National Day of Prayer & Fasting

Today I joined a gathering of Christians at Parliament House in Canberra for the National Day of Prayer & Fasting.  Together, with two other Salvation Army Officers from Melbourne, we assembled in the Great Hall for six hours of powerful worship of our Lord and passionate prayers for our nation with people from diverse church and cultural backgrounds.  Yet amidst the diversity of this crowd was a shared unity of spirit through a common union with Jesus Christ.  From beginning to end we had an acute awareness that we were a part of something of kingdom significance and had a strong anticipation that God would use this event to reshape the spiritual climate of Australia.

Throughout the day we were guided through a variety of worship and prayer experiences that focused on Adoration, Worship & Thanksgiving - Repentance & Revival - Australia's Christian History & Heritage - Praying for Leaders - National Repentance Service - Delight & Destiny.  

Two significant highlights for me were the bilingual prayer and worship service led by the Rhema Chinese Church and the National Repentance Service for the abuse and hurt caused by the church led by Commissioner James Condon.  

The Chinese leaders uttered passionate and prophetic prayers that spoke of renewal and revival in our nation.  They demonstrated an unbridled faith that dared to believe that Australia really could be won for Jesus...and that the Australian Chinese church would lead the way!  From what I saw today, I have no doubt!!  Engaging in a bilingual service reminds you that we worship the God of all nations and really allows you to connect with the heart of God through the heart language of His people.

The Commissioner's prayer of repentance was powerfully illustrated through an act of humility by him washing the feet of a survivor of abuse by the church while in the care of The Salvation Army as a child.  We were deeply moved by the survivor's story of restoration and healing and the Commissioner, together with other church leaders, demonstration of repentance and humility.  Through the regrets of the past came a resolute commitment to righteousness in the future.

Jesus was truly glorified today!  Holy Spirit was present!  God's heart was revealed!  The Church was united!  The gates of Hell were shaken!  The National Day of Prayer & Fasting was a catalyst for revival in our nation!

Let every Church leader, Christ follower and Christian politician put Sunday, 7th February 2016 on their calendar and plan to make the pilgrimage to Canberra next year to participate in the National Day of Prayer & Fasting.  Visit www.nationaldayofprayer.com.au to register or for more details.

I'm Dreaming Of A Holy Spirit Revival!

Every time I sing the Brooke Fraser song Hosanna I am captured by the words, "I see a near revival, stirring as we pray and seek, we're on our knees, we're on our knees."  And when I hear the song Revival by Robin Mark my heart beats a little harder in sync with the rhythm as I sing the words, "I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones, you're gonna send revival, bring 'em all back home."

We are currently in a season of ministry where God is stirring a 'Holy Discontent' deep within our spirits and repositioning our church for a mighty movement of His Spirit!  In such a season a spiritual battle is raging personally and corporately as resistance to the work of the Spirit is being confronted and blockages are being revealed to make way for a Holy Spirit revival.  

We are being called back to submission to the authority of God's Word.  

 

We are being challenged to engage in passionate corporate prayer.

 

We are being confronted by the presence and power of Holy Spirit.

The other night I had a dream about a Holy Spirit revival that was so vivid: I dreamt that I was attending a large gathering at the Melbourne Town Hall where there was a loud commotion going on in the main auditorium.  Those gathered in the foyer were clearly concerned by what was going on inside and there were people trying to block the doors and prevent others from entering.  As I tried to get a look at what was happening I too was physically blocked from going inside.  I pushed my through the obstruction and forced my way past the person blocking the doorway into the commotion inside.  What I found was a hall full of people slain in the Spirit with many manifesting various other signs of the Spirit.  There was a loud noise and it became clear that there was a mighty movement of Holy Spirit going on!  As I progressed down the aisle I was overwhelmed by the presence of God and what was happening around me.  When I exited the rear of the building I was left pondering the meaning of what was happening both inside the auditorium and in the foyer by those who tried to prevent me and others from seeing this movement of the Spirit.

Normally when I dream, the details are sketchy and I rarely remember the dream beyond waking up.  There is conservative part of me that is even a little reluctant to read too much into dreams, but the Scripture clearly says, "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams"  (Acts 2:17).  Now, let me be clear - I am not an old man!  However, I did dream a dream that has left a strong imprint in my mind and on my spirit!  As I have reflected upon and prayed about this dream over the past 24 hours I believe it reveals our current spiritual reality locally and beyond.  In a season where God is wanting to unleash Holy Spirit revival, I feel this dream confronts me (us) with some powerful questions:

• Who or what is obstructing me from seeing and experiencing Holy Spirit power in my own life?
• Who or what is obstructing us from seeing and experiencing Holy Spirit power in our church/es?
• Are we standing on the shores watching the wave of the Spirit pass us by or are we in the water riding that wave?
• Who are those around us acting as gate keepers trying to contain the movement of the Spirit?
• How hard are we pushing through that which is blocking this movement of the Spirit?
• Do we really want to see Holy Spirit revival in our lives and our church/es?

