Friday Focus
We at World Prayer Centre, in partnership with HOPE and the Prayer Magazine, invite you to join in with Friday Focus prayer starting Friday 6th January 2017.
Friday Focus 2017 provides the opportunity for us to pray where we are, and unite across our nations, supporting all ongoing mission and preparing the way for future mission. HOPE’s aim is to see the entire church mobilised during 2018 to make Jesus known.
Each week Friday Focus will take a different theme – supporting national initiatives of prayer and mission; key seasons in the church’s calendar, different people groups highlighted in the Talking Jesus report as well as prompting us to pray for those we know and meet and the communities we are part of and the places where we live. Will you join us in seeking our Father for His ways, His will and His kingdom to be seen more and more in our land?
How to get it
To sign up to get Friday Focus you email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and put ‘Please send me Friday focus each week’. Head over to the Hopetogether website pages for more information, ie outline for prayer meeting.
If you would like to have a printed copy then subscribe to Prayer Magazine.
Protection for our nation
At this busy season, we ask you to pray for PROTECTION particularly over the peak train journeys, Churches, motorways, airports and aircrafts, cruise liners and ferries, tunnels and sporting stadiums.
Declaration for the protection of our nations
We declare God’s plans are for good and not for evil, so in the Name of Jesus, we enforce God’s original plans for peace, mercy and hope over and against every plan and purpose of Satan to bring death or destruction and we declare this nation will be a place of safety.
We declare You are the one in whom we put our trust. Psalm 20: 7 “some trust in chariots and some in horses; but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.“ We speak Your protection over our land. In the Name of Jesus, we speak safety into airports, shopping centres, railway stations and every place where people gather. We speak Your divine wisdom and revelation to every member of our security forces and police force.
In this season of pressure, we bless their homes and families in the Name of Jesus with joy, health and peace.
We are looking to continue to mobilise effective informed united prayer across our nations by praying for God’s wisdom, revelation, insight and protection for:
1) Government and World Leaders.
2) Emergency Services
3) Armed forces
4) Intelligence Services
5) Media and communications
6) ISIS and others who may wish to cause danger.
7) Angelic protection for our gates, airports, ferries and ports, tunnels including the Euro tunnel, rail networks and stations, shopping centres, schools, colleges, football stadiums and other vulnerable places where many people gather together.
8) Closing of spiritual gates to violence and premature death.
9) An unprecedented move of God across our communities and nations.
Why?
1) To provide mercy and protection to reduce the danger to life and limb from attacks for our communities and nations.
2) To release a clear trumpet call to those in the valley of decision.
3) To reduce fear and hopelessness - The aim of terror is to bring fear, confusion, hatred – we stand against that in the name of Jesus because his perfect love casts out fear.
4) To bring any plots into the light before they are actioned.
5) To see the Church arise and stand united around Jesus love.
Who can pray?
1) Churches, Groups and individuals – anyone, anywhere general prayer.
How can we pray?
1) This is bigger than one network so we need to stand united to release a clear sound across all of the networks and denominations.
2) Use social media – Twitter, Facebook eg 3 simple prayer points:
a. Lord have mercy across the UK today.
b. Fill us with your love and protect us.
c. May Jesus be revealed across this land.
3) Train and equip people to pray effectively.
4) Provide prayer resources with regular updates as circumstances demand.
6) Coastlands and Gateways
7) Encourage faith and not fear by declaring Jesus victory.
Here are some scriptures you can use:
“Stand therefore...praying at all times in the spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keeping alert with perseverance.” Ephesians 6
“He neither slumbers nor sleeps ....my help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.” He is the Lord of Hosts
“He is the head of all rule and authority” Colossians 2.16
“He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” 1 John 4:4
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” Luke 4:18
Habakkuk 3:2 “Oh Lord. Revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.”
Jeremiah 29:7 “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."
