Even though this message, which came today from the Elijah List, specifically targets Europe, it is applicable to all nations. We must be seeking what is on God's heart, and praying that His Will will be done.
"Beginning in 2012, Dr. Sharon Stone presented a 10-year plan for the transformation of the spiritual atmosphere above Europe at a meeting of her network, Christian International Europe. This plan was based on what God had been showing her prophetically about shifting the atmosphere above nations for sustained revival and awakening."
...There are several strategic focuses [for prayer & action] that God has given me for Europe... (This is not an exhaustive list, and of course there are other major areas of concern: poverty, abortion, family values, economic crisis, etc.) The areas are:
1. National alignment with Israel
2. Modern-day slavery
3. An underdeveloped young generation
1. National Alignment With Israel
How a nation treats the Jews and Israel will determine how much authority and blessing that nation receives from God: ''I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you"(Genesis 12:3). God Himself has set the boundaries of the land of Israel as a covenant to the people of Israel: "I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the desert to the Euphrates River..." (Exodus 23:31). God does not break His covenant. In the same way, we cannot separate Israel from their covenant land.
"On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves"(Zechariah 12:3). It will not be easy for our nations to align with Israel, and sometimes it will feel like a heavy stone that we have to carry. This will be increasingly true as public opinion turns against Israel. God, however, is getting ready to move in Israel. God is going to judge the nations and glorify His people, just like He did when the Jews were in Goshen and Egypt.
2. Modern-Day Slavery
The Bible says that righteousness and justice are the foundations of God's throne (see Psalm 89:14), and it is time for European social reformers like William Wilberforce to rise up again and abolish human trafficking (i.e. modern-day slavery). Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor. Conservative estimates show that there are currently approximately 27 million people being trafficked.
Slavery is a moral issue and compromises the atmosphere of freedom and righteousness that God so desires. We need to realize that modern-day slavery does not just exist outside of our borders. As Believers we carry a powerful message of hope and liberation.
God commands us to seek justice for the oppressed. Our fervent prayers can accomplish much. We must also understand that God has given us authority and influence through Christ Jesus. We as Believers therefore have a special position when it comes to the work of abolition. Through prayer and acts of service we can help rescue and restore those who are being trafficked and help to create new futures for the vulnerable.
3. Youth – Developing a Passionate Generation To Guard the Gates of Justice and Sustain Awakening/Revival
Several European nations have experienced awakenings and revivals before. Unfortunately, they were relatively short-lived and not sustainable. One of the reasons for this is that they were not generational. As leaders, we have done a disservice to our youth by leading them to think that we could preach them into revival. We have got to be passionate about the Presence of Jesus. We need to expose our youth to dynamic passion and teach them how to guard it and to grow it. We do not just get this from a 60-minute service on a Sunday.
When Moses and Joshua went up to the mountain to meet with God (see Exodus 24:12-18) they did not know how long they would be there. God did not say anything for the first six days. They were, however, content just to sit in His presence. Then, on the seventh day, God invited Moses into the cloud. Joshua, on the other hand, had to remain on the outside for another 33 days. During these 33 days Joshua got hungrier by the minute for the Presence of God.
All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshipped, each man in his tent door. So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And He would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle. Exodus 33:10-11
Young people are passionate and pro-active. They get angry and frustrated, and they are disappointed when they look at the world. As a consequence, they are often among God's most blunt and unintentional prophets. Jesus asks us to have prophetic foresight, to dream of what a better world would look like, and to work towards the transformation of this world.
It is essential that we equip this emerging generation to be radical passionate leaders who:
• know the weight of the call of God on their lives and who walk in it,
• who refuse the status quo of religion,
• who seek to explore the depths of God, and
• who live devoted to a lifestyle of worship.
• who refuse the status quo of religion,
• who seek to explore the depths of God, and
• who live devoted to a lifestyle of worship.
If we do, they will become a passionate generation who will guard the gates of justice in our nations and be able to sustain the coming awakening and revival.
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