TRI STATE SOLEMN ASSEMBLY SATURDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2008
FIRST EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH
MANCHESTER, MISSOURI
Several folks have asked me about the Midwest Prayer Solemn Assembly put on by our National Day of Prayer Task Force here in Kansas, Missouri and Illinois. There seems to be a bit of an inquiry about what a 'Solemn Assembly' actually is, and why the Special Forces of the National Prayer Movement would get together for one! So in this summary, I would hopefully shed some light and briefly try to illustrate why this is all so critical - for such a time as this!
The first thing to note is that Solemn Assembly is Biblical. Here are Biblical foundations for it: 2 Chronicles 7: 13-15, Isaiah 58,Psalm 68: 6-10, Jeremiah 3: 2-5, Micah 6: 8, Haggai 1: 2-14 and Malachi 4: 1-6. In Joel 2:15 NASB, God told the prophet: "Blow a trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly".
Therefore, here is the definition of a Solemn Assembly - it is a summoning of God's people ALONE specifically to confess any known sins and to restore a right relationship between God and His people. What happens during a solemn assembly are times of serious reflection, brokenness, humility and a sense of awe before God. It is most definitely THE occasion for God's people to be still; to be open to the Spirit and to obey when He speaks to us through His Word and our hearts. We MUST confess individually and together where we have missed the mark (the definition of Sin) and then renew our covenant with God on our knees - with our brethren as witnesses. I do not know how to define it any better than this.
For the second time in three weeks, the Lord has led me to a Solemn Assembly! Both times, I was asked to participate to my shock and surprise. In Springfield, Il on Saturday Feb 2, 2008, the Springfield Ministerial Alliance and International House of Prayer Director Pastor Scott Beauchamp held a Solemn Assembly at the historic First Presbyterian Church on 7th Street. The Lincoln Family pew is still in the narthex, roped off and in good shape after 140 plus years!
I was asked to lead on Corporate Repentance and chose Hosea 6: 1-3 before prayer. The Springfield, Il. event was particularly amazing as it is part of a commemoration of the 1908 Race Riots here, which led to the formation of the NAACP. A large crowd showed up despite almost 11 inches of snow and nowhere to park on the streets! As a personal aside, I am astounded and blown away that the Lord, Hashem YHWH Almighty, would use somebody who looks and sounds like me.
I have been ask to minister in various ways, in four events in the past five weeks! And since a 'prophet' is without honor in his own country, only one of them has been in Springfield - the Feb 2 Solemn Assembly. The Lord has led me to Virden, Shiloh and then Manchester, Missouri this past Saturday. On April 19, I will also represent our national NDP Task Force at Iron Sharpens Iron in Moline, Illinois.
Which leads me to the Solemn Assembly in Missouri yesterday. First of all, thank you to Kathy Morgan who was tireless in preparation. Sue Stoltz, Tom Otley and my new friends at BOTT Radio KSVI FM there did an awesome job of promotion and prep as well!! AMEN! The Lord opened up that opportunity for me to be involved in two training workshops speaking on Spiritual Warfare, after another different turn of events in another ministry...on the same day.
The church facilities of First E FREE in Manchester are totally incredible! Think of Springfield's Westside Christian Church and multiply it by 2 1/2 times! Their chapel, where the Assembly was held, is larger than most regular churches around here! The Worship Team was from the wonderful Pratt Pastoral team from Way of Life Church, Taylorville, Illinois. Most of the songs of repentance and worship I had never heard before and some had Messianic flavor.
The wonderful thing about not just our prayer Ministry - the Colorado Springs based National Day of Prayer - and all the others we are involved with is this - we are NOT JUST thematic ministries. Nationally and locally, we are a movement together all year round, and NOT just one day per year! We are Capitol Hill Prayer Partners and local IHOPs (int. house of prayers based on the 24/7 Kansas City model). We are the Jerusalem Prayer Team as well as numerous others. After a January of power prayer and fasting, working with other movements, we are ready for the next steps - which are now in full swing.....namely, the Solemn Assembly.
On Saturday in Manchester, the worship music team, with piano and what sounded like a soprano saxophone (a la Kenny G) was penetrating to the soul with its songs. One of them, Refiner's Fire, basically says it all about the process of Personal Restoration. (See Malachi 3:3 NKJV "He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver"). Prayers were called out of praise. Psalm 89 was read in full to show the story of rebellion of Israel and how God still delivered them. The Spirit revealed through a saint to read from Jeremiah 29 to impart a prophetic word which He had for us that morning - that of a plan He has for the repentant and the humble.....the plan of Goodness and restoration.
