The Holy Spirit’s conviction of each sin brings believers in Christ to the reality that no activity or inactivity in life begins to compare with the daily, fulfilling and enduring fellowship with our Savior Jesus. Giving in to sin’s attractions and self-rewards is a broken rewards program, and the Holy...
Exalt the Lord who has established us! This is the prayer theme for the National Day of Prayer from Col. 2:6-7. I invite you and your family and your friends to the National Day of Prayer Breakfast in the Gatheria at Idlewild, May 5th from 7:00-8:30 am with guest speaker and...
“’Do not come any closer,’ God said. ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.’ Then he said, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ At this, Moses hid his face….’And...
“When he had finished praying…. When Jesus said, ‘I am he,’ they drew back and fell to the ground…. Then Simon Peter…struck the high priest’s servant…. Jesus commanded Peter, ‘Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?’” (John 18:1a, 6, 10a, 11) Jesus’ arrest...
If you are taking interest in fasting, be encouraged here. Fasting is a continual exercise in renewing the mind – It’s practiced one day, one thought, one food image, one hunger pang at a time (make fasting bite sized) There are different fasts, i.e. One meal or One day –...
As we prepare our hearts for 21 Days of Prayer January 9-29 and the Revival services that follow January 30-February 2, let’s consider the following relational responses to a believer’s position in Christ Jesus. These responses are inseparable. They are essential to a believer’s relationship with Jesus including his prayer...
1. Fasting is a continual exercise in renewing the mind. 2. Fasting is practiced one day, one thought, one food image, one hunger pang at a time (Make fasting bite sized). 3. There are different fasts, i.e. One meal One day – all day 24 hours over a 2-day period – supper,...
As we celebrate Thanksgiving, let’s be encouraged in prayer by the Pilgrims who were part of an English church congregation whose faith, convictions and prayer were at the heart of their faithfulness, decisions and their journeys and voyages that resulted in their now historical settlement at Plymouth. Their Governor, William...
"How do we become mature in our prayer life? By praying.” - Henry Blackaby I am trusting that you were refreshed at the Refresh Prayer conference last week. I hope you will get to know the five Lifestyle Prayer Ministries at Idlewild that were highlighted at the conference. They are Watchman on...
"The intimate and intense attention to the truth of the Word produces real worship-based prayer and all its benefits.”...
What does Jesus want for those who are believers in Him? Jesus prayed, as recorded in John 17, the night before He went to the cross. This is the longest account in the Bible of the content of one of His prayers. In addition to his prayers to the Father...
“After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” (Acts 4:31) “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you....
“I…have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared…that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 20:20b-21) “…Paul…took the disciples with him and had discussions daily…so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia...
“Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers and children. But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot...
“Yes, truth is lacking; and he who turns aside from evil makes himself a prey. Now the LORD saw, And it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice. And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede; then...
“Then I thought to this I will appeal; the years of the right hand of the Most High. I will remember the deed of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Your ways,...
“I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of...
“I shall wash my hands in innocence, And I will go about your altar, O LORD, That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving And declare all your wonders. O LORD, I love the habitation of your house And the place where your glory dwells. (Psalm 26:6-8) In times of...
“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly [fervently] praying to God for him….Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. ‘Quick, get up!’ he said, and the chains fell off...
“O that we may be graciously enabled to love God, and live up to our profession! O to be, indeed, the servants of the Lord the lovers of Jesus, this is our main concern.” - Charles H. Spurgeon True worship includes a thankful heart. God acknowledged Israel was continuous in external worship...
“I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way.” (Psalm 142:1-3) “In order for God to make...
“Prayer obtains fresh and continued outpourings of the Spirit. He alone begins the work of grace in a man’s heart. He alone can carry it forward and make it prosper. But the good Spirit loves to be entreated. And those who ask most will have most of his influence .” ...
"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to...
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving...
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened...
“[Jesus] took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.” (Luke 9:28) Jesus insulated himself in prayer. He was able to shut out interruptions. In Luke 9:18-43 great things progressed out of His prayer times. As Jesus prayed in verse 18, the disciples heard the...
“Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.” (Psalm 107:21-22) It is a blessing to have a holiday to not only celebrate our incredible foundations in America, but...
“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (John 16:24) Jim Maxim wrote, “Prayer is first and foremost our fellowship with God the Father; Jesus, His Son; and the Holy Spirit.” Before we ask for anything in...
Pray from your heart. You may be reluctant to pray because you feel inadequate or simply don’t know how or what to pray. Is there something that causes a heaviness in your mind or emotions? On the other hand, are you full of Joy? Start there. Speak these things to...
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15) In the game show,...
“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” (Ephesians 4:7) Some hospitals are currently using a device that somehow tracks the unique blood flow pattern of patients. Apparently each person’s blood flow is so unique that they can be identified simply by laying...
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” (Ephesians 3:16-17a) In one of Paul’s powerful prayers for the church at Ephesus, he prayed that each would be strengthened...
“….Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures...
The theme of the 2019 National Day of Prayer, is “ Love One Another,” based upon the words of Jesus in John 13:34, which say, “Love one another. Just as I have loved you.” Dr. Ronnie Floyd, the President of the NDP, said that “Love can change America….We need a baptism...
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he...
Prayer opens doors. Some doors have never been easier to walk through. Vehicles often require only the push of a button for a door or tail gate to slide or lift open. Most grocery stores open their doors with motion detectors of some kind so the door is opened for you...
God answers prayers for His glory. God answers prayers of obedience. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah appeared outnumbered as he stood in opposition to the wicked King Ahab and at least 850 prophets of pagan deities. In obedience to the LORD, he challenged the people to call on their gods to light...
Prayer is for every believer. Every believer should be empowered and blessed through prayer. Every believer gets to pray. In prayer we worship and fellowship with God. In prayer we listen to God, we pray for others and we earnestly call on the Lord in every situation. Ephesians 6:18 says “…pray...
“…After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” (Acts 4:31) God answers prayers. The believers were praying after the disciples healed a man, preached the gospel, and were released after being threatened by...
"But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6, NASB) Jesus wants to meet with you every day! What an incredible truth and...