HONORING PASTORS – Our City Needs a Life-giving Church! (Part 7)

HONORING PASTORS

PASTORS APPRECIATION DAY  Sunday 12th October

There is often one person in a church who is more lonely than others.  Pastors have at some stage stepped out in faith responding to a call from the Lord to put His Kingdom first.  They have often given up much, spent years in training, sacrificed time and relaxation that most Christians take for granted.  They have dedicated themselves to provide spiritual nurture, caring for and encouraging church members and those beyond, and taking leadership of the church community.  This role and the expectations usually that go with it are very demanding.  Often also very demanding on pastors families too.

Sadly, many pastors are faithfully and prayerfully are doing as much as they can, but find that this is not enough.  There may be great blessing, but somehow there is always more to do.  Usually current expectations are so different to those when the pastor began ministry and how they were trained. Many people don’t understand the pressure.  While some members are very supportive, some feel let down that their needs are not met. Some openly criticise or oppose the pastor or stir dissent.  Many pastors in our city are struggling!

TM PHONED HUNDREDS OF PASTORS in our recent survey.

We spoke to many pastors who were worn out, discouraged and wondering why they were there. There were those who were “just too busy to talk about other things”.  There were some who wept on the phone.

Research shows that there are now 14,000 pastors in Australia, but the same number of ex-pastors.  These are people who have left their pastoral call, often in a painful and conflicted transition to some other work.  This is one of the highest attrition rates from any vocation in our country.   (20 years ago the number was 10,000 active and 10,000 ex-pastors).

PASTORS APPRECIATION DAY  Sunday 12th October 

Transforming Melbourne has initiated a special day for local churches to celebrate their pastors.  We invite church members to PLAN NOW to do something special to thank and bless those who minister to them, acknowledging their faithfulness and all they have done for so many.

What about a love offering for them? A “THANK YOU” banner? People standing up in the service to thank them? A Party? A special dinner voucher for their family? Flowers? Cards?  SHOWING YOU LOVE THEM!

We hope to this day of encouragement will continue and increase in coming years 

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Our City Needs The Church Renewed! (Part 5)

JESUS AND THE FUTURE OF MELBOURNE
OUR CITY NEEDS THE CHURCH Renewed! (Part 5)
 
The City and Nation will Change Dramatically in the Next 5 Years
Who will decide the Future of Melbourne?
 
While our city continues to be one of the most liveable cities in the world, and great things are happening here, we cannot ignore what else is happening!

1. MANY TRENDS THREATEN OUR CITY:   (BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO CONTINUE)
2. POWERFUL MOVEMENTS ARE INTENTIONAL ON SHAPING OUR FUTURE
3. THE CHURCH AS A WHOLE IS NOT INTENTIONAL ON SHAPING OUR FUTURE

1. MANY TRENDS THREATEN OUR CITY:   (BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO CONTINUE)
 
60,000 Australian children affected by abuse and neglect (Fed. Gov. report May08)
9,860 Vic. youth (10-14yrs) arrests for violence, rape, shoplifting (up 18% 2006-07)
48% households single person occupancy by 2030 (“Melbourne 2030” Report)
33% 18 to 24yrs classify themselves as binge drinkers (37% of young women)
Assaults in Melbourne CBD increased by 17.5% in 2007
100,000 homeless in Australia; Continuing increase of Poverty in Australia
Record gambling losses in Vic. in last 6mths – over $1.3bn on pokies (up $55 million)
500 people took their own lives in Vic (2007).
Young girls self-harming up 45% in 10 years
Decline in personal morality impacting business ($2bn losses by Shoplifting 2007)
Child obesity 30% (20-25% in ’90s),
100,000 new cases of Diabetes pa nationally,
 
ALL THESE ARISE FROM SPIRITUAL NEEDS WHICH JESUS CAME TO ADDRESS,
He calls us to believe God can reverse them by His Spirit and a faithful Church
 
2. POWERFUL MOVEMENTS ARE INTENTIONAL ON SHAPING OUR FUTURE

Secular humanism, the homosexual lobby and extremist religions
Multiculturalism claiming all faiths (incl witchcraft) accepted as equal to Christianity
These are seeing increasing restrictions of church freedom & Christian values
(Pushing for legislation to legalise all abortion, euthanasia, to remove tax exemptions for Church work)
 
3. THE CHURCH AS A WHOLE IS NOT INTENTIONAL ON SHAPING OUR FUTURE
(What if the whole Church did become intentional in seeing God’s Kingdom established here!)
 
