1 “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicle 7:14 Experiencing God’s Presence and Living His Power Pr. Gerry L. Cajobe CLC- Min. Secretary

2 Reflection on the State of the Church Today Experiencing God’s Presence and Living God’s Power

3 If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95% of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the new Testament church 95% of what they did would stop and everybody would know the difference. » A. W. Tozer

4 Roots of Our Problem # 1 1. Lack of Connectedness. John 15:1-5

5 The first lesson to be taught the members in our church is the lesson of dependence upon God. Before they can attain success in any line, they must, each for himself, accept the truth contained in the words of Christ: "Without Me ye can do nothing.” {7T 194.1}

6 Roots of Our Problem # 2 1. Too much reliance on human effort. Zechariah 4:6 This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel : “not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the LORD Almighty.

7 What the church needs to-day is not more or better machinery, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use, men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Spirit does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men, men of prayer. E. M. Bound on the Holy Spirit

8 “When I try to accomplish by human means what can be done only by spiritual means, I embezzle God’s authority.” Fred Smith, Sr. Quotes to Remember

9 Acts 1:8 -Wait -Pray -Receive power -Evangelize God’s Solution

10 The Lord is willing to do great things for us. We shall not gain the victory through numbers, but through the full surrender of the soul to Jesus. We are to go forward in His strength, trusting in the mighty God of Israel.... (Sons & Daughters of God 279)

11 God can do more with one man who is 100% committed to Him than a whole army of men who are 99% committed to Him. John Wesley

12 Prayer is the means by which God uses to release His renewal

13 “But the word busy is the symptom not of commitment but of betrayal. It is not devotion but defection. The adjective busy set as a modifier to pastor (or any of us) should sound to our ears like adulterous to characterize a wife or embezzling to describe a banker. It is an outrageous scandal, a blasphemous affront” (Eugene Peterson, The Contemplative Pastor, p. 27)

14  Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be make known unto God.  Phil. 4:4-6

15 Think of these Biblical examples  Abraham prayed, just one man, and lot was delivered from the fiery destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Moses prayed, just one man, and the waters of the see parted.  Joshua prayed, just one man, and the walls of Jericho came tumbling down.

16  David prayed, just one man, and the stone from his slingshot was guided to the forehead of Goliath and the giant fell dead.  Elijah prayed, just one man, and fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice.  Daniel prayed, just one man, and the mouths of lions were closed.  Ester prayed, just one woman, and God delivered the whole nation of Israel from complete destruction

17  But prayer will be no task to the soul that loves God; it will be a pleasure, a source of strength. Our hearts will be stayed on God and we shall say by our daily life, “Behold the lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world.”  Review and Herald, May 13, 1884.

18 Spirit Of The Living God  Spirit of the living God, fall a fresh on us  Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me.  Spirit of the living God, fall a fresh on us

19 Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus  Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face.  And the things of this earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.