One of the most beautiful things about what God is doing is the amount of biblical teaching that is occurring. Almost every night we are led to begin with a teaching from God’s word. Then, throughout the nights, much scripture is being read, expounded on, etc. This has been the pattern almost every night for the last four weeks.
Also, as people share and we have the opportunity to shepherd these moments as God directs, the Lord is giving us grace to teach “off” these moments of personal testimony. For instance, last night we found ourselves again being led through an initial teaching on Romans 12 and the first testimony, into an intense time with multiple men in the body sharing biblical truth about the nature of forgiveness. Romans 12, 1 Peter 2, Matthew 18, Psalm 118, Psalm 68, James 1 and Ephesians 3 were all shared from and expounded on. It is beautiful how the WHOLE BODY is sharing and expounded the Word together. This is so clearly biblical as 1 Corinthians 14:26 “…when you all gather, each one has a Psalm, has a teaching…but let all be done for edification.” I believe strongly in the power of the preaching of God’s word, but not only is the preaching occurring each night, (which people EXPECT to hear from a pastor) but dozens of others are teaching and exhorting from God’s Word. These are powerful and undeniable witnesses to those who are there. It’s beautiful.
Last night…
A former missionary shares how God took him and his family through the loss of their missionary appointment and the ensuing bitterness and God’s call to him to forgive. This has prepared him for further ability to forgive that has happened, even as recently as in the last few weeks in the neighborhood in which he lives.
A deacon shares on the nature of true forgiveness…the difference between godly anger and ungodly and the need to forgive and love so that if things need to be righteously confronted it can be the “truth in love.”
A staff member shares that 8 years ago when he came to The Summit (just as a church member) he was hurt, bruised, bitter and critical because of the breakup of a former church. God has redeemed him so much that he is now on staff at The Summit. But he wanted to take the opportunity to ask forgiveness of the church and pastor for his former behavior.
Another young staff member comes, broken, to share of the leaving of his father at age 2, which led to the entrance of a very abusive stepfather and his anger towards his dad for allowing this to happen. He requests prayer for release from the bitterness he feels towards both these men and the desire to be able to love and forgive them fully and even have fellowship with them. The whole church goes to prayer on his behalf.
Another brother shares the story of how bitterness from his wife leaving him led to all kinds of destructive behavior, but now the Lord has set him free from those chains.
Multiple people stand to have the church pray for similar release from bitterness and anger and unforgiveness.
A young lady shares prayer requests from 6 ladies she was in a bible study with at the Compassion Center. She simply shared last night, in her normal bible study time, what God was doing in the Summit. They were so excited that they wrote down prayer requests (which we passed out and groups of ladies prayed over) and we also discovered they are coming as a group Friday night to the meeting.
Several pastors are in the meeting and we had an extended time of prayer for the churches in the city and God’s continued movement. We prayed for next Monday night, a prayer meeting at First Baptist that will be happening that we have been asked to share in, Bill’s time with some pastors in Benton on Wednesday and the city-wide prayer gathering next Thursday. We pray that all of these will be catalytic in the extension of God’s reviving activity in the city.
More prayer for unbelievers. A report from another Teaching Pastor that a man who’s seeking God came to his small group and brought 3 others in the same condition and the wonderful sharing of God’s activity that is making people curious for God. We ended with a final time of prayer for God’s continue work.