A New Year message from Ipswich in Prayer

 

 

E M Bounds writing in his book ‘The Possibilities of Prayer’ says: “Prayer makes way for and brings into practical realization the promises of God. Promises are God’s golden fruit to be plucked by the hand of prayer. Promises are God’s incorruptible seed, to be sown and tilled by prayer. Prayer and the promises are interdependent. The promise inspires and energizes prayer, but prayer locates the promise and gives it realization. Prayer makes a highway for the promise to its glorious fulfilment. Prayer goes by faith into the great fruit orchard of God’s exceeding great and precious promises, and with hand and heart picks the ripest and richest fruit.”

 

2009 was a great year in Kingdom terms in Ipswich; now we are beginning a new year – a time to consolidate and to look forward. As the Ipswich in Prayer team has met together over the last quarter of 2009 we have sensed God calling us into a deeper place of prayer.

 

In Jeremiah 29 the Lord says to the exiles in Babylon, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jesus says in John 15, “Apart from me you can do nothing” – all our efforts can achieve very little without God’ leading and blessing.

 

2010 sees the 10^th anniversary of Ipswich in Prayer. The ‘foundation’ verse of IIP is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14 where the Lord says (to Solomon), “If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” The previous verse says, “When I shut up the heavens so there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people,” – a reminder to call out to God at times of national crisis or when the people of God were in severe need, in order that He would hear and answer.  

 

An article in a national newspaper in the past week, commenting on the decade just passed, said “It is as if God has pushed the fast forward button of history….” Our nation is in a time where Government, Health Services, Education, The Economy, The Police, Families, The Armed Forces, the Church have all faced challenges and upheavals. 

 

Whilst there is much to give thanks for as we look back over the last ten years, there is also much need and much hurt being faced by individuals.  God’s Kingdom is advancing and 2009 saw much evidence of answered prayer, a great ‘coming together’ of the Church in Ipswich at Pentecost, many new projects springing up, good relationships building between Church and Local Authorities, and doors opening in a miraculous way. 

 

This is a time to stand together as One Church in Ipswich, to pray more fervently, to listen to and seek God’s will for His Church, the town and the nation, to support those in authority in prayer, and to encourage and pray for one another. 

 

 Ipswich in Prayer’s original ‘Vision Statement’ was -

 

Ipswich in Prayer seeks to:

Ten years on we can really see the fruits; now we need to be very careful that nothing is allowed to damage that which is being built. Recently we have received what we believe to be a warning, which we have been praying about at IIP team meetings and at Heart for Ipswich Leaders prayer meetings. Song of Songs 2:15 says, “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.” That which is being built is very fragile and we must keep God at the centre, and be on our guard. 

 

In 1 Corinthians 16:13 Paul warns the Church in Corinth to “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.”

 

As individuals and as Church in this new year, let us be on our guard against those things which bring division, and adopt a new determination to work together, united with a common purpose to see God glorified here in Ipswich and people’s lives transformed by the love of Christ. 

 

Jesus, approaching the end of his earthly life and ministry in John 17, prays, “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me”. 

 

May this be both our prayer and our conscious decision as we move into 2010, to put aside those things which separate us, in order that “all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35)

 

Forthcoming opportunities to pray and worship together –

 

Crown Him with Many Crowns: Saturday January 16^th, 7.30pm at Burlington Baptist Church (marks the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity)

 

Talitha Koum Prayer Concert – Friday January 22^nd, 7.30pm at Rushmere Baptist Church

 

A Passion for Life – leading up to Easter with prayer meetings on Jan 6^th, Feb 6^th, March 6^th

 

Pentecost on the Cornhill – (also marking the Global Day of Prayer) – May 23^rd