These trends ARE reversible!   God Could do this in our city!
He has transformed cities and nations before – eg social transformation of Wales 1904
And in Melbourne in the mid 1800s and in the great revival in 1902.
 
Will we – the Church – Claim the Future?  Or just continue as we are?
He will not renew our city unless we let Him renew us.
 
IT IS URGENT!
 
“Something is happening among God’s people
In these cities of ours
It’s happening right now
Two kingdoms are wrestling for the city’s soul
It isn’t too late to win
If we will rise up early
Our cities deserve a tomorrow
Unable to possess their tomorrows on their own
All Children of Joshua arise!”
 
Jack Hayford
 
ENCOURAGING SIGNS OF THE RENEWING OF THE CHURCH
a. Growing prayer movement:  24/7, prayer networks
b. House Church Movement gathering momentum
c. Developing Marketplace ministries
d. Many Young Christians – dedicated, radical, praying disciples
e. A new concern for justice
f. Restlessness amongst God’s people for something better
 
What can we do NOW?   PRAY!
 
JOIN WITH OTHERS IN UNITED PRAYER for the Church and the City
“There has never been a spiritual awakening in any time or place that has not been preceded by Sustained United Prayer”
 
The Great Revival in Melbourne in 1902 was preceded by small groups of believers joining to cry out for God to visit and renew our city.  Over years it grew to a movement of 1700 groups from many denominations praying together.  The call to UNITED PRAYER has been the core focus of all transformation movements, including Transforming Melbourne.
God will be known in our city as WE are transformed be His love and presence!

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Groups Praying for Melbourne

 

Text Box:  GROUPS PRAYING for MELBOURNE

 

There are many praying in houses, churches and ministries across our city

– of which these are just a few. Please let us know if you represent a group who’d like to link with us in praying for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done in Melbourne.

 

·                     Sundays 6.00-8.30pm Interdenominational Prayer for Melbourne from the City of Knox at a Public Housing Estate at 21 Neilson St, Bayswater (Mel 64G5) (Except first week of the month when we gather in unity with Boronia churches at rotating locations.) Contact: Sue Tinworth sue@transformingmelbourne.org 0418-389-419 to confirm location.

 

·                     Mondays 10am at the moment: Interdenominational Prayer for Melbourne from the City of Whitehorse. House of Prayer for All Nations at Hays International College15 Hay St, Box Hill Sth. God’s focus for our Spirit led prayer is on the gospel of Jesus transforming our city and reaching the nations. Contact: sue@transformingmelbourne.org 0418 389419.

 

·                     Every other Monday 10-12 noon: Interdenominational Prayer for Melbourne from the City

of Casey. Lydia Fellowship is a prayer group for women meeting in Berwick. 

Contact: Debbie Williams:  9707 1934 debannew@yahoo.com.au for locations.

 

·                     1st Tuesdays 7.30-9.00pm Melbourne Conference for Ethnic Evangelism in the Sth/East at the Jesus House Melbourne, Level 1 Dandenong Hub, 32/ 15-23 Langhorn St, Dandenong Please enter through the door closest to the Dandenong Plaza, at the back of the Hub. Contact: Pr IB Williams  jesushouse@optusnet.com.au  Kumar Abraham kumarabraham@bigpond.com Phone: 9798-6707; Mobile: 0409-705-715

 

·                     2nd Tuesday of each month, at 10. 30am except for special meetings which may be rescheduled. At Christian Life Assembly 374 Blacburn Rd, Glen Waverley Mel 70J3 (Opp Waverley Private Hosp.) Open monthly Prayer Meetings for Pastors and Leaders at Christian Life Assembly. Tuesday 8th July, 12th August, Monday 15th September: Special Meeting with Ps Rajan Thiagarajah

   RSVP: Pastors Lucky & Dami Kanagasabai   office@christianlifeaog.net Phone:  9886 4799

 

·                     3rd Wednesdays United Churches Praying in Clayton (Presbyterian, Anglican, Church of Christ and Monash Christian Fellowship.) Contact: Bill Wheaton  billmcf@rabbit.com.au

 

·                     Thursday 29th May 10.00am Melbourne Conference for Ethnic Evangelism prayer group in the West to be hosted by Pastor Rick Raimundo at the Hope of Life Community Church located at 8 Watt St corner Corio St in Sunshine. Contact: Ps. Rene Rivera  renriv@gmail.com

  

