Boston Awake

Devotional Day 40 for Friday 4/9

2010-04-08T21:00:00.034-04:00

New Testament Reading: Acts 9
Old Testament Reading: Zechariah 8:20-23

What will a great awakening look like? I believe that answer is found in Zechariah 8:20-23.

Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, 'Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts; I myself am going.' Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'"

The fast ends today. Many will hear that God is with his church again. The inhabitants of many cities that live in Boston shall gather together to worship Jesus.

So what is your role as we are sent out from this fast as we return to churches, towns, cities, and nations?

It is simply to invite people to come seek the Lord with you. Both believers AND non-believers. "Come, I myself am going." Prayer for awakening is useless unless it produces an awakened people that invite others to come with them.

In Acts 9, God worked a powerful miracle to reveal to Jesus to Saul. Yet, Ananias, a normal Christian who prayed, had to go to Saul and invite him into the kingdom. He had to lay hands on him and set him free from his blindness He had to ask Jesus to release the Holy Spirit over Saul. If Ananais had never gone and INVITED (or maybe more accurately welcomed) Saul into the kingdom, Saul would quite possibly have died blind.

Revival may be breaking out all around us at this moment, and we simply may be missing it because we have not responded to the Lord's promptings to invite others in. I am sure when we do we will be amazed to find God has already been working in their lives.

What might revival look like for you? Maybe, there is simply one person who God wants you to invite. One Saul, one Billy Graham who you invite into the kingdom. And that one you invited, changes the destinies of nations. Maybe, there is only ever one, but that one will be waiting in heaven to thank you.

Are you ready to extend the invitation?

Devotional Day 39 for Thursday 4/8

2010-04-08T09:00:00.051-04:00

New Testament Reading: Acts 8

Old Testament Reading: Zechariah 8:18-19

Day 39. Less than 48 hours left in this fast. Woke up this morning tired. Walking out of my building, I felt a sense of hunger for God to move. During my times with the IHOP team ( www.jhopboston.org ), I have tasted of the goodness, joy, love, and power of the Holy Spirit. During prayer gatherings, I've felt both the joy of the overflow of God's Spirit upon me and the breaking of my heart for the last and the nations. As I walked to pray, through the early morning light, I found myself praying - oh Lord send revival!

This is more than a 40 day event. This is about God creating a lifestyle of prayer, fasting, and going in us. This is about God molding the desires of our hearts to his. This is about the church being the dwelling place of God's presence and glory. This is about the nations of the world that have yet to hear of Jesus. This is about a great awakening unto a great commissioning. This is about losing our lives so that we find them. This is about giving all of who we are to what God is doing in this hour and this generation. This is about knowing our reward is on the other side of eternity not this side. This is all about Jesus and his great love for us and those who have not yet seen.

Tomorrow, thousands will gather to pray across New England; many of them at Tremont Temple in Boston (click image above). I believe that in the midst of fasting God has been releasing joy and gladness in the midst of the church of New England per Zechariah 8:19. Zechariah prophesied that in the midst of fasting there would be seasons of joy, gladness, and cheerful feasts for God's people. I truly believe tomorrow night the church in New England is about to walk into a new season, a season marked by joy and gladness. The day of deliverance is at hand, the awakening has begun. God is on the move. The Lion of Judah is breathing life into his bride again!

This fast was unto a great awakening. I believe a time of deliverance is on the verge of breaking out for Boston. As in Acts 8, there will be joy in the city that has never before been known.

Father, for the sake of your Son Jesus and the ones he died for, stretch out your hand that signs and wonders may be done at the name of your servant Jesus. Holy Spirit, pour out the oil of you joy in our midst. Bring deliverance and salvation to our city. Let the kingdom come! Let joy and gladness fill the streets as the lost come home!

"For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city."
(Acts 8:7-8)

Devotional Day 38 for Wednesday 4/7

2010-04-07T10:02:00.001-04:00

Reading: Acts 7

Looking at the implications of the resurrection from my message on Easter Sunday. (4 of 4)

Jesus is a “life-giving spirit.” He gives life. Real life is founded in a live-giving relationship with God. The God who rose from the dead 2,000 years ago. It’s not a fading religious memory. Jesus is alive and he wants to know you. He wants to heal your pain. He wants to cleanse your sin. He wants you to know what a relationship with him is like.
He’s come to save you from a rules motivated, religious life that leads to death. Or life led by giving fleshly cravings or addictions that rule your body. You don’t need to hope that you will get you into heaven. You can know NOW.
Jesus has freely given of himself to us through the Spirit so we could know NOW that he is alive and is waiting to welcome us in his home in heaven for all eternity. Jesus has died for our sins that they might be washed away forever. This is the good news that should be ringing from the churches all across the globe this morning.
It is the joyous words of the old song, “He lives, He lives salvation to impart! You ask me how I know he lives – he lives within my heart.”
And the church bears witness to this reality. The Spirit of Jesus has come into our lives. He permeates our gatherings. Jesus is alive and he’s poured out his life-giving Spirit on this group of humbled people who used to be separated by their sin, but not know HE really is alive. They’ve experienced his forgiveness. They know he’s alive.

Previous entry's on the implications of the Resurrection:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

Devotional Day 37 for Tuesday 4/6

2010-04-06T09:51:00.001-04:00

Reading: Acts 6

Looking at the implications of the resurrection from my message on Easter Sunday. (3 of 4)

So what are the Implications of the Resurrection?
It changes everything! Here are possibly two of the most important implications.

1.     As we have already looked at, Jesus was more than a man, he was God
a.     This means his words are more than great teaching, they are the path to life.
b.     As God, Jesus could not remain dead.
2.     Jesus is a “life giving spirit.” (1 Cor. 15:45)

Jesus said himself, “It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh in no help at all. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (John 6:63)
What is Jesus getting at? He’s saying, “Look, I came to give life. Death has had humanity hopeless and fearful, mourning and grieving for too long. But my kingdom is not of this world. My kingdom doesn’t use militaries and politics, success and money aren’t necessary here. My kingdom has the antidote to death – it’s methods are the opposite of the way this world thinks. The poor get lifted up. The humble receive salvation. The meek inherit the earth. The lowly find grace. The King shows up as a peasant boy. The Messiah gets nailed to the cross. And dead men rise again! Everything is changed. Death is defeated. I’m all about life. Life to the full. This is what I’m wanting to get across to you a relationship with God is possible because I’m alive!”
Paul would sum up Jesus’ words in his letter to Corinth, “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Cor. 3:6)
In other words, if I just gave into every impulse of my flesh – it would lead to destruction in my marriage, my job, and my life… it would eventually lead to death – it would kill me.
And, if I tried the opposite of living for worldly pleasures and embraced aestheticism or strict moral living. If I embraced to trying to live by religious laws and rules I would die trying to achieve that. I’d live a completely frustrated filled life – either feeling like God owed me something or feeling guilty because I never measured up. Both paths lead straight to Hell.

BUT, the Spirit gives life. Jesus defined “life” in his teachings.
He said, “This is eternal life – true life, real life NOT the life this world offers with its fading pleasures and desires –eternal life is to know the only true God and Jesus Christ who He sent.”
  (John 17:3)

Devotional Day 36 for Monday 4/5

2010-04-05T10:15:00.001-04:00

Reading: Acts 5

Looking at the implications of the resurrection from my message on Easter Sunday. (2 of 4)

It was not just Peter who preached that Jesus was the Son of God – both a physical man AND a life-giving spirit. It was the witness of all 11 of Jesus’ of disciples and the entire early church (and the church through the ages) that Jesus rose from the dead.
Strangely, as this fledging group of believers testified to the fact that Jesus had risen from the dead and the implications of that fact for their lives and the lives of their listeners, the religious and governmental authorities who persecuted them so intensely were never able to produce Jesus’ body despite the fact that any evidence against Jesus’ resurrection would have immediately destroyed the testimony of the early church and halted the progress of Christianity.
The empty tomb that the women and Peter & John claimed to have seen remained empty. The body of Jesus was never found. In fact, there has not been a single shred of evidence since Jesus rose to suggest that he has not risen. Justin Martyr writing an open letter to Caesar just 100+ years after Jesus died boldly set forth the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection. No critical response to that letter from that era has ever been found despite the letter’s wide spread influence in the Roman Empire at that time. The historical evidence against the resurrection is non-existent. Instead, there are a series of hypothesizes that seek to explain why Jesus’ body was not in the tomb – none that have ever been satisfactorily explained or found to be true.
Thus, many have concluded that Jesus was not only the Son of God, but he rose from the dead.

Devotional Day 35 for Sunday 4/4

2010-04-04T10:15:00.001-04:00

Reading: Acts 4

These next 4 days, we will look at the implications of the resurrection from my message on Easter Sunday.

“It is written, ‘The first man Adam became a living being’; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit… The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.”
(I Cor 15:45-46)

It is impossible to understand what we are celebrating or why we celebrate unless you can answer the question – Who Is Jesus?

Millions of people have different answers to this question. Elton John recently gave his opinion when he said, “I think Jesus was a compassionate, super intelligent gay man who understood human problems…”

Yes, opinions on Jesus abound…

Ghandi considered Jesus the greatest moral teacher to have ever lived.

Others have suggested Jesus reached a heightened state of enlightenment.

Some religions consider him a great prophet.

In fact, Jesus is held in very high regard by most of the people in the world. You won’t find too many people out there spewing negative opinions about Jesus.

In Acts 2, Peter presents us with the real question that defines who Jesus is. The questions is did Jesus really rise from the dead? On this question hinges all the opinions and debates throughout history about who Jesus is and was.

If Jesus was a “life-giving spirit,” if he was the Son of God, then he could not have stayed dead. He could not have rotted in the tomb outside of Jerusalem. He could not merely be a man. And this what Peter is pointing to in Acts 2. Jesus is not like King David whose bones eroded in his tomb. Jesus is alive forever – he will never see corruption.

Devotional Day 34 for Saturday 4/3

2010-04-03T10:14:00.001-04:00

Reading: Acts 3

What are the results of the resurrection? First, we see the formation of new community that is committed to each other and prayer. (Acts 1) Second, we see the outpouring of the promised Holy Spirit. (Acts 2) Thirdly, we see a community that bears witness to who Jesus is through serving the poor, healing the sick, and testifying to who Jesus is before crowds and societal leaders.

Devotional Day 33 for Friday 4/2

2010-04-02T09:34:00.001-04:00

Reading: John 19

What did Jesus' death accomplish? As we celebrated Good Friday and the crucifixion of Jesus, we remember that he died to take the penalty of our sin - death. He died to cleanse us by his blood from all evil, pain, and torment. He died that we might have life.

Devotional Day 32 for Thursday 4/1

2010-04-01T08:10:00.000-04:00

Reading: Acts 2

The power of the Holy Spirit is poured out on a community devoted to prayer. The Spirit is primarily given for two purposes both involving witness (to testify of what you have seen and heard).

1) To empower us to be witnesses of who Jesus is. Jesus said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you AND you will be my witnesses." (Acts 1:8) Jesus has ascended into heaven, and he empowers us through the Spirit to be witnesses of who he is - the risen Son of God.

2) To bear witness in our hearts that we are children of God. This is hugely profound If we are not convinced we are sons and daughters of God, that we have been adopted into God's family because Jesus bought us out of the kingdom of darkness through his death on the cross, then we will never be a people that go and tell others. It says that when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit they were telling of the mighty works of God. (Acts 2:11) What is more supernatural then knowing you have been adopted into God's family, and you are now a child of God. Your brother is Jesus. Your Father is God. And, the Holy Spirit bears witness of this.

When the world sees a people who know and enjoy their place as children of God, they will too will ask about what they are seeing and hearing just as they did in Acts 2. Creation is looking for the sons (and daughters) of God to be revealed (Romans 8:19) not another holy rock show. The world is looking for people who are convinced of and enjoying a relationship with Father God not busy organizing new events. The world is longing for something genuine. Do you have what they long for? Is the Spirit bearing witness?

"You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." (Romans 8:15-16)

Devotional Day 31 for Wednesday 3/31

2010-03-31T09:06:00.000-04:00

Reading: Acts 1

Pray. Go. Tell. (See yesterday's entry). The call of every follower of Jesus. Perhaps, at times, we are prone to focus on the going. Especially, in America, where we do not see enough of it at times. When is the last time, you introduced yourself to your neighbors or invited them over for a dinner? Have you ever crossed over to the over side of town to see what life over there is like? Are we in danger of living in our own bubbles with ipods in our ears on the way to work, blackberries in our hands on the T, laptops on the tables of our coffee shops, and TVs on in our homes? Are we missing the simple instruction of loving our neighbors by not first getting to know them?

The temptation may be to put some pressure on one's self. I MUST meet my neighbors. This type of thought only produces anxiety and stress. You are not meeting your neighbor because you love them but because you have to. There is a good chance that your neighbors we will see or feel right through that attitude and show little interest in getting to know you more.

Jesus' solution to what he certainly knew were the disciples' failings - pride and lack of love of others (see Peter and James and John, the "sons of thunder" who wanted to call down fire on people) - was prayer. Prayer is talking to God. It is waiting to listen to him speak. It is a reminder we have a Father who loves us and a Brother who died for us. It is learning to enjoy God's grace and receive his forgiveness and Spirit. It is being empowered by the truth and presence of God.

Jesus knew prayer was the key to experiencing the "more" of God. Prayer is not striving. Prayer is simply spending time in relationship with God. We do it both individually and corporately. Alone with the Father and together as a family!

In Acts 1, we see a community of friends who had seen the resurrected Jesus "with one accord devoting themselves to prayer." (Acts 1:14) Young and old, male and female. They are obeying Jesus instruction to wait in the place of prayer. They are devoted to this idea. Not just occasionally doing it. It is a part of their daily lives, and they do it together.

Do you wait in the place of prayer? By yourself? With others? With your church family?

You should for it in this place of experiencing a relationship with our Father in prayer that the Holy Spirit is most often poured out, and we are transformed into a people who gladly go to tell others about the Jesus we love.

Devotional Day 30 for Tuesday 3/30

2010-03-29T21:00:00.000-04:00

Reading: Luke 24:36-52

Jesus appeared to two disciples on the Road to Emmaus and Simon Peter. Paul records that Jesus appeared to more than 500 hundred people after he rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:6). In fact, I have heard numerous stories from friends of mine overseas who have met people who have been visited by a radiant Jesus in dreams and visions. In this passage, Jesus appears to all 11 of the disciples.

It was the unified witness of the early church that Jesus indeed rose from the dead. The startling growth of the early church which spread this message of the risen Son of God throughout the Roman Empire in just a couple hundred years despite intense persecution from both the government and other religious movements is incredible. Especially if you consider that their "claim to fame" was that a dead man had risen from the dead and was now seated with God in heaven. A claim they willingly died for. At any moment if Jesus' body had been found, the Christian movement would have been completely discredited. Incredibly, his body has never been found.

Jesus is alive. He showed his disciples his resurrected body and explained to them how the Old Testament Scriptures predicted his death and resurrection. Without the resurrection, the church has no mission and no real purpose - it is just a museum that reminds us of a wonderful man. With the resurrection, the church has purpose and mission. We see that Jesus speaks directly to his disciples about this mission at the end of Luke.

He then gave them two clear instructions.

Go and call all people to change their thinking, turn to Jesus, and receive forgiveness of sins in his name.
Wait to go to all people group's until they had received the promised Holy Spirit, power from on high.

I propose the call of every disciple could simply be defined as this. Pray, go, tell.

We will explore this call more fully over the next few days.

"Repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations... But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:47,49)

Devotional Day 29 for Monday 3/29

2010-03-28T21:00:00.001-04:00

Reading: Luke 24:13-35

Angels have appeared to a group of women who have journeyed to Jesus' empty tomb proclaiming the resurrection of the Son of God, yet doubts still remain. Two disciples are heading home disillusioned and without hope. The reports from the women have only confused them and pained them. They are returning to what they knew before meeting Jesus. Sorrow weighs heavy on their hearts. The painful and very public death of their best friend and leader has destroyed any ability to even dream that the women's report might be true.

Yet, they are not abandoned; their faith in Jesus no matter how weak or nonexistent at this moment is remembered. The resurrected Jesus himself journeys with them on the road to Emmaus. He befriends them (again); he listens to their pain; and he begins to explain to them from the scriptures that what happened to their teacher Jesus was meant to. They stop to retire for the night and still unaware that is Jesus who has journeyed with them. He sits to eat with them and as he breaks the bread they see him! It is their Jesus. He is alive!

He disappears before their eyes, but their faith has returned. Their faith was not in vain. Their hopes are re-awakened. Faith grips their hearts. Joy fills their souls. They hug overjoyed with the realization. He has fulfilled the ancient prophecies. His death was not in vain. The resurrection has changed everything. They rush off to tell their friends. They cannot but help it! Jerusalem is beckoning. A new journey awaits. All must know. Sin has been defeated, and death is no longer master. Forgiveness of sins for all who believe! Jesus is alive; he is still seeking and saving the lost! He has found them.

Devotional Day 28 for Sunday 3/28

2010-03-27T21:00:00.000-04:00

Reading: Luke 24:1-12

In the cool of the morning, several women journey through a garden to give their last gifts to the man they loved more than any other. He had delivered some of them from demons, taught them, ate their food, healed them, and showed them the love and forgiveness of God. Now, he was dead; yet his memory lived on compelling them to honor his body and his life with their gifts.

Strangely, it was in the cool of the morning thousands of years before near the world's beginning that God had walked through a garden to find a man and his wife who had rebelled against his friendship and rule. That journey resulted in a round of blame shifting and banishment from God's presence into a world cursed by sin.

How different these women's journeys will end! For on arriving at the burial grounds and finding the tomb, they are perplexed to find the heavy stone rolled away from tomb. They rush in seeking the body of their Lord. Only to discover it is not there! All is not as it seemed just moments ago.

Unsure of what to do they hesitate and there surrounded by the reminders of death two dazzling beings like men suddenly break in to their reality. Stunned and terrified, the women fall to the ground. Heaven has invaded earth with the greatest announcement the world will ever hear - "Christ is risen from the dead; he has trampled over death. The glory of God has defeated the night. He is not here; he has risen!"

Imagine for a moment the turmoil of these women's dreams just hours before. Everything they had ever hoped Jesus might be, everything they had hoped he represented of who God was and who they could be had been ripped away. This man they loved had been mocked and ridiculed for what they believed he was - God's Son. He had been tortured and executed for his refusal to deny this reality. Everything they had put their faith in was invalidated and destroyed by their Lord's crucifixion. They would now be the most ridiculed of people for having given everything to him. Having abandoned their own lives to follow him. Quietly they mourned the crushing of their hopes and faith.

