Matthew 6:9-13 demonstrates Jesus’ blueprint on prayer. If we study the Lord’s prayer we see that every aspect is covered in it. But God desires prayers from the heart not from repetition or ritual. Reciting a few lines to say we prayed isn’t what God is looking for. He desires that we communicate with Him in a very real way. He wants us to pray from our heart. Prayer is the lifeblood for our daily lives.

Don’t believe me….listen to some of these people:

“We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.” ~ Oswald Chambers

“Those persons who know the deep peace of God, the unfathomable peace that passeth all understanding, are always men and women of much prayer.”~ R. A. Torrey

“I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time- waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God- it changes me.” ~ C. S. Lewis

“Where ever the church fails to pray, the enemy is happy to move in.” ~ Bill Johnson

“Prayer is simply a two-way conversation between you and God.” ~ Billy Graham

“If we never pray audacious, courageous prayers, how can He answer them?” ~ Francis Chan

“Prayer is faith in action.” ~ Reinhard Bonnke

“We pray when there’s nothing else we can do, but God wants us to pray before we do anything at all.”~ Oswald Chambers

When Jesus prayed things happened. When we pray it can be the same response. This month we will dive into different aspects of prayer. I believe that a church and a people that pray will experience some amazing things.

MR

WE WILL NOT BE A CHURCH THAT….
…puts a building’s importance over God’s purpose.
…lifts up man over God.
…waters down the Word of God so not to offend.
…allows traditions to stop freedom, creativity and, most importantly, the Holy Spirit.
…treats our Children’s Church like a babysitting dept.
…focuses on one group of people (age, race, economic status, etc).
…is activity driven instead of Holy Spirit led.
…stops the move of God because of time, agendas, schedules, our past experiences or what man says.
…is so focused on our own vision that we neglect to partner with other churches or organizations doing God’s work as well.
…puts more weight on the natural than the supernatural.
…when we pray we “hope” our prayers get answered. (we BELIEVE they will)
…considers the Bible a nice bookend.
…puts God in a box.

MR

It was an amazing night. The worship team was made up of singers/musicians from both churches. The ushers, greeters and nursery workers where all from both churches. We even had both of us speak. And can you believe we ended up finishing 2 minutes early! Two pastors speaking could have easily went 2 hours!

I’m so proud of our churches. We packed New Song’s building out. There were people standing all around. I guess next year’s service will have to be in a bigger venue.

The presence of God was so sweet that night. To see people from two different churches, worshiping and praying together, was what I believe God desires to see. I know this is the start of more times like this in Spring Hill (with other churches involved). There is something very special when a pastor gives up his pulpit to another local pastor. I’m so glad to see that the pastors in this city are doing this freely.

I couldn’t have thought of a better way to celebrate the birth of Christ, than with other Christians, in unity together to glorify Him.

It truly was a Merry Christmas!

MR

This year Christmas falls on a Sunday. My first thought was…”great we can spend Jesus’ birth together at church”. After that I realized, it might just be me at church, so that wouldn’t be as much fun as expected. Although people love Jesus, and they know His birthday is Christmas, they also like to spend Christmas at home next to the fire, in their pjs with family. I love going to church, but it’s not as much fun when it’s just me, so we rethought that idea. Now we are doing a Christmas Eve service and no Christmas day one.

To make it even more special, we decided to partner with another local church, New Song Church in Spring Hill. Pastor Jordan and Bethany Roe are great friends and their church is very similar in style and flavor to ours. This made for a great fit to combine services and worship together. We combined our worship teams and both Jordan and myself will share. This is the start of something that, we believe, will continue into the new year. Churches doing “church” together is very special. I know it’s something that makes God happy. To see pastors putting away their agendas and combining together to show unity is powerful. I long for the day churches will do this on a regular basis. Christmas Eve is a start.

So please join us on Dec 24th….at 4-515pm (see, we are doing it earlier so you can still enjoy your Christmas Eve feasts) at New Song church (220 Town Center Pkwy Ste 150, Spring Hill TN  – across from City Hall). We will end the service with a Candle light song (Silent Night). You know it’s going to be special and if you miss it, you could very well have a very sad Christmas. Infact, I believe not only will Santa not show up, but it won’t snow on Christmas, if you don’t attend. Plus we are giving away free Christmas cheer to everyone that attends (and no, that is not a drink).

I’m excited about what God is doing in this city, churches coming together to worship God in unity and loving each other. I hope you will join us Christmas Eve as we worship the REAL reason of this season. He’s much cooler than that over weight older dude that wears red.

Merry CHRISTmas.

MR

Last night I was a part of a landmark day in Spring Hill and the history of the local church here in this city. 10 churches got together to worship and pray TOGETHER at one location for an hour and 1/2. We even saw someone get saved! It was powerful.

I’m so blessed to live in this city. God is doing something amazing here. The relationships with local pastors has transformed my life. It’s a dream come true to see different churches come together to lift God high! As I put together the worship band for last night, we had 5 churches included just in the band alone. The anointing on the band was truly felt. From the first note played, I could tell this night was something special. To see people lifting up their hands and singing so loud, it blew me away. I loved hearing all the pastors, sitting to the left of me, singing so loud together. Man, if that didn’t shake up some religious junk in the city, I don’t know what will. That version of GOD OF THIS CITY almost knocked me off the piano. Man, I can still feel the anointing from that song.

