It's time to turn and seek God for Brexit
Our UK decision in June 2016 to leave the European Union has been, and still is, a huge learning curve to all people with a heart to pray and work to see God's Kingdom be more fully seen and experienced. In the past, we may have approached 'big' issues from the same perspective and been able to come to a place of unity together but not so with 'Brexit'. Differing views have brought tensions in every area of our society and that includes our churches! One of the results of this that we can sidestep the urgent need to pray.
It is time to turn and seek the face of our Father in order to discern His plans and His purposes through all that is taking place regarding Brexit and its impact over our UK nations, the European Union, Europe and the rest of the world.
Over recent months in our World Prayer Centre days of prayer we have been asking the Lord to teach us how to pray and He has been clearly responding with 'it's time to turn'. The call to turn involves us laying down our own agendas, taking our eyes off our preferences, stances, political leanings and whether we voted Remain or Leave and to turn to Him afresh. We must put our trust in Him as Lord in and through all the shaking and uncertainty that we experience at every level of society - not only in the UK but all over the world.
We, as His church, need to be united and focussed on praying for His Kingdom to come in and through all of this so that heaven's purposes can be released on earth.
Praying for
His purposes to be revealed (Psalm 33.11)
His ways to be made known (Psalm 25.10; Ps 77.13)
His truth to emerge (John 14.17)
His justice to be outworked (Leviticus 19:15)
His mercy to be poured out (Habbakuk 3:2)
His compassion to be seen (Colossians 3:12)
His peace to be evident (Galatians 5:22)
His wisdom to be given (James 3:17)
For our leaders: for those negotiating with the European Union; for those working on the redrafting of our UK laws; that our Westminster and UK government leaders will not get distracted by the enormity of Brexit and be able to govern wisely; for political stability in our Westminster government and for a clear roadmap to emerge in these next few months before March 2019.
Let's make this a season where we adopt in prayer leaders including: Theresa May; Dominic Raab Secretary for Exiting the European Union and his team (Lord Callanan Minister of State; Robin Walker MP; Chris Heaton-Harris MP; Suella Braverman MP); Michel Barnier, as Chief Negotiator for the 27 EU countries and his deputy Sabine Weyand; Didier Seeuws (European Parliament); Donald Tusk (European Council); Jean-Claude Junker (European Commission): and other national leaders in Europe during this season - remembering leaders in Scotland and Wales and the situation in Northern Ireland without a functioning Assembly (1 Tim 2:2).
For reconciliation and trust: whatever agreements are finally agreed, humanly speaking it will all depend on those people meeting and discussing face to face. For those meetings to deliver what the Lord wants there will need to be trust, understanding and the ability by each party to listen to what is being proposed. As we write, there is talk of a vote of no confidence in Theresa May, disagreements between cabinet ministers - and in recent weeks we have seen how media leaks of supposed conversations in closed meetings in the 'Brexit talks' were not found to be true.
When we know of key dates of meetings; hear reports of disagreements, let's stand in the gap wherever we are and use arrow prayers for God's mercy, God's wisdom and God's healing 'Your kingdom Come' (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).
For the media: for those working in the media to resist sensationalism and to uncover the truth in each situation… and for us to discern from the newsfeeds what are the real issues we need to be praying for and into (John3:21).
It's time to turn in humility and repentance (2 Chronicles 7:14) - in order for His purposes and plans to come for our UK nations, for the EU nations and the other nations within our continent. We are a continent that has turned our backs on our Father. The consequences are being worked through in every nation.
crying out for His mercy (Psalm 2.8)
knowing our position in Him and the authority we as His children and as His church have been given (Ephesians 1:3-7, 2:6-10, 3:16-19)
worshipping and declaring that he is Lord over all His earth, the people, the nations, the leaders, the land and put our trust in Him (Colossians 1.15ff; Psalm 24)
praying for peace, truth, mercy and justice to meet together (Psalm 85:9-13)
for courage for His church across our continent (Acts 4:27)
for Gods blessings to be released (Deuteronomy 28:1-14)
For spiritual awakening in every people group and nation (Isaiah 64)
For millions to come to know Jesus as Lord (Psalm 67.6).