Yet, here in the early morning hours, everything changed. He is not here, he is risen. Just as he said he would. The words of Jesus come rushing back into their minds, "The Son of Man must be handed over to evil men and be crucified but on the third day he will rise." Their faith has in the most shocking of ways been suddenly affirmed. Everything they had lived for is suddenly validated. By the resurrection of the man Jesus Christ. He is alive! His promises were true. He was God. Eternal life is possible. We will rise one day with him. Hope for today. Faith for tomorrow. Life awakened from within. In one moment, all of history turns. Nothing will ever be the same.

Devotional Day 27 for Saturday 3/27

2010-03-26T21:00:00.002-04:00

Reading: Luke 23:44-56

The King is dead (vs. 37-38). The innocent man has been crucified (vs. 47). The crowds leave mourning (vs. 48). His acquaintances witness these things from afar (vs. 49). Creation groans waiting for the Son of Man to be revealed. Darkness reigns (vs. 44-45). Life breathes its final breath (vs. 46). He is buried; his lifeless body laid on the hard, cold rock of a newly hewn tomb (vs. 52-53). Death's cruel finality is all too real.

Yet, in the midst of these verses, a glimmer of doubt remains. Jesus' acquaintances particularly the women seem to be waiting, watching to see what will happen (vs. 49, 55). They have not lost their love for the man who knew "everything they ever did" (John 4:39) yet told them "your faith has saved you, go in peace." (Luke 7:50) A good man named Joseph still looks for the kingdom of God (vs. 51). On the Sabbath day, they rest. Waiting in quiet solitude... for Sunday to arrive.

"For there is hope for a tree,

if it be cut down, that it will sprout again,

and that its shoots will not cease.

Though its root grow old in the earth,

and its stump die in the soil,

yet at the scent of water it will bud

and put out branches like a young plant."

Job 14:7-9

Devotional Day 26 for Friday 3/26

2010-03-25T21:00:00.000-04:00

Reading: Luke 23:26-43

Jesus has been sentenced, beaten, and flogged. He is sleep deprived. His exhausted body is led away to the mount of crucifixion. While the crowds had called for his death (vs. 21), there are many yet who understand the tragedy of these events. They weep and mourn behind him. Their hero, the innocent one who knew no wrong is being led away to death.

Jesus is so weak he cannot carry his own cross; yet in the midst of his exhaustion, he turns to the grieving crowds. "Weep not for me!" he startlingly declares. For Jesus knows something these crowds know not of - the coming judgment of Jerusalem. For if while the Son of God was with them they rejected the Christ, what will happen when he was gone. The life, healing, peace, and reconciliation he brought to the land of Palestine and the people of Israel is about to be stuffed out. The wood will dry and the fire of judgment will burn it up (vs. 31, Ezekiel 20:47).

Who can escape the coming wrath?

Even as he is nailed to and hung on a cross, the heart of God is revealed in these words that echo for all eternity: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."

Perhaps, the criminal on the cross next to Jesus heard these words, perhaps he had heard the stories of the greatest teacher and healer Israel had ever known, the stories of how he healed the paralytic and forgave the prostitute. And as this robber prepares to face the sentence for his evil deeds, hope for the first time in a very long time begins to awaken in his heart. He watches Jesus' marred body on the cross thrust violently into the ground. He watches as his fellow criminal bitterly rails against the Son of God pouring out his anger for the just judgment he as a thief is experiencing.

The whole time the words of Jesus are burning in his ears... "Father forgive them... father forgive them... forgive them.. they don't know what they are doing." Faith and fear seize him at the same time. He cries out in a desperate plea to his dying friend, "Do you not fear God? We are getting what we deserve but this man has done nothing wrong." He pleas with him to turn before it is too late.

Then, he himself turns to Jesus. Fear and hope in his eyes. He has one request: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus words are sweeter than the ones that first brought hope to his life, "This day you will be with me in Paradise." Faith fully fills his heart. He faces death at peace with God and man. Eternity await, judgment is past. Forgiveness is free. Life is eternal. Love is real. Mercy triumphs... over judgment. Death is as close as ever, but Jesus awaits him. He'll see him - on the other side.

"But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (2 Cor. 3:16, Rom. 10:13)

Devotional Day 25 for Thursday 3/25

2010-03-24T21:00:00.000-04:00

Reading: Luke 23:1-25
Additional Reading: Hebrews 1:1-14

The longest day in human history began with the betrayal of an innocent man. It continued with a sham trial that lasted until day break. Now in the early morning hours, Jesus stands before the only man in Jerusalem that can seal his fate - the Roman governor Pilate.

The author Luke's primary focus in this passage is the innocence of Jesus highlighted by Pilate's reluctance to sentence him to death. Here are Pilate's words and actions.

"I find no guilt in this man." (vs. 4)
He sent him to Herod when he found out Jesus was outside his jurisdiction (vs. 6-7)
"After examining him, I did not find this man guilty of any the charges against him (vs. 14)
"Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us..." (vs. 15)
"Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him." (vs. 15)
Pilate addressed them once more desiring to release Jesus... (vs. 20)
"I have found no guilt in him deserving death." (vs. 22)

Why is the innocence of Jesus so important to Luke? To understand why, we must understand that Jesus was preparing to offer his life as a sacrifice for all sin. According to Leviticus 22:21, "And when anyone offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or from the flock, to be accepted it must be perfect; there shall be no blemish in it."

Jesus' innocence is of primary importance because a less than perfect offering could not accomplish what the author of Hebrews reveals it accomplished: "Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins... by which he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." (Hebrews 10:12,14)

Jesus led a perfect life and was the perfect sacrifice. Because of this he is able to forgive and make holy all who come to him acknowledging their sin. He has borne our sin on the cross. Our sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus. No sacrifice on our part is necessary. This reality is what Luke and the author of Hebrews point us to. Allow this truth to sink deep into your heart.

Devotional Day 24 for Wednesday 3/24

2010-03-24T09:29:00.000-04:00

Reading: Luke 22

The story of the betrayal, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus could seem to be the most tragic story ever told. One of the greatest (if not the greatest) moral teachers the world has ever known is murdered out of envy. A man whose life would be emulated by many millions is cut short despite no finding of guilt worthy of death. The hero of the poor and healer of the sick is betrayed for a small sack of coins. The one who preached "turn other cheek" and "love your enemies" is slapped, mocked, and hated. The one who promised life to all those who followed him is stripped of life himself.

For Jesus' disciples (and for those who read the story for the first time), this story indeed seemed like a tragedy. A great injustice had been done. Something went tragicly wrong.

Yet, in Luke 22 if we look closely, we do not get this sense at all from Jesus. Although he is being betrayed, mocked, and sentenced to death, we do not get the sense that he feels that things have suddenly spun out of control or that God has betrayed him. In fact, it seems from his actions and words that he believes God's sovereign plan is unfolding, and he willingly though at times painfully embraces the Father's plan. Let us look at his words and actions in this chapter.

Jesus arranges for his own farewell dinner (vs. 7-13)
He understood he was giving his life up for his friends that they might have life (vs. 14-20)
He knew who would betray him and yet did not interfere with his plan (vs. 21-23)
He gave Satan permission to "sift" Peter and prayed that Peter's faith might not fail (vs. 31-34)
He knew his coming ordeal would fulfill Old Testament prophecy (vs. 35-38)
He knew the great agony that lay ahead of him and accepted the Father's plan (vs. 39-44)
He shows care for the disciples even in the midst of his own agony urging them to pray as they face their own temptations (vs. 40,46)
Jesus heals the ear of his enemy and rebukes the crowd that has come to arrest him (vs. 47-53)
He choose to openly affirm his identity as the Son of God rather than deny it and avoid death (vs. 66-71)

Jesus knows, controls, and accepts everything about his death. He will die at the hands of evil men, but he chooses that path. It is not a tragedy, but the unfolding of God's wonderous plan to reconcile all men and women back to himself.

"For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." (Colossians 1:19-20)

Devotional Day 23 for Tuesday 3/23

2010-03-23T11:16:00.000-04:00

Reading: Luke 20 & 21

In Luke 20, we see that Jesus is rejected by those who seemingly should have been the most willing to receive him - the supposed religious elite. Their rejection of the Christ meant coming destruction for not only them but their city as Luke 21 points to. Sadly, our actions never just affect ourselves; they ripple over into the lives of others.

Thankfully, as we will see in the next 3 chapters. Jesus' actions will have MASSIVE ripple effects for all humanity leaving none without hope. This great news - the death and resurrection of Jesus - is what we will celebrate as a global church in the coming weeks!

"For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son that who so ever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Devotional Day 22 for 3/22

2010-03-22T21:00:00.000-04:00

Reading: Luke 19:28-48

For any person in the world, this moment in Jesus' life would be the pinnacle of their life, dreams, and ambitions. The unmitigated adulation of the fans, the snubbing of the critics, the accolades of the crowds, the pomp, the celebration, the march to capitol hill - this scene has it all. Jesus had the backing of the crowds on the way to the biggest feast of the year for the nation of Israel. Jerusalem was never so a buzz.

Yet, Jesus is not remembered for the triumphal entry. In fact, he seemingly fell from popularity more quickly then any celebrity ever has. A week later, the crowds would turn on him demanding his death. He would be mocked, whipped, stripped, and nailed to cross. He would be remembered for all history by that symbol not the climatic entrance into Jerusalem.

For it is when the lights go out and the cameras stop clicking that our true self is revealed. It is in the agonizing moments in the garden the night before his death that Jesus struggles to accept his coming death. Yet, we know what drove him to it. His love for a city and the people of the world it represented.

"And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, "Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace!" (Luke 19:41-42)

Devotional Day 21 for Sunday 3/21

2010-03-22T20:42:00.001-04:00

Reading: Luke 18:31-19:27

The book of Luke shifts with these chilling words:

"See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him..."

Until now, we have seen Jesus moving in the power of the Holy Spirit, setting the demonized free, healing the sick, preaching good news, and helping the despondent and the poor. A man on a mission who seems unstoppable. Until now.

Here for the first time we get a glimpse of his ultimate objective. Not the palace in Jerusalem but the cross outside the city. Jesus at this point has become a national celebrity. Yet, he has not changed. He has come to lay down his life as a ransom for many.

So, in this passage, we are no surprised to see him stopping for a desperate, blind beggar and an equally desperate yet greedy tax collector. When Jesus could have been mourning his fate or enjoying his last moments of celebrity status, we instead find him (as we always find them) caring for the deepest needs of those around him. Giving the blind man back his sight and the despised man back his reputation. He is indeed the friend of sinners, and he aims to demonstrate it fully on the cross.

"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all..." (2 Corinthians 5:14)

Devotional Day 20 for Saturday 3/20

2010-03-20T07:27:00.000-04:00

New Testament Reading: Colossians 1:19-23
Additional Reading: Matthew 5:1-9

Not only is Jesus supreme in all things (see yesterday's entry) but the fullness of God was pleased to dwell in him (vs. 19) and through him to reconcile to himself all things (vs. 20). That means God himself came down to earth in the form of a man in order to restore creation back to its original good and restore relationship with humanity. How did God bring about this reconciliation?

First, we must understand that we were alienated from God because our minds were filled with hostility towards God. These hostile thoughts manifested in evil deeds (vs. 21). We did not love God or love all his ways. Instead, we chose to live by what we thought was right in hostility to what God said. Until your realize that your thinking denied God or in some part rejected God's ways, you will not see a need to be reconciled.

Second, it is the through the work of the cross, the blood Jesus that God made peace with us (vs. 20). Why did Jesus have to die? Because God was going to eventually destroy all evil; and if we still remained in hostility to God enjoying this present evil age, we would have been subjected to God's wrath. Peace had to be made. So, Jesus not only took our sin on himself, but he also bore the just wrath of God dying in our place. What should have come upon us, came upon him. We are no longer enemies of God. Peace with God is possible if we choose to accept what he did on the cross. It is the year of the Lord's favor (Isa. 61).

What are the results Jesus' reconciling work on the cross?

1) He has reconciled you to himself. A harmonious, transparent relationship with him is now possible (vs. 22).

2) He has reconciled you into his body (vs. 22) You are one with Christ. You are also one with his body (the church) of which he is the head (Eph. 4:15).

3) When this world ends, he will present all those who have faith in Him (vs. 23) holy and blameless and beyond reproach before God (vs. 22).

4) Although not stated in verse 22, we also are called by Jesus to be ambassadors of this good news that Jesus has reconciled ALL things to himself. We can fulfill Jesus' call be be peacemakers by proclaiming this news of reconciliation! Then, we are truly fulfilling our role as adopted sons of God.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9)

Devotional Day 19 for Friday 3/19

2010-03-19T12:03:00.001-04:00

New Testament Reading: Colossians 1:11-18
Additional Reading: Galatians 1:3-5

We will take a short 2 day break from Luke to look closely at a passage in Colossians 1. On Sunday, we will return to Luke and through week 4 of this 40 days follow Jesus through Jericho, Jerusalem, the cross, the grave, and the resurrection.

In this passage from Paul's letter to the Colossians, we read Paul's prayer for them. May we pray the same thing for those in the body of Christ in this region and city. Let us look at his prayer and its implications.

May you be strengthened with power (vs. 11). This implies our faith is prone to weakness. I have on many times begun to doubt the truth of what I believe. Paul prays for strength to endure with joy! He longs for us to have faith.
May you give thanks to the Father (vs. 12). Our faith is in a good Father that has qualified us to share in the wonderous inheritance of all the saints of light. God has qualified us. What liberation! It is what He has done for me not what I have done for him! My faith is increased with this knowledge.

Paul then shifts the focus of his prayer to a declaration of WHY we can endure and give thanks - Jesus the Son of God. Do you know that you can declare what God has done in prayer? Such prayers have great power.

The Father has delivered us from the domain of darkness (vs. 13) AND transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son (with the saints of light!).
It is through Jesus this redemption is possible (vs. 14). Jesus paid the debt we owed for our sin. Forgiveness is now not only possible but free!
Jesus is the image of the invisible God (vs. 15). God has been made visible through Jesus. It is not a "blind faith" we have but one based on the revelation of God through the life and death of the man Jesus.
Jesus created ALL things (vs. 16). Not only the creation we see but the invisible - including fallen angels, rulers, and dominions. The dominion of darkness is the result of that which Jesus created having rebelled against the worship of its Creator.
Jesus holds all things together (vs. 17). Not only has Jesus created ALL, but he continues to sustain it. Without this knowledge, we might fear the power of darkness. Will it ultimately triumph in this world? Has God's creation gone beyond His control? Clearly, this is not the case. Jesus holds ALL things together including that which has fallen. Satan cannot act unless allowed to by God (see the book of Job). Ultimate victory over darkness and the restoration of creation with a new heaven, a new earth, and new resurrected bodies is guaranteed. Ponder this and let your faith be strengthened.
Jesus is preeminent (vs. 18). He has created ALL things. He is seeking to redeem humanity. And after destroying all that remains of evil, he will make ALL things new (Rev. 21:5). The Father has ordained for Jesus to do this SO THAT in all things He might have the supremacy (Col 1:18, NIV). It is in this supremacy of over all evil, all creation, and over our lives that we have the faith to believe that he has indeed...

"(Given) himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age..." (Galatians 1:4)

We will continue this theme tomorrow.

Devotional Day 18 for Thursday 3/18

2010-03-18T09:01:00.001-04:00

New Testament Reading: Luke 18:1-30
Additional Reading: Colossians 1:1-12

Luke 18 begins with Jesus telling a story of a persistent widow who gains justice for herself by her consistent asking of a judge for justice. There are several important things to note about this story.

1) The widow had a just and simple request. The judge is initially unjust; he refuses to give her the justice she deserves. (vs. 5)

2) The widow did not use many words (vs. 3), but she was consistent (vs. 5). See Matthew 6:7 for Jesus' instructions on how to pray succinctly. God is looking for consistent prayer not correct verbage or great verbosity.

3) God will not delay long (vs. 7). We can expect God to move on the behalf of those who cry out to him. While we must acknowledge his time is often different than ours and there may even be good reasons (unknown to us) why he delays, this should in no way discourage us from continuing to ask. In fact to do so, would be to disobey what Jesus is exhorting us to do!

4) The primary point of this story is discovered by Jesus' concluding question. "When I return will I find faith on the earth?" (vs. 8) Consistent prayer reveals a heart that has faith in the goodness of God and trusts God to be faithful to his word. Lack of prayer reveals a person who does not see a need for God and therefore lacks faith.

The point of this story is further illustrated by the following three accounts in Luke 18.

First, Jesus tells another parable of man who was confident in his own righteousness and a man who understands his sinful condition. The first man is not seeking justice from God (as the widow did) instead he is seeking recognition. The latter man cries out to God out of heart that knows that knows God must justify him because he is a sinner. (Luke 18:9-14)

Second, Jesus uses children and infants to illustrate how one must enter the kingdom with complete trust in God despite their inability to understand God's plan fully. We may not understand why God has not yet responded to our prayers, but our consistency in continuing to come to him in prayer reveals we have faith to trust him even when we don't understand. Those who have that faith enter the kingdom! (Luke 18:15-17)

Finally, Jesus' interaction with a rich young ruler reveals a great hindrance that keeps us from faith. Wealth or simply the treasures of this world that we are unwilling to give up to follow Jesus rob us of our faith. Nothing is worth more than Jesus. While God does not always call us to sell everything, he does call us to have nothing we value more in our lives than him. (Luke 18:18-25)

If the call of Jesus seems impossible for you to achieve, you are near to the kingdom. For it is when you realize that with "man it is impossible" that you come like the broken tax collector and the little infant who cries for his mother's milk- you are coming to a place where you are willing to cry out to God for help. It is only "possible" through him. That is why we pray.

"We always thank God... when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus. Of this... gospel you have heard before... as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing." (Colossians 1:3-6)

Devotional Day 17 for Wednesday March 17

2010-03-17T12:28:00.002-04:00

New Testament Reading: Luke 17
Old Testament Reading: Habakkuk 3

In the end of his book after all his questioning of God's purposes, Habakkuk concludes with a prayer that reveals the prayer of man who had severely questioned God yet ultimately put his trust in God's greatness.  May we like Habakkuk stand in awe of HIS deeds. (See yesterday's story!)

Habakkuk's Prayer (condensed)

LORD, I have heard of your fame;
   I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD.
   Renew them in our day,
   in our time make them known;
   in wrath remember mercy.
God came from Teman,
   the Holy One from Mount Paran.

   Selah (Ponder)

His glory covered the heavens
   and his praise filled the earth.
His splendor was like the sunrise;
   rays flashed from his hand,
   where his power was hidden....

   Selah (Ponder)

Though the fig tree does not bud
   and there are no grapes on the vines,
   though the olive crop fails
   and the fields produce no food,
   though there are no sheep in the pen
   and no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
   I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
   he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
   he enables me to go on the heights.

For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.

