Life Connection Church

God has placed in us gifts that we need to stir into flame (1 Timothy 1:6). He as also called us to consider how to stir up one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24)  We have gits in us and christian brothers and sisters around us that need to be stired up.

Stir is a day that we set aside once a month to pray and fast together as a church and we are asking God to stir us up.  We gather together for a corporate time of prayer at 6 – 8 pm at the connection building. If you are going to join with us please sign up at the service or e-mail us at info@lifeconnectionchurch.net.

The next Stir is June 30th.

This podcast was recorded January 10, 2010 and is a special sermon taught by Pastor Aaron Dailey.  This sermon discusses the heart and purpose of fasting.

Podcast Video [ 42:23 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This podcast was recorded January 10, 2010 and is a special sermon taught by Pastor Aaron Dailey.  This sermon discusses the heart and purpose of fasting.

Standard Podcast [ 43:56 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.

When we believe and follow Jesus there will be signs that accompany us.  We are told that when we lay hands on the sick they will recover.  We, by Jesus, have been given authority over demons, poisons, and sickness.  If these are signs that follow those who believe why are we not seeing them follow us?  I think it has to do with our lack of belief.  Do we believe that in the name of Jesus we can be healed?  God has power over all disease and He has told us to lay hands on the sick and they will recover.

Jas 5:14 – Is any one of you sick?  He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

God is the one who does the healing but the word of God tells us to to lay hands on sick and anoint them with oil.  I think we should just do it and believe that He can and will heal.  Today as we are praying for healing I want you to meditate on a few things.

(1) Do you believe you have authority in the name of Jesus over all demons and sickness?

(2) Do you put that belief in action by laying hands on people and praying for them?

My challenge to you today is simply to ask someone if you can pray for them, and then lay hands on them and pray and believe God will do a miracle.

Matthew 9:37 – 38 

Then he said to his disciples, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.  I think that we need to let the words of Jesus sink into our spirit.  There are so many people who do not know Jesus and there are so many people who are in need of the gospel.  We cannot ever think that the opportunity is not there but we must look at our willingness to labor.  We need laborers!  When it comes to spiritual labor we have to believe that part of that laboring is prayer.  We have to be a people who are willing to pray and work towards seeing others brought to Jesus.  When we know that Jesus is the only one to save man then we know that our evangelism must be cloaked in earnest prayer.  

Jesus tells His disciples to pray earnestly for more laborers.  Not only do we want the harvest but we need more people who are willing to labor in prayer and in work to see the harvest come in.  I think we need to listen to the words of Jesus and not only be laborers but pray for more.  It is very important for us to pray earnestly in this fast for the people who do not know Christ, and for more people to develop a love that motivates them to labor for the harvest.

Questions to think about:

1.  Are you laboring in prayer and action?

2.  What holds you back from laboring in prayer and action?

2 Chronicles 7:14 ”if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

To turn from our wicked ways or to repent is usually a big part of our prayer life.  We know that when we have sin in our hearts, or lives, that there is a block between us and God.  Every time we come before Him (if we do) we are confronted with the ugliness of our sin.  Most of us cannot even focus in our prayer life if we know we have unrepented sin.  Many times I find my self praying like David.

Psalm 139: 23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

What I am learning about repentance is it is something that I have to continue in.  Not only do I need to continue in prayer all day and it is not just a one time event but I need to have my heart in a humble and repentant state on a continual basis.  I also need His Spirit to search me and show me sin otherwise I might excuse it and call it normal.  I cannot even know my sin unless the Holy Spirit and or the Word reveals it to me.

Romans 2:4 “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?”

I am thankful that it is the kindness of God that leads me to repentance.  I thank Jesus for being patient with me and not destroying me but showing me mercy.  I not only need to repent but I want to because He is so kind and merciful.

Today ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any sin that is in you.  Ask Him to lead you to a hatred of your sin and a repentant heart.  Let Him do a work in your heart and lead you in the way of everlasting.  Think of the kindness of God and meditate on His mercy and let that lead you into repentance.

questions to meditate on…

(1) What is the biggest block in your spiritual life?

(2) What sins do you see in your life that you need to repent of?

(3) What do you deserve for all the sin you have committed and why have you not received what you deserve?  

(4) What kindness has God shown to you?

I could start by bringing up a whole lot of things that I need to be praying about during this fast.  I could start with a list of requests or complaints.  We have a lot of things that we need to be praying about but I want to start by just declaring how big our God is.  Our God is great and our belief about how great He is effects the way we pray.  

Psalm 70:4 Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And let those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified!”

I love this verse.  When we know how much God did for us in salvation through Jesus then our response is to declare continually how great, big, and amazing He is.  ”Let God be magnified!”  I want that to be the declaration of this church as we start this fast.  I want our prayers to be drenched in the belief that God is big and He is greater then anything.

So let me give you some things to meditate on as we begin our fast…

(1) How big is God in your eyes?

(2) Do you believe that God is greater then anything?

Take time in your prayers today and just meditate on how big God is and spend time opening your mouth and declaring how big He is.  I pray for those of you that love the salvation of Jesus that we would continually stand on one declaration, “Let God be magnified!”