Week Two Prayer Targets

As we enter the second week of our Season of Seeking, welcome the presence and prayer partnership of the Holy Spirit. Welcome Him to pray with you, to pray in you, and to pray through you. With His partnership in prayer, this week we will penetrate barriers and bring victory. PRAYER TARGETS Core Value Focus - HARVEST We have four points of focus in our Vision 2020 projections for Harvest to pray over this week. Church planting Strong local churches The Young Harvest (Youth and Children) World Missions Global Missions Focus - ASIA/OCEANIA and UNITED STATES and CANADA In Asia/Oceania: Pray for China. Pray for the largest Muslim nation of the world, Indonesia. Pray for India the second largest nation in the world. Bless our leadership in this land, our General Presbyter, Bishop David Browder, our national leaders, and local pastors. In the United States and Canada: Pray that this wonderful nation will experience a great fresh awakening herself. *Pray for our leadership here, General Presbyter, Bishop Sam Clements, our State/Regional Bishops, and local pastors. Pray God will bring inspired insight for evangelization. Pray for a touch of 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, which 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

21 Days

Week One Prayer Targets Jesus said "My house shall be called of all nations a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves." Luke 19:46 This week keep in your mind that we are joining together to make God's house a house of prayer and that we, God's people, are becoming a movement of prayer. PRAYER TARGETS   Core Value Focus - PRAYER Pray that the Church of God of Prophecy become a mighty world-wide ministry in prayer. Pray that the call and inspiration of prayer will fill this movement. Global Missions Focus - AFRICA AND CARIBBEAN In Africa: Pray for God to send leaders that will sustain the great harvest work. Pray for the transition of leadership under newly selected General Presbyter, Bishop Stephen Masilela. Pray for financial strength through biblical stewardship to arise. Bless our national leaders and our local church pastors. In the Caribbean: Bless our national leaders and our local church pastors. Pray for our General Presbyter, Bishop Clayton Martin, our national leaders, and local church pastors Pray for continued recovery in Haiti Agree for a new revival to sweep across the Caribbean nations   Let your faith rise this week knowing that "the eyes of the Lord are running to and fro throughout the earth to show himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are perfect toward him."

Global Missions

CHANGING LIVES....TOGETHER.

In our home, the New Year celebration is always one of hope. We celebrate the presence and purpose of God throughout the concluding year and are reminded of His blessings and grace we experienced. Looking forward, we are excited to discover the promise of God in a new season. And, without fail, our preparation includes an evaluation of our annual missions giving. Mission participation embraces the reality that the Church of God of Prophecy is a missionary movement, and our priority has always been missions. It embraces an evangelism that spreads the message of God's eternal rescue, from wherever believers in Christ are to the farthest places and people of the world; it is at the center of divine significance. God wants every person, everywhere, to be reached with His life-altering message of salvation. Our vision of what God desires for human beings is not limited by personality, geography, nationality, language, culture, race, education, income, or religion. Its scope is universal. Its reach is global. Its intent is world-encompassing. Its perspective is personal.  Its purpose is transformational. Worshippers in a Church of God of Prophecy in Argentina. Empowered by the continuing experience of Christ's personal and powerful presence, we proclaim Him to all people with the Spirit's anointing, the Father's express approval, in spoken words and acts of mercy and power. Participation in the mission is urgent. We are all participants as we mobilize to pray for missionaries and the global spreading of the message of Jesus. By prayer and support, mission workers take the message of God's love to people in other parts of the world including Nicaragua, Indonesia, New Zealand, Congo Brazzaville, Georgia, Peru, Dominica; inclusive of 130 nations around the globe. We are connected to our mission workers, personally, and we become missionaries living purposefully, generously, and sacrificially, so Jesus will be known everywhere. Worship at the Church of God of Prophecy in Kiev, Ukraine. You are a part of this effort! You can still help change lives this year. Your tax deductable year-end financial gift will assist in continuing this mission effort; it will make a difference in the lives of those who are touched with this Gospel. Thank you so much! Blessings in the presence and purpose of God in 2013, Cathy Payne Global Missions Ministries Donate today!                                                                    Global Missions Ministries Church of God of Prophecy P.O. Box 2910 Cleveland, TN  37320-2910

Season of Seeking in 2013

November 15, 2012

Greetings International Presbytery of the Church of God of Prophecy:

I just wrote this post to Facebook and I thought I would share it with you as well.

Season of Seeking:

In 45 days we will begin a new Season of Seeking in the Church of God of Prophecy. This will be year number seven for our church all around the world to unite together to start the New Year with prayer and fasting. To express our commitment to this important Core Value, thousands in many nations are joining together to fast and pray for some part, or all, of this 21 day period. As I reflect on our six years of ‘seeking’ I realize that God has honored us with so many blessings of grace as we prayed. Just this week I heard a new testimony which is obviously a God/grace thing. For the first time since the International Office has used budgets the International Assembly expenses were on budget. To God be the glory, with thanks to Bishop Paul Holt and his Assembly Task Force for leading the way in this. In the next 45 days I will share some other awesome ways God has poured out His grace as we have committed to ‘SEEK HIM.’

