Your Prayer Blocker

God is inclined to forgive everything you've done.  

Psalm 103:8-12  (NKJV)

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

(God does get angry, but He is slow to do it). 

9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.

(Once God does get angry with us. He gets over it, and forgets about it completely). 

10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

(God doesn't over punish, but does the opposite.  He under punishes). 

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

(His mercy is reserved for those who have a great respect for who He is). 

12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

(When God cast a sin from us, it goes from here to eternity).  

Matthew 6:14-15 (NKJV)

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 

15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Jesus taught that God's great forgiveness is conditioned upon how you forgive others.  

Matthew 18:21-22 (NKJV)

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Peter struggled with practicing God's extravagant forgiveness for others, and he tried to put limitations upon it.

Jesus requires us to forgive others without limit.

We give God everything else, but the pain of the hurts from others.

Forgiveness is not approval, or the restoration of trust.  

Keep letting the pain go. 

Unforgiveness may be your prayer blocker.  

Verbally release those who have hurt you.  

If you do, you are the one set free.

  

2 Corinthians 10:4-5  (NKJV)

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.        

Resist unforgivness like any other sin like doubt, anger, lust, etc... 

Take those thoughts captive when the enemy brings them to mind. 

When Satan brings that hurt to mind, start confessing God's and your great love for the offender. (M. H. Dennis)

You've got to forgive the wrongs and focus on the good in others if you’re every going to make it in this life. (Chris Hodges)

• Layne Schranz, Church of the Highlands 

   

   

Warfare Prayers

In the Bible ,there was an all out war in the heavens.  

A man named Daniel was praying.  

The demonic forces of the Prince of Persia fought off God's answer through Gabriel for 21 Days. 

The arch angel Michael came with reinforcements and finally Gabriel broke through to Daniel... (Daniel 10)

There is more to prayer than meets the eye. 

The Apostle Paul knew a thing or two about prayer, and he said this...

Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 

39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.   

Paul was talking about a demonic kingdom who is organized against you, and will stop at nothing to keep you from God's answer to you.  

But how do your stop Him.

Paul listed the strategy in Ephesians 6:11-18 (NLT)

11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

Satan has multiple strategies to ruin you, but Paul mentions just one strategy of God's to win, but it has many components. 

You must utilize all the components to withstand a demonic attack.  

12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Satan has an demonic organization which is bent on your destruction.  

It includes ruling demons in authority over armies of demons.  

All with mighty powers that fight in heaven and upon earth to destroy you.

For more on Satan's purpose for your life, cut and paste the web addresses below into your web browser.

How to Survive a Demonic Attack by Charles Stanley. 

http://u-open.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-halt-satan-in-his-tracks.html   

Temptation Tugging?  by Adrian Rodgers. 

http://u-open.blogspot.com/2011/03/test-temptation.html

Satan: who is he by Adrian Rodgers.

http://u-open.blogspot.com/2011/04/praise-thief.html

Satanic Wars by Adrian Rodgers.  

http://u-open.blogspot.com/2011/04/satanic-wars.html

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.

Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 

In the Bible's original manuscripts, they didn't highlight or underline the most important verses, but they'd say it twice.  

In Verse 11 and 13, Paul says it twice!  

It's Paul's way of underlining. 

Paul underlined put on every piece of your armor!   

Put on all your armor before your demonically attacked.  

Satan's forces waits and looks for you when you are most vulnerable. 

Like when you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired =H.A.L.T. 

Then, he launches an all out assault to destroy you. 

If you've put all your armor on beforehand, you'll still be standing not him in the in.    

14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 

In Paul's day, everyone wore robes. They were difficult to run in or fight in.  

If you knew that you were about to fight, you would pick up the bottom of your robe and tuck it into your belt. 

Paul says to get ready for a demonic attack beforehand by tying all your thoughts together with a belt with a name on it called truth. 

What is a belt named truth?   

In John 17:17, Jesus prays that "God's word is truth". 

Take your area of weakness, and belt your mind with what God now says about you in that area now that you are in Christ to defeat demonic thoughts. 

In Romans 13:13, Paul commands us to put on the Lord Jesus Christ (like body armor). 

His mind. His point of view,and His righteousness. 

