|
The “Ark”ive © Joseph Sazyc |
|
June 2007 |
|
Visit P.A.C.T. The Tabernacle Times - 2008 COMMENTS? blog@awakeningnet.us |
|
County-wide “24/1” Prayer (on our way to 24/7!) Mondays 6PM - Tuesdays 6PM Present location: Summit International Assembly of God, 2118 Ann-Arbor Saline Rd.—Ann Arbor
Rev. Joe Sazyc, Director - joe@im-pact.us |
|
________________________________
September 2008 ———————————————————————————————— New Monday - Tuesday Schedule Boosts Attendance & Anointing
It has become clear that the move to a 6PM Monday to 6PM Tuesday schedule at IM-PACT was indeed directed by the Holy Spirit. People now come on Monday evening, and some stay late into the night, even all night! It has been exciting to hear about people arriving at 2 or 3 AM and seeing the lot “full.” We still are very far from our goal of seeing 120 people per week (see Acts 1:14-15), but reports about the overnight hours are indicating that there have been several occasions when the presence of God has been exceptionally strong. (Read next story for the biblical and prophetic foundation for the move in times) ________________________________
August 2008 ———————————————————————————————— IM-PACT Shifts to Mon.-Tue. in Sept.
A study of the background to the Bible will reveal a different perspective of time that God’s people had than our modern day approach to time. As we align our lives to a more biblical way, we will find that previously unknown blessings will result. Beginning on September 1 (Labor Day), IM-PACT will begin on Mondays at 6PM and continue 24 hours until Tuesday 6PM. The reasons are many. But here are just a few. We measure a day from midnight to midnight. The Bible, however, measures a day from sunset to sunset. The new day actually begins at sunset! Notice how throughout Genesis 1, it is repeated “and there was evening, and there was morning—the (first, second, third…) day.” That is why Jewish people who honor the Sabbath begin their festivities at sunset on Fridays. Chuck Pierce in his book Reordering Your Day (available here at IM-PACT) received a prophetic word that challenged God’s people to realign themselves to this kind of a schedule. “If our day is ordered and we have watched with the Lord as He has called us to, then we will break forth into a new day.” He continues, “The Lord said to position yourself during the night so that you can fight during the day.” This struck a chord with me and I began to discuss this with some IM-PACT leaders. But not long after that, Pastor Oscar Mora came to me and said, “I have been reading the Bible and praying. Have you ever considered reordering IM-PACT so that we begin in the evening? I believe we would be more biblical and therefore more blessed.” Wow! That was a confirmation! You should personally consider reordering your days personally as well. Get a head start on the “next” day the evening or night before through prayer. It will bless your sleep as well as your waking hours after the next morning! With this new schedule at IM-PACT, the Church of Washtenaw County will now also have a better jump on the week! - Joe Sazyc ________________________________
March 2008 ———————————————————————————————— From 24/7/40 to 24/7/365?
As I was praying in the Intercessory Mission recently and reflecting on this month’s completion of our second 40 Days of Prayer, I wondered, can we not pull off 24/7 prayer for the remaining 325 days of the year? It’s not impossible. All it will take is 12 churches that will each try to fill 12 hours of prayer per week to specifically pray for transformation in our county. Imagine 24/7 prayer cover for transformation over our county! There would definitely be IMPACT! We are already praying 24/1 weekly. Every Tuesday, 24 straight hours of focused prayer is taking place at the Intercessory Mission. What if we found 12 churches to each split up the remaining six days of every week to each cover 12 hours? Only twelve people would need to be found by each church to make a weekly commitment to a certain hour of the week. What if during some of those 12 hours churches would open their sanctuaries or prayer rooms for corporate prayer?
This gives some more clarity to the vision shared at Hosanna 2007 of prayer cells planted throughout the county. IM-PACT did not take any steps to formally establish these cells. However, After 40 Days of Prayer last year, we did jump from 18/1 prayer weekly to 24/1. We must take another step this year. What if by the Global Day of Prayer (May 11), we could jump all the way to 24/7 in this way!
If you are interested in having your church become one of the twelve county prayer cells, contact me ASAP! If you are not a pastor, talk to your pastor and offer your help to make it happen! - Joe Sazyc
A Womb for Revival
The following prophecy was given by a guest speaker at Straight Gate Church in Detroit in 1989. Could this be speaking of today?
As I remained in the presence of the Lord, I asked, “Will there be a major flame in the land?” He Said, “Allow Me to show you the Wolverine State.” I beheld a place of great industry come to nothing, and I asked, “Lord, how will this come to be the place of the great flame?” He said, “I will bring this place to its knees. This is a place I have visited with wealth and revivals of old, but now I will bring a revival of prayer among this people.
