Transformation Thurrock : Wake up! 2011 is pivotal for the UK

Wake up! 2011 is "pivotal" for the UK

On Wednesday night (26 January), the first of a series of Nights of Prayer for the Nation was held in the shadow of Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. Transformation Thurrock went along.

The event was held at the well-known Emmanuel Centre in Marsham Street, just a stone's throw from Parliament and opposite the Home Office.

Global Day of Prayer convener and friend of Transformation Thurrock, Jonathan Oloyede, led the evening to which about 200 people from across the capital's hinterland and the rest of the UK came. A deep time of worship was led by a group from Spain.

Much was said and prayed into the evening, just a glimpse of which can hopefully be conveyed here.

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First to speak was Ian Christensen (right), an Assemblies of God pastor from near Wembley. He has been led by God to call for four days of National Prayer and Fasting over 2011. These are:

30 January (this Sunday!)
30 April
30 July
30 November

Leaders of various major church streams have responded positively to this call and so the four days are going ahead. (If anyone in Thurrock is interested in taking up this call and hosting a prayer meeting for the nation THIS COMING SUNDAY, then please let Transformation Thurrock know ASAP!)

Ian also read out excerpts from a prophetic word given by an Indian pastor some years ago when he was visiting the UK and had an angelic encounter, the gist of which is:

Because this is the land which has sent out the most missionaries and given the most funds to mission around the world, how can the Lord forget the UK?
Revival will come but it cannot be taken for granted
The Lord will make those in government and authority understand how the Christian witness in the UK has been eroded and make them wise as to what those influences are
Believers from other nations will prosper in the UK and their churches will help to trigger the revival
Leaders will be raised up like Mordecai and will find favour with government for such a time as this

Ian emphasised the fact that God does have his hand on the UK, but he is also looking for a response from his people - 2 Chronicles 7:14. This led to prayer for the Prime Minister, government, Royal Family and the nation.

Then a lady from near Chesterfield spoke of a series of dreams she and members of a prayer group had had. Her interpretation of these dreams is that THE CHURCH SO ASLEEP IT'S LEAVING THE UNGUARDED DOOR OPEN TO INFILTRATION AND ATTACK. She also said that the cornerstone of our faith is being damaged as the 'black birds' of falsehood peck away at it; the church has been defiled without even being aware of it. 'Snipers' are taking believers out as they sincerely rush to help others - but by the Word of God the snipers' positions will be toppled. There is a greater crying out to God in the shopping centres of the land than in the church.

These sobering thoughts led to a time of prayer for the church to WAKE UP!

A man who had been driving around the M25 when the Lord told him to drive into London to attend the meeting, said that God is raising up people like Ezra to build and re-establish 'altars of prayer' around the nation. Of course, we - the people of God - are the stones which make up these altars.

It was then said that the church's prayer must be of such fervency that it is a shaking, begging prayer (Acts 4:31). There must be a desperation, like labour pains when a woman has no choice but to see it through to the end - there's no turning back! This is what it takes for the Kingdom to be established in our generation. Someone mentioned the king who struck the ground only three times when he should've struck it at least twice as much, symbolising a tendency to be half-hearted.

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Jonathan (left) urged those present to therefor build an altar for the nation. This, the first of six nights of prayer, is the start of a journey in what is believed to be a PIVOTAL year. Remembering the story of how John Wesley had a vision of heaven where he found only Christians there - there were no Methodists! - Jonathan called passionately for unity. "CAN WE NOT UNITE BEHIND THE TRUTH? CRUCIFY OUR DIVISIONS SO WE CAN TAKE THE NATION!"

Ade Oomba from the GDOP core team said, "One day we will be characterised not by our denominations but by Christ. We won't look like him - we'll be like him". He then said he'd been led to read Genesis 20:11 where there was no fear of God, and Revelation 20:11, where the fear, reverence and awe of God had returned.

John Noble, formerly of Romford, closed in prayer.

Please read the associated articles to the left.

Jonathan Oloyede has been invited to the Rock Thurrock Launch Breakfast at Thurrock Hotel on Saturday 5 March.

Tim Harrold, 28/01/2011