1 Timothy 2:8 says these familiar words, "I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling." ESV
There are many examples of praying churches around the world that have congregations that have grown to thousands of followers of Jesus who pattern their lives after the manner of the Master.
Some of these churches have all night prayer meetings that begin at sundown on Friday, after work, and go to the early hours of Saturday morning. I have attended meetings like that in Seoul, Korea and it is a humbling experience for a western pastor.
The flame of prayer never goes out in Asia. Some folks even add fasting to their prayers as they seek to sharpen their focus while they pray. These places are springing up all over the world as refueling stations for the people of God.
One of the types of prayer offered is called the Tabernacle Prayer. It gives the one praying a focus on how to seek the Lord with humility, reverence and gratitude. This is not a formula but an aid to those who take time to be in God’s Presence.
The brazen altar - a symbol of the Cross of Jesus. The first place God chooses to remind us of the sacrifice Jesus made on behalf of the sins of all mankind.
The laver - surfaced with mirrors, the priest, as he washed, would see his reflection and be mindful of his condition before a holy God. We enjoy the washing of the Word now over our lives and ministries.
The candlestick - the Person of the Holy Spirit. The first chamber of the tabernacle held a seven branched candlestick that was constantly burning brightly. We need to be reminded of the Holy Spirit’s constant presence in our lives and ministries.
The table of showbread - across from the lampstand stood a golden table with twelve loaves of fresh bread. This reminds us of God’s fellowship with His Body the church and our fellowship with one another through the shed blood of the Lamb of God.
The altar of incense - a small pedestal on which the priest offered a portion of incense twice a day. This reminds us of the prayers and songs of the people of God in worship and adoration.
The ark of the covenant - inside the holy of holies now, we intercede for others - our families, co-workers, leaders, congregations, cities, nations and for the global mission of the church in preaching the gospel. We rejoice that the veil has been torn from top to bottom and we don’t have to wait for a High Priest to go in once a year for the sins of the people. We can enter because of the blood of Jesus.
I thank God for this simple but effective means of fixing my eyes on Jesus as the author and finisher of my faith.
Now that we have come to the end of 2008, I'd like to close off my last blog in prayer as we get ready to enter 2009.
It is adapted from one used by 'Lovers of God' in their final newsletter of this year.
At our last service at The Life Centre, on Sunday, December 28, 2008 Pastor Jason led us in a time of reflecting on 2008, corporate prayer and then concluded the year the best way possible - in a time of worship to the King of kings, and Lord of lords.
Jesus once said to a woman seeking more than natural water, "The Father seeks those who would worship Him in spirit and in truth."
NEW YEAR'S PRAYER
Lord, I pray for an abundance that
we all have enough for our families and for those who are in need
around us. Let 2009 become a year of generosity in and through the Body of Christ. I pray that You would make us secure in You that we will be found faithful and fruitful in our giving.
Father, I pray that You heal every area of woundedness, and every area of hurt from our earliest remembrance until today. Bring profound healing to the deepest needs of our life.
Lord, heal our relationships and our own self image. Father I pray that You would reach in and do a heart transplant in each one of us. Where there was strain before, that there would be peace,
where there was sadness that there would be joy.
Lord, I pray that You would restore the years that the locusts and the enemy have stolen from us. That You restore the things that have been lost or taken by his schemes.
I pray for divine resources and divine connections throughout 2009 for everyone reading this blog.
I ask Lord that You break the lies that we have believed about one another and that You grant us the discernment and sensitivity to recognize each other according to the Spirit.
Lord, make us ready to build together and do the things You have called us to do. Where there was hurt, broken trust, tension and dissension before in relationships, there would be healing, trust, love, unity and favour. Lord, that there would be an abundance of favour and love among us as Your people.
Let Your oil run between us to smooth away strain. Let there be gentleness and loving kindness.
Replace any tensions of the past with understanding and kindness. I ask that Your blessing would be upon us and that there would be a unity of the Spirit, a being in "one accord" that no human being can generate, only the work of Your Holy Spirit.
Lord, we ask that You grant us the mind of Christ, that we would do things that honour You and demonstrate Your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
Lord, give us faith to walk on the water of the unknown, to do those "greater things" Jesus spoke about because we are a people that know You and want to do exploits.
Lord, I ask above all that on the inside we would be stable and secure, established firmly in love. I ask that You just root us in Your selfless, agape love, that nothing would shake us, whether a world crisis or a personal crisis. That nothing would shake us. That we would be founded on the rock.
Lord, let us build our house, like Your house, on the rock, on the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Father, I pray that You would meet personally with each of us this year. That we would have the blessing of seeing You face-to-face, in our quiet times and along the ways of our daily life.
