Ideas for book covers

I have been working on some book cover ideas for my up-and-coming book UnSilenced: Sound Theology for Releasing Women into Ministry.  Here are some possibilities...

Design #1

 

Design #2

Prayer Ministry Do’s, Don’ts and Helpful Hints:

Prayer Ministry Do’s, Don’ts & Helpful Hints:

©2012 by Alan Garrett

The scriptural basis:

Luke 4:18-21 (Jesus’ ministry); Matt 9:35-10:8 (Workers for the harvest-sending of the 12); Luke 10:1-21 (Sending of the 72); Matt 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-19 (the great commission-sending us); Acts 1:4-9- (Luke’s version of the great commission).  1 Cor 2:1-5; 1 Cor 4:19-20 (Paul’s priority of power);

Operate from a place of intimacy and abiding

John 15:5 I am the vine. You are the branches.  Those who live in me while I live in them will produce a lot of fruit. But you can't produce anything without me (GW).

Learn to do what the Father is doing and operate out of dependency on Him.

John 5:19 I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does (NIV).

Pray with your eyes open (unless you are receiving prayer)

As you are seeing in the natural God will often speak to you.  Jesus and his disciples ministered with their eyes open.  (Acts 3:4- they looked intently at him).

 

Teamwork

When praying for someone our prayers should fit together like pieces of a puzzle.  When the Holy Spirit is leading, there is a “flow” to the ministry time.  Do not head too many directions.  Give non-verbal communication to others praying.

 

Be open, listen and take risks

Dialogue with God and ask him questions.  Be sensitive to “mind’s eye pictures”, impressions, and physical sensations (Jesus felt power leave him Lk 8:46).  You can read all the manuals about parachuting, but sooner or later your going to have to test it out.

Often, gifts will not show up till they are needed

Put yourself in positions where gifts are needed.  (Rocket guidance system story)

Gifting is not the same thing as maturity. 

Paul said the church in Corinth did not lack any spiritual gift (ICor 1:7), yet they were an immature church.  Paul had to address issues of division (Cor1:11ff) and open sin (ICor 5:1).

 

Timing 

Do things in an orderly manner. Just because you have a word doesn’t mean its time to give it.  (see 1Cor 14:31-32).

Learn from more experienced people

Pick people who have a history of effectiveness.  Ask questions.  Watch what they do.  Imitate them. Heb 13:7-Remember your leaders who have spoken God's word to you. Think about how their lives turned out, and imitate their faith (GW).

 

Know who you are-know your authority

Mt. 28:18 All authority is given to me, so go!  Mk 16:17-18 These signs will follow…Mt 10:1 He called them to Himself and gave them authority to…

Authority is exousia-authority, jurisdiction, right (tank analogy).  Zeal and authority are not the same thing.

Pray with faith and expectation

James 5:16 The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much. Effective, fervent = energeo (en-erg-eh'-o)-to be active, efficient.  Avoid “explaining, begging prayers” and “if it be your will” prayers. T. K. “Willing seller, willing buyer.”  You do not have to be loud to exercise faith-you have just as much authority when you pray are praying quietly.

 

Intercession is not the main focus

Although intercession may be appropriate, the ministry prayer time in not an intercessory prayer meeting.

Don’t turn the prayer time into a counseling session

It is ok to give a word of wisdom, but the primary focus of this time is the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  Save counsel for the end of the prayer time.  Avoid “pat answers.”

 

Respect people’s dignity

Ask permission to pray.  Be cautious where you lay on hands.  Stop ministry when they indicate they want to stop.  Respect personal boundaries.

Avoid private one-on-one ministry with members of the opposite sex. 

There is protection and accountability in numbers. 

Be “naturally supernatural.”

Avoid actions that people may interpret as weird or may be a distraction from effective ministry.  We want our ministry to be received by people of many different backgrounds.  Become “all things to all people” 1Cor 2:22.  Avoid “churchy, religious behavior.”  or “showy behavior.”

 

Be full of the Holy Spirit

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is essential to being effective in kingdom ministry. Eph 5:18 Do not be drunk with wine but be filled (pleroo) with the Holy Spirit. The word translated “Be filled”  (plēroō) – means to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting, to full measure, fill to the brim.  The form of the verb used here is plerousthe.  It is a 2nd person, plural, present, passive, imperative verb.  It has a passive voice and imperative mood (a command).  It is best translated “let yourselves be filled.”  This is written to Ephesian Christians who had already received the Holy Spirit.  Paul said in Eph 1:13 that they were “marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.”  It follows that Christians, who have received the Holy Spirit, can receive more from Him. 

Operate out of a full toolbox

Don’t limit yourself to the gifts/giftings you usually flow in.  Think broader.  We have a full toolbox in the Holy Spirit. Many people functioned in multiple giftings and offices.  1 Cor 12:31- But eagerly desire the greater gifts.  And now I will show you the most excellent way.  “The dancing hand of God”-1 Cor 13 The context is “When the whole church comes together”- 13:23.  Out of all the gifts, which one is the most important…the gift you need at the time.