Brexit is an opportunity for us to learn afresh how to partner with our Father in these times of shaking and harvest as we learn afresh to trust in Him alone and see His glory revealed (John 11:40). We believe God has a very immediate plan and purpose for our nation - and our relationship with Europe - let us continue to pray for his sovereignty (Psalm 2:10-11)
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Timeline:
Phase I: Jan-March 2018: this phase has been set aside to firm up the conditions for the post-Brexit transition period requested by Britain. Key dates: March 22-23, 2018: EU summit in Brussels where the transition phase will be decided, the divorce bill legally drawn up and Michel Barnier given a mandate to negotiate the EU's future relationship with Britain.
Phase II: April 2018 to late October 2018. EU: The goal for October 2018 is to finalize a withdrawal treaty governing the UK's departure from the EU as well as a political framework agreement covering the future relationship between the two entities.
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Some Resources:
Passion for the Nation declarations: http://passionforthenation.uk/brexit-10/
Operation World http://www.operationworld.org/country-lists
Canopy of Prayer http://www.canopyofprayer.eu/
Europe shall be saved http://esbs.org/esbs/
European Union of Prayer http://euofprayer.eu
European Evangelical Alliance http://www.europeanea.org
Pray for France https://prayforfrance.org/
https://epthinktank.eu/2018/01/17/europes-challenges-in-2018-ten-issues-to-watch/
The Lord's Prayer outline for praying for Brexit.
A Day of Prayer for Britain: Praying over Brexit, Unity and Reformation in the Church, Friday 23 March 2018, at Emmanuel Centre, London called by David Hathaway. More details from: http://propheticvision.org.uk/
The WPC Team
Launch of Thy Kingdom Come 2018
Yesterday (24th January) marks the launch of the Archbishop of Canterbury and York's third annual global, ecumenical prayer movement - Thy Kingdom Come.
Considered one of the most dynamic prayer initiatives to emerge from the Church of England in recent years, high profile figures from across the main denominations gathered together at Lambeth Palace and Bishopthorpe, to hear plans for this year's Thy Kingdom Come from May 10th -20th.
One of the highlights from both events was the premier of a new film featuring Archbishop Justin Welby, his grandson Elijah and Brian Heasley, Director of 24/7 Prayer International.
In the film Brian shares his powerful story of how he went from criminal to Christ follower, something which he credits to the persistent prayers of loved ones.
Thy Kingdom Come is a simple invitation to pray between Ascension and Pentecost for friends and family to come to faith. Now in its third year, participation has grown every year.
In 2016 - 100,000 Christians pledged to pray. By 2017 - more than half a million had pledged to pray from more than 85 countries including Ghana, Netherlands, Malaysia, Cuba, South Africa, Australia, Korea, Japan and the Philippines to name a few.
In the UK, in 2017 every diocese in the Church of England was involved. Many cathedrals took part, hosting 'beacon' events designed to focus prayers in towns and cities nationwide.
The campaign's broad ecumenical appeal led to more than 50 denominations and traditions being involved last year; including the Roman Catholic Church, the Methodist Church and the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
The positive impact of Thy Kingdom Come 2017 continues to unfold as numerous stories of personal and communal transformation pour in from churches, families and whole communities alike.
Among the stories arising from the initiative - many of them deeply moving - is one from a couple who had not seen their son for 22 years. 'We pray every day obviously for him but during Thy Kingdom Come he was one of the people we prayed for as a group,' they say. 'We put his name on the altar before God and… yesterday he came home.'
This year also sees some digital developments including a brand-new website and a Thy Kingdom Come devotional app created by leading Christian publishers SPCK. Both products will be translated into several languages including Spanish, Korean, and Swahili and will be launched in time for Easter.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby said:
"The business of being witnesses to Jesus Christ and of praying to be witnesses compels us to look into the world around us. It compels us to seek, to experience the compassion of God for a world caught up in lostness, in sin, but also in suffering and pain, in oppression of the poor, in cruelty, in abuse, in outrageous inequality, in all the things that go against the Kingdom of God.
