Prepare for Harvest
(This Weekly Prayer Summary was written by Devi Susanto, part of the CBC English Prayer Ministry, and edited by Brigitta Tedja)
#Harvestseries
Watch the sermon here
Pastor Him from our Colton church gave a sermon entitled, “Prepare for Harvest”, and he began by saying the church he serves has grown 40% this past year. They purchased the building on January 7, 2022 and CBC Colton opened its doors in February 12th after minor renovations. We are positioning ourselves for souls and resources to come, and with that said, we want to continue to support the building of the new campus, starting with the Ministry Center.
Envisioning for the Ministry Center (Video Announcement)
That was Brad Oaster, our Project Manager
He is an architect, a contractor, and a developer
We are planning for Harvest
We believe that God has been sending souls
We believe that there will be more Harvest coming
That is why we are making plans
We cannot contain everyone here
We are preparing for the next generation
We will have more babies, children, youth
More young adults, more young families, more older families, more senior citizens
We need more classrooms
We need more meeting rooms
If we believe our theme is “Harvest of Souls and Harvest of Resources” then, we better do something about it
On the church building side, it continues to be a work-in-progress
There is a Great Opportune Door but Many Adversaries
1 Corinthians 16:9 TPT “There’s an amazing door of opportunity standing wide open for me to minister here, even though there are many who oppose and stand against me.
1 Corinthians 16:9 NKJV “For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”
Life can be hard or difficult times may happen; pain may not be avoided but when that happens trust that God is at work.
God has a great and effective door opened for us
It is an amazing door of opportunity
It is wide open
But we have to face our adversaries
Pastor Paul and Bishop Bart reminded us that whenever you have a building program, you need to put prayer behind it. Cindy Jacobs also mentioned it too. She said that the main challenge is the spiritual side and unless you pray, it is going to be a struggle. So, I want to encourage all of us to pray.
That is Why We Need to Pray
Pray that all the challenges will be overcome and we shall be victorious
Pray for the Lord’s wisdom as we navigate through all the challenges
Pray for His Favor
Pray for Breakthrough
Pray for Revival
Yes, Pray for Harvest
Pray for laborers
Pray His plan for harvest
Pray for our Ministry Center
Pray to the Lord of the harvest
The Modular Buildings Will Be Removed
Children Ministry will be relocated to the Hillside Terrace
We plan to use 12x24 Sheds
Two Floors
Total: 20,630 sq ft building
8 classrooms and a worship hall on the first floor
4 classrooms, a worship hall, commercial kitchen and fellowship areas on the second floor
We Covet Your Prayers
It is not just the finances or permits from the City of Walnut that we need
We need to pray for the supply chain so that there will not be any issues procuring the building materials
Pray for the temporary classrooms to not have issues
Pray for those who give the approval in the City of Walnut
Pray for ease on the approval process
Pray for the right construction team
Pray for favor, wisdom, for no miscommunication or misunderstanding
Pray for good communication among everyone involved
Pray for the finances, for the Lord’s provision, for the people to give generously
Pray for a Harvest of Resources
On the Human Resource Side
Two weeks ago, we just have the ordination service for Pastor Dion Kurniadi and Pastor James Sudarsono.
Last month, we had Pastor Dom from Singapore to come to equip our leaders.
Two weeks ago, Bishop Bart and Ps. Coralee were here to equip our leaders
We are taking this seriously!
One of our pastors is getting his Master’s degree at Wagner University
Two others are getting their Master’s degree from Wagner University on “Healing, Deliverance and Spiritual Warfare”
We have a couple of people that are at Bishop Bart’s Bible School in Baltimore graduating in a few months
But remember that:
The call to minister is not just for the pastors or leaders
All of us are called
2 Corinthians 5:18 NKJV “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”
You Have Been Given the Ministry of Reconciliation:
It is already yours
You have been called to reconciliation
This is what we are supposed to do
You are to reconcile people to God
It is not just for pastors or leaders
The message from 2 Corinthians 5 is for every believer
What are you going to do about it?
How do we pursue this ministry that you and I have been called to?
Go to God in prayer daily
Communicate with God daily
Set aside TAWG
Ask for His will to be done
Surrender your will to Him
Cut down on your TV time
On Thursday I was startled from my sleep because someone was banging on the door from the garage to the house. Pastor Him realized that there was no one at the garage. Pastor was awakened by God in order to pray. God wants to talk to you as well, so obey the Holy Spirit and pray!
Esther 6:1 NKJV “That night the king could not sleep. So, one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.”
God spoke to a pagan king
God can speak to you
This great king ruled over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia
Had a feast for 180 days for all his nobles, officials and followed with another 7 days for all the people present in the citadel
From Asia to Europe and Africa: 3 continents
He could not sleep
What Do You Think Causes the King Not to Be Able to Sleep?
He was not sick - he would call for the doctors
He was not worried (war or safety)- he would call for his generals
He was not in a bad mood - call the counselors
He was not thinking about issues
He was not under the influence
Why Would he Command to Bring the Book of Records?
It was the sovereignty of God
This was God’s intervention for the Jews
If you cannot sleep, God is trying to tell you something
If you cannot sleep, read your Bible
If you cannot sleep, talk to God
Do You Believe in the Harvest of Souls and Resources?
Do you believe that you will receive a harvest?
It will be His ideas, His ways, His circumstances
His leading, His hands, His Providence
Learn to trust Jesus
Life is never a coincidence
God is at work!
God wants to talk to you, so talk to Him and listen!
In Chinese calligraphy, the character for “listen” consists of pictures of One (undivided attention), Person, the ear, the eye, and the heart. Listening requires the heart, the eyes, the ears, and undivided attention. if you will do that as you pray, as you seek God on a daily basis, as you quiet yourself—you will hear God.
Pray, seek His Face, call on His Name
Make Prayer as your Lifestyle, not because you are in trouble
Pray not because you are told but it is your relationship with Jesus
Pray because He died for you on the cross and he paid your sins in full. He deserves all glory and the honor. Prayer is our life and as you pray God will give you ideas, remind you of certain things, open doors for you, and give you the strength that you need.
Prayer is our Lifeline
God may want to give you ideas
God may remind you about …
God is sovereign
Esther 6:2 NKJV “And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.”
Something that was Lost
It has been there all the time
It was in the records
But it was overlooked
It was forgotten
But God has never forgotten
At the Right Time
At the Right Season
God is Restoring
RESTORATION is at work
All it takes is our OBEDIENCE
Harvest is here!
Bishop Bart: Harvest of Answered Prayers
What was lost is found
What is lost is being found
What was lost will be found
Parable of the Lost Coin
Parable of the Lost Sheep
Parable of the Lost Son - prodigal
What was Lost will be Found
Lost Blessing
Lost Relationships
Whatever the enemy has stolen from you, the Lord will redeem
You shall recover
Lost Harvest
Esther 6:3 NKJV “Then the king said, ‘What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?’ And the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.’”
Do not just come to church early and chat with others
Come to church early and start praying
Pray even as you are driving to church
Pray during service
Pray after service
Pray at home for the service
Increase the spiritual atmosphere
Joshua 3:5 NKJV “And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”
When you pray, the Lord will intervene.
Matthew 6:33 NKJV “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Seek Him first
Put Him first in your life
Serve Others
Pastor Him shared what happened in Colton during the Christmas service on December 25, 2022:
115 in attendance We had a full meal Rented chairs/tables for 100 people
Read His Word daily and do what it says
Fellowship with other believers
Reach out
2 Corinthians 5:19 NKJV “That is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the Word of Reconciliation.”
The Message of the Cross (The Words of Reconciliation):
Forgiveness
Life
Righteousness, Peace, and Joy
Being able to Let Go
Love
Relationships
Patience
Peace
Trust
Grace
Healing
Restoration
In Genesis 18:16-33, Abraham intercedes for Sodom.
