Do you want to see change in your community? Change in the community where I live here in Maine, has been something that has been on my heart for sometime and what I have been also praying for. I believe, if anyone can grab on to these principles that I have taught on during small groups that my wife and I have held here at our house, you will see a major change in your towns, states and nation. 

This community where I am, has so many spirits that are not from God. There are spirits of addictions of every kind. Witchcraft and other cults. Poverty, depression, oppression and you name it runs rampant in this whole area. We know these things are not from God our Father, but the evil one.

Friends, this doesn't have to be and it starts with you and I to want to make a change. It takes letting the light of Jesus shining through us and others seeing the difference that the Messiah is doing within us. It starts by being in prayer daily for those that live in our communities. It starts by seeking Gods heart and learning what He has for each of us.

Romans 13:8-11 KJV Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. (9) For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (10) Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (11) And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

Start by just Loving our Community

Start with Prayer. In this short lesson, I am in hopes to show you things from the Bible that will help change our communities. Friends, we can do this. Why? Because it is God’s will for us to succeed in this endeavor. What endeavor? Taking back Brownville,  Maine. Taking back what ever town you live in and all the surrounding towns, just for a start.

Colossians 4:2 KJV Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

God has placed you in a sphere of influence for a reason and a purpose. It is not an accident where you live, where you work, and the community in which you find yourself. Begin praying for God to open doors and to use you for His glory where you live.

2. Know Your Neighbors

James 2:14-20 KJV What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? (15) If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, (16) And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? (17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (18) Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. (19) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (20) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
How can we love people if we are not willing to know them?

3. Listen for Needs

Galatians 6:9-10 KJV And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (10) As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

If you are only there for people when it is convenient for you, then it is not love.

4. Be intentional

1 Peter 3:14-18 KJV But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; (15) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (16) Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. (17) For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. (18) For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

As you know people and meet needs, you then are able to share Christ.

Have a dinner party or barbecue. Get involved in the town functions. Those that don’t have full time jobs, sit at the store and have coffee with the gossipers. It may be a good chance to sow seed.
Partner with God’s church. I know we are going to see a harvest. Connie told me a while back. “There is going to be an explosion.” She is right. There is going to be a huge explosion of lost souls coming to Jesus, if we get out of our comfort zones. I heard a Pastor say a month or so ago that Katahdin Christian Church is a dying church since the founding Pastors left. This is what stirred me up to write this. As I was sweeping the Legion hall and mopping it three times after we had had our food cupboard, that remark kept going through my mind and ate at me. Then I kept hearing, it isn’t dying, it is being restructured. That next Sunday, we had 16 new people that have faithfully returned week after week. Praise the Lord!!

5. Just Love

Ephesians 5:1-2 KJV Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; (2) And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.

The call of God is for us to be people of love. To bring heaven to earth. Philippians 1:9-11 KJV And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; (10) That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; (11) Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Taking It Home. God has placed us in our community for a reason and purpose to just love. It is not an accident where we live, where we work, and where we do “life.” We are blessed to live in a beautiful community, but our call is to love .To be the hands and feet of Christ. And, how can we love unless we are willing to know the people around us as well as being willing to step out and meet needs? It is not enough to talk about love, but we are called to live a life of love. Imagine the difference we can make together in our community as we just love.

Start by getting a notebook and look out your front window and start praying for the families that you see in those houses. Go to the next widow and jot down and pray for those families. Then start going down that street writing down the names and praying. keep doing this until you have prayed for your community. You are now allowing God to work in so many lives. It work.

God bless you, Jim