Presence Pioneers: A Worship, Prayer and Revival Podcast

In this conversation, Matthew Lilley and guest Brad Stroup explore the challenges and rewards of leading corporate prayer and worship in a house of prayer setting. They discuss the importance of maintaining engagement in prayer, the monotony that can arise from regular meetings, and the need for leaders to remind themselves of God's presence and care. The conversation also touches on the realities of attrition in prayer communities and the importance of celebrating those who have been part of the journey. Additionally, resources for prayer leaders are highlighted, including a the National House of Prayer Leadership Summit and the How to Build a House of Prayer handbook.

Part two of this episode, Finding Volunteers and Money for a House of Prayer, will be available exclusively on Presence Pioneers Premium at https://media.presencepioneers.org/s/podcast

• Corporate prayer is a unique ministry that requires commitment.
• Presence-centered communities engage with God through worship and prayer.
• Houses of prayer often host multiple prayer meetings weekly.
• Monotony can be a significant challenge in prayer leadership.
• Engagement in prayer requires a heart posture of faith.
• Prayer meetings are often the first thing to go in busy schedules.
• Reminding ourselves of God's presence is crucial for engagement.
• Attrition in prayer communities is a common challenge for leaders.
• Celebrating the contributions of those who leave is important.
• Resources and support are available for prayer leaders.

Click here for a free book - The Dance and The Dirge: The Pain and Pleasure of Prayer and Fasting by Jonathan Friz and Matthew Lilley.

The Presence Pioneers Podcast exists to help you experience and host God’s presence through worship and prayer - because God’s presence changes everything. Subscribe Now!

00:00 The Call to Corporate Prayer

02:24 Understanding Presence-Centered Communities

04:55 Challenges in House of Prayer Leadership

11:24 Engaging in Prayer: Overcoming Monotony

14:13 Reminding Ourselves of God's Presence

19:11 Navigating Attrition in Prayer Communities

24:18 Resources for Prayer Leaders

Presence-centered communities consistently and corporately engage with God through worship and prayer as their primary activity.

In this episode, Matthew Lilley introduces the concept of presence-centered communities, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing God's presence through worship and prayer. He shares his personal journey of establishing a house of prayer in Greenville, North Carolina, detailing the challenges and successes experienced during that time. This teaching explores the impact of such communities on local transformation, the biblical foundations for presence-centered living, and practical steps for launching similar initiatives. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to engage with or start their own presence-centered communities.

The Presence Pioneers Podcast exists to help you experience and host God’s presence through worship and prayer - because God’s presence changes everything!

• God is inviting the church to prioritize His presence.
• Presence-centered communities focus on worship and prayer.
• David's Tabernacle serves as a model for presence-centered worship.
• The church at Antioch exemplified a mature Christian community.
• Presence-centered communities engage with God corporately.
• Consistency in worship and prayer is crucial for these communities.
• The prayer meeting reflects the popularity of God.
• Launching a presence-centered community can start with a simple prayer meeting.

00:00Introduction to Presence-Centered Communities

02:02The Journey of Establishing a House of Prayer

09:25Impact of the Boiler Room on the Community

10:51Defining Presence-Centered Communities

21:51Biblical Examples of Presence-Centered Communities

27:07The Importance of Prioritizing God's Presence

28:06Launching Presence-Centered Communities

A quick update with Matthew Lilley on the next season of the Presence Pioneers podcast, which launches on January 1, 2025 and is focused on the topic of "Presence-Centered Communities.” Stay tuned!

Matthew and Shepard share some closing remarks from the Back to Eden season of the podcast, followed by a bonus teaching by Elliotte Pearson titled Cultivating Our Souls, which was recorded live at the Back to Eden festival.

A new season of the podcast will be launching in January of 2025. Stay tuned!

