SAFE IN THE GRIP OF GRACE... WHICH IS BIGGER THAN ALL THINGS.

Is everything fragile and unstable ?  

It has been a tumultuous week in numerous countries... but especially Ukraine and UK. Whatever your eschatological view, we live in climactic and unique times. Never has there been so much instability in the leadership of the UK. Compounded by independency drives from Scotland and Wales, resurgence of nationalism and sectarianism in Ireland, Brexit, a global pandemic, a broken geological system and an ever increasing fuel bill, we live in a time when everyone does what is fit in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). If ever :strong and stable" leadership was needed it is now. However, Mr McGuiinnes' tweet regarding his 4 month old son witnessing  4 chancellors, 3 home secretaries, 2 prime ministers and 2 monarchs beautifully sums up the volatility, velocity and temporary nature of our age. 

Couple with this the devilish breath of hostility which drives a "military operation" to co-opt Iranian drones, forces and "experts" in order to destroy the lives of more civilians and obliterate or terrorise whole communities. In it there is no clear objective, just a desire for localised destruction and terror, hid under a cloak of lies and anger. Marginalised governments with diminishing influence can be drawn into increasingly erratic behaviour and goals. This does not increase their power on the world stage but further limits it, and the resources with which they will be able to operate. 

In such a chaotic world, where is our hope ? Where do we find certainty, a steadiness for the future to build our lives and those of our family upon?

One of my favourite hymns sung in Ukrainian, Russian and English...

1) THE GRIP OF GOD'S GRACE IS NOT LOOSENED BY CIRCUMSTANCE:

In Mark 4:35-41 we are reminded of the unique, calm, immovable grace of our God which surpasses all times, generations, temporary storms, human doubts and efforts to destroy it. Two things hit me which relate to  our present circumstances...

a) CHRIST (THE ONE OVER ALL) IS WITH US IN THE BOAT: 

The Lordship of Jesus as Creator, Sustainer, Saviour, Judge and vindicated / resurrected eternal Ruler cannot ever, ever, be changed. No human construction, campaign, obstinacy or dissension will ever change this however loud the decibels of complaint and opposition get... HIS GRIP remains calm, steadfast and strong. His presence with us should fix our eyes on the certain nature of his company. He is the one who will never leave us or forsake us, The controller of all things comes into our world and subjects himself to everything we strive against in a fallen world, (Heb 4:15-16) yet he was and is ...without sin. He lives for us and in us by his spirit to equip us in the storm, not to get out of it, but to show us his power in the middle of it.

Colossians 1:15-20

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,  and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."

b) HE GOES THROUGH THIS WITH US : There are so many current experiences which would  prompt loneliness for the christian in our present age. However... greater company than ever is gathering to display the majesty of the one with us (Hebrews 12:1) and his ability to not only keep us in the worst of times but use us as hyper profitable (Romans 8:35-37). 

As battles rage, suffering increases and many lives are tragically ended in Ukraine, the church grows dynamically. As floods in Pakistan and Nepal submerge communities, the church continues to grow. As the heat is turned up on the church, it is purified. As the times become increasingly dark and Satanic, the church shines brighter than ever with the presence of the one who is the light of the world (John 8:12, Matthew 4:16) , and inhabits his church to be radiant across the world (Luke 8:16, Phil 2:15).

2) THE GLOBAL NEW COMMUNITY OF MISSIONAL GRACE SHOULD REMAIN STEADFAST TO THE COURSE. When stormy times come on the church there is always a temptation to "batten down the hatches" and regroup down in a ghetto basement to feel the safety and warmth in likemindedness. This is what the early church in Jerusalem did, before the storm of persecution pressed them to get on with the global mission of God, with which they had been charged and for which he had equipped. 

I sense in the UK a growing dichotomy between those local communities of believers who are living for confinement and preservation (whose goal is to "STAY" in settled equilibrium) and those churches who are willing to "GO" with the gospel. 

IS THE CHURCH RESTING OUT OF LAZINESS RATHER THAN IN FAITH ?

Interestingly in the bible, the new community in the scriptures is never defined by it's locality or geography, its people type or culture, but  by purpose and character within the dynamic purpose of the mission of GOD. 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be MY WITNESSES in Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ACTS 8:1

As God is not confined, so the church he inhabits and arrests for his purposes is not bound or restrained. In fact those who desire to define church for themselves or their own purposes (in restrictive, self serving leadership) often only see their "ministry" and church remain for a temporary existence which is characterised by increasing introspection and self destruction. Our most recent premiers in the UK are a good illustration on this. 

