Joe & Becky Cruse

Hello! I trust your week is going well and you are happy and blessed! Every week, I ask the Lord for the ability to write something along the lines of prayer or worship that will encourage you to press on in your quest to seek “Him” and I am always amazed how the Lord is faithful to share with me as I share with you.

As I was seeking the Lord, I was reminded of an account of prayer found in Acts 1. For time’s sake, I need to paraphrase the chapter and remind you of 5 distinct things that happened in Acts 1.

The Holy Spirit is promised (v 4-8)
The Ascension of Jesus (v 9-11)
The Upper Room Prayer Meeting (v 12-14)
Matthias Chosen (v 15-26)

Looking at Acts 1:12-14, I wanted to study the scriptures more closely regarding the prayer of supplication.

The Amplified translation reads—

12Then [the disciples] went back to Jerusalem from the hill called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, [only] a Sabbath day’s journey (three-quarters of a mile) away.
13And when they had entered [the city], they mounted [the stairs] to the upper room where they were []indefinitely] staying–Peter and John and James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas [son] of James.
14All of these with their minds in full agreement devoted themselves steadfastly to prayer, [waiting together] with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

The prayer of supplication is a subject we don’t hear taught much anymore, and yet I believe it was that earnest, fervent praying that ushered in the coming of the Holy Spirit to the church.

The word supplication means, “To ask for humbly or earnestly, as by praying or
“to make a humble entreaty to; beseech”.

It is not a casual request, “if it be thy will”, but suggests a fervent plea or a cry or the idea of “not letting go until the answer comes”. In the following passages, we find those in the upper room “waiting” for the promise of the Holy Spirit. So, what were they waiting for? What did the Holy Spirit look like? How would they know it was Him?

I can only imagine what was going on in that upper room. I believe there was earnest prayers going up but I also believe there was worship and singing and exhortation and encouragement as they prepared their hearts to receive the promised Holy Spirit.

I want to continue more along these lines in future writings, but church, the prayer of supplication is just as important to us today, as back then. It is so easy for us to be sidetracked, and because we don’t see immediate results, we get weary and quit, thinking God doesn’t hear us or if He does, He really doesn’t care about things that are important to us, which is absolutely not true.

Can I encourage each of you today? When you pray, understand that prayers of supplication are important, not necessarily for God, but for us. It takes the consistency, the tenacity, the ferverency to ask the Lord and “to keep on asking” until we have the answer.

Matt. 7:8 (AMP) says—

For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.

Would you agree with us in prayer this week for—

1. The heart of worship and a passion for God’s presence be increased in every member

2. A greater hunger for the Word of God to be released in the church

3. A Godly determination to sow time, talent and finances, no matter what the present economy looks like

4. Boldness in believing God for His supernatural power to be at work in us and through us

5. A compassion for the lost and a hunger to see souls added to the church weekly

6. Pray that the momentum and unity we see in the church right now will continue

7. Pray for the WMI Team as they continue to spread the good news

8. Pray for the services Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday

9. Pray for the Easter Outreach

Church, this coming Sunday is Palm Sunday and a strategic time in Christianity as we move forward to that resurrection celebration, Sunday April 4th! Pastor Joe has a very important word for the church and we are excited about what God is going to do over the next two weeks.

If you haven’t signed up to help us welcome the community to our new home Easter weekend, see Ms Cindy Hedrick or Ps Tressa Cruse. You may also contact the church office and let us know you can help. We really want to do a fantastic job as we welcome folks to join us that weekend.

Blessings to you all—Have a great week!

Ps Joe and Becky and the team

At this writing, we are concluding the revival here in Ashland VA at The Master’s House with a final service here tonight. The meetings have been so powerful and the hunger of the people in attendance has really touched our hearts. Ps Jim Langlois and the folks have been gracious hosts and we do believe God has graced us with His presence and with His favor. Many have come from other churches to support the meetings. Thank you to all our new family and friends in the VA area–we look forward to a return visit very soon!

With regards to our corporate prayer time this week—I Timothy 2:8 says, “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.”

That’s a very interesting scripture. Paul is writing to his young spiritual son, Timothy, with some clear instructions on worship in the early church. The posture of lifting up hands in prayer is two fold:

The lifting of the hands is a sign of Surrender

Psalm 28:2?Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.

Psalm 119:48?I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.

I am reminded of the old b/w westerns several years back. The bad guys would stick a gun in the back of a good guy and shout these words, “STICK EM UP!!” That meant, SURRENDER! When we lift our hands before the Lord in prayer we are saying, “God, I give up to my will and my ways. I want your will above all else.” That very attitude releases the Lordship of our life to Him. We are yielded to His perfect will and accept His purpose and His plans above our own.