2 Timothy 2:1-2 “I urge, then, first of all that requests, prayer, intersession and thanksgiving be made FOR everyone FOR kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Psalm 18:2-3 “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.”
Isaiah 53:5 “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us PEACE was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. “
Source: Coastlands & Gateways
Trypraying 2017
Several places are considering using trypraying co-operatively next year in the run up to, or from, Easter. In our sights is the goal of 1000 churches across the UK making use of it and 10 city-wide projects where scores of churches work together. We are happy to talk with you if this is something you would like to consider. You could host a meeting in the next three months to get the idea talked about. We might even be able to send along a speaker to help. Please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you are interested.
If you are within reach of High Wycombe or Birmingham on 28/29th November then you might wish to come to one of these two ‘interest meetings’ to see how it all works.
• Monday 28th November 7.30 (refreshments) for 8.00 p.m. at St Peter's Loudwater, Buckinghamshire, HP10 9QL.
• Tuesday 29th November 2.30 p.m. Riverside House, 21 Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham. B13 8AR.
Please email us if you are interested and we’ll get you counted in for refreshments – or just come.
Meanwhile, here’s a conversation which took place in Costa yesterday with someone who "doesn’t do church.”
I had previously given her copy of the trypraying booklet. I felt I should take a risk and ask how she got on with it. She said she had given it away to a friend - who had then given it to someone else. "Your booklet is travelling!" she joked. I explained the content of the booklet again, especially Day 5 (forgiveness) and Day 6 (responding to Christ) because, on offer, is the possibility of a relationship with a loving God. I asked if she had prayed the prayers on those days and she was non-commital but she then volunteered, “I'll tell you what I am going to do. I’m going to go through the booklet again and pray and the next time I see you I’ll tell you how I got on .”
Encouraging.
Take risks.
Source: Trypraying
The WOW of His Glory!
For all those that were at Trumpet Call, we spoke about the 'WOW' of God (wonder of wonders). We then got sent this article via the Elijah List. Interesting reading and confirmation!
"The 'Wow' of His Glory! Being Captured by the Awe of God"
by John Belt, Cincinnati, OH
From the Desk of Steve Shultz:
Do we ever need to see the "wow" impact of God...and over our nation. We've received some amazing words and have heard great testimonies about the glory of God...His revival glory that is happening.
My friend John Belt shares a "wow" word about the awe of God:
We should have days like this where God gives us an experience that wakes us up to His reality. This is not just His presence that I'm talking about. His presence is first and is the person of who He is, but it's His power that also has a way of shaking things up. When His power is manifested it causes us to "stand in awe" with an experiential understanding and a "wow!" of His glory.
Many are praying and believing that we are going to see and stand in awe of what God is going to do in our nation! (To Subscribe to the Elijah List go here.
Steve Shultz, Founder and Publisher
The Elijah List & Breaking Christian News
http://www.elijahlist.com
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"The 'Wow' of His Glory! Being Captured by the Awe of God"
by John Belt, Cincinnati, OH
God wants us to be captured with awe for who He is and what He is doing. This is why it is so important that we notice God is working in our midst. When Jesus came on the scene things started happening that startled the people. They were captured by surprise by the wonders the Lord was performing among them. When miracles happen now, our spiritual senses become heightened, almost like a slap in the face, when God does something extraordinary.
We should be in passionate pursuit to see the "awe of God," and even the fear of the Lord, restored among us.
Luke 5:22-25, "But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, 'Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, your sins are forgiven you, or to say, rise up and walk? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sin— He said to the man who was paralyzed, I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.' Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, 'We have seen strange things today.'"
Experience a "Wow" of His Glory
We should have days like this where God gives us an experience that wakes us up to His reality. This is not just His presence that I'm talking about. His presence is first and is the person of who He is, but it's His power that also has a way of shaking things up. When His power is manifested it causes us to "stand in awe" with an experiential understanding and a "wow!" of His glory.
Another benefit of God's power being at work among us, is that those who don't know God are struck with a healthy fear of God, conviction of sin and the need to come to a place of salvation. When people see that God is alive it changes everything. No longer can they argue with their minds, but they now have to deal with the truth of the living God!
The Necessity of Operating in Spirit and in Power
I really believe the Church, as a whole, has been led to believe that having demonstrations of the Spirit and power of God isn't necessary. But this was essential to the Gospel that Paul preached.
1 Thessalonians 1:5, "For our Gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake."
The message of Good News, "the Gospel," is followed by the reality of God's goodness being demonstrated in people's lives. For then, the reality of God's glory is touching people physically; bringing healing, restoration and health in dramatic ways that cause people to "stand in awe." The awe of God is essential to our lives. Ask yourself if you have ever been struck with awe because of something so amazing that God has done which caused you to step back.
If so, may it happen more often! If not, pursue God in such a way that it will happen. I'm sure blind Bartimaeus, in retrospect, was glad that he did not have sense enough to keep quiet when Jesus was walking by on that day and everyone there benefited from his miracle as well (Mark 10:46-52).
John and Brandi Belt
Overflow Global Ministries
A remarkable day of prayer!
The Trumpet Call National Day of prayer at the International Convention Centre on 15 October was a remarkable day. We believe it was a time of release and re-commissioning. Jesus is calling His whole church to pray and evangelise. We are moving into a time of harvest and revival and there is an urgency to our preparations.
On the day Ian Cole, our founder, shared the passion God has for His Gospel – this remarkable, life-changing work of redemption, mercy, restoration, reconciliation, unity and freedom. Our six partners, whose ministry links with these themes, shared their vision and we prayed for their work and for the Gospel themes. As we prayed, a trumpet was sounded and the 1,500 audience joined with our Gospel declarations.*
This was a day of prayer and praise with many moments where God’s presence was tangible and we received clear messages about God’s heart and purpose for these times.
Here are some of the key Trumpet Call themes. We ask you to consider them carefully and ask – is God calling me to be praying for these things in my family, friendship groups, neighbourhood or workplace?
We believe that out of Trumpet Call, God is saying it is His appointed time for:
- The power of the Gospel to be released in this land. The Gospel is the good news of unquenchable love of Jesus. It speaks of the extraordinary change Jesus can bring into anyone’s life. He brings mercy, He brings freedom and release. This is not just about knowing God’s love; it is also about knowing His deliverance and change.
- The Gospel to be released where you live, worship and work. The Gospel is also the good news of unity. Not a distant toleration of each other but the unity of the deep embrace, with respect across the generations, between all the ministries in a church, across ethnic groups and between churches and Christian organisations. Unity releases blessing and gets us ready for harvest time.
- The Gospel brings redemption and restoration. God hears the prayers from generations past and is restoring the role of the Church to bring mercy, freedom, love and deliverance to the places where we live and to our nation.
- It is the Gospel of reconciliation and it is time for the prodigals. Many carry the deep hurt of children and other family members who have abandoned their faith or who have never had a true relationship with Jesus. We are glad to say they are high on God’s priority list. At Trumpet Call, hundreds came in tears to bring their prodigals to the cross. We believe these will be the first fruits and God plans to bring hundreds of thousands of prodigals home. They are like Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones and God is saying “Wake up, rise up, I am restoring my army and you the prodigals are key parts of it so I can bless this nation.”
It is time for the emerging generation. Some of them will be the prodigals called back home. This generation is called to be a revival generation; they will carry and sustain this move of God. It is time to pray for a tsunami of divine passion to hit this generation that they might be completely sold out for Jesus. One of the key calls on the older generation is to pray with generosity for this generation to rise up into their calling and authority. - It is time for children to enter into the fullness of who God called them to be – children who praise God, prayer regularly, are excited about Jesus moving in their lives and are entering into their gifting and calling.
