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Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Colossians 4: 2 ESV
Welcome to our July 2010 1st Friday Call to Prayer. Our aim is to provide you with teaching that we trust will enhance your prayer experience and will be an encouragement to you. We will also provide you with praise items and prayer requests coming from within ANiC and the Anglican Communion worldwide.
We encourage you to set aside the first Friday, July 2nd, as a day of prayer and fasting for the Church in these critical days, ideally gathering with other believers in your parish or region for corporate prayer at some point in the day.
Prayer Quotes
There is nothing that makes us love a man so much as praying for him.
William Law (1686-1761)
Praying for the Nation
Whether you are a Canadian or an American, the first week of July is a time when we mutually celebrate the founding of our respective nations. It is a time when we give thanks to the Lord for the centuries of religious freedom that we have enjoyed, demonstrated in our liberty to worship God openly and without fear of reprisal. We are grateful for those who founded our countries on Judeo-Christian principles that have stood the test of time and protected us from autocratic dictatorship and anarchy.
But, as intercessors, these annual milestones in July should also remind us of our privilege and responsibility to fervently pray for our nation. We cannot watch a TV newscast or pick up a newspaper without seeing startling evidence of the erosion of those very Judeo-Christian principles for which we are so grateful. The decay of integrity and biblical morality, even within the church, as we as Anglicans are all too well aware, continues to intensify. Lawlessness, violence, and a deep-seated anger seem to pervade every level of our society, and we are raising an amoral generation of young people who know nothing of the transforming love of Jesus Christ.
During the years that I served as a coordinator for Intercessors for Canada, I was often asked a question something like, “Well, if God is going to do what He wants to do with the nations, why does it matter if we pray?” Let’s look at a couple of scriptures to see whether our prayer does matter.
In the first place, we pray because we are exhorted to do so - we pray in obedience to God’s Word. Look at Paul’s first letter to Timothy, his beloved disciple and partner in the Gospel:
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2: 1-4 ESV
Paul says that our first priority should be praying for all people, especially our national leaders and all who are in positions of authority. Why? It’s because prayer-filled governments lead to peace and tranquility where the message of God’s love and truth can go forth unheeded. Paul saw everything from the lens of how things impacted evangelism and the spread of the Gospel.
Those of us in the Anglican Church will be quite familiar with prayers in our services for the Queen. Perhaps, because of over-familiarity, we do not consider the importance of what we are praying:
“ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, we are taught by thy holy Word, that the hearts of Kings are in thy rule and governance, and that thou dost dispose and turn them as it seemeth best to thy godly wisdom: We humbly beseech thee so to dispose and govern the heart of ELIZABETH thy servant, our Queen and Governor, that in all her thoughts, words, and works, she may ever seek thy honour and glory, and study to preserve thy people committed to her charge, in wealth, peace, and godliness: Grant this, O merciful Father, for thy dear Son's sake, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
There are also prayers for our Prime Minister, provincial premiers and legislatures in the Book of Common Prayer. We are urged to pray for them, whether we voted for them or not!
“LORD of all power and mercy, we beseech thee to assist with thy favour the Prime Minister of this Dominion, and the Premiers of the Provinces. Cause them, we pray thee, to walk before thee in truth and righteousness, and to fulfil their office to thy glory and the public good; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen”
It’s obvious in the urgency of Paul’s instructions to Timothy that the prayers of the saints for those in leadership and places of authority matters strategically to peace in our nation and the spread of the Gospel. This precept leads us to our second purpose in intercession – we pray for our nation because our prayers can have dramatic impact on the course of history. Take a fresh look at the following familiar verse:-
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV
Although this promise was spoken to the nation of Israel thousands of years ago, it still has direct application for us who are also His people called by His name. We cannot escape the responsibility that God’s promise here places upon the Church. We are called to humble ourselves, seek His face, turn from our wicked ways, and pray. The “healing” of our nation, whatever that looks like today, can be and must be influenced by the Church actively pursuing each of these steps.
We can humble ourselves in many ways but one biblical method is through the practice of fasting; i.e., abstaining from food and/or drink in some manner. We can use that “redeemed” time, when we might ordinarily be eating, to spend some extended time in the Lord’s presence, delighting in Him and bringing our nation and its leaders before the Throne.
What are our “wicked ways” from which we must turn? The Lord once challenged me with this exposure of a “wicked way” in my life by speaking to my spirit, “Garth, if you spent as much time praying for the government as you do criticizing it, both you and your nation would greatly benefit”. Apathy, complacency, criticism, smugness, self-centredness; all these and other sins so easily entrap God’s people, and must be repented of if we are to see the downward spiral of our nation reversed. Surely, the greatest healing our land could experience would be the outbreak of true revival spreading from coast to coast.
In the book of Ezekiel, there is a alarming statement by the Lord that we should desperately seek to never have applied to us. This is how it reads in the New International Reader’s Version:-
"I looked for a man among them who would stand up for Jerusalem. I tried to find someone who would pray to me for the land. Then I would not have to destroy it. But I could not find anyone who would pray for it.”
