Celebration Update July 09

Dear Worshipper Warriors,

We are here in the month of Celebration for the Nations!

Wait with me through the heat of the day
Jesus sat by a well outside a little village in Samaria, tired, hot and thirsty. Deeper than his physical thirst was a longing to bring the living water to that area.

Jesus was following the heart of his Father. The bible tells us in John 4:4 that he 'had to' go through Samaria. There was a well to be re-opened there. Jacob's well was there, giving physical water, but the people had turned away from the covenant that they had renewed centuries before.

In Joshua 8 we see the people gathering on Mount Gerizim (the mountain the Samaritan woman referred to in John 4:20) and Mount Ebal. They built an altar and renewed their desire to follow all the words of the Lord. The whole nation was together, all 12 tribes.

So much had been lost over the centuries. The nation had been divided. The Samaritans had turned to idols and become despised by their brothers. The whole land, Judea and Samaria was occupied by the Romans. However the Lord did not despise them, neither did he forget the promise that he made to Abraham (again in that very area, Sychar, the Samaritan village, was just outside Shechem) to give him the whole land, (Genesis 12:6-7).

Jesus sat and thirsted.

We know the story. The most despised woman, from a little town in a despised and occupied nation became the first to drink of the living waters of love that flowed from Jesus. Barriers broke as the water flowed out. The men believed a woman! Not only that, a fallen woman. They came and invited Jesus (a Jew) to stay in the Samaritan village. Being with Jesus just two days caused them to see that he was the Saviour, not just of the Jews and the Samaritans, but of the whole world! (John 4:42).

The well of promise was re-opened.

What encouragement for us. Wales, once the land of revivals and the land of song, is now occupied by an enemy. North Korea is a well blocked up and Korea is a nation divided by enemy powers. Jesus is still sitting by the well, thirsting to bring living water again. He is still Saviour of the World. He is longing to pour out his Spirit on all flesh in these times of shaking and darkness.

He is waiting for his dark (Reference?), but lovely bride to come to his side and receive the living water. We don't pray for revival because we are good, but because we are needy.

He wants to make us thirsty. He is waiting for the Bride to align herself to the Spirit and say 'Come!'

'The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' Whoever is thirsty let him come; and whoever wishes let him take the free gift of the water of life' (Revelation 22:17).

Pray!
The momentum of prayer is building. In Llanelli, Korea and Nottingham people are meeting regularly to worship the Lord and pray for the Celebration.

  • It is good to meet corporately, but let's pray individually too:
  • For the Celebrations in Wales and London to be a pleasing offering to the Lord
  • For the Lord to draw the worshipper warriors
  • For Him to draw the thirsty who want to receive salvation or renewing of commitment
  • For the placements and the evangelism, that we would be used to see God's kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.
  • For that outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will satisfy His thirst!

Encouragements
A worship leader, Richard Lewis, from Wales' capital city, Cardiff, will be joining us for the Celebration. So too will Christian Stockmann from Berlin (Germany). You may remember Christian from the 07 Celebration.

Members of Grace Church (Korean) in Vancouver, Canada, are praying about joining the Celebration. They have promised to pray for us even if they cannot come. (Gail visited them for a week in June).

A city wide youth group from Swansea (The Tribe) will join us and give some testimony at the open air meeting on July 21st. (This will take place in People's Park, just near the Selwyn Samuel Centre, as last year. Last year several people committed their lives to the Lord at that meeting. Do pray for even more response this year).

Korean churches in London are supporting the Celebration there.

Such continued unity of heart between the different teams and leaders of the Celebration. (not clear whether this is a prayer request or an encouragement.)

Preparation

  • Do pray for each one coming to Celebration for the Nations that the days leading up to it would be ones of inner preparation by the Holy Spirit, even in the midst of busyness.
  • Pray for the volunteers who will come from London, from North Africa (a WildStep team) and various other places.
  • Pray for 'jobs' that have not yet been filled that need doing. We are still looking for drivers, stewards, first aiders and many more! If you can help, please get in touch.
  • Pray for safety for all those travelling, and for during the Celebration.
  • Please especially remember the worship leaders, Gareth, Hyung Won, Nic, Christian, Howie and Aline, and Richard and their teams.

Finally, see you there! The worshipper warriors are gathering to give glory to the King of kings.
King Jesus, may your kingdom come and your will be done.

Gail & the Celebration team