Rebuilding the Walls

A cupbearer in the kings court was never to be sad. In fact, it could get him killed. But Nehemiah had never been sad before in the King's presence. In fact, God really gave Him favor because the King not only asked him what was wrong, but gave him everything he needed to do that which God had put on His heart.

Last night during our Launch Team Meeting for Journey Church we talked a little about Nehemiah. I want to share further on this for your encouragement and the encouragement of our community here in Cambridge.

Nehemiah 1:4 NIV When I heard these things (about the state of Jerusalem), I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

Nehemiah heard about the state of Jerusalem and he wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed for days. As we (Journey Church) are in this time of fasting (the bible sometimes calls it mourning), like Nehemiah, we recognize the state of things in Cambridge, Boston, New England, and America. Recently, I read some statistics from the Washington Times heralding New England as the New Northwest (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/22/mississippi-earns-most-religious-nod/). In the past, the numbers of unchurched people were largest in the Northwest United States. That has shifted, and New England now has the greatest amount of "unchurched multitudes," and Massachusetts is in the bottom three. This is saddening, but God doesn’t want to leave us there! He wants to move. He wants to dive into the chaos. He is ready. We are weeping, mourning, fasting, and praying for the state of things here. People who don’t know Jesus are at an all time high. Moral depravity is at an all time low. There are broken hurting people all around us. We need God to come. We long for Him to come in power.

Nehemiah 2:17-18 NIV Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace." (18) I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So they began this good work.

God’s hand has been gracious upon us (the Murawski Family). God has provided every step of the way for us to be here, giving supernatural miracles when necessary. Now it’s time to rise up and re-build! You see, New England used to be a hotbed for revival; the Haystack Prayer Meeting, the Mt. Hermon 100, the Great Awakenings (you can study those for yourself). We don’t just long to go back to that, we long for God to surpass it! We say come Lord Jesus, come! Let it rain! We are preparing the field of our hearts for you to rain (Zech. 10:1)!

God's answer to a burden He puts on your heart is always YES! He brought us here to help launch a movement, a kingdom work that bombards the gates of hell that have set themselves up in this place. They are only gates. A defense. It is are job to go on the offensive and bombard them. They will come down and His kingdom will be set up!

Wherever you are, He brought you to that place for victory. What is the burden on your heart? What are the things that trouble you most? You have a God who loves you, hears your prayers, and longs to answer them. Cry out with faith and confidence in the LIVING God and watch Him move!

Settled in the Storm

My family and our small fledgling church plant here in Cambridge is in the midst of a 21-day Daniel fast to seek God in this New Year. This morning as I was spending time with Jesus, I got the overwhelming sense that God wants to settle our spirits in the midst of the storm. He wants us to be settled secure people who don't budge when the storm rages around us.

In Matthew 8:23-27, Jesus and the disciples got into a boat. "Suddently a great tempest or storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But Jesus was asleep. (vs. 24 NKJ)."

The disciples thought they were perishing and Jesus was sleeping...big difference! How could Jesus sleep in the midst of a storm where the waves were crashing onto the boat? Jesus was settled as a person. "Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God...(John 13:3)." Jesus knew the Father was sovereign, in control, living for His good, and He was surrendered to the will of His Father.

Steven Furtick, lead pastor of Elevation Church, sent out a tweet this morning that said this, "Jesus isn't concerned about physical provision, He is trying to do something deeper inside of you."

As you can imagine, planting a church in one of the most unchurched cities and regions in the country (Cambridge/Boston) near the #1 University in America (Harvard) isn't a cake walk. It's been a joy but very difficult. We have changed every part of our lives from our housing, type of environment, ministry role, friends, etc, etc, etc...The storms rage all around us at times. What is Jesus trying to get at in me?

He wants me to be settled in the storm. He wants me to be settled regardless of all the outer circumstances raging around me. Instead of worrying and getting caught up in the moment, He wants me to be at peace in who He is, who I am in Christ, and what He has called me to do.

