Prayer  Leaders  Gathering

A national gathering of Prayer Group leaders was held in Wellington from 20-21 June.  The following is a summary of some of the things which were shared at that gathering of about 35 leaders from around the country.

A CALL TO RIGHTEOUSNESS

God spoke to us about His great love for all mankind, and for New Zealand - our cities, towns, rural areas, marae, immigrants, ...  But we have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.

God gave us a strong Call to Righteousness (which exalts a nation) because we have a righteous God.  Repentance will come through preaching God's Word in the nation.

Unless we repent we will perish (Jonah 3:9; Luke 13:3, 5).  We need to repent of, for example, drunkenness; our wrong judgement and criticism of the Church; worldliness; "our organisation" not God's.  We also need to discern the difference between culture and God's will and ways.  We need the gift of discernment so that we don't think that God's ways are necessarily what our culture dictates!

We need to see righteousness in the Church.  God spoke to us about the need for: Repentance.  Discernment.  Unity.  Righteousness (Ps 23:3b), which comes from Jesus Who is our model, lived out in right relationships.  Listening to God and obeying.  Justice.  Healing.  Judgement.  Forgiveness.  2 Chronicles 7:14.  There is an open door which we need to go through (Rev 3:20).  Put Jesus first.  We need "happy holiness" for the greatest pleasure.

We must lay the foundation in righteousness - a righteous people who will walk with a righteous God!  "Righteousness exalts a nation ..." (Prov. 14:34).  "Mercy triumphs over judgement" (James 2:13).  "Thy righteousness is like the great mountains" (Ps. 36:6).

What is righteousness?  Right relationship with God, with people, within the nation, between male and female, Maori and non-Maori, etc.  Walking in the right ways - God's ways.

Righteousness comes because there is a superior pleasure we can experience.  Holiness is based in happiness ("Blessed/happy are those who ... " Matt. 5:3-11); therefore we transform the way we live.  The love, beauty and wonder of Jesus are the "superior pleasure" - superior to everything the world has to offer.  It is not a matter of "grit your teeth and try harder to be righteous"; not "an outward form of religion which denies its power" (2 Tim. 3:5).  We are righteous because of our love for Jesus.

Righteousness must be practical and real, not just a theological term.  Righteousness brings peace.  Isaiah 32:16-17.  The Church is being called to righteousness first!

But righteousness and judgement without the love of God in our hearts will get us nowhere.

Love or law?  "If you love Me you will keep My commandments" - so we obey the Lord because of love, not law.  We obey because He loves us and wants the very best for us.  Do we really believe this?

Jesus is our Righteousness and our model of righteousness.  When the Church looks like Jesus, the world will believe.  Jesus cleansed the Temple, not the world ("those people out there").

Righteousness is both positive and negative.  The righteousness of the Pharisees was almost entirely negative; that is, not doing various things because they were against the Law.

Hebrews 4:12-13  We are all laid bare before God and His Word.

People need a revelation of Jesus as He really is - "the desire of the nations" (Hag. 2:7), so sweet that everything of the world is rancid by comparison.  We need prophetic John the Baptists who come by prayer and fasting to reveal the Son of God.  Prepare the way of the Lord and reveal the Saviour.  John the Baptist was the "Elijah" Jesus referred to in Matthew 17:10-13.

Elijah came against the twin spirits of Jezebel (immorality) and Baal (idolatry - pride, worldliness, self-centredness).

Our intimacy with God has been lost because of busyness.

TOPICS WE DISCUSSED

1.  Engaging young Kiwis in prayer

The Kansas City International House of Prayer (IHOP) has 2500 young people per day in prayer.  There is 24/7 prayer in Tauranga at the Tauranga House of Prayer (THOP).  The key to sustainable prayer is "joy in the House of Prayer" (Is. 56:6-7).  Adoration of Jesus is primary.  Spiritual warfare, intercession, etc are part, but not primary.  The Bible speaks of the "House of Prayer for all nations" - enjoyable, sustainable, unified prayer.  Prayer is a lifestyle.  We need to return to prayer and fasting out of a longing for Jesus' presence - "after the Bridegroom has gone" (Mark 2:20).  We have lost intimacy with God and devotion to God in our prayer times.  "Behold the beauty of the Lord and inquire in His Temple" (Ps. 27:4).  The Tauranga House of Prayer has 40 young people at the moment spending 4-8 hours each day in prayer.  See  www.thop.co.nz  Fervency and intimacy are keys in the prayers of young people.

