 (Phil Smith)
He is all we need. We just need more of Him (Jesus). We have been singing the worship song as a personal song, but let's make it a corporate worship song. He is all we need in Santa Rosa. If we just had more of Jesus in Santa Rosa, our city would be transformed. We need more and more of Him, so let's sing together and come together corporately and say to God, we need more of You.
(Singing the song, "All we need is You, Lord")
(Sam Tillery)
Well, we will welcome you tonight on behalf of the Pastors Alliance; welcome to City Reach Prayer. We come to pray and to lift His name together as one church, many different parts. I would like to read a passage of Scripture from Romans 15, beginning with verse five. It says tHis: "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among Yourselves as You follow Christ Jesus."
So, Father, we come tonight to follow You. Thank You, Father, for endurance and encouragement that comes from You. We asked Lord that You would continue to increase the spirit of unity among us. We come to exalt You tonight with one heart and with one mouth, may we glorify our Lord and Father, Jesus Christ. Help us to continually grow in accepting one another just as Christ accepted us, in order to bring praise to God. Thank You Father. Let tHis be so in our lives. Amen.
Now, go over to verse 7. The latter part of verse seven, that it is prayed into, "in order to bring praise to God." THis refers us back to accepting one another. We can thank God because there has been a growing acceptance within the diversity of the Body of Christ here in Sonoma County, and that blesses the Lord; that praises the Lord. We praise God in our own congregations, but it says distinctly here that in order to bring praise to God, we are to accept one another. I want to encourage you that that is happening.
Just a few weeks ago I was here and preached on Sunday morning, and what a blessing you were to me. I had the opportunity to take a few moments and share with you. Let me give you a little bit of a report. I think I mentioned to you last time that I was going to be going to Oroville. The reason I went to Oroville was because Oroville had heard about our love for one another. The Bible says that when people hear of our love for one another, they ask and they come to Him in new ways.
Well, Oroville has heard of our love for one another and the way in which we work together and loving our city, doing things like Spring Clean, and so it was a wonderful time as I went and simply gave testimony of the Body of Christ, here in Sonoma County. I was able to me and have lunch with the Mayor, vice Mayor, Chief of Police, city manager, director of parks and recreation and others I can't remember, but the majority of these individuals knew and loved Christ. God is moving in Oroville. He is setting the stage in civil government there in ways way beyond Santa Rosa. But the fact that these individuals who run the city know and love Christ, yet they are saying, "You teach us Santa Rosa how to love one another and to build that bond of love, so that we can see Christ come to Oroville". So, we were able to encourage them with the blessings, which God has given to us and to me with leaders and pastors as they are moving.
Perhaps some of you may want to go September 13 to go and be a part of their community outreach. Wouldn't that be great if we got a couple of buses to go and bring people to help them? They do not call theirs Spring Clean', but they are doing some projects to love this city together. If we sent members from our community, to say, "We are standing with you and we want to promote this expressing love and we are supporting you in that", so I throw that out to you. If you're interested give me a call. If you want to e-mail me, you can do so at sam@togetherinchrist.net. So if you've got an idea, a prayer need, any other need, or any questions about what might be happening collectively with the Body of Christ here in Sonoma County, please feel free to e-mail me. We are endeavoring to connect the dots between the Body of Christ.
Tonight we are going to pray for the city of Santa Rosa and Harry Skandera is going to come and lead us in that time together, and then we will switch in the latter half to pray very specifically for this local assembly, Grace Fellowship. So, we are going to have a great evening together. Harry, would You come and lead us.
(Harry Skandera)
It is good to see everybody here tonight.
As you know, we usually send around a role sheet and this one, as I said before, is probably not going to be presented at the Gates of Heaven. This one is a little more casual and it is going to be sent to Christelle Eddy. She is compiling an e-mail list of all those who pray in our County.
I wanted to share with you just a little bit, that we are towards the end of a 40 day time of fasting and prayer. I know that many of you did not know about that, but that is okay. You can still jump in, because it goes through June 9, but what is more important is the things that we have been focused on prayer about. This is our second season of prayer in Sonoma County this year and we've got another one coming up, which will be in the fall and will be announced. We do not know the specific dates, but it will be another time of 40 days of prayer and fasting. I'm going to pass out this list of the things which we have been praying into and we want to go over some of the things that we have been praying about, because there are a number of things that are in process here in our city and County that we want you to be involved with as well.
I really appreciated the worship tonight. Thank you to joy and the other musicians hear from Grace Fellowship. Every part of the Body of Christ has a different flavor, and that has been one of the most exciting things in this eighth years of Sam and I doing City Reach Prayer. On the first Friday of every month, the Lord always shows up in a different way, yet the same. It has really been an exciting pilgrimage. I can hardly wait to see what he is going to do on the first Friday in July, being as that falls on the fourth of July, so we haven't actually picked the site yet. Anyhow, I do want to go over a few of these things because we are going to spend some time in prayer about a few of them.