Become a paid subscriber and get your free packet of seeds from Shepard here: https://media.presencepioneers.org/p/teachings-back-to-eden-2024

Become a paid subscriber and access three more “off the board” recordings from the Back to Eden festival by Matthew & Shepard Lilley including: Pruning and Fruitfulness, All Creations Groans & What It Means to Go Back to Eden. Find them all here: https://media.presencepioneers.org/p/teachings-back-to-eden-2024

Click here for a free book - The Dance and The Dirge: The Pain and Pleasure of Prayer and Fasting by Jonathan Friz and Matthew Lilley.

The Presence Pioneers Podcast exists to help you experience and host God’s presence through worship and prayer - because God’s presence changes everything. Subscribe at https://media.presencepioneers.org/s/podcast

How do we navigate seasons of revival and seasons of spiritual drought?

In this extended episode, Matthew and Shepard Lilley share personal experiences with drought and the importance of stewarding seasons of abundance. The conversation emphasizes the need for healthy spiritual practices and the concept of digging wells of revival to sustain faith during dry seasons. They highlight the urgent need for revival and supernatural intervention in America, emphasizing the importance of repentance and prayer.

Examining the book of Joel, they explore the biblical context of locusts as a metaphor for spiritual desolation and the necessity of a collective cry for God's help. The dialogue highlights the important role of a remnant in pioneering prayer and the challenges that come with revival, including the messiness and the cost of spiritual awakening.

Ultimately, this episode brings a message of hope and the promise of God's outpouring, encouraging listeners to prepare their hearts for the coming rain of His Spirit.

Click here for a free book - The Dance and The Dirge: The Pain and Pleasure of Prayer and Fasting by Jonathan Friz and Matthew Lilley.

The Presence Pioneers Podcast exists to help you experience and host God’s presence through worship and prayer - because God’s presence changes everything. Subscribe at https://media.presencepioneers.org/s/podcast

➡️ Revival is often compared to rain, while drought represents spiritual dryness.

➡️Stewarding the abundance during revival is crucial for enduring dry seasons.

➡️Digging wells of revival involves developing a deep relationship with God through prayer and the Word.

➡️Healthy spiritual practices can prevent stagnation during times of drought.

➡️The Book of Joel illustrates the connections between times of crisis, the call to repentance, and the importance of corporate prayer and fasting.

➡️Revival is seasonal, and understanding this can help manage expectations in spiritual life.

➡️Maintaining spiritual health can protect against external threats, much like healthy plants resist pests.

➡️Drawing from previous spiritual experiences can sustain faith during challenging times.

➡️Repentance is essential for spiritual awakening.

➡️The church must gather and cry out to God in prayer and fasting.

➡️Revival can be messy and overwhelming and includes personal sacrifice.

➡️We must prepare our hearts for the coming spiritual rain.

➡️God loves to pour out His Spirit.

00:00 Understanding Revival and Drought

03:03 The Book of Joel: Context and Themes

05:55 Personal Experiences with Drought and Rain

08:46 Stewarding Seasons of Abundance

12:09 Digging Wells of Revival

18:14 The Importance of Healthy Spiritual Practices

26:00 Divine Attention: The Call to Repentance

28:55 The Need for Supernatural Intervention

32:03 Pioneering Prayer: The Role of the Remnant

35:49 Revival: A Call to Action

39:07 The Promise of Outpouring: Preparing for Revival

41:58 The Cost of Revival: Embracing the Mess

49:05 Hope and Sobriety: The Dual Nature of Revival

Has the Church replaced Israel? Are the promises God made to Israel applicable to us today? Or does God have a separate plan for ethnic Israel and the Gentile Church?

In this episode, Matthew and Shepard Lilley discuss the concept of being ‘grafted into Israel’ as described in Romans 11. They explore the agricultural practice of grafting, its biblical significance, and the theological implications of covenants made with Abraham and David.

The conversation emphasizes the importance of faith for both Jews and Gentiles in the context of salvation and God's overarching plan for humanity. They also highlight the urgency of the Great Commission and the role of the church in reaching out to both Gentiles and the Jewish people.

