A Message from Brian Mills, IPC Senior Advisor

Everything is being shaken!

Two years ago God told me this. "Everything that can be shaken will be shaken." Little did I know at the time how this would be fulfilled! At first it was intensely personal--my whole world was turned upside down and has been ever since within my own nuclear family. Many other Christian leaders have also faced their own severe trials - in emotional, spiritual, physical , family, or ministry terms.

Now today we are seeing how things are being shaken globally. The financial world has been shaken by the Western Banking crisis and the ongoing repercussions. Middle Eastern & North African nations have been reeling from the political crisis enveloping it, leading to unprecedented riots. Climate change has caused some catastrophic disasters in Brazil, Pakistan, Australia, and many other nations. Physical shakings of the earth's crust has also caused devastating earthquakes in Pakistan, China, Haiti, Indonesia and elsewhere.

These shakings will continue - and there is bound to be more to come. Some Currencies will collapse. More tempests and tornadoes will wreak havoc. That which seems to be stable will be shaken. The question is "Where are the watchmen?" Are they keeping watch over their nation and the influences affecting their nation? This is a time for the watchmen in prayer to find each other within each nation and to find a place of unity in prayer, despite differences of understanding and background. As some watchmen in the nations being shaken are discovering, unity will be challenged and motives will be tested. Only prayer that is more concerned for God's glory than our comfort will break through. This is a rallying call to the watchmen of the world. Watch and pray!

Brian Mills
International Prayer Council

Haiti, one year after the earthquake

Media coverage since the 2010 earthquake has focused on government inaction, the slow pace of recovery, and the seeming inability of Haiti to recover. “One year after the earthquake, the situation in Haiti remains extremely grave. Overall reconstruction of the country has been much slower than anyone would have liked,” said Aaron Tate, Church World Service’s Haiti earthquake response coordinator. “Haitians are frustrated, and I’m frustrated.” Others in Haiti also acknowledge problems in the last year.

"It’s easy to blame the government, the humanitarian organizations or even the Haitian people for the problems of the last year.” Tate said. "It is more useful however to work on “things that can multiply and build a new kind of Haiti. In the communities, we see people trying to move on with their lives.” Tate added that while criticism of rebuilding efforts is understandable, thousands of Haitians are alive today because of the initial and ongoing response of aid workers and the agencies they work for. Many people would have died without such assistance.  

Haitians are living lives of quiet dignity, working together toward the common good. Co-ops assist in pooling resources, raise and harvest crops, and provide agricultural credit to members. “It’s the co-op that has helped us since we’ve returned from Port-au-Prince,” said Ophliase Joseph, 55, the mother of seven children whose home was destroyed in the earthquake. While Joseph said she misses the family home in the Haitian capital, life in the co-op, in Mayombe, has made her realize that she and the family need to put life in Port-au-Prince behind them she said.

The food co-ops are also meeting the challenge of providing food for their members and their families. “It means life to us,” said Elvius St. Fulis a member of the “Hand in Hand” co-op. Efforts continue to expand the 13 food cooperatives, which have more than 3,000 members. There is ongoing support for vulnerable Haitian children in Port-au-Prince, including restavek children (domestic servants), former gang members and teenage mothers and there is continued support for 1,200 persons with disabilities and their families in metropolitan Port-au-Prince.

Source: Church World Service

Albania: Caravaning for peace

Totally overshadowed by the dramatic events in Tunisia and Egypt, thousands of Albanians have also been taking to the streets in desperation for just and stable national leadership. On 31 January Christians initiated a Caravan of Peace which gathered in front of Mother Therea's Monument in the square named after Albania's most famous daughter.

Arian Galdini is a young Albanian politician who for years has been trying to raise a Christian voice in the public square in this country, which once proudly proclaimed itself the world's first atheistic state. Inspired by the European Parliament Prayer Breakfast in Brussels he has initiated national prayer breakfasts in Tirana to bring the nation's top politicians together in a humble attitude of dependence on God.

