A SEASON OF PRAYER FOR OUR NATION

The calling of the Federal Election to be held on Saturday 21st August activates a season where all Australians are asked to consider the kind of Government they want for our nation.  It is the ultimate privilege citizens have in a democratic society to exercise their vote for their preferred choice.

As Christians we of course have the right and responsibility to personally seek the Lord as to which party and candidates will best form a Government of righteousness and justice with a heart open to fulfil the will and purposes of God for our nation, and to vote accordingly.

As members of the Body of Christ we also have a corporate responsibility to undergird the decision process of the people, as well as through our prayers, impact the election campaign itself, by calling on the Holy Spirit to hover over our nation during these next 5 weeks guiding and determining the outcomes for our nation that will best serve His purposes for our future.   

Day 1 – Sunday 18th July 2010

Revelation - Pray for a mighty move of the Holy Spirit to bring a conviction of our personal sin as Australians and our corporate sin as a nation, resulting in a much needed awareness that as a nation we have turned away from Almighty God.

Bible readings – Jeremiah 2: 11-13, Colossians 2: 8-10.
 
Day 2 – Monday 19th July 2010
 
Repent-  Asking God’s forgiveness for where we have in the past failed to collectively pray for our national leaders and Government. Our prayers provide the prayer cover that is necessary for Governments to rule wisely, with Godly authority and in the best interests of all people who make up our nation. When it is not forthcoming, Governments can fall into chaos and confusion but when properly in place righteousness and justice can flow according to God’s perfect will.

Bible readings – 1 Timothy 2: 1-6, Romans 13: 1-2
 
Day 3 – Tuesday 20th July 2010

Regret – Pray for a Holy Spirit transformation of our minds, for a new way of understanding and thinking about the things of God, because as a nation we have failed to give God His rightful place.

Bible readings – Colossians 1: 15-20 NLT
 
Day 4 – Wednesday 21st July 2010

Return – Pray for a significant turn back within our nation to the person and teachings of the One true God resulting in a re-direction of the nation’s ways and moral values. 

Bible readings – Joel 2: 12-13, Revelation 2: 4-5
 
Day 5 – Thursday 22nd July 2010

Refresh -  Pray for a fresh move of the Holy Spirit to ignite a greater desire in the Christian Church in Australia for the Word of God and the proclamation of the Gospel in our secular society.  Pray that the voice of the Church will become a prophetic guiding light to our Governments at both State and Federal level.

Bible Readings – Proverbs 11: 25, Acts 3: 19
 
Day 6 – Friday 23rd July 2010
 
Restore -   On the Day of Pentecost 14th May 1606 Fernandez de Quiros, in the name of Jesus Christ, took possession of The South Lands of the Holy Spirit, which included Australia. Pray for the restoration of Australia’s Judeo-Christian heritage as the foundation of future governments in this nation.

Bible Readings – Ephesians 1: 16-18
 
 
Day 7 – Saturday 24th July 2010

Renewal - is a new way of living in the freedom Christ brings through repentance. Pray for the Holy Spirit to renew the Christian Church to a greater place of authority and integrity in an increasing secular society. Pray that a renewed Church will be able to take its rightful place in the authority structure of our nation.

Bible Readings -  Isaiah 40: 31, Romans 12:2

Fashion from Heaven

Col. 3 – v.12

Being clothed with Christ –  just like the clothes that we wear e.g.  a coat or jacket – it’s the clothes that people first see when they look at us – they form their first impressions by what we are wearing… In the same way – when people meet us and get to know our character and personality – are the following attributes readily evident?   (In my case I unfortunately not) – yet we are to be clothed with Christ – in other words – in covenantal terminology – we are to have the IDENTITY of CHRIST and that character & attributes of Christ must BE PUT ON BY US!  Our identity is supposed to be hidden with Christ

If we were to meet Jesus – these are the things we would readily notice about him:

• Tender hearted mercy
• kindness
• humility
• gentleness
• patience
• (Above all LOVE)

 Seems like a difficult ask – as many of us do not possess these attributes readily and I think Paul understood that we are all under construction that’s why in the very next verse he says v.13 “you must allowances for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you.”  So Paul acknowledges that we have FAULTS and that we should make allowances accordingly, putting on love – which is the most important piece of clothing as it binds us all together in perfect harmony.