Devotional Day 16 for Tuesday March 16

2010-03-17T12:17:00.000-04:00

New Testament Reading: Luke 16
Old Testament Reading: Habakkuk 2

Luke 15 & 16 are primarily about God's heart for people who do not know him and the importance of communicating that love to them. Jesus' heart always longed for those who did not know him to be welcomed back into his family. He wants every person every where to know his Father's love. It also seems that Jesus is especially concerned about those who have lost their way in life and those who are destitute and sick.

I wanted to share a story today that shows how much God is willing to do to reveal his love to those people.

On Sunday, we baptized a young man. Just a week earlier he made a commitment at our Sunday gathering to follow Jesus, yet it was very apparent to all of us who had met him that God has sovereignly been working in his life for some time.

He had grown up in a semi-dangerous environment. Throughout his teen years, he turned to alcohol and drugs. He left Boston two years ago to try and escape a life that was spiraling downwards but instead became addicted to even harder drugs. However while away, he met a friend who invited him to church. It was during a handful of visits to that church that he began to realize Jesus was real.

The young man returned to Boston and was able to suddenly stop doing drugs. A few months ago, he began praying and worshiping Jesus alone. God was moving in his life. He met two members of our church at a Dunkin Donuts he worked at. They were there trying to convince another employee that had said he was going to come to church but hadn't come yet to come! Instead, they met a different young man who was hungry for God.

As that young man shared his story on Sunday, you could tell how much he loved Jesus. Jesus had done so much in his life, and he was truly grateful. His journey is just beginning!

As we pray during these 40 days, pray that God would lead us to those like this young man who God's hand is undeniably working on. May we have the boldness to speak up so the lost who are searching for answers know where Jesus' family is.

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'" (Luke 15:4-6)

Devotional Day 15 for Monday March 15

2010-03-17T12:00:00.000-04:00

New Testament Reading: Luke 15
Old Testament Reading: Habakkuk 1

Sorry all!!! I got behind on my posts. I felt led to Habakkuk early this week. It is the account of one man's questioning of God's decisions in world affairs. It is a prophetic book that reminds us no matter how much turmoil there is in the world and how much of life we may not understand we can trust in a God who has a plan to care for and revive his people and the nations. May our trust be in that knowledge!

"I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told." (Habakkuk 1:3)

Devotional Day 14 for Sunday 3/14

2010-03-13T21:00:00.000-05:00

New Testament Reading: Luke 14

Old Testament Reading: Jonah 4

I believe we are on the verge of many who have not known God being swept into relationship with Him in the coming months. The message we preach (the gospel, story of Jesus life, death, and resurrection and it implications for our lives) will bear fruit. It is inevitable.

(God is even using those of you who are reluctant laborers like Jonah to see the gospel change people's lives. Isn't that great? God will use you to bring salvation to people even if you don't feel like! Just be prepared for some "fish swallowing" experiences! Haha!)

The real question is will we be prepared to receive a surge of new lovers of Jesus into our midst? Will we open up our lives, homes, and hearts to those who will need to be loved, taught, and healed?

Jonah cannot. He preached the message, but he could not handle the harvest. In 2005, God spoke to me clearly in a vision. He said, "Build me a structure that can contain the coming revival." We have been laboring to do that for the last 5 years. Now comes the test. Will God's love have filled and expanded our hearts enough that we can welcome in hundreds of new believers into our church community with love, grace, and diligence? Are we prepared to teach people what it means to be a follower of Jesus (Matthew 28)?

Jonah cannot because he despises the cultural differences between him and the people he has preached to. He cannot see beyond their sin. He cannot see God's grace. Grace is getting what you do not deserve. Thousands will come into the kingdom still carrying the wounds and baggage of past sin. Grace means they receive unconditional love and friendship from both Jesus and his church as they seek to turn to God.

Why? Because God love's them. Ask for and allow God to fill your heart with His love. Jesus, fill me with the love of the Father. Holy Spirit, pour out the love of God into my heart, today!

"And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left?" (Jonah 4:11)

Devotional Day 13 for Saturday 3/13

2010-03-12T21:00:00.001-05:00

New Testament Reading: Luke 13
Old Testament Reading: Jonah 3

By God's mercy and grace, our reluctant preacher (Jonah) has been given a second chance. He responds this time to God's command to go the great city of Nineveh (vs. 1). The book of Jonah reveals God's great passion and love for cities. Thus, it reveals God's great love and passion for people. Cities are densely packed areas of people; people Jesus loves. Cities often reflect the best of the ingenuity and creativity of humans who are created in God's image. They also often reflect the depravity humanity's sinful nature. Interestingly, in Revelation 21:2, we see that a city is the centerpiece of the new heaven and new earth. God has always had cities on his mind!

Nineveh was a great city that was also filled with wickedness and sin. It was especially known for it violence as was demonstrated by its ruthless conquest of neighboring nations. Yet, God despite all its evil wants this city to turn to him. Just like he longs that none would perish but all would turn to him (2 Peter 3:9), and he longs for Boston to turn to him. The God of the Bible is a god who longs for his creation to know him.

God in his sovereignty has always used human messengers and laborers to communicate his message of love and forgiveness to allow people to turn from the coming judgment of God. Jonah - despite his reluctance - is used by God to bring this message to Nineveh. The result is the city turns to God from the greatest to least crying out to God for forgiveness and salvation (see yesterday's entry). They know their specific sin - violence (vs. 8) - and confess it to God.

Today, we would do well to confess our specific sin to God knowing he longs to cleanse us from all sin through his blood shed on the cross. What joy to know we are forgiven and cleansed! What joy in Nineveh when God relented from sending judgment (vs. 10)!

"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to preach to them?" (Romans 10:14)

Devotional Day 12 for Friday 3/12

2010-03-12T09:31:00.000-05:00

New Testament Reading: Luke 12
Old Testament Reading: Jonah 2

In Jonah 2, a reluctant preacher has been swallowed by a fish and finds himself nearing death and Sheol (place of the dead). In Luke 12:16-21, a rich business man is also nearing death and the requiring of his soul by God. Both men have led selfish lives. The reluctant preacher has disobeyed God's call to tell others about his love and mercy. The rich businessman has hoarded his great wealth for himself to feast on pleasures. One dies. The other is given another chance. What is the difference between these two men?

On his way to certain death, Jonah calls out to the Lord. The rich fool never does. The difference between life and death, between heaven and hell is one cry. A cry for salvation to the God of Israel, the Messiah of the nations - Jesus Christ. We must not wait to ask for salvation from the only man who died to save us from sin, death, and hell. As Jesus' story of the rich fool illustrates, we never know when our ability to breathe and thus cry out will be taken from us.

"When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple... Salvation belongs to the Lord!" (Jonah 2:7,9b)

"And it shall come to past that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

(Acts 2:21)

Devotional Day 11 for Thursday 3/11

2010-03-10T21:00:00.000-05:00

New Testament Reading: Luke 11
Old Testament Reading: Jonah 1

Feel like you don't know how to pray? Frustrated by the seeming ineffectiveness of your prayers? The disciples in Luke 11 saw something in Jesus' prayer life that they wanted. They asked him to teach them how to pray (vs. 1). Following Jesus' instructions on how to pray has significantly helped my prayer life. Let's take a brief look.

Luke 11:2-4

Father We have a good Father in heaven who longs to give us good gifts (vs. 11-13). An encouraging thought as we come to pray. God is our Father, a good father.

Hallowed be your name. Our Father is God. He is holy. He deserves all worship. We begin by praising him for who he is. Our posture is one of worship. Let us delay for a few moments all petition. Instead, let us "hallow" his name. I have found that when I do this I am greatly built up in my Spirit. It is good to linger here.

Your kingdom come. As we worship, it will become apparent as we consider our own lives and the world around us that his name is not being worshiped in many areas. We pray for his kingdom to come. His healing, salvation, and deliverance to come in our lives and among the lives of those around us. May Jesus' kingdom come. May people see him for who he truly is.

Give us each day our daily bread. God cares about your daily needs. I ask him to provide for my family. Grant healing for those close to me that I know our sick. Our Father wants us to make our requests known. He knows what we need and responds when we ask (vs. 10).

And forgive us our sins. We have a daily need to be forgiven of our sins. We are very aware of God's Spirit within us helping us grow into Christ's image. We are righteous in Christ as he lives and reigns in our hearts. We have been forgiven of all our sins. We have been made saints, no longer sinners. Yet, we are aware that sadly we at times succumb to the temptations of our flesh. When, we do we can come again to the cross of Jesus and receive forgiveness from our loving Father.

For we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. As we realize the freedom and joy that comes from knowing our sins our forgiven, it should free us to forgive those that have hurt, offended, and sinned against us. In prayer, I release and bless those who have pained me. Oh the joy and freedom that brings!

And lead us not into temptation. As I finish my time of prayer, I ask for two more things. First, I pray that God would keep me from temptation in sin. I am aware this life is a constant battle. I want to be part of seeing his kingdom come not distracted by the passing pleasures and temptations of this world. After all, I am a saint not a sinner! I don't want sin to have any place in my life.

How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (vs. 13) Second, I ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke reveals to us that of all the good gifts our Father could give us the greatest, most useful, and primary gift is the fill of the Holy Spirit. It is through the submersion and immersion of the Spirit's presence that we can head out into the world full of faith, joy, and boldness. The Holy Spirit is with us wherever we go. He is working through us to see the kingdom come!

Devotional Day 10 for Wednesday 3/10

2010-03-09T20:00:00.000-05:00

New Testament Reading: Luke 10
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 53:10-12

In Luke 10, Jesus asks us to pray. He asks us to pray as we go out into the world for the Lord to send out more laborers to the people He longs to know, love, and heal. Jesus sends out the twelve in Luke 9 with power to cast out all demons and heal the sick. Just one chapter later, Jesus is commissioning a group of 72 with similar power and instructions! Jesus is wanting to commission you. He wants you join him the place of prayer so that we can truly reflect power of the kingdom (see yesterday's entry). He wants you to go out into the world. He wants you to pray for others to follow your example.

Like Jeremiah, you may think, "Ah, God, I do no know how to speak; I am only a youth." (Jeremiah 1:6) I do not yet even feel fully secure in your love. "Yes, I know." says your Friend. But, "Behold, I am with you always." (Matthew 28:20)

It is not the depth of our understanding or strength of our emotions that we are counting on. It is the presence of God with us. The 72 come back; they had not been with Jesus very long before they were sent. They return in joy, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" (Luke 10:17)

Friends, you have his presence and his name - the name of Jesus. May his name be on the tips of our lips and in the depths of our hearts.

Devotional Day 9 for Tuesday 3/9

2010-03-09T09:16:00.000-05:00

New Testament Reading: Luke 9
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 53:6-9

"He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases." (Luke 9:1) This verse is especially compelling given it comes on the heals of the stories in Luke 8 of the fully demonized man and a woman with an incurable disease. I wrote yesterday that over the weekend God was speaking in our gatherings about this exact subject. Has power over all demons and to heal the sick really be given to followers of Jesus?

The reality is whether we believe it or not it has. Sunday, I was fully aware of God's desire to set people free from the powers of darkness manifesting themselves in habitual sin, unhealthy addictions, and paralyzing thought patterns. Certainly, I feel I have no personal power or skill to help people even cope or manage with these types of issues. But, I do know the man prophesied about in Isaiah 53 does. His name is Jesus.

In Luke 9, we find Jesus going up on a mountain to pray. (vs. 28) As he is praying, his physical appearance for a moment is unmasked. (vs. 29) He is seen for who he truly is - the Son of God. (vs. 35)

Jesus has given authority and power to his followers. How will it be revealed to a world that so desperately needs the kingdom to come in its full power? Paul writes:

"We all... beholding the glory of the Lord are being transformed into the same image."

(2 Cor. 5:18a)

We follow Jesus to the place of prayer. As we pray, we reflect on who God is. We ask for his Holy Spirit to fill us. We begin to behold His glory. We begin to be changed - degree by degree - into his image (2 Cor 5:18b). We begin to reflect Jesus to the world; faith in his power and authority to arise within us. His truth lays hold of us. We go out knowing the kingdom is coming - through us.

Devotional Day 8 for Monday 3/8

2010-03-08T07:43:00.000-05:00

New Testament Reading: Luke 8

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 53:1-5

On Friday night, our church had a prayer meeting. The living room was packed with people. Throughout the night, God spoke through different people. It was a joy to see God speaking to different people linking their words, images, and visions together. It is like you were actually hearing the voice of God. One young woman felt God spoke to her that God wanted to, "Heal incurable diseases and sicknesses."

On Sunday, God totally changed what I had planned to speak on directing my attention minutes before I preached to Luke 8 and the story of the demoniac. The result was 2 people surrendered their lives to Jesus asking him to forgive them of their sins and free them from shame and pain. Several more people responded coming to Jesus to ask him to free them from various patterns they felt bound to. One person expressed feeling as if "a weight" had been lifted off her.

After the Sunday meeting, I talked to one young man who said that he felt that God was saying, "I want to forgive sins that seem unforgivable and heal sicknesses that seem incurable."

To be honest, unlike Friday where I felt the overflow of the Holy Spirit filling me with joy and faith, on Sunday I felt completely dry. Yet, God kept speaking, and God accomplished so much on Sunday despite how I felt. Faith is not based on a feeling. Faith is based on the truth of God's word; and in Luke 8, we see that it is Jesus that sets the demoniac free, makes the incurable woman well, and raises the little girl from the dead. This Jesus is still alive; he is still setting people free. He died to make it possible. Let your faith rise as you read these stories and let us remember from Isaiah 53 that Jesus made it all possible through his death on the cross. Praise God!

"And by his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5b)

Devotional Day 7 for Sunday 3/7

2010-03-06T21:00:00.000-05:00

New Testament Reading: Luke 7

Old Testament Reading: Psalm 118:26-29

In Luke 7, we see Jesus responding to a soldier's faith and moved to action by a mother's grief. We see his kindness in assuring John he is the Christ and in granting forgiveness to a weeping prostitute. We see God act sovereignly as He intervenes with out invitation in raising the grieving widow's son from the dead, yet he also responds to the faith of the centurion (vs. 9) and prostitute (vs. 50).

In this all we see Jesus demonstrating the love and care of his Father. We can be assured of the goodness of God's character when we read of Jesus' life; he is the exact representation of God's nature (Hebrews 1:3).

Therefore, let us bless his name today! (Psalm 118:26) He has truly made his light shine upon us (vs. 27). We know Jesus is our God (vs. 28). We celebrate and thank him for his steadfastness of his love (vs. 29). Let us rejoice in God's love as we gather together to worship Jesus this Sunday! Why? Because our sins were many.

"Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven - for she loved much." (Luke 7:47)

Let us love Him without measure.

Devotional Day 6 for Saturday 3/6

2010-03-06T17:20:00.000-05:00

New Testament Reading: Luke 6
Old Testament Reading: Psalm 118:19-25

Here we see Jesus getting away to pray alone at night (vs. 12). Jesus often chose the lonely hours when people were asleep to be alone with his Father in prayer. Jesus was not a closeted Christian during the day; he was with his disciples and the crowds ministering to them the truth, love, and power of God. Yet, we see Jesus embracing a lifestyle of sacrifice (here sacrificing sleep) to be with God - a source of greater rest and strength than sleep.

It is interesting to note Jesus' persitance in prayer; it says " ...all night he he continued in prayer to God." (vs. 12) Jesus was not just thanking his Father for the day and asking him to bless his tomorrow. He was earnestly seeking direction and power from God. Many disciples were following him; Jesus' time (like all of ours) was limited. He needed to know who to invest in who to spend the majority of his time with. God reveals who they are to Jesus and the 12 disciples are formed into a group that would launch the church and shake the cities of the Roman world with the gospel. All because Jesus prayed!

We also see that Jesus came back with his team (vs. 17) in a whole new level of supernatural power (vs. 19). This too is the result of prayer. We may long for the gospel to shake our cities but are we willing to imitate Jesus in the place of prayer? We must if Christ's longings in us for the lost in our cities is to be fulfilled. As we pray, he will guide our steps and freely give us of his Spirit's power.

Today, we can pray in accordance with Psalm 118:19-25. Thanking Jesus that he has opened up the gates of righteousness to us through his death on the cross. He was the stone the builders rejected, but it was God's purpose that he would be rejected and crucified so that he might be glorified. His apparent defeat meant that we became recipients of God's unmerited grace - we enjoy the spoils of his victory (as the widow and Naaman did) an unhindered relationship with God now and the promise of life forever!

Finally, we pray for success. Success in Christ's character being formed in us. (Luke 6:20-42) That the fruit of his Spirit would be begin to grow in our lives and that we would be doers of his word (vs. 43-49).

"Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success!" (Psalm 118:25)

Devotional Day 5 for Friday 3/5

2010-03-04T21:52:00.003-05:00

New Testament Reading: Luke 5
Old Testament Reading: II Kings 5:1-19

In Luke 5, faith is required in two instances. First, there is Jesus' call to his disciples (Simon & Levi); they must both realize that despite their sinfulness God has chosen to redeem their lives. They must exercise their faith to obey Jesus' call and follow him - they must believe in God's grace. Second, we see the faith of the sick and their friends as they come to Jesus for healing. These instances are not unlike the story of Naaman in the Old Testament who like the widow in yesterday's entry struggled to believe and obey God's voice. This is the challenge of anyone who wants to follow Jesus - to trust in God's grace and obey his call.

Naaman was a powerful and valiant man. A revered commander of the armies of the mightiest empire in his world. Despite his outward success and physical strength, he had a hidden, crippling weakness. Something his wealth, power, and wisdom could not overcome. It was an incurable disease called leprosy.

Naaman likely did not realize that is was the LORD God of Israel that had given him his success. (vs. 1) In this story, we see an amazing demonstration of God's sovereign grace. In the midst of God disciplining his people Israel through Syria, He is also working to bring a powerful, pagan warrior to faith in the Himself. Thus, we see something of God's passion for his own glory in this story. He is not content to allow a Syrian commander to think by his own skill or aptitude he has become so successful. Instead, he wants this commander to acknowledge HIM as the sovereign LORD of ALL nations.

So, God who so often loves to use the lowly and weak people of this world (think fishermen and tax collectors) to carry his message uses a terribly evil circumstance, the capture of an Israelite girl into slavery, to save Naaman and get the glory he deserves for Naaman's success.

While God orchestrated every moment of Naaman's life and journey to Elisha the prophet, God leaves ONE thing left for Naaman to do. It is the thing that God leaves every human to do. God requires him (and us) to take a step of faith and obey his command. Naaman must believe his divine cleansing can be fulfilled in the muddy waters of the Jordan river. It is at the the prophet's simplistic command to go wash in the Jordan river 7 times that Naaman balks. How often do we balk at receiving God's grace and forgiveness? How often are we (as Naaman was) seeking to do some "great deed" for God (be it a long fast, more active church participation, or more holy living) to gain God's favor and give him a reason to answer our requests? How often do we miss God's one requirement - go wash in the blood of his Lamb? (see here for vs.)

