Mission of Faith Prayer Journals

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Dear Sisters in Christ,

These are serious times that we live in. Prayer is essential to every believer’s life. Thus, it is crucial that women come together in prayer corporately and that they seek a deeper life of prayer privately.

We hope that this experience leads every woman into a deeper more personal and private time of communion with the Father.

Prayer is a time for us to move from a relationship strained by disobedience to a relationship where He is Lord and we, as His servants, are humbly submissive to His Word, His Will, and His way.

If healing is what you need, pray about it. It is available to God’s children. Provisions sufficient for our journey are available but you must pray. Strength for difficult times is available to those that love God and are in accordance with His desires. Yet, prayer remains the key to it all.

God wants to bless us. What He wants to give us is only for us. No one can stop His plans from manifesting in our lives. However, if we walk in disobedience to His Way, His Will and His Word He will not hear us. (Is. 59:2)

We are the bride of Christ. We must become more of what He desires us to be, by faithful obedience to Him through His Word. His Word says His house is a house of prayer. Therefore, we are to pray always. You pray for us and we will pray for you.

Pastor Michael and First Lady Vernetta Randle

A Spiritual Journey among Women

Week One: Seeking God’s Presence (Fasting)

Getting closer to the Father begins when we enter into a more intimate relationship with Him. The blessed man in Psalms 1 is blessed because “He delights in the law of the Lord…He meditates in the law of the Lord Day and Night…”

Believers should thrive to find ways to increase their intimacy with the Lord. In the book, “The Sacred Romance” by Brent Curtis and John Eldredge there is a principle which basically states that our relationship with God should have moments when the veil of time and eternity is removed and our hearts are opened to His presence. This is what we are after this week. You are to look for God’s presence in your time of fasting and praying. Dedicate time to seek God in ways you have never done before. This can only be done in private. What good is public worship, prayer, or praise that has not been saturated by the private moment of fellowship with your heavenly Father?

Remember Christ made it clear in Matthew 6 that private times of prayer are more significant than public prayer that is insincere. Therefore, as a woman of prayer you are to follow the instructions below to move into the presence of God and seek His face.

Days 1-7: Seek His Presence Through Fasting:

1. Read the statements and the Bible references below. (Read one each day)
2. Each day take time to pray and ask God to help you do what the text suggests. (See Appendix for guidance concerning fasting).
3. Write about your experience in the space provided below.

Statements and Verses

1. I must humble myself through fasting. (Ps. 35:15)
2. I must remember that some things only happen through fasting. (Matt. 17:21)
3. I must make total sacrifice of myself for the sake of my soul. (Ps. 109:24)
4. I must approach fasting rightly and sincerely. (Matt. 6:16-18)
5. I must remember that this period of time is about God not me. (Zec. 7:5)
6. I must consider that the time of fasting is now. (Matt. 9:15)
7. I must keep fasting sacred among the people of God. (Joel 1:14)

Week One: Write about your experience in the space provided.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7

A Spiritual Journey among Women

Week Two: Learning to Pray Fervently

The Bible teaches us that the people of God should have a fervent prayer life. James reminds his readers that prayer is something that can happen amidst all of God’s people. As a matter of fact James suggests that like the great prophet Elijah our prayers can avail much.

If our prayer life is yielding little fruit it could mean that our prayer life is not as fervent as it ought to be. Without an active, fervent, and energetic prayer life the people of God are leading empty and weak lives. It then becomes imperative that women pray all the time.

Something powerful happens in a church when women come together for prayer. Men ought to pray also. However, their fervency in prayer can be under girded by the powerful and fervent prayer of women.

Our history is filled with praying women. When women begin to seek God, and men are in prayer as well, the church is bound for spiritual power. God is waiting to have a dedicated time of communion with you. He wants to meet you in your private prayer closest. Take the time to get there and share your heart with Him. On the sheet provided, list your request and use them as the subjects you will pray about this week. (See instructions below).

Prayer Instructions

In your time of prayer let the chart provided serve as a guide to comprise your list of prayers. Simply let the list headings prompt you in what you are to pray. (Ex: List 1-I want God…to remove my fears). You are welcome to use a separate sheet of paper to comprise your own list for any particular needs you may have.

Spend time before you pray reading the statements and Bible verses below. After you’ve done the reading take your list to the Lord and talk to Him alone. Keep in mind that Jesus promises that those things taken to God in private will be rewarded openly. He’s waiting…why not seek Him now.

Statements and Prayers

1. I must remember that my Lord said that I should pray always. (Luke 18:1)
2. I must pray with humility, making confession for and repenting of sin. (2 Chr. 7:14)
3. I must be real before God and not hypocritical. (Matt. 6:5)
4. I must prefer private prayer above public prayer. (Matt. 6:6)
5. I must use simple and everyday words in my prayers. (Matt. 6:7)
6. I must pray with a sincere and open heart. (Dan. 4:29)
7. I must pray believing that God knows what I need. (Matt. 6:8)

List 1 I want God to…	List 2 I pray that I will…	List 3 I want to feel…

A Spiritual Journey among Women

Week Three: Freely Worshipping God Both Privately and Corporately

More than anything there is a need for free spirited worship. This is not a license to do whatever we want to do in worship. The Bible is clear that corporate worship is an organized event to be led by those responsible for its spiritual enhancement. The Pastor has his responsibility, church officers have their responsibility, and the music ministry has their responsibility. Nevertheless, this doesn’t hinder the responsibility that the membership has. All of God’s people should enter into the sanctuary of the Lord prepared to actively get involved in worship.

Every individual should come to the sanctuary with a prepared heart for worship. No one should have to prompt the congregation into being active in worship. At the appropriate time the believer should feel the prompting of the Holy Spirit to lift their hands in worship and adoration unto God.

The Psalmist says that we should desire to be in the presence of God as the deer thirsts after water. This is a beautiful picture of God’s people literally panting, exasperated by their search to find His presence.

Your charge for this week is to seek His presence in private worship. Simply follow the instructions below to help you gain an appreciation for private and personal worship. You may have to sing, but don’t worry the only one that will hear you is the host of heaven. Also, read the statements and Bible verses below as you prepare to enter into your time of worship. They are meant to help you focus on God’s glorious presence as you walk into His throne room.

1. Psalms 42:1-This verse prompts us to seek God with passion. We are called upon to yearn for Him like the deer yearns to quench their thirst. We should thirst after God.
2. Isaiah 6:1-5-This passage suggests that we should never allow anyone or anything to hinder our personal worship experience. In this passage Isaiah finds himself seeing God in ways he had never done before. Most of what the prophet expresses comes from what he experienced after Uzziah died. What or who is your Uzziah? Whatever or whoever it is loose it and let it go.

Spend time every opportunity you get to praise God. Remember that praising God means that you tell Him what you appreciate about Him. It is also a form of bragging on Him. Also, spend time worshipping God whenever time allows and especially during the corporate time of worship. The key here is to actively express what He is worth to you, both privately and corporately, whether alone or at the moment you walk into the sanctuary. Get engaged in the overall experience of worship and watch Him bless your life.

Appendix: For use as a guide and a tool to help enhance this experience.

