May 2008

Note From Our Executive Director:

Greetings Canada’s Kneeling Army,

I pray that you are prospering even as your soul prospers!

This First Friday, May 2008, remember as you head to your prayer closets that this is a strategic year of new beginnings – the year of “the gate” – where the Body of Christ is crossing over into a new era; where El Shaddai is calling us to a place of greater obedience and faith.

Friends, I’m aware that you are facing real opposition in your area of the vineyard and I also realize that things may appear a bit lean. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t remind you, as I remind myself daily, that our God specializes in impossible situations.

Let’s take a quick look at Luke’s gospel. In chapter 5 we discover Jesus giving a lesson on deep water faith. The scenario goes something like this: A multitude has gathered, and is glued to every word that Jesus is saying, but something appears a little frustrating. It doesn’t take long for us to learn that the “fishermen” had abandoned their boats and were washing their nets. This, of course, indicates that they caught no fish to take home, had no money for food, and were in hot water! Then we have an “ah hah!” moment! Jesus gets into the boat on his timetable and speaks from his heavenly script.

Intercessors, notice what Jesus orders our friend Simon Peter to do. He tells him to “put out a little” (verse 3). I can only imagine how Simon Peter felt listening to the word of God proclaimed – the pure, unadulterated truth. In most of today’s churches, Christ would have been labeled a “fanatic”, and an “over the top” sort of guy. We do not know for sure what Simon Peter’s thoughts were, but we do know that after he was commanded to launch out into the deep and “let down your net”, he complied. As scripture indicates, that one little word, “nevertheless”, tells us that Peter started going deeper and the boat began to sink from the monster catch for which he required the assistance of others to help him retrieve.

Kneeling Army, we at Canada In Prayer have provided a Prayer Guide for the month of May, and I am asking you this month to “put out a little”. Let us believe Almighty God for His promises to be fulfilled in our nation. In scripture, God gives us the following four promises:    

                    1. “I will build my house” (Isaiah 2:1-4; Matt: 16:18)

                    2. “I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh” (Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2:17)

                 3. “He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:6)

                    4. “He will send a river from His throne” (Ezekiel 47; Rev. 22:1).

May is shaping up to be a spiritually strategic time, as Canada’s prayer community is in the middle of the 40-Day Prayer Ramp, the US has it’s National Day of Prayer, and the Global Day of Prayer takes place. Friends, we are being summoned locally, nationally and internationally to “put out a little”. Please do not miss this opportunity to be a part of bringing in “the catch”, remembering always, as you intercede in faith, to keep your eyes on the promise and not on the problem. My dear friends, the promise is always greater than the problem!

Putting out a little,

Brian Warren

Executive Director, CIP

P.S: Please join in agreement for our government, as they are now reviewing the traditional practice of reciting prayers at the opening of each business day of the Canadian Legislature. Please pray that God will sustain and re-establish prayer within our Legislative Assembly.

P.P.S: We do value your continual partnership, as well as your feedback. If you are being strengthened and encouraged by this First Friday labour of love, please share with us your thoughts, testimonies, and what you have been experiencing Almighty God doing in your prayer closets and prayer groups. We celebrate your faithfulness and look forward to hearing from each of you in your regions from coast to coast to coast!

FROM THE TRENCH

Dear Friends,

I pray that May flowers are beginning to peek their heads out in your region of Canada as April showers draw to an end!

As Brian has already made reference to, the Body of Christ in Canada has been experiencing great opposition in this season, and I believe this opposition has been coming directly at our most vulnerable area – our minds. The enemy has been targeting the minds of believers across the nation, knowing that if he can get us to believe his lies and keep us from believing God’s truth, then He can hinder us from being effective in God’s call to advance the kingdom for such a time as this. So how can we be sure of victory? How do we combat the battle in our minds?  “…thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Corinthians 15:57)   But we have a part to play in implementing that victory here in the natural.  James 4:7-8, a practical but very powerful scripture, gives us some insight into the tools Almighty God has given us to help us appropriate the victory: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”   God also encourages us in John 8:32: "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

So, we are guaranteed victory if we submit to God, resist the devil, draw near to God, and know the truth! But in order for us to use these tools skillfully, effectively and with confidence, we have to believe that they work! This requires faith. 1 John 5:4 tells us, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world----our faith.”