It was Naaman's pride and self-sufficiency that almost led him to refuse God's grace. This refusal would have resulted in the slow subjection of his life to disease and complete isolation from God. Luckily or sovereignly, Naaman had some good friends who encouraged him to obey. Naaman washed in the Jordan and came out healed. His life was completely changed, and God's mercy and sovereignty were finally acknowledged as Naaman's final declaration makes clear.

"Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel... and from now on your servant will not offer burnt offerings and sacrifice to any god but the Lord." (II King 5:15,17)

Devotional Day 4 for Thurs. 3/4

2010-03-04T08:20:00.000-05:00

New Testament Reading: Luke 4
Old Testament Reading: I Kings 17:1 - 18:1

In Luke 4, Jesus returns to his hometown after a remarkable time of ministry in Galilee. News of him has spread throughout the region; yet in his hometown, he meets resistance from those who should have known him best. (In Matthew 13:58, we see clearly that this resistance was due to their unbelief.) Jesus mentions two Old Testament stories while trying to teach them. These two stories (Elijah and a widow & Namaan) reveal how a lack of trust and a lack of understanding of God's grace hinder and destroy our faith AND how God is able to work in the midst of our difficult circumstances to reveal His grace and restore our trust in Him.

Today, we will look at the story of the widow. Elijah has been living with a widow and her son who lived near Sidon, a city know for its pagan idol worship, during a severe famine. Despite their poverty, they share their last supplies of food with Elijah only to find God miraculously begins to multiply their food each day while Elijah is with them. In the midst of this remarkable provision that has saved their lives from starvation, the woman's son suddenly dies.

The woman responds with a declaration that reveals her view of God and herself. She says, "What do you have against me man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?" (vs. 18) This statement reveals that she believes God is against her and that her son's death because of her sin. God's previous provision in her life seems to be forgotten instead in the midst of hardship she can only see her sin.

How often do we when difficulties come or life becomes emotionally challenging do we become aggravated with our circumstances and with God? It is in these moments that we often feel that God has become very distant from us, and sadly we become increasingly aware of our own failures and sins.

The miracle of this story is that Elijah (the prophet of the Lord no less!) does not heap judgment on this woman because of her sins (as we might expect) in fact he doesn't even tell her to repent. Instead, he takes her son, prays for him, and her son is restored to life!

The woman is stunned. With a single intervention of God's grace, this woman is brought from a place of doubt, anger, and condemnation to faith in who God is and trust in what His word says. She responds, "Now I know your are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth." (vs. 24)

Today, if you are struggling feeling God is angry with you... if you feel overwhelmed by your sin.. if you feel spiritually isolated... let me assure you God is working the the midst of your difficult circumstances to begin to reveal his grace to you.

Here in this Old Testament story we see that God is a God of grace. He is willing to work miracles even for those who are despondent and bitter. He is using your painful circumstances to make your faith stronger. Before this tragedy the widow's faith could be shaken by any trial or hardship; but through the most painful experience possible (the death of her son), God is able to reveals who he is and enables her to trust His word again.

"The people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of diseases, and laying his hands on everyone, he healed them." (Luke 4:40)

Devotional Day 3 for Wednesday 3/3

2010-03-02T14:50:00.000-05:00

New Testament Reading: Luke 3
Old Testament Reading: Psalm 118:17-19

In Luke 3, we find an amazing verse.

"Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." (Luke 3:21-22)

John the Baptist had appeared on the scene proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He preached the word of the Lord powerfully - many people realized their sin, turned to God, and were baptized. Some people thought John was the Christ, the Anointed One or Messiah. John assured them he wasn't. He pointed to one who was coming, one who would judge the world (vs. 17) and baptize (immerse, submerge) people with the Holy Spirit (vs. 16).

Jesus told people to repent and proclaimed that he could forgive sins. Unlike John, who told people to turn to God. Jesus said, "Turn to me." He was God. Yet, he was also man, and as a man he prayed. When he prayed, the Holy Spirit fell on him. The presence of the Holy Spirit in this physically tangible way was affirmation of Jesus' relationship with the Father. He was the beloved Son of God in who the Father was well pleased.

Incredibly, Jesus told his followers that if they asked for the Holy Spirit; they would receive the same experience he did (Luke 11:13). Paul wrote that God, "Sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba, Father!'" The Holy Spirit not only empowers us to live like Jesus but confirms to our hearts that we are God's sons and daughters. That was Jesus' experience and it can be ours.

Thank you Jesus for sending the Holy Spirit! Keep filling us with your love and power by the Spirit's work.

"Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord." (Psalm 118:19)

Devotional Day 2 for Tuesday 3/2

2010-03-01T15:41:00.001-05:00

New Testament Reading: Luke 2
Old Testament Reading: Psalm 118:9-16

Luke 1 & 2 are filled with worship, prayer, and God breaking into people's lives. Some people you'd expect to God to show up in their lives like a priest named Zechariah. Interestingly, he seems the most surprised to find out that God can actually do the impossible - make his barren wife pregnant! Others like an unassuming young woman named Mary and tired shepherds respond to God's sudden activity in their life with statements and acts of faith along with wonder and worship.

Psalm 118:14 says, "The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." Do you know God can strengthen you? As we looked at yesterday, He is your help; He can set you free. I remember when God freed me from depression in college. Before I became depressed, I used to love to worship and sing. During the months I battled depression, I used to cry through many worship times. I had completely lost my joy; but when God set me free, I sang more than ever before - walking down the street, when I got home from work or school, at church meetings, everywhere! God became my song.

As we pray, let's remember the mighty things God has done for us. You may say I can't think of any - then start with the small ones. Don't be afraid raise your voice with shouts of joy! It will revolutionize your prayer life.

"Shout of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: 'The Lord's right hand has done mighty things!'" (Psalm 118:15)

Devotional Day 1 for Monday 3/1

2010-03-01T14:54:00.000-05:00

New Testament Reading: Luke 1
Old Testament Reading: Psalm 118:1-8

One of the major themes of the books of Luke & Acts is prayer. Over the next 40 days why not read 1 chapter a day of Luke and then into Acts? Look for how prayer is involved in Jesus' conception, birth, life, death, and instruction to his disciples. It was in the place of prayer that Jesus aligned himself with the Father's will, was empowered by the Holy Spirit, and was transfigured. Let's model Jesus' example!

Often times when I go to pray, I found myself tired or distracted by my thoughts. Psalm 118 encourages us. It is good to pray these verses back to God as you go to pray. It begins by reminding us that God's love and mercy endures forever! How freeing to know as we go to pray that God loves us and no matter what we have done, how far we have strayed, or how tired we feel there is mercy available to us because of Jesus' death on the cross! Thank Him for that.

It does not end there. Verse 5 reminds us that if we call out to Lord in the midst of our anguish; he will set us free. Do you feel bound as you approach God? Cry out in prayer. He will answer. Do you need help to pray? God is your help (vs. 7).

We may think. Why I am I fasting? Why am I walking up early? The answer is found in verse 8.

"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." (Psalm 118:8)

Intro to Daily Devotionals

2010-03-01T14:12:00.000-05:00

As we were praying this morning, God put it on my heart to write a short, daily devotional for people to follow each of the 40 days of the fast. My hope is that is will allow us to unite as we read, ponder, and pray through the same things. At the least, it will help me keep some structure in how I am seeking God each day.

If you are ever interested in praying with us early in the morning, the details are below.

Early Morning Prayer 6AM - 7:15AM
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursdays
Ruggles Baptist Church
874 Beacon Street Boston 2nd Floor

My Thoughts on the 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting

2010-03-01T14:04:00.001-05:00

From my blog...

The 40 Days

Starting tomorrow morning (March 1), many Christians from across the nation and especially in New England will be embarking on a 40 day Daniel fast to pray for an awakening in the churches and universities of New England. To learn more about this effort visit http://www.jhopboston.org .

Prayer in Luke & Acts

I have lately again been struck about the role of prayer in the books of Luke and Acts. In Luke, we see Jesus over and over again spending time in prayer with God aligning himself with the Father's purposes and receiving power from the Holy Spirit.

In Acts, we see the church doing the exact same thing on almost a daily basis; the result was a constantly growing church filled with grace and power serving the culture it lived in.

I believe times like these 40 days can be used by God to awaken us to the importance and power of consistent corporate and personal prayer. Why not begin to read Luke & Acts as these 40 days begins?

What Fenway Church is Doing

For our church (Fenway Church), these 40 days will mean an expansion of our corporate early morning prayer times from Tuesday & Wednesdays to Mondays through Thursdays. It will be also mean we will be seeking to gather together as a church to pray on a more regular basis starting this Friday night. Some of us are committing to do the Daniel Fast (see below). Others may want to fast media, a particular day of the week, or a particular type of food. I would encourage our members to fast as they feel prompted to by the Holy Spirit.

A Daniel Fast

The idea of a "Daniel fast" is found in Daniel chapter 1 where Daniel and his friends refuse to eat the king's fine food and instead embrace a diet of vegetables during their time of training in Babylon. A "Daniel fast" for me consists of not eating any meats or sweats or fine foods (define that however you want :). I generally eat fruits, vegetables, some breads, beans, rice, & grains. Some keep a stricter diet than that. To me it is not the diet that matters (choose what God leads you to do), it is a heart that wants more of God. Please remember that if you have certain health issues a change in diet or a fast can be medically dangerous and should be avoided. Also, remember to drink lots of water!

God has always used "Daniel fasts" to increase my hunger to spend time with Jesus, allowed me to spend more time in prayer, and reminded me that this world and its desires are passing away. I find at the completion of these fasts I am often more focused on God's kingdom and more filled with God's power simply because I have been spending more time with him!

Some Principles on Fasting & Prayer

I have a passion for prayer and fasting that began in my college years. I have learned up a few key principles that I think are worth sharing for those who might be considering embarking on the fast.

1) The main purpose of fasting and prayer in the New Testament was to align with God's plan and be filled with his power. It was NOT to get him to bless their plans or get him to do what they wanted. Let's get involved where HE is already working - how do we know where he is? We pray and listen! (Acts 13:2, John 5:19)

2) God is sovereign. His plan to redeem of humanity and establish his church among every people group is not in doubt. (1 Cor. 15:24-26) Yet, he calls us to pray for, "Laborers to be sent out into the harvest." Jesus told his disciples to pray for laborers then immediately sent them out! (Matthew 9:35 - 10:5) Will you not only pray for laborers but allow God to make you one?

3) The one thing Jesus desires most for us is to be with him, listening to his voice. (Luke 10:28-42) He wants revival more desperately than we do. A true revival begins when God's people hunger and thirst for Jesus above all else NOT when we desperately plead with God to change the world.. It is in Jesus' presence that we are changed and empowered. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

4) Finally, God has recently me been showing me in the word that he will show his people things in prayer that will open up huge doors to be witnesses for him IF they will act on what they see and hear immediately. (Acts 9:10-12, Acts 10) We too often hesitate after praying seeking "God's will" again and we MISS opportunities. Don't wait go find out if God spoke or not!

Recently at a student & 20s conference we were hosting, around 15 us prayed that God would show us who to talk to and what part of the mall to go to as we headed for a local mall. One young woman heard God tell her, "Go to the cafeteria and talk to the girl who is sitting alone." She did. The cafeteria was relatively crowded but only one girl was sitting alone. She talked with her for awhile got her contact info and now the girl she talked to and 3 of her non-Christian friends our doing a weekly Bible study with they young woman who listened and obeyed! Praise God. He is at work. Get in on his plan :)

I truly believe if we will be prepared to listen and act during this fast we will not need to wait to see God begin moving in major ways. Jesus longs to bring in many lost sheep in the city of Boston. The Father and the Holy Spirit are already at work Will you find yourself discovering what they are doing? It starts in the place of prayer.

Now, I gotta get to bed. 6AM prayer starts tomorrow!!!

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he (Jesus) departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. - Mark 1:35

40 Days of Prayer & Fasting for Awakening in New England Churches & Universities Starts March 1

2010-03-01T13:59:00.002-05:00

Nobody Cries (Part I)

2008-11-01T00:29:00.001-04:00

Cross-posted at http://fenwaychurch.org/blog/?p=54.

Jesus wept. [1] Two words, one verse. To weep. To shed tears. [2]

He wept. [3] He mourned, lamented, bewailed. He wept as one who mourns for the dead. He wept as a sign of the pain and grief of things yet to come. [4]

He wept for the oppressed, the helpless, the children, the mothers and their babies. He wept for the dead. He wept anticipating the judgment that was to come. He wept because of their unbelief. He wept because he was human. He wept because he was God.

It has been said that when angels cry it rains. What happens when God cries?

What takes place in heaven as they watch the Son of God weep. What happens when the divine and human collide. When God’s tears mix with the salt of the earth. When Abba’s son shakes and wails. When his eyes redden and his brow contours. WHAT HAPPENS? WHO HEARS? When heaven cries?

The agony of death, the ravages of evil men, the darkened wombs of raped women, the silent whimpers of molested children, the groans of modern slaves, the cries of widowed mothers, the screams of tortured captives, and the wails of the unjustly bereaved. And yet:

4 No one calls for justice; they conceive
trouble and give birth to evil.
5 They hatch the eggs of
vipers and spin a spider’s
web… Their deeds are evil
deeds, and acts of violence are in their
hands.
7 Their feet rush into sin;
they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their
thoughts are evil thoughts; ruin and
destruction mark their ways.
8 The way of peace they do not
know; there is no justice in their
paths… no one who walks in them will know
peace.
9 So justice is far from us,
and righteousness does not reach us. We look
for light, but all is darkness; for
brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.
10 Like the blind we grope
along the wall, feeling our way like men
without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it
were twilight; among the strong, we are like
the dead.
11 We all growl like
bears; we moan mournfully like
doves. We look for justice, but find
none; for deliverance, but it is far
away.
Our offenses are ever with
us:
13 Turning our backs on our
God, fomenting oppression and
revolt.
14 So justice is driven
back, and righteousness stands at a
distance…
15 Truth is nowhere to be
found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a
prey. [5]

When the innocent ones, those who knew not evil become the prey. When the blood of the unborn cries from the ground. When the blood of the Iraqi children reach the ear of heaven. When the Son of Man hears the muffled cries of the crack baby and child prostitute. When the very heart of God is moved. Then his plan of redemption is set forth. The justice of a righteous God is readied to flow like a river. All of heaven converges. AND yet God pauses… Heaven gasps. Angels murmur. They stand appalled. And why? Shockingly because:

There is no one to intervene… (Isa. 59:16)

Jesus, nobody cries any more. Daddy, release a great weeping in our midst. Holy Spirit, pour fire in our hearts. Burn the love of God within us. Show us what it means to cry again. Reveal your heart. Let injustice awaken us, let sin provoke us, let love compel us. Loose the captive and reveal our darkness, liberate the oppressed and show us our sin, destroy complacency and sharpen our conscience, teach us to cry like you did, Jesus.

[1] John 11:35
[2] http://www.studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=1145
[3] Luke 19:41
[4] http://www.studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=2799
[5] Isaiah 59:4-16

Moving Blogs Once Again

2008-10-08T21:15:00.003-04:00

With our recent church launch, I have switched blogs once again. I may occasionally post revival/movement oriented thoughts here, but my main blogging will now take place at: http://blog.fenwaychurch.org

Introducing Erik Fish - "Foolish Preachers"

2008-09-18T11:04:00.002-04:00

Student CPx'ers (simple church training for college student this summer),

I was thinking of you and praying for you this morning! I wanted to share a couple thoughts.

"Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe." (I Corinthians 1:21)

Sometimes it's easy to get tripped up thinking about how clever we need to be to lead people to Christ and make disciples. It's sometimes possible to get confused over strategy and trying to get every step right in order to multiply churches, etc. It can be deflating. I just wanted to encourage you that - next to simply loving God and being loved by Him - really the main task God has given us is pretty simple: "Preach foolishly about Jesus."

Sound too difficult? Can you be dorky for Jesus? Can you communicate the story of the cross and resurrection of Jesus with only average charisma? Can you get people to laugh at you and think you're ridiculous for what you believe? If so, you're in good company with the Apostle Paul. Paul was possibly the greatest disciple maker and church planter in history, yet he gives us great insight into his ongoing strategy for what really produced good fruit in the midst of his seeming "failures."

"I didn't use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God's secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness – timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God." (I Cor 2:1-5)

It seems to me that Paul made a conscientious choice NOT to use clever and persuasive speeches. Using this tactic opened a door for people to experience an encounter with God and freed Paul from the naggingly unsatisfying insecurity that comes when you rely on your own ability, preaching skills, and "coolness" (or whatever) in trying to lead people to Jesus. Our one simple responsibility, next to loving God and loving others, is to simply be willing to be a foolish preacher when it comes to speaking openly and honestly about who Jesus is to people.

"It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom." (I Cor. 1:22)

Paul knew what it was like to be rejected on two fronts: By those who's callous, self-righteous hearts had hardened them to the reality of the coming of their Messiah, and those who were intellectually arrogant and were only impressed with the latest philosophy and rhetoric. In the midst of this rejection, he embraced a simple, reassuring truth: we don't have to make ourselves impressive to people for God's power to move upon their hearts. We only need to be willing to be a foolish preacher and speak simply about what Jesus did, who he is, and the good gift he offers to all who will receive Him.

I was so convicted recently when I encountered a fifty-year-old man who was telling me his story. He went to UCLA years ago. In spite of there being a strong presence of campus ministries, he told me he never even heard the gospel until he was thirty-five years old. Among other possibly deeper explanations, there is one simple reason the gospel doesn't spread on certain campuses: Christians don't preach the gospel to non-Christians and invite them into a new relationship with their Creator. Are you willing to do so?

Please let your heart be convicted to preach the gospel to those who don't yet know Christ! This is where the miracles happen: When you're willing to be foolish enough to take the story of Jesus to the those who don't know Him. It's the method God uses to bring people to salvation: "He has used our foolish preaching to save all who believe." The world calls it foolish. God calls it brilliant. I am believing we will reach a time together on our college campuses when not one person will get through college without at least hearing the message of Jesus communicated to them. We must all be willing to be "foolish" preachers to see it happen.