Ezekiel 22: 30 NIRV
O Lord, may we never be so self-consumed and caught up in our own issues that we fail to obey the exhortation of Scripture to “first of all, pray”. Blessed Saviour, forgive us where we have done this in the past, where we have not prayed for our nation and its leaders. May Your Holy Spirit bring to our remembrance the need to pray on a regular basis, and may we be given the grace to humble ourselves before You and seek Your face as we beseech You for a fresh outpouring of revival upon our land, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen
Garth V. Hunt
Praise God …
That He reigns over all and is fully in control.
That Christ’s death and resurrection defeated sin and death, and secured the ultimate victory.
That He is active in human history. “The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever he will.” (Proverbs 21:1)
That God hears and responds to our prayers; and we can impact history through intercession that moves the hand of God.
That He has given us the privilege and responsibility of interceding for our nation, our leaders and all those who have authority over us.
That Jesus’ victory over death we who belongs to Him will living and reign with Him for eternity.
For our churches, for the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) and for the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).
For the many ANiC “projects” and church plants – the small, but growing congregations of faithful Anglicans – He is adding to our number.
For His blessing on ANiC, for how He has led, and for the future He has planned for us.
For faithful Anglican bishops, clergy and laity – throughout the Communion – who are standing for truth even when their stand for Christ and His Word makes them targets of attack.
For the reformation God is working out in global Anglicanism – and the entire Christian Church. In the midst of chaos, He is building His Kingdom and refining His bride, the Church.
Confess if needed…
For failing to pray; for not being persistent in prayer.
For not regularly upholding our leaders and those in positions of authority and influence.
For not bringing local, national and international events to His throne.
Please pray…
For those in authority over us. Pray for wise decisions that honour the Lord and promote the welfare of Canadian citizens.
For protection for those who are in “harms way” as they serve our country. Specifically, pray:
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For those in government – both for members of Parliament creating laws and for civil servants in positions of responsibility – that they would uphold righteousness. |
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For judges in our court system who are charged with interpreting and applying laws; |
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For officers of the law and emergency response personnel who daily risk their lives for our protection; and |
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For those who selflessly serve our country in the military – as well as for their families at home. |
That God would revive us, our church and, ultimately, our nation.
That we would develop a passion for those around us who need our Lord.
That our churches would become intentional in reaching out to our communities.
For Bishops Donald Harvey, Stephen Leung, Charlie Masters, Trevor Walters, Malcolm Harding and Ronald Ferris, and their families. Pray for spiritual and physical protection and renewal, for wisdom, and for a daily closer walk with God.
For those suffering under the attack of the enemy in our congregations and families. Pray for victory in Christ and healing where needed.
For ANiC clergy and their families, especially those experiencing spiritual and physical attack.
For new and forming ANiC congregations as they attend to the many details of organizing and launching a parish – and for other congregations considering joining ANiC.
For congregations – in the Vancouver, Toronto, Niagara, Windsor, Ottawa, and Victoria areas – that have lost their places of worship or have been forced to appeal to the courts and face the possible loss of their buildings. May they demonstrate love to those who persecute them.
For the legal team and parish leaders involved in court proceedings.
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For the Vancouver-area parishes preparing for the Sept 13-16 case in the BC Court of Appeal. |
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For the case involving St Aidan’s in Windsor, ON. |
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For St George’s (Burlington, ON), Good Shepherd (St Catharines, ON) and St Hilda’s (Oakville, ON) in their dispute with the Diocese of Niagara. |
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For St George’s and St Alban’s in Ottawa facing possible litigation. |
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For a change of heart on the part of the leaders of dioceses pursuing ANiC parishes. May they relent and work with parishes to reach amicable, mutually beneficial settlements. |
For Biblically-faithful Anglicans in Canada who feel isolated in liberal churches and dioceses as well as for those who feel they can no longer remain in the Anglican Church of Canada. May they find Christian fellowship and spiritual nourishment.
For the recovery of a lively orthodoxy in the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC) and for those who believe they are called to remain in the ACoC to pray and work for reformation and for a renewed commitment to Jesus Christ and His inspired Word.
For the leaders of the Anglican Communion Alliance (formerly Anglican Essentials Federation), Anglican Essentials Network and Anglican Essentials Canada as they provide support for orthodox Anglicans still within the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC).
For those in the Zacchaeus Fellowship who are giving testimony to the liberation God offers those held captive in sexual sin; for the Anglican Church of Canada to listen to their witness.
For Archbishop Gregory Venables (and his wife, Sylvia) as they have been facing adversity; for God’s peace, protection, renewal and blessing.
For God’s blessing on the Province of the Southern Cone which graciously provided a temporary “home” for ANiC when we needed Primatial oversight.
For God’s blessing on the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA):
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For Archbishop Bob Duncan (and wife, Nara) |
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For the other ACNA dioceses. |
For the orthodox Primates and bishops – especially those in the Global South – who are courageously standing for Truth. Pray for spiritual and physical protection and for discernment, grace and strength as they lead in a torn Communion.
For the Anglican Relief and Development Fund Canada and for generous contributions to the malaria prevention initiative in Kenya.
For the Covenant process and the realignment underway in the Anglican Communion. May the Lord clearly lead and may His will be done.
For the Archbishop of Canterbury. May he pursue God wholeheartedly and seek the wisdom and discernment he needs to fulfill his responsibilities to the glory of God.
For suffering Christians around the world in conditions of persecution, war, drought, famine and poverty – especially those in Muslim countries who face discrimination, harassment and violence.
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