·                     3rd Thursdays 7pm: Thursday 19th June and 17th July Interdenominational Prayer for Melbourne from Maroondah at Ringwood Church of Christ, 9-11 Bedford Rd Ringwood. Contact: Russell Kilgour . Phone at work 9547-1129. russellkanga@optusnet.com.au

 

·                     Fridays 9.30am. Prayer for Croydon at 56 Pascoe Ave, Croydon. Kids are welcome. Contact: Peta Schneider peta.schneider@optusnet.com.au

 

·                     Fridays  6pm11ish Coburg Prayer House 85a – 87 Bell Street. Enter lane through red gate and go up the stairs, above the Ferguson Plaire cake shop, (near cnr Bell St & Sydney Rd.) Contact: Salvatori Quirino 0409 480008 dr_duke85@hotmail.com

 

·                     Fridays 7:30-9:30pmInterdenominational Prayer for Melbourne from the City of Stonnington led by Hope of Glory premises Level 1, 10 Wilson St, Sth Yarra. This Harp & Bowl Intercessory Worship intercedes for revival in Melbourne & Australia, the stirring of God’s passion in His church, and the harvest of the lost. Register to receive ANGELOS – local prophetic word: subscribe@hopeofglory.com.au. Contact: paullee@hopeofglory.com.au.  (03) 9826 6983 www.hopeofglory.com.au

 

·                     Interdenominational Prayer for Melbourne from the City of Kingston. Prayerforce – united Kingston prayer meeting held each month in different churches, led by Kevin Harris.

            Contact: Pr Chris Whiting 040-88-040-44 chrisw@odcc.org.au for dates and times.

 

·                     Melbourne Conference for Ethnic Evangelism In the North. Contact: Ps Peter Bondole  peterbondole@yahoo.com.au  9470-2973

 

·                 Hobsons Bay Intercessors."Beth Tephillah", 55 Park Crescent, Williamstown 3016. Pastors Malcolm & Diana Dow Ph/FAX: (03) 9397 2430  pastors@bethtephillah.com  www.bethtephillah.com

 

·                     Prayer for Melbourne by Catholic Charismatic Renewal groups across Melbourne. 130-140 groups. (84 parish prayer groups and 50+ ethnic prayer groups.) Contact:  Alan Panozza  panozza@ ccr.org.au     www.ccr.org.au

 

Call to Citywide Prayer and Fasting

PRAYER AND FASTING 7TH DAY OF EACH MONTH. Mark your diary if you can join us

 at Hays International College15 Hay St, Box Hill Sth. We’re praying Church leaders will hear

 the call of God to unite in mission to our city.Phone to confirm the times for particular months.             If you can host prayer gatherings on the 7th of  each month in other regions contact: sue@transformingmelbourne.org 0418 389419.

 

Prayer for Indigenous Ministries

Prayer group, events, national links, information on other opportunities (for employment,

support  etc.) Contact Anne Green agreen@plc.vic.edu.au or Lyndal Walk LINC Linking Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Communities. linc@houseofrestoration.com.au.

 

Market Place Prayer

God is using the market place as new wineskin Houses of Prayer and is stirring market place momentum for mission. Are you called to support marketplace prayer? Check out:

·         Market Place Connections in Melbourne Peter Kentley peter@airborne.org

       www.marketplaceconnections.com

·         International House of Prayer  Kansas City. Joseph Company (Joco) Bob Hartley & Bob Fraser http://www.ihop.org/Group/Group.aspx?id=16863

·         International Christian Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) www.iccc.net Check out the extraordinary letter from Dale Neill ( International President) http://59396.netministry.com/images/PL_May_2008_confReport.pdf

 

24/7 Prayer

·                     MELBOURNE247 fosters continuous night and day 24/7 Prayer & Worship across our City. Gathering as prayer groups, prayer ministries, intercessors and worshippers from across Melbourne to share insights and prayer points and worship God as one city-wide Body.      Is your prayer group registered with 24/7 Melbourne as part of the multi sited day and night prayer cover of our city? More information: Ps. Paul Lee 0402 688 203 9826 6983 paullee@hopeofglory.com.au www.melbourne247.net.au

 

·                     24/7 Prayer for Melbourne from Casey. Glory Place Prayer House 313 Hallam North Rd Lysterfield South. Contact Eugene and Angelina Hoe 9700-7288 gpmelb@iinet.net.au

 