"There is no limit to what the Kingdom of God does, and so the moment we start praying Thy Kingdom Come we look outwards.
"The Kingdom of God when we pray for the Kingdom to come, the Kingdom will transform individuals, the Kingdom transforms society, the Kingdom transforms the globe and the Kingdom transforms the cosmos."
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu said: "It gladdens and warms my heart to know that many Christians throughout the world are committing themselves, from today to Pentecost, to pray for the Coming of Our Father in Heaven's Kingdom - a Kingdom of Justice, Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit. And with a passion for people from every nation, tribe and language to encounter Jesus Christ - the Light of the world. Please join me in praying the "Our Father who art in Heaven…." on the Hour every Hour when you are able."
Emma Buchan, Project Manager of Thy Kingdom Come and the Archbishops' Evangelism Task Group Project Leader, said:
"It is such a blessing to be involved with Thy Kingdom Come and what God is calling us to. I pray and hope that in some small way we can encourage individuals, families and churches to pray for people to come to know Jesus Christ.
We were amazed by the level of engagement last year - from Australia to Cuba, from Japan to the Falkland's and across denominations.
We have received a number of powerful testimonies - including stories of answered prayer as well as many people and churches committing, even more so, to pray for loved ones to come to know Christ.
We are so excited to see what happens next."
The Call to Discipleship
The last great command that Jesus gave to His disciples was “All authority has been given to me. Therefore, go out and make disciples of all nations, baptising them ……” Matt 28:18. He did not say – “Go out and make converts”, or “Go out and find people in need of counselling”, or “Go out and sign up some church members”. These are all laudable but they are not the Great commission. Have we lost our call to make disciples?
The scriptures say Jesus taught His disciples. He committed time to them “He withdrew with them to the lake” Mark 3:7, “He was teaching His disciples” Mark 9:31. He challenged them to “let the little children come to me” Luke 18:16. He encouraged them “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:8. After the resurrection “He appeared to them for 40 days and spoke to them about the Kingdom of heaven.” Acts 1:3. What an incredibly rich and wonderful period that would have been, preparing the disciples for the birth of the Church and their role within it.
We started 2018 with the resolution that we commit to be better disciples of Jesus Christ. We have found ourselves in some tremendous times of prayer and insight as we consecrate who we are and what we are doing to Jesus. In turn, He is giving us wisdom and direction and the authority to declare change.
Some years ago, research within the seeker friendly Church movement found they had made a grievous error. They had created baby Christians. There was a good track record of attracting people to services but a poor one in equipping people to pray, study the word, or bring others to Christ. The keenest Christians were the most disillusioned. Church had become a nursery for babies, a place for dependent people rather than a place sending independent people out to show Jesus to the world.
There is a book for cyclists called ‘The Rules: The Way of the Cycling Disciple’ with rules like #6 – Free your mind and your legs will follow. The letter to the Philippians gives us the ‘Way of Jesus disciples’:
- He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. v1:16
- I press on towards the goal, to win the prize, for which Christ has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus. v3:14
- Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your interests but each of you to the interests of others.” v2:3,4.
- Let your gentleness be evident to all. v4:5
- Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil His good purpose. v2: 10.11
- Stand firm in the Lord v4.1
A friend put it to me recently “Jesus is on the throne of my heart.” As a disciple, I want Him to shape my actions, my feelings, and my life. Jesus’ standards are high. We are His servants and He wants us to serve with confidence, authority and capability. We need to understand the gifts and the abilities God has given us. Where has He called us to? We are not all the same, the body is made of many different parts. We move at different paces, are motivated by different things, work in different ways – but whoever we are, Jesus wants us to be fruitful. His servants get things done.
Disciples need to be resilient. Simon Guillebaud describes it “There’s a battle going on for our hearts. What I watch, listen to, spend money on and give time to.” We need to keep asking the question, is Jesus on the throne of our heart? We all know we can plateau, or get stuck in the past, or on what feels comfortable.
