A report by Chris Faull
In
the April edition of our magazine there was an invitation, indeed a challenge,
to be in Birmingham on 13 June 2001. The call was for all Christians, especially
those in leadership, to join with the organisers for
the day to 'Stand together before God for the nation'. The organisers
were the World Prayer Centre
and Pray for Revival, both of whom operate from Birmingham and work very closely together on all aspects of
prayer.
In
this day and age, when we see so many things happening in our country and in the
world at large; when we see people in general turning away so strongly from God
- and as part of what Niall and Gerry Griffin referred to as 'Representational
Repentance' (see issue 16, Summer 1999) - the need was perceived and
the call went out with some 3000 people responding from across the land - and
further afield. My wife, Janet, and I joined with two Crosswinds colleagues and
hit the M5 in good time to get ahead of the rush. The Lord was gracious in providing fine
weather and the traffic was not too horrendous - as it can be up in that area!
Once
inside and having found our designated seats, there was an introductory time of
worship incorporating several well known and some unfamiliar songs as the rest
of the people gradually filled the section of the arena we had been allocated.
There was in ever-increasing sense of expectation among the gathered faithful as
the worship brought us closer to the throne of God and the programme for the day
was outlined from the platform.
From the information afforded the organisers on the applications, we were
advised that virtually every denomination known across the country was
represented. God had spoken across the whole width of His church and there was a
sense that this was to be a day of great significance in the Church which could
signal a move of God in the nation.
The
Revd Bob Dunnett, who heads up the Pray for Revival team, pointed us to
the prophet Amos - reminding us that Amos found himself in a national situation
very similar to our own. The nation
had been through a period of post-war reconstruction, followed by a time of
great prosperity which gave way to a time of growing chaos and it was in this
last period that Amos grew up - how like our own with the aftermath of the
second world war, the period of economic boom and high living to a time of great
anxiety and concern for the future, as people have turned away from God !
Amos heard what God was saying to the people and saw the situation with
'spiritual eyes' as God gave him pictures to use in teaching the people of the
day. He was shown a vision of locusts being prepared to ravage the land; a
vision of fire sweeping away anything the locusts left behind; a vision of a
plumb line with God saying "I have had enough. I am setting firm limits on
your acceptable behaviour, failing which I will spare the people no
longer!"; a vision of a basket of ripe fruit to indicate that the time was
ripe for Israel to receive the wrath of God; a vision of a stricken sanctuary to
show how it would be when God withdraws His presence. All strong warnings to
Israel which Bob Dunnett aligned with our own situation, suggesting that recent
national disasters from floods to BSE, from collapses on the Stock Markets to
the foot and mouth epidemic can be seen as marks and warnings of God's wrath
against this nation.
Whether
this was taken at face value on the day or taken away to be weighed for
ourselves, his homily set a platform for the rest of the day which was split
into four basic sections drawn from the talk:
1.
Acknowledgement of the seriousness of the situation by proclaiming it.
2.
Prayer for the Church to wake up and face such a situation.
3.
Confession of the sins of the nation, repenting of them as Nehemiah did
by national identification and also for ourselves.
4.
Pleading for mercy and revival in the midst of the general chaos and
confusion in the land today.
Some
prayer was undertaken at each of the sections from the front, but we were then
encouraged to get into threes or fours where we were and pray more directly from
our own perspectives, dependent on local settings and circumstances. It was good
to be able to share in this way with folk from different parts of the country,
to pray for their situations and have them pray into ours, as well as praying
for the national scene.
Lunch
time was another opportunity to 'wing-tip' with a number of other people, both
known and new, to renew acquaintance with some we had not seen for a number of
years and enjoy the alfresco meal (packed lunch brought with us) in warm
sunshine and in the freshest air available at the time!
I think perhaps, for myself, that the highlight of
the day was shortly after lunch when all those in leadership rôles across the
churches were invited to come out to the front, to the foot of a large cross
positioned to one side of the stage.
It was so moving to see what must have been several hundred clergy,
ministers, pastors and other leaders - both men and women, young and more mature
- making their way forward from all parts of the auditorium to receive a
blessing and affirmation as the rest of us prayed for them.
They were given words of reaffirmation and encouragement in their various
ministries.
With
all the crying out to God in confession, repentance and for mercy one might just
have felt a weight of negativity bearing down on one's shoulders and spirit, but
the day was effectively and helpfully brought to a close with a final look at
the scriptures where Jeremiah relays what God was saying to the Israelites of
his day - that He was prepared and preparing to bring them back to Himself, if
they would equally prepare themselves.
They had been allowed to be taken into captivity but He says He will
bring them back together from the four corners of the world and from their
enemies - "So there is HOPE for your future", declares the
Lord," (Jeremiah 31:17a).
We felt it had been quite a day - heavy in parts,
but well-focussed - and everyone seemed to come away with a spirit of
encouragement to keep praying for the land.
God has not given up on us yet!
We cannot, however be complacent but must stick to the task of
proclamation, repentance and pleading on behalf of a people who have lost their
way - and we are part of it!
"We have a Hope that is steadfast and certain,
gone through the curtain and touching the throne"
- we sing. That Hope is Jesus and "He is the image of the invisible God,
the first-born over all creation.
For by Him all things were created:..... He is before all things and in
Him all things hold together. He
is the head of the body, the Church...... " (Colossians 1:15-18 part).
Friends, as members of that body, we have a responsibility to do our
part in that process, but isn't it great to know He is the One in charge.
Praise Him.