Jo Gower

House of Prayer for ALL Nations

"My House is the House of Prayer for All Nations" –Jesus

Jim Cymbala (as told in his book Fresh Wind Fresh Fire) saw a small rag tag group of churchgoers that were surrounded by a city of muggers, transvestites, drug addicts and more.  In shock, realized he was in trouble. Overcome by his own inadequacy to lead the church and his community, he began to search for answers, which can only come from God.  As he prayed, he realized that God’s power would be with them, only if he and the church learned to consistently call on His name to supply their needs. To this day, the church meets on Tuesday nights for a prayer meeting; one of calling out to God to supply their needs in order to reach the lost around them.  

After beginning the weekly “House of Prayer” meeting, they began to see God work powerfully in the lives of people swallowed up in sin and society.  To their amazement the broken people around them began to give up their wrecked lifestyles for Christ.  Gang bangers were being transformed into learning to be leaders for the Lord. Their church began to grow—toward maturity and in numbers. Cymbala concluded: “If the spirit of brokenness and calling on God ever slacks off at Brooklyn Tabernacle, we’ll know we’re in danger—even if we have 10,000 in attendance.”

Prayer transcends disunity and brings people together for God’s purpose – possibly the saving of a Nation as well as individuals… 

"It is written, 'My House is the house of prayer for all nations, but you have made it a den of robbers'" (Luke 19:46; Mark 11:17).

The week before Jesus' crucifixion is one of the busiest recorded in Scripture.  Jesus knew His time was drawing near, so everything He did was for a purpose-from the riding on the donkey to the cursing of the fig tree; from the breaking of the bread to the cleansing of the temple.  The temple of Jerusalem was a busy place not only for the local people but for visitors too.

When Jesus cleared the merchants out of the temple area that was only the surface of what He was upset about.  Lack of prayer in the Temple courts was the root of the problem, that’s why Jesus was so angry, there were so many distractions the real purpose of the Temple was not evident. 

In His anger, he did not sin, but he made it perfectly clear that God’s dwelling place is to be a House of Prayer for all people then and now.  It is as if Jesus was saying to his disciples - "How long before you get this? You are up next, you better have your faith strong and in order because I'm going to my Father in heaven - you're up, are you ready for the task?"

Yes, we meet and pray in our “church buildings”, “house churches”, etc., but more than that, we are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, our bodies are the temple of God.  Everything I do with my body, I do it to God's temple.  Am I robbing Him or am I truly “a house of prayer for all nations?”

Holy Father, in Jesus name I pray, Come examine your temple and cleanse me of all that distracts me from You and the work you’ve called me to do.  Amen

 Carolyn ‘Jo’ Gower

jogopray@gmail.com

jgower@wfr.org

Hindrance to Answered Prayer...

MY un-forgiveness and bitterness yields ground in my life to Satan...

Every opportunity to be offended or bitter is a trap of Satan. He is the great deceiver that delights in destroying my prayer life, which would result in damaging the joy of an intimate walk with God. When I don’t forgive I am cherishing sin in my heart, thereby ruining my communication with God! 

            “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (NIV)

WHAT FORGIVENESS IS AND IS NOT:

·       Forgiveness is excusing a fault, completely canceling the expected payment for a wrong, and      giving up my right to hurt someone for hurting me.

·       Forgiveness is not approval or denial of a wrong committed.

·       Forgiveness is not forgetting or pretending the wrong never happened

·       Forgiveness is a process of acknowledging our hurt but we “drop our case” and surrender our pain to the Lord.

Some of the results of forgiveness are joy, happiness and love that come from Christ and not our circumstances.  I can even love and pray for blessings on those that have hurt me. I’m released from the prison of bitterness about life in general and hope returns to my heart.  Forgiveness is an act of our will in obedience to God. Jesus offered the ultimate forgiveness; he is the greatest Intercessor. We have the privilege as Christians to join Him in advancing the Kingdom through our prayers. 

Let the little children come...

IMMEDIATE NEED – IMMEDIATE ANSWER

My mother was the kindest, strongest Christian woman I ever knew. Yet, as a child, I never heard her pray out loud. No doubt she prayed. Her life was hard as a child, even though she didn't know it at the time. They lived in the country, had no electricity, grew their own food, and of course walked to school.

The first day of school that year the teacher told the class everyone needed to bring a nickel for supplies. Mom knew there was no way her parents had the money and she was not about to ask them, so she first of all asked God to help her.

After getting home from school, as she played under the porch, she prayed to God for help. Suddenly she discovered a nickel in the dirt! Thanking the Lord and telling her parents about it, she knew God had heard her prayer!

Hearing her story late in my life, I couldn’t help but wonder why she didn’t share it with us as children. (Maybe it’s because our sweet mother never liked drawing attention to herself.)

I’ve often thought of that prayer answer, especially as we began our journey in studying the subject of prayer – like the time my husband, Hugh, and I went to a prayer workshop by Dr. Albert Lemmons in Missouri. Around that same time my brother, Keith Roberts, had already been studying the subject and also attended a prayer workshop by Dr. Albert Lemmons, held here at WFR Church. As you can imagine, our prayer lives were challenged and we’re forever grateful to Albert Lemmons (you can see his website at www.prayermatters.org) .

