4/20/2011 Revival Prayer Meeting

Prophecy

Joshua 1:11-15 “….until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them.” God has given us the land, and we need to take the step of faith to get the ownership of the land.  

Message

Genesis 35:1-5 “Bethel” was the where God met with Jacob. There is a reason that God chose Jacob and chose Bethel to appear to Jacob. God chose Bethel because it was also the place Abraham built an altar. So, God wanted Jacob to build an altar at the same place when he was fleeing from his brother. Jacob had a dream there, in his dream; he saw a ladder connected all the way to Heaven. God’s angels went up and down on that ladder. It depicts the Heaven is opened. God’s will has no hindrance whatsoever in that place. Jacob met God there, in Bethel.

Today, God is also calling us to build the altar of prayer; we also have spiritual heavens in our lives. It should be opened so that there will be no hindrance between you and God. When will this heaven be opened? It starts from your heart. Get rid of idols in your mind. The idols can be your worries, things you are afraid of etc. Brothers and sisters, we can just simply come before God and proclaim to get rid of those idols.

Next, we need to purify ourselves. How? Think about where are the places you like to hang out? Spend most of your time at? Or speak about? Spend time to pray, like a priest, to pray for yourself, leaders, career, cell group and community etc.

Then, what should we expect? 1) The spiritual heaven will be opened. 2) God will answer our prayers. 3) God’s favor will rest upon us. Brothers and sisters, God wants us to rise up and come to build the altar of prayer now where we can see another spiritual heaven will be opened so that we can hear God’s plan and will clearly from Him.

Reflection

Today in your mind, what occupies you most of the time? Give it to God and remove it from your mind, experience the opened heaven in your spiritual life once again!! 

4/20/2011 復興禱告會

先知團隊分享

約書亞記1：11-15「…等到耶和華使你們的弟兄像你們一樣得享平安，並且得著耶和華你們神所賜他們為業之地，那時才可以回你們所得之地，承受為業，就是耶和華的僕人摩西在約旦河東、向日出之地所給你們的。」

神已經將屬靈的應許之地給了我們，我們應該踏出信心的腳步，去承受那地，得地為業。

牧師分享

在創世記35章1-5節講到“伯利恆”是神與雅各相遇的地方。有個原因為何神揀選雅各且要選在伯利恆來向雅各顯現，因為“伯利恆”也是神要亞伯拉罕築壇獻祭的地方。神要雅各在逃避他哥哥以掃追殺之時，也在那裡築一座壇，而雅各在那裡也做了一個夢，夢見一個通往天空的天梯，而神的使者毫無暢阻的上上下下，這也象徵屬靈的天空被打開，神的心意毫無阻攔的要被顯明在那裡，就是在伯利恆，雅各遇見了神。

而今天神也向我們發出呼召，來建立禱告祭壇，其實在我們的生命當中，不也有那屬於我們自己的屬靈天空還沒被打開？當這片天被打開時，你會發現神的心意在你的生命會毫無阻礙的展開，你會驚覺：原來還有另一片天空這麼遼闊！然而這片天空何時會被打開呢？從你內心開始，除去你心中的偶像，來到神面前宣告挪去這些偶像。或許你說我是基督徒已經很久了，沒有偶像，那請問你：什麼常佔據你的心思意念呢？什麼讓你過於憂慮呢？求神來除去這一切，因為耶穌才是我們的主!

接下來，要自潔，要怎麼潔淨自我？想想看有哪一些地方是你常喜歡去的？你大部份的時間都花怎什麼事情上面？言語交談間談些什麼？該花時間像祭司一樣為自己、領袖禱告、工作、小組與社區等。

那我們該期待什麼會發生？1）你個人屬靈天空會被打開 2）神將應允你我的禱告 3）神的恩寵會臨到我們。弟兄姊妹，神要將我們興起來建立禱告祭壇，讓我們ㄧ同來建造，看見神的旨意與計畫於我們生命中流露!

心靈迴響

思想一下：今天在你腦中常在想的情是什麼？現在就交託給神且從你心中挪走，經歷你生命中的屬靈天空再ㄧ次地開展！

4/06/2011 Revival Prayer Meeting

Prophecy

Ezkiel 37:10  So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath enter them; they became to life and stood up on their feet- a vast army.

