JULY 2008

Note From Our Executive Director:

CIP Newsletter

“If you lack knowledge, go to school. If you lack wisdom, get on your knees! Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is the proper use of knowledge.”                - VANCE HAVNER

Greetings Canada’s Kneeling Army,

There is a raging battle going on in Canada today that makes the war in Iran and Afghanistan appear to be child’s play. It is a serious battle where no one can be neutral and no one can run away from it. It is a fiercely contested conflict. A conflict over Christian ideology that was won by a generation past and taken for granted today in our nation. Our adversary, Satan, is behind this erosion, and he is an intelligent strategist and an obstinate fighter. He refuses to acknowledge defeat until he is completely defeated. He is notorious for renewing his attacks and any ground that we have recovered from him in the past must be properly defended and celebrated today. Satan never gives up, he keeps trying. If he fails on Monday, he will come back on Tuesday, if he fails in one generation he refocuses his attack on future generations. Individually and collectively we must consistently occupy and defend our ground and, like the children of Israel of old, continue to conquer and dispossess the enemy.

Intercessors, it goes without saying that prayer is not preparation for the battle, it is the battle. This is why the enemy will first take away the prayer life of Christians, congregations, ministries and families he wants to destroy. Once the prayer life is conquered, everything else is exposed and it is just a matter of time before the collapse – the fall, the apathy, the discontent, the backsliding. “No prayer – No power, Some prayer – Some power, Much prayer – Much power.”  Therefore, if you notice that your prayer life is erratic, not rooted in the word, and self-centred, know without a shadow of doubt that the Holy Spirit is frantically blowing an alarm, indicating that there is a renewed battle against you. “And if the war bugle gives an uncertain (indistinct) call, who will prepare for battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:8) Like that fire drill that has been ingrained in every good Canadian, “Stop, drop and roll!”, as a called intercessor you must immediately stop, drop and pray, and start crying out to Almighty God like your life depends on it…because it does! Friends, make no mistake about it, our flesh does not want to pray. It is not interested in revival, nor past victories won by the Lord. It must be disciplined to pray.

Kneeling Army, I have been sensing a strong summon in the Spirit to sound the Shofar and exhort the Church in Canada and intercessors to persevere and get back on the wall and in our closets. It is not a call merely for the spiritual transformation of Canada, but for the future of our children and children’s children, if the Lord tarries.

Here is a perfect illustration of this weariness I’m speaking of – in a magazine cartoon, a little boy is kneeling beside his bed saying his bedtime prayers. He says with some measure of disbelief, "Dear God, Uncle Jim still doesn’t have a job; Sis still doesn’t have a date for graduation; Grandma is still sick; and I’m tired of praying for our family and nothing is changing!" All of us have felt this way at one time or another. Each one of us has probably felt like quitting. Each one of us has probably felt like giving up on seeing answers to our prayers. And some of us have even quit praying altogether because of discouragement and doubt.

Five years ago, wild horses could not keep us away from Friday night prayer meeting. We were on our faces in our quiet places, and praises were always on the tip of our tongue. We expected God to answer. In prayer we talked to our Heavenly Father with the unbridled enthusiasm of a two year old.

Intercessors, Jesus knew that as individuals and as the Body of Christ, we would be tempted to quit. Remember what happened in the garden? Jesus had just talked to his disciples about his return and the coming of his Kingdom. He told them that his coming, and the establishment of the Kingdom of God, might be delayed, and that during this time they would long for his return. Remember him telling them that things would not be as good as they longed for them to be? BUT (Behold the Underlying Truth) take heart! Our Lord and conquering King did not leave us ill equipped. As the apostle Paul reminds us countless times, the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf, groaning within us with words that we ourselves cannot give expression to (Romans 8:26).