THERE IS A HIGHER CALLING IN THE STORM:

 The church is ultimately defined by God and not us, the biblical goal is never for us to establish a local church to serve ourselves, to be terratorial, but to see a dynamic missional community emerge for his glory. This strikes me as the primary and very basic misunderstanding in too many church planting movements and materials, a huge contributor to why some church plants fail. Whenever the planting of a church is seen as a goal in and of itself rather than as a means to serve the global mission of God, it is doomed to fail as a mechanism of human engineering. When storms come on the church (as they will), that which has been built with human resources reaps human rewards and consequences. (Matt 7:24-27). In the UK we have a graveyard of physical church buildings which have not fallen whilst the local expression of church has. Today in our generation and nation there are no shortage of night clubs, Indian restaurants, bespoke homes and carpet warehouses situated in old church buildings.  Building a physical building costing millions today for a church makes us no more missional or fruitful in the kingdom than the reality of our hearts. 

The goal of the local church is to have no boundaries which restrict others coming into the missional community of grace, to be driven by nothing other than the mission of GOD. We are not here to define our own boundaries as his community, but to be swept in joyful submission as the Spirit leads us, and goes where He wills (John 3:8). Trying to confine the Living God to our constraints is foolish, sinful and disastrous. Contrarily there is great liberty and joy (2 Cor 3:17) in churches and leadership teams which get this dynamic. 

Let the peoples praise you, O God;
    let all the peoples praise you!

4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
    for you judge the peoples with equity
    and guide the nations upon earth. 
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
    let all the peoples praise you!

Psalm 67:3-5

The mission of God is bigger than any one culture, one denomination, one parish, diocese or region, one nation or indeed several or dozens. It is for and includes all peoples.  Whether new believers are baptised in a bath in Bhutan or a pool in Pavlohrad, sing in Swahili with a adeudeu or in Dagenham with drum and bass, the intention and ambition is the same,,, to see others come to know Christ. We commend him and not ourselves or our culture. We transparently look to live him out in all contexts and through all storms, and his grip on our lives enables us to do so.

 The new community should be a missional community without walls, going to all cultures, reaching out to Jews, Greeks, Belarussians, Bhutias, Nepalese, Sharchops, Tajikistanis,  and Montenegrins. The beauty of the global village and communications is that at times we are starting to witness "all as one" in Christ Jesus in a single virtual or even geographical location. Never before have previous generations been able to see such a consolodated reality glimpse of heaven, an open window on the global people of God being orchestrated into incorprated unity. The unprecedented migration and displacement of humanity of our present time increases both storm and missional opportunity. For this eternal kingdom expansion to happen though we need to be more focussed on Him than the daily storm. more concentrated on our ultimate task as ambassadors of grace and citizens of heaven than our momentary comfort as creatures. 

The Christian life is an adventure
in the safe provision of God
not a snooze on the sofa
of our own making. 

  As followers of Jesus then we are not "stay at home" slipper warmers... resolute builders of our own comfort kingdoms, but pilgrims on a journey whose adventure is being led by the one who has safely gone before us. We need to remember that when Jesus taught Matthew chapter 6 ...life was fragile for those who followed him, the New Testament church was unestablished, without buildings, websites, savings accounts or any provisions surplus we may have today. They lived one day at a time trusting his grace as totally sufficient (2 Cor 12:9). This journey took them to the cross, it was not a life of comfort but of sacrifice as they followed the servant king through suffering to glory. 

 "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, 

and all these things will be added to you."

It is a sobering thought, that at least some of our present storms may be here to refocus us in the new community on the primacy of Jesus, his kingdom and calling. 

Our God is bigger, bigger than all our storms, bigger than our needs of today and tomorrow. Be encouraged then friend, not to regress into a huddle with like minded "hunkerers" but to stand straight and step out with a missional community. When our eyes are drawn to Christ, the storm becomes less of a directive, decisions are clearly made, priorities are without nuance. The grip of our God's grace has saved us, is refining and is keeping us to move forward in his purposes. For us this is a good day. Whatever your situation, whether without electric or heating, in UK or Ukraine, in the basement under drones, or on top of a mountain of bills, let him take control of tomorrow. We may be surprised how blessed tomorrow will be as we rest in his safe grip and apply his priorities and Lordship into our storms. 

WHAT A PERSON GRIPPED BY GRACE LOOKS LIKE: 

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him

COL 3:12-17

Every little helps - How we hope to encourage Ukrainian pastors and churches through the winter.

On our recent trip to Ukraine we had two aims...

• 1) To encourage wherever possible, and 
• 2) Ask the question, "how can we be of most help" ?