The people in the church will rise up, new anointing and healing is moving among us. Those whose spirits are like dry bones will become alive again. The prayer meeting will become a celebration, festival that draws visitors coming to receive the blessings from the Lord.

Message (guest speaker: Rev. Dean Sherman)

Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and they he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” So, God is pleased by our faith. We must believe and God is the rewarder. Prayer or long hour prayer meeting does not please God unless it accompanies with faith. When we pray, we must believe and expect. Numbers 13 illustrates what makes God most displeased is unbelief.  

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” So we know we can expect something, our faith is based on grace. Jesus died for us and we have access now to enter the holy place.

Jesus teaches us ask and keep on asking, knock and keep knocking. Whoever keeps asking “will” receive. He also tells us how Kingdom works. In Luke 8, the woman took the initiative by exercising her faith so that she got healed. Her faith touches Jesus because she was so determined to get the healing from Jesus.

Mathew6:7-8 says “When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” The amount of time of prayer, length of prayer, intensity of prayer, and sacrificialness of prayer will not make our prayers to be answered by God. Jesus sacrificed himself for us so that we can have the access; it is a gift from God.

How should we pray then, Jesus teaches us in Mathew 6:9 “Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be your name…” therefore you and I can have the confidence as Jesus to come before God. God is never away from us.

Lastly, we should be dependent on God. He wants us to rely on Him every day. God likes to maneuver you into a place of need. Why? Because he wants to meet your needs. That is where the intimacy and relationship comes from. Don’t feel hesitate or shamed to come before Him and ask.

Reflection

Do you really believe God will do something when you ask? This week, just exercise your faith and come boldly before His throne and ask. God wants to be needed!

4/06/2011 復興禱告會

先知團隊分享

以西結書37：10「於是我遵命說預言，氣息就進了骸骨，骸骨便活了，並且站起來，成為極大的軍隊。」

教會會眾將被興起，新的恩膏與醫治將臨到我們；乾枯的骸骨也將活了起來，禱告會將會成為一個慶典慶祝的活動且吸引更多新朋友一同來領受神的祝福。

Dean Sherman牧師分享

常參加禱告會是否很屬靈？希伯來書11章6節說：「人非有信，就不能得到神的喜悅；因為來到神面前的人，必須信有神，且信他賞賜那尋求他的人。」我們看到神是喜悅我們的信心，並非指禱告會這項活動，只參加復興聚會、禱告會卻沒真實的相信也無法討神的喜悅。禱告本身或是長時間的禱告並不會讓神更加歡喜，若我們並不是帶著真實的信心來到他面前，所以問問自己當將事情帶到神面前時，是否願意相信神？是否對他仍存有盼望？民數記中講述神最不喜悅的就是不信。

希伯來書4章16節說：「我們只管坦然無懼來到施恩的寶座前，為要得憐恤、蒙恩惠，作隨時的幫助。」所以我們的確是可以有所期待，因為我們的信心乃是基於神的恩典，因著耶穌基督的死，使我們得以進入聖潔的至聖所與父神相遇。

馬太福音6章7-8節：「你們禱告，不可像外邦人，用許多重複的話，他們以為話多了必蒙垂聽。你們不可效法他們，因為你們沒有祈求以先，你們所需用的，你們的父早已知道了。」禱告時間的多寡 ，質量或犧牲式的禱告並不會使神更能應允你的禱告，實際上耶穌基督已經犧牲他自己，所以我們才有管道向神祈求，這是從神來的恩典，信心是最重要的。那我們應該怎麼禱告？馬太福音6章9節主教導我們：「我們在天上的父，願人尊你的名為聖…」所以我們知道能有信心來到他面前，他是慈愛的父神，希望如同耶穌到父神面前ㄧ樣，神從不離棄我們！

最後，我們應該隨時每一天都來倚靠神，神喜歡精心設計將我們帶到某些情況或環境，為何？因為他希望我們在那裡滿足我們的需要；那也是與我們發展親密關係的地方，所以不要因為祈求他而感到羞愧，他希望被我們需要。

心靈迴響

再次來到神面前祈求時，你內心真的是否相信？是否仍有所期待？本週好好使用信心且大膽來到神的寶座前吧！他渴望你需要他！

03/30/2011 Prayer Meeting

Prophecy

Micah 6:8   He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Because of God’s great mercy, our prayer meeting has been moved to Emmanuel chapel. We should keep standing in awe of God to witness God’s glory. God will also make our path bright and smooth, cleanse the uncleanness. We can just walk on our bare feet closely with God.

