HOLY SPIRIT MEETING - Wed 22 Nov 06

I was quite sad to see that during the Christmas@Orchard Leader's Training, when pastor asked how many people prayed for 30 min everyday, only a few hands were raised. I was more sadden that I was one of those who could not raise my hands. In fact, even if pastor asked what about just 1 day, I would have found it difficult to say I prayed for 30 min.

We keep proclaiming, “Make prayer our first recourse and not last resort” but I think we do not know what that means in reality. At least that’s how I feel about myself. It’s only head knowledge, just like how Ps Khong reminded us that we know that the Holy Spirit is a person, but only as biblical truth and not lived out through our lives.

I don’t think we can continue living this way. It’s really a farce that we put out to the world. We do not mean what we say. I took some time to reflect on why our people don’t pray. I believe it’s firstly because they don’t see the reality of God’s power through prayer. If when we gather to pray, all sicknesses are healed, lives are transformed beyond human comprehension; do you think we will have a problem praying? I think we will make it our utmost priority. But you see, that’s the problem. We don’t see the reality of the power of God in our lives enough! Still, I believe our prayer lives should be that way - POWERFUL! Scripture tells in Matthew 18 that

“18 … whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19 Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.

20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

There IS power in prayer! Still, we do not see enough of it. Which brings me to my second point. I believe we are not desperate enough. We tell ourselves, it’s ok. We will manage somehow. 2000 people? We will try humanly to plan our best. That should work. WRONG! If you ask me, God is testing us! Do we understand what we so boldly claim? That prayer is our FIRST recourse? Are we desperate for God or are we desperate to make the event a success? It’s a thin line, but an important difference!

Conclusion: I am doing something about it. Hope you will join me. I am calling for a prayer meeting this Wednesday. Venue not confirmed. But it will be from 7.30pm to 10pm. I am calling it the Holy Spirit Meeting. We will worship and pray and ask the Holy Spirit to come fill us. The WHOLE SJ Tribe is invited. Pass the word around. I will take care of logistics. Just come. Read on.

Pastor SL was sharing with us during G12 meeting how he felt that the anointing from the “Jesus Is Lord” series of sermons failed to flowed down to the other gatherings. I agree with him. There could be many contributing factors – many other events recently, most of our cell is at expo hall 9 which is very distracting, etc. Definitely, the Holy Spirit’s presence is not limited by a venue. However, all those factors make it difficult for us to focus on ministry time.

SP also preached in his message that we need to continue to practice engaging and knowing the Holy Spirit, esp for our young ones who just received tongues on Sunday. We can’t just wait for Sundays for that to happen! Yesterday when I was on stage, I could see very clearly that the majority of the youth behind those who came forward to respond were completely disengaged! Some we even talking, laughing! That’s the condition of our people! That’s why though I had thought about this since last Wed, I was more convinced and convicted to put it into action after yesterday’s sermon.

This is not compulsory. Pastor SL did not ask me to do this. But this is what the Holy Spirit has placed upon my heart to do. Pass the word around to all our tribe people. Get as many of them to come. It’s ok if you have made prior engagements. Well, actually, it’s not. CANCEL them. Let’s get serious with the Holy Spirit.


Joshua Teo