WEDNESDAY'S WORD - PETITION - Sadell Bradley -3/1/2023

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD PETITION 3/1/2023 “In the Lord's Prayer, the first petition is for daily bread. No one can worship God or love his neighbor on an empty stomach.”― Woodrow Wilson  TONIGHT 7 PM BIBLE STUDY BROKEN PROMISES @warehouseOTR  Facebook, Youtube     When we think of the word PETITION, we envision a political worker with a clipboard asking us to sign a document to right a wrong in society. Our signature is needed along with hundreds of others to get the issue resolved on the ballot. A PETITION is a formal written request, typically one signed by many people, appealing to an authority with respect to a particular cause. It is an appeal or request, especially a solemn or humble one, to a deity or superior. Maybe petitioning is annoying— especially when it interrupts our day, but we admire the persistence of those workers because they're adamant about their cause! Historically, petitions took weeks of canvasing. Now, Sharon Cooper writes, "with online petitions, organizers can receive hundreds of thousands of signatures within a matter of days. Because of their popularity, petitions are becoming one of the biggest drivers of social change. An online petition created in 2020 calling for justice for George Floyd is the most signed petition on Change.org with over 19 million signatures, inspiring nationwide conversations about policing and systemic racism in America." In Scripture, petition is a part of prayer. Another word used in the Bible is supplication which is the action of asking or begging God for something earnestly or humbly. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication (petition), with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Many prayers are prayed without petition, "Lord, You see and know what's happening..." There is no specific request of what we want the Lord to do, or how we want Him to intervene. When you are asked to sign a petition on the street, the writer gives great detail about what the problem is and what the signers of the petition are asking to see done to remedy the situation. Yet our prayers to God—the only One who can do anything about many of our difficulties, are vague, often without asking for anything at all. Have you listened to your prayers lately? Some of us have difficulty asking for help... from others or from God. That disposition may be hindering your answers. Check to see if you've got an ask in there. Jesus told His disciples in John 16:2 "Until now you have not asked [the Father] for anything in My name [as my representative]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy may be full and complete." This sentiment is echoed in 1 John 5:14-15 "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him." Don't be afraid to petition, ask God for what you want. Sure, He could say NO or WAIT, if it's not His will. Often He says YES! but don't let it be said that you never asked.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD- ASHES - Sadell Bradley -02/22/23

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD ASHES 2/22/2023 ““That which you create in beauty and goodness and truth lives for all time to come. Don't spend your life accumulating material objects that will only turn to dust and ashes.” ― Dennis Waitley - Writer

TONIGHT 7 PM In Person  ASH WEDNESDAY WORSHIP 1310 Race Street @warehouseOTR  Facebook, Youtube

Today is Ash Wednesday, also known as "The Day of Ashes." On this day, many Christians around the world begin the observance of Lent, a 40-Day (minus Sundays) period of prayer, fasting, penitence, and self-denial. During Lent, adherents draw closer to Jesus Christ by fasting food and other vices, and by repentance—turning away from sin toward righteous behavior. Some who attend an Ash Wednesday service like the one we are having at The Warehouse Church, OTR tonight at 7pm, will have the ashes of palm fronds placed on their heads in the sign of the cross to commemorate and identify themselves with the passion (suffering) of Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. Though the words Lent and Ash Wednesday cannot be found in the Bible, and the practice started in the 11th Century—there are many uses for ashes in Scripture. ASHES are defined as the powdery residue left after the burning of a substance; the remains of something destroyed; the remains of the human body after cremation or burning; and the powdery material thrown out by a volcano. . In Scripture, ashes were used for several purposes including: to express grief and anguish, to remind us of our mortality, to offer cleansing, and the refining fire of purification. When Daniel read from the prophet Jeremiah that Israel would be exiled for 70 years, he wrote, 3So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. (Dan. 9:3) Ashes were also used to pray for God's intervention in tribulation. Haman's scheme to annihilate the entire Jewish population was uncovered. Esther 4:1-3 says, 1When Mordecai learned about all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on burlap and ashes, and went out into the city, crying with a loud and bitter wail. 2He went as far as the gate of the palace, for no one was allowed to enter the palace gate while wearing clothes of mourning. 3And as news of the king’s decree reached all the provinces, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and wailed, and many people lay in burlap and ashes. Ashes are a sign that something or someone has died. The prophet Isaiah proclaims that the anointing of the coming Messiah, whom we now know to be Jesus the Christ, has been given to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. (Isaiah 61:2b-3) Christ offers us a Divine exchange when we're grieving, sad, and sorrowful. So whether you use ashes as a physical sign this Lenten season, or you merely place these remembrances in your heart...this is a great time and opportunity for personal reflection, transformation, and renewal.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - REVIVAL - Sadell Bradley - 2/15/2023