Message

The wind of opportunities is still blowing and it is getting stronger and stronger. As we received this prophet- the wind of Opportunities, what can we do to remain in this wind of rival? Usually, revival brings out three effects: 1. Life    2. Blow away the enemies’ works    3.Power

First of all, in Ezekiel 37, the dry bones refer to the Israelis but actually we can be the “dry bones” as well. Do you lose hope in God? Why we lose our hope in God? Couple of reasons: 1. Our difficulty is greater than what we can bear, 2. Unanswered prayer. But we need to remind ourselves that God never forgets you and me. We are always in His hands and He is still working on behalf of us. So let’s pick up the hope in God and “alive” again.

Secondly, the wind of revival can also blow away all the works of enemies’. Psalm 68:1 says: “May God arise, may his enemies scattered; may his foes flee before him.” Sometimes we allow the enemies to deceive us so that we cannot see God is sitting on the throne. We doubt, have fears and cannot hear the voice of God. When the wind of God comes, these works will be blown away.

Lastly, in Act 2:2, as the apostles in early church stage, we should ask Holy spirit pour His power pour upon us and it can bring changes. In Gospels, disciples just watched Jesus doing miracles and wonders, but in Acts, they performed and did wonders in the name of Jesus. Their serving was with God’s power so that miracles and wonders tremendously increased. We also need to ask the Holy Spirit to renew our lives day by day. Do not use tiredness as an excuse. Especially when you feel extremely tired, ask God’s presence and Holy Spirit to fill you.

Reflection

Do you have hope in the Lord? Or do you feel you want to distant yourself from God because of the unanswered prayers? Do not be deceived by the enemies and fix your eyes on God. Simply ask God to bring the wind of revival into your spiritual life again!

3/30/2011 復興禱告會分享

先知團隊分享

彌迦書6：8「世人哪，耶和華已指示你何為善，他向你所要的是什麼呢？只要你行公義，好憐憫，存謙卑的心，與你的神同行。」

禱告會從El Shaddai移至Emmanuel 大堂都是因為神的憐憫，求神再次提醒我們有顆謙卑的心，敬畏站立在神面前，見證神的榮耀；神也將他的光除去我們不潔淨的東西，使我們的道路平順光滑，再次緊緊跟隨他。

牧師分享

從去年九月開始就一直在講機會的風，講了很久為何還沒講完？因為此風還是繼續吹，而且越吹越強，要趕快把握住這機會。那我們要怎樣才可在復興的風之下？通常會有三種果效： 1. 生命  2. 吹散仇敵的工作 3. 帶來能力

在以西結書37章說的“枯骨”，枯骨是什麼？只是講到以色列全家而已？其實是在講我們，什麼因素讓我們的生命失去盼望而導致枯竭？有時候是難處大過於我們所能承受的，還有就是禱告未蒙應允。聖經裏有提到母親從未忘記她吃奶的嬰孩，神更不會忘記你我，我們永遠都在他的手中，他的手正在為工作，讓我們再次重新對神有那個盼望，使我們的生命活過來，因為你我是他的掌上明珠。

再來，吹散仇敵的詭計，詩篇68：1講到“願神的風興起，使他的仇敵四散…他們被驅逐，如煙被風吹散”別讓仇敵蒙騙我們，使我們無法看見神正坐在寶座上掌權，仇敵最喜歡使用的技倆就是懷疑與控告，而此復興與機會的風就是要吹散仇敵的工作。

第三，這風會帶來能力，使徒行傳2：2提到在神的風降臨時，就會帶來改變。這些使徒們在福音書中只是觀看耶穌行神蹟奇事，但到了使徒行傳中，他們自己就成為施行神蹟的管道，為什麼？因為聖靈的風降臨在他們的生命中，被聖靈充滿而帶來改變。當我們在工作生活上感到疲倦，懇求聖靈再次充滿我們，賜下力量，千萬別以“好累”作為藉口，向神求他的同在彰顯在每天生活。

心靈迴響

在你心中對神是否仍存有盼望？還是曾因禱告未垂聽感到失望，而想遠離神？別讓仇敵詭計欺騙了，再次定睛仰望神，使此風吹進你的生命，讓你再次活過來！