“The dancing hand of God”-1 Cor 13 The context is “When the whole church comes together- 13:23.”

Gift lists  (1 Cor 12:8-10 & 28; Rom 12:6-8; 1 Peter 4:10-11) None of the lists are complete.

1 Cor. Gifts:

Discernment Gifts

Word of Wisdom-(logos sophia) Speaking or applying God’s wisdom to a specific situation.

Word of Knowledge-(logos gnosis) Revelation of specific facts or information that are spoken by an individual.

Discerning of Spirits-Judging whether the spirit operating is human, demonic, or divine.

Power gifts

Faith-Certainty that God is about to act through a word or action. It comes with the ability to accomplish what God is about to do.

Gifts of Healing -An event or progression of events where a person receives physical, spiritual, or mental healing.

Effects of Miracles-when people and things are noticeably affected in an extraordinary way by God’s power.

Gifts of Speech

Prophecy-The declaration of a message from God for the purpose of edification.

Tongues-Spirit inspired speaking in another language (human or angelic).

Interpretation of Tongues- The God given interpretation of tongues.

The demonstration of God’s power was important to Paul

1 Cor 2:1-5- When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.  For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.  My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power (NIV).

Above all else, love

1 Cor 12:31- But eagerly desire the greater gifts.  And now I will show you the most excellent way…Love (ch 13)

Prayer and Revival Quotes

This is a collection of quotes that I have found from my own reading. They are from or about well known revivalists that connect prayer and revival. I hope they stir you to pursue God with your whole heart. -Alan Garrett

 Jonathon Edwards

"When God has something very great to accomplish for his Church," says Jonathon Edwards, "It is His will that there should precede it the extraordinary prayers of His people"

"If we are not to expect that the devil should go out of a particular person, that is, under a bodily possession, without extraordinary prayer, or prayer and fasting; how much less should we expect to have him cast out of the land and the world without it!"
(Revivals of Religion, Finney, CBN University Press: 1978, p. 126-127)

Charles G. Finney

"The Winter of 1857-1858 will be remembered as the time when a great revival prevailed throughout the Northern states. It swept over the land with such power, that for a time it was estimated the not less than fifty thousand conversions occurred in a single week. This revival had some very peculiarly interesting features. It was carried on to a large extent through lay influence, so much so as almost to through the ministers into the shade. Indeed daily prayer meetings were established throughout the length and breadth of the Northern states. (Memoirs of Charles G. Finney, p 442, Revell 1908)

"Indeed daily prayer meetings were established throughout the length and breadth of the Northern states There was such a general confidence in the prevalence of prayer, that the people very extensively seemed to prefer meetings for prayer to meetings for preaching." (Memoirs of Charles G. Finney, Revell: 1908, p 442 & 144)

"It was common for new converts to be greatly exercised in prayer; and in some instances, so much so, that they were constrained to pray whole nights, and until their bodily strength was quite exhausted, for the conversion of souls around them." (Memoirs of Charles G. Finney, Revell: 1908, p 441)
"Truth, by itself, will never produce the effect, without the Spirit of God, and The Spirit is given in answer to prayer. Probably in the Day of Judgment it will be found that nothing is ever done by the truth, used ever so zealously, unless there is a spirit of prayer somewhere in connection with the presentation of truth. But to expect the conversion of sinners by prayer alone, without the employment of the truth, is to tempt God" (Whittaker, Seven Guides to Effective Prayer,1987, Bethany House)

"Unless I had the spirit of prayer I could do nothing. If even for a day or an hour I lost the spirit of grace and supplication, I found myself unable to preach with efficiency, or to win souls by personal conversion. (Memoirs of Charles G. Finney, p 142, Revell 1908)

Prevailing or effectual prayer is that prayer which attains the blessing that it seeks. It is that prayer which effectually moves God. The very idea of effectual prayer is that it effects its objects.
-Charles Finney, quoted by Oswald J. Smith, The Revival We Need, p27

Richard J. Foster

"Listening to God is the necessary prelude to intercession. We must hear, know, and obey the will of God before we can pray it into the lives of others." (Foster, Celebration of Discipline, Harper & Row:1988, p. 39)

Paul Y. Cho

"I believe the way into power, especially in prayer, is to fast and pray." (Cho, Prayer: Key to revival, Word: Waco 1984, p. 113)

"If we can combine this intense natural desire with our natural spiritual desire for communion with our spiritual source, then what results is a much greater intensity." (Cho, Prayer: Key to revival, Word: Waco 1984, p. 115)

"Through fasting and prayer, you can so concentrate the power of prayer on your own lusts: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life; that you can live a holy and pure life in God's presence. (Cho, Prayer: Key to revival, Word: Waco 1984, p,7)

William Booth

"You must pray with all your might. That does not mean saying your prayers, or sitting gazing about in church or chapel with eyes wide open while someone else says them for you. It means fervent, effectual, untiring wrestling with God...This kind of prayer be sure the devil and the world and your own indolent, unbelieving nature will oppose. They will pour water on this flame."
-General William Booth, Quoted http://www.sermonindex.net/mail_si/oldpaths/oldpaths_sept2.pdf

William Seymore and the Azusa Street Mission Revival

According to John G. Lake, William Seymore told him that "for two and a half years he had been praying for five hours a day because he had such hunger for God (Robeck, Azusa Street, p.35).
"Before arriving in Los Angeles, William Seymor had committed himself to the personal discipline of spending five or more hours each day in prayer. In those first weeks following his arrival in Los Angeles, William Seymore had increased this prayer time." (Robeck, Azusa Street, p.93).

