More Grace!

We all have been recipients of God’s Grace, which has been defined as the unmerited, or undeserved, favor of God. It is the nature of God to forgive and show mercy. In spite of the sin of people, past and present, God is always looking for an intercessor.  God showed the Prophet Amos a vision of locusts devouring the crops. Amos cried out to God, saying, “O Lord God, please forgive! How can Jacob stand, For he is so small [that he cannot endure this]”? (Amos 7:2 AMP) God responded to Amos, and “The Lord revoked this sentence. ‘It shall not take place,’ said the Lord.” (Amos 7:3 AMP) The encounter between God and Amos continued with a vision of a punishment of fire, which would consume the underground water system, and the land. God revoked this sentence at Amos’ request, but He also showed him a plumb line. The plumb line was a warning, promising impending judgment.

God has not changed. He still wants to extend mercy and grace to His people, and to fallen humanity. We have heard the Apostle Paul’s “thorn in his flesh” preached many different ways, but here is another thought. Paul made clear to us his struggles with his flesh in almost every epistle he penned. Romans 7:20 gives us insight into what may have been the “thorn” or “messenger” he battled with on a daily basis. Paul seems to lament, saying, “But if I am doing the very thing I do not want to do, I am no longer the one doing it [that is, it is not me that acts], but the sin [nature] which lives in me.”  Paul described the joy he felt at the power of the Holy Ghost at work in his life, but also of an opposing law of evil warring in his mind. Our minds, where our thoughts originate, are the seat of our carnal nature. This is a result of the fall of mankind. Our fallen nature is something we must fight against on a daily basis, unless after we witness to others, we find ourselves castaways. This has been made evident throughout scripture. Paul made it clear that it was the grace of God that rescued him from his sin nature. We know that “God cannot be tempted by [what is] evil, and He Himself tempts no one. But each one is tempted when he is dragged away, enticed and baited [to commit sin] by his own [worldly] desire (lust, passion)” (James 1:13-14 AMP). It is our flesh (carnal, sin nature) that a messenger of Satan will attempt to work through.  

Paul, who felt himself to be the least of apostles because of his persecution of the Church, stated that he struggled in his mind because of the persecution, trials, and imprisonment he suffered, and perhaps the shame he had to overcome. Paul admitted, when he appeared before Festus, that he had to work at having a righteous mindset and to be willing to extend the grace he was given to others. Acts 24:16 says in the KJV,  “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.” Paul exhorted us in II Corinthians 2:10-11 to forgive, and to extend grace to others. Because in doing so, we put Satan at a disadvantage. Paul said he forgave in the presence, or person of Christ. We know that we cannot overcome sin without Jesus. Can we conclude that Paul’s thorn was his sin nature, or carnal mind? Maybe, maybe not? However, a conclusion can be made, as we pray, standing in the gap for the land, that we should always rely on, and extend more grace.

Beth Marie Evans 

Apostolic Author

Associate Minister

International Christian Fellowship

Brookfield, Illinois

Back-to-School Prayer

August is here and that means school is starting up again. It doesn’t matter if your student is a first-time, returning, elementary, high school, or college student…online or in class…public or Christian or home school…in town or far away…your child or grandchild, nephew or niece, neighbor, or friend…your student needs your prayers.

Your church can conduct a back-to-school special time of prayer one Sunday where all students, regardless of age, gather at the front and let families and church gather around them and pray. Provide prayer cloths that leadership has anointed and prayed over, then let families take home one for each student in the family, whereas a family they will pray over each one before placing one in each student’s backpack. Conduct a prayer walk at each school represented by students in the church. Provide copies of this prayer guide to families so they can pray over their students at home before students leave for school. 

Focused Prayer:

• Pray for protection to and from school for each student.
• Pray for protection at school, that it would be a safe place with no bullying or terror attacks.
• Pray for good health to prevail in every family throughout the school year.
• Pray for teachers to show kindness, grace, and understanding, as well as wisdom in dealing with situations in the classroom.
• Pray that God will provide for every financial need.
• Pray for parents to offer strong guidance and support, offering encouragement as well as expecting fair accountability.
• Pray that your student would understand and do well in the learning process.
• Pray for peace in your student, that each would not be afraid of situations or people present.
• Pray for confidence for your student, that each would try new things and bravely tackle all assignments given.
• Pray for your student to make wise choices in their friendships, speech, manners, and reactions.
• Pray that your student would do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.
• Pray that your student would stand with boldness and integrity on the Word of God, especially when presented with beliefs and teachings contrary to truth.
• Pray that God will strengthen your student as each builds their relationship with Him.
• Pray that your student will introduce someone to Christ and help that friend grow in Christ.
• Pray for the Holy Ghost to always lead, protect, and anoint your student.

Joni Owens

The World Network of Prayer Presents

24/7 WATCH: A Year-Round Initiative for 24/7 Prayer

As of January 1, 2022, WNOP launched an annual 24/7 prayer and fasting chain worldwide in coordination with our existing “Year of Prayer.” Each week WNOP is posting a prayer focus as daily prayer for the entire week. Also weekly, a video is posted on the WNOP Facebook Page of a prayer leader and/or minister leading in periodic prayer. We encourage your participation by joining in prayer.

Will you commit and join with others throughout the world in united prayer and fasting? Sign up by committing in your heart unto God that you will consistently set aside a day each week to do some prayer and fasting. WNOP also has partnered with those in local churches who are already a part of a current 24-hour prayer chain. All of these hours of consecration are culminating to help provide a complete mass prayer covering the entire Church body and to help bring greater success in all that we do in Christ! Together, let’s “watch and pray” and behold great and mighty things in the kingdom of God! Let’s prevail over the enemy with victory and declare, “Not on My Watch!”

Flo Shaw

Director

World Network of Prayer

AUGUST 24/7 WATCH (WEEK 4)

Service Workers: Military

Following is the “24/7 Watch” daily prayer focus for this week. Join us in consistent prayer & fasting.

Rev. David K. Bernard

General Superintendent

2022 WNOP Events

• 24/7 WATCH: WNOP Facebook Worldwide Prayer Initiative (January 1 - December 31)
• Pursuing the Harvest STX District Conference. The Church Triumphant. Pasadena, TX (September 8-10)
• UPCI Day of Prayer (September 28)
• Oklahoma District One-Day Prayer Conference (October 22) North Point UPC, Sperry, OK
• Ontario District Blitz - Regional (November 1-6) Location: Various Sections in Ontario, Canada
• International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (November 6)
• Georgia District Prayer Workshop (November 10-12). Solid Rock PC, College Park, GA
• Arkansas District Summons (Dates TBD). First Pentecostals of Benton, Benton, AR
• *Northwest Region Summons (Dates TBD). Location - Idaho: TBA
• *National Apostolic Day of Prayer (Date TBA). Apostolic Fellowship Summit
• YM + WNOP Summons (Rescheduled Dates TBD). Location: TBA
• WNOP “Operation Prayer Evangelism: “Switzerland” (Rescheduled Dates TBD)
• WNOP “Operation Prayer Evangelism: “Operation Turkey” (Rescheduled Dates TBD)
• WNOP “Operation Prayer Evangelism: “Operation Jamaica” (Rescheduled Dates TBD)

*Pending Executive Board approval. Note: Some events are District Board approved, but promoted by WNOP.

Also, more 2022 event dates may be added to the WNOP Calendar later as approved by the Executive Board.

(For more info on these specific listings, please contact WNOP at 636-229-7986)