Last year our Bible Study group studied the topic of “understanding faith”, and it really challenged us to recognize and appropriate what faith really is and why it’s so important. Not long ago, God reminded me of something that we reflected on during that time. As believers, our faith is like an “access card” into intimacy with God and to the promises of God. He allows us to come into His throne room and access His presence boldly and with confidence, knowing that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:16). However, this is predicated on some things. His word tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please Him,” (Heb. 11:6) and that, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5) Therefore, our access is denied when we don’t come in faith and humility – when we don’t submit to God and draw near to Him. It’s like trying to get into a locked building. The only ones who have access are those who live or work there. Their access key or card gives them authority to enter. And once they’re inside, they can get into the elevator to take them up to their destination floor. Faith gives us access and authority to approach God boldly and with peace in our hearts, knowing that:   1. He loves us.   2. Our hearts are wicked without Him; but    3. Through the blood of Jesus we are washed white as snow and He sees us as we shall be, not as we are in our sinful state.

When the fiery darts of the enemy come forcefully against our minds, it is so vital for us to know the truth and to stand in our faith, submitting to God, resisting the enemy, and drawing near to God. When we do this, we will see God answer in miraculous ways and bring the victory we have been crying out for! And when we experience His great mercy, love and restoration, and recognize that it was only Him who could have done it, the peace, joy and excitement that accompany it will cause us to praise Him and will make us even more determined not to allow ourselves to be lied to by the enemy again!

Dear friends, it is the Holy Spirit who does this great work in our lives, and as we celebrate “Pentecost Sunday” this month, we want to encourage you to cry out with us for His power to once again be released upon the Body of Christ, especially in Canada. We have put together a Prayer Guide that we hope will aid you and stir you up to believe for great miracles that will result in a mighty harvest within the Church and across our nation! Please join us as we stand in faith!

Submitting, resisting, and drawing near by faith,

Karen Schmidsrauter

News Director, CIP

MAY PRAYER GUIDE 2008

We trust that the following daily Prayer Guide will help you to direct your prayers this month as we take a journey back to where it all began – the book of Acts. This is where the Church was birthed, and where the Holy Spirit was first poured out upon believers and the true work of the Body of Christ began. The Church has been growing ever since, and we are still experiencing the power and the effects of that moment – Pentecost – when the Holy Spirit came to dwell within His people and empower them to be his witnesses from their regions to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit is the deposit guaranteeing our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14), and the one who gives us life!

Please agree with us in prayer during this month as we celebrate Pentecost Sunday on May 11th, as well as the Global Day of Prayer. Let us lift up the Body of Christ in Canada and one another as believers, and cry out for the “Power of Pentecost” to continue even in this generation. Pray that the Holy Spirit and the works of the early church will be unleashed across our nation from north to south and east to west, bringing transformation, multiplication and harvest!

Day 1:     Acts 1 – Pray that Jesus Christ will be revealed even to those who have never seen Him before, and that those who do know Him will have a new revelation of Him. Pray that many new disciples and apostles will be appointed and commissioned across Canada.

Day 2:     Acts 2:1-4 – Cry out that the Holy Spirit will be poured out in power and with fire upon the Church and the Body of Christ throughout Canada, and that the gifts of the Spirit will be released.

Day 3:     Acts 2:5-12 – Pray that those from every nation living in Canada will hear the truth in their own language by the revelation of the Holy Spirit.

Day 4:     Acts 2:14-40 – Intercede for great boldness to come upon believers throughout the country, that we will preach the gospel with great courage, clarity, and wisdom.

Day 5:     Acts 2:41-47 – Ask Almighty God to release His Spirit of adoption and cause faith to rise up in the hearts of many throughout our nation. Pray for the Canadian Church to grow and for multiplication, that God will add to our number daily those who are being saved. Pray for true converts and disciples to be produced, and for lasting fruit.