From that point, God worked in our lives to teach us more about prayer; to pray more and lead others to do the same. Over the years we’ve hosted prayer workshops and prayer retreats.  Hugh and Keith have both taught prayer seminars through the years and continue to do the same today. Keith and the Calhoun Church of Christ have remained faithful in helping us to grow in prayer, even hosting an annual Prayer Workshop (see www.calhounchurch.org).

I believe that out of our growth in prayer, we, at the White’s Ferry Road Church of Christ; World Radio; WFR Relief; WFR Missions have come to emphasize “PRAY FIRST”, then plan and continue to pray about the plans God has helped us to make.

Even though I have many important duties at World Radio, I consider my main one to be in the area of actually praying for World Radio speakers and those that give to this ministry.

To remind me of prayer’s role at World Radio Gospel Broadcasts, I display this framed quote my brother gave me:

“How different the world would be if we prayed before we made our plans, rather than asking God to bless what we have decided to do.”

C. J. Gower -  
Email:   jogopray@gmail.com

Website link:     World Radio Gospel Broadcasts

When we obeyed the gospel, we were born into a family—our church family (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Ephesians 3:14-21, Acts 2:37-47).  God gave us the great commission to preach the gospel to all nations. (Matthew 28:16-20)  To accomplish His will in reaching the world we need each other in united prayer and prayer warfare. (James 5:16 .)

Every New Testament local church was exhorted to pray without ceasing.

Consider:

*The church at Ephesus was exhorted to pray always     (Ephesians 6:18).

*The church at Thessalonica was told to “Pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17).

*The church at Rome was admonished to “be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12).

*The church at Colosse was exhorted to “continue in prayer with thanksgiving steadfastly” (Colossians 4:2).

*The church at Philippi was encouraged to not worry about anything . . .  but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made know to God (Philippians 4:6).

*The Hebrews were urged to “continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God” (Hebrews 13:15).

Around A.D. 400, Chrysotom wrote, “What we cannot obtain by solitary prayer . . . we may by cooperative prayer.”

DAILY Putting on God’s Armor:

Heavenly Father, Your Warrior prepares for Battle.

Today I claim victory over Satan by putting on the whole armor of God!

Lord, I give you my will; submit today to your will; I give you my body, mind and soul.  Oh Lord you are in control of me today.  I give up myself; my selfishness to you oh God in heaven.  I pray for protection around my mind; may I take every thought captive for Christ.  Christ does not give me a spirit of fear but a spirit of peace and a sound mind that I am thinking clearly about my walk with You – Oh God YOU are my shelter and provider… YOU are my friend in a dark world - --YOU shed the light of peace upon me…no matter what I go through today, You and I together can face it because you live in me.  The very Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in me and because of that I know where my strength comes from.  Thank you Jesus!

I put on the breastplate of righteousness!  May it guard my heart from evil so I will remain pure and Holy, protected under the blood of Jesus Christ.

Thank You, Christ Jesus for what you did for me on the cross; taking my sins; sufferings and diseases to the cross.  May I be a welcoming environment for Your leading in my life today. Thank you for the victory you’ve provided over Satan.

By Faith I put on the girdle of Truth; may my life today be motivated by truth; my heart love truth.  May I be motivated by what is righteous (right) and refuse that which is evil.  Thank you for the imputed righteousness of Christ. May I stand firm in the truth of your word so I will not become a victim of Satan’s lies.

By Faith I put on the shoes of peace. May I stand firm in the Good News of the Gospel so Your peace will shine through me and be a light to all I encounter.  Today may I be a peace maker not a trouble maker.

By Faith I take up the shield of Faith; may I trust your word today and not add any fuel to Satan’s darts.  Thank you that I can go into this day without fear. Make me ready for Satan’s fiery darts of doubt, denial and deceit so I will not be vulnerable to spiritual defeat.

By Faith I put on the Helmet of Salvation; may I have my mind focused on You so Satan will not have a stronghold on my thoughts; may I remember today that Jesus is coming again; help me to live in the future tense. 

By Faith I take up the Sword of the Spirit!  May the two-edged sword of Your Word be ready in my hands so I can expose the tempting words of Satan.  Protect my mind from discouragement and despair.  Fill my mind with your swords (Rhema –personal word from God through His Word and the Holy Spirit through prayer).

By Faith I have put on the armor of God today; may this be a day of victory!

In Jesus Name AMEN

Above prayer written from:  Ephesians 6:10-23(ESV)

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and,as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 
19 and pray also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Final Greetings

21 So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.23 Peace be to the brothers,[a] and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:4-6(ESV)

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

FIVE REASONS COUPLES FIGHT...

NOTES that I took as I watched Jimmy and Karen Evans Marriage-Today videos:

Five reasons couples fight:

• Work stress
•  Money
•  Children
•  Sex
•  Housework
•  But real reason for fighting…EXAMPLE:  Karen said:  you don’t care about how I feel – you are not valuing how I feel, for example when Karen would drive; Karen was stressed over poor driving because Jimmy thought he was the gifted driver. He was correcting her every move.  But when Jimmy drove, Karen would hold on to the dash, etc – she was stressed – but Jimmy said "I didn't care how Karen felt"

TWO DIFFERENT PROBLEMS:

• Women need “security” – that you care about her – she has to know that she is more important than anything else – are you going to be a faithful provider? A faithful husband

• Men need “honor” and respect:  Am I a good man and do you “believe” in me – or do you think I’m a louse?