Throughout 2009, I ask that You replace our fears with a holy boldness and courage. Let us be as bold as lions. Like Daniel who loved You and because of his love did great and mighty things. Let us become the answers to our prayers and the answer to Your prayers.
Father let this happen for the sake of Your loving kindness. Let Your tender mercies cover us, Father, in this New Year. Let there be a testimony that there are people that are truly in love with God in our generation.
I pray, Father, that You would find a people in this generation who have truly come to lay their head upon Your chest.
In Jesus' name I pray this.
Happy New Year everyone!
Thanks for stopping by during 2008. I look forward to your visits in 2009.
Now that we have come to the end of 2008, I'd like to close off my last two blogs in prayer as we get ready to enter 2009.
They are adapted from one used by 'Lovers of God' in their final newsletter of this year.
At our last service at The Life Centre on Sunday, Pastor Jason led us in a time of reflection over 2008, corporate prayer and then concluded the year the best way possible - in a time of worship to the King of kings, and Lord of lords.
Jesus once said to a woman seeking more than natural water, "The Father seeks those who would worship Him in spirit and in truth."
NEW YEAR'S PRAYER
Father, I thank You for all that You have done in and through us as Your people this year. I pray that the world will increasingly recognize that we are Your disciples because of how we love one another.
Lord, we desperately need You to work a miracle amongst us. We ask that You transform us as we yield ourselves to You. Prepare the soil of our hearts to respond to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives to become more like Jesus this coming year.
As we come to the close of 2008, we ask You to grant us grace for 2009 to pass the tests we may not have passed in 2008. Things like...
An orphan spirit.
I pray that where we had an orphan spirit, where we responded as an orphan, where the thought patterns and reactions of an orphan heart influenced our behaviour in a negative way, that You would help us grow up in the coming year; that You would bring us into the fullness of our sonship relationship.
May You find us trustworthy with the things that You are eagerly waiting to release in us. Father I ask these things for the sake of the glory of Your kingdom. Lord I pray that where we have been in a holding pattern, You would enable us to move forward faithfully.
Come to us, Lord, even in the night season, and do surgery on our minds, on our hearts, on our attitudes, on our vision, on how we see things.
More liberty and freedom in 2009.
Father I ask that You bring us, this year, into freedom in the Spirit, into liberty in Jesus Christ. Set us free from the inside out. Set us free from the fear of man and a man pleasing spirit. Set us free from insecurity. Set us free from fear of rejection. Set us free from fear of failure. Set us free to move from fear to faith.
Father, set us free from the spirit of individualism and independence and set us free from the spirit of dependence. Rather, grant us the spirit of inter-dependence, that we may honour one another and prefer one another by sharing and caring about each other's burdens.
Father I pray that You transform our hearing and seeing, that we hear with healthy filters, without distortions, that we see without tainted glasses or tinted lenses. That we see each other the way You see us. That we see the things around us the way You see them, that we would see our circumstances from Your perspective.
Lord, the false perceptions, false thinking and destructive or unholy patterns of thinking, Father, I ask that You tear them down and build into us instead strongholds of truth, goodness, holiness, peace, joy and the fruit of the Spirit.
Father, I pray that You build Christ-likeness into us. Form Christ in us Father, that we may be found conformed to His image and likeness.
Wisdom in family life.
Lord I pray for Your wisdom in these troubled times. That You bless the marriages of those who are married. For those who are not married, that You would be their spouse.
Father I pray that You would become the Father to those among us who do not have fathers and a mother to those who do not have mothers. Lord, for those who are estranged from, or who have lost their families, that You would give them the family of Your choosing.
Lord, I pray that You do miracles in the marriages and family relationships where there is conflict and strain, that this year, You would bring back those who have wandered for whatever reason, that those who have been lost to the enemy would come back.
Lord, I pray that You provide all that is needed for those who have committed themselves to You.
Cont'd tomorrow, the last day of 2008!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Millions pray ‘Your Kingdom come’ on Global Day of Prayer
By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries
LONDON, UK (ANS) -- Millions of Christians around the world raised their hands up in united prayer and worship on Pentecost Sunday as part of the fourth annual Global Day of Prayer.
British Christians prayer at Millwall football ground.
According to a story written by Maria Mackay and posted on the British web site -- www.christiantoday.com -- the UK was among at least 201 nations registered to take part, with major prayer and cathedral events taking place across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland under the common theme of “Your Kingdom come … on Earth as in Heaven.”
“In London, thousands of Christians gathered at Millwall football stadium in London to pray for God’s love and Holy Spirit to fall upon London, particularly communities blighted by gun and knife crime,” said Mackay.
The message on the day was overwhelmingly one of hope and unity. “When the church unites in prayer there is no stopping it,” said Jonathan Oloyede, senior Associate Pastor of Glory House and visionary of Global Day of Prayer London. “Prayer changes things,” he added.