Part two of this episode, How to Pray for Israel Without Being Political, will be available exclusively on Presence Pioneers Premium at https://media.presencepioneers.org/s/podcast

➡️Grafting symbolizes the inclusion of Gentiles into God's promises.

➡️The root of faith is essential for both Jews and Gentiles.

➡️God’s covenants with Abraham and David remain significant today.

➡️God's heart is to bring Jewish people into faith in their Messiah.

➡️The Great Commission is urgent for all nations.

➡️Understanding the context of Romans 11 is crucial.

➡️Pruning is necessary for growth and new life.

➡️Faith is the key to being part of God's family.

➡️The Gentile church does not replace Israel but is grafted in.

Click here for a free book - The Dance and The Dirge: The Pain and Pleasure of Prayer and Fasting by Jonathan Friz and Matthew Lilley.

The Presence Pioneers Podcast exists to help you experience and host God’s presence through worship and prayer - because God’s presence changes everything. Subscribe at https://media.presencepioneers.org/s/podcast

Are you in transition? How do you know if you’re entering into a new season of life?

In this episode, Matthew and Shepard Lilley discuss the concept of seasons in both nature and life, exploring how understanding these cycles can lead to a deeper awareness of God's faithfulness and presence.

They emphasize the importance of timing, preparation, and being attuned to the signs of changing seasons, using gardening as a metaphor for life's rhythms and transitions.

The conversation highlights the necessity of recognizing the work required in each season and the spiritual implications of these natural cycles.

Part two of this episode, Fallow Ground and Healthy Rhythms of Rest, will be available exclusively on Presence Pioneers Premium at https://media.presencepioneers.org/s/podcast

➡️Seasons are indicators of God's faithfulness.

➡️ Understanding your current season is crucial for growth.

➡️ Timing and awareness are essential in life and gardening.

➡️ Gardening reflects the cycles of life and spiritual growth.

➡️ Preparation is key to thriving in each season.

➡️ Nature provides signs that indicate seasonal changes.

➡️ Every season has its own work to be done.

➡️ You cannot force a season to change; you must wait.

➡️ Listening to God's voice helps navigate life's transitions.

➡️ God's presence is a constant through all seasons.

Click here for a free book - The Dance and The Dirge: The Pain and Pleasure of Prayer and Fasting by Jonathan Friz and Matthew Lilley.

The Presence Pioneers Podcast exists to help you experience and host God’s presence through worship and prayer - because God’s presence changes everything. Subscribe at https://media.presencepioneers.org/s/podcast

00:00 Understanding Seasons in Life and Nature

10:04 The Importance of Timing and Awareness

20:02 Gardening as a Metaphor for Life's Seasons

29:49 Preparing for Change and Embracing Cycles

In this episode, Matthew and Shepard Lilley discuss the biblical metaphors of sowing seeds and soil, exploring their significance in spiritual growth and personal development. They emphasize the importance of tending to the soil of our hearts to receive God's word effectively, drawing parallels between gardening practices and spiritual practices. 

The conversation delves into the types of soil mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 13, illustrating how different conditions affect the growth of faith and the challenges faced in life. The episode concludes with a call to prepare our hearts for the word of God and the ongoing journey of spiritual cultivation.

Join Matthew and Shepard at the Back to Eden Christian Homesteading Festival in eastern North Carolina on October 24-26. Learn more here.

Part two of this episode, Sowing and Reaping, will be available exclusively on Presence Pioneers Premium at https://media.presencepioneers.org/s/podcast

➡️ Soil represents our hearts in the biblical metaphor.

➡️ Healthy soil is essential for fruitful growth.

➡️ We must tend to our hearts to receive God's word.

➡️ Warfare, woes, and worldliness can choke our faith.

➡️ Preparation of the heart is crucial for spiritual growth.

➡️ The condition of our hearts determines our receptivity.

➡️ Gardening practices can inform our spiritual practices.

➡️ Diversity in spiritual input is necessary for growth.

➡️ We must guard our hearts as the wellspring of life.

➡️ God actively tends to our hearts like a gardener.