Please share any prayer requests with each other as well as stories that may be of encouragement to the rest of us as you foolishly preach the gospel this semester. :)

Love,

Erik

efish@studentchurch.org

785.423.3272

Invitation for the Glory of God in New England

2008-09-04T10:42:00.004-04:00

The Glory of God in New England:
Invitation to the New England Solemn Assembly
Saturday, October 4, 2-6 pm

Harvest Ministries of New England
East Weymouth, MA

"Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a solemn assembly; gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders. Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar; let them say, 'Spare your people, O Lord, and do not give your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?' Then the Lord will be zealous for His land. Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil, and you will be satisfied by them; I will no longer make you a reproach among the nation." (Joel 2:15-19)

Dear pastors, ministry leaders, intercessors, and brothers and sisters in Christ,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We are pastors and leaders from various denominational and theological backgrounds and various locations in New England. We share a common vision and desire to see the Glory of God in our midst and the subsequent outbreak of revival in our communities. This vision, along with our beliefs, is articulated in the following website: http://www.newenglandalliance.us/

We are writing to you because the Lord has stirred our hearts with a burden for New England, the place where God has sovereignly positioned all of us at this time. As you know, the Bible speaks of "the sons of Issachar, who understood their times, and knew what Israel ought to do" (1 Chr. 12:32). Also, the Lord Jesus taught us to discern the times, and He rebuked the Pharisees for not doing so: "You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times" (Matt 16:2).

We collectively share the conviction that we, the church, currently live in a condition similar to that of Israel during the time of its Babylonian captivity. The body of Christ today is in a fragmented, weakened state, lacking the authority that comes from the manifest presence of God among His people. This is because of our own weakness, compromise, and lack of unity.

As you well know, when the Glory of God is upon His people, even the heathens recognize who God is. An example of that is Rahab who told Joshua and Caleb: "For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath" (Joshua 2: 10, 11).

In contrast, when the glory of God lifted off Samson, "the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes.They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison" (Jud 16:21). Similarly, when the glory of God lifted off Israel because of its sin, Israel went into the Babylonian captivity. "By the river of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion." (Psalm 137:1). "Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'" (Joel 2:17).

In essence, what the world is telling the church today is, "Where is your God?" We are mocked and trampled upon like Samson was, because of the lack of the glory and manifest presence of God in our midst. We are in a state of spiritual Babylonian captivity, resembling the ruined walls of Jerusalem. "And they said to me, 'the survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire'" (Neh 1:3).

However, the Lord has stirred our hearts. We believe He is calling us and all His pastors and leaders across New England to come together in corporate unity, humility, and repentance in the spirit of Daniel 9 and Nehemiah, in order for His glory and manifest presence to dwell among us. We believe this will lead us out of this weakened state of spiritual Babylonian captivity.

So, in essence, our call and invitation to you is this: "Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem together, that we may no longer be a reproach" (Neh 2:17).

The Lord has stirred us to call pastors, ministry leaders, and intercessors across New England, to come together in a Solemn Assembly on October 4th, from 2-6 pm, at Harvest Ministries International in East Weymouth, MA (details and poster). This will be a time of corporate repentance, intercession, worship, renewal of covenant, and united action.
We will stand in the gap together for New England, crying out collectively for what we currently lack: the presence and the glory of God among us, and the subsequent outbreak of revival.

We believe this is one critical step on the journey that the Lord has stirred us to embark on together with Him. We share the conviction, that as we respond to the Lord's call, we will corporately enter a time of Isaiah 60:

"Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the Glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise over you, and His Glory will be seen upon you"
(Isaiah 60:2).

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this, please feel free to contact one of us below.
Please register for the Solemn Assembly. Registration is free and not required, but it helps us to plan.

May the Lord continue to bless you and keep you and continue to cause his face to shine upon you.

Signed by,

Josiah Armstrong, Youthstorm (Windham NH)
Craig and Deb Bensen, Cambridge United Church (Cambridge VT)
Steve Boyce, New Life Worship Center (Smithfield RI)
Richard Brink, Eastgate Apostolic Center (Oakland ME)
John Eckhardt, Stauron Ministries (Topsham ME)
Jonathan Friz, Ten Days of Prayer (S Hamilton MA)
Dick Germaine, Barnabas Ministries (Hopkinton MA)
David Hill, Abundant Grace Church (Brighton MA)
Paul Jehle, New Testament Church of Cedarville (Plymouth MA)
Dick Kiernan, Alpha New England (Manchester NH)
Elijah Kim, Emmanuel Gospel Center (Boston MA)
Mike Kriesel, Community Bible Church (S Burlington VT)
Barbara Lachance, Connecticut House of Prayer (Mystic CT)
Jeff Marks, New England Concerts of Prayer (Beverly MA)
Keith Marsh, Grace Children's Home (Grantham NH)
Kris Mineau, Massachusetts Family Institute (Woburn MA)
David McCahon, Ten Days of Prayer (Deerfield MA)
Audrey Church McIntyre, Connecticut House of Prayer (Hartford CT)
Roberto Miranda, Congregacion Leon de Juda (Boston MA)
Raffoul Najem, Community Christian Fellowship (Lowell MA)
Edson Porto, Joshua Project (Wellesley MA)
Mamdouh Riad, The Glory of God on Cape Cod (Dennis MA)
David Rosen, Partners in Transformation (S Burlington VT)
Rob Shepitka, Northeast House of Prayer (Albany NY)
Colleen Sherman, Emmanuel Gospel Center (Boston MA)
Al and Diane Shimer, Christian Renewal Church (Topsfield MA)
Brian Simmons, Gateway Christian Fellowship (East Haven CT)
Bethany Temple, Justice House of Prayer, Boston (Cambridge MA)
Gail Thomas, Institute for Hebraic-Christian Studies - New England
(Woburn MA)

Saturday Schedule

2008-08-30T00:06:00.002-04:00

The prayers continue into the night but I don't know for how much longer. A few of us are heading to bed here at church. Here is the schedule for the rest of the weekend.

Saturday
6am - noon
3-6pm
7-11pm or possibly later especially if the Brazilian church comes to pray again!!!

Sunday
8am-9:30am Pre-service prayer
10-noon Worship service

48 hour - Campout Details

2008-08-29T13:47:00.003-04:00

See this previous post for how this is a part of 40 days of prayer and fasting culminating in a New England wide assembly.

We felt led to take 48 hours as 200,000+ students come into Boston to prepare the way for Jesus by seeking HIM through prayer, fasting and worship. We are trying to keep the church open the whole time (and we definitely will through Saturday 8am). We will update this blog as soon as we know the details for Saturday.

The scheduled events so far are:
Friday Multi-church prayer 7:30-9pm
Extended prayer & worship 9:30-11pm
Sunday Pre-service prayer 8-9:30am
Worship Service 10-noon

The rest of the time we will likely rotate between times of worship, prayer, prophecy, exhortation, personal devotions, and even rest. If you come, bring an instrument to help facilitate worship (if there is an opportunity) or even some bedding if you want to stay for an extended period and want to rest in some of the side rooms. You can text me on my cell phone if you have any questions. My whole family will be here for Friday night!

David W.
857.540.9487

"There is a grace for prayer and fasting"

2008-08-29T12:06:00.002-04:00

God has been speaking this to me all morning. This call is not about striving. If it seems burdensome, don't do it yet. I really believe God is releasing a supernatural grace and peace to pray and fast. The result is we will quickly be encountering the very real presence of God.

The Fire is Burning Once Again

2008-08-29T10:24:00.009-04:00

Some of you will remember the last call and the results. Again, we ring the liberty bell calling Boston to awake. Let us gather this weekend to pray and fast. Surely, God will hear us.

Action Points
1) Begin to pray, fast and seek God.

2) Come to the 48 hour Campout - Abundant Grace Church 77 Guest Street Brighton, MA - Started Friday August 29 - Ending at noon Sunday August 31.

3) Join in the 40 days of prayer and fasting August 27 - October 5

God is speaking. Calling us to seek his manifest presence once again. We are launching a 48 hour campout as 200,000+ college students return to Boston. We are in the midst of another 40 days of prayer and fasting. Matthew 13:44 is our aim. That we would see the unveiling of Jesus Christ as the hidden treasure. And upon seeing him in his glory we would be radically changed.

Link for New England Solemn Assembly October 4
http://www.newenglandalliance.us/six-state-prayer-gathering.php

Prayer

2008-08-21T16:21:00.003-04:00

I am preparing to share a message in NH this weekend. God has really been all over the preparation. Hopefully, I will be able to get a recording of the message. For now, here are some snippets.

“Prayer begins by going vertical”

“Prayer is the intersection of two realities”

“Prayer causes the breakout of heaven on earth”

“Prayer nullifies the affects of sin”

“Prayer results in repentant living”

A Call to America - Lou Engle & the Call DC

2008-08-16T09:28:00.006-04:00

Today, hundreds of thousands of young people across the nation will be calling out to God and repenting for the sins of our nations. Tens of thousands will be gathering at the mall in Washington DC to attend the Call DC founded by Lou Engle. I have met Lou, and he carries a zeal for prayer and a love for our nation that in unmatched by any one I know. He is sounding a prophetic call, "Can I nation be changed?" Watch this video to hear the word's of prophetic father calling a nation to repentance and a people to prayer and join them online at iworship...

"God break the rebellion and raise up a revolution."

Luke 10 - podcast

2008-08-13T11:48:00.006-04:00

To listen click here.

Luke 10 is Jesus' instructions to his disciples on how to minister to lost communities. This message was born out of God speaking to me as I struggled with the lack of effectiveness in my own evangelistic efforts back in June. You can read about it here: "Evangelism = no great results, why?"

The model I see Jesus laying out contains six steps:
1) Pray out of heart of compassion (Mat. 9:36-38)
2) Go to lost communities
3) Enter into the social life of those communities
4) Stay there developing relationships
5) Heal the sick you meet
6) Tell them the "kingdom of God is near"

If you read Jesus' teaching in Luke 10:1-10 with his similiar teaching in Matthew 10:5-8, you get a fuller picturer of what a true disciple on mission should look like. It is more than a person making friends and sharing his story (although that is a key part) but a person filled with the very power and presence of God - healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead.

Jesus restore our understanding of how to be missional within our culture, empower us to be witnesses to the ends of the earth!

A Missional Church - my first podcast

2008-08-08T15:43:00.012-04:00

This message was recorded on a hand-held device at Fenway Church's first community night as we prepare to launch our first Sunday Service this fall at Church, a local bar/restaurant/club (http://www.churchofboston.com/).
Several of our church planting team member are gone for the summer so I decided to create my first podacst.

Topics in the this message include:
- Brief discussion on renting Church
- Holiness is Missional
- The Essence of the Church is Missional
- The Evolution & Progression of Paul's Church Planting Strategy

Haha, sounds like a lot. Hope somebody can benefit from it; I did in preparing it!

"The Pursuit of God"

2008-08-08T08:08:00.011-04:00

The Pursuit of God

Or, in .pdf

Over vacation, I read most of A.W. Tozer's book, "The Pursuit of God." I just finished reading it yesterday on the steps of Marsh Chapel at Boston University and found it deeply challenging and moving.

The book begins by talking about grace. When the Spirit of Jesus Christ enters the lives of those who believe by faith they are regenerated by the grace of God. This renegeration opens up a relationship with and ability to communicate with God that was not possible apart from the grace of God.

The rest of the book, Tozer urges the reader to pursue this amazing opportunity to know God. Tozer brilliantly teaches on truthes of who God is including his "universal presence" which means he is constantly speaking to us if we would but turn the "gaze of our souls" to Jesus. He poignantly points out many of our corrupt inner desires (pride, materialism, etc.) that keep us from experiencing the wonder of constant contact with the "God who is near." Tozer reminds us that an important part of Christianity is the individual experiencing and interacting with the presence of God. Like an Old Testament prophet, he laments the complecency and lethargy of the church (btw, the book was written 50-60 years ago)but more than that he laments their lack of understanding and desire to know and experience the God who created and saved them.

Tozer concludes by breaking down the distinction of sacred/secular work and actions. Everything we do unto God is sacred. May we start our days on our faces before him and continue with him throughout our day uttering "a thousand silent prayers."

You can read this book online now for free. I highly recommend it. May God stir in us a desire to know and pursue HIM.

Parables & Seeds

2008-08-02T22:14:00.007-04:00

Got back from vacation tonight (a great time with the family at the beach). I am preaching tomorrow on Mark 4:20-34. Betsy, my wife, summarized it very well.

"1) If I gave you understanding (into sowing the seed of the kingdom,the parable immediately before it) and you do not use it, then it's like you have no understanding at all and you will perish. What is hidden is meant to be disclosed.

2) Yet the power lies not in you, but in the seed, lest you be confused about who/what is doing the work.

3) And don't be afraid that small seeds won't bear big fruit. They will. It's how it works. That's the confidence I leave with you."

Newfrontiers Together On a Mission

2008-07-14T15:55:00.002-04:00

Returned from England later Friday night. Left more convinced then ever that working in relationship with both a local church and apostolic movement of churches is extremely valuable and Biblical. I personally felt that it has the potential to be a historic conference for our movement (Newfrontiers). Here are some amazing and free resources from the conference if you are interested in learning (some of the audio files are not yet up yet but keep checking back it is worth it!).

http://adrianwarnock.com/ (written recaps, says it way better than me!)

http://www.newfrontiers.xtn.org/resources/talks-and-preaches/select-event/leadership-international-08/main-sessions/

Mark Driscoll was the guest speaker, and I went to his training track also. He was an amazing communicator. I left completely strengthened and envisioned for church planting. Convinced again that church planting is the Biblical model of evangelism. Still learning how to church plant though!

A Couple Notes

2008-07-01T11:43:00.003-04:00

I am heading out to England on Saturday for our Newfrontiers world-wide leadership conference, but I wanted to share a couple thoughts before I go.

I am reading Shane Claiborne's book, "The Irresistible Revolution," which contains a challenging look at what it means to follow Jesus in our culture. It is especially impacting for me at this time because our church has been spending this week hosting an outdoor Vacation Bible School, concert, and ministry times in a local, urban housing development where many of the youth are coming from very broken backgrounds.

Along the same lines, my friend, Kelsey, has started a blog this summer. Her latest entry hits on the same themes as Shane does and is definetely worth reading (as well as the rest of her blog). Check it out: http://thefractallife.blogspot.com/2008/06/living-beyond-hype.html

I will be back on July 13. More to come then as we prepare for 300,000 college students coming back into the Boston area in September!

Jesus may we learn how to follow you each day. Clear the hype and speak to us through your Spirit of Truth.

DW

Evangelism = no great results, Why?

2008-06-20T15:23:00.001-04:00

I was reading Luke 10, and I have not been able to escape Jesus’ words. Jesus is instructing the disciples how to be laborers in the harvest field (vs. 2, May 19 post). In other words, he is teaching his disciples how bring people into the kingdom of heaven. He instructs them to be undistracted and singularly focused (vs. 4), to find a person who will welcome you into their home (vs. 6), and then to heal the sick and tell them the “the Kingdom of God is near you.” Demonstration then proclamation.

Recently, I have been listening to a lot of people talking about new methods of evangelism mainly revolving around the concept of finding a “person of peace” who will allow his whole community to hear the gospel. This concept is crucial and is a part of Jesus’ instruction to the disciples. However, evangelism from what I see in the Bible is not merely finding open communities and sharing the gospel with them. Evangelism or at least the type of evangelism Jesus describes here is a known call to a specific area that requires complete abandonment of worldly pursuits (“do not take a purse or bag or sandles”) and a singular focus on the mission and locale (“do not greet anyone on the way). Paul puts it like this, “No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs…” (2 Tim. 2:4)

A person who has been called knows he will eventually find a man of peace because he knows God has called him to that village, town, or neighborhood. Not only that, the person will know he is carrying Christ Jesus’ very authority to cast demons out of people, heal the sick, and raise the dead because he KNOWS he has been commissioned by God to bring the KINGDOM to a specific area or people group. (Mat. 10:8, 5-6) BAM, BAM, BAM!

What is missing in so much of western evangelism today is a sense of God-ordained, specific calling and the demonstration of the Kingdom’s power and authority. The church spends millions to get people in the pews and yet is too timid or lacks the faith to leave everything, find the person of peace, and begin healing the sick.

Notice, it does not say pray for the sick. It does not say ask Jesus to heal people. It does not say ask for the “healing anointing” to come. It says: HEAL THE SICK. Wake up people!!! You – right there, yeah you – heal some sick people! It’s a command not a suggestion, not a hope, not an experiment. And, let me add that Jesus’ immediate instruction to pronounce “the kingdom of God is near you” must imply the people get healed… immediately. I mean how foolish do you look to make that statement when Grandpa Joe is still seating in the corner blind as a bat and Grandma Judy is still bent over double with back pain. Some kingdom.

Our problem (myself included) is our evangelism mainly works like this: we try to make some friends wherever we are, we tell these interested or uninterested friends about Jesus and how you need him to get to heaven, we may even offer to pray for their sickness which they may or may not get healed from, and we hope that eventually they might be interested enough to come to church with us and hear the preacher say it better then we did and then they might get saved. Meanwhile, 80% of our lifestyle looks no different than our friends. There is no sense of mission, no sense of abandonment, no strategic focus, no power, no healing… and in the end no great results.

Friends, it’s time crack open our Bibles again and start reading scripture with new eyes. It’s time to start asking questions like, “How do I heal the sick?” “How do a hear God’s voice?” “What is God’s specific calling on my life?” And, “How does Jesus tell me how to reach the lost?”

We have a long way to go but an unstoppable God. Let’s get to work.

"Wake Up People!"

2008-06-20T14:01:00.004-04:00

This phrase just keeps kicking around in my mind for the last couple months. I think it applies to Boston. It is time to wake up the sleeping giant to the real reality. Watch the link until the end :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD7Eb6u1T9g

Fenway Church Plant Update

2008-06-03T17:16:00.002-04:00

Just made this video for the Newfrontiers Midwest Celebration...

"I Know But One Way" Part I

2008-05-23T16:38:00.003-04:00

THE WAY (Matthew 5)

3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of
righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The Way – a paraphrase

A person who realizes they are spiritually impoverished will be overcome with grief at their spiritual destitution and humbly seek with the desperation of a starving and parched person acceptance from God.

This person will find himself not only accepted into the kingdom of heaven and comforted but inheriting a new life on earth. They will be filled with joy and happiness at this undeserved gift of acceptance. Their natural reaction to this grace will to be merciful to others.

In response, God will continue to show them mercy cleansing them from all unrighteousness and giving them pure hearts. Newly cleansed they will see God for who he truly is and begin to act as peacemakers.

As they act as ministers of reconciliation between the rebellious sons and daughters of earth and the kingdom of heaven, some will call them who they truly are - sons of God while others will persecute them for their new way of life. In either outcome, these sons and daughters of God will celebrate their place in the kingdom of heaven.