Humility, however, is the last attitude being modelled presently in Albania by the conservative president, Sali Berisha, and the socialist opposition leader, Edi Rama. The nation has been polarised now for months as these two leaders have refused to dialogue and settle differences. The socialists accuse Berisha for rigging the 2009 national elections and demand his resignation. Berisha (who was at the centre of Albania's stormy upheavals around pyramid schemes in the late '90's) refuses to resign, and counter-accuses the opposition of attempting a coup d'etat. The two leaders have taken their feud onto the streets, mobilising their followers in massive demonstrations and counter-demonstrations. Ten days ago three socialist supporters were shot dead by police.

"As Christians, we must do what we can to be peacemakers."

Arian meanwhile has tried to rally academics and intellectuals, politicians and religious to drive a wedge for peace and calm between the two rival blocs. He has written articles for the main newspapers pleading for dialogue. He sent sms's to Berisha and Rama urging them to follow the paths of peace and dialogue, without response. The total control of the media by the two strong leaders has discouraged Arian. In his view, the media whip up emotions which do not serve justice, truth, peace and interests of the Albanian People; only militants voices are being heard.

Arian has written to contacts outside of Albania asking for prayer and wisdom. Today he and some colleagues will meet with the president. After that the group plan to declare a Hunger Strike for Peace in front of the prime minister's office. They expect the media to studiously ignore them. But they believe, as Christians, they must do what they can to be peacemakers. They ask for our prayer for peace and righteous government in their land. It's the least we can do.

Source: Arian Galdini, Jeff Fountain

What God Calls His House

Why the church must understand its eternal identity as a House of Prayer. Mike Bickle

by Mike Bickle, IHOP-KC

The eternal destiny of all God’s people is to function as a house of prayer now and in the age to come. Our greatest place of authority, honor, dignity and security is found in this reality. This wasn’t man’s idea but God’s. His concern is not about us having more prayer meetings (as good as that might be) but about establishing a prayer culture in the body of Christ. 

In one short statement, Jesus revealed the eternal identity and destiny of His people. Matthew 21:13 records His prophetic declaration: “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer.’” Isaiah also spoke this decree when he prophesied to Israel: “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Is. 56:7). 

When God calls us by a name, it indicates our character and how we are to function in the Holy Spirit. What, then, does it mean to be a house of prayer? It means that God speaks to us and moves our hearts; then we speak those very words back to Him and it moves His heart.

The result is that God’s resources are released into the earthly realm. God’s resources include His power, money, wisdom, creative ideas, unity and favor in ministry. Yes, this exchange is the foundational principle of prayer: God speaks and moves our hearts; then we speak and move His heart. That is how God’s family will operate forever.

But the “house of prayer” isn’t just one prayer ministry in a city; it’s the whole body of Christ in that city. I always tell our new Bible school students that the house of prayer in Kansas City, Mo., isn’t the ministry I give oversight to called the International House of Prayer of Kansas City (IHOP-KC). We’re just a gas station—we take a cup of gasoline and throw it on the prayer fires that burn in the real house of prayer in Kansas City, which is made up of 1,000-plus congregations in our area.

Mystery and Majesty

If God called us a house of prayer, it makes sense then that we’re all called to pray. I’m often struck by the mystery and the majesty of intercession. The mystery of intercession is how simple it is: We just tell God what He tells us to tell Him. It’s so easy that everyone can do it! We’re like little children mimicking a parent. 

At the same time, the majesty of intercession is that Jesus Himself intercedes. Jesus lives forever to make intercession for His people (see Heb. 7:25); though fully God, He rules the nations through intercession now and will do the same in the age to come (see Ps. 2:8). What humility!

In Genesis 1, the Father’s plan was to bring order to the earth. The Spirit hovered over the earth, yet the chaos and darkness remained: “The earth was without form, and void. ... Then God [Jesus] said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light” (vv. 2-3).

When Jesus declared the word, “Let there be light,” the Spirit released light. The Spirit wouldn’t release the light until Jesus declared it. The darkness remained until Jesus “interceded” and spoke God’s word over it to release the Spirit’s creative power.