In Galatians 2:20, Paul introduces the concept of an exchanged life.  

That you too died with Christ, and He too rose from the dead with you. 

That truth will protect you from head to toe.  

15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 

Our shoes represent the foundation in which we stand.  

We are not struggling against flesh and blood, and we lose when we get confused and attack people.  

Chris Hodges says that it's almost impossible to reach an enemy, so try not to make any. 

If the devil is able to get us into strife with people, our faith won't work. 

Paul says in Galatians 5:6 that faith works by love.  

In other words, faith won't work without love. 

Strife is a warning light that we are no longer walking in love. 

Remembering that we're delivering Good News not bad.  

If it becomes Bad News, you're doing it all wrong.  

16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 

In the ancient times, a shield was leather  stretched across a full body size frame. 

Arrows are fired by archers from a distant, so we've got to be prepared to be attacked from near and far.  

The fiery arrows would hit the shield and lodge in it to protect soldier.  

In the same way, the demonic attacks lodge in our faith and protect us.  

Charles Stanley says view everything that happens to you as coming from or through our loving heavenly Father, and He's working it out for your benefit. 

Taking that 

perspective means faith.  Romans 8:28.    

17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Putting on our helmet of salvation means protecting our thoughts with this thought...

John 10:27 (Jesus speaking) My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 

28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 

29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 

30 I and My Father are one.”   

Your salvation is safe and secure in Jesus' hands from Satan's demons.

Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

God's word in my mouth prompted by the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus makes Satan flee and run (James 4:7).   

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. 

Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

We're at our best when we realize that this battle is not against Satan and me, but Satan and us.  

I've got God my Father.  

The Most High.  

God Almighty. (Psalm 91:1)  

I've got Jesus at His right hand pleading for me (Hebrew 7:25), and I've got God the Holy Spirit within me energizing me (I John 4:4). 

And Finally, I've got you in the trenches praying with me and for me.  No wonder the demons run! Luke 10:18)  

Romans8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (NKJV)

by M. H. Dennis unless otherwise stated.  Title taken from  Church of the Highlands prayer guide. 

How to Overcome Temptation

210 Every time you try to block a thought out of your mind, you drive it deeper into your memory. By resisting it, you actually reinforce it… 

Don’t fight the thought, just change the channel of your mind and get interested in another idea. 

211 Temptation begins by capturing your attention. What gets your attention arouses your emotions. Then, your emotions activate your behavior, and you act on what you felt….

Ignoring a temptation is far more effective than fighting it. Once your mind is on something else, the temptation loses its power…

You defeat bad thoughts by thinking on something better. 

214 If you are a believer, Satan cannot force you to do anything. He can only suggest.

Purpose Driven Life Quotes by Rick Warren with page number.

Why does God allow temptation?

201 Realize that it (temptation) is just as much an occasion to do the right thing as it is to do the wrong thing. Temptation simply provides the choice.  

202 God develops the fruit of the Spirit in your life by allowing you to experience circumstances in which you’re tempted to express the exact opposite quality. 

203 Temptation starts when Satan suggests (with a thought) that you give in to an evil desire… Always beware of shortcuts. 

 204 Satan offers his lie to replace what God has already said in his Word… 

Lust is a choice to commit in your mind what you’d like to do with your body. 

 206 Satan will suggest a bizarre or evil thought just to distract you or shame you….

He knows exactly what trips you up, and he is constantly working to get you into those circumstances….

You should identify your typical pattern of temptation and then prepare to avoid those situations as much as possible.

Purpose Drive Life quotes from Rick Warren with page numbers.

Don't limit God with your limited understanding of His unlimited power.

You have no idea what God will produce through a single seed planted in faith.  

If God always meets your expectations, He would never exceed them.  

We think in addition, but God thinks in multiplication.  

Just because you don't see it.  Doesn't mean that it is not happening.  (Craig Groeschel)

Cut and paste to watch...  https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/seeds-of-faith

For the first time in my life, I felt clean.

I was raised up in Church.  

Church on Sunday Morning.  

Sunday Night.  

Sunday School.  

Training Union.  

Wednesday Night Prayer, Royal Ambassadors .  

Morning devotions before school.  On and on it goes.  