Pastor Stan from Taylorville brought the Word from Proverbs 4: 20-27. The last two verses speak Truth to the fleeting power of this world: Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil.......Proverbs 4: 26-27 NKJV
We entered, on our knees, into personal quiet time of personal baring of our souls of hidden sin. Crying out to God on our knees and seeking the binding and removal of evil spirits and letting loose the garments of Praise for what He hath done. Then Shofars started to blow and we got on our feet to verbal renounce our sins. I have a personal experience with that while writing my book one year ago. A sin I was involved in over 20 years ago, which was no big deal at the time was suddenly front and center when God confronted me with it! I thought it was forgotten! The only way I could have been cleared of this final bond from the past was to verbally renounce it loudly...right there in the car on the way to work! This is what we did.
At one point on Saturday at the SA, I was praying silently (as I always do) so completely submitting that I was trembling and shaking within. I know now what Paul means about fear and trembling(phobos and tremos in the original Greek.....such an awesome reverence of the Mighty God, it makes you tremble)....it is and was all Biblical.
Verbal renunciation of sins clears the palate my friends. This is what God wants us to do, but we are too prideful. Here is Ezra 9: 5-6 NKJV “ At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God. And I said: “O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens".
Some of my friends would say, well this is Old Testament. There is nothing old or new under the sun. ALL Scripture is God-breathed...ALL is given for us to learn from. Some others will say all of this is too charismatic. The word charisma is from the Greek "charizomai" or favor; therefore: a gratuity, a deliverance, an endowment, a qualification, a faculty....1 Corinthians 12:4 says "now there a variety of gifts (charismas) but the same Spirit". I am not into labels. Labels are meant to diminish a person with whom there is a disagreement, without knowing how God is dealing with that person.
All I know is prayer leaders and ANY Leader in Ministry, had better be cleansed from all iniquity as much as possible, and strive to remain cleansed, OR there will be little or NO power coming out of that ministry! Now, apply that truth to any ministry you can name and measure up against the plumb. The Lord lead me to purchase an old fashioned construction plumbline in cold January to speak to the pastors at the Virden Ministerial Alliance, because we all need to stay with the plumbline of Truth.
There were major target prayers which we need to continue on for the 2008 elections. Too many American Christians will be caught up with voting for one of two liberal candidates. I am not politically correct and they are pro-abortion. They stand in church pulpits and put on the mantle of false messiah to the masses. Any Christian who votes for them will be accountable to God for their votes. This comes down to the churches of Revelation chapters 2 and 3. Jesus has something against some of us, and He will take away their lampstands. There was also prayer for racial reconciliation.
Finally, communion was celebrated in the most unique way - by a Messianic Jewish pastor Jake Rosen from Rock Hill! He went into the Biblical roots of the Lord's Supper and it was so authentic! We even used real unleavened Matso bread. More happened at the Assembly but one has to be a part of one, to get the full impact of what really happens at one.
I am embarking on a month -long personal study called Fresh Encounter by Claude King and recommend it. He and Dr. Blackaby wrote a number of books including the well-known "Experiencing God". I have spoken to, listened to and read Claude King. He is not a mystic contrary to my friends in the conservative reformed bible movement (of which I am also a part). Before one runs off and judges without reading, look into what Fresh Encounter is...a guide for seeking revival in the land (and person).
I had a wonderful conversation with Lisa Crump about Business Men in Christ
(www.businessmeninChrist.com), our Springfield umbrella group for an expanding number of ministries like our
National Day of Prayer here; Carpentry for Christ ministry; Missionary to the Missions and retirement centers and our brother Relevant Practical Ministry for Men (Iron Sharpens Iron Conferences). The folks in Colorado Springs, where Lisa is Shirley Dobson's eyes and hands, are really interested in discipling men! She was noting how many more men are now getting into prayer ministry, once almost exclusively led by women!!
She thanked me for recommending Iron Sharpens Iron because this year, NDP is involved in all 37 national conferences and our own Commander Brian Toon (US Navy Ret....USS Abe Lincoln), NDP national Vice Chairman, is doing a seminar at ISI Central - my old stomping grounds of Hartford, Ct!
We had a long talk about Joe White and his new Men at the Cross Ministry; about how Men's Fraternity affected our lives as Men's ministry leaders in Springfield etc etc. To my BMIC co-leader brethren, you may not realize it, but we are having an impact, as more and more want to know how we do what we do! AMEN! Of course, my title is director of communications....and God did not grant me a spirit of timidity when talking about BMIC!! Thank you for allowing me to share this wonderful occasion with you! God bless.
Words can not express the gratitude I feel towards the management and staff of Barnes and Noble Booksellers - both here in Springfield, Illinois and their small book division in New York City! Most of all a HUGE THANK YOU to VALERIE PARGA, the Community Relations Manager of the Central Illinois Store, who invited us 6 local authors (3 of us Christians!!)