All three members of the Godhead work together in creation. The Father’s plan was to create the heavens and earth. Jesus spoke those plans into being. He operated in the foundational principle of intercession by speaking God’s word back to Him. Then the Holy Spirit released the power (see Gen. 1:3, 9, 11, 14-15, 24, 30). Jesus expressed Himself as an “intercessory oracle,” as Creator, by speaking God’s word back to God (see Ps. 33:6). Just as Jesus created all that is by speaking the word to the Father, He now upholds the created order by the word of His power (see Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3). 

Prayer Is Agreement 

Jesus invites us to join in this exchange by agreeing with Him in intercession. Agreement with God’s heart is foundational to prayer and all spiritual warfare. Worship is agreeing with who God is. For example, we may say to God, “You are worthy,” “You are good,” or “Holy is the Lord.” Worship is expressed by declaring the truth of God; it leads to intimacy with God. 

If worship is agreeing with who God is, then intercession is agreeing with what God promises to do (e.g., “Lord, release Your power”). Intercession is expressed by declaring what He will do. When we declare the truth of who God is in worship, our faith expands to agree with what He’s promised to do—this is intercession. The Father ordained His “house” to rule with Jesus through intimacy-based intercession. Intimacy speaks of how our hearts connect with God; intercession relates to releasing His resources.

God governs the universe in partnership with His people through intercession. He opens doors of blessing and closes doors of oppression in response to our prayers. The Lord gives His people a dynamic role in determining a measure of the quality of life we experience, as we respond to Him in prayer, obedience, faith and meekness. God has chosen to pour out His blessings, but often only as His people rise up in the partnership of prayer. He requires that we ask because it causes us to interact with His heart (see James 4:2). Again, this is an expression of His desire for intimate partnership with us.

God jealously protects this relationship by not releasing His resources until we speak to Him. He requires us to pray because He is jealous for relationship with us and is zealous to establish His goodness in our lives. God longs to release His grace and power but actually waits until He hears the cry of His people in intercession (see Is. 30:18-19). It’s a two-sided truth: God will not do our part and we cannot do His part. If we don’t do our part, then God withholds some of the help and blessing He would’ve given us.

What About Justice?

Today it’s trendy to call out for social justice, yet Jesus is and has always been the ultimate social reformer. He establishes justice to reform society. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus said, “Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night?” (Luke 18:7, NASB). Jesus is the only social reformer in history who linked cultural transformation to night-and-day prayer.

Justice is exemplified by soul-winning, healing, revival, unity and the transformation of society. Justice isn’t just stopping wicked people from oppressing others; it includes empowering God’s people. Jesus knew that prayer wouldn’t just deal with the spiritual issues related to injustice, it would change the spiritual atmosphere of a city or region. 

The only way justice can be fully manifest is to deal with the demonic powers in the supernatural realm. We move angels and demons by our words (see Dan. 10:12-13). They are involved in the release of justice—which means both the justice and missions movement can only go so far without night-and-day prayer.

The Centrality of  Intercession in God’s Plan

Prayer has always been at the center of God’s purpose. Chapters 4 and 5 of the book of Revelation describe the worship order around God’s throne, where the four living creatures agree with Him in 24/7 worship and intercession (see Rev. 4:8). 

Consider these examples: Human history began in a praying meeting in the Garden of Eden as Adam walked with God each day in the cool of the morning (see Gen. 3:8). Israel as a nation began at a prayer meeting at Mount Sinai right after its people crossed the Red Sea, when God called them to be a kingdom of priests (see Ex. 19:6-20). The first mandate God gave Israel was to build a worship sanctuary, a house of prayer, in the wilderness (see Ex. 25).