 

My dream and desire is to experience the fullness of the presence and power of the Spirit and for a Holy Spirit revival to be unleashed in our church and across the entire movement of the Christian church!!

Divine Conversations #3

Lord, I am reminded again of a quote by Dr. Stuart Robinson, from his booklet, The Prayer of Obedience:

“The degree to which we are convinced that all real growth is ultimately a supernatural process and are prepared to act upon that belief, will be directly reflected in the priority that we give to corporate and personal prayer in the life of the church.”

It is from this conviction that we turn to you O Lord, for it is you alone that changes lives; it is you alone who transforms society; and it is you alone who will bring revival to this church!!  The question is, how badly do we want it and are we prepared to stay on our knees until we get it? 

The way I see it, we can labour in vain or we can let the creator of the universe build His house (Psalm 127:1-2).  This is why you told your disciples to wait until the Holy Spirit came before they went out to establish the early church.  And what did they do while they waited?  They prayed together – with one heart and mind!  And what happened when the Holy Spirit came?  3,000 people were added to their number that day!!  And what did they do in response to that growth?  They kept on meeting together in fellowship and prayer!  And what did you do Lord?  You “added to their number daily those who were being saved”!! (Acts 2)

We worship the same God who took on human form “and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:14); we pray to the same Jesus who commissioned the disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19); and we receive the same Spirit who filled the disciples at Pentecost (Acts 2:14)!  It seems to me that for this church to experience Acts 2 growth, we need to practice Acts 1 leadership:  “They all joined together constantly in prayer” (Acts 1:14). 

“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you”  (Joshua 3:5)

To read more of Divine Conversations visit http://divineconversationsbook.blogspot.com.au/
 

The Journey Continues...

"My prayer also Lord, is that you unite our church together in prayer, that those who haven’t yet experienced the intimacy of meeting with you here will be inspired to do so. Lord, speak into the hearts of your people. Help us become a praying church - a people so passionately committed to seeking your face. Father, I pray for revival in our church, ignite the fire within each one of us, unite us in prayer, for your kingdoms cause. Father, I get so excited when I think about the future of our church and this community as we commit our lives daily to you. I pray for patience, knowing that your timing is perfect. Use me for your glory. Lord, with all my heart I love you, I am yours, I surrender my life to you.”  (August, 2007)

Six years ago, the Lord took me and a group of like-minded Christ followers on an extraordinary journey of passionate and prevailing prayer as we established a 24-7 Prayer Room in the southern suburbs of Adelaide at the Noarlunga Salvation Army. Tomorrow, this journey takes another exciting turn as a new prayer room is dedicated and opened in the south eastern suburbs of Melbourne at the Cranbourne Salvation Army. The prayer I prayed at the opening of the Noarlunga prayer room resonates as deep within my spirit today on the eve of opening the Cranbourne prayer room as it did all those years ago!

Today, I also pray that you unite our church together in prayer at the Cranbourne Corps and pray that those who haven't experienced the intimacy of meeting with you will be inspired to do so.

Today, I also ask that you speak into the hearts of your people and to help us become a praying church - a people so passionately committed to seeking your face.

Today, I also pray for revival in our church. Ignite the fire within each one of us, unite us in prayer, for your kingdoms cause.   

As tomorrow marks the beginning of a brand new journey of prayer, may it also be the beginning of the transformation our church and a revival in our community as we commit to pray for the salvation of our city!

What Is Your Church Full Of?

“More than churches full of people, God wants (and the world needs) people full of the Spirit.”  (Clark Pinnock, Flame of Love)

As a church leader I understand the want to see your church full of people.  Empty seats hardly inspire or compare to the thrill of a large crowd gathering for worship.  However, is there more to church than a crowd?  Is there a more important want and need for the local church than full seats? 

Churches full of people look great, but churches full of the Spirit are great!

The church growth movement has offered churches helpful strategies to make congregations more contemporary, outward focused and seeker sensitive.  Are good strategies without the Spirit enough?

Church governance has organised churches with systems and structures to effectively manage congregations to be efficient organisations.  Are good structures without the Spirit enough?

Church programs provide opportunities for churches to socially connect congregations with community through a variety of activities.  Are good social connections without the Spirit enough?

More than size, strategies, systems, structures and social connections, the people of God - who are the church - need to be full of the Spirit of God to be a powerful and positive influence in society.  When the people of God are full of the Spirit the growth and impact of the church cannot be contained, as evidenced at Pentecost when 3,000 people were added to the church that day!  

We can strive for growth or we can submit to the Spirit who provides the harvest.  Results will come through human effort, but REVIVAL will only come when the people are filled with the Spirit and there is a Holy Spirit anointing upon the church.