Accelerated Favor for Effective Change

To God be the glory for the great things that He has done! I pray this letter finds you enjoying God’s goodness and surrounded by His love and favor.  By faith, I declared at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis that Great Faith Church would grow through this! I am here to report that God has been faithful to give wisdom and clarity causing our ministry to grow through this pandemic!  As we embark upon a phased approach to in person corporate worship, I am excited to report the following observations.  Great Faith Church is experiencing the safe return of our members as we observe our current safety protocols.  A strong revival is evident in God's tangible presence at each worship event. Our eyes are witnessing surplus restoration as we see an increase of believers each week returning to in-person corporate worship.  During the month of July, we will celebrate the 13th Anniversary of Great Faith Church!  Our theme is “Accelerating Favor for Effective Change” Although God has blessed us to make countless lives better by faith over the past thirteen years, there is still work to be done.

In the Gospel of John 16:33 AMP, Jesus declares the following.

 “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]  

The COVID-19 crisis brought tribulation, trials, sickness, and death, but what has followed is a very familiar attack that is reopening fresh wounds of racial disparity in our country.  Over the past couple of weeks, we have witnessed episodes of senseless murders of black men at the hands of the police who are sworn to protect and serve us.  It is a reality that we are bombarded with hopelessness from news and social media outlets of current events.  The neglect of systematic social injustice issues from our elected officials and the repetitious mistreatment and murder of black men and women at the hands of law enforcement must have a response!  Recently, I was reminded of the choices we have as believers when faced with hopelessness.  While on a call with several other pastors, Apostle I.V. Hilliard told us that when faced with a hopeless situation that we have three choices. We can choose to be an optimist, pessimist, or a strategist.  An optimist hopes for better.  A pessimist despises better. A strategist plans for better!  As believers, we are a people of hope.  Hope is a firm unwavering positive expectation based on the believability of a credible source.  Our source is God Almighty, who has the last Word over our lives and He stands behind every prophecy, promise, principle of His Word with the power to change things on our behalf.

The truth about the current crisis according to John 16:33 AMP is that Jesus has overcome the world depriving it of power to harm you and has conquered it for you. Since Jesus overcame this crisis for us, it is not His will for us to suffer the distress, trials or tribulations of the world that He already overcame.  You might be saying to yourself,  ”If Jesus overcame this crisis for us, why are we still experiencing the same senseless killings and social injustices”?  The answer is that God’s will in the earth does not automatically come to pass.  It is not God’s will for man to perish but all men to repent and be saved.  

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9 KJV

It is evident that the whole world will not willingly receive salvation, although it is God's will. Therefore God's will does not automatically come to pass. 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 KJV

Since we have received the promise of salvation and the Holy Spirit through faith, it is up to us to release faith for God's promised deliverance from trials, tribulation, and distress.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

Ephesians 2:8 KJV

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Galatians 3:13-14 KJV

In Ezekiel the twenty-second chapter we see a snapshot of the nation of Israel that looks a lot like America.  Oppression, social injustice, the murder of innocent people and idol worship ran rampant and God declared His judgement was on the way.  

The word of the Lord came to me. He said, “Son of man, will you judge the city of murderers? Will you tell her about all the terrible things she has done? You must say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: The city is full of murderers, so her time of punishment will come. She made filthy idols for herself, and those idols made her filthy! “‘People of Jerusalem, you killed many people. You made filthy idols. You are guilty, and the time has come to punish you. Your end has come. Other nations will make fun of you and laugh at you.  People far and near will make fun of you. You have ruined your name. You are filled with confusion.  “‘Look, all the leaders in Israel are using their strength just to kill other people. 

Ezekiel 22:1-6 ERV

Like Israel, America is guilty of these same crimes against God and worthy of judgement! 

However, we see later in the same chapter God's heart for Israel is revealed.  God tells the prophet Ezekiel:  

“I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.”

Ezekiel 22:30 KJV 

Although they deserved it, God's heart was not to Judge Israel but rather to find a partner in the land who would stand in the gap.  Although our nation deserves judgement with the years of oppression, social injustice, murder of her people, God’s heart for America is not to send judgement but to find partners in faith and stand in the gap through petition prayer! 

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV

I have an assignment to teach faith and inspire you to partner with God to bring to pass His will on the earth.  It is time for believers to fight the fight of faith, which includes prayer, applying pressure through peaceful protest, and voting to push for policy changes that address the systemic problems that have caused pain for far too long in our country. As we maintain a focused commitment to follow the principles of Godly wisdom we can expect the favor of God to be released in our lives to take the effective actions necessary to change our world.  Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  While we are involved in the faith fight our expectation must be rooted in God's Word. This is what God's Word says about you.

No matter the color of your skin, God desires for you to remain in perfect peace.   

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33 KJV

No matter the color of your skin, God desires for you to live a healthy, abundant life that is full of joy. 

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance to the full, till it [a]overflows).

John 10:10 AMP

No matter the color of your skin, God desires to partner with you for His unlimited possibilities to manifest in your life. 

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 

Mark 9:23 KJV

Over the course of the next ten weeks, we will pursue faith strategies and advance fresh initiatives that will Accelerate Favor for Effective Change in our land. First, I am asking you to join me for Turn Up Prayer on Thursday 6/18/2020 as we petition God for His Wisdom for Effective Change.  

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 18:19

Second, I will be inviting a diverse group of people from our church who are from various backgrounds and perspectives to join me in a ZOOM meeting held on Friday 6/19/2020. 

I look forward to engaging in meaningful discussions as we build out the platforms for effective change in our community.  The fresh initiatives that we document will then be provided for you to select your area of participation in our effective change movement.

Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counselors they are established. Proverbs 15:22

Third, I am asking you to join me as I lead Great Faith Church on a twenty-one day fast beginning on Thursday, July 9 through Thursday, July 30, 2020.  In the book of Isaiah God outlines the reasons to engage and the reasonable expectations we should have when we fast. 

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?  Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter, when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?  Then your light will break forth like the dawn,  and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you,  and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.  Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;  you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.  “If you do away with the yoke of oppression,  with the pointing finger and malicious talk,  and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,  then your light will rise in the darkness,  and your night will become like the noonday.  The Lord will guide you always;  he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.  Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

 Isaiah 58:6-12 NIV

I look forward to you joining me for Turn Up Prayer Thursday, 6/18/ 2020 as we petition God for His Wisdom for Effective Change.  Also, please pray for our ZOOM meeting this Friday, 6/19 /2020 as our committee meets to document God's wisdom on how Great Faith Church can best impact our community.  As you consider joining me on our twenty-one day consecration please know that I will be outlining the information details for the fast and providing them to you in the coming days.  

After this time of corporate unity, I know that together we will witness Accelerated Favor for Effective Change in Great Faith Church and in our community.  Thank you again for your continued support.  Pastor Angela and I love you and are so grateful for the privilege of your partnership!

Making Lives Better by Faith,

Pastor Patrick Ligon