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.
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.
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.
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 Mission of Remission
In February, we celebrate Valentine’s Day. It’s a lovely day of flowers and cards; candy hearts and romantic dinners. We show our love by giving some sort of token of our love. Yes, February is the month for love. It is sad, but we know that sometimes people fall out of love with one another. Sometimes people separate. There’s many reasons this happens, which we will not go into here, but the point is, it happens. This tells us that not all loves are created equal. There is a love that is greater than all.
The greatest love is God’s love. Every month of the year should be the month for God’s love, because God’s love, among many other wonderful things, is unconditional. God loves us if we’re good or bad. God loves us if we’re wrong or right. God loves us if we’re rich or poor. God loves us if we are famous or unknown.
To show that we mean what we say, some of us have made a sign of the cross over our hearts and said, ‘cross my heart’.
God showed His love to us by giving us a sign of His love. . .the cross.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 NIV
Many yelled out to Jesus Christ the Savior on the cross that day. . .
Save thyself, and come down from the cross. Mark 15:30
But He didn’t come down. He stayed there for us. He was thinking of all of us on that day. His heart’s mission was that we might receive remission or pardon from our sins.
When Peter went to the family of Cornelius, he told them about Christ’s mission of remission (pardon).
He told them…
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. Acts 10:38-43
The cross is our symbol; our sign of God’s great love for us and we see them everywhere. When we see a cross, we are reminded of the unconditional, selfless love the Trinity of God has for us. When we find ourselves in that love, we find ourselves secure because His love is powerful and faithful and true.
Paul to the Romans,
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]. For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our LordRomans 8:37-39 Amplified
Christ died for us on the cross so the love between the Trinity of God and man would never die.
Here is a word picture of God’s great and unending love.
Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
The good news is, we can have that same love in our hearts. How? By accepting the mission of remission (pardon). We accept the mission by believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our hearts and openly confessing it as so.
If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10 NLT
In Ephesians chapter 3, Paul refers to this new revelation of God’s love in Christ.
Paul’s prayer: When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT