WORSHIP:
Timothy Christian School
750 Essa Road
Barrie, ON
9 a.m. & 11:15 a.m.

OFFICE:
258 Bayfield Street
Barrie, ON
L4M 3B7

CONTACT:
P: 705-739-8613
F: 705-739-9348
info@harvestbarrie.ca

For Those With Ears - Entries tagged "Prayer"

TueTuesdayMayMay8th2012

Prayer Walk

Posted Tuesday, May 08 2012 @ 8 AM byRoger Freeman Tagged Prayer 0 comments Add comment

The goal: To pray for every household and business in Barrie.

The Method: Having believers prayer walk the streets of Barrie.

The Day: This Saturday, May 12

We are actually kicking off our prayer walk this year tonight! Our youth are prayer walking the downtown core. These prayer walks in downtown Barrie have been incredible and our youth will be meeting to lift up the needs of our city in prayer. They’ll walk around in their small groups with their leaders and pray, then meet up for coffee after. And it's not just for the youth. If you would like to join in, you are very welcome. Details here.

This Saturday is the day followers of Jesus from all over the city will be walking the streets of Barrie, individually or in small groups, praying for the people in the homes, apartments and businesses they pass. It happens at various times throughout the day. Last year we were able to cover approximately 60% of the streets in Barrie with some wards fully covered. This year our goal is 100% in all wards.

In addition, there is a celebration worship service at Unity Christian High School, 25 Burton Avenue, at 2 p.m. on May 12. The vision is to provide an opportunity for those who prayed to come together and encourage one another by lifting their voices in praise.

How can I get involved? Start by registering on line. Here is the link. Select the streets you will commit to prayer walking. Check out the guidelines suggested on the web site. Then pray!

ThuThursdayMarMarch15th2012

Praise and Prayer Night

Posted Thursday, March 15 2012 @ 8 AM byRoger Freeman Tagged Prayer 0 comments Add comment

What an incredible effect praying together has! I know it transforms couples, and families – and churches. I know saying “grace” before the meal can turn into a little ritual devoid of true meaning. But it doesn’t have to! And it does have an effect on the conversation and attitudes around the table. Praying together as the last thing before falling asleep changes the focus from “me and you” to “us before God.” Over time, that does make a difference. And finally, to borrow a book title off my shelf, “Something happens when churches pray!”

So when we pray together as a church we are changed. We - are - changed! So lets get at it this Tuesday at Timothy Christian School at 7 p.m. Our youth will join us and we can expect more of this:

"All I can say is, the prayer time on Sunday night was amazing. The prayers in our group were passionate prayers for our pastors, elders, staff and for our church, the prayers for the lost were spoken with tears being shed as we lifted each name up to the Lord. Each time we do this it seems they get better and better - this one, without a doubt, was the best. To God be the glory!"

"I REALLY enjoyed it and was blessed by how the night went. I wouldn't change a thing!! Seriously it was perfect. The Holy Spirit was in the house. I look forward to the next one and left feeling pumped and very encouraged to go out and live my life with complete boldness in front of my unsaved family and friends! Still working on it big time, I need lots of help Lord."

"It was an amazing night for me! I could really feel God working in me, and his presence around me. My prayer life before had been lacking, and I wasn't feeling much change in my life lately. I had been praying for God to soften my heart and I really felt that tonight. I think that I had never really realized power of prayer before tonight, and I feel drawn closer to the Lord."

"I was so blessed by all that God did tonight!! I wasn't sure what to expect and I actually didn't really want to go. The whole idea of having to "pray around a circle" with a group of 8-10 strangers, ... seemed really intimidating. It shocked me when someone said that prayer meetings only happen four times a year. Whatever! We should do it every Sunday! So glad we didn't have to pray around the circle! Was really blessed by the prayers at the end … such great testimonies to the work of God. So very glad and thankful to be part of Harvest and even more glad to know such a great Saviour!"

So here is a great idea:

"I loved having my whole small group there too and how we met up before hand at Williams!"

The best is to hear things like this:

· "I personally have issues with praying out loud and in groups but I was able to overcome that fear and to exercise my faith!!"

· "Seriously, I have never been to a prayer night before, but that was what I always envisioned one to be like."

· "I can't wait for the next one!!!! It was so wonderful to gather with my brothers and sisters in Christ and have a focused prayer time. Prayer is so powerful!!! Praise God."

· "Last night had me in tears almost the whole night ( and I RARELY EVER cry so that was a miracle in itself.)"

· "God's presence was truly there."

TueTuesdayFebFebruary7th2012

The Fields are White for Harvest

Posted Tuesday, February 07 2012 @ 9 AM byJeannie Coros Tagged Prayer 0 comments Add comment

If you weren’t able to attend the night of prayer on January 29 – you missed out! Seriously!

As Pastor Todd followed author Daniel Henderson’s lead (Transforming Prayer); we enjoyed sweet times of worship, singing praises to our heavenly Father and also heard a strong word from John 4. Our focus was on the lost and our fourth pillar – sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with boldness. We spent time in groups of four or five praying specifically for those in need of Christ’s forgiveness and the strength to share with them.

Not only was I encouraged by standing corporately with brothers and sisters in Christ, but I was beyond blessed to pray with some of our high school students and hear them pour out their hearts to Jesus. These teenagers, who are regularly persecuted for their faith, were praying for the souls of those who torment them and for the strength to stand for Christ. Wow!

I know that God has used Transforming Prayer to change my prayer life and allow me to truly seek his face; and it was amazing for me to see this play out practically, in our church family. What a gift it is to be able to spend time adoring our awesome God and pray back to him, the words he gave us.

Being a visual learner – I love the picture that God paints in Ephesians 6:13-18…”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. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 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.

Prayer night allowed me to polish up my armor, tighten my belt and raise my sword even higher– ready for battle; after all, “the fields are white for harvest” (John 4:35b).

WedWednesdayNovNovember23rd2011

Unlearning Prayer

Posted Wednesday, November 23 2011 @ 7 AM byAmy Fotherby Tagged Prayer 0 comments Add comment

Did you love the book "Transforming Prayer" as much as I did!?! I hope so! I LOVE that book because it really shaped/changed my personal prayer life…it was challenging and I’ve by no means arrived when it comes to prayer but I feel further along than I was six months ago and that excites me! And I’m for sure further along than my childhood mealtime blessing of: “God is great, God is good. Let us thank him for this food. Amen.”

Daniel Henderson talked about the idea of "unlearning prayer" – it seems like a weird concept but I get it. All of us have had people in our lives who have shaped our idea of prayer – what it is, what it should sound like, why we do it…but there’s potential that what we’ve been taught doesn’t quite line up with what Scripture says about prayer.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’ve learned about prayer over the years and I think the biggest thing that I’ve learned in the past few months is not coming to God with a "grocery list" but taking really intentional time to magnify his name, pray through Scriptures, pray according to his will the best I can, confessing areas of weakness and sin where I need help and forgiveness…but still bringing him my requests before him…in such a way that I think beyond “heal this person (because that would be nice)” to asking for healing but recognizing that God is using the thing for his glory.

The following quote really helped focus me when it comes to bringing my request to God:

“...Jesus is not like a genie in a bottle whom we can command by invoking His name. When we pray, we should be doing more than looking heavenward, believing with all our might that our wish will come true, and instead of repeating, "Star light, star bright, bring the wish I wish tonight," saying, "In Jesus' name, amen."

Two problems immediately arise when we treat prayer like a surefire wishing star. First, we limit God by the wisdom of our wishes. If God were really obligated to do what we think should happen, then God would be tethered to the leash of our understanding. Our wishes would fence God's omniscience within the limits of our brain and restrict His plans to the extent of our insight. But if our wisdom defines the limits of God's, then our world will inevitably unravel. The job we may want for extra income may take us from the family that God knows needs us more. The immediate cure for our sickness may deny doctors an insight that would save millions or may deprive us of the patience that God will use to bring Jesus into the hearts of our children. We must trust God more than our wishes or concede that our world will be controlled by billions of competing wishes that we have neither the power nor the wisdom to control.

The second problem with making prayer a wishing well is forcing the conclusion that prayers, like wishing wells, are fantasies. Everyone suffers. We live in a fallen world. Biblical prayer does not solve all our earthly problems, and God never promised that it would. Jesus did not even promise His disciples a perpetual bed of roses. Instead, He said, "In this world you will have trouble" (John 16:33).

Prayer does not relieve all suffering, but it assures us that no difficulty comes without a purpose. When we pray "in Jesus' name," we have God's assurance that He will answer our prayer in a way that brings glory to Jesus and furthers His kingdom…You cannot avoid trials; you can have confidence of their purpose. You cannot bind God by your prayers; you can guarantee His blessing. You cannot direct the will of God; you can pray according to His will and rest in the assurance of His love. You can pray knowing that God will marshal the powers of heaven to accomplish on earth all He knows is best for your eternity.
~Bryan Chapell in "Praying Backwards"

WedWednesdayOctOctober19th2011

Prayer for your Pastors

Posted Wednesday, October 19 2011 @ 7 AM byRoger Freeman Tagged Prayer 0 comments Add comment

Every once in a while I get an e-mail that stops me in my tracks. Perhaps you can tell why this one did!

Good Morning:

I will be using the scriptures below as I pray for you and our church this year.

Ps 31:23..........Father, I thank you that our pastors are faithful,
Ps 31:23..........and that you preserve them.
Prov 28:20......That they abound with blessings,
Gal 6:9............and do not grow weary of doing good.
Phil 1:6...........That you who began a good work in them will complete it.
Eph 2:10.........Your workmanship created in Christ Jesus,
Heb 13:21........and equipped with everything good to do your will.
Heb 13:21........Work in them that which is pleasing in your sight.
2 Cor 9:8..........Let all grace abound toward them, having all sufficiency in all things,
2 Cor 9:8..........and abounding in every good work.
2 Cor 9:6..........Because they have sowed bountifully, they will reap bountifully,
1 Cor 3:6..........and whether they plant or water, Father, you give the growth. I pray for the growth Lord, bless our church
2 Cor 2:14.........I pray that they continually triumph in Christ,
2 Cor 2:14.........diffusing the fragrance of the knowledge of you in every place.
Heb 12:1-3…....laying aside every weight, enduring, keeping their eyes on Jesus and not growing weary or fainthearted,
Deut 28:2..........That all blessings come upon them and overtake them,
Deut 28:2..........because they obey the voice of their God.
Ps 32:8..............Instruct them and teach them in the way they should go;
1 Cor 2:10.........reveal the deeper things of God to them by your Spirit.
2 Tim 2:21.........Let them be vessels of honour, set apart as holy and useful for the Master.
2 Tim 2:21.........prepare them for every good work.
1 Pet 5:2, 3.........Shepherding the flock willingly, eagerly, and being an example to them.
1 Cor 2:4............Their speech and preaching is in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
2 Tim 4:2...........And they are instant in season and out of season to preach the Word.
Josh 1:3..............Every place the soles of their feet tread upon has been given to them.
Deut 31:6...........They are strong and of good courage for you, Lord, go with them.
Ps 27:14.............They wait on you, and let their heart take courage.
Titus 1:5.............Help them set in order things that are lacking,
Titus 1:5.............and appoint elders in every city.
2 Cor 10:4...........I tear down the strongholds over the pulpit.
Ex 17:11..............I lift up my pastors arms
Heb 12:24.......... and cover them with the blood of Jesus.
Deut 28:1-14.......Blessing will be on them,
Gal 3:13..............for they are redeemed from the curse of the law.
Isa 54:17.............I say that no weapon formed against them will prosper,
Isa 54:17.............and every tongue rising against them shall be shown to be in the wrong.
1 Cor 12:11.........Father, let the gifts and anointing on their lives come forth.
Acts 6:4..............Bless them as they continually give themselves to prayer
Acts 6:4..............and the ministry of the Word.
I love you and I am praying for you.

We appreciate your prayers and support! We need you to pray all these things for us; and more. Thank you for praying!

Roger

TueTuesdaySepSeptember27th2011

Liberating Prayer

Posted Tuesday, September 27 2011 @ 7 AM byTodd Dugard Tagged Prayer 0 comments Add comment

We have the banner hanging in our foyer: “Believing firmly in the power of prayer”. We may believe in that power, but are we experiencing that power when we pray? My sense is that prayer still remains a bit flat for us. A bit of a mystery. A bit…boring even. At our last Night of Prayer I shared a number of “rules” regarding praying in a group that I hope will liberate people from the awkwardness and boredom that so many feel in that kind of setting. I suspect that some do not participate in these prayer gatherings because of some fears they have. I’m hoping these simple suggestions will address these things and help us have vibrant, Spirit-filled prayer gatherings.

1. We don’t pray around the circle. Ever. I have never been a fan of “praying around the circle”. The fact that we may sit in a circle is mere pragmatism…so we can face each other hear what’s being prayed. The shape of the gathering shouldn’t dictate the order. I find it to be presumptuous on what the Spirit may be doing in the lives of those in the group. The circle, not the Spirit, dictates the order of things. Seems wrong to me.

2. We don’t expect everyone to pray aloud. Last week in our elders meeting, I didn’t pray. I had not had the best day and felt like I wasn’t in the best place. I was in a bit of a wrestling match with the Lord and it would have been a bit hypocritical to pray, in my estimation. I added my “amen” to the prayers of the other elders, but remained silent. Some people don’t feel like they’re ready to pray aloud because they’re new in the faith. I remember the first time I was in such a situation. I was maybe sixteen years old and a new follower of Christ. I had no idea what to say or how to say it. All I know is that as prayer moved around the circle toward me, I didn’t hear a single word of any of the previous prayers and my anxiety level was increasing. I survived. Having said that, there should come a time in every believer’s life, where his or her maturity level leads him or her to pray aloud within a group. If you are growing in your walk with Christ, you should not remain silent forever.

3. You can pray more than once. Among the problems of praying around the circle is the reality that I only get one shot at praying, and so you feel like you need to get out a good one. This is what adds incredible pressure to people who have little experience with this. If the circle-thing is abolished, then people are freed up to pray shorter, more meaningful prayers as things come to their mind and heart. As an added bonus, what you will notice in time is that your prayers become more conversational with the Lord and your intimacy with him will increase.

4. Silence is more than okay. Some of the most memorable and impactful prayer times I have been a part of have included long periods of silence. Most groups consider these to be “awkward silences” as if just sitting in the presence of the Lord is a problem. In prayer, God can often speak to us especially if we are using his Word as the basis for our praying. Don’t feel like you have to jump in when no one is praying. Enjoy the quiet (we get so little of it), and let God speak for a minute or two or more.

5. Find your prayer list in the Bible. Having mentioned using God’s Word as our basis for praying, let me say further that doing this opens up to us an amazing treasure of things to pray about. What I appreciate so much about praying the Scriptures is that you know without a doubt that you’re praying God’s will. When I bring my list, I’m never really sure about that. Having our Bibles open when we pray brings the conversation with the Lord to life. A great resource to have on this kind of praying is Daniel Henderson’s Transforming Prayer, which is the focus of all of our small group studies right now.

6. Don’t share requests beforehand. We have all been part of prayer meetings that were 75% sharing requests and 25% praying. God knows what’s on your heart and the people in your prayer group will know when you pray it. They can agree with your prayer and say “amen” …or not…after you pray it. Spend your time talking to God and not each other.

7. Change your posture. I sit at a desk a lot. When I pray, I really do like to change that up. What we find though is that the standard prayer posture of most Christ-followers is to be in a sitting position, hunched over. I suspect that chiropractors would tell us that we are wrecking ourselves by doing that. I strongly encourage mixing it up. Stand during prayer even if others continue to sit. Walk around the room if that works. Kneel. Lay flat out on the floor. I have been part of group prayer meetings with all of these postures being practiced. Don’t be shy about it and don’t worry about what anyone else is doing.

8. Take notes during prayer. One of the most frustrating things that happens to me in prayer is having my mind wander away to what I have to do later. To help with that, I keep a piece of paper in my Bible or use my iPhone to make a quick note. That way I can stop thinking about it until later and get back to prayer. Keeping notes can also be helpful when something someone else is praying prompts me. Maybe I want to pray further about that later, or do something to encourage someone. Jot down a quick note about it and get back to praying.

9. Whoever opens the prayer time, closes it. This is simply a practical suggestion to again help with that problem of praying around the circle. With the circle, it was easy to know when the time of prayer was done, but without that order in place, how do you know? Simply have the one who opens the prayer time with his or her prayer also be the one to close it off.

I’m hoping that these suggestions will help liberate our church during our group prayer times, but if you look back, you’ll find some great ideas for making your personal time of prayer each day more vital as well. We can’t afford to not grow in this area of our lives personally and corporately knowing that Ephesians 6:18 makes it so clear that we are to be, “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.”

ThuThursdayJulJuly21st2011

Blessed

Posted Thursday, July 21 2011 @ 10 AM byJoel Dugard Tagged Prayer Relationships 0 comments Add comment

Blessed.

If I were to sum up how I’ve felt over the past few days in just one word, that would probably be the one. Just…incredibly blessed. I’ve already had an action packed summer, between working at Harvest as an intern and connecting with friends and family before going back to school in Lynchburg, Virginia. But a few very special things have happened to me of late that have just caused me to go “Wow, thank you God!”

I hope that your summer has been filled with plenty of blessings, too. Be they special times with your family while on vacation, or just finding time to relax and rest up before the fall, there are plenty of blessings that come from our heavenly Father each and every day. It’s important to recognize, too, that God often uses other people to pass on his blessings to us. Personally, I can think of several people that helped me feel God’s deep love and care for me through the ways that they were able to bless me this week. Their generosity, be it through their finances, time, or energy, was used tremendously by God to fill my heart with joy for who he is, how he loves me, and how he continues to bless me.

But my challenge to you today is this: Consider the blessings that are happening in your life right now, and think and pray about the ways that God wants to use you to bless others. This was something that God challenged me on this week big time, and let me tell you, the payoff was enormous. After being able to give generously to someone else through a series of circumstances, my heart instantly was filled with joy, knowing that God had just used me to bless another. I say this, not to boast in my giving, but instead to encourage you as a testimony of the amazing joy that comes from a life of generosity. As I mentioned before, generosity doesn’t have to come through money. Your willingness to just spend time with someone or help them through a problem can be used by God to bless them in a big way and, in turn, bless you as well. In Proverbs 3:9-10, it says,

“Honor the LORD with your wealth, and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 
then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.”

That verse pretty much says it all. God gives generously to those who give generously. Think about that, pray about that, and then act upon that this week.

God bless.

ThuThursdayOctOctober28th2010

Prayer and Fasting

Posted Thursday, October 28 2010 @ 8 AM byTodd Dugard Tagged Prayer 0 comments Add comment

It has been a good week as many have been setting aside time to pray while fasting in various ways. The primary focus of the fast, as Pastor Roger explained on Sunday, was to give attention to the selection and affirmation of new elders.

It is the pattern we see in the Bible in such passages as Acts 14:19-23…

But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

We had set aside Sunday through Wednesday for this time of fasting and prayer. Some are continuing beyond that time frame. I will be concluding my fast on Friday with a time of prayer at 7:30 a.m. at the office (112 Caplan Avenue). Anyone is invited to join me for that.
Let’s continue to pray that God would show us his will and that we will be found to be obedient to him in all things.

Todd