Fasting Schedule |
|
| April 14-23 | Fast from sun up to 12 PM (noon) |
| April 24-May 3 |
Fast from sun up to 1 PM |
| May 4-13 |
Fast from sun up to 2 PM |
| May 14-23 |
Fast from sun up to 3 PM |
Praying and Tarrying Schedule |
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| April 11 | 6 PM Tarrying Service |
| April 18 | 6 PM Tarrying Service |
| April 25 |
6 PM Tarrying Service |
| May 2 |
6 PM Tarrying Service |
| May 9 |
6 PM Tarrying Service |
| May 16 |
6 PM Tarrying Service |
| May 23 |
6 PM Pentecost Sunday!! |
But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, in all Judea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8).
In the coming weeks, we will hear this verse quoted more frequently as we approach Pentecost – the day the Spirit of God fell on the disciples and the 120 early Christians who were tarrying for His arrival as Christ had commanded.
Long before the Lord called me to start a ministry, He impressed upon me the great disadvantage the Church faced because the importance of the believer being filled with the Spirit was becoming less of a command and more of an option.
Jesus first commanded the disciples to go back to Jerusalem and remain there until they received His Spirit. They were not to do anything before they received "…the other Comforter." Because they were obedient, the Lord sent His Spirit and filled the entire house. The empowered saints left that upper room and set about to turn the world upside down.
In the early twentieth century (1906), Elder Charles Harrison Mason, while attending a revival in Los Angeles, California, was filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues as the Spirit gave utterance – just as it says in the scriptures.
Already excommunicated from the Baptist Church, Elder Mason soon found himself distanced from his friend, Elder Charles Price Jones, who refused to accept the doctrine of being filled with the Holy Spirit. More than 100 years later, the Church Of God In Christ stands at the forefront of the Pentecostal movement in the world – all because one man, Bishop Mason, decided to seek the Lord for the "complete experience."
For the next seven weeks at Holiness Tabernacle, we are going to do what Jesus commanded the disciples and all believers to do – wait or tarry for the filling of the Spirit. Each Sunday evening service has been designated as "Tarrying Service." In addition, we have also been led of God to go a little further and beginning Wednesday, April 14, Holiness Tabernacle will embark on a 40 day fast, all culminating on the Day of Pentecost, Sunday evening May 23.
The Lord has spoken mighty things concerning our ministry. During the past several weeks we have seen tremendous growth numerically, financially and spiritually. However, we are not content. We know there is more God has called us to do. We are not satisfied with seeing the seats filled and acquiring property – we want the fullness of God!
The Lord continues to impress upon me to encourage the saints to seek Him as He told the disciples and our founder, Bishop Mason. We long for the signs and wonders of the Church. We long for the type of anointing that causes evil spirits to flee. We seek after the power of God that causes men and women to change their lives of sin. We understand it takes a power greater than us (but available to every believer) to see God’s work being manifested through us.
I invite you to join us during these tarrying services and days of fasting. We are contending for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints. Our theme for these next few weeks is, "I want it all!" Many are satisfied with a dance or an occasional touch. Some are satisfied with a nice song or a feel good sermon every now and then. We, however, want everything God has planned for us. We want the praise, the dance, the tongues, the wisdom, the fruit, the signs, the wonders, the gifts, the talents, the increase, but most of all we want the POWER of God in us.
I bless you in the name of the Lord and remain your humble servant.
Assistant Superintendent Eddie B Pruitte, Jr.
Pastor and Founder, Holiness Tabernacle COGIC