Notes for Thursday 29th

Group Notes
Week beginning – 25th January 2009
Theme & Aim – As we continue to reflect on the 1859 Ulster Revival, and revivals in the Bible, it is clear that a vital component is prayer. Individual and corporate prayer are a vital part of the preparation for revival which in turn leads to greater individual and corporate prayer. As Billy Graham once said, the three keys to revival are prayer, prayer and prayer. This week we will be reflecting on what prayer for revival is all about.

WELCOME:Are you a morning or evening person and what is the best and worst thing about being that way?

WORD: How should we pray for Revival? Read Isaiah 62:1-7
Isaiah 62 was written against a backdrop of a decline in the moral standings of the people of Israel. The prophet is heart-broken at the condition of Jerusalem because he says, ‘For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet.’ (Is 62:1a)
Why should we pray for revival? (vv. 1-5)
· For a new righteousness (v. 1b). Righteousness involves people living in right relationships with God and with one another. Over centuries, the church has not been either as united or righteous as it ought to have been. We need to pray for a transformation in the Christian church so that our ‘righteousness shines out like the dawn’ … so that people see a Christian community which is united in love. What ways can Willowfield/Mount Merrion improve in this area?
· For a new freedom – ‘her salvation like a blazing torch’ (v.1b). The prophet prays that the fact that God has saved his people will shine out from the city. The word ‘salvation’ means ‘freedom’, release from bondage. This freedom was won for us by Jesus Christ (Is 52:10-53:12). What areas of your life do you need to experience God’s freedom in?
· He is praying that God’s people will have a new identify – ‘you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.’ (v.2b) In the ancient near East the giving of a new name to someone signified a radical change in their status and fortunes. Instead of being known as ‘deserted’, they will be known as ‘Hephzibah’ which means ‘my delight is in you’. Instead of being known as ‘desolate’ they will be known as ‘Beulah’ which means ‘married’ (v.4). The image of churches today can often be one of a place deserted and desolate, irrelevant to modern life. Our prayer should be that it will be transformed into a place in which God clearly delights. The prophet foretells that the people of God ‘will be a crown of splendour in the Lord’s hands, a royal diadem in the hand of your God’ (v.3). The Lord’s people will be a sign that he is King. Are we behaving in ways that point others to the King?
· He is praying for a new love. He is longing to see Jerusalem as a bride with God as the bridegroom. Verse 5a describes a wedding. It is a picture of God committed to his people in a marriage covenant. The second half of the verse then depicts the honeymoon. Such will be the relationship of love that is genuinely experienced. It is a picture of commitment, love and joy. This is what we should be praying for. Have we lost our first love?
Who should pray for revival? (v.6a)
Watchmen - was a term that came to be used of prophets and intercessors (Is 21:8-12). The task of watchmen is to see and understand our current situation in a way that is alert to possible attacks and problems as well as to what God wants to do, and to bring these strands of prayer together. Although God may call and equip certain people to be watchmen or intercessors, specially gifted in prayer, we all have a responsibility to pray, both individually and corporately. Are we playing our part, or do we need to reinvigorate our prayer lives?
How should we pray for revival? (vv.6b-7)
· Constantly (v6a)
· Our prayer should be disciplined (Is 62:6)
· We are to pray with urgency (v. 7) We are called to be passionate and pressing.
The challenge facing the church today is to pray for God to ‘rend the heavens and come down’ (Is 64:1), to give us a consciousness of the presence of God the Holy Spirit literally in the midst of the people’. We need a new righteousness, a new freedom, a new identity and a new love. It is easy to give up interceding and to grow despondent when we do not see instant results, but we need to pray constantly, calling on God in a disciplined and urgent way.

WORSHIP: Pray into the topics and issues that have been raised in earlier discussions.

WITNESS: 2 Chron 7:14. Let’s spend some time crying out to God for:
· Ourselves – that we would turn from our ‘wicked ways’ and our lives be a witness of Jesus at work in us and his Holy Spirit flowing through us.
· Our families, friends & colleagues – that God the Holy Spirit would impact them over the coming year.
· Our land – that we would see revival break our across our nation, as it did in 1859.

WORTH BEARING IN MIND THIS WEEK …
· Remind your group that there is opportunity for intercessory prayer every Thursday evening from 1800 to 1945 at Refresh. Many of the activities that form part of the Willowfield DNA need more volunteers… pray for more people willing to give of there time to serving God.
Don’t forget: Leaders and volunteers day with Paul Howey on Saturday 31st January.

Thursday 29th January 2008

Meeting again in John and Joan's house at 8pm.
Will scan the Bible Study notes and put them on the blog tomorrow

New Year

Meeting on Thursday 15th January 2009
John and Joan Ferguson's house
30 Downshire Road

Thursday 22nd January 2009
All groups will meet together in Willowfield Church at 8pm.

Directions to 30 Downshire Road
off to the right just before the top of the Cregagh Road as you go out of town.I have attached a link to google maps - just to give the exact location

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=30+Downshire+Rd,+Castlereagh,+Belfast,+Castlereagh+BT8,+United+Kingdom&ie=UTF8&cd=4&geocode=FWGuQAMd4ASm_w&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=6.881357,14.941406&ll=54.571987,-5.896997&spn=0.011667,0.032015&z=15

Any problems you can give me a ring on my mobile.