1. Seeking God’s Presence: This means to look for God in all of His glory. This is to be done in private. Here are the things you are to do to conduct this search:

1. Fast-Simply give up something for a period of consecrated sacrifice. (Generally food or beverages). Caution: Those that take medicines should be careful to maintain proper dietary requirements for their prescribed medicines.

1. Choose a schedule. When will you fast?
2. Choose a partner. (At least to pray with you).
3. Choose the period of fasting. (2, 4, 6 or 8 hours but no more than 8).
4. Do it.
2. Effectual and Fervent Prayer-This means to be serious and full of energy during your times of prayer. Prayer must be filled with passionate energy. Here’s what to do:
1. Spend designated time in consecrated prayer.
2. Prepare a list of things to pray about and use it in your time of prayer. (See instructions on page 4 and page 5 for the list)
3. Pray with a partner regularly.
3. Freely Worship God Corporately and Privately. This calls for active participation during regular worship among other believers. When the music is going forth, listen to the words and open your heart to the melody. When preaching is going forth, keep your bibles in front of you and actively listen to the message. For private worship do the following:
1. Schedule time to be alone with God.
2. Be free and open with your expression of His worth.
3. Sing hymns or songs of praise and worship.

2. Focus on prayer. This is such an important time in the life of our church that your active involvement in prayer is only the beginning of God’s movement. As the Spirit of the Lord moves through our prayer life, other areas of your life will be affected. You must keep your focus to be blessed by this experience. Thus I am asking you to:

1. Stay away from all things that are negative. If someone is speaking negatively, regarding anything cut them short and insist on changing the tone of the conversation. (Read Phil. 4:8)

2. Ask God to cause all women to burn with a passion for lost women. Ask Him to remember those that are hurting, suffering at the hands of injustices, and those that are being abused.
3. Finally, ask God to enlighten your heart concerning His will for all women.

3. Journal your thoughts during the experience. This is just as crucial as the other things you are to do. Why? Because in order for the experience to make a deep spiritual impact on all women it has to make an impact on you. As it impacts your life it will inspire thoughts and feelings. Those thoughts and feelings are the testimony of your experience with God before other women. Recording your feelings creates great opportunities to touch others. Here’s what you do:

1. Remember thoughts are like birds, if you don’t cage them up they will fly into someone else’s cage. Write things down.

2. Share your experience with a woman you feel will be blessed by hearing it.
3. Invite a friend to share the experience with you.

Dear Brothers in Christ,

I cannot begin to tell you how trying these times are for all people, especially for men. Over the last 6 months MSNBC has run a special on child internet sexual predators. In the special sex crazed men are drawn to a house by their lustful desires for sex with teenaged girls and boys.

To me it is an indictment against the social fiber of our country. It proves that men; whether preacher, priest, school teacher, bus driver, police officer, soldier or garbage truck driver, are hiding a demon that lurks behind the cyber walls of their late night chat room exploits; all the while targeting innocent children to use for sexual pleasures.

The truth of the matter is that it is the lustful and drawing power of the flesh that pulls men into the life of internet seduction. It is also only symptomatic and under girded by a greater cause-sin. James says, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” (Ja. 1:14)

When we look at the condition of our community, city, and country, it is not hard to see why there is such degradation and dysfunction. Like the first man-Adam, we’ve have allowed the God ordained order for responsibility in the home to be usurped while our families are being torn to pieces. We leave our women to fin for themselves. Furthermore, we leave our children to grow up in homes without the balanced presence of manhood.

The urgency of our condition calls for prayer. More black men are being enslaved in prisons than ever before. Today’s prison system is more about the business of money than it is about reconditioning the person. If you are an African American man under 30 years of age, your outlook on life is probably colored by Hip-hop moguls driving Phantoms, Bentleys, and Maybachs.

My ambition in ministry is to call men (the male species specifically) and women into repentance. We have fallen short. Men have abdicated their role in the home as priest. While women, in an effort to fill the vacancy abandoned by the man, seized the reigns of matriarchal headship, leaving the life-giving/nurturing role as man’s partner open and vacant. (Gen. 2:18)

This journal raises the significance of men being in their place, so that women can feel comfortable holding up their place as ministers unto one another and to their households. Before God made the woman He made the man. He took a little dust and made Adam, and then took a little Adam and made Eve. Her perfection was taken from his essence. (Gen. 2:22-25; 1 Cor. 11:8-9)

Thus, there is a dual role of interdependence and spiritual submission one to another in the Lord. (Eph. 5:22-33) Men thus operating as priest of the home will lead their families in prayer, worship, giving, and service to the local church. Women, supporting the headship of their husbands in all things, will literally free herself and household to be what God has called them all to be.

The dilemma of manhood impacts the home, church, and community. Solving the problem begins with sounding the trumpet of hope. When the blast of hope rings aloud ears of anticipation will awaken to its piercing call. Men everywhere will recognize the toll for manhood to rise and will not allow deafening ears to be excused.

Part of the answer to our problem is when men step forth and lead in prayer. Men that pray bring hope to a home that is in dysfunction. Praying men understand that teenagers require more than just the mother’s ruling hand, but also knows that the authoritative presence of a father balances the home.

This is my aim. I want to help every man in our church be what the Bible says he should be. By taking time to read through this journal and discovering what the Word of God designates as the role of the man in the home, church, and community, we men will do more of what God has called us to do as men.

My personal philosophy is that when men know who and whose they are they will create portals of freedom for their families to be all that scripture calls them to be. The misnomer in church life is that one group is superior while the other is inferior, when God says all humans are interdependent of one another and dependent upon Him. (1 Cor. 11:11-12)

This journal will enlighten you and raise a Biblical principle for all men to be actively involved in the total worship program of the church. Therefore, men are encouraged to get to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Men are to edify one another in the Lord. Men are to learn how to be priest in their homes through mentoring and discipleship. Men are to lift the down trodden and minister to the infirmed man.

We will fail God if we are not active in the worship experience. Our text for this study is first Timothy 2:8-15 and is directed toward men. Paul’s mention of women is not to disallow the role of women in active ministry, but to help open the doors for all people to be free to worship by asking the women to allow their men to pray, worship, and believe openly.

Take this journey with me my brother. At the end of our trip we will disembark this spiritual boat into broader waters and will travel on the sea of spiritual liberation while maintaining Biblical integrity for all God’s people. I look forward to praying with you.

Pastor Michael L. Randle

Illuminating the Passage

Scholars note that Paul wrote one third of the New Testament. He is the Apostle to the Gentile Church and the spiritual father to most of the churches in the New Testament era. He likewise is the organizing pastor of the churches that his protégé’s Timothy and Titus where shepherds over. Paul’s writings are highly respected by many. (2 Pet. 3:15-16)

When Paul dealt with a spiritual matter he dealt with it all the way to the core. He deals with salvation in Romans chapter 10 by going all the way to its core; “Faith…cometh…hearing by…word of God…with the heart…mouth…believe and confess unto salvation” are all part of his theological perspective on salvation. (Rom. 10:9-17) Paul made sure that the church at Rome got it right when it came to salvation. Chapter 1-2 is only the beginning. Chapter 3 sheds light on the depth of the sin problem. Chapters 4-6 put us all on the same page. Chapters 7-10 tell us how Paul Himself is a sinner and how we all are more than conquers. By the end of the book you have the Roman’s Road to Salvation.

