to the poor more than ever before. We notice the guy on the corner asking for loose change. Even when you are done fasting you notice the homeless more and start to pray for them more.

19. To teach us to bring the poor into our house. Isaiah 58:7 - -Fasting opens our eyes to the needs of the city. We begin to think about inviting the poor to our house for a meal or friendship. The poor are not just homeless. Our city has poor in every neighborhood. 

20. To cover the naked. Isaiah 58:7 - -We don’t notice that the poor are missing winter coats. We don’t notice that the poor don’t have clean socks or that they have shoes with holes in them.