Click here for a free book - The Dance and The Dirge: The Pain and Pleasure of Prayer and Fasting by Jonathan Friz and Matthew Lilley.

The Presence Pioneers Podcast exists to help you experience and host God’s presence through worship and prayer - because God’s presence changes everything. Subscribe at https://media.presencepioneers.org/s/podcast

00:00 Introduction to Sowing Seeds and Soil

04:05 The Importance of Soil in Gardening and Life

12:24 Understanding the Heart as Soil

22:11 Exploring the Types of Soil and Their Implications

32:04 Preparing Our Hearts for God's Word

In this conversation, Matthew and Shepard Lilley discuss the concept of abiding in the vine and the significance of pruning in bearing fruit. They explore the practical aspects of pruning in gardening and draw parallels to spiritual pruning in our lives.

They emphasize that pruning is a loving act of the Father and a necessary process for growth and fruitfulness. They also highlight the importance of staying connected to Jesus and trusting Him to bring forth fruit in our lives. The conversation touches on the themes of righteousness, humility, and the simplicity of abiding in Christ.

Join Matthew and Shepard at the Back to Eden Christian Homesteading Festival in eastern North Carolina on October 24-26. Learn more here.

Part two of this episode, Bearing Fruit, will be available exclusively on Presence Pioneers Premium at https://media.presencepioneers.org/s/podcast

• Pruning is a loving act of the Father and a necessary process for growth and fruitfulness.
• Staying connected to Jesus and trusting Him is essential for bearing fruit in our lives.
• Pruning seasons in our lives are opportunities for repentance and starting afresh.
• Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing; our righteousness and fruitfulness come from Him.
• Abiding in Christ means staying connected to Him, trusting Him, and allowing Him to direct our growth.

Click here for a free book - The Dance and The Dirge: The Pain and Pleasure of Prayer and Fasting by Jonathan Friz and Matthew Lilley.

The Presence Pioneers Podcast exists to help you experience and host God’s presence through worship and prayer - because God’s presence changes everything. Subscribe at https://media.presencepioneers.org/s/podcast

In this first episode of a new podcast season, Matthew Lilley and his wife Shepard discuss the concept of going back to Eden and the importance of gardening and stewarding the earth. They explore the biblical account of Adam and Eve in the garden and how it relates to our role as priests and stewards of creation. They also touch on the negative effects of industrialization and the idea of progress, emphasizing the need to return to God's original design.

Join Matthew and Shepard at the Back to Eden Christian Homesteading Festival in eastern North Carolina on October 24-26. Learn more here.

The Presence Pioneers Podcast exists to help you experience and host God’s presence through worship and prayer - because God’s presence changes everything!

https://media.presencepioneers.org/p/the-melchizedek-priesthood

Click here for a free book - The Dance and The Dirge: The Pain and Pleasure of Prayer and Fasting by Jonathan Friz and Matthew Lilley.

• The biblical account of Adam and Eve in the garden teaches us about our role as priests and stewards of creation.
• Gardening and stewarding the earth is an act of worship and a way to experience God's presence.
• Modern society's focus on industrialization and progress has led to a disconnection from God's original design.
• Returning to Eden means embracing God's original intention for humanity and the earth.
• God's presence changes everything and should be the focus of our lives.

The Presence Pioneers Podcast exists to help you experience and host God’s presence through worship and prayer - because God’s presence changes everything. Subscribe at https://media.presencepioneers.org/s/podcast

00:00 Introduction and Season Overview

02:07 Starting a Garden and the Back to Eden Concept

03:25 The Significance of Gardening and Stewardship

08:17 Challenges and Lessons Learned in Homesteading

10:39 The Priestly Role in the Garden

12:51 The Garden of Eden and God's Design

22:12 The Importance of Tending and Keeping the Garden

25:06 Going Back to Eden: A Spiritual and Practical Journey

28:18 The Negative Effects of Industrialization and Progress

31:41 Returning to God's Original Intention

35:07 The Ultimate Goal: God's Presence and the New Earth