I have seen many make over TV shows where the fashion consultants will come to wardrobe of the client and advise the person to throw out certain (if not all) of outdated, unfashionable or poor fitting clothes.   The majority of the time the client is so used to their old favourite clothes that they resist or reject the advice of the fashion consultants – obviously to the detriment of their own image!   Likewise the Holy Spirit, much like those fashion consultants, comes to convict us of sin and to sanctify us in order to produce his fruits in our lives. We like the obstinate fashion client, in need of a make over, we make all sorts of excuses in order to resist the image of Christ.

So, what about those who never apologise to us and refuse to change? We should forgive them and love them.  God will do the judging – as ‘He gives grace to the humble but resists the proud.’  Those who refuse to humble themselves and consider themselves better than others will be in danger of coming up against God (which is not a wise place to be at any time).

My Presence will go with you and I will give you rest (Exo.33:14)

In Exo.33:14 we see God making an incredible promise to Moses.   Now Moses and the Israelites were at Mt Sinai, they had seen the miraculous power of God in delivering them out of Egypt and now that come to the Mountain of God to worship their God. It was at this mountain that God commissioned them to be his kingdom of priests that would bless the nations.  And now they were about to launch forth to take the promised land.  But Moses realized the importance of the presence of God on this mission.

I spent all of last week in the class with Dr Ed Stetzer, a leader in the MISSIONAL CHURCH movement. We looked at the importance of the missio Dei (the mission of God) and how the church is an instrument that is called forth to partner with God on HIS MISSION to reach all the nations of the earth.  If we are truly going to be a Spirit led people who are ON GOD’S MISSION – then we must be people of PRAYER.

Every Missionary (that includes every Christian who lives on this earth) is called to a life of prayer that is Spirit filled and led. As a CHURCH ON MISSION with GOD- our churches need to be Houses of Prayer for all nations!

Accordingly there are some powerful principles we can learn from MOses encounter with God on the Mountain:

1) REVELATION and Mission should be birthed out of prayer and God’s word:

We see Moses in dailogue with God. Notice that God first makes a promise that His Presence will go with Moses and He would give Moses rest. Moses then immediately prays this promise: “If your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here…”  Moses repeats and prays the promise the God made to him in v.14!

In the same we must pray to understand the Lord’s Will and moreover we must understand the importance of God’s PRESENCE that went with Moses and the children of Israel.  

The word PRESENCE in Hebrew can literally be taken ”the FACE of GOD” – in a sense it is the same word that is used in the Deuteronomic blessing in Numbers 6, where the Priest would bless God’s people by declaring that “God will make his FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU.” Likewise, it si important to understand that God’s presence involves GOD”S FAVOR and BLESSING being Upon us.

This adds new insight into what is meant by SEEKING GOD’S PRESENCE and SEEKING HIS FACE!  In otherwords when we approach God in prayer we are to seek Him, but more than that we are to SEEK HIS FACE. When we look at someone’s face – we give that person our full attention and respect…. it is also a picture of exclusivity and intimacy. 

So when we being to understand God’s Presence – turning to seek His face, his favor and blessing – shining upon us – then we can have the confidence to do what he wants.

But Moses went a step futher.

2) Moses prayed “Show me your glory”:

This was a daring prayer of Moses – for no one could see the face of God and live.  So God hid Moses in the rock and caused  his goodness pass by Moses.  IN Exo. 34 – we see that Moses saw God’s glory – He saw the goodness and very CHARACTER (the essence) of GOD!

So when we pray don’t merely focus on claiming the promises of God which are in His word – PLEASE UNDERSTAND – that the center and basis of our FAITH MUST BE IN CHRIST ALONE – IN HIS CHARACTER AND GOODNESS!  many Christians claim scriptures as though it were some magic formula – yes they are promises and God does answer prayers. BUT LIKE MOSES – we need to understand that we need to seek our saviour – we need to seek God’s character and not merely the subject of what he has promised.  Our trust, our worship, our adoration, the subject of our prayer must be focused on Christ and WHO HE ESSENTIALLY IS!