- There is a unique call on the British Isles to be people who take the Gospel to other nations, and to pray with renewed vigour for the persecuted church.
- It is time for a new Trumpet Call at local level calling the church to pray. Across the nation we get stories of boring poorly attended prayer meetings. We go through the motions of prayer. We need to pray intensely for a prayer revival. Let us stop meeting with a shopping list but turn our prayer times into holy moments in the presence of God. Let God engage our hearts as well as our minds. We long to see small groups turned into engine rooms of prayer and transformation. Places of great intimacy with Christ, great encouragement and prayer rooms where we expect God to move powerfully.
- It is time for a new Air War and Ground War. Some are called to the Air War – to pray for cities and nations and in particular to be watching the things of the kingdom. To be more aware of where God is moving, and what He wants to encourage as well as standing on guard to protect and pray for breakthroughs. All of us are called to the Ground War – regular, sustained and inspired prayer for our family, friends, workplace and neighbourhoods to be changed by God and for many to find Jesus and have their lives changed.
- It is the time for Wow! There is nothing boring about God. He is the God of the extraordinary, He is the God of abundance, and He is the God of release and restoration. It is time to pray for the Wow of God. That our churches will be places hungry to meet with God, where miracles glorify His name. Our God is the Lord of the marketplace, the schoolroom, the University campus, the shop floor, the squash court, the prison cell, the office and the coffee houses. As the chorus says – “Spirit break out”. We pray for an extraordinary move of God across every part of our nation from north to south, from old to young, from rich to poor, from healthy to sick, that the extraordinary of God will shake, change and release our nation.
A new season
World Prayer Centre believes that we are in a dramatic new season. Our aim is to watch what is happening and encourage and enable prayer. We have many resources and materials already prepared that you can use personally and with small groups to raise your prayer level. We will send out new resources to give prayer focus and direction. We will work with partners to plan and develop prayer events and fresh teaching. We will provide testimonies and stories of God’s WOW at work.
Work with us
We would love to hear your feedback, your testimonies, and your requests for support. We want to encourage you to prepare for harvest, be champions of prayer, and be builders of unity. May God’s Kingdom come.
*Feel free to use the Gospel declarations in your small group or church or a wider prayer gathering. This is powerful way to release the power of the Gospel into your community.
You can still view some of the live streamed videos from the day on our Facebook page under videos.
An invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Thy Kingdom come 25 May – 4 June 2017
In 2016 the Archbishops of Canterbury and York invited parishes across England to join a great wave of prayer between Ascension and Pentecost.The response was overwhelming. Hundreds of thousands joined the wave of prayer in churches of many traditions and denominations around England and around the world. What began as invitation in England started to look like the beginnings of a global wave of prayer for people to know Jesus Christ.
For 2017 the vision is even bigger. The Presidents of Churches Together in England are joining with the Archbishop of Canterbury and York to make the call to churches of all denominations in England, and Archbishop Justin Welby is sending out the call to every part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the World Methodist Council to Methodist Churches worldwide.
The three aims are:
To join in prayer with the whole family of God the Father
To pray for the empowering of God the Holy Spirit
That we may be effective witnesses to God the Son, Jesus Christ.
As we look to 2017 there is a remarkable and beautiful desire across denominations and countries to share in this great work of prayer. The Presidents of Churches Together in England are committed. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has committed to playing a full part. The Free Churches Group is actively encouraging all its member churches to get involved. Many of the Pentecostal churches and new churches will be participating, and several of the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches in the UK have signalled their support. Provinces across the Anglican Communion have been invited to join the wave of prayer, and the World Methodist Council is encouraging all Methodists to warmly receive and actively participate in it. We also hope there will be ‘Beacon events’ in many capital cities in Europe.
'Thy Kingdom Come 2017 Invite' for SOCIAL MEDIA with ENGLISH SUBTITLES from Frogspawn Creative Limited on Vimeo.
More information on the Thy Kingdom Come website