Such is the case in First Timothy 2:8-15. Paul is addresses a church matter at its core. He is trying to help Timothy learn how to deal with the worship gathering. He helps the young fledgling pastor see that leading the people of God involves learning how to conduct ourselves in the gathered worship experience.

The Bible is clear that the church is God’s primary vehicle for accomplishing His work in the earth. (Matt. 16:18-20) Paul is helping the young pastor understand how he is to help the church conduct itself. (1 Tim. 3:15) He calls God’s church, “The church of the living God and pillar of hope…” which implies that the church is so significant in the earth that we are the tabernacles where He resides and a place of hope for the world.

The problems with the first century church are squashed by the issues that peril the 21^st century church. Today we are still facing issues that Paul addressed in this letter to Timothy. First, “No other doctrine…” (1 Tim. 1:3) Here Paul told Timothy that part of his job would include making sure that false teaching was straightened out.

Paul also told Timothy that he was to wage a good warfare. (1:18) He then rushes into the center of his letter and explains how to live as a Christian in a world with non-believers who have ruling authority? Paul’s answer is to pray for them. (2:1-3) Paul then addresses his call to preach in light of Jesus being the “One mediator between God and man.” (2:5-7) He then comes to our text under study. (2:8-15) Read this passage several times for clarity.

Whereas most men use this text to defend their position against women in ministry, I want to argue that it is more about men in ministry than women. My personal feelings is that there is no either/or but a both/and factor concerning ministry applications in the local church. I feel that when men get their roles right women will automatically have their roles right. Thus, I believe that Paul helps Timothy to help other men get their roles right.

Meditating on the Passage:

Be sure to read all references. Pray that God would give you clarity on the teaching points below. In the passage Paul gives Timothy these seven points of reference especially for men: (1 Tim. 2:8-15)

1. Be Men of Prayer: Vs. 8-Paul instructs Timothy to encourage men to “pray everywhere.” Men of prayer are generally accompanied by women of prayer. That’s the partnership in Christ Jesus that we should all strive to have. Our church must be a place where men pray in public worship, at home, and wherever the opportunity avails itself.
2. Be Men of Worship: Vs. 8-Paul urges Timothy to encourage men to be active in worship. Paul’s statement, “Lift up holy hands…” is an admonition for men to not sit somber and silent in worship, but to engage themselves in the spirit of worship through the active gesture of lifted hands.
3. Be Men of Peacefulness: Vs. 8-Paul tells Timothy to help men see that their temperament is a gage for the atmosphere in the home and church. Brawling men create an atmosphere of fear not freedom. Paul says that men should worship without “Wrath.” In other words, men should show themselves as peaceful beings, especially during the gathered assembly of the church and in their own homes.
4. Be Men of Faith: Vs. 8-Paul says that men should worship without “Doubting.” It goes without saying my brothers if we have no faith we cannot please God. (Heb. 11:6) How can we worship Him whom we do not trust? Furthermore, how can we honor Him with a song if in our hearts we doubt His power to change our lives? When men begin to worship, without doubting God’s presence and power, the church will become a power source for all that attend.
5. Be Men of Holiness: Vs. 9-Paul begins to address women here. However, the key to understand what he says to them is to keep in mind that he started out addressing men and the transition word for women is, “Likewise…” Here Paul says that women are to be involved in doing everything he just instructed the men to do. If men are to pray, so are the women. If men are to lift holy hands so are the women. If men are to be peaceful, faithful, and people of honor, so are the women. In this verse he takes issue with women, perhaps a particular group contextually, but all women ultimately; to dress moderately as becoming one that professes godliness. If women are to dress appropriately then “Likewise” should all men. Attire speaks of inner character.
6. Be Men of Responsibility: Vs. 12-13-Here Paul presents an argument that has divided the church for years. Some say he silences women totally and for good. Others teach that he was just presenting a personal distaste for the women of a particular church in the 1^st century. I say that both sides miss the truth hidden in Paul’s position concerning women in ministry altogether. As we consider the whole counsel of God we see that women are gifted and liberated to be active in ministry. Thus, Paul may not be silencing women totally and for good, but rather reminding both men and women that God has given them both specific responsibilities in the home and church and those that are responsible for headship are in error when they neglect their roles as was Adam at the time of the fall. Neglecting our divinely appointed responsibility is a sin in itself-both for men and women.
7. Be Men of Accountability: Vs. 14-15-Here is another point where clarification is required. Again as the dividing forces for and against women in ministry war against one another, peaceful harmony in the home and church is being neglected. As a result, weak men are afraid of strong minded women; overbearing women are ripping their homes apart just to say, “He ain’t my daddy!” On the other side of the coin are men with spiritual potential who are missing the opportunity to lead their homes spiritually because their spouse considers them less spiritually in-tuned than she. So she orders him around to prove her point. Far worse is that some strong willed men are beating their wives to maintain what he thinks is order and control. All the while the peaceful partnership that God designed in creation is lacking and dying. Here are some major points Paul makes about the accountability of manhood:
1. First he compares Adam’s created position to Eve’s. (2:13) Paul leads into this argument by making it clear that the ancient Old Testament principle of “First Position” never died. He says, “Adam was formed first, then Eve.” Paul is not saying that Eve’s position makes her second citizen, but rather partner along side of him who was first. Eve like Adam has dominion in the earth; Adam as the man, Eve as the “wo-man.” If they would have been born in the same household, Eve would have been Adam’s little sister. First born always have special responsibilities in the home.
2. Then Paul says that Adam’s responsibility was different than Eve’s. (2:14) Paul says, “Adam was not deceived.” His argument here says that both are guilty of sin; one through deception and the other disobedience. Paul’s direct reference is just that, Adam disobeyed a direct order from God. (Gen. 3:17) Judgment for sin belongs to all guilty parties, but those with more responsibility shall be judged severely. In Adam’s case his disobedience brought all mankind into sinfulness. (Rom. 5:18-19) In our case, our sin is to refuse to take headship in our homes as priest by allowing our families to determine for themselves what is right. Men should know who they are in Christ so that they can be leaders in a partnership God has designed. (Gen. 1:26) But for men to do this Paul urges them to be responsible not disobedient like Adam.
3. Eve’s Motherhood is a Special Point of Reference. Keeping the theme that Paul has been using we come to another need for clarity in scripture. Paul’s thought concerning women in ministry is not the only issue in this book. He’s dealt with the matter of false teaching; he’s dealt with Timothy preparing for a spiritual battle as a pastor. He then begins to lead the young pastor to a point of clarity for the partnership of men and women in the home and church. Paul speaks in terms of women “learning…believing…worshipping…living holy…and being self-temperate…” throughout this book. (2:11, 15) Yes he does mention that women should be silent. However, we must be clear that Paul is not speaking from a chauvinistic platform trying to keep women bear foot, pregnant and in the kitchen, but helping both men and women remember that their role is special and unique. First, child rearing is what sanctifies us. Second, women are life givers. They are nurturers of our children and partners to all men in taking dominion over our communities. The role of the women is essential in making life manageable and meaningful, but so is the man’s. Paul is speaking in terms of our future state in salvation when he suggests that women are saved through child rearing. In other words, Paul argues that she was created for the nurturing and life-giving role assigned to her (Gen. 2:18; Prov. 31:12-13) by God so that there is balance in the home and church.