This note is to let you know that once more we will be turning our eyes toward the heavens as we begin this New Year. I invite you to consider how you can join this prayer season. I also invite you to pass the word along to your pastors and churches. Our International Office Facebook page already has the first post and will have a new post each week as we approach this season, as well as many posts during the season. Of course our web site will have information also.

I sat with a leader recently and we reflected on the six years that have just passed. There were numerous situations that ‘could have’ brought distraction or disruption to our Gospel work, but they did not. We both breathed a sigh of relief, said ‘thank God,’ and agreed that prayer has covered us with grace to this point. When God’s people pray, God often answers their prayers, and then God always goes the extra mile to pour grace on them beyond their prayers. I believe that is the testimony we have in the Church of God of Prophecy as we look to our seventh annual ‘Season of Seeking’ to start the New Year with God. Help me invite our people to join this journey.

Glorifying God Through Prayer and Leadership Development, All for the Harvest!

R. E. Howard

General Overseer

Winter Conference--COLLISION

Winter Conference: Collision is just 29 days away.  I hope you are making plans to have your students, student leaders and youth workers at this conference.  This conference is one of the best ways to end one year and start the next.  We believe that through this conference great momentum can be gained.  Our team is excited to see what God has in store for us in 29 days.  Much planning and prayer is continually going on for our time together.  We do not want just another conference nor a Jesus pep rally.  We desire the fire of God to descend and permanently alter every single person in attendance.

Registration is going on right now and you'll want to make sure you get your students/leaders to this conference.  Because of limited space, we can only house 200 students.  Therefore, it is extremely important for you to get all applications in as soon as possible.  Applications, schedules, and more information can be found online at www.hydrateministries.com.

 We are also giving away a Foosball Table at the end of the conference to one student ministry.  Here's how it works: every youth group that has 15 or more registered will be entered in a drawing to win the foosball table.  The winning student ministry will then have a new foosball table to enjoy at their church each time they get together.

 We ask that you remember us in prayer as this conference draws near.  A collision awaits us in 29 days!  Isaiah 6.

Greater things ahead,

Tim Beck

Thanksgiving Season

WITH THANKSGIVING by Tim Beck
 
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”  Philippians 4:6
           
 Near the end of her life, Frances Ridley Havergal, daily jotted down on a little calendar something she was thankful to God for.   This was her way of thinking about thanking.  I’ve been thinking a lot about thanking myself.  One of the main reasons I believe many prayers go unanswered is due to the fact that we are missing the main ingredient.  The great apostle stresses thanksgiving to us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 by saying, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  Paul would also remind the believers at Ephesus to, “address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Did you know that there are around 138 verses in the Scripture that speak of thanksgiving alone?  Imagine, what would happen in our lives if “thanksgiving in all circumstances” would take center stage in our hearts and thoughts?
           
 Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot of people quoting Philippians 4:6, but this is what they are saying, “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known to God.”  Did you catch that?  Read it again!  “With Thanksgiving” is being left out.  Oh and let me say, thanksgiving is also missing from our prayer times, church services, fellowship gathering, etc.  You know it’s true!  When was the last time a testimony service ruined a normal service in your congregation?  And let me add… a true testimony service!  When was the last time you entered your prayer closet thanking God, continued to thank God during your prayer time and then, exited your prayer closet thanking God?   As I type this article, God reminded me of a time when my wife and I were having a quick lunch together.  We sat down and I was in such a rush, my prayer went something like this, “God bless this food.  Sanctify it and let it be nourishment to our bodies.  In Jesus name.  Amen.”  After I concluded my brief prayer, my wife, Bethany spoke up and brought to my attention that I did not even thank God for the food.  Could it be the reason our prayers never reach the throne of grace is because we have failed to mix in the main ingredient?
 
Beloved, our prayers and supplication must be mixed with thanksgiving.  It is thanksgiving that makes the difference!  I firmly believe it was thanksgiving that protected Daniel in the lion’s den!  I’m convinced it was thanksgiving that caused the fourth man to show up in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego!  Yes, I’m persuaded that it was thanksgiving that brought David back to his throne and helped him secure his kingdom once again!  The Psalmist would sing, “We give praise and thanks to You, O God, we praise and give thanks; Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near and they who invoke Your Name rehearse Your wonders.”  Psalm 75:1.   He said those who invoke or summon the Lord are the ones who rehearse His wonders or are thankful.  Thanksgiving must once again be awakened in our prayers, services, fellowships, and conversations.  If we’ve ever needed to invoke the Lord, it is now but it will only happen through thanksgiving.
           
 Jesus tells us in Matthew 21:22, “And whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith and [really] believing, you will receive.”  Faith and believing shows up in thanksgiving!  In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your request known to God.  As we pray, we need to enter in with thanksgiving and conclude with thanksgiving.  We need to thank God that need is already met in Jesus’ name!  We need to rejoice in advance for the miracles that are about to overtake us!  Faith celebrates the victory in the midst of defeat.  Believing shouts, “God is in control”, even when it looks like our circumstances are in control.  Thanksgiving steps up and steps in applauding God in all situations, because we know that He is faithful and His mercy endures forever!  We need less supplication and more thanksgiving!  Try it.  You’ll see a difference!  I promise.