Acts 7:60 NKJV “Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Stephen prayed for those stoning him.’”
Stephen prayed for those who were stoning him He forgave them prior to his death. He spoke a WORD of reconciliation
It is not a matter of convenience
He was being stoned to death and yet he gave the word of reconciliation
He did not curse them
He pleaded the Lord to forgive them
He spoke of forgiveness
He spoke for God’s mercy and grace
Paul prayed for Israel’s salvation:
Romans 10:1 NKJV “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.”
And of course, the Lord Jesus is the master of standing in the gap. We read what He prayed from the Cross:
Luke 23:34 NKJV “Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
And Jesus continues to intercede for us:
Hebrews 7:25 NKJV “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
1 Timothy 2:1 NKJV “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men”
God chose to use the prayers of people to accomplish His will
He still seeks those who will stand in the gap for friends and family, for people groups, and nations
Like Abraham and Moses, we should be willing to stand in the gap, asking God to spare and to save
Patience is certainly a key component in reconciliation:
We live in an impatient society that often seems thin-skinned and hard-hearted
A land of the Free and the Home of the Brave
Becomes a land of the Fearful and the Home of the Offended
Many people today operate in a matrix of disposable relationships, going through them like tissue paper during flu season:
Mad at someone? Dump them!
Offended with someone? Cut them off!
An inconvenient baby? Abort it!
Finished using someone’s gifts for your own gain? Throw the person away!
You think you “deserve better” than your spouse? Divorce them!
Maybe we have done these things to others. Maybe we have had these things done to us by others. There are plenty of hurt to go around these days
The word reconciliation means to renew a friendship or to restore to a right relationship
Share Your Faith with Others
When a tree that was created to bear fruit stops bearing fruit:
Fruitlessness is a strong indication that the tree is not healthy
Just as a healthy tree bears fruit, so a healthy Christian bear fruit by sharing the life-giving truth of Jesus with others
The life that God has given you will become eventually stagnant if you keep it to yourself, and never speak of it to others
As you pass on what God has given to you, He will fill you afresh
Sharing your faith is vital to the Christian life – not out of guilt – but out of joy and enthusiasm for His saving goodness to you
Ask God to help you make a list of people with whom He would have you share your faith
Begin praying for the list
Look for daily opportunities to share
Ask God to prepare this person to hear the gospel
Be willing to take a risk and step out in faith
Practice sharing your faith journey in a simple, conversational manner
Do it in your CARE Cell - practice makes perfect
You never know when God will give you the opportunity to tell your story!
Am I praying them into the kingdom or condemning them to hell?
Do I really care for their soul?
I have to repent change my attitude
I have to uproot every arrow that I have fired
I have to ask forgiveness from the Lord
Love is not just a feeling or emotion
Love is a choice you make
It is a decision
Love is not just lip-service
It is not just talk
I must be willing to die to self and win others
Would it be great if the person that needs Christ open his or her heart to Christ?
You better speak life instead of death
You have to bless instead of curse
1 Peter 4:8 NKJV “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will covers a multitude of sins.”
LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS
Life can be hard:
Difficult times happen, and pain cannot be avoided
When life doesn’t make sense, do you turn to God or away from Him?
Prayer Points:
Pray that all the challenges will be overcome, we shall be victorious
Pray for the Lord’s wisdom as we navigate through all the challenges
Pray for repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation
Pray for our Ministry Center
Pray for the permit and approval from the City of Walnut
Pray for the right construction team and laborers
Pray for favor, wisdom, for no miscommunication or misunderstanding among everyone involved
Pray for the finances, for the Lord’s provision, breakthrough for the people to give generously
Pray for the temporary classrooms to not have any issues
Pray to make prayer a lifestyle
Pray to help you make a list of people with whom He would have you share your faith
Pray to look for daily opportunities to share
Ask God to prepare individuals you targeted to hear the Gospel
Pray for a harvest of souls and harvest of resources