Reading and Journaling Schedule

This reading schedule will guide you through the material in this journal. Please be sure to read this schedule before reading the material.

Day 1: Read the letter from Pastor Randle first. It will help you understand the premise from which he wrote this journal. After reading spend a few moments doing the following:

• Take time to think about the condition of our communities. On a blank sheet of paper write down a few of the things you feel have contributed to the negative things going on in our neighborhoods.
• Consider the letter and the issues you jotted down and take a few minutes to ask God to help our church be part of the answer to the problems in our community.
• Be sure to spend a few minutes in prayer with someone else about these issues.

Day 2: Read the “Illuminating the Passage” section of the journal. Be sure to read all the Biblical references. After the reading take five minutes to ask God to help you see the significance of these verses in scripture and what they mean for manhood. Stay in the spirit of prayer throughout the day. Asking…

• God to clear your mind to receive the truth of His Word.
• God to make known to you the principles of manhood.
• God to help you be free from the failures of other men in our world.
• God to help you be healed from any hurt you have experienced as a man.
• God to help you grow in your own manhood.
• God to give you the wisdom to nurture and disciple the men/boys in your family.
• God to teach you how to be more like His “Son” Jesus Christ.

Day 3: Read through the “Meditating on the Passage” section of the journal. Read all seven points of reference throughout your day. Take time to ask God for clarity and understanding of the passage. Pray that He would make known to you what He wants you to see in this passage. Make sure that you spend a few moments jotting down any special thoughts that come to mind. Also, please answer the following questions:

• Do you see yourself as priest of your home? [] Yes [] No
• Does your family hold you accountable for their spiritual well being? [] Yes [] No
• Are you the person that family members come to for advice? [] Yes [] No
• Describe your grip on God’s Word: Check one. [] Strong [] Mediocre [] Weak
• Describe your prayer life: Check one. [] Serious [] Willy Nilly [] Non-existent
• Do you and your wife pray together at home? [] Yes [] No
• Do your children speak only of your faults? [] Yes [] No
• Do you have anyone that you get your spiritual support from? [] Yes [] No

Day 4: Spend this day in total meditation. Take time to fast. (Use the guide for instructions). Be sure to share your experience with another brother. Ask him to answer the questions from day 3 and talk about the difference and similarities in your answers.

Day 5: This is like wise a day of prayer. However, pray about the seven points of reference given in this journal. You are to ask God to help you be all that scripture calls you to be as a man. Use the guide to lead you in your time of prayers. Begin your prayers with…

• Lord, help me to be a man of prayer. Help me to spend time alone with you in prayer. Help me to learn how to pray your word back to you. Help me learn how to call on you for guidance in my daily life. Help me to enjoy my prayer time. Help me to pray for other people.
• Lord, help me to be a man of worship. Help me to feel free to worship you in the gathered assembly of your people. Help me not to be ashamed to show my emotions at church. Help me learn to be a man of praise. Help me lift my hands and lift my voice. Help me learn to be actively involved in the total worship experience. Help me to give my time, talent, and treasure in worship.
• Lord, help me to be a man of peacefulness. Help me to learn to be a man of self control. Help me learn how to treat people that are mean and cold hearted. Help me learn how to be a man of patience with other people. Help me learn to be observant but not judgmental of other people. Help me learn to speak to my family with love and honor. Help me to learn to respect the women in my life. Help me learn to treat the elder women and men as mothers and fathers. Help me to learn to treat younger men and women as brothers and sisters. Help me learn to lead my family into peace and harmony.
• Lord, help me become a man of faith. Help me learn to trust you in everything. Help me learn to look to you for strength and well being. Help me learn to believe that you alone are able to rescue me and my household from the grips of debt. Help me to trust you when people have turned their backs on me. Help me learn to see you in my daily life. Help me learn to know that you are leading and guiding my every step. Help me to look to you when I don’t have answers to my problems.
• Lord, help me to be a man of holiness. Help me to walk upright before other people. Help me to live right in front of my family and closest friends. Help me to do the right thing at all times. Help me to make right choices. Help me to not fall into the trap of sexual sins. Help me to find my pleasure in you and my household. Help me to put away the sins that have become habits in my life. Help me to not harbor hateful feelings and thoughts toward other people. Help me to be holy.
• Lord, help me to be a man of responsibility and accountability. Help me to take the reigns of my family and lead them to spiritual fortitude. Help me to take the responsibility more seriously. Help me to know that as father I am supposed to see after the affairs of my home. Help me to work in conjunction with the women of my life in their giftedness and strength. Help me to see my family as part of my responsibility. Help me to keep in mind that you will judge me for how I lived in front of my family and that I am supposed to lead them with righteousness. Help me to know that one day I will stand in front of you and have to give an account for how I lead my household.

Day 6: Spend today in free meditation. Simply let you mind think naturally on the things you have been praying about. Take a few moments throughout your day to pray and ask God for more understanding concerning your role in the home and church.

Day 7: This is the day of worship for you. Take a few moments to tell another brother what you have learned through this journal. Pray with another brother about his household needs. Ask him if he would consider spending time going through the journal himself.

Sample Congregational Prayer Guide

“The success of any other effort or ministry in the church is directly connected to your fervent successful praying.” – James Walker, Senior Pastor

CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE
“You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.” (Psalm 86:5-6)
Father, we bow in praise and worship before Your throne of grace as we come in confession and repentance, seeking Your forgiveness for the sin in our lives. We confess our sin of unrighteousness – the sin of unfaithfulness, rebellion and compromise.
We acknowledge that we are nothing without You and we ask for Your forgiveness and cleansing. Father, we yield ourselves to You and ask that You clothe us with Your righteousness. We acknowledge You as Almighty, Sovereign, Holy God and we desire to be salt and light for use in Your Kingdom.
Help us to serve you without selfish ambitions, and may we remember that all of our work in Your name is for Your Kingdom purposes and Your glory alone. We praise You for Your faithfulness to us and thank You for Your wisdom and direction in our lives. You alone are worthy of our praise.

OUR WARFARE
Father, thank You for Your provision as we go into battle against the enemy. By Your power You have defeated the enemy and we choose to stand ready to resist his strategies. May our motivation remain pure and our attention only given to Godly ambition. Help us to stand firm as we clothe ourselves with the armor you have provided:
• The Helmet of Salvation,
• The Breastplate of Righteousness,
• The Belt of Truth,
• The Shield of Faith,
• The Sandals of peace, and
• The Sword of the Spirit – Your Word.
Father, show us where the enemy is waiting to tempt us or cause us to fall – in our personal lives, in our family, in the workplace, and in the church.
May we honor and glorify You with pure lives as the body of Christ at Biltmore. How awesome is Your name, O Lord most high.
Open the eyes of our hearts so that we may know You better. Because of Your great love and mercy for us through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, we take our place with You in the heavenly realms.
Saturate Biltmore Baptist Church with Your presence, Lord Jesus, and may You alone be honored and exalted in every ministry and activity; we will give you all praise when people marvel at the works of Your hands.