God’s purpose for His people to be a house of prayer is evident during the reigns of David and his son Solomon, in Israel’s greatest hour in history. King David established night-and-day worship (see 1 Chr. 15-16) and financed more than 4,000 full-time paid musicians and singers (see 1 Chr. 23:5; 25:7). David commanded the kings and leaders in the generations after him to establish and maintain worship in the way that God had revealed to him (see 2 Chr. 29:25; 35:4, 15; Ezra 3:10; Neh. 12:45). Zerubbabel established full-time singers and musicians as commanded by David (see Ezra 3:10-11; Neh. 12:47). Ezra and Nehemiah did the same (see Neh. 12:24, 45). Each time this order of worship was reintroduced in Israel, spiritual breakthrough, deliverance and military victory followed.

Jesus began His public ministry in a prayer meeting in the wilderness (see Matt. 4) and ended it in a prayer meeting in the Garden of Gethsemane (see Matt. 26). The church began in a prayer meeting (see Acts 1-2). Natural history as we know it will end in the context of a global prayer movement. The conflict at the end of the age will be between two houses of prayer, two global worship movements. The Holy Spirit is raising up the most powerful worship movement in history (see Rev. 22:17; 5:8; 8:4; Luke. 18:7-8; Is. 62:6-7; 24:14-16; 25:9; 26:8-9; 30:18-19; 42:10-13), which will completely defeat the Antichrist’s end-time worldwide false worship movement (see Rev. 13:8). 

Before Jesus returns, the Spirit-anointed church across the nations, established in her bridal identity and functioning in intercession and worship, will cry out with the Spirit, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (see Rev. 22:17). 

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Mike Bickle is the director of the International House of Prayer Missions Base of Kansas City (IHOP–KC) and author of several books. For more information, visit mikebickle.org or ihop.org.

Book Push: The Grace Outpouring by Roy Godwin

“Imagine a House of Prayer in every town. Imagine churches filled with Christians who want to bless others; who want to pray and then stand back and watch God at work, changing lives before their very eyes.” 

“Roy has a vision to see houses of prayer established throughout Britain and Europe. This has out of the reality of what has happened at Ffald-y-Brenin as the community there has committed to a rhythm of prayer, thankfulness and blessing... 

We hope that what you read will help paint pictures on the canvas of your imagination that will allow you to be provoked by the Holy Spirit to prayer, compassion and a mindset that desires to bless others.” Dave Roberts

http://www.amazon.com/Grace-Outpouring-Blessing-Others-through/dp/1842914049

Stand firm through the power of your words

I have felt so strongly that we are in a season when God wants to bless us beyond our wildest imagination. I have no idea what that really means. I just sense that He is “on the way” to right some wrong or difficult situations, resolve conflicts, break us out of very narrow places, heal all kinds of things from physical to emotional to whatever, solve financial conundrums, etc.

With that awareness has also been the sense that I must carefully watch what I say and guard my expectations.

Most of us are in situations that speak something very contrary to blessing. They evoke feelings like worry, anxiety, despair, hopelessness, confusion, depression, oppression, even outright anger. I don’t know what you are experiencing but I am aware of my own situations. It is very easy to let the wave of feelings overtake emotions and then suddenly, out my mouth pops a perfectly wrong string of pronouncements. Those words set the stage for the enemy of our soul to overtake us.

However, in the midst of these tough situations I have found a strange sense of hope, expectation arising in spite of the impossibility of circumstances. I have heard that still small voice say, “Guard your words and carefully craft your future.” I expect God to come through and rearrange some situations. I don’t know how, I just believe He is going to do it. When? I’m not sure about the timetable; I just know He is coming. He is looking to me simply to believe.

And to all of you I say, I BELIEVE!

Because of God’s incredible love for me, it forms a threefold cord that binds me to the plans of God for me. Faith, hope and charity or love. I know God loves me. Therefore I have faith in Him and that faith forms the substance of things hoped for, those things I have been expecting God to come through on. That faith also is my evidence for things that are coming but not yet seen (see Heb 11:1).

In the midst of thinking all these things for at least the last couple months, my assistant, Natasha, sent me an e-mail. This word so witnessed with me that I am including it so all of you can be encouraged by it.

This word was given on Dec. 2, 2010.