Next Part II: "Jesus and the Way"

Evidence that Demands a Verdict

2008-05-19T16:16:00.002-04:00

Matthew 9:35-38

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (NIV vs. 36-38)

Jesus “making a circuit of all the towns and villages… teaching in their meeting places, reporting kingdom news, and healing their diseased bodies, healing their bruised and hurt lives…” (Msg vs. 35) looked into this sea of battered peoples' lives and his heart broke. The image is of a people harassed by the ravenous wolves of Satan’s minions. Helpless against the lies of the enemy and the power of sin. Like sheep without a shepherd not knowing where to go or how to get there. Jesus is so moved at the overwhelming need that he stops his relentless ministry to the people and turns to the disciples and commands them to pray.

I imagine the disciples puzzled looks. Pray? Pray for what? Are you not the answer to our prayers' Jesus? Are you not leading the most dynamic and anointed ministry we have ever seen? Are you not the one ushering in the kingdom of heaven to earth? Are you not the answer to visions of all our prophets?

Can Jesus really be so overwhelmed by the incredible need he sees before him that he must stop to enlist the prayers of his chosen friends and sent-ones? Is it possible that the Lord seeks for partners in his task of “ever making intercession?” (Heb. 7:25)

The answer is YES! The Son of man having so deeply immersed himself in the sea of humanity suddenly surfaces to proclaim golden fields of wheat so heavy with fruitful seeds that there is a risk that the very seeds will break the stalk and the harvest will be lost. Time is of the essence! The harvest season will not last forever. The Son of God cannot accomplish the work alone.

What is needed? More workers, and not just workers, but workers who have been commissioned, empowered, and sent by the LORD of the harvest. How will these workers be released? By the sons of men earnestly asking, beseeching God for more laborers.

Oh that we would respond to the Lord’s cry! Oh that our knees would become calloused and our floor boards worn! Oh that our hearts would break for what breaks HIS? Oh that we too could see the harvest? Open our eyes Lord Jesus!

Come friends get, “On your knees and pray for harvest hands!” (Msg)

When Love Costs

2008-05-13T08:01:00.004-04:00

There are affections in our lives that we love and dearly hold onto. Often time, these affections hold no similar appeal to those around us. If they were to look into our hearts, they would not understand why we get such joy and pleasure from these momentary delights. Yet, these delights drive and thrill us. Our enjoyment of them is so intense that we find them coming to the forefront of our minds more often then we would like to admit (and always at the strangest times!). We find ourselves adjusting our schedules around them. Even becoming disillusioned if not angry when we don’t have time for them.

More often than not, these affections are false loves, hidden parts of the soul that no one else knows about until they suddenly coming rumbling to the surface in an angry, accusatory mix. False loves do not sustain you; there is no lasting peace found in them. The momentary delight fades when confronted with the cool, harsh realities of life. We find ourselves unable to enjoy them in the context of community because they are selfish, inward things. We find them filling our thoughts and time and driving us from others.

Love is a costly thing. When I was a child, I read a story of a young forest princess who stole a dragon egg because of its beautiful colors. She hid it in a tree and when the beautiful baby dragon was born she daily cared for it and fed it. Until one day, it had grown so big she could not longer control it, and it turned against her almost destroying her life. In the same way, we watch false loves grow in our lives denying their power over us. Then suddenly, they rear their ugly heads surprising those around us and destroying everything in their path.

To rid ourselves of these loves comes at a great personal cost. It is not easy to let go of something that holds such sway over the seat of our affections. We find ourselves cringing at the thought of it. Can I really enjoy myself without this relationship, that job, the show, the book, the sport, the drink, the drug, the game, the idle wandering of our minds?

But when we do give them up pushing through the pain and tears of losing it, we find for the first time a strange liberating feeling pumping through our hearts. We find freedom to be a better master then false love, and we find true joy comes after mourning.

Esther 9:22

A New Generation Arising

2008-05-10T16:16:00.000-04:00

In the midst of the winds of changing culture and shifting ideologies in the midst of rapid globalization yet increasing obscurity, a radical and subversive people are emerging. Unshakeable in faith, they beckon the many to join them in a way of life, an ancient path oft spoke of yet seldom travelled.

Assailed by doubt and persecution, they journey together in the pursuit of that which is eternally good. Confounding the wisdom of the wise, they live out a new life uncompromised by the pressures of earthly achievement or false humility. They are beautiful yet broken, weak yet brave, humble yet assured.

Dark but lovely, the light of eternity glistens on their faces as they fix their eyes on the Son. Ruined for this world, they reflect the One who changed them, gave them hope, and taught them how to love.

In Him they find healing and freedom, a reason to live. Their story begins and ends with Him, their creator, their lover, their friend.

Jesus.

Boston Arise!

2008-05-10T16:13:00.002-04:00

God told me to re-start the blog. God will awaken Boston - don't doubt it.

The Fast - final thoughts

2008-02-27T11:20:00.003-05:00

While the miracles of salvation, healing, and prophecy that took place during the fire nights were amazing, they serve only to point to the reality that Jesus is the Son of God and Savior of the world. Honestly, the times of prayer in the prayer room were more moving and powerful then the actual demonstrations at the public services. God has taught me many lessons throughout this fast. However, the one that has had the greatest impact on me is the pursuit of the presence of God. I can no longer be satisfied with just a mental understanding (however glorious) of who Jesus is. Instead as scripture clearly speaks, we were created to pursue the very presence of God. It is the very of presence of Jesus that Mary loved and that King David pursue. May we forever pursue that which is eternally good (Jesus) and see his manifest presence in our lives, communities, and city.

One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD
And to meditate in His temple.
Psalm 27:4

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18

He (Jesus) entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me."But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." - Luke 10:38-42

Day 40 - Worship, Salvation, and Healing

2008-02-27T11:13:00.002-05:00

After the first Fire Night on Thursday, the prayer room was absolutely exploding with praise and worship. From 9:45pm - 2:30am, there was continuous worship. YWAM Boston played for 2 1/2 hours straight without stopping. The faith and sense of joy in the rooms was unbelievable. God began to challenge us to pray for the lost and prepare ourselves to go out!

Friday night during the final Fire Night the glory of God was so thick during worship. I was literally face down on the ground through multiple songs. At the end of the night, I preached on the journey of Jesus to death and then his triumph over it. One young man gave his life to Jesus and was baptized the same night!!!

Several people were also healed from neck and back pains during the prayer time at the end.

God was so faithful to demonstrate who Jesus was! We stand in awe at what he did. Jesus is alive and real. All glory goes to HIM!

Day 39 - Outbreak of the Prophetic

2008-02-27T10:54:00.003-05:00

We kicked off the conference late Wednesday night with Youthstorm (www.youthstorm.org) leading the charge in worship and prayer. One young woman gave a powerful word.

Often in Boston, we feel that we are fighting through a haze of unbelief and darkness in trying to reach God in prayer and believing to see his power. In reality, we are actually seated with Christ in heavenly places. As Christians in Boston, we need to "rise above" the clouds of darkness and recognize we are seated with Christ in heavenly realms. We can freely decree what God will do from this place of freedom and authority over the darkness.

I really believe that was the word of the Lord not only for the conference but for Boston. It released a tremendous amount of faith as we got the focus off ourselves and onto what God was doing. The 48 hour prayer room was consistently electric after that point. Literally, people would stay in the prayer room for 4-6 hours just praying and worshiping and dancing. There was a tremendous sense of God's presence as well as powerful times of repentance and intercession.

Thursday night, we hosted the first Fire Night. During worship, God gave a young woman an image of a person with noose around their neck. She felt God was saying that there was someone there who had tried to commit suicide but was afraid of death. She addressed the crowd asking if that person was present to come up and get prayer. There was no immediate response but later during the meeting and then at different points during the conference three different people received prayer who had tried to commit suicide in the past!

There were several other words that were completely accurate with people coming forward to receive prayer in response to them. These words included a young woman who had been struck by her parent when she was 14 years old and a person with a pain in their hand.

We were amazed at how God spoke so clearly and demonstrated to the 50-60 of us who were there including several non-Christians that Jesus is alive. The worship was absolutely incredible as Daniel & Camila Aguilar served us so well in ushering us into the presence of God.

Day 38 - The Fire Conference Begins

2008-02-20T14:53:00.001-05:00

Please keep us in your prayers. We are believing God signs, wonders, and creative miracles. Our God reigns!

David W.

Day 37 - The Fire and the Fury

2008-02-19T14:15:00.000-05:00

By Dave Csinsi

Matt 15:29-31 (The Message)_"After Jesus returned, he walked along Lake Galilee and then climbed a mountain and took his place, ready to receive visitors. They came, tons of them, bringing along the paraplegic, the blind, the maimed, the mute—all sorts of people in need—and more or less threw them down at Jesus' feet to see what he would do with them. He healed them. When the people saw the mutes speaking, the maimed healthy, the paraplegics walking around, the blind looking around, they were astonished and let everyone know that God was blazingly alive among them."

Here we are, ready God. Ready to receive the fire you are going to send down. Ready to make an impact in this world through your Spirit and through your message of Grace. Here we are to make the only Living God known. Here we are to break the chains of injustice, to comfort those who mourn, to give beauty for ashes and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

We are ready now. To proclaim your love over the people of Boston. To be Jesus in the eyes of those who need Him. To be light to those in darkness. To be love and peace to those in desperate confusion. To follow you where you're leading and to not back down when we are opposed.

We are an incandescent people. A people ablaze with the eternal fire of your Holy life. We are a brilliant, shimmering beacon to those in the valley of despair. We are your peace to those wrestling with demonic forces. We are your conduit for life to flow through the lungs of the dead.

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death. There is a cry ringing out from Boston from the tired and weak, from the homeless and hungry, from the lost and desperate. The punishment that was upon us was placed upon Jesus. The judgment that was meant for us has been transferred to Jesus. The wrath and fury of your anger has been shielded by Grace. Jesus is our wall. He took on his shoulders and back the rebellion and iniquity of us all.

And now is the time. Now is the day. Now is the hour. Now is the second when your Kingdom will come, your will will be done, ON EARTH as it is in HEAVEN. The hour has come. You, God, are preparing a mighty wind and a small spark to set this dry tinder alight. The vortex of your fire will engulf the city of Boston in a flame of Holy Fire.

No one that passes Ruggles Baptist church will be able to pass without looking inside. No one that hears the praises of your people will be able to walk away from the cacophony of sound. No one who lives within 5 miles will not hear of the fire that fell. The explosion of your glory will echo for generations.

And there will be peace. Peace to the restless, hope for the hopeless, justice for the unjustified, grace for the sick, mercy for the stagnant, pouring out for the empty, quiet for the burdened.

And in your house your priests will bring an end to the reign of Satan. In your house there will be an end to the will of others. In your house there will be no more money changing, no more thievery, no more impurity. Your people will be pure. Your bride will be resplendent with purity in the light of your gaze.

Amen.

Day 35 - A Spiritual Battle: A Young Man's Account

2008-02-18T21:07:00.000-05:00

By Matthew Nowland

My name is Matthew Nowland and I am someone who desires to be in the presence of God constantly. I always want to be on the front lines, I always want to be in the thick of the action on this planet and in the spiritual sense. When David started the 40 days of prayer and fasting, I instantly committed to being there all 40 days. On the 2nd day of prayer I had an amazing experience with God where He told me I am not part of this fight in Boston, and He wanted me to be on the sidelines so He could show me everything that was going. I was very unhappy with this because I wanted to be in the fight, but I said God's will, not mine, and started recording everything He showed me. Since then every day He has shown me the most amazing things.

God told me that the great battle for this city, the one that determines the outcome of God's transformation, was going to start on day 5 of prayer and fasting, and was going to last for 30 days. He also told me that towards the end of the prayer and fasting He was going to call me to do something no one else could. After a few days of more revelations, more writing them down, I quickly forgot what He had said. As the days increased the Fenway church was leaving for the retreat, and I felt very strongly that all this prayer would be for nothing if someone did not stay back to continue it at Ruggles, I volunteered and committed to not going on the retreat to continue this prayer.

On the weekend before the retreat I was feeling spiritually burdened in a way I've never experienced before. When I found out I was the only staying back on the retreat, and that Sunday morning I would be praying alone the burden increased. I felt like I would be contending with the enemy alone, that all of this rested on my hands, and that the enemy knew it too and could focus its attack on just me. Tuesday morning I asked for prayer for it, and after everyones prayer I still felt burdened. Everyone said what I expected them to say, that I'm not alone, that it doesn't all rely on me, and so on. On Friday morning David asked that we pray for me, he felt that their was a huge significance in me staying back to continue praying. He felt like this prayer relies on me staying back to pray, that it is because of my decision to stay back to pray that will result in the success.

While they were all praying for me David felt like God was saying that I will not be just contending against the spirit of my flesh, but also against the spirit of this city. As everyone was praying I suddenly felt myself stand completely erect, straighter then I've ever stood before. I felt so straight I felt like I grew a few inches (and after a few days a friend of mine said she thought I had grown taller when she looked at me during that prayer), that a weight had been lifted from my shoulders, and I also felt something come into me and completely fill me up. I then heard the voice of Jesus clearly say over and over to me, "You're not alone, you're not alone, you're not alone, I am with you". There were also many words of me not being alone, and someone from Youth Storm said he saw me as Joshua when God said to Him over and over again "You're not alone, I am with you". That morning God clearly spoke a few things to me. First that I was going to be contending with the enemy over this city on Sunday and that I would win and his power would be broken over this city. Second that as I fought with him I would be struck but it would not matter because God would prevail, and I would know this because my nose would bleed. Third that the enemy knew I was going to contend with him and this was his last chance to keep this city, so he was going to be focusing his full attention on me, but God would prevail.

Friday night at 5 almost on the dot, when Fenway church left for the retreat I was instantly under attack. I could not remember anything God had spoken to me on the previous days, lost all memory on my phone (where I keep tract of what God says to me), and could not write in my journal what God had spoken to me. I was not depressed, not angry, not sad, I was just spiritually completely under attack in a way I have never known. Saturday night when I had to work I had the largest migraine of my entire life. It wasn't because I hadn't slept, it wasn't because I hadn't eaten, it was just there. But on both nights God prevailed and I got through.

Sunday morning, what all of you have been waiting to read, and for me by far the coolest spiritual experience I have ever had in my entire life. When I woke I felt stronger then I had ever felt in my entire life. I felt so strong I would have challenged Goliath, or 10 of them, or an army, it would not have mattered to me. I get to the prayer room at Ruggles (the whole day I was by myself) and start off by reading Isaiah 61 and 58:6, after a couple of prayers I put on worship music. On the very first song, which is sung by only a guy, I hear angels singing in the room. Filled with faith I spend the first few songs just embracing Jesus, wanting to be consumed by Him and be just Him. A few songs go by and I get on the floor as I am being filled with God's love and presence. As I am on the floor face down spiritually being filled and not yet ready to face the enemy, I hear the enemy walking around. I can clearly hear him as he is searching for me, moving chairs around and walking across the wooden floor, but if I look I see nothing. As I am face down on the floor, I feel 2 angels stand over me protecting me, I hear a door open and the enemy leave and right as the door shuts the words in the current song playing said "I have given you wings so you may escape the snare of the enemy". I then see a vision of me in a church, I am convinced it was Ruggles, and I am all alone. You can not completely see me though, I am transparent like a ghost, but inside of me you can clearly see Jesus, as if I was a ghost standing in the same spot Jesus was. Suddenly I lift my head up and spread my arms out and a giant explosion happens. It starts to ripple through the city, shattering everything like glass in its path and underneath everything that shatters is pure white. As I am watching I zoom out and the explosion encompasses the whole city, then I zoom out to space and can see it from space, then zoom out to the moon and I can see the flash of the explosion from moon. After this vision I stand up, full of God's presence and love, and I look out the window and on the balcony are lots of small birds. All the birds have their feathers ruffled as if facing a predator and are looking into the window. I walked up to the window, knowing full well that when they fly away the enemy was coming. A song comes on called "ready now" by Desperation Band" (about being ready to do whatever God's will) and all the birds fly off, and I knew the enemy was coming. I felt the enemy enter the room and he tried to point out all my flaws and failures. Suddenly I felt Jesus over took me and I completely snapped and flipped out at Him. I heard the words come out of my mouth saying "You thought you could come here and defeat me, but you did not realize this is not Matthew Nowland you face, but Jesus Christ. I am not Matthew, nothing here is, but only Jesus. Your power has been stripped, your role broken, you failed you lost. Jesus defeated you in 40 days, I have defeated you in 35 because Jesus said "You will be able to do all things I have done, and even greater things because I am with you". (John 14:12) Jesus is with me, Jesus IS me for I am just a vessel of God and you have no power here you are over, done. Go, go now, leave this place leave this city, you have been beaten and NEVER return". I said many more things too, but I do not remember, all I know was that I was not speaking, those were not my words, but Jesus controlling me, I was just a vessel. After me telling him to leave I felt a snap, like a tree snapping in half and knew his power was stripped and he was gone. Right after I went to the bathroom to blow me nose (forgetting what God said on Friday) and suddenly my nose started pouring out blood and I knew he had been defeated and God had won. Again I was instantly filled up and started praising God like never before, as if it wasn't myself and all the angels where using me to praise Jesus.

And here is when all the really cool things start to line up. It dawned on me a little bit after about everything that just got confirmed, and I looked back in my journal to double check. Sunday was the 35th day of prayer, exactly 30 days from when the battle started and when God said it would end. That God had just called me to do something that no one else could do like He said He would. He also said at the beginning of the 40 days that on the 37th day that the prayer would end in a special way, in a different way. It didn't dawn on me until Sunday that the 37th day was the fire conference. There were some other things also that were confirmed that I realized, besides everything that has been confirmed with David and others. Then the scripture came to my mind "You will know all these are true because of the miracles that confirm it" (John 10:25).

It is not to late to go to the fire conference, and I recommend that everyone comes. The battle has been own, this city has been taken. Now is the time to press on, now is the time to invade the city with the call of Jesus. All this I know because of the confirmations of miracles and words. I personally took off from work and am going to be there for all 48+ hours, not leaving that room except to go to the bathroom and only eating fruit. I do not recommend being there for all 48+ hours, but I do recommend coming as often as you can. This is all real, something amazing is happening now, don't watch and let it slip away. The enemy will only be weak once, if we ever gave up in the Revolutionary War and paused, let the British regather, we would have never gained our freedom. Nor would a second try EVER be as successful as the first. God bless and I pray I'll see everyone there.

Gather the People // Feb. 20 - 22 \\

2008-02-14T20:45:00.006-05:00

“Gather the people…” Joel 2:16

There are moments in history that shift the destinies of cities and nations. Jonah, the reluctant prophet, saw an idolatrous and immoral Nineveh turn to God in response to his prophetic message. The apostles overturned the prevailing and hostile religious traditions of Jerusalem through the proclamation of the risen Christ and demonstration of the Spirit’s power.

Throughout history, God has chosen to use individuals as the vehicles for this type of change. At a critical moment in American history, a small group of “minutemen” responded to a call to stand in the path of tyranny and injustice represented by British forces marching to Lexington and Concord.