A PRAYING CHURCH
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)
Father, may our only desire be to please You. With wisdom and grace, cause our hearts to focus on You, and help us to stay alert and keep on praying for all the saints.
Father, bind the enemy’s strategies and place a protective hedge around the Biltmore Baptist Church campus.
Guard our hearts, O God, and remove anyone who might hinder or stand against Your desire and ministry for this church. May the harmony and support of the Biltmore family bring honor to Your Name.
Grant us wisdom and discernment, and the knowledge to understand Your Kingdom purpose as Biltmore begins the Strategic Planning Process. We ask for Your will and direction in every decision, and grant us the grace to walk in step with You – not too fast or too slow. Take us beyond the physical things, and establish us in Your love.
We acknowledge that we are nothing without You, but with You great things can be accomplished for Your Kingdom.
Holy Father, we acknowledge You as our great Creator God, and recognize You as THE ultimate authority. Strengthen President Bush and our national, state, and local leaders to lead with truth and integrity, and surround them with wise counsel.

A REACHING CHURCH
“May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.” (Psalm 90:17)
Father, may we be faithful to carry out the instruction You have given us through Your Word, to go into Western North Carolina and all the world with the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.
We pray that You will continue to provide additional staff for the growth of ministry and outreach at Biltmore according to Your plan and purpose.
Father, use the Café on the Rock to expand Your Kingdom and bring honor and glory to Your Name.
Father, as You call them out, may Mission Teams throughout the year take the love of Jesus all over the world, and men, women, boys and girls, be ready and willing to surrender to full time or part time ministry.
Bring people into Biltmore by Your design and plan and help us to accomplish Your Kingdom purpose. May we understand Your love for us while we seek to follow Your will.
We pray for Your wisdom and discernment for the leadership as they seek Your perfect will for future growth and Phase III direction for Biltmore.

AN EQUIPPING CHURCH
Show us your ways, O Lord, teach us your paths, guide us in your truth and teach us, for you are God our Savior, and our hope is in you all day long.” (Psalm 25:4-5)
Father, we acknowledge You as the equipper of the saints, to Your glory alone. You are worthy of our complete devotion and service.
May we be filled with Your Spirit, and may lives be changed as Your Word is shared and taught from the pulpit and throughout this campus.
May the love You showed us through our Lord Jesus Christ be the foundation of the teaching in our Bible Fellowship Groups at Biltmore; give wisdom and discernment to our teachers as they reflect Your love.
Father, reveal Your love and purpose for each life through Life University and Singles @ The Well; and may Your glory abound as people are drawn into a closer, more intimate walk with You.
Father, may Your name be exalted throughout our Children and Youth areas of ministry; raise up our children and youth to honor and glorify You with their lives.

A MINISTRY CHURCH
Keep on loving each other as brothers. (Hebrews 13:1)
Father, we acknowledge You as the giver of all good things, including our material possessions. May our tithe of time and money be only the beginning of our complete surrender and obedience to You. Give us willing hearts to use all that we are and have to enlarge Your kingdom on earth.
Cover this campus with Your Spirit, Father, so future generations may know of Your greatness. May all who come behind us find us faithful in the way we spend Your resources today and give us wisdom to know how to leave resources for future generations through the Light Foundation.
Equip and enable our deacons as they honor You in ministry to the families at Biltmore.
As children and families are drawn to Biltmore through our Sports Outreach programs, may You be honored and glorified in their lives.
May men and women surrender their lives to Your purpose through Celebrate Recovery and other ministries provided through HOPE Network, as the love of the Lord Jesus Christ is proclaimed.
Father, may You be honored and acknowledged through the gifts and talents You have given Your children as they find their area of service through PLACE Ministry.
As we abide in You may our ministry of serving others reflect Your love and compassion, and draw more people to follow and serve You.

A WORSHIPING CHURCH
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” (Psalm 95:1-2 )
As the body of Christ at Biltmore gathers for worship, may You be exalted, Lord Jesus. May our hearts be pure and open as the Holy Spirit is given free reign to bring all our focus on You.
As worship leaders, may the choir, praise teams and orchestra be used as clean vessels to bring honor and glory to Your Name.
Father, we praise You for the people who made life changing decisions during Carolina Mountain Christmas. May every worship service at Biltmore encourage people to seek and follow You, Lord Jesus.
Father, as we enter Your throne room with thanksgiving and praise, may our only desire be to encounter You and please You with all our heart.
As a spiritual act of worship, and in obedience, we offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to You, O God. May our lifestyles reflect our obedience and worship.

JERUSALEM
ABCCM: Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministries
Dr. Craig Bailey: Dir. Of Missions-Buncombe Baptist Association
Vic and Vicki Howard: WNC Rescue Ministries/Martha Home/Samaritan Shoppe
Carter & Ronda Pounders: the body in downtown Asheville
Deb Wood/Jill Derrick/Joyce Wilson: Asheville Pregnancy Center

JUDEA
Heath Davis and staff: Pinnacle Church, Canton, NC
Ron and Mimi Pownall: EQUIP, Marion, NC
Randy Shepherd and Jamie Johnson: Crossfire Ministries

SAMARIA
Randy and Ronda Corn: Disaster Relief, North American Mission Board

ENDS OF THE EARTH
Bob & JoAnn Burdette: Africa
Ceci: Central Asia
Jim and Joy Danielson: Canada
David Phelan: Institute of Biblical Leadership - leadership training for pastors (underground) in a closed country...

OUR STAFF
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.” (Psalm 91:14)
Father, guide the staff in paths of righteousness for Your name sake. Give them strong hearts for holiness and purity as they lead Your people at Biltmore. Enable them to work in harmony and unity according to Your will for their ministries, and help them stay alert to the strategies of the enemy that would distract them.
Father, may the staff be reflectors of Your love and may Your faithfulness provide a shield from harm, as they find refuge under the shelter of Your wings.

OUR MISSIONARIES
“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” ( 1 Corinthians 15:58 )
Father, this is our prayer for our missionaries – the people You have called out to serve You around the world. We pray that You will be their strength and shield. Hide them in the shelter of your presence and keep them safe from the evil one. Give them the desires of their heart as they delight in You. (Psalm 37:4)

And now we lift before Your throne these serving in our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the Ends of the Earth:
Add your local missionaries to this section ~ Add your foreign “called out ”missionaries to this section

LEADERSHIP AND VISION CASTING
James I. Walker, Senior Pastor
Jane McConnell, Executive Assistant
WORSHIP TEAM
Carl Setterlind, Pastor of Exalt Ministries...
EQUIPPING TEAM
Ryland Whitehorn, Pastor of Education...
REACHING TEAM
Mike McKee, Pastor of Missions and Evangelism...
PRAYING/MINISTRY TEAMS
Carl Toth, Associate Pastor
Carolyn Fuqua, Prayer Ministry Coordinator
Dot Smith, Prayer Ministry Assistant...
SUPPORTING/SERVING TEAM
Ron Setran, Business Administrator...

Registration for The 2007 National Meeting of the City Impact Roundtable

Registration for

The 2007 National Meeting of the City Impact Roundtable

El Paso, TX (Juarez, El Paso, Las Cruces region)

April 19-21, 2007

3 Ways to Register: (Please fill out a separate registration form for each individual attending.)

Fax: 760-200-8837 (if paying by credit card) or

Online: Pending

Mail: Attn: Dee Neely, Mission America, PO Box l3930, Palm Desert, CA 92255 (if paying by check or credit card. Make check payable to Mission America Coalition)

• Early-bird Registration $120 (before January 15)
• $135 January 16 - February 15
• Regular Registration $150 (January 16 – April 6)
• Late Registration $175 (April 7-19 )
• Single day registration: $70 Thursday with banquet, $50 without

$70 Friday

$50 Saturday

Please note: Full registration includes 3 meals but does not include lodging.

Register your lodging at Hilton El Paso Airport by Feb 2 for CIR rate of $75.00 - $83.00 per night. Hotel phone: 915-778-4241

http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?moreDesc=true&ctyhocn=ELPHIHF

Title: _________ Name: ________________________________________________________

Ministry Name: _______________________________________________________________

Mailing Address: ______________________________________________________________

City: ______________________ _____________ State: ________ Zip Code: ______________

Phone: __________________________ Cell or other: _______________________________

Email: __________________________________________

Website: ________________________________________

____ I have enclosed my check payable to the Mission America Coalition $________ (amount)

OR

____ Please bill my credit card: ___ Visa ___ MasterCard ___ AmEx $____________(amount)

Card Number ________________________________________ Exp Date _________________

Signature Authorization _________________________________________________________

info@cityreaching.com * Phone: 952-224-3127 (9-noon Mon-Fri CST) * www.cityreaching.com

RESOURCE ~ Bulletin/Newsletter Prayer Moments

Prayer Minute . . .

PM#0001 > Praise for God's Thoughts to Us

Jeremiah 29:11

Did you know that someone is constantly thinking about you? ---that's right—about you!

The Bible says that God's thoughts to us are numerous. His thoughts are to give us a hope and a future. Jer 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

I don't know about you, but I find it beyound my personal comprehension that our God is so interested in us. But the fact is, He is. This is a reason to come before Him with thanksgiving, praise, and to have hope. Our prayers should reflect this.

Father, we just want to thank You, for Your great love to us and wonderful thoughts for us. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

PM#0005 > God’s Will

I John 5:14

Years ago, I was taught that we should not use written prayers. I thank the Lord that he has since showed me that some of the written prayers used in churches are actually taken from God's word. When we use those prayers, which are based on scripture, we are praying using God's word.

The word of God represents God's will. I John 5:14 says "And this is the confidence that we have in Him that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us:” Therefore when using prayers based on scripture, we are praying in accordance with God's will. Knowing this should encourage us to include scripture in our prayers.

Father, we thank you for your encouragement to us to include scripture in our prayers. In Jesus’ Name, amen.


PM#0007 > Resolution

Psalm 51:10 Living Bible

How many times do we make a resolution to change our ways?

And sometime later what has happened? Many find themselves failing their resolution. They would probably have to admit that they did not ask help especially from Jesus. What God wants of us is to let Him help us; help us to develop in us what He wants for us. Coming to the Lord through prayer and humility can bring that help.

King David prayed a prayer, recorded in Psalm 51:10, which says "Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires.”

Consider this prayer: ‘Our Heavenly Father, create within me a clean heart, O God, and may it be filled with clean thoughts and right desires. I pray this In Jesus’ Name, amen.

PM#0008 > Who’s Control?

Jeremiah 12:2

Have you ever thought about what really controls you?

We are warned in Jer 12:2 that we may often speak of the Lord, but He is not controlling us or guiding us. That verse says: "Thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins." I believe the word reins could be likened to the reins used on a horse to control him.

I encourage you to examine what is happening in your life, and turn your heart back to the Lord if you find it true that you are not letting Him have control of your life. Take time and pray today and ask the Lord to guide you. He will help you.

Father, may we learn to let you guide us daily and to seek your wisdom through prayer. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

PM#0009 > Wisdom in Difficulties

James 1:5

Do you ever have problems that arise and there is no obvious reason? No matter what you do, that problem always seems to be there.

God knows about your situation, and there is help from Him if you are willing to obey His word. Through prayer we can ask for wisdom. It may take some time and counsel from the Word of God for it to come. Seeking out Godly saints like your pastor may also help. God's wisdom will help you see the root of the problem and Jesus can set us free from that root. He broke the power of sin at Calvary. James 1:5 says "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God." God wants to help us and be involved with every one of us.

Father, you know our circumstances and we ask for your guidance and wisdom. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

©2005 Lewis Turner

Uncommon Prayer ~ The 12 Stations of Love

The Agape Factor:
Twelve Ways to Love
Romans 12:9-16 There is an amazing scene at the end of the 1996 movie Marvin’s Room. Bessie, played by Diane Keaton, has cared for her ill father and her aunt for 20 years. After learning that she has leukemia, she receives a visit from her estranged sister Lee, played by Meryl Streep. Bessie tells Lee, “I’ve been lucky to have had so much love in my life.” Lee says yes, her father and her aunt really do love her. Bessie seems taken aback for a moment. Her sister doesn’t understand. Bessie doesn’t mean she’s lucky to be loved. She means she is lucky to have had so much love to give to others.

Lucky to love. What an amazing perspective. If we are full of God’s love, it will overflow to others. I received a note from a friend who writes:

Life is so good with God in the center. Now problems turn into solutions, fear turns into hope, anger turns to love. I’m free in God and it’s the best place to be. I’ve learned to take risks and face challenges. I take no credit for any of this. To God be all the glory. He never let go. He took me from a bitter, unhappy, depressed alcoholic and gave me the wings of eagles, soaring to heights I never dreamed possible. He’s given me his words to share with other alcoholics, he’s restored my family, and has filled me with His love each day.

That testimony is wonderful in many respects, not least because it perfectly illustrates what it means to have love overflowing in your life. Only God can do that, and he does it whenever he finds a willing heart.

Romans 12:9-16 seems at first glance to be an unconnected series of staccato commands, a "rag bag" of miscellaneous exhortations, but a closer examination reveals that these verses flesh out what love looks like in the Christian life. The theme of the passage is not hard to find: Love must govern all our relationships. John Stott calls this Paul's "recipe for love" and notes that it seems to have twelve "ingredients."

1. Love Must be Sincere.

"Let love be Genuine" (v. 9a).

The word "genuine" literally means "without hypocrisy." It originally referred to an actor who played a certain role on stage. It came to mean anyone who acts contrary to his own true feelings. It particularly applies to those who put forth the appearance of virtue that they do not actually possess. Eugene Peterson (The Message) offers this paraphrase: "Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it."

2. Love Must be Discerning.

"Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good" (v. 9b).

