NIGHTWATCH FOR EUROPE week beginning Sunday 19th August 2007
‘Could you not watch with me for one hour?’ (Mtt26: 40)
WELCOME TO THE NIGHT WATCH FOR EUROPE
Thank you so much for the good feedback from last week’s watch. This week we will take time to pray into this as well as focusing prayer onto Portugal and Belgium.
If you know of anyone who would also like to receive this night watch prayer bulletin each week, they can subscribe by going to www.passion.org.uk/announcemail and submitting their details on the web form. Alternatively they can email us at admin@passion.org.uk
IF YOU ARE A REGULAR YOU CAN SKIP THE NEXT 2 PARAGRAPHS
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 for another year and three months, while realising that some can’t commit right now for as long as that, we are pleased for you to enlist for as long as you can. If you have to miss an occasional watch it’s OK as the rest of us will carry it. A six-month commitment is probably a good start.
THE CONTENT OF THE WATCH FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY 19th August 2007
1. RESIST THE DEVIL AND DECLARE THE LORD’S VICTORY INTO THE ROOTS OF EUROPE (10 Minutes)
Right now some of our Nightwatchers are in Crete praying for Europe. This is where the prehistory of the continent is believed to have begun. Take time to undergird their prayers using the following verses:
"For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.' (Act 27:23-24)
Pray for the ship of Europe to be delivered in our generation, and for the church to confront the powers of empire in God’s way and timing.
“For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you” (Tit 1:5)
Pray for grace for intercessory, prophetic and apostolic people to grace the church in Europe to take up its eldership role for our cities and nations.
2. PRAY OVER THE FOLLOWING FEEDBACK FROM FRENCH NIGHTWATCHERS. (30 minutes)
a) On the subject of European attitudes to Africa:
“As we seek to address root attitudes of selfishness, I wonder if we would be able to re-imagine the European connection with Africa as we think God might have intended it. What were the first contacts with Africa (from both directions) and what were their motivations? Was it commerce, conquest, balance of power, balance of trade? How did we deal with the differences we saw? Why did we always assume the culture and the person who was different were lesser? Why not assume that the other person was better and wiser? Was it always us going there and not the other way around? What were the philosophies and world-views we held that made us assume that we were better? It wasn't always that way, it seems. During the time of the Roman Empire, North Africa was a thriving part of the Empire. Alexandria was not a 2nd-class city. Obviously, Roman conquest and the Pax Romana wasn't all roses, but there is the sense at least that during that time that a successful, thriving local economy was in everybody's best interests. During the Colonial Era on the other hand, the exploitation was simply RAW. The Bible story of the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts makes it seem likely that even the perspective on Black Africa was quite different in New Testament times than during the Colonial Era. Was it possible that at one point of time, the European-African relationship was more normal? Where did we lose the plot and why? (15 minutes)
b) On the most selfish aspects of European culture, politics and economics
i) We are not paying the fair price for raw materials imported from poor countries, which has the effect of locking them into their conditions. We do not always confirm how aid is being applied. It seems that often it does not reach the most deprived.
ii) We always take advantage of our cultural difference, our political, military and economic superiority, to impose our way of thinking, to influence, manipulate and exploit. We, the rich Western nations, see in our own cities 'Lazaruses', not always properly fed or clothed and sometimes homeless. But certainly the media show us all these crowds of people uprooted, made refugees and deprived of everything. We see them no differently than the rich man saw Lazarus in Luke 16. Are we any more concerned about their situation than the rich man was?
iii) A Prayer: Father, God of love, open our eyes, our understanding, touch our hearts. You do not want to take from us, but teach us to be generous as you are. Help us to open up our wealth, kindle our generosity, yourself. Grant us to obey you so that we don't end up like the rich man in the story Jesus told. Increase our faith; give us the thought processes which align with your kingdom. That we should have the strength to believe and declare that with our '5 loaves and 2 fish' we can feed a huge multitude (Mark 6). (15 minutes)
3. PRAY FOR PORTUGAL (15 minutes)
a) We are now in the second month of Portugal’s six month presidency of the EU. Until the 31 December 2007, Portugal will organise and chair the European Council meetings. The motto of the Portuguese Presidency is: "A Stronger Union for a Better World". Seven years ago Portugal was instrumental in the launch of the Lisbon Agenda for growth and jobs, and much remains to be done to achieve its aims of making the EU the most competitive, knowledge-based economy in the world. The aim of the Portuguese Presidency in this next months is to make the EU ready to face the challenge of global competition without losing ground so the Portuguese Presidency will assess the second round of National Reform Programmes, which will be submitted by member states this autumn. Special emphasis will be placed on the social and employment aspects of the Lisbon Agenda and the preparations for the revision of the Lisbon Strategy, due to be launched at the Spring Council 2008. (5 minutes)
b) Up until now Portugal has been the most difficult nation from which to find Christians willing and able to identify with their country’s involvement in European sin against Africa. Pray that during this crucial 6 months of EU presidency the Lord will stir up his people and identify intercessors willing to stand in the gap for Portuguese sin along with the rest of their European brothers and sisters. (5 minutes)
c) The Nightwatch has one year and three months to run in its present form. It would be wonderful if someone offered to translate the watch material into Portuguese and develop a base of intercessors. Pray that this will happen over the next few months in time for Portugal to join the watch in its final year. (5 minutes)
4. CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR BELGIUM AND ESPECIALLY FOR SENIOR LEADERS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NATIONAL SIN AGAINST AFRICA. (10 MINUTES)
Belgium intercessors have been wonderful in taking part in this watch and taking responsibility for the nation’s sin against Africa. But there is a need for senior leaders in church and nation to emerge to do this, especially from the Roman Catholic Church. Pray especially that the right Catholic leaders will be found in time to prepare for the EARP events in Congo next year.