In all such encounters where God is giving his people special grace and miraculous provision to cope (even flourish) with the darkest of times, we were the ones who came away encouraged. There are numerous stories of church congregations being 5-7 times larger than they were 6 months ago. This is particularly true in rural areas and where proactive teams are taking the gospel to those most hurting. God is good !!! 

So what was the answer, how can we help our precious Ukrainian Church family through this pivotal and potentially brutal Winter? 

The practical needs are great, but by God's orchestration many situations are not unsurmountable. God has given us the privilege of partnering in close fellowship through this time, and the company of God's people always refreshes. The indwelling word of God renews both mind and heart, in new gospel challenge comes new provision and we walk one day at a time by faith.

WHAT CAN WE DO? 

• Our relief aid continues and in faith we are praying for more provision as this
  
  
  relentless and multitasking time of winter is increasingly near. Aid over recent months has opened doors, hearts and unreached districts to listen to the gospel. We want to maintain links with those most in need, and help build on the considerable trust given by those whose hearts are increasingly open, about the trauma they've seen, the big questions they have, and about their own need of God in his grace. Despite stories disappearing off our news, the reality for some areas is that aid is more needed than ever. We look to God to provide for his glory. Thank you all who have given to relief aid over the last few months. In all areas, you have partnered with the growth of the Church and seen much fruit for your investment in the mission of God.
• We have set up a special winter project knowing what a strategic time this is for encouragement. Many church leaders are exhausted (physically, mentally, emotionally). Yet at the same time ... the need increases as does the gospel opportunity. We want to avoid "short termism" / shortsightedness, our prayer to build up God's people / set up ministries for the long term, and reap eternal fruit. 

We have committed to doing 3 things. 

These are the priorities of the Pastor's networks, the requests of most strategic things to do to help all the churches, and encourage gospel ministry.  

• 1) Service Pastor's vehicles, and get them ready for the Winter with winter oil and tyres. 
• 2) Provide generators and heating for gospel ministry.
• 3) Encourage Pastors: with fresh resources, online materials, and encouragement conferences. 

NAVIGATING THE WINTER ...

FOR CONTINUING STRATEGIC GROWTH OF THE GOSPEL: 

Here's why and where our help is so important:

• VEHICLES: During the last 234 days, Pastors have used their personal (family) vehicles relentlessly. They have constantly travelled (tank and military hammered) roads, transported displaced friends, crawled through borders and checkpoints, delivered aid, distributed vital materials to keep people and churches going. Their vehicles are not ready for Winter but are groaning. In desperate need of a winter service and some TLC we look to provide for those pastors who need funds to do this, and be equipped with winter oil and tyres. Without help in this area ministry... pastors being on the move and the availability and accessibility of pastors to be where they are needed (when they are needed)... will simply stop in a few days time. A winter service and new snow tyres are relatively  big bills when life is lived "hand to mouth", but as a collective group of friends we can help. It is a small thing we do, but we are assured it makes a huge difference and will keep pastors on the move doing what they are called and gifted to do. May God keep them and aid them as ministers of encouragement, the word of life, lives and ministry full of Jesus Christ. 
• GENERATORS AND HEATING: The biggest numerical growth seems to have
  
  landed on smaller churches who have been faithful and loving to provide authentic new community care. They have been blessed with new believers and the joy of numerous baptismal services through the Summer. However, now is the time for discipleship and ongoing encouragement, and soon that will become practically much more difficult. 
• Think of the pastor who 12 months ago was praying faithfully for young people in his church when he had none. Now there is no shortage of young people, new young people who have come to Christ, but how can he afford to heat the church for a youth meeting he never budgeted for, when energy prices are steeply on the rise, and his church heating system may not be appropriate ?

• 
  
  
  We have committed to helping numerous churches with the gift of a good generator to keep them going whatever the eventuality and situation, and limits of infrastructure. Ministry can continue and the true work in peoples hearts can be fuelled. Heating and energy can alternate to the cheapest option. For some churches who have seen extraordinary growth,  an extra gift to help with winter fuel, the certainty that ministry can be programmed to continue.
• PASTORAL ENCOURAGEMENT: FUELLING THE HEART OF THOSE WHO BURN WITH COMPASSION AND TO SHARE CHRIST. The list of pastoral issues in such an environment is dauntingly overwhelming, Counselling is unlimited in need, from; trauma, rape, unwanted pregnancy, pregnancy when the father has just been killed, taking the life of another in conflict on the frontline, relationship stress and marriage breakdown, grief of lost loved ones, loneliness, big questions on evil and suffering. Post trauma has become the norm, sleeping in bathrooms and corridors between thick walls for safety, on tenterhooks for sirens and power / communication cuts... all takes its toll, and especially for those who see, hear and advise on all these issues.
•  We have committed to supplying pastors with regular pastoral contact,
  