In closing, this First Friday of July, when you summon the strength to intercede again as if it were the first time, and when the doubt and the busyness and the fatigue come at you with full force, remember the apostles promises, and also remember the recent flooding across the U.S. Intercessors, ask yourselves, “Can I afford Canada’s spiritual levies to break?” The destruction we see on CNN every night is heartbreaking. Now consider what the spiritual devastation will leave in its wake. Personally, I have counted the cost and I must stand, God being my Helper. What about you?

Determined to Stand,

Brian Warren

Executive Director, CIP

FROM THE TRENCH

Dear Friends,

Summer is upon us and I am learning more and more what it means when the Bible instructs us to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33).

Nothing is more important than seeking God, because we can do absolutely nothing without the help and guidance of His Spirit. We have no strength on our own. Last month we talked about the strength that comes through the joy of the Lord. However, the joy of the Lord is imparted by His Holy Spirit, therefore we cannot have the joy without the Spirit! So it’s more of the Holy Spirit that we also need to pursue! And the only way we get more of His Spirit is through intimacy. Intimacy with God is His greatest desire for us, and it will enable us to be more effective, more fruitful, and more productive than we ever thought possible. If we seek the Lord first before anything else, not only will we be able to recognize and receive His blessings, but even the RESPONSIBILITIES we need to fulfill will be “added to us”….without struggling or striving! All it takes is submission. And seeking the Lord before anything else brings us to the place of submission.

Almighty God has been reminding me that He wants me to rest in Him and sit at His feet so that He can pour into me all that I need to sustain me and enable me to do His will……and enjoy it! Without this time of renewal and empowering in His presence, I will be operating in my own strength and intellect, and will grow weary and burdened and be certain to fail! So this is why seeking God needs to be number one priority for each one of us, even before our “doing”. I believe many of us have given God our performance, thinking if we just try harder we’ll somehow be able to live up to His standard and please Him, but what He is really asking for is our hearts. It’s not what we do as much as it is how we do it – which is determined by who we are. We are not human “doings”, but human “beings.” God wants our hearts – He wants us to want to please Him and do His will, because He wants it to be enjoyable. He wants us to love Him! But it is truly impossible in our flesh. So we have to cry out to Him continually and stay on our faces – seeking Him first. And when we move into and stay in that place of submission, seeking Him first and obeying, He is SO pleased that He can’t help but pour out His blessings and favour in abundance, as His word promises! THAT’S when we allow Him to truly be God!

Friends, throughout July as we head off on summer holidays and vacations, why don’t we take a look at “rest” from a different perspective? Let’s stir ourselves up to seek Almighty God before everything else, and to take hold of Him (Isaiah 64:7), not just giving Him our “doing”, but just simply sitting at His feet, continuing to recognize the truth of His love and grace. Let’s make a daily commitment to confess to Him how weak we are without Him and His help and strength, and tell Him how much we love Him and are desperate for intimacy with Him. And let’s receive the promise of our loving Heavenly Father who truly is our Helper, our Keeper, and the One who longs to bless us with every good thing. As we walk with Him, He will add to us everything He has destined for us to have, to be, and to do – and it will be FUN in the process!

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills--From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.” (Psalm 121)

Seeking Him First,

Karen Schmidsrauter

News Director, CIP

PRAISE REPORTS

- The Leadership Connection in Ontario in June was a great success. 42 presidents of different ministerials, among many others, participated, and it was a wonderful example of how unity in the body of Christ can affect Canada. Relationships were built and agreement was made that another meeting in the future would be beneficial.

- Praise God for the apology that was given to the First Nations peoples on behalf of the government of Canada in June. Pray that it will continue to be instrumental in bringing about healing and deliverance across our land.

- Thank Almighty God that the Love Winnipeg outreach last month went well, with 75 churches participating, followed by a celebration service on the Sunday. There were numerous acts of kindness all over the city, including a group of children gathering food in their suburb area and then distributing 18 hampers of food to needy families in the inner city. It was a powerful witness of Christ’s love for those who received it.

- Give praise to God for His presence at a gathering in the Ottawa, ON region on the Global Day of Prayer, and for the relationships that are building across the Body of Christ in this region and throughout Canada.