There are about 147 prayer groups in New Zealand which have some form of "continuous" prayer.  See  www.24-7prayer.com  Sometimes they write songs and poems as part of their prayer.  They have seen healings as a result of their prayer.  The International House of Prayer and 24/7 prayer both started in September 1999.  When God intends to show His mercy He sets people praying.  A true revelation of Jesus Christ is the purpose of praying; not "just" healings, miracles, etc.  There is a vision of the stadiums in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch filled with pray-ers all on the same day (100,000 people in total) and then going out to the nations with the Gospel.  There is a call on our nation to prayer and worship.  "The Call" + Global Day of Prayer + an indigenous expression (not just an overseas franchise!)

Last December there was a 6 hours Auckland-Wellington simultaneous video link set up as an "At Thy Feet" gathering for prayer.  See atthyfeet.co.nz  ("at Thy feet" as in our National Anthem and as with Mary in Luke 10:39).  The next one is planned for late February 2009.  "Rend your hearts and not your garments" (Joel 2:12-13).  That is, "I've had enough of your religious activity".  Our hearts need to be melted by the love of God.

"Revive" (a THOP program) is a 6 months internship, sitting before Jesus (equivalent to 25 years of Sundays, all in 6 months!)  8 am-12 noon: prayer.  2-4 pm: lectures on Intimacy, Urgency, the Sermon on the Mount, etc.

"We would see Jesus" (John 12:21), not just hear about Him!

2.  Regional Coordinators and prayer

We need to stand with intercessors in each region - different things are happening in different areas.  Open up lines of communication through the country - we all need to know what is happening in different areas and pray for them.

Churches need to come together in prayer; coming together and fulfilling our God-given ministries, each part doing what it was meant to do! (Eph. 4:1-16).  We need a "whole Kingdom" mentality, not just bits of the Kingdom!

3.  Prophetic warnings.  Testing prophecy: prophecies need to be tested.  Revelation is easy; the interpretation is more difficult!  For example, "shaking" - does this mean physically? financially? spiritually? or ... ?  We also need the application!  One reason why a prophecy might not appear to be fulfilled is because judgement has been deferred.

4.  Abortion.  Bloodshed, broken promises, immorality and abortion are four major problems, common to areas needing and seeing transformation.  Moves of God can also be aborted!  Justice can be aborted.  Prayers have been aborted.  Our nation is at stake.

We need to call a 40 day fast for these issues; a Joel 2 fast with continuous prayer.  We have heard of the need for righteousness.  Judgement is at the door.  We have seen the fragmentation of the family.  We are a nation robbed of its inheritance:  since the legalisation of abortion in New Zealand in 1978 there have been over 350,000 abortions; in USA there have been 49 million abortions since 1973.  Lack of respect for life: abortion, murder, suicide, violence, etc.  Right to Life have challenged the Abortion Law in the High Court.  The deception of this Law is the misuse of the phrase "serious danger to the mental health of the mother" - 98% of all abortions are carried out for this reason!

5.  Getting the Church to pray.  In many churches, even some very large churches, relatively few people will come to their prayer meetings and pray.  There is a poverty of prayer in most churches.

Beauty, friendship and relationship with Jesus are the foundations of coming prayer movements.  The "transformation" mentality - that is, "we will pray if You will transform" - is really "buying and selling" in the Temple; it is not relationship based.  Abraham was a "friend of God".  "You are My friends", Jesus said to His disciples.

6.  Neighbourhood Prayer Watch.  Started in January 2008 to pray for our neighbours.  God is dealing with the roots in order to heal the tree.  The Blood is being applied to the root problems of South Auckland, for example.  Seek God for the unique needs and unique methods for dealing with these roots in your neighbourhood.

