Watching and praying
The role of watchmen in the Old Testament was well understood. They had to stand guard twenty-fours a day for a city. Cities are mentioned over 800 times in the Bible. Unlike today, when we have mega-cities across the world, in Old Testament times cities were sometimes quite small. What distinguished them from villages was the wall of protection built around them. Each city wall had watch-towers constructed as part of the wall. One sees this replicated today in some historic castles scattered across theBritish Isles.
Watchmen had to stand guard in shifts around the clock, watching for signs of danger.They would then inform the city elders, who would decide what action was appropriate. Isaiah 62.6, Jeremiah 6.17 and Ezekiel 3.17 (among others) speaks of the role of spiritual watchmen.
In many nations today, the church has taken this very seriously. Multiple "watches" in prayer centres and towers, churches, ministry centres - even prisons - have been established, involving many thousands of Christians in prayer on a regular basis. I believe God is calling again for such watches to be established. These are prayer watches, involving all ages. Some already are deliberately and regularly taking the night watches. African believers know that the hours of darkness are when most of the evil in the world takes place. "Men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil".
Certainly the urgency of the hour, the spread of wars, the economic uncertainty, the widening gap between rich and poor, the increasing intensity of enemy aggression against followers of Christ, the huge migrant crisis gripping Europe, creating population shifts, the terrorist threats posed by Islamist groups in many parts of the world - all this and more means that we as Christians need to be "watching and praying". Nothing is certain - everything is shifting.
How do we watch? Certainly in prayer for extended times. By keeping our eyes open to what the evil one is doing as well as to what God is doing, we will have fuel for prayer. By watching the news (but not getting fearful because of the news) can be a help, so long as we recognise that the news media can only present a perspective - not the whole truth. But we also need to see things from God's perspective as we pray. He knows everything we need to know for effective prayer. By being seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2.10), we can know that too.
We also need to watch and pray in unity. Watchmen on the walls were in touch with each other. We need to check what we are discerning with others, and then decide what to do next - in unity with both watchmen and the elders of the city. When I meet with prayer leaders in the South East region of the UK this is something we do. Where do we watch? We need to ask God what is the assignment he individually wishes us to take on. For some it will be their street, for others their village, town or city. Others know they are called to be watchmen for their nation. And some know that God has appointed them to be global watchmen. I was at a gathering of intercessory leaders in mid August, and around half of them knew they had been called to be global watchmen. I know God has called me to be one of these too.
The times we are in are serious. Satan knows that his time is short. So he is active on multiple fronts simultaneously. He works through a network of principalities and powers, and demonic systems of control. Most Christians in the West are not alert to these things (unlike our brothers and sisters in Africa and Asia, who are well aware of Satan's devices). But we need to be on our guard and alert!
Where are the watchmen? "Watch and pray", said Jesus lest you fall into diverse temptations.
Source: Brian Mills, IPC Senior Advisor
Unite in Prayer
The 10/40 Window is located from 10 degrees south to 40 degrees north of the equator. There are 69 nations across Northern Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia in the 10/40 Window.
More than 4 billion people live here, including 90 percent of the world's poorest of the poor.
The 10/40 Window is often called "The Resistant Belt" and includes the majority of the world's Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Communist Governments.
It is estimated that 1.6 billion of these people have never had the chance to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ - not even once!
From 1 – 31 October 2015 we will be Praying Through the Window – a worldwide prayer initiative, focused on the following global issues in the 69 nations:
- Global Terrorism
- World Religions
- Corruption
- Lawlessness
- Persecution
Why don't you consider becoming a part of
11:55 Un✝te in Prayer
and Pray through the Window
at 11:55 am every day through October?
Source: Global Prayer Resource Network
War in Yemen
With the war in Syria, ISIS, and the current refugee crisis in Europe, it is easy to forget the war in Yemen which has left the country at the brink of famine according to the UN's World Food Programme (WFP). Of the 27 million people in Yemen, 21 million are in aid of humanitarian aid. There are massive food shortages, lack of fresh water, sanitation and low fuel stocks. This has created a humanitarian catastrophe for the Yemeni people, especially for the children. They are suffering from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, dengue fever, and a host of other diseases. In addition, 1.4 million have been forced from their homes. They are refugees in their own country. The total number of people who have been killed so far is 4500, 2000 of them being civilians.
Pray for the peace of Yemen. Pray for humanitarian aid to reach the people. One prayer request from a previous PTAP mailing was answered when a ship loaded with food and aid successfully arrived in the port city of Aden last month. Pray that Jesus and his people would proclaim the gospel of the kingdom and heal every disease and every affliction (Matthew 9:35). As Jesus was moved to compassion to become the shepherd for a harassed and helpless people, may the believers in Yemen rise up and serve their people as compassionate shepherds representing the King (Matthew 9:36).