Wikipedia defines the eye of a storm as: The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. Wow! Isn't that amazing? As the storm rages all around, the very center of it is calm? The physical world always reflects the spiritual. Lets take a hint from God and let Him center us in the storm. Instead of responding to all the things that rage around us, we can focus on Him and His goodness, be utterly satisfied in Him, and remain in peace.

Maybe it's just for me, but I thought I would share my thoughts...

Joel 2 Moment

I believe we are in a Joel 2 moment. I have been sensing this for the last few months. When I say a Joel 2 moment, I mean the latter half of Joel 2. For the past several years, but especially the past 2 years, we have been in the beginning of Joel 2,

Joel 2:12-18 NASB >"Yet even now," declares the LORD, "Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning; (13) And rend your heart and not your garments." Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil. (14) Who knows whether He will not turn and relent And leave a blessing behind Him, Even a grain offering and a drink offering For the LORD your God? (15) Blow a trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly, (16) Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and the nursing infants. Let the bridegroom come out of his room And the bride out of her bridal chamber. (17) Let the priests, the LORD'S ministers, Weep between the porch and the altar, And let them say, "Spare Your people, O LORD, And do not make Your inheritance a reproach, A byword among the nations. Why should they among the peoples say, 'Where is their God?'" (18) Then the LORD will be zealous for His land And will have pity on His people.

I believe God has heard our prayers. When we do things God’s way we get God’s results. That’s not to say the fasting and praying is over. That’s how you win the battle but it’s also how you keep the victory! Let us not grow weary in well doing but be always watchful and vigilant! You may look at what's happening on the political front, or the apparent darkness all around us, but we are to see with the eyes of faith. We are to set our minds on things above, not on the things of this earth (Col. 3:2.

The latter half of Joel 2 is about what God does as a result of the fasting, weeping and mourning,

Joel 2:19-32 NASB The LORD will answer and say to His people, "Behold, I am going to send you grain, new wine and oil, And you will be satisfied in full with them; And I will never again make you a reproach among the nations. (20) "But I will remove the northern army far from you, And I will drive it into a parched and desolate land, And its vanguard into the eastern sea, And its rear guard into the western sea. And its stench will arise and its foul smell will come up, For it has done great things." (21) Do not fear, O land, rejoice and be glad, For the LORD has done great things. (22) Do not fear, beasts of the field, For the pastures of the wilderness have turned green, For the tree has borne its fruit, The fig tree and the vine have yielded in full. (23) So rejoice, O sons of Zion, And be glad in the LORD your God; For He has given you the early rain for your vindication. And He has poured down for you the rain, The early and latter rain as before. (24) The threshing floors will be full of grain, And the vats will overflow with the new wine and oil. (25) "Then I will make up to you for the years That the swarming locust has eaten, The creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust, My great army which I sent among you. (26) "You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied And praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; Then My people will never be put to shame. (27) "Thus you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, And that I am the LORD your God, And there is no other; And My people will never be put to shame. (28) "It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions. (29) "Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. (30) "I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, Blood, fire and columns of smoke. (31) "The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood Before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. (32) "And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the LORD Will be delivered; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem There will be those who escape, As the LORD has said, Even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.

If God allows you to see something from scripture and understand it, then you can have it! A prophetic people pull future promises into the NOW! Don't give up hope, the Lord wants to move. He wants His people to recognize their authority as kingdom people and to pray and move in accordance with His will, "Your kingdom come Your will be done ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN." When God's people get a hold of this truth and began to operate out of their identity as sons and daughters, we will see radical change come to our nation and the earth!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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God is Moving!!!

God is moving! Dr. J Edwin Orr said this, “Whenever God is about to do something new with His people, He always sets them to praying!”

