Evangelism Education and Empowerment

 “Mission 3:16: The World and Whosoever”

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

The Vision: To educate and empower effective evangelism.

The Mission: To emphasize and encourage strategic soul winning.

The Strategy: To offer lectures on effective evangelism.

• Partners and Scholars register: isom@itsthehope.org
• Receive Zoom link from House Media Team.
• Featured plenary courses and lecturers:

Tuesday – Pastor May L. Henderson

 Evangelism and Scriptures – How To Shape The Message

Wednesday – Bishop Sean Teal, Th.D.

 Evangelism and Structures – How To Build The Ministry

Thursday – Evangelist Tony Adams

 Evangelism and Strategies – How To Reach The Masses

SEMINAR SCHEDULE

6:15pm – 6:33pm – Setting The Atmosphere

6:33pm– Scripture and Prayer- ISOM Moderator

Greetings and Goals – Dr. Sean Teal, Provost 

6:45pm – Lecture with Q & A

7:45pm-Closing Points and Prayer – Dr. Sean Teal, Provost

If you were blessed by this session of ISOM, please be sure to register with ISOM. Request your annual registration. Don’t miss any more updates or upcoming events. isom@itsthehope.org

The Principles of Firstfruits

The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God… (Exodus 23:19).

This scripture is a statute. A “statute” in The Bible usually refers to a certain genre of The Written Word of God. Other words like “commandments”, “decrees”, “ordinances”, “precepts” or “laws” describe different genres of God’s Word.

A “statute” is a strategy for success. In its original etymology it is a picture of a doctor handing a patient a prescription. What is written is now a strategy for success, healing and well-being.

Firstfruits is a strategy for success. It is not a commandment like the tithe (Malachi 3:8-12). The first fruit does not test us or prove God. The first fruit is a divine strategy that gives the believer the opportunity to experience exponential increase in things material and financial. Honor Jehovah with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thine increase. So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine (Proverbs 3:9-10).

The tithe is all about integrity. The offerings are all about investment. The firstfruits is all about increase! There is a level of financial blessing, riches and wealth that cannot be obtained by the believer without the practice of the firstfruits. Think of that! 

The pattern, protocol, promise, practice and place of firstfruits are all revealed according to this short and simple statute recorded in the patterns and practices of The Tabernacle. The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God… (Exodus 23:19). 

The first commentary is upon the pattern of the firstfruits. The pattern is too simple. “The first…”. The pattern is “God first!”. See Matthew 6:33.  This is at the core of  kingdom living. You are not even kingdom conscious until you are God-first focused. Does God come first is the most pertinent point? Where is God’s place in your faith? Family? Finances?

The second commentary is upon the protocol of the firstfruits. “The first of the firstfruits” sets the order. Order is God’s strategy for increase. The first fruit protocol is to bring the prototype. The statute of the firstfruits directs God’s people to bring the best of their first. Firstfruits is bringing the first of your best so that your best will be blessed. Upon the return home by the worshiper and the harvester there was an expectation that the harvest still in the field would be just like the harvest that he put in the hands of the priest. And the first of all the firstfruits of all kinds, and every offering of all kinds from all your offerings, shall belong to the priests. You shall also give to the priests the first of your dough, that a blessing may rest on your house (Ezekiel 44:30).

The third commentary is upon the promise of the firstfruits. “Of thy land” is referring to the Promised Land. Their harvest was a promise. What they gathered was a grace. What they had at harvest time was because of a covenant that had nothing, yet everything, to do with them. They prospered on a promise. They reaped because God kept His word. Out of this grace and gratitude they brought God their first and best. All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD, them have I given thee (Numbers 18:12).

The fourth commentary is upon the practice of the firstfruits. “Thou shalt bring”. The firstfruits is not only spiritual and financial; it is also very personal. Bringing the firstfruits is a ministry to your ministry. Your priest, pastor and prophet are recipients of the firstfruits. You are personally connected to the anointing, life and ministry of the one who receives your first fruits. Your gift makes room for you and joins you into partnership with your man or woman of God. Now if the firstfruits are holy, so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches (Romans 11:16). 

The fifth and final commentary is upon the place of the firstfruits.  “Into the house of the LORD thy God”. The “house of the LORD thy God” is the house of prayer (Isaiah 56:7, Matthew 21:13, Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46). The house of prayer is the place where God receives tithes, offerings and firstfruits. “Burnt offerings and sacrifices” are offerings that represent your best and your first. And at the same time some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered (Nehemiah 12:44).

Fasting and The Soul

“Why have we fasted, but You have not seen?  We have denied ourselves, but You haven’t noticed!  (Isaiah 58:3)(CSB).

They fasted and expected God to pay attention to their fasting. They denied themselves and expected God to take notice. They had an understanding and an expectation about fasting that every new creation believer needs to grasp. 

“We have fasted”. “We have afflicted our soul”. Fasting afflicts the soul. Fasting is not about food. The aim of fasting is not to lose pounds, detox or to sponsor a hunger strike before God. Fasting is for the soul.

The soul is the seat of intentions, passions and emotions. The soul hosts the human mind, will and emotions. What we think, what we desire and what we feel have their space and place in the soul. 

