Is Your Atmosphere in Need of
A Shift?
Today is Columbus Day in America. In 1937 President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared it to be a Federal holiday. In 1971 President Nixon established the second Monday of October as Columbus Day. In some cities it is now being commemorated as National Indigenous People’s Day instead. It seems that every day something is being challenged and changed. There are certainly much more pressing issues in our country in this season than what we call various days on our calendar. Whatever you call today may God bless your day!
A Dichotomy
In the search for a home church I have met many interesting people and encountered diverse platforms within the Body of Christ. What I notice the most when I visit any church is the atmosphere. For me it is palpable. This past Sunday I attended a very large church. There was much fanfare to be sure. Any Broadway production would have been challenged by its performance. Yet, despite all the activity, I could not sense the presence of the Holy Spirit. For all the shouting, jumping and dancing there was no presence. There was certainly much hugging and social interaction but yet I sensed no presence. It appeared as if God had left the building but with all that was going on, no one noticed.
On another Sunday I attended a little country church with ‘Jesus Is Lord.’ above their altar. As soon as I entered the door I felt the presence of God in that place. Through the worship and Biblical preaching His presence was truly in that unassuming place.
Who Is In Charge Here?
I could not help but wonder why some churches are filled with the Spirit of the Lord and others are simply a social meeting place. Although I used a large and a small church in my story it really has nothing to do with the size. It has everything to do with who is considered the head. If Jesus is Lord all falls into place. A peace blankets you and you feel safe and at home. The King of kings and the Lord of lords is the head of such a church and His Spirit permeates the atmosphere. Believers worship in spirit and truth. The gift of the Spirit is in full operation. If Jesus is Lord all falls into place. If not, it is simply an uplifting program and a chance to meet with friends.
Who Comes to Church With You?
How do you affect the atmosphere in your church? Can you effect a change in that atmosphere to allow Jesus in each week? You are part of the larger body of Christ. If you are a part of a local church you are uniquely fit into that body. If you live in a worldly atmosphere in your home and work life you bring the world to church every Sunday. Just think, if everyone brings the world into church (to include worldly programs) then it is no wonder that some churches are simply a reflection of the world. They are void of the Spirit of God.
Conversely, if you spend daily personal time in Scripture, in prayer and in enriching your personal relationship with the Lord, you will walk in His resurrection power and the power of the Holy Spirit. That mantle over your life will go with you. It will cover your home. When people walk into your home they will sense something different. The very atmosphere will be permeated with the Holy Spirit because you spend time alone with the Lord. Your home should be holy ground. When you go into the world that holiness should permeate the atmosphere wherever you go. You will bring that presence into church. The more believers who live this way, the more empowered the church will become. Once again, the world will be displaced and Jesus will assume His place as Lord. A shift in atmosphere is needed now!
Remember, You are Here
‘For Such a Time As This!’
This week really think about the atmosphere you live in and bring with you wherever you go. If it is discordant from the things of God, make a covenant today to change. Determine to walk in holiness because He is holy. Purpose to be the atmosphere change that brings the Holy Spirit back into the church ‘for such a time as this!’
As the Islamic threat heightens we must be salt and light in the world today. We must arise ‘for such a time as this’ to flow in the Great Commission that Jesus gave to His followers. The time is certainly now. We are the people. Arise…change the atmosphere!
It Is Never Too Late!
If you have not yet made the decision to accept Jesus into your heart, do it now. Do not wait another minute. Speak to Him from your heart (for it is always a heart issue). Tell Him you have fallen short in your life. Sincerely apologize for your sins. Ask Him to cleanse you and come into your heart and be Lord over your life. From this moment forward let His Spirit guide you along the narrow road that leads to everlasting life.
Quotes to Ponder This Week
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” ~ Jesus, Matthew 28:19-20
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” ~Jesus, Matthew 6:33
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” ~Galatians 5:22
“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” ~Colossians 2:6-7
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of god, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” ~1Peter 2:9-10
“You are Lord and You are mighty and You are merciful. Raise up all who would call upon Your name. Raise up those that love You and seek You and trust You. Lord, we need an army of believers that would stand on Your Word above all else. Raise up warriors, Lord, who will fight on their knees; who will worship You with their whole hearts, Lord. Lord, call us to battle that we may proclaim the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Raise them up, Lord. Raise them up!” ~Miss Clara, War Room the Movie
A Prayer Request
Thank you for your continued faithfulness to pray. Please keep all who serve our country, our servicemen and women and their families in prayer for salvation and safety. They are our front-line on the battlefield, let us be their front-line in the spirit. Also, let us cover all who have come home wounded that they and their families will receive the kindness, help and support they need to go forward in their lives. God bless all our diplomatic and military personnel and their families. May the Lord keep them safe.
Pray for all throughout the world for hedges of protection against radical Islamic extremists and all forms of terrorism. Pray for Christians who face violence and death for their faith. We have long prayed for spiritual victory over radical Islam in Esther’s Warriors Ministry. We now see the reality of this threat come to the forefront in this time in world history. As Iranians and Islamic extremists are shouting ‘Death to America,’ let us speak life, hope and a return to God in America!
Please pray for all in authority over us. Pray for the full truth to come forth concerning #Benghazi. Pray for Representative Trey Gowdy as he leads the House Select Committee on Benghazi. Pray that the full truth will be exposed on October 22 as Hilary Clinton goes before the Committee.
May God richly bless the United States of America, bring to light every single crooked place and keep her safe. The lives lost in Benghazi, the continuing targeting of conservative groups by the Internal Revenue Service, Operation Fast and Furious, the Department of Justice targeting journalists phone records, the National Security Agency overstepping its legal authority and so much more are hardly “phony scandals.” We continue to pray for truth to prevail in each of these situations. Pray for the families who have lost loved ones, for those relentlessly targeted and for all of us who are proud to call ourselves American.
May we may arise united once again as One Nation Under God in this auspicious season in our country’s history. These are treacherous times and now more than ever we must maintain our walk with the Lord, saturate this country in prayer and stand for all that is right in America. Fail not in this hour.
Pray for peace in Israel. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Pray for all families and friends of those young Christians killed in the Oregon shootings.
Pray for all affected by this week’s natural disasters.
Pray for American Pastor Saeed Abedini who has been held, tortured and denied medical care in Iran for being a Christian. He was captured in 2012. Let us join our prayers with others across the globe for his release and safe return to his wife and children.
#Pray for America: #America-Love it or Leave it; #God bless America; #Wake up America
Please Join Me In Prayer
Father God, we thank You for the ultimate price that Jesus paid to set us free. We thank You, Lord, that You lead us to change the atmosphere in our heart. Draw us closer to You and open our hearts to hear Your Holy Spirit and follow His direction. May we be the salt and light in this world. May we each bring Your holy, Kingdom atmosphere with us wherever we journey. May Your Kingdom atmosphere once again fall upon Your church and change each and every heart to beat in resonance with Your heart. Use each of us to bring Your Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
Place deep in our hearts the love of God and love of country that has guided this Nation from its inception. Place deep in our hearts Your compassion for our fellow men and women. Lead us to pray without ceasing for our brothers and sisters who suffer at the hands of Islamic terrorists. Open the eyes of our leaders to arise in this season to defend the very belief in You upon which our Nation is founded. Thank You for keeping Your hand on America. We humbly pray this in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen and Amen.