Evangelism Notes
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HARVEST
John 4: 35: 'Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!"
LIFTING UP THE NAME OF JESUS
John 12: 32 "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."
OUR MANDATE FROM JESUS CHRIST
1. Matthew 28: 18-20: "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. [19] "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen."
2. Luke 24: 47-49: "and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. [48] "And you are witnesses of these things. [49] "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
3. Mark 16: 15-18: "And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. [16] "He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. [17] "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; [18] "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
4. Result: Mark 16: 20: "And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen."
OUR CONDUCT
1. INSTRUCTIONS FROM JESUS Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapter 5).
2. PAUL'S INSTRUCTIONS ON CONDUCT Example in conduct, love, spirit and faith: 1 Timothy 4: 12-15: "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. [13] Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. [14] Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. [15] Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all."
Pursue righteousness, godliness: 1 Timothy 6: 11-12: "But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. [12] Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses."
1 Timothy 6: 13-14: "I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, [14] that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing,"
Wage good warfare: 1 Timothy 1: 18-19: "This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, [19] having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,"
Hold pattern of sound words: 2 Timothy 1: 13-14: "Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. [14] That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us."
Enduring hardship - being gentle: 2 Timothy 2: 1: "You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 2: 3-4: "You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. [4] No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier."
2 Timothy 15: "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
2 Timothy 2: 19: "Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
2 Timothy 2: 22-24: "Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. [23] But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. [24] And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,"
Persecutions and afflictions
2 Timothy 3: 11-12: "persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra--what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. [12] Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." 2 Timothy 14-17: "But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, [15] and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
Preach the Word 2 Timothy 4: 2: "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching."
Doing the work of an Evangelist: 2 Timothy 4: 5: "But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry."
Showing integrity, reverence and incorruptibility: Titus 2: 7-8: "in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, [8] sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you."
Titus 2: 12: "teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,"
Avoid foolish disputes, contentions and strivings:
Titus 3: 9-10: "But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. [10] Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,"
Titus 3: 14: "And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful."
Cleanse from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit: 2 Corinthians 7: 1: "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
Sufficient as ministers of new covenant: 2 Corinthians 3: 2: "You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men;"
2 Corinthians 3: 6 "who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
God leads us in triumph:
2 Corinthians 2: 14: "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place."
Do not lose heart:
2 Corinthians 4: 16-18: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. [17] For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, [18] while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
Treasure in earthen vessels:
2 Corinthians 4: 7-10: "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. [8] We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; [9] persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--[10] always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." I became weak to win the weak:
1 Corinthians 9: 22: "to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."
Peaceable, gentle, showing humility, avoiding disputes
Titus 2: 7-8: "in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, [8] sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you."
Titus 2: 12: "teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,"
Titus 3: 1-2: "Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, [2] to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men."
Titus 3: 9-11: "But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. [10] Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, [11] knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned."
EVANGELISTIC HOUSE MEETINGS
Key text:
1 Corinthians 14: 26: "How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification."
1. When Pat and I were born again and filled with the Holy Spirit, we both had a witness to start a prayer meeting. We began with five people in our home and, having faith that God would answer prayer, we prayed in very simple ways and made very simple requests to God. Very quickly we found these prayers being answered.
2. We set this meeting up on a weekly basis and began to invite various people to attend. Initially some of them were Christians but gradually non-Christians began to attend also as they heard of the answers to prayer.
3. Initially we were not skilled in the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We had to learn as best we could.
4. We found that, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we were led to take the following steps: (a) We would spend the first 10 or 15 minutes in praise and worship. We began to find the difference between "praise" songs and "worship" songs. We saw that praise songs were songs that took us into the presence of God while worship songs were songs which we sang in His presence. In singing praise songs we clapped and praised God in whatever way we felt honoured Him, but when it came to worship, we realised that we were in the awesome presence of God. Some of us would raise our hands, others would stand without doing so, but whichever way it was, our hearts were turned towards God. We then began to sense the presence of the Holy Spirit filling the room.
(b) As we came to the end of worship, we would be led by the Holy Spirit into singing in tongues. We did this without the accompaniment of a musical instrument which we found distracting. As we sang in tongues, we found that we could harmonise and that the Spirit of God would begin to fall upon the meeting.
(c) We then learnt to wait upon the Holy Spirit as He moved upon a person to bring a message in tongues. This was soon followed by an interpretation.
(d) As I led the meeting, I began to realise that the Holy Spirit was nudging me as to the fact that there was a message in tongues and that I should wait for it. I would then encourage the meeting by saying that I believed there was a message in tongues to be given and we would wait for that message to be brought. Sometimes the Holy Spirit would clearly indicate the person to whom He had given the message. Sometimes the message did not come by way of tongues but purely a prophetic utterance in English.