In particular, pray for one city in the country. Where there was once a bustling shopping mall, a hull of aluminum and concrete stands. Hotels and apartment buildings once full of life, now stand empty. A famous landmark of the 1800s is half gone. Pray for the people in a city torn by war. Pray that they will have courage and strength to rebuild their lives. Pray that they will hear the good news that God's deep love for them did not change even with the world around them did. Pray that those who love God will be able to reach out to the people in this city.
Here is a sobering slideshow of pictures from the current conflict. Let these images draw you into prayer for one of the most needy places on earth right now. Click here to view the slideshow.
A believer was recently imprisoned for 3 weeks. He was interrogated and released. Because of the war, religious matters are low on the radar of the security but they are still active and watching. Pray for the protection of the believers and that they would be filled with the Holy Spirit to speak the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31).
This past weekend, a local pastor was targeted, shot and killed. Pray Rev 12:11 - that the believers would overcome Satan through persecution, the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony.
Source: Praying through the Arabian Peninsula
Watch and pray during desperate times
Ian Cole the founder of World Prayer Centre shares some thoughts on the current signs that we are seeing around the world.
Millions on the move, wars and rumours of wars, desperate people fleeing from desperate people, killings in the name of religion, aborted baby parts being sold, environmental disasters, political leaders struggling to find answers, nations in uproar, car manufacturers cheating millions, financial instability increasing, good called evil and evil called good. At one time we could have been accused of exaggerating, not any longer.
So, how near are we to Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21? The answer is we do not know, but Jesus did tell us to watch, watch for the signs, and watch that you are not deceived. Watch and pray. We are encouraging each other here as a team and we want to encourage you to watch from a position of confidence and shalom (peace) in God our Father, Christ Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit. The Psalmist wrote as he watched, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble, therefore we will not fear" in fact he encourages us to "be still and know that God is God". (paraphrase Psalm 46 NIV)
So we watch, but we also warn. Watchmen are useless if they see the danger and stay quiet. The Christian message is that God loves every girl and boy including those in the womb and He loves every man and woman on the planet. Yes even those who plan, organise and carry out such evil things, even they are not outside God's mercy. However we have to warn that for those who deliberately live a Godless life, those who reject God's plan of salvation through the life, death and resurrection of His Son Jesus, there are not only serious consequences in this life but also in the life to come. The truth is, as with an individual, so with a nation.
So as you watch, are you concerned about all you see and hear, are you fearful for your future, your children's future? In the midst of your storm take a moment or two, be still and speak to God. Tell Him your fears, tell Him your failings, tell Him your worries, He's big enough to cope with them. When the disciples were in the middle of the storm, fearing they would drown, it was Jesus who was in the boat with them that stilled the waves and stilled their hearts. Reach out to Him, He will do the same for you.
Are you new to prayer? Then check out this great resource that helps you to strat praying...
Because Prayer Matters
Prayer matters. It is essential to all that we do and everything we are. This year add your voice as hundreds from all over the UK pray boldly for the work of Justice. IJM's National Conference will be held on Saturday the third of October at St Pauls Hammersmith, London. Hear stories of hope, inexplicable joy and triumph first hand. Discover God's heart for justice. Your eyes will be opened and your heart will be transformed. And because of your prayers, lives will be changed.
IJM's National Conference is a transformative event like you've never experienced. You will pray, you will worship and you will encounter God as you stand on the front lines of injustice with IJM's staff and friends from around the world.
This year's speakers include IJM's director of investigations – who cannot be named for security reasons, Anu George, IJM director of national strategy and interventions, Terry Tennens Chief Executive of IJM UK and many many more.
Join IJM and experience first-hand God pouring out his passion among his people for the work of justice throughout the world. Be encouraged and pray with boldness, on behalf of those who are in need of his love and justice in the world. Join IJM on the 3rd October in Hammersmith. Tickets and further information available from http://www.ijmuk.org/conference
Source: International Justice Mission
Prayer Day feedback
Our September prayer day happened on the 12th. There was a strong sense of Jesus' presence and a strong call to pray. The key themes we prayed are below so that you can join us in continuing to pray for these issues.
Pray for:
Refugees - that God will give us hearts of compassion for people in need. We live in a world of deep continuous need. Lord give us compassion for these broken traumatised people. We prayed for peace at the border crossings and camps. We pray for protection on people making hazardous journeys. We prayed for leaders making difficult far-reaching decisions under great time constraints.
Muslim converts - We heard testimonies of Muslims coming to Christ in England, captivated by the love they discovered in God's people.
Protection - Islamic militancy is growing and it would suit their schemes to build enmity between the west and our new neighbours.
New labour leader - give him wisdom, your will be done.
Peace and truth in Northern Ireland. Bless the peacemakers, bless your people.
European Trumpet call –God's blessing and release for Germany and Romania.
Supremacy of Christ in our nation and Europe - we lifted up the name of Jesus -'our hope, our rock, our fortress'.
Join us as we continue to bring these issues before the Lord.