We are all familiar to the word prayer, and most of us do pray. many of us do not really understand prayer. Prayer is simply the most powerful weapon a Christian has. it is also the least used weapon we have.

There are 59,711 books listed on amazon.com on the subject of prayer. 7,069 of them on the subject of How to Pray.

Fervent and persistent prayer has always been of utmost importance to God's people. Jesus wants His kingdom to grow. The best place to get that continual growth is from the local church. If a church is to grow, it must prepare to grow. This preparation begins with prayer. Persistent prayer is the foundation of all Christian growth. Whether it be in the individual or the church.

Jesus instructed the church to pray. He not only instructed them to pray, but he also taught them how to pray. He said...

LUKE 18:1

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.

Foundation Of Prayer - James Carney

Today begins 21 days of prayer and fasting for Woodlawn.  So on the eve of this consecrated time, I want to preach to you today on:

The Foundation of Fasting

I realize today this is not a popular topic or an easy preach, but oh what a necessary part of our spiritual journey.

Fasting is the one thing in our lives that we do not like the process, but we love the results.

It’s very much like exercise.  I’m sure many of you have started a new workout regime as we begin this year, and you are not liking the process of waking up early, or taking time after work – but if you will continue this process, you will love the results that it produces.

And while I am a proponent of taking care of your physical body, Paul expounded of how much more important it is to tend to the spiritual man.

1 Timothy 4:7-8 (KJV)

7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

And while I do not read that fasting is necessary for salvation, I believe that what it produces in our lives is essential to salvation.

Jesus, himself, did not say, “If you fast...” but rather, “When you fast...” (Matthew 6:16).

I realize, this will be new (even over the top) for some of you.  But fasting is much like prayer.  I have never known anyone to pray and then say, “man, I wish I would not have prayed.”  You will never regret time you spend consecrating yourself before God.  If you will make a commitment to fast, you will not regret it.  So do a crazy thing in 2016. It will change your relationship with God.  And your life.

Foundation Of Fasting - Jeronn Carney

How many of you love to travel? Every trip begins with two questions, "Where are we going?" and "How do we get there?"

I love traveling. The one thing I hate about traveling is the baggage. 

How Do I Get There From Here? Steven Andrus

I am thankful that the word of God is alive and that it is powerful. More powerful than anything that you may face or anything that this world brings against you. 

In addition to it being alive and powerful...it is sharp. In fact, the scripture tells us that it is sharper than any two edged sword. What is the significance of the “two-edged sword” referred to in Hebrews 4:12? 

If you start looking, you’ll find out this phrase regarding a “two-edged sword” appears all over the New Testament, so it must be pretty important.

When John received his revelation of Jesus on the isle of Patmos, he said, “And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength” (Revelation 1:16). Notice that this “two-edged sword” came out of Jesus’ mouth! Why would Jesus have a sword in His mouth? Shouldn’t the sword have been in His hand?


Foundation Of The Word

Today,	is	a	day	that	I	have	been	looking	forward	to.	We	are	
going	to	celebrate	communion	together	as	a	church	family.	As	I	
prayed	and	thought	about	this	service,	I	began	to	think	about	
the	meaning	of	communion	and	its	roots	in	Biblical	tradition.
We	read	the	story	of	what	has	become	known	as	the	last	
supper	in	the	book	of	Luke:
Luke	22:8-20	(KJV)
8And	he	sent	Peter	and	John,	saying,	Go	and	prepare	us	the	
passover,	that	we	may	eat.
9And	they	said	unto	him,	Where	wilt	thou	that	we	prepare?
10And	he	said unto	them,	Behold,	when	ye	are	entered	into	
the	city,	there	shall	a	man	meet	you,	bearing	a	pitcher	of	
water;	follow	him	into	the	house	where	he	entereth	in.
11And	ye	shall	say	unto	the	goodman	of	the	house,	The	
Master	saith	unto	thee,	Where	is	the	guestchamber,	where	I	
shall	eat	the	passover	with	my	disciples?
12And	he	shall	shew	you	a	large	upper	room	furnished:	there	
make	ready.
13And	they	went,	and	found	as	he	had	said	unto	them:	and	
they	made	ready	the	passover.
14And	when	the	hour	was	come,	he	sat	down,	and	the	twelve	
apostles	with	him.
15And	he	said	unto	them,	With	desire	I	have	desired	to	eat	
this	passover	with	you	before	I	suffer:
2
16 For	I	say	unto	you,	I	will	not	any	more	eat	thereof,	until	it	be	
fulfilled	in	the	kingdom	of	God.
17And	he	took	the	cup,	and	gave	thanks,	and	said,	Take	this,	
and	divide	it	among	yourselves:
18 For	I	say	unto	you,	I	will	not	drink	of	the	fruit	of	the	vine,	
until	the	kingdom	of	God	shall	come.
19And	he	took	bread,	and	gave	thanks,	and	brake	it,	and	gave	
unto	them, saying,	This	is	my	body	which	is	given	for	you:	this	
do	in	remembrance	of	me.
20 Likewise	also	the	cup	after	supper,	saying,	This	cup	is	the	
new	testament	in	my	blood,	which	is	shed	for	you.
As	I	studied	communion,	I	kept	coming	to	the	jewish	
celebration of	passover	and	the	fact	that	it	is	forever	linked	to	
the	last	supper.	
On	the	day	before	his	crucifixion,	Jesus	instructed	his	disciple	
John	to	go	to	Jerusalem	to	make	preparations	for	passover.	He	
gave	them	clear	instructions	about	the	house	in	which	they	
would	be	gathering	and	the	upper	room	in	which	they	would	
celebrate	the	feast	of	passover.
There	was	so	much	that	needed	to	be	done	in	preparation	for	
this	celebration.	They	needed	to	secure	a	room	and	a	place	to	
eat,	but	there	was	more.	They	also	needed	to	pay	attention	to	
the	preparation	of	the	meal.	They	had	to	ensure	that	
everything	that	they	did	kept	with	the	tradition.
Consecration	Sunday
January	31st,	2016
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These	instructions	had	been	passed	down	from	generation	to	
generation...today	they	are	still	taught	to	Jewish	children.	As	I	
looked	at	these	customs	and	traditions.	I	began	to	see	the	
relevance	that	they	have	to	what	we	are	about	to	take	part	in	
this	morning.

Consecration Week - Jerron Carney

Woodlawn exists to restore community by building Christ centered families. Woodlawn is a kingdom minded community that invests in God’s work beyond our own borders; both in North America and across the globe.
Globally, Woodlawn has invested time and resources in the construction of Bible schools and Worship facilities in Togo, West Africa & San Salvador, El Salvador, while supporting financially & prayerfully over 85 missionary families.
Locally, Woodlawn has been a significant promoter of church plants and supporting the calling of North American Missionaries. Woodlawn has a burden to reach and build community with other cultures. This is accomplished through the Spanish daughter work in Hattiesburg, Iglesia Vida, and the monthly support of 6 other churches.

Woodlawn Church