Angels Will now Be Sent to Guard Your Mouth!
A Prophecy from Chuck Pierce, Barbara Wentroble and Keith Pierce

“I have blessings that like the sea can cover you. Because these blessings can cover you, enter in! For if you will seat yourself with Me and have a cup of tea and talk with Me, then you will taste and you will see. Taste and see for the blessings greater than the sea can overtake you.”

“We are entering a season where you need to watch your mouth and project your voice. I will watch the way you use your mouth this season. I will watch how you celebrate. I am sending angels to guard your mouth to assist you in what to say and proclaim! I will watch how you look for your provision. Will you look for provision by faith? Will you look for provision out of a heart of worship? Or will you strive to get what you need? I will watch how you speak for your provision to come. I am changing the administration of your provision. So this week be not distraught, but this week speak and watch the honey and the water come forth.”

“I AM saying: Speak! I am not saying: Strike. Beware, beware to speak and not strike! In your striking there will be a drying. But in your speaking there will be a watering. Arise and put your hand over your mouth and let Me say, ‘I am One who will speak clearly to see what needs to be broken; come forth in My name.’”

“Be not angry, but rejoice, for your emotions must be displayed properly. Allow your emotions to rise up in the midst of your circumstances and speak to the rock and tell that mountain you’re coming through.”

“I’m raising up a Caleb generation in this hour. Even Caleb was one who said, ‘Give me my mountain!’ He spoke and commanded the mountain to come into his possession. I am raising a Caleb generation who will speak, who will take that which God said they could have—even a generation that murmured and complained and never came into the fulfillment of the promise of the Lord in the last season, and say, ‘Now!’ In this hour I raise up a Caleb generation, a people who will possess that which I say they can have. Even as Caleb, speak and declare that you have your mountain, your possession. This generation must arise and must speak the provision of the Lord.”

This is me speaking again, Barbara Yoder. Remember that we have entered Hanukah, the Festival of Lights, a season of unusual light, revelation, miracles and love. Expect largely, even in your darkest night. There is not one type of darkness that can extinguish God’s light.

About the author: Barbara J. Yoder is the founder and senior pastor of Shekinah Christian Church (shekinahchurch.org) in Ann Arbor, Mich., and is known for her apostolic and prophetic breakthrough ministry. She travels nationally and internationally ministering in churches, conferences and seminars. She is the author of several books, including Taking on Goliath. To order a copy of the book, click here. Visit her blog page at barbarayoderblog.com.

Read more: http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/prophetic-insight/29769-stand-firm-through-the-power-of-your-words

Brother Andrew sharing Jesus with the Taliban

"Peace is not the end of conflict and war, nor the result of so called 'peace talks'. It's rooted more deeply in inner peace with God and people around us," says Anne van der Bijl, the Dutchman who's better known as Brother Andrew. Now in his eighties, he still serves the persecuted church and preaches the Gospel to her persecutors. "Peace is a fruit of justice, as the prophet Isaiah says, not of prayer. That's why Jesus said: 'Blessed are the peacemakers'; He didn't say: 'Blessed are the peacetalkers'."

"The main thing that's preventing peace today is our own 'enemy mindset'," says Van der Bijl. "We build defenses and send out troops all over the world to 'bring peace', but everyone knows that we're not able to establish peace. As the Church of Jesus Christ we've lost the art of bringing the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to our enemies. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus teaches that we don't really have enemies: 'Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you'. This is followed by: 'Blessed are the peacemakers.' I can't love my enemy if he remains my enemy, so I first have to clear the barrier that makes me think there is an enemy."

"What makes us unique as the Church of Jesus Christ is our call to the 'ministry of reconciliation', to be peacemakers in our time. Where do we make peace? Wherever there's conflict and war. When we become friends with those who are considered our enemies, we become effective fighters against terrorism. You will see that the doors and hearts of people are wide open, and if we do what Jesus commands us, there will be supernatural results as well. That's how I got entrance to the Hizbollah, the Hamas and the Taliban."

How did you get access to the Taliban?

