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.
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.
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!
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.We are always talking about God’s love for us, and that’s great! But this Holy Week, let’s talk about another love, OUR LOVE FOR GOD!
Here’s a verse to start us off,
Trust in the LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART; and lean not unto your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
Here’s another,
Jesus gave the 2 greatest commandments,
Love the LORD your God WITH ALL YOUR heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Matthew 22:37-39
In the natural, we love someone by getting to know them, and the more we get to know them, we trust them, IF THEY ARE GOOD that is!
GOD is good!
So, just how do we love God with all our hearts? And can we really know if we’re loving God with all our hearts or just saying we are? I believe there are some evidences.
When we love someone with all our hearts, we act a certain way.
When we love God with all our hearts, we also act a certain way.
Here are some ways we act when we love God with all our hearts.
WE LEAN ON HIM, WE FOLLOW HIS LEAD
John is known as the disciple whom Jesus loved. After the resurrection Peter asked Jesus a question about John,
Then Peter, turning about, sees the disciple whom Jesus loved FOLLOWING; which also LEANED on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrays you? Peter seeing him asked Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? .John 21:20
WE RESPECT AND OBEY HIM
Jesus said, He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. John 14:21 KJV
WE WANT TO BE WHERE GOD IS HONORED. WE LOVE HIS HOUSE, WE RUN TO THE ALTAR OFTEN: WE GO TO CHURCH AND PRAY
I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass Your altar, O LORD...LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your honour dwells Psalms 26:4-9
WE DO NOT LOVE MONEY
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Matthew 6:24
WE LOVE HIM ABOVE ALL, MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF
Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10:37-39
WE LOVE GOD AND THE THINGS THAT ARE IN GOD MORE THAN THIS WORLD AND THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE WORLD
love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.1 John 2:15-16
HIS PURPOSE BECOMES OUR PURPOSE
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
WE DO NOT ALLOW SIN TO GROW
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Matthew 24:12
WE ENDURE TEMPTATION
Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. James 1:12-15
WE WORSHIP AND WELCOME HIS PRESENCE
And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, See this woman? I entered into your house you gave me no water for my feet: but she has washed my feet with tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head. You gave me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in has not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil you did not anoint but this woman has anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto you, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. Luke 7:44-47
KNOWING AND BELIEVING THAT GOD IS LOVE MAKES US BOLD IN OUR FAITH AND COURAGEOUS
And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love cast out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.1 John 4:16-21
WE PRAY IN THE HOLY GHOST
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 1:20-21
PRAYER
Lord, help us not be distracted from loving You with all our hearts today! May we keep Your words close to our hearts and let them remind us of Your goodness, Your faithfulness and Your great love. When we rise each day, may we go with You and never let You go! And as we love You and all the things in You with all our hearts, we will repent when we need to, we will be able to resist temptations that would pull us away from You. We will worship and welcome Your holy presence, be grateful our sins are forgiven, pray in the Holy Ghost, make Your purposes our purposes. Love Your church. Run to the altar often. Lose ourselves in You! May we trust in You with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding, and as we seek Your will in everything we do, show us which paths to take. Amen Proverbs 3:5-6