Day 19 of "27-Day Prayer & Fasting Journey" with Rev. Joe DiPaolo

Greetings in the name of Christ.

My name is Joe DiPaolo, and I am serving in Southeastern Pennsylvania, within the territory of the Northeast Conference of the Global Methodist Church. Welcome to Day 19 of 27 Days of Prayer, in preparation for the Annual Conference gathering on May 8-10 in Cortland, NY.

Right now, the churches in my area are in a unique situation. Some 52 congregations, who are theologically aligned with the GMC, are involved in legal action seeking to depart from the United Methodist Church. Several of them have already been preapproved to join the Northeast Conference when able, the others taking things one step at a time. These churches range in size from quite small to rather large, and all are committed to maintaining an orthodox Wesleyan witness. Please pray that these churches will soon end their legal odyssey, to freely unite with you in the GMC’s mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ and to spread scriptural holiness across the globe.

We in Eastern Pennsylvania encourage you to use these days of preparation to hear God’s Word and pray with us as we prepare to fan the flame that the Holy Spirit has kindled in us all.

Here is today’s focus Scripture passage from 2 Kings 19:14-19:

14 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: “LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 Give ear, LORD, and hear; open your eyes, LORD, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God. 17 “It is true, LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. 18 They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. 19 Now, LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the
kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, LORD, are God.”

This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Today’s Prayer Focus

A powerful enemy surrounded God’s people. Many others had fallen before the might of Assyria. A message was sent to Hezekiah, King of Judah, promising the same fate for him and the people trembling in fear behind the walls of the city. Hezekiah does the right thing … he spreads the threats before the Lord. Center your prayers this day on the Prayer Walks to occur both in the city of Cortland, NY, and around the walls of Grace Christian Fellowship on Wednesday, May 7. Pray that those who participate in the walk spread all fears and doubts before the Lord, so that
the Lord can send the enemy away. Discern if you are being called to be part of the Prayer Walks on May 7.

Today’s Suggested Prayer

Lord, God of all kingdoms of the earth,
you alone protect your people.
Soon, your people will be walking and praying
around the city of Cortland, New York,
and the walls of Grace Christian Fellowship.
Whether they go right or left, a short distance or a long one,
use their prayers, and this prayer
to protect those in the Northeast Annual Conference
who will gather there.
As they encircle that space they will spread at your feet
the fears and doubts of your people.
Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see.
Drive out before them all the evil spirits
that would seek to disrupt and distract the Northeast Annual Conference.
Lift, especially, the burden of uncertainty and the legal challenges
that surround those churches in the Southeastern Pennsylvania area
who would long to be part of this fellowship in the GMC.
Use these Prayer Walks so that all may run to you
and all the earth may know that you, alone, are God.
This we ask in the name of Christ. Amen.

You can find this prayer, and all the other prayers of these 27 Days, on the Conference website, northeastgmc.org.

May the Lord richly bless your faithful prayers. Amen.