NIGHTWATCH FOR EUROPE week beginning Sunday September 14th 2008
‘Could you not watch with me for one hour?’ (Mtt26: 40)
WELCOME TO THE NIGHT WATCH FOR EUROPE
As we draw near to the end of almost five years of watching for the continent (first 70 weeks and then 3.5 years) I hear the words “It’s time to position prayer politically.” I’m clear this is not to do with party politics, but it is to do with the work of the kingdom of God in the world. As we prepare for the coming transition let’s pray over those words.
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If you are receiving this material unexpectedly it is because someone has suggested that you may be interested to join in. If you do not want to keep receiving it please inform us immediately and we will stop sending it to you. We want to let those of you who are newcomers know that we are very pleased to have your partnership in this watch. We are simply asking for a commitment of an hour a week some time between 9pm and 6am whatever time zone you are in.
We will send you a brief outline for prayer each week according to the prophetic direction coming from the contemporary prophetic movement in Europe. You will not always agree with everything in the watch material. Go with what you can and trust the Lord to help you with the rest. This Nightwatch began in November 2003 and we are looking to carry on until the transition event of September 26th-28th 2008 in Majorca. After this we expect to move to a different form of intercessory support.
THE CONTENT OF THE WATCH FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 14th 2008
1) “IT’S TIME TO POSITION PRAYER POLITICALLY” (20 minutes)
Please take time to pray into this statement, considering the following observations:
A) Party politics is a valid arena for Christians to serve God, but it is not all that politics is about. But please pray for any Christians you know who are working within political parties. (5 minutes)
B) Politics is defined as 1a) the art and science of government. b) Public life and affairs as involving authority and government. 2a) a particular set of ideas, principles, or commitments in politics. b) Activities concerned with the acquisition or exercise of authority or government. c) An organisational process or principle affecting authority, status etc. (5 minutes)
C) While not all Christians are called to be involved in party politics, we are all called to seek first the Kingdom, or government of God. The Greek word Jesus chose for church; ‘ecclesia,’ originally meant the body of people officially mandated to take responsibility for the government of the city. (5 minutes)
D) Jesus taught us to pray “Your kingdom (government) come, your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.” (5 minutes)
2) IN THE LIGHT OF THE ABOVE STATEMENT AND OBSERVATIONS PLEASE PRAY OVER THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES (40 MINUTES)
A) "Behold my servant whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit on him, and he shall declare justice to the nations. He shall not strive, nor cry out, nor shall any one hear his voice in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not quench a smoking wick, until he brings judgment to victory and in his name the nations shall trust." (Mtt12:18-21) (10 minutes)
B) “And there was also a dispute among them as to which of them was the greatest. And he said to them, the kings of the nations exercise lordship over them and they who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. But it shall not be so with you: but the greater among you, let him be as the lesser, and he who governs, as one who serves. For which is the greater; he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.” (Lk22:24-27) (10 minutes)
C) "But do not be called Rabbi; for one is your teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for one is your Father, he who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for one is your leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” (Mtt23:8-12) (10 minutes)
D) “Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, ‘Behold, the Man!’ So when the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out saying, ‘Crucify, crucify!’ Pilate said to them, ‘Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.’ The Jews answered him, ‘We have a law, and by that law he ought to die because he made himself out to be the Son of God.’ Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, ‘Where are you from?’ But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to Him, ‘You do not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you, and I have authority to crucify you?’ Jesus answered, ‘You would have no authority over me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered me to you has the greater sin.’ As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release him, but the Jews cried out saying, ‘if you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.’” (Jn19:5-12) (10 minutes)
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PERSEVERANCE IN THESE FINAL WEEKS
