NFCC Podcast: Recent Episodes
NFCC
NFCC - Crosshairs - true warfare in our prayer and the ability to push back against obstacles occurs when the Spirit of God creates pathways by pushing against our carnality, humanity, and warped perspectives for ”...streams of living water flowing from deep within the person...”
And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Mk. 11:17 (KJV)
Words go through evolutionary processes known as semantic shifts - where the original meaning of a word is displaced by the more used and commonly accepted definitions. An example of this is the word “dinner.” Through the evolution of use, the word “dinner” now refers to and is widely accepted as the day’s main meal or the evening meal. But the etymology of the word speaks of the breaking of a fast. Thus, the word “dinner” was originally used to describe breakfast. When Jesus said, “My house shall be called a House of Prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” He was referring to a similar evolutionary process. A contrary order became entrenched through consistency of practices, perspectives, and persuasions, resulting in the original intent being replaced by an aberration that Jesus called “a den of thieves.”
You have made it - This term springs from the Greek word POIEO which speaks to actions, attitudes, and habits as manifested in the formation of something tangible. It is easy to create entrenched deformity and assume it is kingdom conformity through consistent contradictory religious practices.
When Jesus went into the Temple, he engaged in a premeditated whipping of the people (Jn 2:15) and declared the House of the Lord was made into a “den of thieves”, He was making a direct reference to Jer 7:11 (NKJV). “Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes?”. Jeremiah asks this probing and rhetorical question after identifying a series of indiscretions that best characterize a Peter-Pan Church that is terrible at adulting.
- 4- A presumption that is equally idolatrous, that believes that the physical Temple or the brick and mortar building possesses a power it does not (Acts 7:48)
- 5- The urgency for impartiality and equity between man and his fellow man. Any spiritual grouping that gives oxygen to injustice, bigotry, tribalism, prejudice, insularity, and ethnocentricity betrays its status as God’s people. It is an indictment of our love for God if our love for one another ever comes into question. (1Jn 5:2)
- 6- The call for empathy to immigrants, orphans, and widows. “True religion” is demonstrated in how the less fortunate are treated in the company of the redeemed (James 1:27).
- 6- A murderous and idolatrous spirit that permeates the house of God
- 9- A fundamental violation of the moral codes of not stealing, not committing murder, not committing adultery, and not committing idolatry.
- 10- The assumption that indiscretions are off the radar once under the mist of religion
These indiscretions represent a deferential posture to a brand of “Christianity” that does not fear God and puts Him at the highest place of affection.
After identifying the spiritual carelessness of the people, God pointed their attention to Shiloh as an example of His response to spiritual irresponsibility (vs.12). Shiloh is the place where God walked out of His House and reduced it to a God-deprived system. Like Elvis, He left the building. When God is gone, all you have left is Ichabod.
The House of Prayer is not necessarily replaced by prayerlessness; it is swallowed up by spiritual recklessness. Prayerlessness is not just the absence of praying. It can easily be the regularity of prayer, but inner Babylonian dispositions mixed with religious posturing ultimately invalidate both the power and importance of our prayer.
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA:
- Ukraine needs our prayer as this war can have enormous refugee and humanitarian repercussions.
- Pray for the mind of the Lord in global negotiations and for quick resolution to the current crisis
- Pray for Pastor Randy Thurman as he negotiates the next phase of the call of God on his life
Deuteronomy 11:10-12 (NKJV)
For the land which you go to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as a vegetable garden; 11 but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven, 12 a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year.
- Hebrews 11:13-16
- 13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
- No longer trapped by the present - no matter what the present looks like. Whether comfortable or uncomfortable(seeing things afar off)
- A new sense of acceptance, not rejection or indifference to the future (welcomed it from a distance)
- The present placement becomes woefully inadequate, strange and uninviting (confessed the were strangers and pilgrims in the earth)
- Design a strategy to cut off opportunity to return to former positions - doctrinally or organizationally (if they were thinking of the country from which they had come they would have sought an opportunity to return…)
- God takes pleasure in partnering with this mentality (therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God)
Review of Crosshairs Prayer objectives:
-
Prayer for the Nation and those in Ukraine
-
that the mind of the Lord prevail in International negotiations
-
Stability in the community and NFCC
-
Pray for our local spiritual leaders - Lou Perez of Destiny Christian Church
Crosshairs Prayer Agenda:
-
International Focus: Continue to pray for Albert Kitcher and Ukraine as situation escaltes.
-
Canadian Truckers require prayer as the issue is now on knife's edge.
-
Pray for Anderson Williams, John Signorelli and the Leadership Team of NFCC for wisdom to lead and capacity to build effectively and relevantly.
Pray for numerical growth within the Community of NFCC and for the full appropriation of the Word of the Lord in the hearts of those who hear His Truths.
And the government shall be upon HIS shoulder
Isaiah 9:6-7, Matthew 16:13-20, Matthew 18:18-20
John Signorelli opening statements and prayer - 1/30/2022
Crosshairs Prayer Agenda:
-
Pray for growth in the Church in accordance with the enclosed blog
-
Pray for the truth of God's word to radically change the toxic climate within our Nation.
-
Pray for the lifting of all curses from the lives of families within the NFCC community. Pray for wellness, prosperity, long life and favor to blanket everyone.
-
Pray for Anderson Williams for wisdom to build, clarity of vision and strength to execute the purpose of the Lord for NFCC.
Verses are NKJV unless other specified
Mark 16:13, 2 Corinthians 10:3 [Message Translation], Matthew 28:18, Revelation 1:18, Ephesians 3:8