Minute-men represented a small hand-picked force selected from the ranks of local militia companies... Approximately one-third of the men in each militia unit were chosen "to be ready to march or fight at a minute's notice."

The true minute-men — always the first to appear at or await a battle — stood at Lexington Green on the morning of April 19, 1775, and led the attack on Concord Bridge. Their numbers were reinforced by the regular militia that turned out in that day's historic battles.[1]

Today, I believe a new generation of “minutemen” is emerging. These young men and women are ready to respond in a “moment’s notice” to the moving of God’s Spirit. At this time, I believe God’s eyes are focused on the city of Boston; He desires to release a mighty move of his Spirit in this stronghold of man-made philosophies and ideologies.

I believe February 20-22 represents one of these “minutemen moments” in history. It represents the merging of two independent calls: the finishing of 40 days of prayer and fasting inspired by a dream of God’s manifest presence in Boston and a call to prayer by Lou Engle for the establishment of Christ’s rulership in our nation. It fulfills a separate vision God gave over a year ago of a “fire conference” taking place on February 20-22 at Ruggles Baptist Church.

God is calling young “spirit-led minutemen” to be the first at a new battlefront. Starting February 20, for 48 hours, continuous worship and prayer will ascend to the throne of Jesus. As we seek the face of God, we expect to encounter the very presence of Christ and see demonstrations of His Spirit’s power through healings, signs, and wonders.

If God is moving your heart, please join us for the Fire Conference at Ruggles Baptist Church.

Kickoff Service Wednesday February 20 @ 9pm // Fire Night Friday February 22 @ 7pm
874 Beacon Street Boston, Massachusetts

Participating Ministries:
Fenway Church - David W. Hill, JHOP Boston - Bethany Yeo, , BASIC College Ministries - Kent Muwarski, Youthstorm - Joseph Robinson, Revival & Restoration Ministries - Daniel & Camila Aguilar, Luke 18 Project, YWAM Boston

More info and 48-hour schedule
http://bostonawake.blogspot.com // http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=8761791373

[1] http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/bookmarks/minutemen/

Day 31 - Lou Engle Calls for Prayer Feb. 20-22

2008-02-14T10:54:00.003-05:00

On February 13, Lou Engle sent out an email calling for 21 days of prayer. It concluded by saying:

In the middle of these 21 days, would you set apart February 20 - 22 to pray Isaiah 22:20-22 and Daniel 2:20-22? Both passages have to do with the removing of kings and the raising up of kings. We must have God's overriding government presiding over the elections.

Once again we are asking you to pray and seek God with all of your heart for a great turning of this nation.

Lou Engle
TheCall.com

These days coincide with what God spoke to me a year ago to host a "fire conference" from February 20-22 at Ruggles Baptist Church. As you know, it is concluding a time of 40 days of prayer and fasting to usher in the presence of God and release an Isaiah 61 anointing to transform Boston. On February 8, Lou Engle wrote on the significance of 40 days of prayer on his blog saying:

"If a Christian will pray consistently for a 40-day period, he will be able to conquer most satanic strongholds in his life."

We are a part of something bigger than ourselves. God is destroying the strongholds of Satan in our lives and in Boston. A govermental shift is taking place in the spirit realm over Boston. Jesus and his church are taking their place as rightful rulers. We are preparing to meet God on February 20-22. Surely, "He will come to us like the rain." (Hosea 6:3)

Day 29 - Breakthrough

2008-02-11T13:43:00.000-05:00

Today, I feel like I stumbled on that pearl of great price. I literally feel like I have found hidden treasure. I know this is a major breakthrough, yet it is not the break through we (or at least I) have been looking for. When you read on, you may think, “duh! I know that…” Please do not take that approach however tempting. The context of this revelation is 4 weeks of daily and at times heart wrenching prayer from 6-8am everyday. As a group, we have embraced seeking the face of the Lord and turning to him as best as we can. We have cried out for the presence of God, interceded on behalf of city, wept over the condition of our souls, and asked for a greater hunger and thirst for God. Many of these young people have taken on limited fasts and have turned from various activities in order to better seek the face of God. In the midst a vision for revival and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, God birthed this vision in our hearts.

For over a half an hour I lay flat on my face, moments of silence were interrupted by sobs as the worship music from the laptop filled the room. It was one of those times when nobody wanted to move. God was captivating us with his presence, but it wasn’t the experience that enthralled us. It was the picture of Jesus being burned on our eyes, minds, hearts, and emotions.

We had come together at 6am. We began with thanksgiving in an effort to rouse ourselves but didn’t seem to be getting anywhere in prayer. After 10-15 minutes, we began to be reminded of what Jesus had done for us on the cross. We remembered how Jesus rescued us out of darkness and brought us into his kingdom that we love. We remembered the great cost he paid in order for that to take place. Then, we remembered that as he hung on that cross he called out, “Father forgive them.” Suddenly, something crystallized. Here I am begging God for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit day after day, and yet, I am still unable to forgive or overlook so many small things that people do to me. Yet there is our tortured Savior hanging from a cross forgiving his tormentors. It was that moment for me that the greatness of God entered the room.

It was like our hearts began to be captivated by the Savior himself. Our focus turned from ourselves, revival, anointing, and prayer to Jesus himself. We had been seeking the glory, the presence, the power… suddenly we were seeking Jesus himself. Jeremiah said, “You will find me if you seek me with all of your heart.” We hadn’t set out to find HIM, but in the course of our seeking through this fast, God sovereignly led us to the one person worth seeking, worth becoming like, worth becoming obsessed with. We couldn’t take our eyes off him; he began to become our only focus. We wanted to give everything to him. We realized how we had hurt him and sinned while he lived in us. We wanted to nothing else but him. Jesus, Jesus, our hearts could yearn for nothing else. He will remain the one we seek throughout this fast. Words fail, but the feeling cannot fade. Jesus, Jesus all for Jesus. The pearl of great price.

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Before long the world will not see me anymore but you will see me.

Because I live, you also will live.”

John 4:18-19

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

Revelation 22:17

Day 25 - Prophetic Images

2008-02-07T12:47:00.000-05:00

Dave C. had the following images during prayer the last few days. I think they can definitely help direct our prayers:

During prayer over the past few days God has given me images in my mind. Some were to encourage me, others were kind of prophetic, and most were for me to pray in right then. Three come to mind and here I will share them.

Two days ago we were praying for the city of Boston, ourselves, our efforts in the church and various needs. While one of us was praying out I saw a waterfall, a zoomed in section of the bottom a waterfall, with a rock behind it. On a rock below the falls was an empty glass bottle with the top closed on it. There were also a few plastic bottles in the water with their tops closed too, floating around. I didn't notice if those bottles had anything in them but my main concern was that their tops were closed. The bottle on the rock was being showered in water but nothing was going inside. I began to pray out that image, letting whoever was in the room with their "top" closed know that they needed only to open it up and a huge waterfall would fill them.

Today I received two images while praying. The first was while I was thinking about my life and my actions. I was contemplating that Christ had died for and taken care of all of them. I then caught a picture of a wounded soldier in the middle of a dirty battlefield. He was lying in the dirt in a trench with barbed wire surrounding the position. Then the whole image zoomed out and I saw a gigantic landscape of war, exploding bombs, fire blazing, the only colors were brown, black and a muted blue. I saw that one soldier as a speck among millions of others. They were either injured as well or running full speed toward the enemy camp. I began to pray that we not be consumed by our own position, our own failings. The only reason we remain injured and wounded spiritually is because we do not turn back to Jesus. If our focus would just remain on him even if we fall, we won't be stopped. Besides that our focus in prayer should be on the battle at large, not our individual fears and failings. There is of course a time to repent and sanctify ourselves, but what I'm saying is the enemy is very successful at derailing us simply by convincing us we are no longer in Christ, or no longer a viable prayer warrior. It's just no true. Jesus has won the victory over sin and death and imputed his righteousness to us forever. Forever.

The third image, second of today, was of a mirror. I was looking into a mirror in an attic, the full-length kind that swivels up and down. When I looked in it I saw a bright light where my reflection should have been. This reminded me of the verse 2 Corinthians 3:18 "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

The Message has an even more interesting version of that verse. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 "Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him."

So God is making us to become like him. His splendor and glory will be our splendor and glory because of the Spirit's work in us.

I'm sure there will be more in the future.

FIRE CONFERENCE \\ Schedule

2008-02-07T11:19:00.001-05:00

Starts Wednesday February 20 @ 9pm with a Kickoff Service

Ends Friday February 22 with Fire Night II
- A Night of Worship, Word, and Demonstration -
starting @ 7pm

All events take place at Ruggles Baptist Church
874 Beacon Street Boston, MA

Click on graphic to view full schedule.
All are welcomed to join for any of the sessions and prayer times.

The Fire Conference Leadership reserves the right to remove anyone who may disrupt or hinder sessions and prayer times.

Day 25 - Reminder of the Purpose of this Fast

2008-02-07T09:54:00.000-05:00

This morning, I was thinking a lot about the upcoming Fire Conference, wondering how to promote it more and how to gather people to it. At the same time, God reminded me of why God originally put this fast on my heart. The fast was a response to a question God asked me in my dream, "Is it possible for a human being to carry the mantle of my presence like this?" Then, God reminded me of this phrase, "And signs and wonders took place at the hands of the apostles." It is from Acts 5:12:

At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's portico.

Two themes jump out at me. First, the apostles were moving in the same supernatural power of God that Jesus did in his ministry. Their own hands demonstrated the power of the kingdom of God to the people. Second, the people were all with one accord. This scripture seems to indicate to me that the believers were united in faith and purpose with what the apostles were doing. I believe that God is calling forth young men and women to demonstrate the reality of Christ through supernatural signs and wonders. AND, he is calling the people of God to unite and purpose, heart, faith, and prayer to believe God will continue to use his "apostles" (sent ones) to demonstrate and proclaim the kingdom of God. Look at the result when this happens - Acts 5:13-16:

But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number, to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

The crowds and people came when signs and wonder took place at the hands of the apostles. The purpose of this fast is not to draw a crowd or host a cool conference. The purpose of this fast is to seek the presence of God and the anointing of the Holy Spirit out of heart of love for God and a passion for the broken-hearted, the mourning, the oppressed, and the captive (Isa. 61).

We are pressing into the presence of God, we are waiting to receive power from on High. God release the anointing of your Spirit's presence. Embolden and empower us. We say, "YOUR FACE I WILL SEEK!"

Day 24 - Love as our Motivation

2008-02-07T09:37:00.000-05:00

One of the brother's this morning shared something God had been speaking to him about over the last year. It was a reminder of why Jesus did what he did. It was a powerful reminder to me that in our desire and vision for a mighty move of God and the demonstration of his kingdom we must be careful that our motivation does not become seeing the "signs and wonders of revival" but rather our motivation is a passion for Jesus and others. When we understand the true condition of the lost (harassed and helpless, Mat. 9:36), we see why Jesus heart was moved for them.

"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things." - Mark 6:34

"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died." - II Cor. 5:14

Paul was driven by this love that Jesus to proclaim the gospel and demonstrate the kingdom throughout his know world. Like Jesus he placed the highest priority not on outward results but he condition of our hearts.

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." - I Cor. 13:1-3

We gain nothing from our prayer and fasting if the result is self-effort and an obsession with growth and miracles. We gain much from prayer and fasting when the Father's heart of love is imparted to our own lives, and the things that move the heart of God begin to move our hearts. Then, we begin to fulfill the greatest commandment and the reason for Jesus' ministry - LOVE.

Day 21 - Isaiah 61 Fast

2008-02-03T08:34:00.001-05:00

The Spirit of God carried over from last night into this morning. The spirit of faith was at work in our midst as we worshiped and declared the word of God over Boston. Below, Kelsey, a BU student, again gives an excellent account of where we are at and what God did last night at the JHOP meeting.

Hi my friends,

May this note find you blessed in His wonderful presence!

I've been inspired to write to you another update from the front lines of Boston. Moments ago, I got back from a prayer & worship night with Justice House of Prayer in Cambridge, MA, just across the river. This night happened to fall in the exact middle of Fenway Church's 40 days of prayer and fasting. We believe this was not only divinely orchestrated to fall on the 20 day mark, but this night would signify a tipping point in the spiritual battle, in which we would begin to take back ground we had once lost to the enemy. Things are shifting in the spiritual atmosphere over Boston, and God has been disciplining us to be ready for the greater anointing of His presence. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." 2 Corinthians 3:17

One of the men challenged us to lift a sustained shout to the shake the foundations of injustice in this city, like how the Israelite army sang and shouted around the walls of Jericho to see it crumble to the ground. Tonight the room filled and expanded with the sound of brokenness over sin, perversion, and darkness pervading this "city on a hill". We were so loud I believe people on the street heard us from outside as they were walking past. Half way through the shout, something inside my stomach broke and suddenly my voice reached a pitch, depth, and loudness I had never experienced before. I felt a shifting in my own soul as the peoples' cries rose to the ceiling. I believe this shout released a greater boldness in me to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to everyone around me. We say yes, Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus, come!

In light of the breakthrough of the past couple weeks, I humbly ask each of you to keep praying for Boston and the harvesters here. It's a privilege to share this with you, and I hope I can continue updating you on above-and-beyond things God has been doing.

"...Pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should." Colossians 4:3-4

Unrelenting until the Kingdom comes,

Kelsey

FIRE CONFERENCE \\ February 20-22

2008-02-02T15:50:00.000-05:00

FIRE CONFERENCE

“Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me.
We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty,
who dwells on Mount Zion.” - Isa. 8:18

February 20 - 22
Ruggles Baptist Church
874 Beacon Street Boston, MA

Purpose: Open up a heavenly gateway in Boston through 24/7 worship and prayer. Ignite college students with the fire of God through the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit. Demonstrate the reality of Jesus Christ and the gospel through signs and wonders.

Fuel
Ignition
Revival
Expansion

Join the movement: Facebook Fire Conference

24/7 Prayer Furnace - begins Wednesday Feb. 20 @ 9pm
Fire Nights - Thursday Feb. 21 & Friday Feb. 22 @ 7pm
Continuous worship, prayer and equipping for all 48 hours.

To view a tentative schedule click here.
Please feel free to join us for any portion of the conference.
Registration is not required, but the Fire Conference leadership reserves the right to remove any person who they feel is disrupting any part of the conference.

Highlights:
24/7 Prayer and Worship Furnace
Fire Nights – Worship, word, demonstration…
Session topics include: Prayer and the Life of Jesus, Defeating Demonic Strongholds, The Power of Unrelenting Prayer, Prayer and the Life of the Apostles, The Anointing and Ministry of the Holy Spirit, and A Message for a Generation

Current groups participating:
Fenway Church - David W. Hill
JHOP Boston - Bethany Yeo
Youthstorm - Joseph Robinson
Daniel & Camila Agiular - Revival & Restoration Ministries
Luke 18 Project
BASIC College Ministries - Kent Muwarski

Updated schedule and more details to come...

Days 18, 19, & 20 - Isaiah 61 Fast

2008-02-02T15:37:00.000-05:00

We are half way through the fast and anticipating a powerful time in the presence of God tonight at JHOP's worship and prayer gathering! The last few days have seen a slight drop in attendance as the semester picks up but (I think) a renewed focus in prayer. We believe our prayers are making a difference. Twelve guests attended Alpha this week, and we are expecting more guests next week. Faith is rising as we contend against the lies of Satan and the strongholds of Boston. We know that the gospel must go forth and that "today is the day of salvation." May our prayers make way for action, proclamation, and demonstration. God is giving birth to more than a prayer movement; he is transforming our hearts and minds to go!

Tomorrow (Sunday), we will be joined by David Warren, leader of the Yale Institute for Campus Awakening, and some leaders from his organization, Collegiate Impact. We look forward to hearing what he has to share.

Finally, details on the FIRE CONFERENCE will be posted shortly. It will conclude the Fast.

"Those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength."
Isaiah 40:31

Day 17 - Isaiah 61 Fast

2008-01-30T16:07:00.001-05:00

My favorite person in the world has written an encouraging word for us as we near the half way mark of the fast. I was also encouraged again this morning by a vision of Jesus brilliantly dancing over Boston this morning; it brought a great sense of peace. I am also excited to realize that the JHOP Worship and Prayer Night is at exactly the half-way point of the fast; I believe we are at a tipping point!

From Betsy Hill:

“For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.’ But now, O God, strengthen my hands.”

This is taken from Nehemiah 6:9 in the context of the scattered Israelites coming together and rebuilding the destroyed walls of Jerusalem. Their adversaries were trying to sabotage their plans by words of discouragement and by force. But Nehemiah knew better than to grow discouraged and believe false reports. They hired false prophets to come and say things that would make him afraid, but he perceived rightly from the Lord that the enemy had sent them, not God.

The result? “So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.” (Neh 6:15-16). God used them, despite the odds, to rebuild the wall. He even provided supplies for their work from those who didn’t worship God. The plans of the Lord were victorious!

On my way to prayer on Monday, I was focusing on how no temptation has come against us that Christ Himself has not first endured. This includes discouragement. Maybe you find yourself encouraged and this doesn’t appeal to you, but maybe the circumstances the enemy sent to frighten you or fill you with discouragement took a little ground in your heart. Maybe you are tempted to believe the report that the work we have begun won’t come to completion. I just felt compelled to send out the encouragement that even Christ Himself may have been tired of fasting during His forty days in the desert. We know from scripture that at the very least, He was hungry (Luke 4). But we know He held out and by faith spoke against Satan on the fortieth day despite his fleshly hunger.

So may we each be like Nehemiah and believe God, not circumstances, and pray to our God to strengthen our hands for the work He is doing! And may we remember that Jesus too got hungry and be filled with faith to hold strong because we know that victory is coming!! (The angels, after all, did come to wait on Him after He resisted Satan.) Stay up and be filled with faith! Rejoice, we’re moving forward and taking ground daily!!

Days 15 & 16 - Isaiah 61 Fast

2008-01-29T13:28:00.000-05:00

Day 15

We gathered at the usual early morning time and for several hours in the late afternoon/evening. The later gathering was marked by a real sense of God’s presence in worship. Multiple people saw images of Jesus during worship. I was particularly impacted by a vision of Jesus laughing with and gently encouraging a person I was concerned about and a sense of Christ’s presence that brought a great sense of peace. Some loud and boisterous worship broke out towards the end of the meeting and really increased our faith in a dramatic way. God is with us!

Yet you are holy,
dwelling in the praises of Israel.
Psalm 22:3 (ESV)

Day 16

Our focus continues to be asking God to embolden us to share the gospel with our friends and neighbors and for God draw people to Alpha which is starting this week. We are already expecting over a dozen guests to attend the Alpha gatherings! I continue to be amazed by the spiritual growth that is happening among the dozen or so 20s aged young men and women who are rising early in the morning multiple times a week to pray. God is giving a supernatural energy to them as they go about their jobs and classes the rest of the day. In addition, we are continuing to hear testimonies about divine appointments where we meet people who are interested in exploring the gospel. God is transforming us.