"I just go there. I find out where they live and show up at the door step. They ask what I come for and I tell them about Jesus. We've become way too diplomatic and careful in our approach. Next week I hope to visit the Taliban again. They now say: 'Anne, this is your second home'."

"One day I visited a large, notorious Quran school where 90% of the graduates immediately join the ranks of the Taliban and al-Qaeda. A war factory of human weapons, targeted to wage war against the infidels, which is the Americans and NATO. I arrived at a square where hundreds of these students waited in line for military exercise. There was a microphone in the front. The head of the school and a minister of the government gave a short talk, and suddenly the microphone was handed to me: 'Anne, it's your turn'."

"I was surprised as I only came to visit. So I went to the microphone, pulled out my Bible and said: 'This is the only book in the world that tells us that God loves us, that our sins can be forgiven, and how we can go to Heaven when we die.' I told them about Jesus. I believe every Christian should be able to speak about his faith in Jesus unprepared for at least 15 minutes. Sometimes you get a chance like this to share the Gospel, and it would be pity to waste such an opportunity."

"After my talk, the leader of the Quran school, who's also a high official in the Taliban and government circles, came up to me and said: 'Anne, would you please come back and tell us more about Jesus, also to our graduate class?' By the time they graduate, they all have a beard and a high degree, and are ready to take on the battle against the 'great satan', America and NATO. I asked the leader how many guys he had in his final class, and he said: 1,300. This is an amazing mission field! They also ask for Bibles, books and computers. Together with the Bible Institute we already brought them hundreds of Bibles, and I believe many more will follow. We want to reach 300 Quran schools!"

"Recently I visited a leader of the Islamic Jihad. I told him that so many Muslims come to Jesus because they've seen Him in a vision, a dream, a revelation. He looked at me with such a hunger, that I stopped talking and prayed with him that the Lord Jesus would give him a fresh revelation of the Peacemaker, the Son of God. At the end of my long evangelical prayer he said: 'Amen!', straight from his heart. I thought: 'Just one more step. Lord, you have to give him a revelation of Yourself. I did what I could do'."

What can we do ourselves?

"The solution is to make Jesus Christ king of our lives. To ask Him: 'Lord, what do You want me to do?' To submit our whole life as a voluntary service to Jesus Christ. This gives incredible peace, where-ever we go."

Source: Anne van der Bijl
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(c) JOEL NEWS, 2010 | republication only with full credit line www.joelnews.org

Operation World 2010

“When you hear a country mentioned in the news or in a conversation and you want to know more about it and what God is doing there - this book will help you.”

In this book you’ll find a profile for every country in the world, including crazy info about their geography, people groups, economy, politics and the various religions practiced there. The Operation World team gives mind blowing statistics that will keep you busy for quiet a while. The best and most useful information for me is the “answers to prayer” and “challenges for prayer”.

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Amazon: http://amzn.to/eF07Qj
Operation World: http://www.operationworld.org/
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Decisions that define us by Graham Cooke

Become a online missionary!

Sharing the Good News is a commission from Jesus to every Christian. That can be hard some times with a full-time job, a family, and the occasional gold fish. If you’ve had the desire to share about God’s love, but haven’t found the time to make it to streets, check out these guys: http://www.globalmediaoutreach.com. 

"As a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, our goal is to stay on the cutting edge of global communication technologies to share Jesus and help believers grow in their faith worldwide." 

I just signed up and registration has taken about 2 weeks and i’m excited to start this thing. Their training has been short and to the point, very well done. I’m thinking it will be a fun way to help “seekers” find Jesus, answer questions and grow my Bible understanding. I’ll keep you posted on how it turns out!

The Crisis from mike weimer on Vimeo.

The lame walk!

Check out this amazing testimony of one of my friends from Bethel Atlanta. 

Kris Vallotton - Prophecy 101

Jesus Feast - Feast on His Miracles

Wondering what to feast on over the next 40 days? Check this out!

www.JesusFeast.org 

Read and meditate through the Miracles Jesus did over the next 40 days. Want your daily scripture emailed to you - sign up here...

Also check out their Facebook group!