Peer discipleship can be a very powerful tool. I have worked with two other guys for nearly twenty years. We pray for each other every week by email and reflect on what God is doing in our lives and we meet together to ensure we are being stretched and challenged. This has been an essential part of my Christian walk.
Finally, we go back to Jesus command, “Go and make disciples”. In this Time 2 Turn we anticipate many coming to faith who will need welcoming and encouraging. They may not be comfortable people, they may have a very different lifestyle or experience to us. We are not called to make comfortable people to fit into comfortable churches. Our call is to make disciples, people who have found freedom in Christ, have a fire to learn about Jesus, and represent His Kingdom. It is up to us.
Steve Botham
Director of World Prayer Centre
Becoming better disciples of Jesus
The World Prayer Centre team have been like eager students in these first few weeks of 2018. Yet again, we keep saying “Wow” because God is taking us on a journey and we thought you might like to come with us.
As part of our Resolution 2018 campaign which we started at the beginning of the year, we resolved to pray together for the first two weeks of the year in the mornings covering the topics from our campaign:
CONSECRATION
This has been a key element. Many scriptures relate to consecration, washing our hands, changing our robes and preparing to enter God’s presence. We keep coming back to “If my people” and these four acts of consecration:
- Humble ourselves
- Pray
- Seek His face
- Turn from our wicked ways.
Bill Johnson describes humbling as reflecting on our insignificance and meditating on His significance. Or as the Psalmist puts it “As the eyes of the servant look to the hand of the master, so our eyes look to the Lord our God.” (Ps. 123). Making Jesus number one has always been part of our Christian thinking but there is a new intensity to this, a deeper call to intimacy.
DEDICATION
After consecration, we come humbly to God and dedicated 2018 to Him. We hear a holy call to dedicate all we have and all we are to Him. Part of this is a struggle because we might like to hold some things back, or adopt a wait and see approach, but servanthood is full commitment. We stood at our first Prayershift gathering of 2018, with people from across the country, at Betel in Birmingham on January 13th – dedicating this year of turning to God. Betel is the Spanish word for House of God, reflecting Jacob’s heaven to earth experience in Genesis 28 – a great encouragement to us as we started the year. They have a wonderful track record working amongst drug addicts. What an inspirational place to think of the wonderful transforming power of Jesus and why this call to turn is so vital.
CELEBRATION
We spent a lot of time in the scriptures around 2 Chron 5 – 7. They record marvellous times of celebration as the temple was dedicated. There was a huge wall of noise with 120 trumpets, hundreds of other instruments and multitudes of voices, shouting, singing, and declaring God’s praise. “For he is good, and His steadfast love endures for ever.” As the Ark of the Covenant entered the temple the place was filled with God’s glory cloud. When Solomon prays his prayer of dedication to the Lord the fire came down from heaven. Wow – let our praise be like this! As we prayed together as a team we were reminded of that familiar carol – “Hark the herald Angels sing, glory to the new born King.” Hark is not a word in common usage but it is really saying “listen up” “pay attention” – the King is here.
RECONCILIATION
We met with a group called England Prayer Watch on 4-5th January for a rich 24 hours. God spoke about our hearts being at one with His, and in harmony with each other. This creates a reconciliation and unity. We were reminded that the Holy Spirt fell when the disciples were waiting and were of one mind. In lots of other settings we are hearing God’s call that His people will be one. We are turning from pride, dissension, independence and asking God to forgive us that we have often blocked the work of His Kingdom. Let us be one that we can be effective channels for the Holy Spirit to heal our land.
INVITATION
At Prayershift as we wanted to know if, having done these things, we could ask the King of Glory to come in (Psalm 24 takes us through a process of consecration and dedication). We believe we had the authority to pray for the doors to be opened that the King of Glory may come in. These are not times for half-heartedness. A prayer as straightforward as Thy Kingdom Come can have powerful consequences when we see the dominion of Jesus in our churches, schools, families and communities.