We had started this as the intercessors in Sonoma County on the first of May and we divided it among four cities where there are committed intercessors that come together the last Thursday of every month. We divided it up in 10 days per city. Now, of course, anyone could go for as long as they wanted to, but we just asked each city to commit to 10. We find that covering a 40-day fast that is divided in four parts is practically no sweat. If you have ever done a 40-day, and then done 10-day, you know that there is a huge difference. It serves to remind us something, that God really doesn't want us to try and do these things all by ourselves, but to do it together in Christ. Things go so much better when we are doing it together.
The first thing on this list is something that we have been after in this area. We believe that we have come to this place. After years of prayer, in that we have recognized the Ministry of Sam Tillery here in Sonoma County as he has been the leader of our Pastors Prayer Fellowship and has been the person that all of us recognize as the one that we want to be in full time Ministry of the city reaching out here in Sonoma County. In a very pragmatic way, that of course needs funding. We are not here to take an offering tonight, but we are here to pray for the release of resources. Sam is actually starting July 1 in an official way to do something that he has been doing for years. I can go into a lot more detail, but I'm going to ask Sam to share just a couple of things before we pray for him and for his situation. So, Sam, would You come?
(Sam Tillery)
Certainly, and God has been moving and one of the unique things is that, for a community to come together with its leaders and churches, we are going to move to the next level. Talking about doing it and praying about it is easy, but when people start actually committing missionary dollars to what God has been doing, it kind of moves us into a whole different realm and we continue to labor together and very purposely come together. As Harry mentioned earlier, we need to pray. This is not about Sam Tillery, I simply represent the Pastors Alliance, and God has laid it upon my heart to do this and they have recognized my leadership. So, please pray for the protection of my family.
I am not a large man, but there is a huge target on me because the enemy does not want us to come together in unity. It answers the one prayer of Christ in John chapter 17. When we are one in Christ, there is a movement and a change that happens in a community and we are seeing that and that was the move to another level. Many other communities are asking us to help them to move forward and not process as well. So there is the expansion of the great commission and we are to go into and share the gospel. The gospel is more than simply salvation in Christ, but it is about the kingdom of God and living out our eternal purposes, so as to open the hearts and the doors to the community.
Please be in prayer for this process. Right now, there are about 15 churches that have actually officially committed to supporting Together in Christ, which is our unity movement. That is pretty significant. When you look at that we only just launched this publicly a few weeks ago, so we are praying that others will kind of begin to see the importance and be in supporting this uniting of the Body here in Sonoma County. As we continue to move through, step out and build relationships, we pray that God would provide the resources for this work to continue, which is the Body of Christ.
So, we can thank God for what He has already done. There are other communities that are looking to support us with their missionary dollars, so there is this expansion of the Body of Christ and what is happening.
(Harry Skandera)
 Ok, here's what I would like us to do in this regard. Some of you just may wish to remain in your seats, but I'm going to ask Sam to come up here to receive your prayers. I'm going to ask if you would, and if you are so led, to come up and lay your hands on Sam and speak a blessing over Him, pray for Him, however you feel led to pray for Him, and I want you to do it and represent a part of the Body of Christ in Sonoma County. All of us represent something much bigger than ourselves. We represent our family. We represent our local Body. We represent our generation. We represent our occupation. We represent our calling of God; in fact, we represent the Lord in everything we do, but we need to begin or to continue to walk in, what we have been called to walk in and that is something bigger than ourselves. Something that Christ does in us, over us and through us.
I'm going to ask if Joy and the musicians would come up and play something thoughtfully, that would encourage the release of rain upon Sam.
(Sam Tillery)
I just wanted to say that I just came from a meeting with people from all over the city, and actually the gal that had driven up from the Salinas area, because she had heard about Spring Clean and we were debriefing about Spring Clean and talking about next year and some of the challenges that are there. I was blessed to be able to speak into the lives of city officials, leaders, and service organizations throughout our community, that we are United in Christ. Phenomenal doors have opened up through this relationship that has been established, and so we are seeing God opening doors for us to be in realms, that we would not have if the Body had not loved this city the way it has.
So, that has opened the doors for the gospel in significant ways. I wanted to encourage you with that. I have always got more stories than I ever have time to tell, but I just wanted to share that with you, because it is a perfect example of what we are about to pray into.
Some people were complaining that Spring Clean was too much about the Christians and that it needed to be more about this city, but I was able to tell them that it was the city that was to be the recipient of a gift through the United Body of Christ. I was able to let them know that this does not belong to the city and that it is the Body of Christ serving, so if they would like to join us in blessing the city then they are welcome to do that. So, I was able to take a very strong stand in a very loving way. They were very open and responsive, and so I am encouraged constantly about what God is doing, but it is because of our walk of obedience in prayer.
(Harry Skandera)
Ok, as the musicians play...It is not an accident that tonight as we pray for Sam, that we are at Grace Fellowship. There is a certain intentionality about God, because we really need the grace of God, that is upon this place. you, here at Grace Fellowship, have something that needs to be imparted to the rest of the Body. So, if those of you from this Fellowship, and those of you who represent other parts of the county, if you could come forward and speak those prayers.
(Prayer for Sam Tillery)
 
(Harry Skandera)
Ok, now there are 12 things on this list and we just got done with number one. So, let's divide ourselves into 11 groups, and we will each take one prayer point to pray for. I know that we have been praying into these things over the past 30 or so days, but I wouldn't want you to miss out on the blessing of participating in praying into this 40-day time of prayer. I will give each group a number and then I will summarize what each prayer point is about and then we will each pray in our groups for our particular, one.
(Prayer from Prayer list for our County)
(Harry Skandera)
Okay, we are going to begin to wrap it up. I want you to know that there are many things in this city and county that are changing. If you have had the occasion to come to Pastors Prayer Fellowship in the last nine months and came now, you would notice that there is a big, big difference. All I can say is if you are wondering what that difference is, you are going to have to check it out.
We have one last issue of prayer.
(Sam Tillery)
On our sheet at #9, we are going to pray into that corporately and as the Lord would lead you, but I want you to listen to a song. I believe this is my song, our song, and I think that you will understand it once you hear it. As it plays, I would like you to just close your eyes and catch God's heart, vision, and dream for the City of Santa Rosa. He loves this City and you see, the city is about people. He loves the people, so as you gain a burden and a heart for the city in which we live and minister, you will naturally hear His heart for the people. So, listen to this song and as it draws to a close, I want you just to speak out as God would lead you in regards to #9, which is the growing influence of the Kingdom of Heaven in, by, and through the City of Santa Rosa.
(Listening to song, "Greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city," by Chris Tomlin)
(Prayers spoken corporately in regards to the Kingdom of Heaven and its growing influence in, by, and through the city of Santa Rosa)
Lord, we want to be used by You in this city. We want to see more of Your glory here. We want to see the lame walk and the blind see. We thank You that You will come in power with more and more of Your heart and Your power, that many will hear of Your gospel and taste of Your love and purpose for them. Father, download all of Your heart for this city to us that we might carry it out here and now.
Father, we pray that You would wake the church from her slumber. Father, would You blow a fresh wind accross the Body of Christ in this county. We ask for true, heartfelt revival Father; we need a spirit-filled fresh breath of wind Father God.
Father, we pray that Santa Rosa would be a place where Your glory and Your presense is poured out.
Father, You said that when Your people come together in unity, that You would command a blessing, so we are asking You God as we are together Father, that You would command a blessing over Santa Rosa. That You would open the windows of heaven and give us greater favor and in-roads into the City, that Your voice Father would be heard. May the people that come into Santa Rosa and even just pass by this highway, know and declare that this is a place where God dwells.
Father, I pray that You would teach us how to be humble and to serve one another. Father, let our hearts be broken for the people of Sonoma County.
Father, You also said that as we become one, that the world would know that You are the Christ, the Messiah, and that is what we pray for Lord. That the world may know, that this city, region, and area would know Christ and that He is the true one, because we are one.
Father, You said that when Your people pray for a city that everyone gets blessed, so that is what we are declaring over our city, Lord. We pray that everybody here would be blessed because of Your people. That the banner of righteousness that You have placed over this county would infiltrate and have it's perfect way in every sphere of influence, Father. That Your Kingdom would come in families and in churches and in education, business, and finance, government, in arts and in our health system, that every sphere would be effected by Your kingdom.
Father fill Your people with Your love and strength to live right and for You, so that people will see Your light, Father. Let those who are full of His love and light, not hide it. Let them speak of it in the open air, so that others can see, hear, taste and know of God's kingdom and Salvation. Let us not let the light burn out at all, but may it become brighter and stronger and may many come to know the power of the love of Christ.
We pray Lord, that You would raise up Godly men and Godly women who guide and lead this place in righteousness and that You would lead them by Your Holy Spirit. Father, that You would be their plumline.
Lord, You told us that, "Greater is He who is in us, than he who is in the world." We are in You Lord, and we believe now that the time has come for us to stand up and be in You, Lord. That this city would come to know You as Lord and Savior.