Day 6:     Acts 3 – Pray for signs, wonders and miracles to be done by the Body of Christ in Canada, that many will be healed, delivered and saved.

Day 7:     Acts 4:1-22 – Pray for boldness in the face of persecution, and that God will use it to bring thousands to salvation. Intercede that the wisdom of the world will be recognized as foolishness in comparison to the wisdom of God. Intercede that, when the world tries to tell us how to live, our response as the Body of Christ will be, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God!” (Acts 4:19)

Day 8:     Acts 4:23-37 – Agree that the Body of Christ in Canada will be united in prayer and will cry out on behalf of our land. Cry out that God will show Himself and pour out His Spirit. Intercede that, as believers, we will be of one heart and mind and will give willingly to one another, so that no one has need or is in poverty.

Day 9:     Acts 5 – Pray that each member of the Canadian Church will live righteously and operate in integrity and obedience, that we will not have to suffer the consequences of disobedience, but rather will be able to perform miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit. Pray that captives will be set free, and that even those who oppose us will recognize that they cannot stop God’s work.

Day 10:     Acts 6 – Pray for wisdom for Church leadership, that they will be able to set in place the people and processes that will be effective and efficient in carrying out the administration of God’s kingdom. Pray that believers throughout Canada will be wise and full of the Spirit, and will be commissioned and released to fulfill the ministry God has called them to.

Day 11:     PENTECOST SUNDAY & THE GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER     Acts 7 – Cry out that the Holy Spirit will be poured out across Canada from coast to coast to coast. Intercede that all of the mighty things God has done for His people around the world will be remembered and that He will be praised. Pray that the Body of Christ will remember what God brought us out of and not go back to it. Cry out that we will be Christ’s witnesses and that the gospel will be preached from here to the ends of the earth. Pray for those who are being martyred for their faith throughout the world, and for their families who are left behind.

Day 12:     Acts 8 – Pray for new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. Pray for mature believers to be given supernatural strength and divine wisdom so that they can help those who are ready to receive the gospel understand the word of God and be converted.

Day 13:     Acts 9 – Pray that even the most hardened and unbelieving towards the gospel will receive revelation and visions of Jesus Christ. Pray that blind eyes will be opened and radical transformation will take place, that they will be sanctified and set on fire to preach the gospel and fulfill their destiny in Christ.

Day 14:     Acts 10-11 – Pray that the prayers, service and generosity of faithful believers across Canada will not go unnoticed but will be remembered by the Lord, and that He will bless us and fill us with His Spirit. Pray that He will call others within His Body to impart into us and bring us into the fullness of what He has promised to us. Pray that all Gentiles – every nation, tribe and tongue – will hear the good news of Jesus Christ, receive the gospel and come to salvation.

Day 15:     Acts 12 – Pray for captives to be set free and delivered. Pray for Canadian believers who are being persecuted. Intercede for safety and pray that earnest prayer will go up for them. Pray for miraculous deliverance, and that God will execute justice on anyone or anything that opposes them, or in pride exalts itself above Christ.

Day 16:     Acts 13 – Cry out that God will set apart many within the Body of Christ for a special purpose, and that we will step out boldly to fulfill it. Ask for favour with God and man, that we will be given audience even with those of high standing within our nation. Pray against all opposition, and that we will have wisdom to preach the word and refute every tongue that rises up in judgment against us (Isaiah 54:17). Pray that many, when they hear the message of the gospel, will rejoice, desire eternal life, and believe.

Day 17:     Acts 14 – Intercede that distrust and division will not be stirred up in places where the gospel is being preached. Pray that the Lord will prove our message is from Him by giving His Church power to do great miracles. Pray for humility and for a righteous indignation to rise up when those in the world try to credit us for what Almighty God is doing. Cry out for grace and that we will not touch the glory of God; that He alone will be seen and exalted for the mighty works He performs.

Day 18:     Acts 15 – Pray that followers of Christ and the Body of Christ in Canada will not remain under or return to the law, but will recognize that God has “made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor. 3:5-6). Intercede that we will remember that the free gift of salvation is obtained not by works but by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), and that we do not have to come under the burden of performing to try to earn God’s love or approval.