It is interesting to report that we went through this process of consecration, dedication, reconciliation, celebration and invitation with the England Prayer Watch group. There were intense periods of humility as we kneeled and prostrated ourselves, there was a commitment to deepen relationship, serving each other and prophetically standing shoulder to shoulder in a line for our nation.
Finally, there was the invitation –
Lord we need you. Things must break in our nation and only you can bring it about. We welcome you Jesus, the King of Glory, the life giver and nation changer. We proclaim your Lordship; let us serve You in these times. Amen
Steve Botham
Director of World Prayer Centre
Higher Tour
The Message Trust in Manchester have a wonderful passion for young people to be saved and discipled. They recognise that in many ways our 11 – 18 year olds are the key spiritual battleground.
Research by Care for the Family shows that this is the most vulnerable time for young people to lose their faith. Key factors are peer pressure and parents face increased difficulties in engaging and teaching their children. The spiritual issues extend to the battle for young minds, pastoral and mental health issues are rising year on year at an alarming rate. This current generation is fighting insecurity, sexual confusion on transgender issues and the push to have under age sex, a huge political and values divide between the younger and older generations and the constant social media messaging and the drive to be liked, watched, and commented on.
The Message Trust are launching what they describe as the ‘largest youth mission in the UK for a generation’. They have been building relationships with schools so that teams can go in and encourage thousands to come to well-presented high-octane Gospel events. This is called the Higher Tour and it starts in the West Midlands from 26 February – 17th March, then Cambridgeshire 1 – 12th October and South Wales from 5th – 23rd November.
The Higher Tour seeks to boldly proclaim the Gospel to young people and see them supported and encouraged as they start their journey of faith.
Higher Midlands 2018 will see six mission teams deliver 75 school days across the region. Over three weeks of mission, will reach 55,000 young people, give away 4,000 Bibles and they train more than 100 new young evangelists.
Let us pray for our young people:
- For doors to open into the schools
- For 55,000 young people to go to the Midlands events
- For this generation to turn away from the troubles of the present day to the freedom, security and love of Jesus.
Prayer for Higher Tour at Elim Kingstanding, 120 Warren Rd, Birmingham B44 8QD – 7.30pm 4th February
Find out more information about Higher Tour location at www.highertour.com
Resolution 2018
World Prayer Centre is calling on Christians across our nation to start 2018 in a different way. This is no ordinary year. It is the year of Turning. There is a trumpet sound telling us to awake, to get ready and to dedicate ourselves to the Lord in 2018.
So we invite everyone with a passion to see the good news of Jesus renew His church and transform lives to join us. Pray through this resolution below as God mobilises His people for His amazing purpose.
- In 2018 through the power of the Holy Spirit, we commit to be better Disciples of Christ Jesus, Son of God, our Saviour, who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
- We resolve to humble ourselves, seek God’s face, and turn from our wicked ways.
- We proclaim 2018 a year of Turning for the church and nation through our consecration, dedication, reconciliation and celebration.
We are inviting the Body of Christ to join us on our discipleship journey to:
- Turn from anything and everything that grieves His Spirit - pride, unbelief, idols, disunity, self-righteousness, critical attitudes and in humility and repentance…
- Turn our hearts and minds to Him.
As disciples, our desire is to know Jesus more, to keep Turning and being refined.
We believe that 2018 will also be a year when the Church asks the nation to turn - in our proclamation, preaching, witnessing, caring, loving of our neighbours, and in our praying, we are declaring “It is time to turn.”
We shall not invite the nation to turn to religion, or turn to faith, not even turn to the church. We are inviting them to turn to Jesus, the Light of the world, the forgiver of sins, the Lover of our souls who is the only way to a wonderful relationship with God the Father.
Please make this declaration out loud as your spiritual resolution for 2018:
I resolve to be a better disciple. I consecrate and dedicate myself to Jesus. I commit to serve Him, and serve others and to stand as an agent of turning for my family, community and nation.
2018 - A Year of Turning. God says, “If we turn, He will hear from heaven, forgive our sins and heal the land”. 2 Chronicles 7:14
Download a PDF version to use in your church, small group or prayer meeting.