June 2008 Newsletter

The exhortation to prayer

As I have traveled and ministered in Liberia in west Africa and presently ministering in various centers in Kenya I have become aware that despite recent serious national crisis in these nations, the church is not committed to, or active in, congregational prayer led by their ministers. Liberia is recovering from 14 years (1989 – 2003) of horrendous civil war that has left the nation traumatized because of the innumerable, senseless killings and maiming and rape of innocent people.

Kenya went through two and half months of serious shaking early this year, I have seen the results of some of the destruction of properties in towns and cities in rural regions in western Kenya over the last seven days. On Thursday the 29^th May 2008, I ministered to a congregation of people who have come back after fleeing murder, violence, theft and destruction of their homes (churches, schools).

Pray according to the word

In 1Timothy 2:1-4 Paul exhorts the church that first of all, “supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quite and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

I have been aware for many years that when the church is congregated and corporate prayer is entered into according to these verses, the church begins to stand in the gap with Christ Jesus the mediator: “For there is one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (v5). When the church prays in agreement with the word of God then the church will experience the end result of the prayer; peace and quietness. Such prayer is a powerful act for spiritual warfare as the church has been authorized by God to make such prayer in the name of Jesus the Messiah

In giving us the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus has instructed us concerning the important elements of prayer. There is an invocation of God’s kingdom; there is to be discernment of God’s will. When the church stands in confession of prayer in agreement according to the will of God, then the prayer of the church will be established [answered] and God’s will, will be done in the earth.

Praying for all in authority

Paul then goes on to say, “I desired therefore that the men pray everywhere lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, the women…” 1Tim.2:8-9a.

In many churches the only prayer prayed is to ask God to bless the service and later to ask God to bless the offering and those who have given. The congregated church is meant to be praying “for all men, for kings and all who are in authority”. Despite civil war in Liberia and the unexpected upheaval in Kenya, the church can still be caught in the trap of thinking ‘we go to church to get blessed’; and yet the church is meant to be the fountain of blessing for the nation.

When Jesus cleansed the temple He proclaimed “My house shall be called a house of prayer but you have made it a den of thieves” Matt. 21:13. He was quoting from Isaiah 56:7 where God had said that prayer in His house should be for ‘all nations’. In the context the nations are ‘all men’ that Paul tells us to pray for.

Lifting up Holy Hands

We can only pray genuinely and effectively by “lifting up holy hands” 1Tim 2:8. If we lift up our hands to God with ‘wrath and doubting’ in our hearts we are being hypocritical and our hands are not holy.

Without wrath

At the end of the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus emphasizes a second time the need to forgive others as a prerequisite to answered prayer. Wrath is anger seeking revenge. The bible says “be angry and sin not” (Eph. 4:26). The bible says “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath, for it is written ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord’” Rom 12:19. God says He will exercise wrath because only God can judge rightly.

Even though we have good cause to be angry with our enemy we are to ask God for the grace to forgive. Forgiveness is more powerful than revenge. Revenge harms others and binds the avenger. Forgiveness sets you free and places your enemy in the hands of God. “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head” Rom 12:20.

Without doubting

Paul says to pray without doubting. When terrible things happen we can wonder ‘where is God?’ And doubt comes into our hearts. James warns that unless we ask in faith we “will receive nothing from the Lord” (James 1:6-7). “Without faith it is impossible to please God” Heb 11:6. Before we can pray effectively we need to “Take captive every thought to the obedience of Christ” 2 Cor.10:5b.

The church is called to stand in the gap in prayer for the nation. To do this effectively we must help every member of the church to embrace the grace, to show mercy and forgiveness toward others; and to have a good confession of faith in the sovereignty of God and His ability to answer our prayers and save our nation.

A testimony

In a rural church congregation in western Kenya with a number of District pastors present, I led prayer in the light of Paul’s instructions in 1Timothy. The local pastor led us in prayer for the area where there has been continual strife with neighbors coming into the area stealing livestock and destroying crops. Then the General Superintendent of the church led in prayer for the nation. We then asked representatives of the three tribes of Kenya mostly involved in violent clashes of recent months to pray on behalf their people group, seeking forgiveness and offering forgiveness. This was a very powerful experience, the Holy Spirit bearing witness with a manifest anointing.

Therefore pray

Therefore I exhort the church everywhere to be obedient to Paul’s instructions in 1Timothy 2. The church can make the difference in the nation. The church is to know how to conduct itself “in the house of God” 1 Tim 3:15. Every time the church meets it is good and acceptable to God to pray for your nation, to pray for rulers and those in authority. The result of such prayer will be peace in the nation and the opportunity for the church to continue the work of the ministry, bringing all to the knowledge of the truth.                                                                                       Paul Galligan.

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Africa trip: The team are currently in Kenya, arriving back in Australia on 17^th June. They continue to experience fruitful ministry in the different countries and localities where they have been ministering. Nigeria: ‘We have been very encouraged by what has happened. Global communion ever growing!’  Liberia is a nation of victims, Paul sent as an apostle of restoration of the house of God; healing of the brethren has begun. A core group of ministers attending all sessions - serious change coming to the church in Liberia. Ghana: clear revelation of oneness to all with a deep commitment to walk together.

Kenya: the team has gone three different ways – Paul ministering among the Pentecostal Assemblies of God churches hosted by Bishop Salamba. Don & Miriam in Nairobi and now in Western Kenya. Nick with apostle Peter Akeck teaching in two day seminars in a number of localities in Western Kenya. They are all experiencing revelation opening up the word; many receiving sonship; great hunger and thirst for the word; mind-sets being challenged; apostolic foundations being laid.

