CRSB Council Meeting

May 4, 2009

Leaders of Anglo, Hispanic, Nigerian, and Ugandan prayer groups met at the Espousal Center to discuss plans for the Pentecost Vigil celebration and other matters of Charismatic Renewal Services - Boston. The meeting was chaired by Romanus Ajaero.

During the meeting we joined in singing the Pentecost theme song, We Want Jesus written by Vin Cerasuolo. Click here for the song sound track. Click here for the song video. Click here for the lyrics and cords. Also a 30-second video advertisement for Pentecost has been sent to Boston Catholic TV.

During the meeting Corine received the following word gifts:

Reading =>Acts 4:23-30 - The believers prayer for boldness.

Give yourself over to me in prayer. Let the fire of the Holy Spirit consume us; feel my prenence.

Let go of today. Be with me now, in this moment.

Image=> Fire all above us, blowing back and forth, touching us like licks of fire.

PRAY AND FAST FRIDAY, MAY 22

All agreed that we would encourage members of our prayer communities to observe Friday, May 22 as a day of prayer and fasting so that the Pentecost Vigil will be successful and the multitude will be moved by the fire of the Holy Spirit. We resolved this after Romanus provided the following teaching:

SOLDIERS OF CHRIST

We have been called as soldiers of Christ to build and defend the church. The church is the body of Christ and Christ as the head.

In order to build and defend the church, we must be or at least work hard to be like Christ. To be Christ-like requires a lot of sacrifices. Christ is the begotten son of God. He came in human flesh not only to save us from sin but to show us how to overcome the tribulations of this world and defeat the evil one.

Some of the ways Christ taught us to overcome evil are: PRAYERS, FASTING, FELLOWSHIPS, TESTIMONIES, HUMILITY & RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Prayer is our telephone to heaven. It is our connecting link to God. God is a spirit. No one has ever seen God. The only way to communicate to God is through prayers.

God is omnipotent, omniscience and omnipresent. This statement simply means that God is all powerful, all knowledgeable and everywhere. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to talk to the most powerful Being who is everywhere and knows every thing.

Jesus Christ prayed a lot while in the world in spite of his status as a begotten son of God. He always created time to pray to our heavenly father- Mark 1:35. To demonstrate the importance of prayer, Christ taught us how to pray; Matthew 6:9-13. He also taught us how not to pray; Matthew 6:5.

The prophets prayed to God, Christ prayed and the apostles prayed also to God. The importance of prayers in our lives cannot be underestimated. A non- prayerful Christian is spiritually weak and has the potential to be a devil’s workshop.

A prayerful Christian on the other hand is spiritually strong and revered by the evil one. He can utilize the promises of God in the Bible to perform signs and wonders. Prayer can raise the dead; John 11:41-44. It can heal the sick; James 5:15. Prayers and praises can bring down the fortresses of our enemies – Paul and Silas prayed and sang the walls of the prison fell apart, the Israelites prayed and sang and the walls of Jericho came down, and the Israelites sang and praised God and the invading armies went into panic and attacked one another – 2Chronicle 20:20-24.

As charismatic christians, prayer should be our fundamental tool to do the job in which we have been called to do.

Unique situations some times occur where humans encounter wicked, stubborn and determined enemy. In circumstances like this, children of God do not negotiate with the enemy. The only enemy to mankind is Satan. Fasting and prayer, therefore, become very important weapons to cast out demons and the forces of darkness – Matthew 17:21. Fasting facilitates the result of our prayer requests.

Fasting is an essential element in seeking the face of God. Seeking the face of God requires purification of our body, soul and spirit. Fasting sanctifies our body which is the temple of holiness. Fasting helps us recharge our spiritual battery. Fasting opens our spiritual eyes and ears to hear the calling of the Holy Spirit – Acts 13:2-3. Before Christ officially started his ministry, he fasted for forty days and forty nights. He also taught us how to fast in Matthew 6:16-18. Fasting prepared him for the enormous ministry work ahead of him. Demons are always petrified when children of God fast. Fasting gives us spiritual cleansing and empowers us to do things beyond our normal capability.

To become a prayer warrior means that we are battling principalities and powers. It is the war of the spirits which must not be fought by physical means. We fight forces of evil with the combination of prayers and fasting which are lethal weapons against the prince of darkness.

Fellowship:

For the task ahead, we need to share ideas and help one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. It is important for people with different and special anointing to share such with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. The success of Christ’s ministry was because he reached out to all peoples including the society rejects. He did not put any one down rather he embraced the Jews, Gentiles, sick, sinners and the tax collectors. He learned from them and encouraged them to learn about his father in heaven. Paul needed Barnabas for the Holy Spirit to set them apart for the special job. Paul also needed Silas for the special evangelization.

Absolute cooperation is needed among all the prayer groups. Although each group may be unique in its own, we should endeavor to emulate and learn new things that can help us embrace God very closely.

Testimonies:

It is always good to show appreciation. Remember the saying that “one good turn deserves another”. When we thank God for his gifts and miracles in our lives, He does more for us. We ought to be enthusiastic about his grace and goodness to us. Sharing of testimonies does not only stimulate good feelings, it motivates others to be more expectant in their prayers. People feel bad when their kindness is not returned with a worthy thanks. Even Christ asked “There were ten men who were healed; where are the other nine?” Luke17:17

TASK AHEAD!!!

In order to succeed in the battle ahead, God has asked us to embrace the breastplate of righteousness. We need to be humble, obedient and righteous in other to engage in effective and successful battle. God listens to the prayers of the righteous. We must therefore remain faithful in our faith and rid ourselves of any bad habits that draw us away from God. No sin is too small before God. We need to encourage one another against any sinful habit.

God is asking us for proper discernment of the Holy Spirit. When we agree on something , pray and fast about it, it will be done. God’s promises must come to pass. He is not a human that He will lie- Numbers 23:19.

May God almighty inspire you and continue to shower his grace upon you. Amen.

Yours-in-Christ.

Romanus Ajaero.