Prayer Network Newsletter - April 2011

Scripture for April – “And He . . . wondered that there was no intercessor.” Isaiah 59:16

Quotation for April – “One of the subtlest burdens God ever puts on us as saints is this burden of discernment concerning other souls.” Oswald Chambers

Director’s Message: Answering the call to intercede involves more than a willingness to spend time in prayer. It requires the humble heart of a true worshipper. Oswald Chambers makes this clear in a series of three remarkable devotionals (March 30-April 1) in My Utmost for His Highest. Allow me to share a few of his most pungent sentences on this subject:

“Worship and intercession must go together, the one is impossible without the other. Intercession means that we rouse ourselves up to get the mind of Christ about the one for whom we pray. Too often instead of worshipping God, we construct statements as to how prayer works. Are we worshipping or are we in dispute with God—‘I don't see how You are going to do it.’ This is a sure sign that we are not worshipping. When we lose sight of God we become hard and dogmatic. We hurl our own petitions at God's throne and dictate to Him as to what we wish Him to do. We do not worship God, nor do we seek to form the mind of Christ. If we are hard towards God, we will become hard towards other people. Are we so worshipping God that we rouse ourselves up to lay hold on Him so that we may be brought into contact with His mind about the ones for whom we pray?”

Brother Chambers forcibly highlights the selflessness required for true intercession. We must pray from a spirit of discernment rather than a spirit of direction—agreeing with God’s plan for others instead of telling God how to fix them. In the process, we will find that the Lord will draw both the object of intercession AND THE INTERCESSOR closer to Himself.

Daily Prayer Emphases for April:

MONDAY – Pray for new IPHC churches to be birthed and for like-minded unaffiliated churches to seek fellowship with the IPHC.

TUESDAY – Pray that the Lord to prepare the hearts of the students and workers who have divine appointments scheduled at youth camp this summer.

WEDNESDAY – Pray for your new Regional Pastor as he works to bring pastors and churches together in a fellowship of mutual support and ministry outreach.

THURSDAY – Pray for those in your church who work with children to plant “Gospel seed” in both word and deed.

FRIDAY – Pray for the Lord to guide and empower our Cornerstone Conference officials as they lead us forward in Kingdom Expansion.

SATURDAY – Pray that President Obama and the members of the 112th Congress will prove to be friends of Israel and friends of the innocent.

SUNDAY – Pray that your pastor and the other leaders in your local church will “weary not in well doing” but by the grace of God grow stronger as the battle grows hotter.

Prayer Network Newsletter - February 2011

Director’s Message for February: This afternoon, as our church leaders are gathered in Falcon, North Carolina to celebrate the centennial of the merger of the Pentecostal Holiness and Fire-Baptized Holiness Churches, the original covenant of membership will be renewed. I am presenting this covenant below and am asking that you join me this month in praying that our generation will live up to this covenant and disciple the next generation to continue all that is biblical and godly in our heritage. In Christ, Dan Woods

We, having been called out of the world by the blessed Spirit of God, and having become acquainted with the articles of faith and polity of The Pentecostal Holiness Church, and believing it to be of God, and having given our names and thereby become members of the same, do solemnly, but cheerfully, and with joy and gladness enter into this Covenant: We will watch over one another with brotherly love and kindness, not that we may have whereof to accuse our brother but that we may with meekness correct each other's faults. We will abstain from frivolous conversations, such as foolish talking and jesting, and from backbiting and tattling or taking up a reproach against any one, especially our brother. We will heed the injunction of the apostle, who exhorts us to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We will bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. We will also heed the exhortation of the apostle recorded in 1 Thes. 5:12: "And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly (disorderly), comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men; see that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men." And we will recompense to no man evil for evil, but provide things honest in the sight of all men, and if it be possible, as much as lieth in us, we will live peaceably with all men (Rom. 12:17). And we will be kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven us (Eph. 4:32). As opportunity affords we will be engaged In works of mercy; such as visiting the sick, and imprisoned, and the distressed, and to all who may need and will accept our ministrations. We will have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness (Eph. 5:11), but keep ourselves by the grace of God (1 Peter 1:5), unspotted from the world (James 1:27). All this will we do, God being our Helper.

Daily Prayer Emphases for February:

MONDAY – Pray for the IPHC to remain true to all that is biblical in its heritage.

TUESDAY – Pray for the unemployed & underemployed in your community; pray for new jobs with good benefits to come to your town; pray for giving to be increased in our churches.

WEDNESDAY – Pray for an agonizing awareness of sin to overshadow our communities—especially on the young adults and teens.

THURSDAY – Pray that President Obama and the members of the 112th Congress will prove to be friends of Israel and friends of the innocent.

FRIDAY – Pray for the deliverance from all manner of addiction in your community; pray for children all around your church who live in danger because of their parents’ lifestyles.

SATURDAY – Pray for each local church to have lively & impactful Children’s and Youth Ministries.

SUNDAY – Pray for the Lord to lead and empower our Cornerstone Conference officials as they lead us in “Kingdom Expansion” during 2011.