- Rejoice with Acts News Network (ANN) as they see the hand of God moving at this time, enabling them to make key connections regarding the release of their film documentary.

PRAYER-DRIVEN EVANGELISM

- Please pray for this month’s prayer meeting in the Toronto City Hall on July 2. Agree with local believers, intercessors and pastors as they cry out for their city and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and for its residents and leaders.

- Please intercede for the Toronto City Mission (TCM) and their Summer Camp program. Pray for health, peace, safety and joy for their site staff, and pray that the children and youth participating in the day camps throughout the city will feel loved and experience transformation in their lives. Pray that the changes within them will be noticeable and will touch their families as well. Pray for the thirty TCM summer interns, that God will enable them to successfully fulfill a wonderful vision and call this summer. Cry out that their summer internship will be more than just a summer job, but that it will be life-changing for them as well. Pray for strength and protection for the spiritual battles they face as they take on this endeavor. Intercede specifically for the mission’s St. Jamestown location as they host their family camp from July 1 – 4, which will be taking 55–60 people this year. Pray also for the Toronto City Mission’s “Leaders In Training” (LIT’s), that they will grow in Christ and hunger for His word. Pray that God will send the right people to fill two needed positions at the mission.

- Pray for the Alpha Conference in Mississauga on August 22 – 23. Pray that many leaders will attend and be further equipped and prepared to share the hope of Christ with those who attend their courses, whether new or ongoing. Pray for the Youth Alpha track for youth leaders as well.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Prince Edward Island:

- Pray that the Holy Spirit will be so evident in the lives of believers in this region that they will become salt and light to the whole province. Pray for the wisdom, compassion and courage they need to share the gospel boldly and in obedience to the One who has chosen and sent them.

Nova Scotia:

- Please intercede for “Son World's Adventure Park” Daily Vacation Bible School in Lower Sackville from July 7 to 11. Pray for all of the kids who attend, that they will hear and receive the gospel of Jesus Christ, experience His love, come to a deeper knowledge of Him, and apply the biblical principals that they learn to their lives. Pray that it will be an exciting and fun week for them, and that Almighty God will be glorified. Pray for salvations and long-lasting fruit among the children as well as their parents.

- Pray for the Women of the Word Conference in Dartmouth on July 11 – 12. Pray that each woman who participates will be built up in her most holy faith and recognize her full potential in Christ. Pray that these women will be motivated and empowered to walk victoriously and honour God with their whole selves. Cry out that the Holy Spirit will be poured out and many lives transformed through this time.

New Brunswick:

- Pray for the ongoing preparations for “Encounter ‘09” in Moncton, which were launched last month. Agree with organizers that this conference will help churches become full of people who are full of God. Believe with them for 300 intercessors who will faithfully pray for a move of God in their region and beyond. Pray also for the churches in the Greater Moncton area who will come together for corporate prayer in preparation for this event.

- Pray for the young people who gave their lives to Christ and for those who recommitted their lives to Christ during “Epicenter”, a mass evangelism outreach that took place in June in Moncton. Agree for ongoing growth, discipleship, and lasting fruit.

- Please intercede for the simulcast Leadership Summit on August 7 & 8 in Moncton, that God will raise up high caliber leaders who will be committed and submitted to Him, and greatly used by Him.

- Pray for a church in Dalhouse Junction who will be hosting an “Xtreme Christian Youth Weekend” from July 4 to 6 in Flatlands, NB. Please pray that all of the youth who come will experience God in a new way, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Pray that they will come to know the truth, and that the truth will set them free (John 8:32).

Newfoundland & Labrador:

- Cry out for believers across Newfoundland and Labrador, that God will empower and enable them to live the love His word proclaims, and give them courage to brave the ridicule of the world.