Church to me was spending a lot of time hating Church and waiting for it to be finally over.  

On Sunday evening, I was exhausted.   

No matter how many times that I asked God to save me.  

I still felt lost.  

Growing up in Church, I did have one bright spot which was attending 1^st Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas with Pastor W. A. Criswell for one year.  

It was fun, and I could feel the presence and awe of God.  

Then, we moved to Tupelo, Mississippi to another boring church. 

While I was at 1^st Baptist Dallas, I had picked up the habit of reading the Bible daily; however, I didn’t understand it much, and I was frustrated.  

One day I told God.  

I’ve had enough.  You either show yourself to me or I’m Done!  

No more reading the Bible, Prayer, Church, or believing.    

I decided to go home after school on March 4^th, 1974, and pray to God for 1 hour.  I thought to myself.  

Surely, by doing this, I’ll break thru.  I started by praying the best King James Bible Prayer that I could muster.  

Then, I looked at my watch and just 5 minutes had past.  There I sat in frustration.

While I sat there, I decided to tell God about my day.  In my mind’s imagination, I reviewed my day.   

To my amazement, I saw me!  As I walked through my day in my mind, I confessed my selfishness and tabulated each sin.  

When I was finished, I had counted 33 of them.  

There I sat in shock realizing my plight.  

I was going to hell!  

As I cried, in my mind’s imagination, I saw Jesus on the Cross.     

I don’t know how he came to be there, but there he was.  

As I cried looking on Him, I began to talk to myself.  I said that Jesus being God, would have surely known my plight beforehand.  

33 sins times by 365 days times 15 years of life.  I had committed 180,675 sins.   

No wonder I was frustrated.  

Then, I said to myself.  If Jesus knowing my sins died for me anyway as an act of His will.

Surely, He would save me if I’d but ask as an act of my own will.  That thought save me.

I mustered up the best apology I could think of.  I said God you know that I’m a sinner; however, I know that you sent your Son Jesus to die for me if I but ask.  

Here I am asking.   

It would be illogical to think that you would send your Son to die for me, and then tell me I won’t forgive you if I but ask.   

For the first time in my life, I believed that He forgave me, and I was saved.

For the first time in my life, I felt clean.  

It was amazing.  

First was the fact that Jesus died for me.  

Second, it was my faith that He saved me by me believing that He would keep His word (1 John 1:9).  

Lastly, was the feeling of cleanliness and forgiveness.  

Then I thought about future sins.  I said to Jesus I need help!  

I can’t do this by myself.   

Then, I remember someone saying “ask Jesus to come into your life”. (Revelation 3:20)  

I said Jesus I can’t live this Christian life without you.  

Will you come in, and do it for me?  

I don’t know why you would not come into me because I am now clean and then, I said thanks.  Here I am 44 years later.  

Loving Church.   

Prayer.  

The Bible.   

Not frustration.  

It comes as natural as breathing.          

10 Secrets of Church of the Highlands

95,000 professions of Faith within 4 years

I have been attending Church of the Highlands from the beginning of its Huntsville campus launch in 2014.  

From 2014 to 2017, Highlands has had 95,000 documented professions of Faith.  2014 had 18,000. 2015 had 23,000, 2016 had 26,000, and 2017 had 28,000.  

When I first started attending, Highlands was averaging 26,000 each weekend.  

In 2017, they averaged 52,000 or a 100% increase of attendance within 4 years.

In the Spring of 2014, Church of the Highlands launched a Campus in Huntsville, Alabama about 15 minutes from my house.     

I’d had become aware of Highlands in 2009 when I first  read in Outreach Magazine that they were America’s fastest growing church in 2008.  

What attracted Highlands to me is that they were located in Birmingham, Alabama less than 2 hours from Huntsville.  

In 2009, I walked on a treadmill for 30 to 45 minutes a day.  

During that time, I would download the audio messages, and would listen to their messages as I walked.   I must have listened to over 200 messages before I ever bothered to watch one.   

Before they launched in Huntsville, they sent me an e-mail inviting me to come.   

I have been blessed to have attended several amazing churches over the years.  

In 1971 while in the 7^th grade, I attended 1^st Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas who was pastored by the legendary W.A. Criswell.  

