As many of my readers and subscribers already know, I’m seeking to pastor a like-minded (missional-Anabaptist) church. I greatly appreciate your prayers during this time. It makes a difference.
Our current fellowship allowed me the opportunity to preach last Sunday. FBC Woodlands/Birnham Woods was gracious enough to film it so that it can be used in the search process.
In the following sermon, I talk about the power and purpose of prayer as it involves God’s timing and spiritual warfare. And it’s only 26 minutes long!
How have you seen God at work around you through the power of prayer? Please share your experiences with “the unseen” realms that war against us. Encourage others with your stories. It really matters.
D.D. Flowers, 2013.
The Centrality and Supremacy of Jesus Christ 
May 28th, 2013 at 3:33 pm
The Alan Knox listed in your blogroll, does he embrace openness?
May 28th, 2013 at 3:35 pm
I’m not sure. Better ask him. 🙂
May 28th, 2013 at 3:38 pm
I have read some of his blogs but don’t see anything in personal info. Just wondering. Thanks.
May 28th, 2013 at 6:41 pm
I sure enjoyed that Dave. I wish I could’ve been there. Barry
May 29th, 2013 at 11:51 am
Thanks, Barry. I found out that I was preaching on Tuesday. 🙂
May 28th, 2013 at 9:19 pm
David, thanks for sharing from your heart as it was spoken in God’s word.
Wish I could have been there, Dad.
May 29th, 2013 at 11:52 am
I wish you could have been there too. Love ya, Dad.
May 29th, 2013 at 11:29 am
David,
I really enjoyed this message. I think the fact that there is an integral part for us to play in the Kingdom come that the idea of openness is becoming self-evident. Prayer, obedience, etc… is an active participation with the Lord of Heaven and Earth. I am so reminded when reflecting on your message and when looking at the Body of Christ at large of the scripture in Ephesians 5 – “Awake, O Sleeper, and arise from the dead and Christ will shine on you” then he goes on to exhort the saints to…
“Look carefully then how you walk (walk circumspectly), not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
Amen
May 29th, 2013 at 11:54 am
It’s cool that my sermon brought more Scripture to mind that complimented the message. 🙂
May 29th, 2013 at 1:29 pm
Thanks for a great message David…very timely and yet timeless but for some a new message..amen! One of my favorite old hymns used to be “This World is not my Home” until I was better educated in the book of Revelation. What an eye opener to learn that i was not going to heaven and the earth (as the Father and Creator originally intended and will be again someday when heaven comes to earth) actually is my home. We must not grow weary and pray “your kingdom come”.
June 6th, 2013 at 10:13 pm
David,
I enjoyed this very much. I am going through a period of my life where I get passoniate about God and then fall off then get passoniate again only to fall again; over and over that goes. I feel the Lord is putting prayer on my heart more and more. It is becoming more and more important to me. I would consider myself an open theist and I do absolutely believe that prayer makes a difference! I know that you are seeking a church to become a pastor in and I want to say that whatever church you end up calling home will be blessed by you! I know that, in reading your blog posts, I have been blessed!
Peace and prayers!
June 6th, 2013 at 10:22 pm
Thanks, Dustin. I really appreciate that, bro.
Keep stumbling forward in Christ. You’re not alone.
June 10th, 2013 at 4:08 pm
Where’s the church at so I can visit?
June 11th, 2013 at 9:43 am
The Church at Birnham Woods meets at York Junior High on Sundays @ 5:00.
June 13th, 2013 at 10:08 am
This confirmed for me that I am on the right track, even though I have come to this from a different direction.
You asked for stories of warfare with the unseen realms around us. About 10 years ago I was in a battle for my son’s life. As a teen he began dropping out of school, drinking, not coming home, reading books about Satanism, collecting large knives, and cutting himself. We went through counselling, psychiatrists, medication, herbal remedies and nothing seemed to help.
My background is that I grew up in the Mennonite church (not old order) for the first twelve years and then when my parents split up we attended different denominations until settling at a Pentecostal church in the early 70’s. As an adult I did not attend anywhere for several years and then it seemed God brought many, many books to my attention.
During the time of my son’s troubles I asked God for the gift of praying in tongues as this had not happened earlier. I would go into his room when he was not there and pray for him in tongues, I sang praise songs and cried out for God to hold him and rescue him from the evil one. I prayed over his bed and various clothing items that he would have protection when he slept and wore the items. I prayed against the powers of darkness and told them they could not have my son because he had been prayed for and blessed as a small child.
The battle was on and off for a couple of years and during that time I also had the experience of waking in the night not being able to breathe and feeling a heavy dark presence. I could only whisper “Jesus” and I did that until I could say it out loud. And then it was gone.
There is a cost in the battle and I also had accusations from relatives and at work and also marriage difficulties at the same time. The journey is not over but I can see that many around the world are coming to know the Triune God as very involved in his creation and He wants us to participate with Him in bringing the Kingdom to earth.
Thanks for the chance to share. There are some who dismiss this.
Elvera
June 13th, 2013 at 10:30 am
That’s powerful! Thanks for sharing, Elvera.