Day 19:     Acts 16 – Pray that the Church will grow daily in faith and in numbers. Pray for women to be raised up who will be worshipers of God and have willing hearts to receive the message of the gospel, and who will be faithful to the Lord. Pray that we as disciples of Jesus Christ in Canada will not fear persecution or even imprisonment, but will continue to worship God, trusting Him that He is mighty to save and strong to deliver us (Jer. 15:20). Pray that God’s deliverance will be a witness to those watching, and that whole households will come to salvation because of it.

Day 20:     Acts 17 – Pray that the “unknown” god that many Canadians have been searching for will be recognized for who He is – Jesus Christ, the Lord of heaven and earth – and that we as believers will make Him known. Pray that false gods and false religion will be exposed, and that many eyes and ears will be opened to hear and receive the truth.

Day 21:     Acts 18 – Cry out to God that He will encourage His people not to be afraid, but to speak and not keep silent, for He is with us. Ask Him to reassure us that no one will attack us to hurt us, for he has many people in our regions and throughout our country.

Day 22:     Acts 19 – Pray that believers across the nation who have not yet been baptized will be baptized both in water and the Holy Spirit, and that the Spirit of prophecy will be released. Pray for the authority of believers to increase, that we will be able to perform unusual miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit, and that the name of the Lord Jesus will be feared and greatly honored throughout Canada. Pray that many, even believers, will turn from our sin and commit to live lives of righteousness and submission to Christ.

Day 23:     Acts 20 – Pray that we as believers will share in communion and the preaching of the word together. Pray that our faith will increase that we will see even the dead raised! Cry out for such a love and passion for Christ and a Spirit of boldness to fill us that we will not let anything stop us from doing the will of God. Pray that nothing will move us and that we will not count our lives dear to ourselves, so that we may finish our race with joy, and the ministry which we received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God (verse 24).

Day 24:     Acts 21 – Intercede that no matter what others may say, each member of the Canadian Body of Christ will stand on the word of God and not doubt or shrink back from what He has told us to do. Pray that we will count the cost, and discover that no matter what happens, God’s rewards are greater, and it’s worth it!

Day 25:     Acts 22 – Ask Almighty God to grant His people the wisdom to speak when we are called to stand before leaders or those in authority who do not know Christ. Pray that it will not be us speaking on our own, but the Spirit of our Father speaking through us (Matthew 10:19-20), and that, no matter the response, we will testify of His mighty character and what He has done for us, that it will be for His glory.

Day 26:     Acts 23 – Petition our loving Heavenly Father that He will stand beside us and encourage us to go on. Ask Him to show us that there is still life and greater things ahead for us. Pray that any plots against us or the Body of Christ will be exposed and thwarted, and that God will grant us His protection.

Day 27:     Acts 24 – Ask the Lord to grant His Church in Canada endurance and joy even if our trials last longer than we would like. Pray that we will learn to rejoice in our trials, knowing that they produce perseverance, and perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:3-5). Pray that we will know the love of God and learn the secret of being content; we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:11-13).

Day 28: Acts 25 – Pray that God will help us stand strong in our faith and not back down or compromise.

Day 29:     Acts 26 – Pray that we as believers throughout Canada will be able to defend ourselves when the times come to do so, and that those who accuse us will have no answer or grounds to refute our testimony and the truth of Christ.

Day 30:     Acts 27 – Stand in faith believing that God will turn what could be traumatic situations around for good. Intercede for discernment and that we will be sensitive to hear the voice of God and prophesy even to unbelievers what is to come. Pray that the accuracy of the word we speak, and the saving power of God and His protection over us, will be a testimony to those who witness and experience it first hand. Pray that they will recognize and believe the love and power of God and that He is with us, and that we will gain respect, favour and influence with them because of it.

Day 31:     Acts 28 – Pray that the faith of each member of the Canadian Body of Christ will be so great that nothing will be able to touch or harm us. Pray that God will rescue us from trouble and restore us to the place He has called us to be, and that our ministry will be even greater than before (Job 42:12). Pray for a greater boldness and freedom to preach the Kingdom of God without opposition, and see much fruit result.