FMCIC Prayer Point Update September 2019

FMCIC Prayer Point Update September 2019: 

Almost 12 years ago we were in the midst of a 40-day season of prayer and fasting for revival at Chapel Ridge Church, in Ottawa. During that time someone said I should go and see a new sign that she had put up in our prayer room. I did and saw it hanging over the window that looked out over the fields that surround our church on the edge of the city. It said, “Worship, Pray and Expect Miracles”. Then I lowered my eyes and looked out the window and was surprised to see that the typically fallow field surrounding our church was plowed up. It was part of the 11 acres the church-owned and we had allowed a local farmer to take hay off of it for several years. However, in the spring of that year, he had asked if he could plow it up and plant some sorghum. I had said he could but forgot I had. Now I was looking at a plowed field that looked so different from the weed-filled land I had seen since coming to that church. I became excited as the verse came to mind about breaking up the plowed ground before revival could come. By that time, I had been praying for revival for many years and this stirred hope in me. Then I looked to my left and saw written on the wall, that we had papered with newsprint for people to write on, a verse that strengthened my faith:

“break up your unplowed ground, for it is time to seek the LORD until he comes and showers righteousness on you.” (Hosea 10:12b).

Even as I write this story, I see the rain pouring down and watering the land. However, if the land is not plowed up and the good seed planted, that rain would just be watering the weeds. If God’s Spirit was poured out on our churches in response to our prayers, would our hearts be ready to receive Him and produce good fruit?
Breaking up the hardness of our hearts is so necessary for revival. There are a number of symptoms of the hardness of heart but one of the main ones is pride. As we pray to God to renew and revive us as a movement, let us ask God to help us to do the soul-searching and repenting necessary to uproot the pride that so gradually chokes out the fruitfulness of the Holy Spirit that lives within us.

Incidentally, almost 12 years to the day, Bishop Cliff will be joining us to dedicate a new, 300 seat sanctuary to the Lord that is sitting on the land that I saw plowed up. The Lord has heard our prayers and we have grown to the place that we needed to add on to our facilities. But we are not just dedicating our building to the Lord, more importantly, we are consecrating ourselves to Him. We are setting aside another 40 days for prayer and fasting, leading up to this event, to prepare our hearts for this consecration, believing God’s promise to Joshua and the Israelites applies to us as well:

“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.” (Joshua 3:5)

“I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isaiah 57:15b)

Resources:

I am including in this Update a very helpful chart that was taken from a message Nancy Leigh DeMoss shared several years ago (you can view it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLksNpfgAhY). It is a great help in sorting out the thoughts and intentions of our hearts so that we can repent of our pride that so easily besets us. In it she contrasts characteristics of proud, unbroken people who are resistant to the reviving work of the Holy Spirit to the qualities of the broken, humble people who experience personal revival. Even as I am going over it again now, I can see areas of my life where I need to root out pride. I hope it is a help to you and your congregation too.

Next Zoom Prayer Meeting:

Our next Zoom Room Prayer Meeting is this Wednesday, September 25, at 9am. Here is how you tune in. It is a time for pastors, Prayer Point People, delegates and intercessors to come together from across the country to pray for the FMCIC.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/560990379

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+16475580588,,560990379#
Canada

Dial by your location
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
Meeting ID: 560 990 379
Find your local
number: https://zoom.us/u/abrS08ouw

Here are some of the things we expect to pray for:
1. For preparations for General Conference and the Prayer Summit just before it. Its theme is “2020 – for both
now and the future”.
2. For peace and quiet in all Godliness and holiness for Haiti.
3. For the upcoming federal elections.
4. For “our daily bread” as a movement.
5. For a spirit of repentance and prayer that would welcome the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the FMCIC,
the church in Canada and the nation of Canada.

Helping to re-dig the wells of revival,

Pastor Ken Roth (National Prayer Team)