Mackay said that last week, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown hosted a reception at 10 Downing Street in honor of Global Day of Prayer in which he praised the contribution of faith groups to the United Kingdom.
“When our government leaders begin to value what the church is doing in this country, we are in for revival,” continued Pastor Oloyede.
Newly elected London Mayor Boris Johnson took to the stage to ask that Christians pray for young victims of gun and knife attacks as well as their families. A total of thirteen young people have been shot or stabbed to death in the capital so far this year.
Johnson pledged to work with faith groups in combating gun and knife crime, saying, “Together we can do something, together we must do something, and together we will do something.”
“The father of murdered schoolboy Damilola Taylor, Richard Taylor, also joined the event to ask that Christians pray for every family affected by gun and knife crime across London, before the entire stadium fell silent for two minutes in memory of victims,” wrote Maria Mackay.
The Rt. Rev Tom Butler, whose Southwark Diocese encompasses Millwall, welcomed Global Day of Prayer to South London. “I am very happy that Global Day of Prayer has come south of the river,” he said, admitting that the diocese was all too familiar with gun and knife crime. “My hope is that this will encourage Christians from all over London to first of all praise God and then to work together and pray together for the good of all the citizens of London for the months and years ahead.”
Mackay said that the Global Day of Prayer movement was founded nearly 10 years ago by South African Christian businessman Graham Power to start the world praying for revival after he was inspired by 2 Chronicles 7.14.
The verse reads, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
“Global Day of Prayer London also forms part of the Hope08 movement uniting UK churches in practically demonstrating the Gospel’s message of love in their communities,” said Mackay. “Christians taking part in Global Day of Prayer events across the UK are being encouraged to follow up their 11 May events with 90 days of blessings that will help achieve Hope08’s goal of giving one million hours of kindness to the nation.
“A number of popular Christian musicians and artists lead worship on the day, including All Souls Orchestra, Godfrey Birtill, Geraldine Latty, Noel Robinson, Dave Bilbrough, Muyiwa and Graham Kendrick.”
Global Day of Prayer London pulled together Christians of all denominations and traditions. Jane Holloway, UK Coordinator of the Global Day of Prayer, said, “It’s just so exciting to see us celebrating the diversity of the body of Christ.”
Mackay concluded her story by saying that Global Day of Prayer London organizers are aiming to bring the event to Wembley Stadium in 2010.
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Christians Worldwide Mark 4th Global Day of Prayer
By Eric Young
Christian Post Reporter
Sun, May. 11 2008 04:48 PM ET
Millions of Christians across the world are uniting in prayer Sunday to mark the fourth annual Global Day of Prayer and to commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and the other followers of Christ as described in the Book of Acts.
Last year, millions of Christians from 204 nations participated in the Global Day of Prayer, seeking God in repentance and prayer for the transformation of their communities and nations. Driven by Habakkuk 2:14 – which states “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" – the goal of GDOP has been to mobilize Christians from every single nation in the world to participate in the united prayer effort over the next few years before 2010.
“This morning as the son rose in the East to later this evening when it sets in the West, the body of Christ in almost every nation in the world is gathering in homes, churches, parks, cathedrals and stadiums,” stated South African Christian businessman Graham Power in a video broadcast to GDOP participants. “Our goal is to saturate the nations of the world with prayer. We believe that as we humble ourselves, seek our Father’s face, and turn from our wicked ways, God will hear from everyone, forgive our sons and heal our lands.”
According to Power, it was when 45,000 Christians gathered in a stadium seven years ago in the city of Cape Town, South Africa, that the vision for GDOP was berthed.
“It was a day of intense intercession that transformed lives and was reflected in a changing city in the months to come,” GDOP organizers state in the event’s web site.
In the following years, the event spread out to 8 different venues in South Africa and then to 27 African countries before making history with the first ever continental Day of Repentance and Prayer for Africa in 2004, when Christians from all 56 nations of Africa reportedly joined in. On Pentecost Sunday in 2005, Christians from 156 of the 220 nations of the world were said to have united across denominational and cultural borders for the first Global Day of Prayer.
“More than ever before the nations of the world are needing God to heal their land,” explained Power. “It is as we actively engage in acts of repentance and pray our faith that we prepare the way for God to save the lost and to transform our nations.”
In London, where GDOP has been a focus of prayer and Christian action since 2006, a crowd of 25,000 is expected to gather at the Millwall football stadium.
“At Millwall this Sunday, we will be urging thousands of Christians to be agents of transformation for the global poor,” reported GDOP London founder Dr. Jonathan Oloyede, according to London-based Christian Today. Other prayer topics will include missing British girl Madeleine McCann and other abducted children, as well as crimes in the capital.