JHOP Boston - ONE10 Prayer & Worship Gathering

2008-01-27T19:37:00.000-05:00

Days 9 - 14 Isaiah 61 Fast

2008-01-27T19:35:00.001-05:00

I apologize for not updating those of you who are following what God is doing during the Isaiah 61 Fast. I got swamped with responsibilities last week and didn’t have the energy to keep posting, but I am back in action! I am hoping to keep daily updates coming this week.

We continue to gather a daily core of 10-12 people each day. We really appreciate those who have come to visit us for a morning. It is very encouraging. In line with Isaiah 58, God has mobilized some of us into action. Dave Csinsi is heading up teams of people to go out to befriend and pray for the homeless on Saturdays. They went out for the first time yesterday and were able to minister to a few people. One of whom wants Dave to come visit his shelter. In addition, this week Fenway Church is kicking off three Alphas (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights). Alpha is a ten week introduction to Christianity by addressing important questions and discussing them in an open forum. Last year, several people come to Christ through it. We are already expecting several seekers at each gathering.

A few of the themes that continue to emerge in prayer:

1) Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. God is looking for a people who will “press in to know him.” We are seeking the face of God and expecting to meet with him and be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

2) Isaiah 35:3-4 Two keys to seeing an outbreak of signs and wonders that marked Jesus’ ministry are proclamation of the good news (“Do not fear, God will come to save you”) and the formation of a great community that “strengthens the weak” and “encourages the fearful.”

3) A growing belief that it is Boston’s time for revival. We believe we are partnering with God’s plan for Boston. May his kingdom come and will be done!

Details on RIT Debate on Existence of God

2008-01-27T19:15:00.000-05:00

This story is a testimony of God's power and the hunger in an emerging generation to search for truth. My friend Arricka goes to school there and sent me this update.

Near the end of Fall, the RIT Skeptics, a group founded with the purpose of debating and even debunking popular beliefs, approached InterVarsity Christian Fellowship about the possibility of a debate about the existence of God. At first IV was hesitant to accept the offer, but then they felt God wanted them to and saw that it fit perfectly into the theme of Winter Quarter on why we believe what we believe. The Skeptics proposed that three of their members debate three of our members moderated by Professor Spencer Meredith, a Christian politics and philosophy on campus. We were delighted by the idea and chose Val Tracy, a junior, Daron Ladson, a senior, and Drew McClean, also a senior. On January 18th, the Debate on the Existence of God was held. We had prayed all day Thursday and Friday from 5 PM on through the debate. At 7 PM, our auditorium which seated 313 students, was more than filled. As the debate began, students began filling up the aisle, standing in the back, and finally filling the front and side of the stage. We estimate more than 450 students attended. The debate lasted for more than 2 hours, first in a session of 30 questions evenly composed by both groups and then in a session of questions which students texted or emailed in during the debate. Many questions were not answered when the debate was called to a close and thus students came up afterwards or conversed about them even as it finished. In addition, several students expressed interest in studying the Bible more to see what it says. Before it finished, Professor Meredith proposed that a similar debate be hosted soon between himself and a few other skeptical professors as age adds to insight. Both groups are very excited about this and plans are being made now about the recourse. God is good!

Days 7 & 8 - Isaiah 61 Fast

2008-01-21T11:26:00.000-05:00

Ran out of time to post yesterday; of course, God never runs out of time. Must be cool to be God...

Day 7

Well, Sunday morning services are so much better if you've spent 2 hours praying before hand. It was amazing to see how easy it was to enter into corporate worship when we had already been seeking God before hand. As we prayed for the church in the US and their Sunday morning services, I was struck by the realization that although we were rising early to "welcome in Sunday" all day long starting in a remote island in the Pacific Ocean a global anthem of praise had been rising up to Jesus growing as it rose in the East and spread across of the rest of the globe throughout the day. We are indeed a part of something much bigger than ourselves.

Day 8

I am so proud of our students who continue to rise early in the morning to pray. Later today, we will be praying from 2-7:30pm. This morning's theme seemed to be God renewing a sense of hunger and thirst in us. Jesus said, "Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled." We repented of hungering after the things of the world instead of a relationship with Jesus. We turned to God in worship and prayer. We rested in the love God has for us and the assurance of his victory over Satan.

To conclude, I hope you are encouraged by this story of another young woman who God used last week.

Because of being inspired to pray every morning since Fenway started the 6-8am prayer, I was praying this morning. I heard this story on the news about a young man that was killed last night in Boston. I was moved to pray for him and his family. I went to work and started my day as usual. At lunch time, I prayed that God would make me a witness to the next patients that I was going to see in the afternoon. So, I went about my business and began to evaluate a patient. As I was evaluating her, she began to cry saying, "My grandson was killed last night." It was the same young man that was on the news. I sat with her and just let her cry and hugged her.

I wanted to share this with you because God moved me to pray for this family and little did I know that I would be interacting with them that same day. God gave me an opportunity to share his comfort with this woman in a real way. I'm so thankful that God spoke to me, answered my prayers, and had me meet face to face the unknown people I was praying for.

Day 6 - Isaiah 61 Fast

2008-01-19T20:43:00.000-05:00

Today was marked by intense spiritual warfare for God to move in Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY. We heard reports that 500 students had showed up at a debate on the existence of God on Friday night put on by Intervarsity and the Skeptics club (more news to come once we get the details). Some of us had prayed for it yesterday. Encouraged by this report, we spent a couple hours praying into what God was doing there for a revival to break out at RIT. We believe that as we sowed into other areas in prayer outside Boston that we would also reap in Boston. Despite this knowledge, I was surprised at how intensely God met us as we interceded for RIT. We all left convinced God is doing something major there. Lord, may the fires of your Spirit spread across campuses all across the United States and across the globe!

I am also vastly encouraged by reports of how our gatherings are already making a mark on the people who are praying. Here is one testimony from young woman at BU who has been participating in our prayer times:

It's been an interesting first week back in Boston. I wanted to update you on some really cool things going on in New England... mostly just that God has been stirring in our hearts a deep desire and passion for His love. Stoking the fire--if you will. We have been blazing; we are no longer satisfied with business as usual.

Spontaneously, my friend Jenny invited me to a prayer conference called The Nazarite Uprising, hosted by International House of Prayer. It was going on in Connecticut drive there, but the three hours of prayer, worship, and exhortation was way worth the long drive. The conference focused on our response to the jealousy of the bridegroom for us, His bride. Such a response can only be that of extreme devotion and love. The message of the so it took us 2.5 hours toNazarite vow in the Old Testament was to forego the legitimate pleasures of the world, even that which is good, for the better and most wonderful pleasure of knowing God. It's not for the sake of being radical, religious, or legalistic, but just to know Jesus as he want us to know him.

The presence of God was so thick in the room that, upon entering, I felt this immediate joy well up and I started to dance. It was almost as if I couldn't contain my praises any longer. It was not
physically possible.

Many people that night assigned themselves to a more radical calling: to usher in the Kingdom of God with prayer and fasting, and to mark themselves with love as those set apart for the Lord.

Additionally, God has called Fenway church and many other Christians in the Boston area to 40 days of fasting and prayer from 6-8am with the express purpose to "loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke" (Isaiah 58:6). As you know, it's hard to be a student and get up at 5:30am to pray before classes, and I personally have not had much sleep all week, but it has been so worth it.. Each day it gets easier to desire to spend that time with Jesus, and therefore, to actually get out of bed into the freezing cold--just to worship and seek His face and will for the city's destiny and our own. I am not boasting in myself, but in God's supernatural strength as we take steps of faith in response to His promises. We're not stopping until we hit Revival, and we believe God's already planned on it.

This testimony communicates the heart that is beginning to develop in us at these prayer times. Maranatha, come Lord Jesus, come!

Day 5 - Isaiah 61 Fast

2008-01-18T11:40:00.000-05:00

I know God did a deep work in the hearts of those who gathered this morning. Jesse and Brian imparted the Father heart of God to us in a deep way (and I am pretty sure they did not even mean to do it). We were challenged by the call not to a season of prayer but to a lifestyle of prayer. Listening to them and reading through Luke and Acts, I come away with the undeniable reality that one of the main elements and most likely the chief occupation of God's people is prayer. Jesus certainly modeled this lifestyle of seeking the Father throughout the gospels especially in Luke.

Jesse Engle gave a very affirming word on the value of what we are doing on this prayer journey and on the joy God has for his children as they turn to him in prayer. Brian Kim shared on how in prayer and fasting we come before God in weakness that he might by his grace empower us with his Spirit. Both men imparted a sense of daily taking up our crosses in prayer and dying to self that Christ might be revealed and glorified in and through us.

Our meeting concluded with a deep in awakening in our hearts of the Father's love for us and his desire for his children to come to him and experience the good gifts he has for us. How often we miss the love and grace of the Father simply because we have busied ourselves in the world or in the "building of the kingdom" that we have missed the one most important thing - coming before the Father in prayer.

Finally, we continue to be gripped by the growing sense that God's eyes are indeed on Boston and that he is awakening something here that is a part of a great, global, and sovereign move of God.

Luke 18 Leaders coming to prayer Friday morning

2008-01-17T17:30:00.000-05:00

I attended the Luke 18 Prayer Furnace training last night. The Holy Spirit flowed over the room like a wave on numerous occasions. I was really touched by the manifestation of the presence of God almost like the dream I had with Lou Engle in it. I was also moved by Brian Kim and Jesse Engle's (son of Lou) messages on prayer. They are calling out for God's church to once again be "A House of Prayer for all Nations."

Brian and Jesse will be joining us at prayer tomorrow, Friday January 17, at Ruggles Baptist Church where we have been praying (874 Beacon St. Boston, 2nd floor). I urge you to come and catch the passion for prayer and the radical message these young men carry. These men have literally given their entire lives to prayer and raising up a mighty end-times prayer movement. You would benefit greatly from what they have to impart and from joining with them in prayer. They carry an anointing from the Holy Spirit for transformational prayer.

I am excited to see what God has for us tomorrow.

Day 4 - Isaiah 61 Fast

2008-01-17T16:59:00.000-05:00

{When You said,} "Seek My face," my heart said to You,
"Your face, O LORD, I shall seek."
Psalm 27:8

God reminded us of this verse this morning; it was also talked about at the Prayer Furnace Training last night. This fast is not about twisting God's arm to start a revival. This fast is about seeking the face of God. The Hebrew word for face can me "presence." We are contending for the presence of God to sweep through our lives and churches. I am reminded of Moses who told God, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here." (Exodus 33:15) We are nothing without the presence of God, there is no power, no meaning, no lasting satisfaction or purpose without it. God is calling out to us, "Seek my face!" How will we respond? This morning twelve of us responded, "Your face, O LORD, we shall seek."

The promise of God's word will surely come to past as we press in to know God during this fast. He will come to us, change us, empower us, and use us as agents of transformation in Boston.

"So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD His going forth is as certain as the dawn;And He will come to us like the rain,Like the spring rain watering the earth."
Hosea 6:3

News from Outside

2008-01-16T16:17:00.000-05:00

I continue to receive emails about God speaking Isaiah 61 and Isaiah 58:6 to others before I sent out the email about the fast. In addition, I am excited that God is sending leaders from the two groups (Luke 18 Project and Collegiate Impact) in the next two weeks who are committed to seeing revival on college campuses. The Luke 18 project training is tonight , and we will keep you informed of where the Collegiate Impact team will be next week.

I believe God is bringing these groups together to partner with campus ministries and church planting movements (like our church plant in the Fenway which is part of the Newfrontiers movement) for revival and awakening.

Day 3 - Isaiah 61 Fast

2008-01-16T08:43:00.001-05:00

The inscription on the Liberty Bell reads:

"PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND UNTO ALL THE INHABITANTS"

It is a quote from Leviticus 25:10 which states, "Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own clan." All the slaves living in Israel were released from captivity and given the option to return to their own lands.

The Liberty Bell is an American symbol representing a call of freedom to all who are oppressed. It was by tradition (but not historical accuracy) rung to call the militia together at Lexington and Concord and to gather people for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. It was used as a symbol during the abolitionist movement in the United States.

Today, we continued to pray with around a dozen people. A band of BU students went to pray at Marsh Chapel, the center for religious life at Boston University (BU), as the first day of classes began. Together we were declaring that we are in "The year of the Lords' favor..." (Isa. 61:2) and that it is a time to, "Proclaim freedom for the captives..." (Isa. 61:1) We know that Boston is city where many people are yoked in slavery to sin. We declared Isaiah 58:6 that this fast is to, "Set the oppressed free and break every yoke." The yokes of depression, immorality, relativism, humanism, shame, and addictions are being broken over our city and campuses!

Two thousand-eight is a year of Jubilee for Boston. We are ringing a Liberty Bell with our prayers, a militia of prayer volunteers is gathering ready to respond at a moments notice to God's word. We are preparing to proclaim liberty to captives through the bold proclamation of the gospel. A declaration of freedom has been signed by the blood of Jesus. The time of battle is at hand. The Holy Spirit promises to embolden and empower as we go. Sound an alarm! Freedom for captives! A mass exodus from darkness of Satan to the kingdom of Jesus Christ!

Lord, stretch out your hand over Boston and save. Gather a people of your choosing to proclaim the yoke of slavery is broken throughout the land! The time is now.

David W.

Subscribe to updates via email

2008-01-15T14:35:00.000-05:00

On the sidebar on the right, you can sign up to receive these updates by email. I hope they are source of encouragement to you.

One of the purposes is so people can be alerted when events/outreaches are planned during the fast. As Minutemen (see Day 2), we have to be ready to respond to the call of God immediately!

We are sounding an alarm bell inviting anyone who God moves to join with us in these daily prayer meetings at Ruggles Baptist Church (874 Beacon St. Boston) from 6-8am each morning. Also, if there are other prayer gatherings which are along these lines in Boston and Cambridge please let me know so we can potentially partner together for revival...

Day 2 - Isaiah 61 Fast

2008-01-15T09:17:00.001-05:00

Wow, we really began to feel the tangible presence of God this morning after a lengthy time of personal and corporate repentance. God was really imparting a heart of compassion for the lost and a realization of our own lack of fear and love for the Lord. Over a dozen people show up including several friends from Youth Storm; they brought a real fire, zeal, and genuineness. A young man from BU who was recently saved summed up our passion for the presence of God well, "God, we will have faith in you no matter what we experience, but we are desperate to experience more of the greatness of your love, a love that extends to us despite our lives of sin." (paraphrase)

We are also continuing to receive confirmation that we are right in the center of God's will. In the last two days, I have received emails from a senior Pastor in Connecticut and two friends of mine in LA who are starting a worship tour. God had spoken to both of them about Isaiah 58:6 and Isaiah 61 as themes for this year and their tour!!! In addition, one of the Youth Storm girls reported God has given her multiple dreams over the last week of people smoking, and she had no idea what it meant until she came to our meeting and heard the story of how the Isaiah 61 Fast started. God is amazing! From these dreams, we realize God is speaking to us urgently about our own complacency and comfort. God is calling his people to join the battle in prayer and fasting and radical obedience.

Finally, God spoke yesterday and this morning about an important hallmark of this Fast. Isaiah 58 is all about what kind of fasting God desires. It is not merely of fast to humble ourselves in prayer and fasting; an Isaiah 58 Fast is also a fast of action. I received a prophetic sense at the end of the prayer time that this movement is like the Minutemen that started the Revolutionary War. This fast came about in less than 24 hours. This fast is not only gathering the militia (volunteers not trained professionals; what a blessing to see our young men and women rushing off to work and school after 2 hours of intense prayer!) but about military action. This Fast will be modeled after Isaiah 58, a fast of prayer and action. A liberty bell is sounding calling the church to action and the lost to freedom. We committed this morning to daily obedience to whatever God commands whether it is street witnessing, other prayer gatherings, or helping the homeless etc. We are believing God for divine appointments, prophetic evangelism, healings, signs & wonders, and mass conversions throughout the fast. We are not waiting till the end of the fast to decide what to do; we are going to act during the fast. We are in a battle between light and darkness, and the city of Boston is at stake.

Let mercy triumph over judgment!

David W.

Prayer Furnace Training Scheduled for this Week

2008-01-14T10:56:00.000-05:00

Join the Luke18 Project Leadership Team as they share the vision of planting and multiplying prayer furnaces on college campuses in the Boston area.

Event Info
Name:	1-Day Regional Boot Camp Training for BOSTON area
Tagline:	Pray. Worship. Plant. Multiply.
Host:	Luke18 Project
Type:	Meetings - Informational Meeting

Time and Place
Date:	Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Time:	7:00pm - 10:00pm
Location:	JHOP Boston Missions Base
Street:	135 Western Ave
City/Town:	Cambridge, MA
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Contact Info
Email:	Luke18Project@thecall.com

MIT starts 24/7 prayer on 1/14!!!

2008-01-14T10:44:00.000-05:00

Here are some details from Yeona:

Hey all!

MIT is actually starting our 24/7 prayer tonight too!
God is indeed moving powerfully in our city!

Our daily revival prayer is 8am in the basement of W11:
http://whereis.mit.edu/map-jpg?mapterms=W11&mapsearch=go
24/7 prayer will be happening there too except for night shifts from 12-8am which will be in student dorm rooms since we cannot use W11 at night. (we are praying for a permanent 24/7 prayer room)

Here is the sign up sheet if you would like to join us!!
http://jacohen.scripts.mit.edu/prayer/signup.php

if you have any questions, need directions, or want to be added to mit prayer warriors mailing list, you can email yeona@mit.edu or call 574-302-6608.

Blessings to you!!!
yeona

Day 1 - Isaiah 61 fast - January 14

2008-01-14T10:36:00.000-05:00

On six hours notice, six men of God gathered from 6-8am to kick off the 40 days of prayer. We worshiped God asking his Kingdom to come. We consencrated ourselves for the spiritual battle we are entering through repentance for sins of pride, lust, masturbation, pornography, complacency, homosexuality, anger, impatience, unforgiveness, and dirty speech. We cried out for God to move in Boston and make Boston a "city set on a hill, a light for the nations." There were prophetic words regarding God's light illuminating Boston so that is would become a beacon of light to the nations.

I think that it is significant that God gathered six men to start this spiritual battle. He is calling men to rise up as spiritual leaders and warriors.

Amazingly, MIT has kicked off a week of 24/7 prayer on last minute notice TODAY too. See the details in another post!

More to come as the news begins. I believe God is launching a massive prayer movement in Boston... Get ready! Remember, we are praying for the Isaiah 61 anointing of the Spirit that brings radical transformation in people's lives.