  
  specialist encouragement and advice, online resources, spiritual food to aid sermon prep whilst time is limited, disrupted and used in emergency help. Along with this we plan pastors encouragement conferences to unpack more of this material, refresh preachers in the word of GOD, give leaders time and space for strategic planning, and  a time out of context to recharge in the confines of good friends, rest,  and trusted advisers. We run a small fund for such events which may be severely tested, but we believe this is of God and he will therefore provide.
• ACTION is a "faith mission". This means that we trust God to provide. We do not want to publish numbers of either financial need, accomplishments  or set human goals of what might be achieved. Everything achieved is by God and for his glory.
• It may seem foolish to some to attempt something for which provision has not yet been fully seen, but this is what faith is...trusting God that he will give at the right time and in the right amount. This is the experience George Muller had when looking after orphans in Bristol (read here), and it has been our experience too. When someone is hungry God knows. When a loaf of bread is needed God knows. When a bakery is needed to be built God knows and provides. When a young person who has suffered needs a home, God knows. When a church is needed to be planted and resourced God knows, and when his people who serve are in great need God knows. So here is our confidence....

ARE WE DRIVING ON THIN ICE OR GOING ON A GREAT ADVENTURE ?

• This week we set the wheels in motion (pun intended) to purchase some generators in faith, set some dates to fix some cars, and purchase snow tyres and with that ...we trust God for the rest. 

If you would like to pray with us please do. If you need any other information, please don't hesitate to get in touch, as we go on this journey of God's provision and miraculous work together. 

With huge appreciation and much love,  

Blogski 

Continue to pray for families separated by persecution.

 For many years the opponents of evangelicalism in Eastern Europe have worked with governments who plot (both overtly and subversively) with FSB and underworld networks to terrorise the church. Those who remain most faithful to the calling of Christ and his mission of grace, are most marked for hatred.

Kidnappings, "freak" road accidents, "accidental" fires, and loss of income are nothing new to "free church" pastors who live in these cultures. Many have lost their lives, incomes and been severely tested in emotional/ mental wellbeing long before the present phase of the invasion.

Present opposition then is not a fresh invention, but a resurgence of historical persecution which remains deeply rooted, and grew such a perverted freedom to hurt and oppress in the heyday of communism. (read a summary of Sergey Kourdakov's story here) 

As the present rhetoric intensifies and seeks to justify barbarism in the name of ideology and revived historical dreams and tropes (a growing "pan slavic mega-state" which rules without opposition or freedom of speech), so does the compliant aid of those living in government pockets in both FSB and state Orthodox Church. Remember this when you see the politician kneeling in apparent piety before the Orthodox altar. It is not done in humility but defiance,  it is a prayer that the "Orthodox" church will one day rise to rule the land without competition, rule the economy for blackmarket control, and rule the minds of the people for the indoctrination and instruction of anything other than the living word of GOD.

The Archbishop blesses the satellite.
 Soon after it lays in the ocean. 

Such a prayer before God, (expecting his help)  is an anathema, blasphemous and will face judgement accordingly. To those who scratch the veneer, it is fairly transparent that the prayers of this government which hates believers are not defined by their love of our HOLY GOD in all his compassion, grace and righteous judgement (who protects the hurting, prioritises the poor,  redeems and cherishes all those of his creation), but their allegiance is wholeheartedly to another who opposes the living God and everything he is and accomplishes.  

Putin is on record as saying to his party that protestants are "scum, traitors, and insects that the Russian people will spit out their mouths."

Gen 50:20 , Romans 8:28, Psalm 23:4, remind us that in the darkest times, when evil, greed and human idolatry seems to reign, God is at work accomplishing his purposes through even the very same means which seem to be fortifying evil. The cross and resurrection of Christ are the ultimate proof of God's sovereign, mighty, victorious hand which accomplishes GOOD. Around the world, in Asia, Africa and each continent this causes suppressed and oppressed underground churches to bounce with the law of spiritual buoyancy, as authentic love, and particularly love among believers (John 13:35) (1 Peter 1:22-2:3) (Col 3:12-13) authenticates the gospel and an explosion of new believers emerge. 

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

There has been a awakening in quarters of Ukrainian orthodoxy,
to the historical person of Christ, the distinction between biblical and manmade religion, the nature of society under God's mandate. This coupled with a distancing from Russian Orthodoxy has facilitated a growingly healthy dynamic of freedom and a desire to inquire of and explore the scriptures, talk and work with free church pastors, interact with the new community of Christ. In Ukraine the formal barriers once erected high between Orthodoxy and free church has been dismantling, after all everyone is Ukrainian, and is in this together. This has opened a floodgate of missional opportunity in some quarters, as priests and laypersons alike,  discover the beauty of Christ and his Lordship over their lives.  