Love hates evil! Think about that for a second. Often we think of love as an ooey-gooey emotion that causes us to lose our sense of right and wrong, but that's far from true Christian love. We cannot love evil and love God at the same time any more than we can love money and love God at the same time. Here's another way to put it. Don't ever get over being shocked by evil. That's hard to do in a world where almost anything goes. Here's a good test. When was the last time you blushed? In the olden days, we blushed when something risqué appeared on television. Now we hardly notice it or we laugh at it. Alexander Pope, the 18th-century English poet, offered this warning:

Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.

Sometimes we say, “Love is blind.” God says, “No, love needs clear vision.” Our love needs discernment or else we will end up loving things we ought not to love—and entering into relationships that are not good for us. While love is supreme, it is never enough.

Not every relationship is a good relationship.
Not every choice is a good choice.
Not every friendship is good for us.
Not every job is a wise career move.
Not every roommate is a healthy choice.
Not every purchase is a wise use of our money.

There are really two parts to making wise choices: First, you must know what is right. This is crucial because we live in a world where many people evidently have lost all sense of right and wrong. Everything appears to them as shades of gray. Second, you must have the courage to choose what you know to be right. I happened to catch a few minutes of a televised speech by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. During the question time someone asked how he managed to deal with all the criticism that comes to anyone in a high-profile position. He replied that the most important thing in life is to discover what you believe to be true, and then to stand up for those beliefs no matter what. He then added these words: “If you do what you know is right, it doesn’t matter what people think.” True discernment gives you vision to see what is right and then the courage to choose to do it.

Please take Paul's words to heart!

Never get over being shocked by evil.
Glue yourself to what is good.

3. Love Must Display Tender Affection.

"Love one another with brotherly affection" (v. 10a).

Paul uses two words that speak of the love of family members for each other. One of them is a word you already know--philadelphia. It comes from two Greek words that have been joined together:philos, which means tender affection, fondness, devotion," and adelphos, usually translated "brother," but it literally means "one born of the same womb.” So the word philadelphia literally means "tender affection owed to those born from the same womb.” It's easy to understand why the early Christians adopted this word to describe Christian love. All Christians have been "born of the same womb" through the new birth. Everyone who is saved is saved the same way. God doesn't have three different plans of salvation--Plan A for Protestants, Plan B for Catholics, and Plan C for everyone else. Jesus said, “You must be born again” (John 3:3). To be born again means to receive new life through personal faith in Jesus Christ. It means to be “born from God’s womb.”

Let me illustrate. I have three brothers—Andy, Alan, and Ron. I am the second of four Pritchard brothers. We’re all very different. Andy lives in Alabama, Alan and I live in Mississippi, and Ron lives in Arkansas. We have different personalities, different habits and hobbies, different likes and dislikes. Yet one thing binds us together. We come from the same womb. That fact means that there is a special place in my heart for my brothers so that even if I haven’t seen them for a long time, it’s as if I last saw them yesterday. There is a bond between us that time and distance cannot break.

The same truth applies in the spiritual realm. Everyone who belongs to Jesus belongs to me. And I owe all of them tender affection and brotherly love. Let us be clear about this. We are to love all true believers everywhere all the time. That’s hard because most of us have some inner qualifications. We don’t like this group or that denomination. Maybe we’re not comfortable with people who speak in tongues or with those who use a Prayer Book. We may even distrust people who have a different worship style that we do. Maybe we have some preferences regarding skin color or ethnic background. Put simply, all such thinking is simply wrong and must be abandoned. God’s kingdom is not limited to graduates of one seminary or members of one denomination or to people who look, think and act just like us. God’s kingdom embraces all true believers no matter who they are or what church they happen to attend.

4. Love Must Honor Others.

"Outdo one another in showing honor"(v. 10b).

The Greek word actually has a sense of competition about it, so the translation “outdo one another” is very accurate. We live in a day where the opposite seems to be case. We hear much about quotas, preferential treatment and affirmative action. In the Christian context, it means that we take affirmative action to make sure that others receive preferential treatment before we do. This obviously goes so much against our human nature that it is not possible without the infusion of God's Holy Spirit in our hearts. President Ronald Reagan had this saying on his desk in the Oval Office: "There is no limit to how far you can go if you don't care who gets the credit." Paul would say "Amen!"

5. Love Must be Enthusiastic.

"Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord" (v. 11).

John Stott notes that religious "enthusiasm" is often derided as nothing but excessive emotionalism and a sign of fanaticism. Yet the man we call a fanatic becomes a fan when he goes to a football game and cheers himself hoarse. But Paul's words have nothing to do with how loud we sing or how much we clap or whether or not we raise our hands when we worship. Those things are purely secondary. Paul is challenging us to put as much effort into our Christianity as we do into our work. The Amplified Bible catches the meaning very well: "Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord." The phrase "be aglow and burning with the Spirit" refers to a boiling pot. Serve the Lord with zeal and boiling intensity. The world will not be moved by half-hearted disciples who "sort of" serve the Lord. The story is told of a Communist who said to a Christian acquaintance, "If I believed what you believe, I would crawl over a field of broken glass to make sure everyone heard the news." Living as we do in an age of terrorism and international instability, there is no time to waste. "The King's business requires haste."

6. Love Must be Patient.

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer" (v. 12).

Behind these three phrases lies the hope of our Lord's return. While we wait for Jesus to return from heaven, we must be patient in hard times, constantly praying, and rejoicing in the hope of better days to come. When V. Raymond Edman was president of Wheaton College, he often exhorted the students, "Chin up and knees down." That's good advice for all of us.

7. Love Must be Generous.

"Contribute to the needs of the saints" (v. 13a).

The word translated "contribute" is the verb form of the word koinonia, to share with others. On one level it means sharing in the hurts and heartaches of others. On another level, it means opening our pocketbook and giving so that the poor believers will have their needs met. Here is a true measure of your Christian faith. What are you doing to meet the needs of those who have less than you? We can extend this to supporting God's work around the world. Do you give "off the top" or "off the bottom" of your paycheck? Your answer says something important about the state of your soul.

8. Love Must Pursue Hospitality.

"Seek to show hospitality" (v. 13b).

The Greek word for hospitality is philoxenia, a compound made up of two other Greek words --philos, which means "kind affection" or "love" and xenos, which means "stranger" or “foreigner." Literally, philoxenia means "one who loves strangers." Hospitality means "showing kindness to strangers." This command shows up in various places in the New Testament because hospitality was a central mark of the early church. In the first century they didn't have Holiday Inns, Red Roof Inns, Executive Suites or Hilton Hotels. When Paul came to Corinth, he couldn't check into the Airport Marriott because it hadn't been built yet.

The few inns they did have were ill-kept and dangerous. Many were little more than brothels and havens for brigands and robbers. As Christians traveled from place to place across the Empire, they didn't have the option of staying in a motel. The only way the Christian message could spread would be for Christians to open their homes to others. The only way an evangelist from Antioch could make it in Ephesus would be for a family in Ephesus to open their home to him. The only way a teacher from Caesarea could visit Cyprus would be for someone from Cyprus to open his home and say, "My Brother, you are welcome to stay with me."