Father, we love You and we love Your city. So, Father, You have given us a place to steward the work that You have begun in this place. Father, tonight we give You thanks, we thank You and pray and speak Your blessing and Your name, the name of Jesus that is above every name.
Father we pray that You would bless Santa Rosa, and may Your Kingdom come in Santa Rosa and Your will be done in Santa Rosa.
Father, we declare these things as Your spiritual deputies, and Lord, we are trusting You to express it. In tangeable ways, we will uplift and glorify You. In these things we give You thanks, in Christ Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
(Sharing by Grace from Grace Fellowship)
Earlier this week, the Lord was stirring me about how we should have faith to do works greater than His and this is what He was telling me: The spirit of Jesus works to make us better than Him, doing greater works and overcoming, because He first overcame.
That might seem kind of odd that we would be better than Him, but He promotes us; in other words, that's the spirit of Christ. He will not call us Lord, but He remains in His sovereignty. It is a total frustration to all who are pre-eminent, yet if we serve Him, He works to make us better. He who will lose His life, will gain it.
Then, I was reminded in the year 2004, the Lord had given me a dream where the angel carried the crucified Body of Christ and set it before me. And, the Holy Spirit prayed in me for the church to do the works of Christ, and some thoughts that followed that tonight were that we do not have to find these works. We do not have to think them up, but that we are predestined to do them, which can be read in Ephesians 2:10.
His sacrifice equipped us to walk as He did. We need to have faith for His works. Then, we need to minister to the Body of Christ on this earth and build her up by supplying what each part needs. Working together, we can bring her, His bride, into health and prosperity and care.
(Sam Tillery)
We are going to shift a little bit here now and pray into the ministry here at Grace Fellowship. I know that You have a power point with some prayer points for Grace Fellowship, so Phil Smith, would you come and lead our time in prayer for this place.
(Phil Smith)
We actually would like to pray for Harry Skandera. I know that will take up our time or at least most of it, but we would be honored to pray for you Harry and your wife and all that you are doing in ministry here in Sonoma County. God knows our needs and if there is still time for us to pray that would be great, but it would be an honor to pray for you too. And just like we did for you Sam, if we could have you two come up front here and the rest of us lay hands on you in prayer.
So, anyone who feels led by the Spirit or who wants to pray for the Skanderas, please come and do so.
(Prayer for Harry and Carol Skandera)
 (Sam Tillery)
Father, we give You thanks for that which has been imparted and for that which has been received here tonight. Thank You for the grace here at Grace Fellowship. We receive that here tonight. Thank You Jesus for all of that.
As we look together up on this screen, there are some prayer points for Grace Fellowhship and we are going to pray for those together. I would like us to get back into the groups that we are in.
 
(Harry Skandera)
You know that there are fellowships around the country that just manifest the presense of Lord in the form of gold dust. It lands on people's face and arms and stuff like that, and I just wanted to bring this up. I know that you guys have recently redone this whole sanctuary. First, the natural and then the spiritual, but the presense of the Lord that is here, the way that He manifests Himself here, is going to imminate right out of these doors and into this shopping center. People are going to have dreams. The cops and hairdressers are going to have dreams. It is going to be like a virus and an infection that spreads on the wind. People are going to be wanting to come into this shopping center, because of what comes into their minds and hearts. And the people who have pornography and stuff like that, they are going to get a blank screen. This is going to be a "no bad" zone.
You guys have really blessed us here tonight. The worship team, I know that it is a blessing and privilege to worship before the Lord the way that you do, but it is also effort. I think that you said, "no sweat", but we appreciate your faithfulness in bringing us into the presense of the Lord and sharing with us. That is a gift that not everybody has. We have been doing this for 8 years and it doesn't always happen like this, but we are much richer for it. I always feel bad for the people who are not here. I honestly feel bad for them, because they have missed something that is very unique in every place and this is a very unique place. My wife and I are resfreshed, not because You prayed for us, we appreciate that, but we were refreshed in the first 10 minutes. It was like coming into an oasis. May the Lord richly bless you and keep you and multiply you.
Again, this isn't about building a bigger building. What is here cannot be contained in walls and that will become very apparent.
(Sam Tillery)
We thank you for being here tonight. The worship team is going to sing us out of this time here tonight in just a moment. On your way out, maybe we can set a cup or a bowl or something out for an offering here tonight for Together in Christ and that will go into the overall ministry of uniting the Body of Christ. Then there are some coffee and cookies in the lobby there, so enjoy each other's company and hang out a little bit.
We do not yet know where the next City Reach Prayer will be. Our website is togetherinchrist.net. We will post July and August's location on the website, so be checking for that.
Special Thanks to Christelle Eddy
who transcribed tHis document. |
