Prophetic Ministry The chief aim of prophecy is to strengthen, encourage and comfort others. Paul encourages the church in Corinth to let love be your highest goal, but also to eagerly desire the gifts of the spirit, especially prophecy. It’s because, when done in love the person on the receiving end will feel loved. Who … [Read more…]

Prophetic Ministry Prophecy is one of those highly misrepresented activities in Christianity. We either have ideas of some crazy from the Old Testament hurling warnings from God on a godless people (no offence to the OT), or big-haired men on TV making some kind of pronouncement about the end of the world (no offence to … [Read more…]

Prayer that Listens: God’s list Making lists can be a great way to get things done. Grocery lists help us shop – school lists help keep track of when assignments are due – Christmas lists ensure we’ll have at least one favourite toy under the tree (hey, a kid can hope). We often approach God … [Read more…]

Prayer that Listens: God’s surprises Sometimes God throws curveballs – loopers – puts us in unexpected situations. This was the case for Philip in Acts 8. Philip had begun preaching in Samaria with great success. Crowds were coming to Jesus, signs and miracles performed, and demons were being cast out. By all accounts, it was … [Read more…]

Intercession: seeking the good of the city Jeremiah gave a prophecy to the exiled people of Judah in Babylon. It wasn’t a sweet message promising their quick return to Jerusalem (like some other false prophets were doing). Instead, Jeremiah’s letter told them to buckle down. He said, build houses, plant gardens and build lives for … [Read more…]

Intercession: standing in the gap A classic definition of intercession is praying for someone else who cannot pray for him or herself. Ezekiel calls this “standing in the gap.” It’s a reference to someone who stands in a hole in a defensive wall in order to protect those inside. They are strengthening the weak spot … [Read more…]

Intercession: the God who sees These days news headlines come and go like frost in September. There one day, gone the next. However, in our city, one headline has become all too familiar shouting at us: ANOTHER ABORIGINAL WOMAN MURDERED. Just last week our attention turned to the brutal assault and attempted murder of a … [Read more…]

 Intercession: what’s on God’s heart? Congratulations – you’ve made it ½ way through the Prayer Challenge!  If your daily cues to remind you to pray aren’t working, make sure you find new cues. A little over halfway though the book of Daniel, we get an interesting glimpse into his perspective on prayer.  He said “We … [Read more…]

Intercession: what’s on God’s heart God has chosen to place his power behind a people that prays.  In doing so he wants to work with us in an intimate way to accomplish his will in the world.  Prayer changes things.  Also, it changes us.  As we pray, God gives us his heart – his joys … [Read more…]

God’s Big Vision: his vision for your church family Community is weird.  Sometimes the harder we try to create it, the farther we get from it.  Bonhoeffer said “the person who loves community destroys community… but the person who loves people creates community.”  It seems the more we strive for a dreamy vision of community, … [Read more…]

God’s Big Vision: his vision for your church When God looks at the motley crew we call Winnipeg Centre Vineyard, I wonder what he sees.  When he hears us sing the music of our life together, what does he hear?  Of course we want him to hear beautiful music –  everyone singing on pitch, in … [Read more…]

God’s Big Vision: his vision for our city Praying in line with God’s vision is like planting seeds in a  garden.  We get to participate in the growing reality of God’s kingdom. It’s a fun exercise to imagine what Winnipeg will look like when God’s perfect kingdom is fully expressed here.  When we get even … [Read more…]