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!
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.Grudges and Prayers Don’t Mix
I think holding a grudge could be just about as scary as the movie, The Grudge, not that I’ve ever seen the movie, but I’ve seen the ads and it looks scary!
So just what is a grudge?
To be reluctant to give or admit: even grudged the tuition money.
To resent for having; begrudge: grudged him his good ways with the children.
A deep-seated feeling of resentment or rancor: bears a grudge about the accident.
Middle English gruggen, grucchen, to grumble, complain, from Old French grouchier.]
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/grudge
As Christians, we are not allowed to hold grudges because grudges make us grouches and a grouch is not a vision of God’s love to the world and we are called to be visions of God’s love to the world. We are His offspring after all.
If we sense that we are holding on to a grudge, we must pray about it right away, for we must never, ever hold on to a grudge.
How do we know if we are holding on to a grudge?
Some of the following things are good indicators we are holding on to a grudge.
- we are no longer FOR someone
- we are not GENEROUS in heart, mind and action toward someone
- we complain, murmur, think or speak hateful words about someone
- we can’t pray for or with someone.
Now, if you notice. . .forgive has two very important words in it
FOR + GIVE
Grudges and prayers don’t mix, but forgiveness and prayer does mix!
Christ taught His disciples a prayer, and forgiveness is in that prayer. It goes like this.
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Then Christ said....
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6
So, you see, forgiveness is very, very vital.
The Old Testament law had something to say about holding grudges...
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18
If we hold on to a grudge, we, in a sense, let go of love.
Christ spoke the blessed are’s upon a mountain top, afterwards, He told His disciples...
Ye are the salt of the earth. . .Ye are the light of the world
In the natural, we know...salt seasons & heals; light reveals.
Here are a few other things Christ said...
...Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Matthew 5
James, a servant of Christ, wrote a letter to the 12 tribes, He told them.
Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door....
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.
Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed...James 5
We need to keep sin out at all times, whether we have sinned against someone or someone has sinned against us. We need to get it out in the open.
Christ told about a man who had two sons he loved the same. The youngest asked his father for his inheritance and ran off and lived away from family & spent all the money. The oldest stayed home. One day, the youngest found himself hungry, wallowing in the mire with pigs. He came to himself & said I’ll go home & tell father, I’ve sinned against heaven & against you & am no longer worthy to be called your son, but I’ll serve you. When his father saw his son a ways off, he ran & hugged him. Then he had the servants bring a robe, a ring and shoes for his son & then had a feast. He was happy his son was home, safe and sound. Luke 15
And God is like that with us.
How do we know if we have received forgiveness from God or others?
If we avoid God or the person, we probably haven’t
If we think we have to pay for it or make up for it. . we probably haven’t
If we’re putting ourselves down all the time about it, we probably haven’t
Not being able to receive forgiveness from God & others can make us feel unworthy & unloved. It can also cause us to be unproductive in witnessing. We should fast & seek God about it. Giving and receiving forgiveness is healthy for the church & the community around the church and for us. God wants His kids healthy; feeling low in this manner is not healthy; strife in any form is not healthy.
So let’s get rid of, and stay rid of all that baggage. . . of grudges....and grab hold of God’s great love.