Celebration for the Nations
February 2012 Update

‘Rend your hearts and not your garments’ (Joel 2:13).

Joel spoke to Israel on the Lord’s behalf at a time of national devastation. The Lord’s judgement had come on the land, so that the harvests were ruined, and all that people had worked for had come to nothing. Today many of our economies are based more on manufacture than on agriculture, yet it seems to me that for many of our nations, the same locusts of God’s judgement are devouring our wealth and our lives. As God’s people we have the privilege and the responsibility to stand on behalf of our towns, cities, and our nations and cry out for his mercy.

Joel says ‘rend your hearts’. Jesus in his intercession for the nations of this world, rent his own heart as he died on the cross. The soldier’s spear revealed a flow of blood and water, the medical evidence of a broken heart. He, who had never committed a sin, became sin for us, and broke his heart as he was separated from his Father, and received the judgement that should have been ours. In doing this he made a way, not only for a person to come back into the blessing of God, but for whole nations to come!

Repentance for our own sin is the first step of rending our hearts. As we allow the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts, let him show us our sins of omission as well as commission. We are God’s people here on earth, carrying authority to bring life-giving water to those in need, with the power to rule and reign with Christ, decreeing good for our nations. How much to do we allow unbelief to stop us?

We can then stand, as many have done before us, and repent for the sins of our nation. We can plead God’s promises and ask his forgiveness for the sake of his great Name.

We can take our place with Jesus, as Paul did:

‘I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me’ (Galatians 2:20).

There is a place of rending our hearts in intercession. Paul influenced nations and was used to bring tremendous moves of God’s Spirit because he took this place of brokenness. Heaven comes to earth through broken hearts.

Our God is holy. Let’s worship him ‘in the splendour of holiness’ (Psalm 29:2).

Celebration for the Nations: Korea
We saw many of you there. What a glorious time worshipping the Lord together! A strategic time too, as the world watches to see what will happen in North Korea though Kim Jong-un’s reign. Spring up O well!

As the Celebration leaders met together, we felt the Lord encouraging us to take Celebration for the Nations to the nations! Korea was a prophetic sign of what we should be doing.

‘Sing, O barren one, you did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labour! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married,’ says the LORD. Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities’ (Isaiah 54:1-2)

The Lord is re-establishing David’s fallen tent of worship. We are part of it, and he is encouraging us, stretch out, do not hold back! We can sing as barren, fruitless people in the barren lands, and see the Lord work his miracle of life and multiplication. Lord make us worshipping warrior missionaries to people the desolate cities of the world!

London
As part of this, we feel we cannot ignore the desolate city of London. The Olympics will be held there just after Celebration for the Nations in Wales. Each year we go to London to worship, but this year we feel the Lord is asking us to put more emphasis on London.

We are looking for a church where we can meet to worship every night from 28 July – 6th August (excluding Monday 30th). During the day we will split into smaller Celebration teams to prayer- walk, worship, evangelise etc.

Please pray about joining us for this time as well as in Wales July 20-27. Pray also for accommodation in London. We need something clean and cheap! More details will be on the website when we know them!

Venue in Wales
We are in discussions with Parc-y-Scarlets, the Llanelli Rugby Stadium, about the possibility of using their training building as a venue this year or next. We are trying to get permission for people to sleep there as well. They are keen to work with us, but at the moment there are insurance issues to overcome. Please pray for the right venue and accommodation. We are interested in the Rugby Stadium, not only because it is suitable, but because rugby is so much a part of the heart of Wales. We feel that more Welsh people would be drawn. Parc-y-Scarlets say they would also help us advertise if we were with them.

Finance
I am writing this to those who are committed with us to the vision of Celebration for the Nations. Some of you will not be in a position to give, but do please pray with us. We will soon need to start paying out for literature, deposits on accommodation, etc. There is very little in the Celebration account. Please consider setting up a standing order from now until August 2013 to help cover costs. If you are a UK taxpayer, we will be able to claim that back too, if you fill in a simple form we will send you. Just let us know. Of course you can still pay a gift directly into our account, details below:

NatWest
Celebration for the Nations
Sort Code: 55 70 37 Account Number: 81093918
IBAN: GB88NWBK55703781093918 (these last two numbers needed if you are transferring funds from BIC: NWBKGB2L outside the UK)

Celebration Mobile Team
Praise the Lord that Pastor Suk Kwang has been granted a two-year visa, so he and his family are now safely back in Wales, ready to lead this year’s Mobile Team.

Jeemin and Kyunghee will arrive this month to help us administrate the Celebration. Please pray for them.

We are living in urgent times. The battle is fierce. Let’s fix our eyes on Jesus and give him glory! Let’s rend our hearts to see heaven coming to earth, as we prepare for the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit that the Lord will give to all people.

Gail for the Celebration Team.