·                     Text Box: Please let us know if you represent a group who’d like to link with us in praying for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done in Melbourne. These can be interdenominational groups, local church/home groups, denominational or mission focussed groups. They can be as small as 2-3 people as long as the Lord is in their midst and they are open to others. We can connect groups with unifying prayer points and events and shared prophetic understandings and put people looking for groups in touch with you. We pray there will soon links between groups in each of the 31 municipal areas of Melbourne. There were approximately 1700 prayer groups in Melbourne when revival last broke out across our city! I wonder how many there are now…24/7 Salvation Army across Australia. www.24-7salvationarmy.org.au Major Rosslyn J Casey 24/7 Prayer Coordinator Ph 08 9227 7035 rosslyn.casey@aus.salvationarmy.org

 

Please let us know if you represent a group who’d like to link with us in praying for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done in Melbourne. These can be interdenominational groups, local church/home groups, denominational or mission focussed groups. They can be as small as 2-3 people as long as the Lord is in their midst and they are open to others. We can connect groups with unifying prayer points and events and shared prophetic understandings and put people looking for groups in touch with you. We pray there will soon links between groups in each of the 31 municipal areas of Melbourne. There were approximately 1700 prayer groups in Melbourne when revival last broke out across our city! I wonder how many there are now…

 

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SEVEN BASIC STEPS TO FASTING AND PRAYER

by Bill Bright www.billbright.com/7steps

How to Begin Your Fast How you begin and conduct your fast will largely determine your success. By following these seven basic steps to fasting, you will make your time with the Lord more meaningful and spiritually rewarding. STEP 1: Set Your Objective STEP 2: Make Your Commitment STEP 3: Prepare Yourself Spiritually STEP 4: Prepare Yourself Physically  

While You Fast STEP 5: Put Yourself on a Schedule For maximum spiritual benefit, set aside ample time to be alone with the Lord. Listen for His leading. The more time you spend with Him, the more meaningful your fast will be. Suggested daily schedule and detailed tips on fasting 

Breaking Your Fast   STEP 6: End Your Fast Gradually When your designated time for fasting is finished, you will begin to eat again. But how you break your fast is extremely important for your physical and spiritual well-being.  

A Final Word STEP 7: Expect Results If you sincerely humble yourself before the Lord, repent, pray, and seek God’s face; if you consistently meditate on His Word, you will experience a heightened awareness of His presence (John 14:21). The Lord will give you fresh, new spiritual insights. Your confidence and faith in God will be strengthened. You will feel mentally, spiritually, and physically refreshed. You will see answers to your prayers.

How to Experience and Maintain Personal Revival Six Vital Questions About Prayer  

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“God Loves Us!!”

A Prophetic Vision for Australia from Joanna Gomes, of Mobile, Alabama, U.S.A. 1st Nov, 2007

Here is the vision:-  Around the whole island of Australia there is a huge wall of rain. That wall has mounted up because of the prayers of the people. God has heard all of the prayers of the people. But – there is a spirit over Australia which is holding back the rain. It is a spirit of unbelief in the love of God for the people of Australia -unbelief that God loves them and bestows good things on them. The spirit of unbelief in the love of God for the people of Australia was seen on the eastern side of Australia.

Joanna saw people – whole families – going outside and standing on their land or their territory, etc and shouting

“GOD LOVES US!! GOD LOVES US!! GOD LOVES US!!”

Over and over and over and over again

– thus taking authority over that spirit that is holding back the rain.

Then, after they do that, they are to plant seeds in the ground as a demonstration of their faith that the rain is coming. And they should do it all the time, continually, not just once. Those that take longer to catch this vision will therefore begin to do it too and they will begin to take dominion – not shouting “We love you, God!” but focusing for now on shouting,

“GOD LOVES US!!

GOD LOVES OUR CHILDREN, OUR FAMILIES,

OUR LAND, OUR NATION, OUR FUTURES!!”

Take the Scripture that applies to the love of God for His people and shout it out too!

Joanna said that the spirit that she saw was not a huge, intimidating spirit. It actually looked like a small scarecrow, though it was not. It had convinced the people that God doesn’t love them and was actually ruling over the island of Australia. She said this ‘government’ or governing spirit must be overturned in order for the rains to come. Through this act of obedience that spirit will be overturned.

The people must declare “GOD LOVES US!!” over and over in obedience till faith rises up and it changes their belief; till it is not just words said in obedience and faith, but it is a deep belief. It will get into their spirits. She said it was very clear to her that they were to only speak of God’s love for them, to do it now and to do it continually. The rain IS THERE and it is A LOT of rain. Do not pray for rain any more! Thank Him and declare His love.

