The best known prophetic vision of revival in these islands is that of Jean Darnall, who was shown the fires of hungry believers seeking New Testament christian life, followed by lightning striking the fires and a great explosive wave of evangelistic fervour sweeping the land. What is not well known is that when she toured Scotland in 1987, she said wherever she went that the first sign of the great awakening would be a men’s prayer movement. This is in accordance with the scriptures, since they exhort first of all that prayers be made for all men that all may be saved, and then direct the men specifically to fulfill this most essential and holy ministry with uplifted and clean hands in every place without wrath or doubting.

Let us therefore heed the prophetic word and follow Jesus Christ in His mighty intercessory ministry and not fail the test by losing faith in God’s promise to Britain to restore its greatness and bring forth a new generation of holy missionaries who will not fear to evangelise the nations that are now held down in the darkness of false religion and idolatry.

I am reminded again of Winston Churchill’s moment of greatness when he rallied and fortified this nation to fight against the onslaught of an evil tyranny. Just three days after assuming leadership of a divided and irresolute country, and in the face of the breach of the defences of France and the Low Countries, he announced a policy of total war unto victory, and reversed the tide with faith and great courage. Taking up his task ‘with buoyancy and hope,’ he led the people of England into battle: “Come then, let us go forward together in our united strength.”

This not a time to give up, nor to draw back, but rather to march forward in unity and determination and fervour. The light of the gospel of the glory of Christ is shining still – let us work while there is still light.

My righteous one shall live by faith; and if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.

(Hebrews 10 v 38)

Let us not be of those who shrink back to destruction, but be those who persevere in faith and hope and victory over the powers of darkness which assail us.

The fires of war are building in strength in the Middle East, and especially over the rocket war, for the Moslem nations have found a way to challenge Israeli military superiority without committing themselves to all-out battle. Syria is especially vulnerable to being used as a proxy by bigger powers who are currently close to breaking American military and economic hegemony through pressure in those areas combined with the subversion of that nation’s Christian foundations both in the church and in the social sphere. Oh that we would wake up and see the danger before it is too late.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the most High.
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

Israel too is in a pitiful condition, unable to defend its citizens against daily rocket attacks, with a vacillating and irresolute leadership. Iran has threatened her with extinction and she is unlikely to go quietly to her grave. If there is one lesson that the Jews have learnt from history, it is that those who make these threats usually mean what they say.

Rise up and pray, my friends. Draw close to Him in communion. I feel reminded of Churchill’s exhortations to a weak and fearful nation. Let us not be downhearted. Arise and conquer, in the Name of Christ. Amen.

How can we who are so weak achieve anything for the Lord? Can we plant a church, or raise a dead man, or humble the proud, or heal the sick, or feed the poor, or convert the sinner? The answer is no. Only God can do these things. So first we must pray and only act at His command. This is our grave mistake in the Western church which is so weak and blind and half-naked and poor and miserable. Oh for a dose of suffering to wake us up and move us out of our comfort zones and get us into action preaching the gospel again. There is no hope for the sinner without Christ and hell awaits the impenitent. Gird your loins, brothers and sisters, and fight the good fight of the faith. We are on the Victor’s side. Labour in the vineyard for soon the Master will return.

 In Him,

 Andrew Chapman