(e) We soon learnt that in accordance with 1 Corinthians 14: 3, that this message should be to edify, exhort and comfort.
(f) When a message in tongues was brought, we learnt to wait patiently while the Holy Spirit anointed that person or another person for the interpretation.
(g) We also found that the Holy Spirit would bring a message by way of song through a person. This was either sung in English to a tune given by the Holy Spirit, or, alternatively it would be sung by way of a message in tongues and the same or another person brought the interpretation in song in English.
(h) As these events happened, everybody in the room would be aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit. We knew we were in the presence of God.
(i) We would then enter into prayer. We learnt that to pray was simply to talk to God. However, in talking to Him, it was with reverence, realising His holiness. We prayed about the simplest things. We prayed about people, we even prayed about animals that needed healing. People prayed for other people not present in the meeting and all sorts of prayer requests were made. The over-riding factor was, however, that we believed that God was hearing our prayers.
(j) We constantly remembered the Scripture: Matthew 18: 20: "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
We never forgot this Scripture. We always remembered that God was with us in those meetings.
(k) As a result of believing prayer we found many answers rapidly came.
(l) During the prayer time, every person in the group was encouraged to pray. There were times when some people prayed for far too long but we did little about it, just leaving the Holy Spirit to guide them. Others just prayed short prayers while yet others had to be encouraged even to pray. We would allow adequate time for each person in the group to bring some matter forward in prayer. We found that as people began to pray in this way, that others were also encouraged to join in, so finally most of the group would bring something before the Lord each night.
(m) During this period the group was rapidly growing.
(n) The next step was for the Word of God to be preached. We usually asked our minister, or if he was not available, some other person, to bring a passage from Scripture and speak on it for a maximum period of 15 to 20 minutes.
(o) No discussion took place after the Word. If any persons had any questions, they asked them after the meeting.
(p) After the Word had been given, we gave room for testimonies to be given. These were short testimonies about what had happened as a result of the previous prayer meetings. Some of the testimonies brought were quite remarkable. It was out of these testimonies and the actual results that we found that people wanted to come to the meeting because they knew that prayers were being answered.
(q) At this time we asked for those who would like to commit their lives to Jesus Christ to raise their hands. We usually asked people to bow their heads in prayer while this was being done. For those who did wish to make such a commitment, we then brought them to the centre of the meeting and prayed for them, having first asked them to repent of their sins, and then led them in a prayer of salvation.
(r) We would then ask for those who desired to be baptised in the Holy Spirit and receive the gift of tongues. The whole group would then pray for them for this gifting.
(s) The opportunity was next taken to pray for individual needs of people in the room. In conjunction with another elder, I used to move from person to person and we would pray for that person or for any particular need they had and we would wait on the Holy Spirit to give us a word for that person. It was usually a witness in the Spirit from other members of the group that the word given was correct.
(t) We would then have a further time of praise and worship with exercising of the gifts, prophecy, tongues and interpretation.
(u) The meeting would usually close by 9. 30 pm. After the meeting we would continue in prayer for those who needed deliverance or any longer session in prayer and counselling. This would usually be done by the leaders of the meeting.
Leadership of the meeting
1. From the outset I learnt it was imperative to rely upon the Holy Spirit.
2. I found that from time to time He varied the order in the meeting, with the exception that we always started with praise or worship to centre the thoughts of the members of the group on God. In other words, we did not necessarily follow exactly the same order of
events in each meeting without relying on the Holy Spirit.
3. As the person leading the meeting under the guidance of the Spirit, I always sought to listen to the Spirit as to when we should cease praying or whether there was a word of prophecy or tongues or interpretation present at the appropriate time.
4. We endeavoured to foster the utmost attitude of love during the course of the meeting. This was not only evident in our attitude to others, but also in the way we spoke to people and the way in which we counselled with them.
5. Because of this atmosphere of love, many non-Christians would enter the house and sense this love as soon as they entered the door. Many told me that they felt that they should make a commitment to Jesus Christ the moment they entered the house.
6. it was not too long before I found that I began to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit either audibly or by impression or vision. For example, one night I had a definite impression that the Holy Spirit wanted to bring a message through my wife, Pat. She had never spoken publicly in prophecy before but I simply spoke out and told her publicly that I believed the Holy Spirit wanted to bring a message through her. At that moment the power of God fell on her and I began to receive some words. She spoke out the same words and then began to carry on with a message from the Lord. it was very encouraging to everybody concerned.
7. Another way in which I found the leadership of the Holy Spirit was one evening when He indicated that there was a message in tongues that He had given to a person in the basement of our house. By now we were using every room in our house, including the basement, and we had an intercom system plus television sets. We could therefore see what was happening throughout the place. When I asked for the message in tongues to be given from the basement (I did not know who was there), a message came forth. The Holy Spirit then seemed to give me the indication by way of a thought or impression that the interpretation was in the family room. I said, "I believe the interpretation is in the family room." At that moment somebody gave the interpretation from the family room. You could literally feel the faith lift in the whole meeting.