7.  Healing and reconciliation.  Joel 2:15.  Maori-European reconciliation.  Last year a Joel 2 conference was held in Palmerston North where there was deliberate prayer for Maori-European reconciliation.  Mark 16:17  One of "these signs" is healing; mental, spiritual, physical, emotional healing and reconciliation are an integral part of this.

8.  Breaking down ethnic walls.  Repentance is the key which breaks the divisions.  Leadership need to repent first and prepare the way.  Break down ungodly traditions.

 9.  Wanganui Intercessors.  God called us to pray for revival, especially that Wanganui will be known as a City of Righteousness.  We want to be governed by righteous people.  Wanganui was called "Sin City".  Unity is a key.  It comes from time to time, but it is hard to maintain.  Watch out for satan's schemes to destroy unity.  We have already seen some positive effects of prayer, which were both faith-building and unity-building:

A Christian Arts festival at Easter showed the Easter story to the 2000 people who came through.

• A Missions Expo from all the churches (30-40 missions groups) and Christian organisations concerning their mission. Thousands of people came through.
• A combined church service of over 1000 people, with a special speaker.

There has also been 24/7 prayer in some churches for 1 or 2 weeks.  We have a dedicated prayer room and are praying for a leader there.

10.  Opotiki and marae.  "Who do you say that I am?"  Know Jesus - Who He is!  We need to disciple the prophets ("sons of the prophets").  Test the prophets!  They need to be discipled to keep them in order.  Prophets are not free to say whatever they like and expect immediate acceptance of their word and obedience.  Reconciliation re Treaty of Waitangi.  "When I was restored to God, I was restored to my Maori people", said one person.

11.  Families at risk.  Agonize in prayer as Jesus did in the Garden, sweating drops of blood.  Sometimes we have to live with difficult circumstances, not compromising, but seeing them through.

12.  Government.  Some well-meaning Christians do some dumb things (especially through ignorance) and Christians may be seen as a joke by some MPs.  There are three prongs to Government: the Government itself, Parliamentary Services and the Public Service.  Even when praying for Christian MPs we need wisdom, experience, integrity, knowledge and unity.  Some Christian MPs don't let people know they are Christians because they are embarrassed by other Christian MPs!  Christians do need to vote.  Pray for a good Christian witness, by words and actions, by all Christian MPs.  Take intercessors with you if you speak to a Select Committee.  God is placing His people in good places in Government, Parliament and in the Public Service, and even righteous non-Christians ("Cyruses").

Pray for good government (1 Tim. 2:1-4), the media and local government.  Let evil be exposed for the evil it is.  Party lists have been formalised but will not be signed off until a month before the election, so they are still open to change.

13.  Prayer books.  Lesley Schwass's 31 daily prayers and Scriptures for New Zealand, covering a month.  This is a great resource for daily prayer.

14.  Operation Drug Bust.  Praying for the roots.  Matt. 3:8-12 "the axe is laid at the roots of the tree".  Jesus cuts the roots of evil.  Amos 2:9  God destroyed the roots below and the fruit above.  Go for the roots.  If we don't deal with the roots, the tree will re-grow.  Governments put fences (Laws) around problems but these do not destroy the roots!

15.  NZ Prayerline:  0800 50 80 80 receives 2000 calls each month.  Aiming to have prayer teams nationwide - teams of at least 5 people, who have been trained first.  Need 60 teams at 1 hour per week per person.  At the moment they have seven teams between Auckland and Christchurch.  See  www.nzprayerline.org.nz

16.  Marton.  Christians have a vision for Marton to become a healing centre for New Zealand.

17.  Lydia.  Seeking God and the leading of the Holy Spirit as to what to pray for and how to pray.  Meditate on the Word.  Don't pray over personal needs (leave your own agenda at home!)  Get personal needs prayed for in your own church.  "Do whatever He tells you" (John 2:5).