What is our role as we watch on ?

1. Let's continue to pray for those families separated by those who hate the free church. The largest network of evangelical churches in Ukraine is the Baptist network. Whist they are not the only network, in many ways they are seen to take a lead and therefore pay the highest price.

This helpful article from Elijah Brown re: the kidnapping of Baptist Pastor Leonid and Tatyana Ponomaryov from Kurchatov Church, Mariupol (further details here) illustrates the point well. The story is symbolic of many others. Some of the members of the "prayer house" in Kurchatov had been approached (bullied) to open the building for the fake referendum to be promoted and they had refused to use God's resources this way. Typical of such prayer houses is their outward simplicity. The great beauty of God's people shines internally, and in the darkest times, they shine brightest for the glory of Jesus Christ. 

House of prayer Kurchatov

Pray for the children of pastors.

a) For their safety and protection.

b) For their supernatural enabling to love their enemies and speak well for the gospel in pivotal moments of testing and public audience.

c) For their ongoing ministry to believers who have lost their pastor and his wife. May this be the seed of fruitfulness which reaps increasing fruit in the next generation.

d) Pray for their healing in the trauma, loss and grief. May God put around them those who can help, minister from his word, and point to the ultimate physician who will one day correct all wrongs, and make all things right and new under his impenetrable and loving rule. 

e) Pray for those in captivity. May they know the company of THE SPIRIT. Pray that the one who knows how to minister in ways we can't will give supernatural clarity of mind, words internally and spoken from the Living GOD, remembrance of scripture, remembrance of God's faithful people, and the ultimate, miraculous endurance which will proclaim the might of God. Above all may he enable them to suffer like Christ. May others see, know that they have been with Jesus and come to trust him for themselves. (ACTS 16:25-31).

To fuel your prayers read the wonderful testimony of Pastor Sasha Tsutserov (here). 

2. Continue to pray for those who work amongst Orthodoxy sharing the good news, joy, liberty and freedom in Christ. 

A helpful summary of the situation between Russian and Ukraine 
orthodox can be viewed here (don't be put off by the title). 

PRAY

a) That the word of God would be opened and hearts humbled in readiness, and by the Spirits enabling with opened eyes see the plain truth of JESUS.

b) That society either side of the frontline would see the distinction between dead man made religion and the authentic work of the Spirit of GOD.

c) ACTION is currently preparing to print both evangelistic and training materials to aid those who share the gospel amongst friends from an Orthodox heritage. Pray for this material, and if it is appropriate for you maybe you would like to aid the printing of this through our PLD / Bookshare fund?

3. Pray for those who lead the church either underground or in public forums. 

a) May God enable them to be wise as serpents and as gently harmless as doves.

b) May wisdom be granted for leaders to circumspectly protect God's people at the same time as advancing courageously for the kingdom. 

c) Pray for upcoming pastors encouragement conferences where we seek to strengthen the arm of those who deal directly in these things. We run a fund to enable transport and subsidy to these events for those Pastors struggling to attend due to finances and circumstances,. For us this is a helpful way of showing our practical partnership and love, and maybe you would like to be part of that giving too.  

The quiet monstrous role of prayer.

Trust in him at all times, O people;

    pour out your heart before him;

    God is a refuge for us.  

PSALM 62:8

It is a huge relief, delight and joy to restart the blog and prayer emails today. It was appropriate (whilst we travelled, security issues abounded and keeping those we serve safe remained the highest priority)  to have a pause on public / web prayer information, and updating on some forums. I have been more frustrated by this than anyone. Prayer is the foundational work of all we seek to do in mission and for ourselves as those privileged to live in the sunshine of  the love, forgiveness, grace and redemptive work of God.

We live in a world whereby even the best of motives can be turned against the church and misused for evil. However, in many ways this just reinforces what a mighty weapon prayer is in the spiritual battle. 

• Why would the atheist be so irate at us talking to one they believe doesn't exist? 
• What is evil about praying for those who are suffering in war, flood, displacement or hunger ? Those who hate the church (and ways of GOD) will always gaze past the good to find a route of complaint. 

During the pause, 3 things were spotlighted for me.

1) In all things God is able.  God doesn't need Internet blogs or massive prayer-chains or me, to do immeasurably more than we can think or imagine. 