Preparation before the meeting
An adequate time of prayer and preparation should be put aside by the leaders of the meeting, either in their own prayer or together, to pray for the forthcoming prayer meeting.
Invitations
As many invitations as possible should be given out to people to come to the meetings. There are many people who have needs, both for healing or who are going through traumatic events, and so long as they can sense the love and peace of God in the meeting, they will return time and again. In this way they can be built up and introduced into the kingdom of God. In many ways a true house prayer evangelism meeting is a caring group of people who are manifesting the love of God. This is the only way in which the group will grow. It is as this love is manifested that the Holy Spirit is able to perform miracles in people's lives, that the report of the meeting goes out and many will want to attend it.
We did not realise it at the time, but as the months went by and as we read the Scriptures further, we realised we had been led by the Holy Spirit to a meeting based on 1 Corinthians 14: 26 (above).
Further notes
1. It is important that there are no other distractions such as noisy children, television or other side distractions. Telephones should either be taken off the hook or placed in another room and answering arrangements made. The whole home should be given over to the Lord for that evening. If there is noise and other activities going on in the house at the same time, it will cause total distraction from the meeting.
2. If there have been disagreements between husband and wife during the day then these must be sorted out before the meeting, otherwise the spirit of disagreement will fill that home and cause real problems during the course of the meeting. The home should be cleansed by prayer before each meeting to ensure that the full love of God is able to manifest mightily in that home.
General
1. Our prayer meetings continued for some eight years with the people continuously changing. Many thousands were saved, healed, baptised in the Spirit and delivered. However, in the case of the meetings we are discussing now, it may be that when they reach say 20 or 30 people and the house is getting somewhat crowded, it would be wise to start a further meeting in another person's home and so on as numbers increase in the home.
2. It is a good idea to have at least an annual get-together at a pot luck dinner (BYO) or barbecue or watch a good video.
EVANGELISM PART TWO
PUBLIC MEETING
1. NATURE OF NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY (See attached leaflet - not present)
2. EVENTS BEFORE THE MEETING Spiritual warfare
Ephesians 6: 12-18: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. [14] Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, [15] and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; [16] above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. [17] And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; [18] praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."
2 Corinthians 10: 4-5: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, [5] casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,"
Taking authority.
Matthew 28: 18-19: "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
(a) Example of Anglican Cathedral in Singapore.
(b) Sweetwaters Festival.
(c) Vanuatu -vision of demonic power.
(d) Fiji, Suva Cathedral -Hindu goddess Dirga.
We need to realise there can be spiritual powers over cities, towns and localities and we need to pray and fast concerning this.
The ministry of Jesus Christ
(a) Satan furious that his kingdom was being invaded. Jesus not only invaded Satan's kingdom but defeated him decisively on the Cross.
(b) The source of the power of Jesus Christ was always the Holy Spirit and His relationship with the Father. All His miraculous works were done by the Holy Spirit operating through Him. (Matthew 12: 28; Acts 10: 38)
(c) Jesus said, "Anyone who believes in Me and the works that I do he will do also and greater works than these will he do because I go to the Father." (John 14: 12)
Other Biblical examples
(a) Daniel -three weeks of spiritual warfare. (Daniel 10: 1-21) Angel sent to Daniel but it took him 21 days to arrive because he had to fight the "Prince of Persia" and on the way back the angel told him that he would not only have to do battle with the Prince of Persia, but also the Prince of Greece. This exemplifies territorial spirits.
(b) Jeremiah 1: 10: "See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant." This refers to the principalities and powers.
(c) Paul's spiritual warfare. Attack on the territorial spirit, Diana of the Ephesians. (Acts 19: 28)
(d) Paul deals with the sorcerer (Bar-Jesus). (Acts 13: 6-11)
(e) Spirit of Jezebel. (Revelation 17: 6)
Need for spiritual warfare
(a) Confession of all known sins.
(b) Drawing close to God.
(c) Prayer and fasting. Jesus said, "Some kinds only come out through prayer and fasting." (Matthew 17: 21)
The strong men:
(a) Spirit of Jezebel which works with the spirit of Ahab in men. (1 Kings 16: 29-33); Isaiah 47: 8-12; Revelation 2: 20-21)
(b) Antichrist (1 John 2: 18; 2 Thessalonians 2: 3-8)
(c) Death and Hell (Revelation 20: 13-14)
Note: Unholy trinity. Cast out Jezebel, then Antichrist, then Death and Hell. (Revelation 18: 7-8; Revelation 19: 20; Revelation 20: 14)
3. FASTING
What is fasting:
(a) Fasting is an extension of prayer where we allocate time for prayer that would normally be spent in eating and sometimes also in drinking. We have an example of this where Jesus went into the wilderness and He fasted 40 days and 40 nights: Matthew 4: 2: "And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry."