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CALENDAR

June:

Friday 20^th – 6.30pm Fellowship Tea to welcome home team from Africa – all welcome to come and hear their report. Please bring meal to share.

Sun. 29^th COMMUNITY SUNDAY at SHILOH – 9.30am Teaching

                                                                                10.30am Worship/Communion/Preaching    

Monday 30^th SHILOH SCHOOL OF MINISTRY three week training commences

For Pastors, Leaders and those called to minister in the body of Christ

Note new time-table: Daily start at 10.30am - worship, Session 1 – teaching 11am-12md.

                                        12-12.30 prayer or ministry time; Session 2 – teaching 1.30-2.30pm.

                                         2.45-3pm – testimonies & communion; Session 3 – teaching 3-4pm

International brethren &  brethren in Australia are invited to a further two weeks of training and equipping, Tues.22^nd - Fri.25^th & Tues. 29^th – Thurs.31^st 

TRAINING SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH, ages 4 to 13

Commences Monday 7^th July to Friday 11^th July

Overseas Trips:

FIJI: June 24^th – 7^th July Wendy Morris & Angie Sharma

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Report on crisis in Myanmar following Cyclone Nargis

We wish to say thank you to all who have contributed to our appeal to help victims of the recent disaster in Myanmar. To date we have been able to send in over $10,000. This money has gone to pastors and brethren whom we have personal knowledge of. They in turn are using the money to distribute to others whom they are caring for. The money has been mainly used to provide food, personal items and to help in rebuilding housing. We continue to send finance as it is made available.

The following are email reports from some of the brethren who have received funds:

‘Thank you very much for the funds for the Nargis relief which I received on 26/5/2008 (Monday) the sum of Australia $500, equivalent to 505000 Kyats. Now we are already starting the relief work. Please do inform my heartfelt thanks and my appreciation to the Revival Ministries Australia. May God bless you all. Please continually pray for us.’

‘People are having only one meal both the young and old alike.  My pre-school children's parents are crying for help to rebuild their temporary houses but at this time I couldn't put my priority on houses but on food only. 70% of them are still not able to rebuild their houses, even now.’

‘On Monday we distributed rice to 173 families in three different localities. We invited only our Church members and New Life Pre-school children's parents but when the time comes more than 300 families came into my house. We couldn't divide them all,, however we recorded their names and said to them "come next time" we will give priority on your name list.’

‘The need is so great, the only way to satisfy them and ourselves is to let them know God who is always more than sufficient. Thanks for your love and passion, although you are far from us geographically your hands are reaching us, even into our cooking pots.’

Philippines Trip Report.

The team, Ian Sproule, Joshua Sproule and Siobhan Williams, led by Jean Manning, spent two weeks with Jesus Is Alive Christian Family International Mission, INC. in Manila and on the island of Samar at the invitation of Rev. Dr. Albert Olegario. Pastor Albert traveled with us and we ministered with various pastors connected with JIACFIM and renewed many friendships from past visits.

We felt that this visit was to fulfill Ephesians 4:16, where every part of the body of Christ works with the other parts to enable each part to grow to maturity, and we went as apostolic company to serve the body of Christ in the Philippines.

The invitation to go was to speak at a youth camp on Northern Samar and to bring revival to the churches affiliated with JIACFIM.

The camp was set in a tropical paradise. Heavy thunderstorms threatened to disrupt every afternoon, but as sons of God we prayed and the storms went around the camp each time.  Praise the Lord for the authority He has given us!

Jean and Ian taught during day and evening sessions at the camp. Siobhan and Joshua joined in the activities with the young people. The theme was “From Bondage to Freedom” (Galatians 5:1). One hundred and forty-three young people met for this camp. Each night the Holy Spirit wooed the young people during the talks until the final culmination with them all laying off their bondages and responding to Jesus Christ.  The youth leadership from JIACFIM was inspiring.  They demonstrated such love and compassion for all the youth in their care.

During the day activities, we had opportunity to spend time with the leaders of JIACFIM who had traveled to Samar to be with us. Much revelation flowed as we shared the word and encouraged the leaders to run discipleship training with the folk they have oversight of in their home-town church fellowships. We were able to leave teaching manuals, books and tracts with them. There was also time for personal ministry.

We saw the restoration of the Lord’s Table as the leaders caught the revelation of the breaking of bread. Teaching about tithing brought freedom. 

Away from the camp, we did much house to house ministry as we met with local council dignitaries, prayed for the sick and simply brought encouragement. During these times we saw God heal a paralytic, restore marriage relationships, and restore relationships between leaders within the body of Christ. The Spirit of Sonship was received by revelation with joy and excitement.  Due to a power failure when we were forced to change the venue from a hall to a house, the leaders saw a demonstration of church in the house and the impact this had upon the locals looking in from the street.

We participated in church anniversary celebrations which give so much joy to the locals. These people know the reality of Jesus statement: “I see your poverty, but you are rich”. (Revelation 2:9)

Thank you to those who gave financially to enable us to bless the leaders with materials and gifts to enable them to become self-sufficient. We left money for one group to establish a small business to supply their needs as they minister to the people.

At all times the Lord was calling the folk back to His word. And we saw the word made manifest time and time again. The final call was at the Leaders’ and Pastors’ Encounter where the Holy Spirit moved powerfully as the leaders and pastors committed themselves to prepare the church as the bride of Christ – to bring the church to maturity as the glorious spotless church of Ephesians 5:27  - through the teaching of and obedience to the word.   

Jean Manning