"I saw, too, that they has a wonderful spirit of prayer upon them; I never had seen such people to pray. Such liberty and unction in prayer and such continuance in prayer; and that, not merely at public meetings and altar services; but in cottage prayer meetings, and in all-nights of prayer, and in the smaller gatherings of two and three, how remarkably have I found the spirit of prayer and intercession upon them. -George B. Studd." (Robeck, Azusa Street, pp.138-139).

"Anyone who reads the accounts of worship at the Azusa Street Mission will conclude that prayer was probably the centerpiece of the revival." (Robeck, Azusa Street, p.139).

"Prayer-especially spontaneous and boisterous prayer-seemed to bathe all the events of the revival." (Robeck, Azusa Street, p.139).

30 Characteristics of the Church Found in Acts ©2012 by Alan Garrett

The Church in Acts Was…

1. A church with a mission, Acts 1:8 (cf. Mt.28). making disciples, neighborhoods to nations, teaching/doing all, planting apostolic/prophetic churches.

George Whitefield said of John Wesley, “My brother Wesley acted wisely, the souls that were awakened under his ministry he joined in societies, and thus preserved the fruit of his labor. This I neglected, and my people are a rope of sand.”

2. Full of the Holy Spirit (on-going and multiple fillings), John 20:22; Acts 2:4; Acts 4:31(cf. Eph 5:18-This is written to the Ephesian church). filled gk-pleroo; means to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim.

3. Extremely bold, Acts 4:23-31; 14:3.

4. Generous in giving, Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37.

5. In awe of God and feared Him, Acts 2:43; 5:11.

6. Regularly performing signs & wonders, Acts 5:12-13; 6:8.

7. A church that practiced deliverance, Acts 5:16; 8:7; 16:16-18; 19:12. 

8. Exploding with growth/effective, Acts 2:41; 6:7; 5-12-13.

9. A proclaiming people (a culture of preaching), Acts 5:42; 8:4.

10. A church whose leaders were devoted to prayer and the word, Acts 6:4.

11. Prophetic, Acts 11:22: Acts 13:1.

12. Apostolic-sending/planting-Jerusalem to Samaria, to Antioch, and out. Acts 13:3 (throughout Acts).

13. Evangelistic, Acts 5:12-13; 6:7; 11:19-22.

14. Lead by the Holy Spirit, Acts 13:4; Acts 11:12.

15. Repentant/holy, Acts 2:38-47; 3:19.

16. Devoted to prayer, Acts 2:42; 4:31: 12:5.

17. A fasting church, Acts 10:30; 13:2; 14:23.

18. Devoted to the word & application of teaching, Acts 2:42; 5:42.

19. Unified and had oneness of purpose, Act 2:46 (one accord), Acts 4:32 (of one heart and one soul).

20. Devoted to fellowship (relationship) and breaking of bread, Acts 2:42, 46.

21. Apostle/Elder lead Acts 14:23; 15:2; 16:4.

22. Meeting regularly from house to house as well as in the Temple, Acts 2:46; 3:1; 20:20.

23. A people who served with gladness and simplicity of heart, Acts 2:46.

24. Witnessing (preaching) with power, Acts 4:33; 8:4-17.

25. Functioning in TEAM Acts 5-Philip, Peter and John. Acts 18-Paul and Silas/Barnabas (throughout Acts).

26. A worshiping/praising church, Acts 13:2; 16:25; 2:47.

27. Willing to suffer persecution and martyrdom, Stephen-Acts 6; The church-Acts 8; 12:1, Paul-throughout Acts.

28. Exercising spiritual gifts, Acts 2:4; 4:10; 5:9; 6:10; 8:6-7; 9:40.

29. Humble/not willing to take credit for what God did, Acts 3:12; 20:18-19.

30. Forgiving, Acts 7:60 (Steven). 

The Synergy of Kingdom Relationships! ©2012 by Alan Garrett

The most common word Paul used to describe those who worked along side him in spreading the gospel and establishing the church is the Greek word synergos συνεργός (soon-er-gos') unity + work (co-worker).

We get our English word “synergy” from this word. Synergy means the interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects (American Heritage Dictionary).

Eccl 4:9-12

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (NIV)

I pray for synergy, unity of vision, unity of purpose, the working of the Holy Spirit in our midst, and intimacy with Jesus. Jesus, establish your church. Raise up empowered apostolic base churches that envision, equip and send out fearless leaders to impact the world from neighborhoods to nations. 

©2012 by Alan Garrett