This place will rise again during the time I bring judgment unto a foreign nation. I will cause Michigan to become a heralding trumpet of My changes,” saith the Lord.
“I will cause a tremendous amount of political attention to be the main focus in Michigan in the coming years. In this place, I will touch their water supply, and they will know that I am God and besides Me there is none other.
Could it be that the economic collapse prophesied here be talking of our day, a day when Michigan, and the Detroit area in particular has become one of the poorest regions in America? Could the “judgment unto a foreign nation” be talking about Iraq? Could “political attention” be all the talk across the nation about Michigan’s delegates to the party conventions?
Many believe this is indeed a day when a prayer revival is about to break out in the region, a prayer revival that will touch the whole nation and the earth! Though we are still at the very elemental stages, IM-PACT may be one of the strongest houses of prayer in the state. It is definitely unique in its diversity and multi-church involvement. How exciting it is to be involved in God’s destiny!
From the Tabernacle…
Like other fruit trees, it can take a fig tree until the third year to bear fruit (Luke 13:6ff). This April, we will be entering into our third year of IM-PACT. The Holy Spirit is telling us to look for fruit. This will be a year when we will begin to see the fruit of two years of prayer actually manifesting!
“From the Tabernacle” records some of the prophetic words that come forth during Tuesday prayer. Did you hear a word? Let us know! ftt@im-pact.us
________________________________
January 2008 ———————————————————————————————— Attracting the Presence of God
As we enter into 2008, the theme for the Pastors Alliance for County Transformation (PACT) for this new year may well be “Attracting the Presence of God.” Many churches and pastors spend a lot of time working on how to attract people to their churches, but a more fundamental quest might be to work on attracting Jesus to our congregations and our strategic community. Then the people will follow. This is why PACT is continuing its focus on developing a unified prayer effort in the county. The Intercessory Mission (IM-PACT) continues every Tuesday for 24 hours. The annual Pastors Prayer Summit will be held February 4-6. And our second “40 Days of Prayer” will commence on February 6. 24 hour prayer will be carried out for the forty days between Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday, climaxing with the annual Hosanna celebration. Our goal is for 24 churches and ministries to participate this year, twice as many as last year. We fully can’t know the effect our praying is having, but there is a hopefulness and optimism among many pastors in the area that hasn’t been present before. One former Ann Arbor resident who just returned to the area unaware of the prayer efforts going on told me she noticed a difference in the air. Her old friends, also unaware, kept telling her how the area has changed for the better in the past year or so!
That We May Live...
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. (1 Timothy 2:1-2, NIV)
Prayer matters! Prayer actually has an impact on a region. Prayer is SO important, that the Apostle Paul says, “First of all…” pray!Prayer actually changes the spiritual atmosphere of a region.. Notice that we are to pray so that we may live peaceful and quiet lives. Prayer is concrete in its effects!
40 Days of Prayer… Again!
At the December 2006 Pastors Alliance for County Transformation (PACT) meeting, history was made. There was an overwhelming response to the idea of organizing a multi-church 24/7 prayer vigil from Ash Wednesday to Palm Sunday of 2007. This event was such a resounding success and had such positive repercussions, that we feel we must do it again.
Each church’s part in this vigil would be carried out in that church’s own facilities, people's homes, or a combination of both -- whatever works best for that church. Suggestions on how to do this are listed in the 40 Days of Prayer brochure.
Our region is in great need of prayer. Secularism, materialism, and immorality reign in our county. The economy is creating tragedies for thousands of families. Throughout the scriptures and throughout history, prayer has shown itself to be the answer, especially UNITED prayer. Imagine what this prayer emphasis could do for local churches’ spiritual lives, Easter outreaches, and for the community!
This year we are looking for 24 churches (double from last year) to each adopt a 3 day block during this period in which they will organize 24 hour prayer. The blocks are diagramed in the 40 Days of Prayer brochure. Blocks will be given on a first come—first served basis. Interested churches should contact Joe Sazyc at revjoe@im-pact.us for more information or to reserve a block.
Tuesday blocks at the IMPACT prayer center can also be signed up for. This may be done instead of a 3 day commitment for smaller groups or churches.
We are asking participating churches and individuals to distribute and follow the Seek God for the City prayer guide available for purchase at IM-PACT.
“I pray also for those who will believe in me… that all of them may be one…” - John 17:20-21 NIV
“They all joined together constantly in prayer…” (Acts 1:14).
|
|
● |
