The following article, containing dozens of spiritual quotes by our United States Presidents, is taken from Ed Moore's book, Prayer Force One: Across America. It is presented here in order to preserve the foundations of our nation's spiritual heritage. You may order Ed Moore's book by clicking on the book at the right.
The power of prayer is an incredible thing. At Philanthropy, we know that prayer is something important – but let us attempt to explain how much the Lord blesses us every day. About a year ago, Philanthropy started The Prayer Wall based on a story of a personal battle with cancer, and a mission set on our hearts from one of our customers. A random interaction turned into a very important day for all of us.
Each year, students gather around their school's flag pole for SYATP - the Global Day of Student Prayer. This year, SYATP is on September 25 and we want to show the power of prayer in the Nashville community.
A clarion call has been made to gather the saints for a grassroots effort across the state of Tennessee. We will serve those in authority from the Courthouse to the White House. We will serve through intercession for and interaction with governmental leaders in order to impact our cities, our state and nation. We will not only minister to those in the high place, but also those in the forgotten place. We will discern the heartbeat of cities and communities from mayors and city and county officials to determine how we can best serve those in authority. May we rise up rather than fall back in this hour and walk through the gates of government to serve with the heart and mind of Christ.
Welcome to The Belonging! We are a Church that loves God and loves people. We are passionate about seeing people encounter God through worship, and experience the freedom that comes through knowing Jesus. Whoever you are, and wherever you come from, you are welcome!We feel happy when we’re with a fun person, brought down when we’re with a negative person, and fearful when we’re with an angry person.
Christmas has a beautiful message, it is. . .
God with us.
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:23
Jesus Christ is the reason for the season, and the only way that, God is with us.
God’s instinct to love the world, drove him to save the world.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:15-16
So, if we accept this gift of salvation by believing on and confessing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, God becomes, our Father and we become His children, and have the capacity to love like He does.
Jesus commanded us to love. . .
Love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind, and with all our strength and love our neighbor as ourselves. Mark 12:30-31
Let’s say it like this.
Love the Lord thy God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind, and with all our strength SO WE CAN love our neighbor as ourselves.
Even though we have the capacity to love, we may not always ‘walk’ in love, so how can we love God and others more consistently?
When we spend time with God and God with us, it will have an affect on us. When we bask in His great love, it can influence us, and change us. The more we spend in the presence of Love, the more that love will be confirmed in our hearts, and we will be more likely to walk in the light of it, and we will be more apt to embrace others as God would. Being in the presence of pure love has a way of making us brave and confident. Knowing we are loved by God is a powerful thing!
So, the more time we spend with Love, the more Love’s attributes and aspirations can rub off on us.
So, what are the attributes of God’s love?
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance. . . Galatians 5:22-25
We can see these same fruits in God. Here are just a few Scriptures to make this point.
The fruit of the Spirit is love. . .God is LOVE 1 John 4:16
The fruit of the Spirit is joy. . . Jesus said, These things have I spoken unto you, that my JOY might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. John 15:11
The fruit of the Spirit is peace. . .And let the PEACE of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Colossians 3:15
The fruit of the Spirit is longsuffering. . . The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is LONGSUFFERING to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
The fruit of the Spirit is gentleness. . . But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, GENTLE, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. James 3:17
The fruit of the Spirit is goodness. . . I am the GOOD shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. John 10:14
The fruit of the Spirit is faith. . . But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth EXPECTING till his enemies be made his footstool. Hebrews 10:12-13
The fruit of the Spirit is meekness. . . Jesus said, Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am MEEK and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:29
The fruit of the Spirit is temperance. . . Let no man say when he is TEMPTED, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: James 1:13
Now, let’s take a brief look at a man that was a man after God’s own heart.
David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Acts 13:22
We know by reading the Psalms that David spent a lot of time with God. In that time, He learned many things about God like, God loved him and he could trust God.
David also spent a lot of time with the people, and I believe this was because David understood God’s heart. He knew people were God’s heart!
But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them. 1 Samuel 18:16
Prayer
Father in heaven, thank You for your great love for us. Thank you for sending Your Son to save us. May we abide in Jesus Christ and walk in the light of Your great love each and every day of our lives by the power of Your Holy Spirit, so that others may be drawn to You. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen