Joining in the Global Day of Prayer and Understanding Pentecost

VISION

The Glory of Christ and the Blessing of the Nations.

MISSION

To call Christians from all Nations to:

• Unite in repentance and prayer.
• Work together as God’s servants for the blessing and healing of the Nations

STRATEGY

Following the example of the first believers who “joined together constantly” in prayer (Acts 1:14) until the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Global Day of Prayer is calling Christians from all nations to unite in prayer. A simple threefold strategy will be implemented each year until 2010 and “BEYOND”:

• 10 Days of day-and-night prayer from Ascension day until the Saturday before Pentecost Sunday.
• A Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost Sunday.
• 90 Days of Blessing.

HISTORY

In July 2000 God captured the heart of a South African Christian businessman, Graham Power, with a vision based on 2 Chron. 7:14. The vision had three clear instructions:

• To call Christians from all denominations in Cape Town for a Day of Repentance and Prayer at Newlands Rugby Stadium.
• To challenge Christians across the rest of South Africa to unite in a Day of Repentance and Prayer.
• To challenge Christians in Southern Africa to unite in a Day of Repentance and Prayer.

In March of 2001 more than 45 000 Christians united for a Day of Repentance and Prayer at Newlands Rugby Stadium in Cape Town. It was a day of intense intercession that transformed lives and was reflected in a changing city in the months to come. Testimonies of transformation caused the vision to be spread into the rest of South Africa and planning immediately started for similar prayer gatherings in 8 provinces of South Africa for 2002.

In February 2002 Graham Power had a second vision. This vision had an even bigger challenge: The whole of Africa was to gather in a Day of Repentance and Prayer, changing Africa to become a “light to the world”. Eventually, Africa was to invite all the nations of the globe to unite in this move of transformational prayer.

In May of 2002 Christians in South Africa gathered in 8 different venues for a Day of Repentance and Prayer. Again, the testimonies of church unity and the healing of communities inspired leaders to expand the vision into the rest of Africa. At a Summit in September 2002 leaders of 9 African countries agreed on the vision “ Africa for Christ”.

At the same time, it was clear that different prayer streams from across the globe were flowing in the same direction with a similar vision of community transformation through prayer. God was busy raising up a church of intercession in order to prepare communities for the revelation of His glory.

This move of prayer is still miraculously expanding. In 2008 millions of Christians from 214 nations united in prayer and we believe that ALL the nations on the face of the earth will be saturated with prayer within the next few years. Together with the 10 Days leading up to and the 90 Days of Blessing following the Global Day of Prayer, there is a sense that the call to unity and repentance is deepening. This will lay the foundation for God to fill the nations with His glory as His children from around the world cry out to him in unity.

The process to saturate all the nations of the globe in prayer is continuing and your nation is invited to participate in 2009, Hab. 2:14

For more information: www.globaldayofprayer.com

UNDERSTANDING PENTECOST!
By Chuck Pierce

The Pentecost Feast was known as the Feast of Weeks (Ex 23:16; 34:22; Lev 23:15-21; Num 28:26-31; Deut 16:9-12; and 2 Chron. 8:13). This feast was observed in late May or early June, 50 days after the offering of the barley sheaf at the Feast of Unleavened Bread during Passover. Passover is a time to remember our Deliverance. Pentecost is a time to thank God for our blessings, abundance and rejoice over harvest.

Characteristics of this time include: Joy, Happiness and Celebration. During this Feast, you enter into a time of offering concerning the Firstfruit Dedication (Lev. 23:9-14; 2 Sam. 21:9-10; Ruth 2:23). This is the Feast to thank God for His abundance which represented blessing.  In the New Testament there are three references to Pentecost. 1Corinthians 16:8 is one. The most common reference is Acts 2:1. On this day, after the resurrection and ascension of Christ, the disciples were gathered in a house in Jerusalem, and were visited with signs from heaven.

This feast was also known as the Feast of Harvest (Ex 23:16; 34:22; Num 28:26-31; Deut 16:9-14; Lev 23:15-22). The first sheaf offered at Passover and the two leavened loaves at Pentecost marked the beginning and ending of the grain harvest, and sanctified the whole harvest season. The lesson to Israel was that the Lord had given them the best for the year ahead (Ps 147:14).  The purpose of this feast was to commemorate the completion of the grain harvest. Its distinguishing feature was the offering of “two leavened loaves” made from the new corn of the completed harvest, which, with “two lambs”, which were waved before the Lord as a thank offering.   Pentecost also was the time of the giving of the law on Sinai (Ex 12:2,19). At Pentecost the Lord wrote the law on our hearts and initiated the Church Age. This became the first Feast that Christians participated in and celebrated. This should be a time of celebration each year.  I believe the understanding of this Feast is very important.  The spiritual aspect of this is necessary if we are to multiply.

The early Christian believers, who were gathered in Jerusalem for observance of this feast, experienced the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit in a miraculous way. Peter explained that this was a fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel. The tongues symbolized the antithesis to Babel’s confusion of tongues, and represented the gathering of peoples under one mind and will to advance the Kingdom of God. Jerusalem, the mount of the Lord, is the center of God’s spiritual kingdom of peace and righteousness. Babel, the center of Satan’s kingdom and of human rebellion, ignores God as the true bond of union. The city of Babel represented confusion. The Spirit of God given on Pentecost believers represented that God had come and His people would be “keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:1-16). The third New Testament reference to Pentecost is Acts 20:16.

TIME FOR HARVEST! Most of us do not understand harvest time.  Because of our complex life, we are far removed from the actual production of our food supplies and the origination of the source of our provision. The harvest was a most important season (Gen 8:22; 45:6). Events were reckoned from harvests (Gen 30:14; Josh 3:15; Judg 15:1; Ruth 1:22; 2:23; 1 Sam 6:13; 2 Sam 21:9; 23:13).

The Pentecost Feast represents:

1. A season of gathering (Zech. 8).
2. A season of judgment (Jer. 51:33, Joel 3:13, Rev 14:15).
3. A season of grace. (Jer. 8:20).
4. A time for the Good News to be heard (Mt. 9:37-38; Jn. 4:35).
5. An end of a season or age and the beginning of a new season of provision. (Mt. 13:39).

We must understand that Harvest has a process:

1. The seed is broadcast and plowed under in late winter.
2. The prayer for rain – the early and the latter rain (Zech. 10).
3. The grain was grasped and cut with the sickle (Deut. 16:9 and Mark 4:29).
4. The grain was gathered into sheaves (Deut 24:5).
5. The grain was taken to the threshing floor.
6. Tools were used for threshing. You have tools for harvest.
7. The grain was winnowed (tossed in the air). Let the wind blow away your chaff.
8. The remaining grain was shaken into a sieve (Amos 9:9).  Some of you are in this process.
9. The grain was brought into the storehouse. Find your storehouse.

Now, the Harvest must be protected because Harvest has major enemies:

1. Drought. Ask the Lord to identify and break all your dryness.
2. Locust invasion. Ask the Lord to remove any devouring in your harvest.
3. Plant diseases (mold, mildew). Ask the Lord to remove any mold in your life.
4. Hot, scorching winds. Ask the Lord to turn any adverse winds.
5. War.  The enemy wanted to live off the land.  Declare that any enemy that has eaten your harvest will run out of your land.

FIRSTFRUITS: A KEY TO BLESSING!

This feast was called the “Day of First Fruits” (Num. 28:26) because it marked the beginning of the time in which people were to bring offerings of firstfruits. It was a feast of joy and thanksgiving for the completion of the harvest season. Then these offerings were presented as a “wave offering” for the people.  The first ripe of fruit, grapes, grain, oil, wine, and the first of fleece were required as an offering (Ex. 22:29; Lev. 2:12-16; Num. 18:12; Deut. 18:4; 2 Chr. 31:5; Neh. 10:35,37,39; Prov. 3:9; Jer. 2:3; Rom. 11:16). At this time, the Lord was credited as the source of rain and fertility (Jer. 5:24). In the New Testament the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), at the festive time when Jews from different countries were in Jerusalem to celebrate this annual feast.  The interval between Pentecost and tabernacles was the time for offering firstfruits. Ask the Lord for your firstfruits offering.

SHAVUOT (FEAST OF WEEKS, PENTECOST) BEGINS AT SUNDOWN ON TUESDAY MAY 18th

Seven weeks [Hebrew: Shavuot] from the day following Passover, when the Priest cut the first sheaf for the Ceremony of Firstfruits, comes the spring harvest festival of Shavuot (Greek: Pentecost, after the 50 days of Leviticus 23:16). On this same day, seven weeks after the risen Yeshua had presented Himself as a firstfruits to God from the dead, The Holy Spirit-Ruach haKodesh–“Holy Wind”-was released from Heaven out onto His Body here on earth. Leviticus 23:17 tells of another “firstfruits” offering made on this day.but this time involving fresh bread baked with leaven. Some see here a picture of the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing in a harvest in Messiah of One New Man, containing both Hebrews and those from the Nations! In the power of that Wind, the Mevaser–Gospel, Good Tidings-quickly spread out, to the Jew first and from thence to all peoples, bringing harvest for Salvation, and victory from the slavery of sin.

There are three Biblical texts traditionally read on Shavuot. A prayerful reading of these passages will assist us all in our celebration of this Feast of the LORD, and we believe will also provide us with guidance in our prayers over Israel at this time:

Chcuck Pierce
Global Spheres Ministries