When directed to fast by the Holy Spirit, the fast may extend for just one meal, for one night, for one day, for seven days or even up to forty days.
(b) Fasting is between you and God
Matthew 6: 16-18: "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting.
Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, "so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your
Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."
(c) Fasting involves a humbling of ourselves before God Psalm 35: 13: "But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart."
It is spiritually refreshing and strengthening. It is also medically good for our physical well-being. Under no circumstances should fasting become a ritual or a bondage.
What should we fast for:
(a) We should fast for deliverance Matthew 17: 21: "However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."
This shows that fasting is required in some cases by those being delivered, as well as those who are ministering deliverance.
(b) Sickness
Psalm 35: 13: "But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart."
(c) Acts of repentance
Nehemiah 9: 1: "Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads."
(d) Preparation for service To seek and find the guidance of God for us and others.
Acts 13: 2: "As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
(e) Revelation
Exodus 34: 28: "So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments."
(f) Alleviate impending danger
Esther 4: 3: "And in every province where the king's command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes."
(g) To obtain victory over the enemy
Judges 20: 26: "Then all the children of Israel, that is, all the people, went up and came to the house of God and wept. They sat there before the LORD and fasted that day until evening; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD."
Judges 20: 35: "The LORD defeated Benjamin before Israel. And the children of Israel destroyed that day twenty-five thousand one hundred Benjamites; all these drew the sword."
It is essential to fast for the correct reasons
Zechariah 7: 5-6: "Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me -for Me? 'When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves?"
Isaiah 58: 3-7: "'Why have we fasted, ' they say, 'and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice? ' "In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your labourers. Indeed you fast for strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, To make your voice heard on high. Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the LORD? "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with
the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?"
When should we fast?
You should fast as the Holy Spirit leads. If you are sick or pregnant you should not feel guilty not fasting.
Results of fasting:
(a) When Israel gathered against the inhabitants of Gibeah, they prayed and asked God, "Which of us shall go up first? God said, "Judah shall go up first." Twenty-two thousand men were killed that day. (Judges 20: 21) Israel went up weeping before God until evening asking, "Shall I go up against the children of my brother Benjamin?" God said, "Go up against him." Eighteen thousand men were killed. (Judges 20: 25) Israel went up before the Lord and fasted until evening. They asked of God whether they should go out to battle or cease and the Lord said, "Go up for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand." Twenty-five thousand of the enemy were killed and Israel won the battle. (Judges 20: 35)
(b) Ezra 8: 21-23: "Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him." So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer."
Practical points on fasting
(a) Have a clear purpose for a fast to be undertaken.
(b) Be led of the Holy Spirit and use wisdom in the length of the fast.
(c) Decide whether it will be a total or a partial fast, ie whether it will be a total abstinence from food or water or both.
(d) If you are the cook do not let the fast interfere with the family meals.
(e) It must be remembered that your body will be seeking food and consequently there may be some irritability when fasting. We are required to show a cheerful face so that we do not appear to be fasting. It can sometimes be difficult when we are invited to a luncheon and we are, in fact, on a fast. However, a quiet word to the host and using the wisdom of the Holy Spirit should alleviate any problems
4. INTERCESSORS
We have found that the power of intercession is tremendous. We have many hundreds of intercessors who pray for the ministry in which we are involved and for the meetings and we see specific results because of their intercessory prayer. Specific role of intercessors. They should specifically pray against the spiritual powers over a city or area. Do this under the anointing of God.
5. CRUSADE PLANNING GUIDE CHECK LIST
(a) Appoint an Organising Convener in the town or city you are to speak in. (This may be the person who invited you):
(i) To confirm dates, times and venue. If a council or school hall, confirm in writing. Check extra rooms for counselling and other facilities.
(ii) To contact other keen people to form a small but efficient organising team, then direct their activities and liaise back with you.
(iii) To jointly establish an advertising schedule and total crusade cost budget based on a conservative estimate of expected income from the offerings. Extreme caution on advertising expenditure. Prepare and book advertising well in advance. You provide black and white photo plus resume.
(b) Your Organising Convener to appoint an enthusiastic Prayer Convener:
(i) To set up trans-denominational intercessory prayer meetings to do spiritual warfare.
(ii) To set up prayer triplet concept among supporting churches. Groups of three Christians who will come together weekly to pray for three unsaved or backslidden friends each, then to invite them to your meetings.
(c) Organising Convener to appoint a Publicity Convener if unable to handle himself:
(i) To distribute posters to key ch
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