Pastor Tim’s Blog

Last night we had a service that was different than any service that I have ever been in.  We started to have worship and everything felt off.  Durning the first song I was praying for God to show me what the issue was.  My message was on intimidation and freeing ourselves from it.  It hit me that we must first be bree from intimidation if we are going to be able to sing about being free.  God also spoke into my life that the revival has started for North Manchester.  He is going to continue to pour out His presence on us.  Our ministry is preparing for power things in the near future.

For those of you who have been reading my blogs I am sorry that it has been so long.  This summer has been a time of cray schedules and exciting news.  I am really excited to let you all know that a group called the 7 Project is coming to North Manchester.   The reason that this is so exciting is if the statistics hold true for our community on January 20th 397 teenagers are going to accept the Lord.  I don’t know how you can’t get excited about that.  As for our ministry we have had a strong start to this school year.  I really feel the Lord is leading us to a deeper place.  The hard part is I fear that some might not be willing to walk with us and be left behind.  This is never my desire, but is a strong fear as we push forward into the things the Lord has called us to do.  Please pray for Elevate.  I believe as we start the school Bible studies, Escape on Monday nights and prepare for the 7 Project that the enemy is going to come against us with all that he has.  I know that we will be victorious, but that does not make the battle any easier.  Pray for our student leaders.  I pray that they will have a passion and hunger for  a deeper understand of God.  I know that I am putting a lot of random things in this blog, but I feel that I need to just vent it all out.  I will be blogging more often that I have.  It forces me to grow and that is what has to happen for us to go to the level that I believe is next for us.  Thanks for your prayers.

While reading in Judges something jumped out at me.  While the Israelites were preparing for war they went to the Lord and asked if they should attack.  The Lord told them to and they did, but were not successful.  They once again retreated to the Lord and asked for His guidance.  The Lord once again told them to attack and He would deliver their enemy into their hands.  They followed the direct of God and attacked.  Once again they were defeated and retreated to God for guidance.  God told them to again attack and He would deliver their enemy into their hands.  For the third time the Israelites attacked and this time their enemy was delivered into their hands. 

What I find so powerful about this part of scripture isn’t that the Lord deliver them.  It is that they stepped out in faith two times and failed and still went to God for direction, and when He told them to do it again they once again did not question it.  They just did it.  If only I could have that same confidence.  I know that I have it inside of me, but am fearful.  Failure is something that we are all afraid of.  I am challenged to do more for the Lord.  To do what I feel Him calling me to do with the utmost confidence and not worry about the outcome.  If I am being obedient to God then it doesn’t matter.  I have to do what the Lord calls me to do.  Even if I fail.  If He calls me to do it again, then that is what I have to do.  Lord, send me.  I am ready for battle.

I feel recently that we need to do whatever it takes to get back to prayer.  We have to remove as many distractions as we can.  It is very easy to let this part of our Christian walk fall short, but it is where God’s power can be poured out on us.  It is through prayer that God’s power changes lives.  I have challenged the teenagers to make sure to spend time in prayer for each other as well their schools.  I believe that the Lord is about to dramatically change our schools.  I feel that His power is just months away from breaking free in our schools.  I pray that the Lord will not just speak to me, but all the Christians in this community.  I pray that God will motivate us to humble ourselves and pray for a touch of heaven in our community.  We need to work together to further the kingdom of God.  Lets all start to spend time in prayer asking for God to speak to us.

While reading in Judges today I couldn’t help feel prompted about the line, “Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord.”  It is repeated many times through the book.  I felt the Lord impressing on my heart that what we see today is His people being controlled by others.  His people are being punished because they have not turned from their evil ways.  We have allowed the enemy to distract us with other gods. (media, sex, drugs, alcohol, possessions, and power)  The church will not be delivered completely by God until we have purified ourselves by confessing our sins on the altar of God.  Until we turn away from the other gods that we have unconsciously placed before the one and true God.  It will be at that moment when God will once again completely release His anointing on His church.  It will be at that moment the Church will again be able to expand the territory of  the Kingdom of God.

I have not been faithful at all at updating this blog.  Recently I have been reading and really feeling God leading me to commit to trying to update this blog a few times a week.  I believe He is doing this to help me put into words what He is showing me through my personal prayer and study time as well as what I see Him doing in the lives of the teenagers that I have the privilege of ministering to.  I believe that this is going to be a year of battling for our youth ministry.  Just in the first few months the enemy has tried to break our spirits by attacking different families in our ministry.  I have been praying for God’s protection over our ministry and the families that are involved.  I know that my God will come out victorious over the enemy.  That is the truth that I am holding onto during difficult times.  Make sure to check back for updates and feel free to leave comments.  God bless all of you.

Last week we traveled to our church’s teen camp.  God’s presence showed up right from the start.  Monday night’s service was as powerful as most Thursday night services.  The speaker spoke on things that we do that continually profane God.  Tuesday night we continued to be in the presence of God as the speaker spoke on taking off your grave clothes.   He told us that even if Jesus was to raise us from the dead we still have to take off our grave clothes.  It was a message that impacted teenagers and adults alike.  Wednesday night was a night of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  There were around 30 – 40 teenagers that were baptised in the Holy Spirit.  It was an amazing night.  Thursday night was focused on worship.  There were two key lines that were said multiple times.  The first was six steps and sacrifice.  Meaning that when David was bring the alter back he would take six steps and then sacrifice to God.  The other was “I will fight for the heart of my King.”  We obviously had fun with games and things of that nature, but the most fun was spent in the presence of God.  He is so amazing and glorious that I can not explain it in words.  Teenagers, keep fighting for your King’s heart and eventually you will capture it.  God Bless

Tim

We had a great camping and boating trip.  The weather was great.  We played night games while camping and sat around the fire.  It was relaxing.  We headed to the beach the next day and once again had great weather.  We took for groups out on the boat and my father-in-law took turns dumping them one by one out of the tube.  It was a great day.  We played beach volleyball and spent some time swimming.  Derrick learned how to swim and I am very proud of him for facing his fear.  Way to go Derrick!!!!  I look forward to our next activity.  I hope all of you do also. 

For those of you who have not been at the last two weeks of youth the Lord has really shown up and changed lives.  In the last two weeks the Lord has healed one teenager and another was baptized in the Holy Spirit.   If we look back two more months the Lord has healed two more teenagers.  It is amazing what the Lord is doing in our ministry.  Durning my time in prayer this week the Lord has put it on my heart that we are just getting started.  Teenagers get ready for the Lord to show up and rock your world.  We are going forward and the enemy is not going to stop us.  Please keep myself and the rest of the leadership in your prayers.  God bless you this week.