• In Philippians Paul is confined to isolation of prison, a common primitive "holding cell" or guard in house arrest were his only visible audience. Yet his isolation is fruitful as he takes every concern of the churches to God in prayer. God is never absent from us, he is more above us than we could ever understand, but more imminently close than we could ever dream.  Paul's isolation results in impacting and advance of the gospel to the glory of God. (1:13, cf  Acts 28:16) 
• Two things pepper this book and characterise it; joy and prayer. 
• Both come together as we pray (note 1:3--11) 
• Christian Joy, in Christ, his people and our daily purpose is not conditioned by circumstance. Prayer is the constant privilege of the believer regardless of circumstance.  

• PHIL 3:20 IS THE GROWING AND FRUITFUL CONVICTION OF ALL TRUE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST. 

Prayer reminds us of our true identity, purpose and privilege: 

 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,  who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. 

• We are citizens of Heaven, by rescue of Christ and the indwelling Spirit of God. We are eternally loved children of God, set apart for the purposes of God, with a single clear conviction "to live for Christ" (1:21) This purpose does not disappear with changing circumstance, but actually intensifies amidst suffering, hardship and within the eternal power filled purposes of God's provision.
• Prayer gives us more than we could ever ask, a joy which comes from being intimate with the ultimate one, who calls us to come closer. Whether prayer is a planned, discipline period of time set aside, or the reiteration of existing life cries (from the heart, as new creations in the will of God) within the busy workaday world -  the result is that we become more like Jesus, and more invigorated / garrisoned for his purposes. The privilege of calling on our Father who gives all good things (James 1:17)  is never about what what we gain in gifts or material benefits but it is far greater. (Romans 8:15-17. 26-28) 
•  Praying reminds us that we are safe in the mighty grip of the over generous superlative giver and lover of our souls, the one who gives us His Son, the one who is never slow to give, but knowing the hairs on our heads clearly knows our micro and macro need better than us and has provided accordingly. There is a freedom from worry in this, a greater liberty to concentrate on His purposes and preferences and not our own. Behind all intimate conversations with God, our prayers come through  the access of Christ alone, and reignite our pleasure in the affirmation of his Lordship alone. In this habitat we learn that behind our Amen is the greater AMEN of God's good, eternal, fruitful, majestic purposes, fulfilled in Christ, which are ongoing for our redemption and sanctification. 
• PRAYER CHANGES US: Many times we may fall Into thinking that our ultimate purpose is praying for others, but simultaneously as we pray for others God's primary purposes are often working on us to conform us to the image of his Son, and better fit us in with his global kingdom purposes. His ultimate purposes are greater than any one individual, denomination, group of believers or section of the globe. Living for the bigger under God is what we were made for, and the reason we are alive in his world today. 

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. "  (Col 1:15–20).

• PRAYER IS BIGGER THAN WE UNDERSTAND: On our own  we should never give up on prayer or underestimate the potency of regular, humble, obedient honesty before God. "ONE WITH GOD IS A MAJORITY". Because of who we cry to and depend on, there is a sense in which private prayer will always have wider (global) ramifications, as it did with Daniel whose private prayer life fuelled both a country and prominent public life in an eternal context of world empires and world history under the eternal ruler. Old Testament Kings like Cyrus and Nebuchadnezzar are shown to be in the grip of God to accomplish his purposes. 
• Proverbs 21: 1 "The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will. 
  

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  Cyrus' cylinder kept in the British museum. On it is inscribed, “the gods who dwelt there I returned to their home and let them move into an eternal dwelling'. Behind all the movements of world and empire leaders is the controlling and conclusive hand of the only eternal Sovereign.
  
  

 

2) The purpose of intercession is to serve and fit in with God's purposes ... not to be a master.

• I remember sitting in a large evangelical conference not so long ago and being struck by the fact that the same things were happening year after year. I guessed they thought if people keep coming, why change the formulae? It felt a bit like a (bad fashion) version of Groundhog Day though. Books were being sold in their thousands (again),  the worship leader was plugging their new album and song (again) , the career conference speakers seem to have done little since the last conference other than speaking at conferences. Just at that moment a really evil thought came into my mind... "maybe the conference idea had become a bit "the master" and stopped "serving" the purpose and people it was designed for ? Would it be an idea to redirect the great time and expense of thousands of people (millions of pounds actually) one year to frontline mission in an unreached people group". Knowing that I was obviously out of step with everyone else, and I'm am eccentric oddbod,  I quickly repented and turned my middle class ("unsandled") feet back to the bookshop to buy more books I couldn't fit on my shelves.
• The point is that sometimes we forget why we are doing things ... ministries... and people... are to serve (MARK 10:43-45 ) and not be masters. This is true in all Christian organisations or networks, and especially true of prayer ministry. Think of Romans 16

"I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae,  that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well."
Two things strike me... 