Joanna Gomes is a mother of 2 young children and wife of Richard. Joanna called me (Hilary Vines vinesonline@comcast.net) tonight at 11pm unable to sleep as the Lord had given her a vision for Australia. Please bear in mind that Joanna does not know much about Australia – its geography, government, history or climate. However; Joanna is a woman of God, full of His Word and hears clearly in dreams and visions from His Spirit. She presents this humbly for your consideration and prayer.

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24/7 Prayer in Melbourne

On Election Day you are invited to an information session on continuous citywide Prayer & Worship. There will be a presentation on vision & goals for 24/7 prayer, strategy (including City-wide registry & prayer agreement) questions and discussion.

24th November 10am – 1pm, 1st Floor, 10 Wilson St, South Yarra.

Ps. Paul Lee, "We believe God has revealed to us a divine strategy to establish & maintain 24/7 Prayer & Worship in our city. This blueprint will encourage our diversity of styles & localities, yet still forge a unified expression of 24/7 prayer across our city. In brief, we believe MELBOURNE 24/7 will be a spiritual tapestry – woven by God’s Spirit – out of many churches, prayer groups/networks, and prayer events."  Please register: Paul Lee 9525 2460, 0402 688 203 or paullee@ozemail.com.au.

 

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GOD IS WORTHY of our praise and worship day and night

Based on texts prepared by Mike Bickle and Bob Hartley.

Consider the reasons you have to worship God. Proclaim His goodness to all!

Exodus 34:5-7 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."

Nehemiah 9:17-18 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them, even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, 'This is your god, who brought you up out of Egypt,' or when they committed awful blasphemies.

Psalm 130:6 My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 23:3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psalm 29:2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

Psalm 96:9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.

Psalm 50:2-3 From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth. Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages.

Isaiah 49:13 Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

Isaiah 51:11 The ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Zephaniah 3:16-20 On that day they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." "The sorrows for the appointed feasts I will remove from you; they are a burden and a reproach to you. At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you; I will rescue the lame and gather those who have been scattered. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they were put to shame. At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes," says the LORD.

Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

1 Corinthians 4-7 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Galatians 6:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

God’s holiness and graciousness compels us to worship Him day and night.

Isaiah 6:3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."

Revelation 4:8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

Isaiah 56:5-8 ..to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off. And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant- these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." The Sovereign LORD declares—he who gathers the exiles of Israel: "I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered."

Isaiah 62:1,6,7 For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.

Zechariah 8:18-22 Again the word of the LORD Almighty came to me. This is what the LORD Almighty says: "The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace." This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, 'Let us go at once to entreat the LORD and seek the LORD Almighty. I myself am going.' And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD Almighty and to entreat him."

2 Chronicles 5:12-14 All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang:   "He is good; his love endures forever." Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God.

2 Chronicles 7:1-6 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2 The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it. 3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, "He is good; his love endures forever." Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God. The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the LORD's musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the LORD and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, "His love endures forever." Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing.

2 Chronicles 20:20-22,28 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: "Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever." As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.

Psalm 22:3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel.

Psalm 27:4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, and to seek him in his temple.

Psalm 92:1-2 It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night,

Psalms 134:1 Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD.

Psalms 135:1-3 Praise the LORD. Praise the name of the LORD; praise him, you servants of the LORD, you who minister in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God. Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.

Isaiah 55:12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

1 John 4:7-20 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.

Revelation 5:8-10 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song:   "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,    and they will reign on the earth."

God has appointed watchmen over the city.

Isaiah 52:8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes.

Isaiah 56:10 Israel's watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep.

Isaiah 62:6 I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest,

Jeremiah 6:17 I appointed watchmen over you and said, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But you said, 'We will not listen.'

Jeremiah 31:6 There will be a day when watchmen cry out on the hills of Ephraim, 'Come, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.' "

Jeremiah 51:12 Lift up a banner against the walls of Babylon! Reinforce the guard, station the watchmen, prepare an ambush! The LORD will carry out his purpose, his decree against the people of Babylon.

Micah 7:4 The best of them is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge. The day of your watchmen has come, the day God visits you. Now is the time of their confusion.

Ezekiel 3:17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.

Ezekiel 33:6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.'

Hosea 9:8 The prophet, along with my God, is the watchman over Ephraim, yet snares await him on all his paths, and hostility in the house of his God.

John 10:3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

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