Most Christians are “carnal”.  In the way the Apostle Paul describes and defines being carnal it comes out to being self-centered and soul-controlled (see I Corinthians 3, Romans 8). When we are self-centered we are allowing our fallen flesh to dominate our decisions. When we are soul-controlled we are allowing our minds, wills and emotions to be dominated by any influence other than the Word of God and Holy Spirit.   

Our souls need to be afflicted. The word “afflicted” means to be lowered, abased, brought under, made subordinate to another’s power. Fasting has a spiritual goal. It is designed to lower, abase, bring under, and make subordinate our minds, wills and emotions to the Spirit of God and the Word of God.

The Greek word picture associated with the word “fast” is the picture of someone withdrawing their hand. When one did not take or receive food it was a fast. When one would abstain from eating and consuming they were withdrawing from the table and from their own appetite. 

Fasting is withdrawing your hand. This is what humility looks like. See I Peter 5:6-7. Fasting is confessing that you need to take your hands off of someone or something. Your “hands on approach” for everyone and everything may be your presumption. Do you always have the best thought, best desire or the best feel for a person or situation?

Fasting, just like prayer, is the admission and acknowledgment that you need God to help you. Fasting is more about denying your ego, than about missing a few meals. Fasting is surrendering, yielding and giving up your own ideas, desires and feelings so that you can fully obtain, observe and obey the will of God for your life.

Oakland Prays and Hopes

The priority of the Ghost Ship Prayer Vigil is to offer the hope of Jesus Christ through prayer, generosity and evangelism.

6:00pm – 7:00pm

Enter and Gather (Lovingly and Quietly)

Personal Consecration and Meditations.

7:00pm -8:00pm

The Power of Hope  (Isaiah 61:1-7)

Sacred Songs

Sacred Scripture – (Psalms 145:8-18)

The Prayers of Hope

“Help Us Holy Spirit” (Romans 8:22-28)

“Comfort Us Holy Spirit” (John 14:14-18; 27)

“Unite Us Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:1-7)

The Proclamations of Hope  

“We believe in rebuilding the city” (Jeremiah 29:7)

“We believe in reclaiming the future (Jeremiah 29:11)

“We believe in restoring hope” (Jeremiah 29:12-15).

8:00 – 8:36pm

The Promises of Hope

36 Souls and Scriptures

The Privilege of Hope

Seekers and Salvation

Small Group Prayers

9:00pm

The Plan of Hope – A Resolution of Prayer Convictions

 

 

 

The Power of Prayer

The power of prayer is understated in most churches and even pulpits. I say this as an observation, not a criticism. The evidence of the understated power of prayer is in the fact that most churches have no pastor-led prayer gatherings. Think of it. If pastors are not launching and leading prayer in local churches, what is the hope of building houses of prayer?

There is such a power in prayer that when it is released by pastors and churches the purpose of God in world affairs and families will be manifest unlike anything we have seen in human history. Our prayers can shape history and determine the future! Who believes this? Where are the houses of prayer?

Prayer is power! Prayer is enabling. Prayer is the dynamic that can rearrange any situation. People, pastors and churches that pray are infused with the supernatural. When we pray, united and anointed, we get things done!

Prayer empowers us to:

Participate in the purposes of God.
Release the purposes of God.
Affirm the purposes of God.
Yield to the purposes of God.
Embody the purposes of God.
Revive the purposes of God.

Prayer Warriors Weekend

My utmost appreciation goes to the Holy Spirit for orchestrating the 50 Hour of Prayer! The outpouring of the Holy Spirit anointed the people of God to pray, worship, minister, exhort, testify, agree, bind and loose. The unction to pray was manifest and manifold. It seemed as if every person whom prayed and ministered was given the supernatural ability to believe God and pray HIs heart.

I have never witnessed, let alone lead, any prayer event more impressive or impacting. What we have experienced is unique, uncommon and peculiar. The value of our prayers and ministries this weekend is inestimable. We will have to get to heaven before we know all the good we released into the earth through our prayers. All we are really assured of is that God heard our prayers and answers were given and things were done.

Thank you so much for standing with us in prayer! Whatever prayer you prayed or thought you gave to Prayer Warriors Weekend we want you to know it made a difference. There is no greater gift that you could give than the gift of prayer.

May we have a thousand more opportunities to launch and lead powerful prayer across America and around the world!

Prayer Everywhere is Here!

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We need the second coming of prayer! An uprising of intercessors, prayer warriors and watchmen is dawning. There are a people that God is calling and gathering for one high and holy purpose – prayer everywhere.

Prayer Everywhere is a vision, a mission and a strategy. The vision is to leave no place in the earth untouched by praying people. The mission is to inspire people to pray for others whenever and wherever the opportunity is presented. The strategy is to connect and network people of prayer all around the world for transformation in the Church and every culture.

God’s purposes can only be accomplished when people of prayer engage the Church and the culture with Spirit-filled praying. God has chosen to change the world through prayer. We are not to stand by and act as if we are waiting on God to make up His mind to do something supernatural and extraordinary in our generation. Our prayers release the will of God in the earth. Our prayers determine how much of God’s power we will see manifest in our days.

Prayer Everywhere is an opportunity for you to finally connect to the only power that can redefine your purpose and reshape your destiny. If you dare to be a leader in God’s end-time prayer army connect with us and we connect prayer with people who know how to pray.