• It is Paul who is doing the commending. Phoebe is not commending herself. I hear the phrase sometimes that "he or she" is "a prayer warrior". We possibly know what that means, but sometimes that phrase can become a little nebulous in our hazy and lazy Christian jargon. Praying a lot doesn't necessarily guarantee that your work / prayer ministry or prayer meeting is being strategic, mighty or even fruitful in the purposes of God. It could actually in some cases be an excuse for an individual to gossip or being the one who wants to be known for knowing everything, an over spiritualised veneer which covers their sinful character of selfish ambition. 
• Some elderly groups who meet for prayer can be incredibly strategic, and my ministry in the main is built on such faithfulness.I stand on the shoulders of those who have gone prayerfully before me and pray now for the team, and the many others who make up for the many inadequacies I have.  I am reaping in every sense the benefits of faithful prayer servants in many different corners of my life and around the world. I in no way want to minimise the prayers of older saints, or do anything other than give great praise and appreciation to God for this. But... I need to balance this, with a reality check and realisation that the human heart is sinful beyond understanding. I've also come across those who tell me that they have a great prayer ministry and commend themselves. Some friends I love have been guilty of doing nothing other than filling empty days with information about people to fulfil their inquisitive minds and feel valued in the Information age, and they do it because they say they have a "prayer ministry". Those who "gather for prayer" with the veneer of great nobility can also growingly become demanding for information, intrusive with personal detail,  and want  to be listened to (always have their say) regarding what is being prayed for.  In this they can also be guilty of not serving the very ones they seek to serve, but instead be destructively working against them. Warriors who unwittingly fight for the enemy, sow division, and model  unhelpful behaviour (however well meaning, outwardly harmless and articulate) are no more wanted or beneficial than saboteurs (Matt 7:15). Divisive and damaging speech or motives are no different regardless of whether someone works publicly on a high profile stage  or subversively in a quiet backroom. Prayer should never be a warrant card for sinful individualism. 
• In Ukraine Saboteurs have been routed out from local civil leadership and government, because they used their position to invite the invader into the heartland. Exposing them and rooting them out one way or another was an urgent and vital task for the safety and health of society (and especially to protect evangelical believers). In the church the issue for us as leaders has parallels in spiritual warfare.  Healthy prayer with genuine servitude benefits everyone. Unhealthy prayer, individualism or self serving / wrong motives can be equally wide reaching and damaging when unaddressed. 

Second and final observation from Romans 16:

3) It is never "Just" prayer. Prayer is about relationship.

One of the beautiful undercurrents of Paul's commendation is that Phoebe is unreservedly trusted, and therefore wholeheartedly commended. When someone becomes a tested and trusted champion servant of God's people, wherever God directs them, their character, life and ministry and impact automatically grows and grows in fruitfulness. It is a beautiful dynamic which increasingly overspills to others. 

Prayer is never insignificant, but it can be less useful / purposeful in our own lives if we want it to be. 

It is well documented that those who say "let's just pray about that..." (maybe unwittingly) haven't thought about the dynamic significance and reach of prayer. The main significance of prayer doesn't rest in how long we spend praying, or how many times we pray, but tin the one we pray to. No doubt in most cases the phrase Is said to express love to the individual they want to pray for the phrase has become an unfortunate,  unconsidered habit.  

Maybe however there is another error we make in minimising prayer. Prayer is an ever tightening bond of love for those whom we pray for. In this sense prayer is a God given tool or mechanism... not an end or ultimate purpose in itself, but an ordained means of God at work in our lives. Take for example the phrase "forgive us as we forgive those...". The main work of that phrase is to reset us as those who remember we are creatures of grace, beneficiaries and ambassadors of absolute and undeserved forgiveness. True prayer always carries more significant work than we can comprehend (or are maybe aware of) as we conform to thinking God's thoughts after him by the help of his Spirit. Prayer synchronises us more to the heartbeat of God for others, for salvation, for his glory and our good.

Our world needs more relational champions. Those who stick closer than a brother, (rather than pray and forget) are countercultural in our instant fix world which lacks commitment on so many levels. Our world has enough platitudes, and not so much fortitude. If you want proof... try phoning a call centre, monitor your reaction after a hold of 20 minutes when you hear "your call is very important to us". This is no more true than in the world of missions. Many talk of mission, few go, even fewer pray. It is a privilege to pray for those on the frontline of the eternal advance of God's kingdom. With that privilege comes responsibility to follow through on what we pray. 

Prayer should produce sensitivity and social / relational awareness: Saying to someone loudly in church " we prayed for your miscarriage", or "we've been praying that you won't be lonely after your divorce" (sadly both real examples) may just compound trauma, and  in fact remind those folks that they have lost a precious one, that they still have many difficult moments in trauma and loss to come, a long, hard lonely road to travel. Sometimes, keeping our prayers private or choosing our moments to remind people that we pray for them (without going into detail) can also be a good thing.  if our only motive in telling another we are praying for them is to make ourselves feel better - it is better not to say anything. 

