Day 15

Hillside Ministry just got back from our annual retreat 1/12-1/14 at Rancho Ybarra. Although space in our meeting room and beds were limited, we had a great time of fellowship at the retreat. There were about 50 of you who joined us this time. The theme was 'Spiritual Warfare' which is not a typical topic of conversation among Christians. I think the exposure to this topic matures us and adds another dimension to our Christian lives. For a lot of us we experienced and witnessed the work of the Holy Spirit encouraging and edifying the body of Christ through listening in our prayer for others and through God's word. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5:18-21

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

I believe we experienced the above referenced verse as we sang and spoke to one another, subjecting ourselves to each other. When we pray and stand in the gap for others we are engaging in spiritual warfare. When we intercede on behalf of others we cover them with God's protection. This is a distinctive of Christians. We have got to get each others' backs through prayer. I hope the lessons learned and experienced will assist us in pursuing God with a white hot passion for Jesus which leads us to care for others.