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD REVIVAL 2/15/2023   “A revival does two things. First, it returns the Church from her backsliding and second, it causes the conversion of men and women; and it always includes the conviction of sin on the part of the Church. What a spell the devil seems to cast over the Church today!"- Billy Sunday - Evangelist

TONIGHT 7 PM WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY ONLINE  THE ANOINTING MINISTRY  @warehouseOTR  Facebook, Youtube

In case you missed it, a revival is happening at Asbury University and Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, about two hours away from where we live in Cincinnati. Last Wednesday, the flame of the Holy Spirit's fire began to burn as students and faculty gathered for 10AM Chapel and engaged in prayer, worship, confession, and repentance. A week later, the University community is still in revival, now being joined by people from across the Country who want to experience the power of God. This phenomenon occurred at Asbury 53 years ago in the year 1970 as told in this documentary. REVIVAL is defined as an improvement in the condition or strength of something; an instance of something becoming popular, active, or important again: a reawakening of religious fervor, especially by means of a series of evangelistic meetings; a restoration to bodily or mental vigor to life or consciousness, or to sporting success. Now in a small Kentucky college town, Jesus and the presence of His Holy Spirit are strengthening those gathered. The Lord God has become the popular priority. Jesus is important again. Bodies, souls, and spirits are reawakened and restored to life in Christ's name. It's beautiful. In Psalm 85 the psalmist Korah wrote a prayer for God to restore Israel after their estrangement from Him. A breach needed to be healed. God had put away His anger and forgiven His people in the past...now they asked for Him to do it again and to establish a world of righteousness, glory, and peace. 1You, Lord, showed favor to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. 2You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. 3You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger. 4Restore us again, God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us. 5Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations? 6Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? 7Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation. 8I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—but let them not turn to folly. 9Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. 10Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. 11Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.12The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. 13Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps. As usual, some folks are bent on analyzing, critiquing, and 'discerning" this move of God versus praising the Lord for it and praying that it will extend not only to other college campuses, but to churches across the Country and around the world. Perhaps we all need to find an altar—a place of prayer and repentance where we too can seek and find revival's fire. That's what I'm praying.

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WEDNESDAY'S WORD - BATTLE - Sadell Bradley - 02/08/2023

WEDNESDAY'S WORD BATTLE 2/8/2023 “Most of us aren't defeated in one decisive battle. We are defeated one tiny, insignificant surrender at a time that chips away at who we should really be."- Jocko Willink - Navy Seal, Author

TONIGHT 7 PM WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY ONLINE  THE ANOINTING YOKE BREAKING   @warehouseOTR  Facebook, Youtube

They say that everyone is fighting a battle that no one knows about. Do you ever get tired of fighting? I do, even for good and righteous causes. Sometimes it seems just to be present as yourself in the world is a dogfight. The skirmishes can be exhausting, especially those that come to you unawares. It's exhausting because it's meant to be. I'm reminded of Daniel's prophetic words about the Antichrist who will one day rule this world, "He will speak words against the Most High [God] and wear down the saints of the Most High, and he will intend to change the times and the law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, [two] times, and half a time [three and one-half years]." (Daniel 7:25 AMP) I never used to think of wearing us out as a tactic of the enemy. Now that I'm older, I've seen it over and over again. A BATTLE is defined as a sustained fight between large organized armed forces; a lengthy and difficult conflict or struggle. You might not have thought of a battle as a long-term engagement in warfare, but it is. Navy Seal Jocko Willink states above, that one of the enemy's objectives is to chip away at who you really are with a series of tiny, insignificant scuffles and clashes. Growing up, my family used to gather to watch boxing. We loved to see all the greats: Sugar Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Joe Frazier and of course, Muhammad Ali. In the famous Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman, (yeah, the smiling grill guy); Ali used a strategy infamously called the Rope A Dope— a boxing tactic where he pretended to be trapped against the ropes, goading Foreman into throwing tiring, ineffective punches. I didn't realize until just now, that Ali also might have been calling George Foreman a dope, LOL! The Apostle Paul said I don't fight this spiritual warfare ineffectively, like one "beating the air," (1 Cor. 9:26) As my family watched the fight, I remember some screaming at the TV for Ali to "Get off the ropes!" to stop letting Foreman beat him mercilessly. George Foreman had one of the deadliest punches in boxing. Ali just kept enduring the assault until...Foreman was worn out and then, Ali served him a knockout blow. That's what Jesus did when He died that brutal death on the cross and was buried. The devil thought he had Him...but when Jesus rose, it was victory! Maybe it seems like you're getting plummeted from every side, like you're on the ropes and the enemy is winning. Perhaps he's used people and situations to beat you up and sap your strength. As long as you're still here; you may be down, but you're not out! Are you exhausted with fighting? Are you "weary in well-doing?" (Gal. 6:9) Surrender! Let the LORD fight for you. God told king Jehoshaphat when he was surrounded, "‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s." (2 Chron. .20:15)

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