Prayer should clarify our motives and shape our actions. 

If we pray that God will provide for someone should we just say "Amen" and forget about them? What does God see of our heart in this dynamic? Doesn't genuine prayer make us hungry and ready to open our own pockets or find those who can? Many times we are unable to fulfil all the needs of all people and situations personally, and it is unrealistic to think we can go unreservedly, limitlessly to help many if any situations. In a broken world this is needs will remain before Christ returns, and it is damaging and overbearing on ourselves and others to think that we could ever attend to all brokenness. We are not the saviour - He is. In such instances of genuine and realistic need however, shouldn't we  refrain from saying "we will just pray - it is all we can do"? Rather than walking away or disappearing in puff of smoke like Hudini (as if we are excused to escape as soon as we utter the magic word "prayer"),  shouldn't we instead then actively look for those who can help whilst we are unable ? A prayerful phonecall, considered chat over coffee, email, text, FaceTime, what's app, IM to the right person can be strategically so used of God, and sometimes a more noble thing than "just praying". Praying for someone whilst going to pick up their prescription for them, or whilst delivering them a meal, enters a whole other dimension of genuine intercession. Church leaders should be the first to exemplify, model and commend this kind of prayer, however busy they are, and however relieved from practical ministries their large team helps them to be. The motive to serve and pray goes together. 

Galatians 6:1b-5

Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbour.  For each will have to bear his own load.

Praise GOD that he gives us everything we need, in all situations and all circumstances. (2 Peter 1:3-4) (Phil 4:19) What a Father we come to, whose mercy is new every morning and whose compassion, grace, and generosity go beyond our understanding. 

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SOVEREIGN LORD, ETERNAL AND ONLY LIVING GOD, LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER... 

• Lead us to be the people who humbly walk into fruitfulness together... in our prayer lives particularly and service of your people and purposes. Lord, teach us how to pray. Our chief prayer together is to honour the Saviour and only rescuer of all people, who loves us and gave himself for us. We exist to commend the one who has bought us, and brought us together with a price, the commander who reigns and rules, risen victorious over sin, death, hell, Satan and all the enemies of God. We praise you ! You LORD JESUS are the forerunner who has gone before us and intercedes for us in all things. We want our lives to be shaped by your commands and directives alone. Help us to be servants, those who love your beautiful  bride. We commit to lay our lives down before you for the service of your people, knowing that this is your eternal priority and heart. 
• We come repenting of our self centredness and narrow mindedness. We are aware that confessed sin comes to you,  the only one who has made a way and has given the power for us to be victorious over sin. Help us Holy Spirit to have the liberty of self forgetfulness in your grip of grace, and fill us with a greater comprehension of your greatness, grace and generosity, your power to accomplish that which you have started both in us and your global kingdom. Continue to work on us in your patience as we submit to your written word which only works wisdom and good in us. We are slow learners Lord, but our genuine desire is to love you more and grow to be more fruitful for you. This is especially true in our prayer lives. 
• In all things help us to be the jigsaw piece shaped by you, to fit in with you purposes whatever stage of life, and context we serve in, and resources we serve with. Help us as a group of prayers to fit seamlessly  well into your global purposes and provision together so that; more who are unreached come to know you, more who are needing the help of your global family are helped, more who are walking with you become more like Jesus. 
• In this is our greatest prayer for ourselves. We want to be more like Jesus. For your ultimate glory, we give ourselves with joy and unreservedly to you, for you are our only, ultimate and incomprehensible treasure.  To you alone is our optimum and supreme gratitude. You are the one we worship, and long to so much better, with overwhelming thankfulness and love. We are reminded that all of this privilege is undeserved, and yet there is more to come, for us the best is yet to come in you. When you come to  ultimately complete your global eternal purposes of redemption, all generations and peoples will honour you. For this we long, for you alone are worthy of all glory, and more than our very best.  Help us therefore to love and live purposefully this way, in the joy and security that your presence and your presence alone brings today.  Oh that this broken world and our hurting neighbours might taste and see the riches of your grace.  This eternal, settled position in Christ in which we find ourselves covers all vistas of life and all momentary circumstances with an incompressible delight. We are the most privilege people on the planet. Your gracious embrace overwhelms us, you define our very existence and purpose, and you outshine all things, and will go on to do so for all eternity, So we pray today that you would take that glory and honouring from our lives as we seek to serve and fit in with you today, however you see best. 

AMEN