Prayer Warriors

Consider God’s Power Over Nature. He has power over water (Exodus 14; 17; Joshua 3). He has power over daylight (Joshua 10:12-14). He has power over human hunger (Exodus 16; John 6:1-13). He has power over storms (Mark 4:35-41). God wants us to know that He has power over nature.

Consider God’s Power Over Circumstances. Jesus delivered Lazarus from the grave in John 11. God delivered Jesus from the tomb. God delivered Peter from prison in Acts 12. God wants us to know that He has power over circumstances.

Consider God’s Power Over Hearts. God softened Moses’ heart (Exodus 3-4). God softened Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 11). God softened Saul of Tarsus’ heart (Acts 9). God wants us to know that He has power to change hearts.

The Lesson of the Hour: God does not change; He is immutable! “For I am the LORD, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6; NKJV). “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8; NKJV). If ever He was able to control nature, alter circumstances and change people, He still is able to do these things.

God is able! He saved three men from a fiery furnace (Daniel 3:17). He saved Daniel from the lion’s mouths (Daniel 6:20-22). He gave a child to a ninety year old woman named Sarah (Romans 4:18-21). He gives His children everything they need (2 Corinthians 9:8). He is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21). He is able to save completely those who come to Him through Jesus (Hebrews 7:25).

A prayer warrior is a person who is convinced that God is omnipotent – that God has the power to do anything, to change anyone and to intervene in any circumstance! A person who truly believes this refuses to doubt God. A person who truly believes this prays without ceasing. Read Ephesians 6:10-20. Put on the whole armor of God. Then pray “always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

In Search of Christ's Church

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18; NKJV).

Search. To search is “to look into or over carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something” (Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary). Jesus commended the Jews of His day for searching the “Scriptures” (John 5:39). The Bereans were commended by the Holy Spirit in Acts 17:11 because they “searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether” the things taught by Paul and Silas were so. It is the will of God for me to search, to look, to be careful and thorough in an effort to find Him, His will, His love.

Christ. “Christ” is a title. It literally means “anointed.” Prophets, priests, and kings were anointed of God. The prophets speak of an anointed of God who would occupy the office of prophet, priest, and king, a Messiah. Jesus of Nazareth is the fulfillment of each and every one of those prophecies: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36; NKJV). Jesus was anointed by the Father to “save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15; NKJV). It is the will of God for me to find His anointed, to be saved from my sins.

Church. The anointed of God, the Christ, came to build His church. He came to construct, to erect, to found a church. Not a physical building mind you, but a church, an ekklesia, a people. Not a structure confined to a place, but a people of “every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” (Revelation 14:6; NKJV). It is the will of God for me to search for Christ’s church, to be careful to find the people that the Christ has called out of the world into His marvelous light.

God’s Promise. If I search for Christ’s church I will find: “Ask, and it will given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8; NKJV). Even evil men know to give good gifts to their children (Matthew 7:9-10). Our Heavenly Father, who is good, will “give good things to those who ask Him” (Matthew 7:11; NKJV).

Our Prayer. Father, as we search for Christ’s church, may we find. May we be Christ’s church. As others search may they find us to be what we hope to be: Christ’s church. In His Anointed Name, Amen.

Jason Cicero

In Everything Give Thanks

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NKJV)

To give thanks is to express gratitude. Thankfulness is gratefulness expressed to another. Thanksgiving is the expression of gratitude. Tis the season of thankgiving. Our Heavenly Father is to be the recipient of our thanksgiving.

Our GOD created us in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). We share in His likeness. He is worthy of praise because He is the Creator: “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created” (Revelation 4:11; NKJV). Thank Him!

Our GOD sustains us (Colossians 1:17). In Him we “live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Apart from Him there is no life or breath (Acts 17:25). He upholds us “by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3). Thank Him!

Our GOD has redeemed us through His dear Son (Revelation 5:9-10; Ephesians 1:3-14). Created in His image with the ability to think, reason and choose, each of us has defaced that image by falling short of His glory (Romans 3:10-18, 23). Sin defaces the image of GOD in our lives. Love compels Him to restore His image in each of us: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8)! Christ Jesus has “redeemed us to God” by His blood (Revelation 5:9). Thank Him!

Indeed, “Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17; NKJV). It is all about Him, it is all from Him, it is all returning to Him! Thank Him!

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

"But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves." (Malachi 4:2; NKJV)

Sunday Morning Starters

How To Be Worshipful:

Be prepared.

Be on time.

Be attentive.

Be reverent.

Be considerate.

Be a participant.

Bubba Garner

I Myself Thought

King Agrippa permitted Paul to speak for himself. As Paul spoke concerning the accusations of the Jews, he recapped his life for Agrippa. He spoke of his youth, his nation, and his religion. Paul pointed out that all knew of his faithfulness as a Pharisee.

"Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth" (Acts 26:9).

It is possible to believe something to be true that is false. It is possible to do many things believing them to be good that are in truth, evil. It is possible to be wrong.

Jesus set Paul apart to open the eyes of the Gentiles (Acts 26:18). Before Paul went to the Gentiles he had his own eyes opened by Jesus. Maybe I need my eyes opened to something...

Jason Cicero

I Believe God

While traveling to Rome a tempest threatened the lives of all aboard the ship. An angel appeared to Paul to tell him not to be afraid. He would appear before Caesar. No life aboard the ship would be lost. Paul responded to this news from above with these words for those on the ship: "Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me" (Acts 27:25).

God is there. He is trustworthy. He has spoken.

1. Read His word.

2. Believe His word.

3. Act accordingly.

Jason Cicero