Quebec:

- Please pray that every church within the province of Quebec will be filled with the glory of Almighty God. Agree with a small group of pastors from different churches that meets every two weeks to pray for the city of Montreal, for Quebec, and for Canada in general. Pray that bondages will be broken and that many people throughout Quebec will be set free.

Nunavut, Northwest Territories & Yukon Territory:

- Continue to lift up the Northern Territories in Canada, that the Lord will give believers a passion and love for His word, and grace and enable them to read, mark, learn, digest and appropriate it in order that great transformation will take place in their lives, churches, regions, and across Canada.

Manitoba:

- Agree with local believers in Winnipeg who are believing for an outpouring of God’s love, healing power, and revival in Manitoba. Several of their pastors and others have traveled to the south to receive an impartation of the revival anointing that is being poured out there. Many in the region are hungry for the Lord and desiring to see Him move, not only within province but all across Canada, and faith is growing. Pray for the young people from a local church who meet on Sunday evenings to worship the Lord and believe Him for miracles, for salvations, and for the Kingdom of God to advance. Continue to intercede also for the Winnipeg Healing Rooms, who are seeing people beginning to be healed by God’s power.

Saskatchewan:

- Continue to cry out for the harvest across Saskatchewan. Pray that the eyes of the Church will be opened to see that the time has come (John 4:35). Intercede for a clear, faith-filled vision of the harvest fields in their region and throughout Canada. Pray that they will see with eyes of compassion and urgency in this hour, and that the Body of Christ in Saskatchewan will rise to the challenge of evangelism like never before.

Alberta:

- Please intercede for a new website on praying for children, called “The Prayers of a Million Mothers,” which was launched through the Global Day of Prayer in Edmonton. Pray for all those who utilize the website, and agree with them for their children and the children and families of their loved ones.

British Columbia:

- Please pray for an increased awakening and hunger for the Lord among those living in British Columbia. Pray that dullness and distractions will be removed as believers are renewed in their first love and in their passion for Jesus. Pray that the eyes of those who are still blind will be opened to the truth of the gospel, and that they too will hunger for Almighty God and come to receive salvation. Cry out that He will reveal Himself and His glory in this region.

Ontario:

- Pray for the National House of Prayer as they prepare for their Nazarite program beginning this fall and running from Sept. 13 to Dec.15. Pray that the young adults that God has already selected will apply for and participate in this program and be equipped with the tools they need to pray for and minister to our Canadian government and its officials. Pray that their hearts, minds, bodies and spirits will be prepared for the intense training that they will receive during this time.

- Please join in prayer with local believers in the Ottawa region as they seek God's guidance for their Global Day Of Prayer 2009 event. Ask the Lord to grant them insight into how to bring together a larger segment of the Church in the National Capital Region.

- Continue to lift up Acts News Network in Toronto, and the release of their film documentary. Pray that it will be released in God's perfect timing. Agree with them that all of the right connections with the key people will be made, that the Lord will open the doors for its release on television, that it will be shown at the highest level of government, and that God will work out all of the details for its distribution.

- Pray for plans as they are implemented for "The CRY", which will take place in Ottawa on August 23. Intercede with coordinators that thousands of believers will attend this event, and that a generation will arise who will seek God’s face (Psalm 24), be willing to pay the price (Romans 12), believe and see a nation through the eyes of faith (Hebrews 11), and help Canada become all that God has destined for her to be since before the foundation of the earth (Psalm 72:8).

CANADA:

- Please pray for the Leadership Summit on August 7 & 8, happening at numerous locations across Canada via satellite. Pray for all of the Canadian leaders who participate, that Almighty God will transform their hearts and impart vision, skill development and inspiration. - Continue to agree with Alpha Canada, that God will use the ministry to draw people across the nation into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. - Pray for the 40-Day Fast Track as the Eastern Time Zone participates from June 21 to July 30, and the Central Time Zone from July 31 to Sept. 8. Agree with believers in these regions as they cry out for a generation, for souls, for harvest, and for the fire of God to touch down and fill our nation.