18.  Paua shell prayer.  A vision of giving people small pieces of paua shell to put in a prominent place at home or work, and pray "God defend New Zealand" when they see it.  This acts as a reminder to people to pray for New Zealand.  They are given away carefully, prayerfully and specifically as God leads, not randomly or indiscriminately.

HOW CAN WE FURTHER ALL OF THE ABOVE?

God is linking us together and we need to flow together.  24/7 prayer, Call to Prayer, National Days of Prayer, Heal NZ, Intercessors for New Zealand, Lydia, Global Day of Prayer, Houses of Prayer, Prayer Summits, etc.  We need to see more citywide, regional and national prayer.  God must direct us all.

National Days of Prayer:  This year (the first or second weekend in November) it will be held in Wellington, covering the themes: Praying for all in Authority, The 18 Pillars of Prayer, and the Foundations of our Nation.  Planning a prayer service at Old St. Pauls and a visit to the National Archives to see the Treaty of Waitangi and the foundations of our Government.  Build on the Rock not the sand!  This nation is going through a valley time, but the Lord is the Lily of the Valley - so He is also in the valley!

A gathering of the nation's intercessors is planned for next year to encourage and learn what is working well in prayer.  Probably one 3-day nationwide gathering and also regional ones, with a possible theme:  "Come, worship and sit at the feet of Jesus - reconnecting with His heart".  Sitting at the feet of Jesus.  God says, "I want My people back".

A second "at Thy feet" gathering is being planned for late February 2009.  Young people love older people turning up to their prayer meetings.  The reverse generational thing is not on!  Our target audience is different but we are all one in the things of God.  We need to come alongside one another.

Stop uncommanded work.  Let Jesus lead!  Give yourself permission not to be busy!  Slow down.  This is a new day, a new generation, with new words.

"Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people" (Prov. 14:34).  Prophets were raised up in the 1970s.  God is moving a second time, but prophets need to be tested.

Where do Maori fit in today's society in New Zealand?  There is a School of Intercession amongst Maori children who are all less than 13 years old!

Communication, not authority, is the problem between Maori and non-Maori.  "You will not see my face unless you bring your brother with you", Joseph said to his brothers (Gen. 43:5).  We have different ways, but we need equal leadership.  "One new man" out of Jew and Gentile.  Similarly we need one new man out of Maori and non-Maori.

Restoration and Reconciliation:  whaka whangaroa tanga

Unity:  Maori and non-Maori; male and female; old and young; Roman Catholic and Protestant and Charismatic - all one in love for God and a passionate desire to see God move in New Zealand, and in our own regions, bringing many more people to salvation and worshipping God around His throne!  (Our Prayer Leaders gathering actually had people from India, China, Malaysia, South Africa, Australia, Wales, England, Pacific Islands as well as Maori and Pakeha, male and female, old and young, Roman Catholic and Protestant and Charismatic!)

Love is the key and love is kind, considerate, humble, patient, ...  Like a marriage - we are not the same, but we are one.

Like a multi-coloured plaited loaf of bread, we can pull each strand apart or we can eat them together.  There are many flavours, but all together.

Communication:  People need to be invited into a situation, not just expected to be part of it if they want to.  People will respond to an invitation when they might not come if they are simply expected to make a decision - that is, ask them to come, don't assume they will simply turn up.

Instead of comparison, use appreciation.  Don't compare yourself with others; appreciate one another.  Some individual ministries may "over-emphasize" one issue, but the Body as a whole is still balanced.  We will all go further if we all do what we are best at.

Spirit of Elijah.  Luke 3:3-9  Repentance: "the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins".  Prophecy:  "Prepare the way of the Lord! ... Bring forth fruit worthy of repentance. ... The axe is laid at the root of the tree ... because it does not bear good fruit".

Isaiah 60:1  Let God arise!  "Arise!  Shine!  For your light has come ..."

Intercessors for New Zealand,  PO Box 3399,  Wellington,  New Zealand

Our monthly magazine and our weekly Prayer Update are on the web at

www.Pray4theNation.org.nz        Coordinator:  Brian Caughley

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