NIGHTWATCH FOR EUROPE week beginning Sunday 22nd July 2007
‘Could you not watch with me for one hour?’ (Mtt26: 40)
WELCOME TO THE NIGHT WATCH FOR EUROPE
We will spend more time this week resisting the devil and declaring the overcoming triumph of Jesus. We will again do this over our lives, cities, nations, continent and the body of Christ, but in particular it is important to continue do this over the partnership between Europe and Africa. As I write I am with a European delegation in Gabon for the third meeting of the European African Reconciliation Partnership. Many of you have prayed along with this process throughout the two years and nine months of our watch. Today we met with leaders of the church in Gabon, who particularly helped us with the integrity of our work by pointing out the need for repentance over the current sins of Europe towards Africa and especially the sin of the European church in failing to be a prophetic voice. So after resisting the devil and proclaiming the victory of Christ we will pray into each of the three points raised.
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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 four 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 22nd July 2007
1. RESIST THE DEVIL AWAY FROM YOUR LIFE AND FROM THE BODY OF CHRIST IN YOUR CITY, NATION, CONTINENT AND THE CONTINENTS OF EUROPE AND AFRICA AS THE LORD LEADS YOU (15 minutes)
You may find the following scriptures helpful:
“Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” (Rom 16:16-20)
“The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ The Lord will stretch forth your strong sceptre from Zion, saying, ‘Rule in the midst of your enemies. Your people will volunteer freely in the day of your power; In holy array, from the womb of the dawn, your youth will return to you as the dew.’” (Psalm 110:1-3)
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armour of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” (Eph 6:12-13)
2. PRAY OVER THE FOLLOWING THREE POINTS THAT OUR AFRICAN BROTHERS HAVE BROUGHT TO US. (45 minutes)
You may find the scriptures provided alongside each point helpful for the direction of your prayers.
(i) The European church has failed to be a prophetic voice on behalf of Africa in the cause of justice. There have been situations where African leaders and governments have made genuine attempts to withstand the dependency forced on them by global institutions, for example when organisations such as the International Monetary fund and the World Bank have made aid, development and investment funds subject to free trade and other conditions for the advantage and protection of Western economic and political dominance. An example given was the French destruction of the government of the Ivory Coast when it attempted to stand free of French domination in the recent past. Pray for the European church to have a fuller understanding of the gospel of the kingdom of God, to pay deeper attention to the situation in Africa (and other countries with which our nations and continent are involved), and for courage to be a prophetic voice. (15 minutes)
Consider the following scriptures:
"Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.”
(Ezekiel 16:49)
“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! Behold, the pay of the labourers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.” (James 5:1-4)
(ii) The Western nations have frequently publicly disgraced African leaders who have failed in their leadership role. In this they have been hypocritical, allowing those like Richard Nixon after Watergate, Jacques Chirac after financial scandals remaining after his years as Mayor of Paris and other world leaders such as General Pinochet to maintain their homes and defend their reputations after their years in office. This has resulted in dishonour and ridicule coming on the African people whose identity and standing is represented by their leaders, and should be respected even when they fail or abuse their positions. (15 minutes)
Consider the following verses:
"Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.” (Luke 6:31-35)
(iii) Those who have taken initiatives for repentance and partnership towards African nations in the past, have sometimes failed to follow through with long-term and two-way practical relationships and have failed in particular when it comes to working through the spiritual and cultural issues of a genuinely mutual leadership. Pray for this European /African Reconciliation Partnership to build humbly on the work of the past, learning from past mistakes and establish new forms and ways of relationship in the spirit. (15 minutes)
Consider the following verses:
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Mat 5:16)
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (1Cor 15:58)
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. They love the place of honour at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. 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. But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” (Matthew 23:1-13)
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