I believe we are in a dramatic season of our history where we can change the course of our nation! One person said it this way, “History belongs to the intercessors!” There are 40 day fasts springing up all over the country. I don’t care if it’s one meal a day, lets join in and make history together. Change always starts with a few and then multiplies. Be the voice to ignite your campus in corporate fasting and prayer.

I felt God speak to me about a month ago to do a 40 day fast. I am 15 days into it. It is difficult at times but God has really released a grace in me to do this. ASK GOD FOR HIS GRACE AND THEN DO WHAT HE SAYS!

PLEASE MOBILIZE YOUR STUDENTS TO FAST AND PRAY, ESPECIALLY CONCERNING THESE UPCOMING ELECTIONS. I believe this is one of the most crucial elections in our day. It’s not just about the President, it’s about an agenda that is attempting to usurp religious and personal freedom in our country. The next president will get to appoint judges and possibly a supreme court justice that could tip things in favor of the sanctity of life. The battle must be won on our knees first.

I WILL BE SENDING OUT AN UPDATE SHORTLY, INSTRUCTING STUDENTS HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE EVEN IF THEY ARE AWAY AT COLLEGE. WE NEED TO BE ENCOURAGING OUR STUDENTS TO GET REGISTERED, GET INFORMED (ON GOD’S CONVICTIONS FROM THE BIBLE AND ON THE CANDIDATES) AND VOTE!!!

Maybe you could devote a special time to talk about this in your group. God is very concerned over justice issues. We have also posted a voters guide telling the different convictions of the two candidates on our website at the bottom (www.basiclives.com)

Don’t let this moment in history pass you by. Now is the time to begin organizing prayer meetings, half nights of prayer and all night prayer vigils.

As this is happening, we are planning our conference about prayer and intercession called, “Prepare the Way.” Who could have known! We are praying that God would teach His people and give them grace to live a sustained life of prayer AND THAT PRAYER CULTURES WOULD BEGIN SPRINGING UP ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES EVERYWHERE!

Dear College Students

It has been on my heart for about the last week to do this. I want to encourage you, please vote! You and I have a responsibility in this country to help shape its destiny. The right to vote should not be taken for granted. You are now out of mom and dad’s house and old enough to fight in a war, you should be voting.

I put together this email to help you know how to vote. I have listed several websites that will help you. If you are away from home, you can still vote! If you are a resident of the place where you go to college, you just have to re-register there. If not, you can do an absentee ballot. The first step is to register to vote.

Below are several websites that will help you with this process. There is even a specific one for college students.

Lastly, I want to encourage you to vote your values. Not necessarily values you have learned through television or your college experience but convictions. Convictions are defined as “fixed or firm beliefs.” Our fixed and firm beliefs must be founded on the authority of God’s Word, otherwise it’s based on a “good idea” and good ideas don’t always last. Think of all the good ideas you have had over the course of your life. How many of them have come and gone? Our convictions must be based on the unchanging authority of the bible! Here are my personal values I hold dearest when voting, in order of priority:

1. The sanctity of life – Psalm 139, Ezekiel 35:6 and many other passages
2. The protection of the institution of marriage as one man and one woman (This starts all the way back in Genesis)
3. Justice Issues – the poor, immigration issues, etc…
4. The War
5. The Economy (no matter what happens we are under God’s economy and these other issues above can affect the state of the economy)

Specific Websites to Help You

1. Register to vote - http://www.rockthevote.com/rtv_register.html
2. How to Vote - vote bible based convictions, not learned or accepted values of the day - http://www.ivotevalues.org/
3. Here is some info specifically for those who have just moved away to college and how to vote either in your college town or by absentee ballot. - http://www.declareyourself.com/voting_faq/voting_faq_449.html#moved
4. Other websites that walk you through how to register and the ins and outs of voting:
http://www.declareyourself.com/home/home.html
http://www.ivoteyouvote.com/
http://www.registertovote.org/?gclid=CKGKvYGq9JUCFRqiQQodhHKwiQ

Together lets rise up and change the course of our nation!