I once preached a sermon entitled "Confessions of a Xenophiliac." I began with a confession that there is no such word as xenophiliac. I just made it up by switching around philoxenia, the actual Greek word for hospitality. But I like xenophiliac because it sounds like it ought to be a word even if it's not. Just before I preached the sermon, one of my staff members prayed, "O God, we thank you that you are the original xenophiliac." At first it sounded odd. And then in a flash it hit me. It's true. God is the original "lover of strangers." For while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). While we were estranged from God, He sent his Son to the earth. And we who were once strangers and aliens on the earth have now been brought near to God by the blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:11-13).

We are no longer strangers, no longer aliens, no longer orphans, no longer far away from God. We are now as near to God as His own Son is, for through the blood of Jesus we are brought into His family. Because He loved us when we were strangers, we are strangers no more.

That same thing happens today when we show hospitality to others. We are only doing for others what God did for us.

9. Love Must be Kind.

"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them" (v. 14).

There are two parts to this that we must consider:

1. What happens to us.
2. How we respond.

We will be persecuted. We will be hated, mistreated, misunderstood, lied about, gossiped about, and there will be those who go beyond this to hurt us deeply, leaving scars that last for a lifetime. Sometimes the attacks come from those closest to us, sometimes from within our own family, often from our circle of very close friends, and sometimes from people we thought were our best friends. There is no escaping this reality, and to deny it is like denying the sun comes up in the east and sets in the west. Sooner or later people we loved and trusted will let us down, and some of them will turn on us. We can't predict how or when it will happen or who it will be, but it will happen, and what will we do then?

How do you bless someone when you would rather curse them? Here’s a simple way to do that. When faced with someone who has mistreated you, ask God to do for them what you want God to do for you. Seek the blessing for them that you want God to do for you. Think of it this way: The greater the hurt, the greater the potential blessing that will come when we bless those who curse us. Remember that your enemy is a gift from God to you. Though you don’t know it and often can’t see it, the person who has hurt you so deeply is a gift from God to you. To say that is not to excuse evil or to condone mistreatment. It is to say exactly what Joseph meant when he said to his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). Our enemies humble us, they keep us on our knees, they reveal our weakness, and they expose our total need for God. Just as David needed King Saul to pursue him, to persecute him and repeatedly attempt to kill him, we need the enemies God sends to us. If we didn’t need them, he wouldn’t send them. Therefore, we thank God who knows best, and we love our enemies the best way we can. Often God raises up an enemy to see if we really want to be like Jesus. He will keep our enemies alive and well as long as we need them.

10. Love Must Show Sympathy.

"Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep" (v. 15).

Love gets involved. It doesn't stand stoically on the sidelines while others go through a hard time. Many of us probably find it easier to weep with someone else than to rejoice with them. It is a good thing when we can laugh with our friends, and then weep with them later.

11. Love Must Live in Harmony.

"Live in harmony with one another" (16a).

The Greek literally reads, "Think the same things toward each other." This does not imply total agreement. After all, if two people totally agree on everything, one of them is unnecessary! The word harmony implies a beautiful symphony, a collection of instruments playing on the same page at the same time. They don't sound alike and they don't play the same notes. So it is in the body of Christ. We don't all look alike or act alike or sound alike. We certainly don't always think alike. If you doubt that, remember the last church business meeting you attended. Or better yet, just listen to the different conversations in the lobby of the church after the morning service. The church--both local and worldwide--is enriched by a variety of different opinions. But there is harmony amid the cacophony of sounds when we understand that the things that unite us are greater than the things that divide us.

12. Love Must Show Humility.

"Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited" (v. 16b).

We can say it more directly. Don't be a snob! The word translated "conceited" means "wise in your own thinking." Don't get the big head. Don't think you are too good to hang out with people who are not in your social class. One translation says, "Make real friends with the poor."

Say what you will about Jesus, but he was no snob. He associated with tax collectors, prostitutes and drunkards. And he reserved his harshest words for the Pharisees who robbed widows' homes and claimed to be serving God. Jesus wasn't a "front runner." He was a true "friend of sinners" who welcomed everyone who wanted to be with him.

Someone told D. L. Moody, "Sir, I am a self-made man.” To which Moody replied, "You have relieved the Almighty of a great responsibility."

Increase the Dosage!

As we come to the end of the message, I can only comment that our churches would be happier if we took this passage to heart. It's one thing to talk about love. It's something else to put it into practice. When the late E. Stanley Jones preached on love, a frustrated church leader reported that he had saturated his congregation with love, but one man was causing trouble and threatening to split the church. What should he do since love didn't seem to be working? "Increase the dosage," retorted Jones. In light of this passage, that was a truly biblical response. Love doesn't look the same way in every situation, and sometimes we must practice "tough love" that may be misunderstood by others. But "increasing the dosage" is still God's prescription for dealing with unlovely people.

You may wonder how to apply a message like this because it covers so much territory. Here are a few suggestions:

1) Memorize Romans 12:9-16 this week.
2) Pray over it a verse at a time, asking God to work these qualities into your life.
3) Pick one or two areas where you need to grow, and write down about where you need to begin.
4) If that's too difficult, just pick one of the twelve and make it your goal to put it into practice this week.
5) As you think and as you pray, ask the Lord to bring specific people to your mind. It is easy (and spiritually dangerous) to be non-specific when it comes to love. If we are to grow in this area, our love must reach out to specific people we meet this week. They may come to us through an email or a phone call or a chance encounter or at a meeting or when we are in a big hurry and on our way to do something really important and we don't have time to be bothered and we would be glad to help them later but they need help now, and what will we do then? That's the real test of love. Or the test may come in dealing with the same old grumpy people you live with or work with or go to school with every single day. Grumpy people need love, and who will do it if not you?

A Community of Love

The most powerful recommendation for any church is this--that the members love one another! The world pines for this . . . and flocks where it is found. When the unchurched are asked ask what they looking for in a church, the answer is always the same. They are looking for a caring church. Not just a friendly church or a relevant church or a church with plenty of programs for the kids. And not just a church where the Bible is clearly taught. As good and essential as those things are, they don’t touch the deepest heart cry of this generation. They want to be loved truly and deeply. When the people of the world find such a place, they stand in line to get in.

How does God help us grow in this area? By putting us in situations that force us to practice Christian love. Over the years I have observed God do this again and again. He allows two people to have difficulties with each other, often to the point of anger and bitterness. He does it because the only way we learn to love is by dealing with unlovely people. I have seen it happen between husbands and wives, parents and children, between co-workers, neighbors, fellow students and relatives. I have seen it happen between church members who couldn't stand each other. By God's grace, people who start out disliking each other often end up as dearest friends.

The church is to be a community of love. We owe it to the Lord, to each other, and to the watching world.

Let brotherly love abound more and more.
Let Christian sympathy go out to those in need.
Let us take the banner of God’s concern around the world.
Let us pray for one another and especially for those with whom we disagree.
Let our hearts overflow with brotherly for all of God’s children everywhere.

Dear Lord Jesus, teach us to love each other as you loved us, Amen.

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