In attendance, was the city judge (who is a spirit-filled, Christ loving woman of God) and a few head pastors from the surrounding cities (fathers of the faith). We had the head pastors of People’s Church, New Song and Thompsons Station Church praying together in a small group. These pastors are heads of some of the biggest churches in Williamson County. To see this happen was awe-inspiring. To walk with pastors that have years of experience, bigger churches, more education and more influence than me, is an honor. I feel blessed to be partnering with these godly men.

I’m still riding the high of last night’s service. To see nearly 200 people praying, hanging and spending time with each other to see Spring Hill blessed, was exactly what the “church” is called to do. That’s KINGDOM LIVING right there…building HIS Kingdom, not ours.

My prayer is that we set in motion something powerful in this city and region. I believe this will continue throughout Middle TN. Seeing huge churches partnering with smaller ones, different denominations locking hands together with each other, old with new, different races loving one another….this is my dream to see happen here. I know it will happen…I saw a glimpse of it last night.

MR

1- Issues/Problems with our Family/Kids
2- Failure
3- Loneliness
4- Finances
5(tie)- Rejection/Judgement
5 (tie)- Being Lukewarm/missing God’s will for my life
5(tie)- Disease
5(tie)- Public speaking
6- Snakes/Rodents
7(tie)- Dying/Loss
7(tie)- Unknown/Future
7(tie)- Heights
8(tie)- Depression
8(tie)- Being Vulnerable
8(tie)- Terrorist Attack/Nation’s future
8(tie)- Fear
8(tie)- Responsibility

8(tie)- Lightning

Now, we will address the major issues over the next couple of weeks at SouthView.

MR

We started a new sermon series on Sunday called “FEAR”. We want to address one of the main tactics that the devil uses to destroy lives and ruin destinies. Here’s the scripture behind the series:

Psalm 56:3-4

Whenever I am afraid,
 I will trust in You.
 In God (I will praise His word),
 In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. 
What can flesh do to me?

So how does Fear stop us? It causes us to stop pursuing things of importance in our lives. It causes us to run away from the people we should be running to. It causes us to spend more time worrying about the very thing we should be doing. It takes our eyes off the creator and onto the circumstance. It’s based in unbelief that our God can’t or won’t protect/provide/love us. It’s completely created by the enemy to destroy us.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

If God hasn’t given us this, then clearly it’s from the devil. We have to walk in the power, the love and sound mind part in order to operate in God’s complete plan for our lives. But many people, even those spoken about in the Word of God, fell into the trap of Fear.

Fear caused Adam and Eve to hide from God whom they freely walked with on a day to day basis.
Fear caused Moses to wander the desert until he died and never entered the promised land.
Fear caused Abraham to sleep with Hagar (his servant) even though God promised him a son through Sarah.
Fear caused David to have Uriah (Bathsheba’s husband) killed to cover up his sin.
Fear stopped Peter from walking on the water even though he was already doing it.
Fear cause Peter to denounce Jesus 3 times, even though he swore he would never do it.
Fear caused the disciples to hide after Jesus was killed even though He told them he would rise again.

Fear effects the best of them, although it doesn’t give us the right to operate in it. What’s in you, is what you will give out to others. My hope is that we will break the ties of fear in our lives and walk in 100% complete freedom so we can give it to others. It starts with recongizing the devil’s attacks and walking in God’s strength to defeat them.

Try mediating on these verses:

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anoints my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Psalm 23:1-6

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Psalm 27:1-6

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Psalm 46:1-3

I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? Psalm 118:5-6

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Romans 8:15
…Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

You are not alone. God has made us more than conquers through Him and with His Holy Spirit. It’s time to take back what the enemy has stolen and walk in complete Freedom….R U READY?

Listen to my whole message HERE.

MR

MR

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Whenever I read this:

Mark 16:17 (NKJV)
17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

I think about how “off” most of us Christians are. Most churches haven’t done it let alone the people in it. I think we fear how uncomfortable it makes people watching it. Imagine this happening at your church or in your home (fast forward to 1:32)…

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Maybe the reason why today’s Christianity doesn’t feel effective is because we aren’t walking in this power. I believe that many “Christians” today have made pacts with the devil or decided it’s okay to allow the enemy to work in their everyday lives. They walk in the deception like Judas…..they HEAR the truth…SEE the truth….EXPERIENCE the truth but continue to walk in darkness.

Take into account what Jesus said to his disciples after he casted out the demon in the boy…

Matt 17:20 (nkjv) –  20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Mark 9:29 (nkjv)
29 So He said to them, “This kind (demon) can come out by nothing but prayer…”

See Jesus’ disciples saw Him do miracles and even BEFORE this, THEY casted out demons themselves. But in their process they started to rely on THEMSELVES. Jesus is saying here that it’s FAITH THROUGH PRAYER that will cause the demons to flee. FAITH requires disregarding the circumstances. We can’t allow the demonic to rob us of our Power. Prayer can INCREASE our FAITH

YOUR AUTHORITY IS POWERED BY YOUR FAITH!!

We must BELIEVE what God SAID or else we may not EXPERIENCE what God PROMISED!

So this leads me to believe that we should be seeing demons casted out more often. We must look past those people that are “evil” and see the force BEHIND them. Knowing how to walk in Christ, will lead us to better understand our enemy and how to deal with him. It’s time that the church arises from it’s slumber and starts to make a difference. When we choose to ignore the supernatural, it’s like entering into war with a weapon without bullets.

We MUST increase our level of EXPECTATION in believing that we can “DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST THAT STRENGTHENS US.” (Philippians 4:13)

Check out the full message here.

MR