Seek the GIVER not the GIFTS. More than that we will be TRANSFORMED WHEN WE BEGIN TO SEE WOH CHRIST IS. Like the apostle Paul I encourage all of us to pray: “I want to Know CHRIST, the powe rof his resurrection and the feloowship of sharing in his sufferings, becomign like him in his death. And so somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Phil.3:10-11).

God bless all of you!

You are missionaries of the Most High God – so begin to live as missionaries!

ps Jono

M.A.R.C.H. ON!

Friday Revival Prayer 21st August – Job 36:27-28

NLT – Job 36:27-28

He draws up the water vapour and then distills it into rain

The rain pours down from the clouds, and everyone benefits

Many people often think that they have a handle on God – they believe they can just say, “Hey God I am here , bless me!” But the problem is God’s blessing don’t just come down any time you want!

Job got it right – He said the rain will come down depending on the the amount of vapour going up! How many prayers have gone up? How much worship has gone up? How much dedication has gone up?

WE ALL SAY WE WANT REVIVAL – we pray to God and ask Him to pour down the revival rain, but God is saying where is the mist? Where is the vapour?

You see we have to give God something to work with – this speaks about our worship, prayer, praise, fasting, dedication….all these must GO UP! Then He will SEND DOWN the blessings, healing,power answers to prayers, church growth…REVIVAL!

IT IS ONLY COMING WHEN WE SEND UP THE VAPOUR!

Revelation 8:3-5

The incence plus the prayer of the saints becoming will go up to the throne of God.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and PRAY…..

I have not seen anyone get the Holy Spirit that was not seeking for Him

I have never seen anyone get a miracle where someone wasn’t praying for it.

KEEP PRAYING and COME and JOIN US every Friday night at ICC 10.30pm-12.30 pm or beyond.

Telling the World begins with ONE!

I hope you all had a great Synergy Conference – God is GOOD and God is great!   Last night our prayer text was John 1. We focused on several sections including the following:

Firstly in JOHN 1:45  Phillip went off to look for Nathanael and told him about Jesus.  Phillip the great evangelist started off his ministry by telling ONE person about Jesus.  Sometimes evangelism can seem daunting…  you may have thought “How can I(or we) tell the world about Jesus?”    As soon as Phillip became a disciple of Jesus he went to tell ONE person, Nathanael, - we must learn to look for the ‘ONE’s.’ Notice that Nathanael was sitting under the fig tree by himself – there are alot of people in the world who may be all alone just waiting to hear the good news about Jesus.

Phillip’s message was simple - ”I’ve found Jesus! He’s real… just come and see for yourself.” START by being led by the Spirit – is there a friend you know who is searching? do you know someone that is lonely? Perhaps they may be looking for something in life?   

While I was on the plane flying from Brisbane to L.A. I sat next to a 62 year old kiwi guy from Wellington.  We began to talk and he told me how his whole family (his parents and brothers) had passed away – he had no more family. He then shared about how his older brother had died in an accident when he was only 16. This death weighed heavily on him for all his life and he turned his back on God since that time.   Because he saw me reading my big Old Testament theology book I was able to tell him that I was a Christian. Although I didn’t share the scriptures with him I was able to listen to his story and tell him that God had not fogotten him.  God was definitely on his case.  Pray for opportunities everyday… let’s  be open to talk to people… it may be as simple as saying, “Come and see for yourself.”

Secondly, in Luke 24:52 – after Jesus had ascended into heaven- Luke records that, “They (the disciples and other followers of Jesus) worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem fill with great joy. AND THEY SPENT ALL THEIR TIME IN THE TEMPLE, PRAISING GOD!” 

Most of us are familiar with Acts 1 – where the 120 disciples were in the upper room seeking God… however, we often forget the ending of Luke 24 – where the followers of Jesus SPENT ALL THEIR TIME IN THE TEMPLE PRAISING GOD.   In the same way I would encourage everyone who is a follower and disciple of Jesus to CONTINUE to seek him.  Do you have such a strong desire for the presence of God?  Like the Psalmist do you have a deep passion to praise the LORD in the assembly (congregation) of the righteous?    Let’s pray this  for one another – that we will have great joy and continue to praise God as one body – for We (together) are the temple of his Spirit!

Come Let us go to our father’s house where we can seek him and behold his glory.