Prayers for Goma, Congo

Dear beloved:  I am sending out this prayer request for the city of Goma, Congo, a city of 1 million people that sits on the eastern border (bordering Rwanda) of  the Congo.  It is the capitol of North Kivu state, and it is the economic hub of the mineral rich area that is the focal point of unrest and rebel activity that has been going on in the Congo for many years.  The Lord took me and a team of four others into Goma in September for a series of revival meetings and pastor training, to encourage the body of Christ and also to give the church, along with the Governor of  North Kivu, a prophetic word to strengthen their walk with the Lord.  The Lord had me preach from 2 Chronicles 20:21-22, the battle that King Jehoshaphat had with the sons of Moab and Ammon. v21 And when Jehoshaphat had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the Lord and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, "Give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting."  v22 And when they began singing and praising, the Lord set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mt. Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed.

Ten days ago the rebel army, after a brief firefight,  moved in and took over Goma, as the thousands of UN peacekeepers stood by and watched.  But the  rising tide of international opinion and condemnation by neighboring African countries has caused the rebels to announce a withdrawal from Goma to 12 miles outside the city limits, a withdrawal that is taking place right now.  So the prophetic word given to Goma is coming to pass: this is a mighty move of God to see this city have peace and stability not only in the natural realm, but that a future revival fire would sweep through Goma and North Kivu state, and many would be saved and delivered in the name of Jesus.  The last night of the Goma crusade we had a heavenly visitation as a result of the prophetic message about King Jehoshaphat, and an uproar of praise, worship, and dancing went on for some time before we had to stop it due to time and security constraints.  God was confirming that He was going to do something mighty in Goma, I believe this retreat is a manifestation of that confirmation and that Goma will be free. 2 Chronicles 20:20 And they went out early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, " Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the Lord your God, and you will be established; put your trust in the prophets and succeed."

Beloved, please pray with me that Goma will know peace and stability, that the people there will prosper and that no harm will come against them and their children, and also that the rebel army will lay down its arms and go back to their homes and countries. Matthew 6:9 Pray then in this way: "Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed by Thy Name, v10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."  Lord, bless Goma and all the people of the Congo today, that Your kingdom will come in that place as it is in heaven.   God bless you, in Christ, Jim

Tribute To My Dad

Dear beloved:  My earthly father, Lyman Rowh,  passed on to his heavenly home on November 14, 2012.  He had been battling cancer for several years and finally the Lord said, "No more sorrow, no more tears, no more pain."  He was 86 years old, had been surrendered to the Lord Jesus for most all of his life here on this earth; he was also a Sunday school teacher and elder of the church most of his adult life.  He left as survivors his wife, Georgia, and three sons and daughter with their spouses and families, 12 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren in all.

The Lord opened the door for me to preach at his memorial service, and Dad had left scripture for me to preach from, the 8th chapter of Romans, no less, the meat and potatoes of the Christian faith.  Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Christ Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.  If we could ask God for anything and know for sure that He would give us what we ask, wouldn't it be great if we could get God Himself to come and live within us, to indwell us?  Well, that is what happens when we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit; God sends His Spirit, the third person of the Triune God, to take up residence in our Holy Temple.  This Spirit then becomes to us our intercessor, our advocate, our helper, our counsel, and our peace.  Jesus said about the Holy Spirit, "The Holy Spirit, when He comes, will lead you into the truth in all things, He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will disclose to you what is to come." John 16:13 v14 He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you.  I was so blessed to be able to share the gospel message with the 300-400 people in attendance, as it was the wish of my father that everyone who attended would have an opportunity to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Romans 8:14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  Beloved, you can know for sure if you are a son or daughter of God, the Holy Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. (v16)  If you do not have the peace and wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and you do not have the confidence that you know for certain if you have eternal life, ask the Lord to forgive you of your sins, repent and turn from your sinful ways, and receive the Savior into your heart this very day.  Let Him be the Lord of your life, and you will know for sure that you have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit.  May God bless you this day as you seek the Lord, in repentance and in thanksgiving for all that He has done for you.  God bless you, and may you and yours have a Happy Thanksgiving.  in Christ, Jim

Sandy the Historic Storm

Dear beloved:  I have been praying for the people who are suffering from the storm named Sandy that has struck the northeast coastal states of the United States. As I have prayed and asked the Lord about this storm, He has revealed to me some of the lessons to be learned from this storm.  Because of the enormity of the size and the scope of destruction, as well as the timing of the storm in relation to the upcoming elections, it is natural that those of us with a prophetic mantle would inquire of the Lord in regards to its prophetic track, as well as praying for those who in the natural who have suffered greatly.  So as a result of the prayers the Lord has revealed to me three main things.

First, the name of the storm Sandy, spoke to me about the nature of those who build their house on the sand. Matthew 7:24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man, who builds his house on the rock, v25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house, and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. v26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand, v27 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the wind blew, and it fell and great was its fall.  The Lord is giving America a warning, a harbinger of things to come if we do not turn back to Him, that if we do not get our house built upon the rock, breakdown and destruction and calamity will be the order of the day.  God is doing everything possible to get people's attention, to put them on their knees so they will seek Him with all their heart, mind, and soul. 

Second, the location of the storm, its main track took it right into the seats of corruption, New York City, the mystery Babylon and center of commerce for America and much of the world, and the Jersey shore and Atlantic City, the gambling center for all of the east coast. Revelation 18:4 Come out of her, My people, that you may not participate in her sins, and that you may not receive of her plagues, v5 for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.  v8 For this reason one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire, for the Lord God who judges her is strong. v11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys her cargoes anymore. v19 They (the merchants) threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, "Alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate."  It is interesting to note that the New York Stock Exchange went quiet and dark for two days, the first time that has happened in the 108 year history of the exchange.  Also at the the height of the storm, even in the midst of the rain and ocean tidal waves, part of the burroughs of New York City were actually on fire, just as the scripture in verse 8 above describes, fire which speaks of the judging side of God, judging the corruption and immorality of mystery Babyon.

Third, the timing of the storm as it came just before the election, to cause people to meditate and ponder the future of America and the profound importance of the election at hand. Romans 13:4 For it (government) is a minister of God to you for good.  But if you do what is evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword for nothing, for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil. v5 Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath,, but also for conscience sake. And so the Lord is highlighting the importance of this election, that we the people are being held responsible, as we rightly should be, for the people who we vote into office; are they a minister of God for good, or are they ministering evil?  When the government becomes a minister and promoter of evil, a promoter of those things which God abhors, such as abortion and homosexual marriage, then God has no choice but to minister judgment to bring them back into line.  He did it with His own children Israel, and He will do it with the United States of America, a country He wants to bless and loves very much.

Ultimately, I believe a great revival will sweep across this nation as a result of this storm, and many will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  The New England states and those states that were especially hardhit, New Jersey and New York, will see a different fire come out of these days of desperation, a fire of revival and turning to the Lord they have not seen in many years.  They have drifted far from the Lord, but the Lord is turning them back, and says to them, "choose for yourself this day who you will serve, if Baal be god serve him, but if not, then serve Me, the one and only true, Living God."  Pray for those in the wake of the destruction, that they would turn to the Lord and honor and serve Him, that God's blessing to New England and this nation will be renewed and restored.  God bless you, in Christ, Jim