At the time, 1^st Baptist Dallas was running 8,000 each weekend.  

In 1976, I attended Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco, Texas pastored by Marshall Edwards while I was a student at Baylor University.    

Columbus Avenue averaged 3,500 each weekend with 1,500 college students.  

While at Mercer University in Atlanta in the late 1970s, I attended First Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia with Charles Stanley.  

While there, we grew from 2,000 to 5,500 each weekend.  

In addition, Dr. Stanley’s T.V. ministry "In Touch" grew from a local station to a program which is watched around the world while I attended. 

I have to admit that I’ve been a church hopper and have attended a lot of churches over the years.   

I want to share with you some of my observations.   Most of these observations were of other churches and not the ones just mentioned above. 

1.       The worship music at some of the other churches was singing about God and not to God.  I always wanted to be able to sing to God to worship Him.  Highlands spends a lot of time to create a worship experience where I can meet with God by singing to Him. 

2.       The backfill pastor did not teach like the senior pastor at some churches.  If the primary pastor was a conversational teacher, the backfill pastor might be a screamer.   Highlands’ pastor Chris Hodges spends a lot of time with his backfill pastors to ensure a consistent message and preaching style with his own while he is out. 

3.       I have struggled to find an effective strategy to share my faith.  To me, it is rather bold to ask someone where they are going to spend eternity.    To me, it’s like asking how is your relationship with your spouse?   For me, it’s more effective to ask “we’re having a special Christmas or Easter Service.  Would you meet me there?”  While at Church of the Highlands, I can be sure that whoever is speaking on any Sunday will be top notch with a clear presentation of the gospel. 

4.       I think that there is a false teaching which has been in some of the churches that I’ve attended.   It is the belief that we are to set up people in Christ’s place to disciple new believers.  (Read Matthew 23:8-12, John 14: 16-17, and I John 2:26)  From my reading of these Scriptures, I believe that the Holy Spirit’s role is to disciple the new believer while we only assist Him.  I think Church of the Highlands reinforces the work of the Holy Spirit by having 21 days of prayer twice a year while teaching followers how to more effectively communicate with Him.  I think some churches were reluctant to lead someone to God for they had assumed the work of the Holy Spirit for themselves, and felt the task of discipling new believers is too daunting.

   

5.       In some of the churches that I’ve attended,  they were willing to turn people away when they ran out of seating space after offering two morning Sunday services.   Highlands offers an 8:00 am, 9:45 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, 4:00 pm, 5:30 pm on Sundays and 7:00 pm on Mondays while adding 17 campuses to handle all the crowds. 

6.       In some of the churches that I’ve attended I think that the attenders have never dealt with their past sins.  We were told to repent of sins, but never taught how to identify them, so we could repent.    At Highlands, they offer a two day Freedom conference where we confess pride, anger, unforgiveness, abuse, shame with counselors. 

7.       In some of the churches that I’ve attended, some of the people who wanted to serve were not allowed to serve for some reason or other.  At Highlands, anyone who wants to serve is coached in how to be successful in the area that they have their passion, and are given an opportunity to do so.  Highlands has a class on how to discover your purpose, and how to plug into service to God. 

8.       I think that some churches are scared of leading massive numbers of people to Christ  and repeat those numbers each year.  At the beginning of the year, Highlands has 21 days of prayer and fasting.   During that time, we acknowledge that without Him we can do nothing, and ask to witness His glory again in the upcoming year. 

9.       I think that a lot of churches would have a problem that Church of the Highlands has only grown by 26,000 over this 4 year period instead of the 95,000 who have had a documented profession of faith.  At Highlands, we don’t require church membership or attendance to acknowledge Jesus as Lord.  We do encourage new believers to find a Bible Believing Church and become active there.   We not only trust the Lord to save them, but also to conform them to His will through the work of the Holy Spirit.  

  

10.   Lastly, I think because Church of the Highlands shuns debt. It has enabled them to have the resources to build campuses, dream centers, and plant churches.  (I saw this also with Charles Stanley at 1^st Baptist of Atlanta who built an international ministry debt free while expanding In Touch Ministries).   

These are the 10 Secrets.  Do you know more???