“[T]oday, as you join with hundreds of millions of Christians from all over the globe, we are together writing, I believe, history,” Power stated in the promotional video.
GDOP organizers are also reminding participants and observers that the focus of the annual event is not only on a single day of prayer, but to see a lifestyle of prayer established that will transform communities.
“Let’s all keep praying together,” Power stated. “Let’s keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and the perfecter of our faith, so that together we can say ‘Let Your Kingdom come on Earth as it is in Heaven.’”
Pentecost, one of the prominent feasts in the Christian liturgical year, is celebrated 49 days (7 weeks) after Easter Sunday. Eastern churches, which follow the Julian calendar, will mark Pentecost this year on June 15.
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Here are a few reports from the Global Day of Prayer events around the world. Enjoy!
CBNNews.com - JERUSALEM, Israel
It's the biggest prayer gathering in history and it's happening this week.
On May 11, Christians in more than 200 countries will ask God to bless their nations and the world.
The Global Day of Prayer brings millions of believers together in unity of purpose. This year, thousands are in birthplace of Christianity.
Jerusalem will be home to an unprecedented prayer event this weekend. This Sunday, the Call is teaming up with the Global Day of Prayer. Their mission is to pray for spiritual breakthrough, not only in the Holy Land, but throughout the world.
There's so much excitement in the air here in Jerusalem, as Israelis celebrate 60 years as a nation. But among believers here, there's also growing excitement surrounding this weekend's call to prayer!
Thousands of Jewish believers in Jesus, along with Christians from around the world, will gather for a prayer event that many believe will lead to a world-wide revival rooted in Jerusalem.
They"re blowing the shofar in Zion and calling believers to pray for an Acts 2 type of revival.
"When it happened the first time, it was just Jerusalem - that was for His first coming - but for His second coming - it has to be revival all over the world," said Asher Intrater, director of Revive Israel Ministries.
Asher is a Messianic Jew and is helping bring the call and the Global Day of Prayer to Jerusalem.
He says united international prayer based in the Holy City will help usher in this end times revival that will pave the way for Christ's return.
"Well, if He was coming back to Beijing, we'd have to have some kind of focus in Bejing," Asher said. "If He was coming back to New York, it would be there, but because we understand He's coming back to Jerusalem there has to be a certain focus on this prayer."
Asher says believers will not only pray for the nations, but also for the growing body of Messianic believers in Israel, now believed to be as many as 15,000 out of 7 million Israelis.
"The Messianic Jewish movement has grown, not only worldwide, but it's also taken a foothold here in Israel," he said. "So, there are maybe 100 local congregations of Messianic Jews in Israel."
"For me, it makes sense but for a lot of people here in Israel, it doesn't make sense that you can be Jewish, remain Jewish and celebrate the Jewish feasts and yet believe in Yeshua [Jesus] the Messiah," Liat Eshel, a Jewish believer, said.
Asher says Jews coming to Jesus is a sure sign that we're in the end times.
"One of our banner statements is from Romans 11. 'All Israel will be saved …and we will pray the prayer together, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord'," he said. "So we are focused, not just on growth in the body here and revival, but ultimately - bringing Yeshua back and making His Kingdom established on the earth."
This is a pretty exciting time to be in Israel, to pray not only for the peace of Jerusalem, but for this mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Originally Published May 9, 2008
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I've just returned home from the annual Global Day of Prayer gathering at a local church in our city. Part of me rejoices whenever followers of Jesus gather to pray. Yet, another side of me cringes at the lack of response by many to pray with other members of the Body of Christ for their city and nation.
The evening began at 6 pm and concluded around 9 pm. We watched a short video from last year, were welcomed by the host pastor and then we launched into a wonderful time of praise and worship that unified us.
Our gathering included comments and prayer by First Nations leaders, a Messianic Jew, a Catholic Priest, and spontaneous prayer from folks whose mother tongue was Croatian, African, Arabic, Eritrean, Burmese, Egyptian, Phillipino, El Salvadoran, Chinese and Korean. What a heart cry!
We were lead into the Apostle's Creed and took time to pray in small groups for personal repentance around the themes of brokenness that had been presented. Extended times of worship helped us stay focused on the reason for our gathering.
A group of young people representing the Caribbean led us in joyful and spirit-led worship. It was awesome!
We had six area leaders talk about what God was saying to us today. I had the joy of talking about honour and then lead into the offering time. We concluded the evening praying for the children who were present and those around the world needing the Presence of God in their lives.
90 Days of Blessing by prayer walking our neighbourhoods was announced.
The evening ended with all of us gathered around the front altar area and singing 'How Great Thou Art' for an extended period of time. He is worthy of all our praise n'est pas?
I hope you will consider next Pentecost Sunday and join a Global Day of Prayer gathering in your community!
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