The lifting of the hands is a sign of the Sacrifice of Praise

Psalm 63:4?I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands

Psalm 134:2?Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD.

Psalm 100:4 tells us how we should come into His presence. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”

Church, as we give Him the praise He is due, our praise opens the door into the supernatural and charges the atmosphere with faith. We can exchange that garment of heaviness for the garment of praise and see the enemy defeated in our lives.

As we pray this week, lets remember this very simple, yet powerful scripture. Lift those hands in a sign of surrender and go ahead and make His praise glorious! Just watch what God will do!

We are going to agree in prayer this week for:

• the services this week at CWC (Recharge, Equip, Celebration @ 10:00 am, the Hispanic, and Four12—ask God for a fresh wind of heaven to blow across each service and for souls to be saved, healed and filled in each service)

• the Easter Weekend outreach and services—let’s ask the Lord for a harvest of souls as a result of these opportunities

• the Ignite Revival April 11-15 with evangelist Tim Hall—let’s start getting people in our hearts that need to be in those meetings. We want to see lost people saved, we want to see the sick healed, the backslider return to God, and new members added to the church as a result of the meetings. We want to see worship and the passion for God’s presence be ignited in the hearts of people in a fresh new way

• The upcoming worship revivals and conferences for WMI—Covenant Christian Center in Tampa Fl—Houston Worship Centre in Houston Tx—Oahu, HI and Seattle, WA revivals

• ACA and IFTA—God’s will established over both entities and that the students finish the year strong

• Supernatural finances for the people through job opportunities, increases in salary, IRS income refunds, outstanding debts being paid, etc

Friends, we are praying for you today. We pray that this week, God meets you in a supernatural way in your everyday world. We pray that His blessing and His favor will rest upon you and that you remember that He is all you need, He is your provider, and that as you constantly acknowledge His presence, He will show up on your behalf.

DON’T FORGET THAT THIS WEEKEND BEGINS DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME! SET YOUR CLOCKS FORWARD 1 HOUR SATURDAY NIGHT!

We love you so very much—be blessed,
Ps Joe and Becky and the team

These are the greatest days to be alive! I’ve heard people say, “I would like to have lived back in the old days” but not me. I’m glad I am apart of “this generation”. Psa. 24:6 says, “This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah”.

Church, it is imperative that in these days, we seek the Lord with our whole hearts. It’s amazing how easy it is to “unplug” or “disconnect” when trying times come. We want to try and fix things on our own—trying to take matters into our own hands. Instead of running away from God—we need to run to Him. We must keep our eyes right on Him and fan that desire to stay connected to the “True Vine”.

I think its important to ask ourselves, “if it’s important to stay connected with Jesus, how does that happen?” For those of us who have been walking with the Lord for many years, that seems like a relatively easy question. But to those that have recently come to Christ, or have returned to their first love, it’s an important one. Let’s look at 3 ways to a better connection–

1. We connect through our obedience to His commandments

Deut. 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

I think the above scriptures pretty well says it all—obedience is such a key to maintaining that strong and solid connection with the Lord.

2. We connect through our relationship with His company (the body of Christ)

Heb. 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Church, I think this is a HUGE key! In reality, you connect with God by connecting with His people! Relationships with a community of believers is so important—not just for you personally but also for that local church. We truly need one another. Join a centre g group, be a greeter, serve in the children’s ministry or involve yourself in the church’s outreach ministry. These are all viable ways to open the door or better yet, to keep the door open into God’s blessing for you as your journey in your quest to know and follow Him!

3. We connect through our yielding to His call

1Pet. 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Matt. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matt. 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

Whether God is calling you to a deeper walk, or He is calling you to step outside your comfort zone and share your faith, yielding to His voice will connect your faith with heaven and you will engage or “encounter” the Savior like never before.

As we pray this week, make a better connection by making a choice to obey His Word, fellowship with His people, and yield yourself to His call for your life. Go ahead—do it!

Prayer directives–

• Pray for a citywide revival to sweep our city
• The vision of WMI, CWC, IFTA and ACA
• Pray for the 1830’s, Four12 and Kids Centre
• Pray for the Young Married’s and our Forties +
• Wisdom as we reach out to our communities and meet needs
• An increase of finances corporately and personal—also, that the lies of the enemy about the economic situation would be silenced
• Pray for the Easter outreach
• Pray for the Ignite revival

Church, have an awesome week. Can’t wait to see you—we love you heaps!

Ps Joe and Becky and the team