Prayer  Update  584

JOINING  IN  PRAYER  FOR  AUSTRALIA …

Australia Day is Thursday 26 January and on the previous day, Wednesday 25th, the Australian Prayer Network and the Australian Indigenous Prayer Network are calling for prayer to celebrate their nationhood and also to intercede for a fresh move of God’s Spirit throughout the “Great South Land of the Holy Spirit”, as Portuguese explorer Fernandez de Quiros called this part of the South Pacific, as he proclaimed over it, on the Day of Pentecost, 14 May 1606 –

"LET THE HEAVENS, THE EARTH, THE WATERS ... AND ALL THOSE HERE PRESENT WITNESS THAT I, CAPTAIN PEDRO FERNANDEZ DE QUIROS ... IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST... HOIST THIS EMBLEM OF THE HOLY CROSS ON WHICH HIS (JESUS CHRIST'S) PERSON WAS CRUCIFIED AND WHEREON HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR THE RANSOM AND REMEDY OF ALL HUMAN RACE ... ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST, 14 MAY 1606 ... I TAKE POSSESSION OF ALL THIS PART OF THE SOUTH AS FAR AS THE POLE IN THE NAME OF JESUS ... WHICH FROM NOW ON SHALL BE CALLED THE SOUTHERN LAND OF THE HOLY GHOST... AND THIS ALWAYS AND FOREVER ... AND TO THE END THAT TO ALL NATIVES, IN ALL THE SAID LANDS, THE HOLY AND SACRED EVANGEL MAY BE PREACHED ZEALOUSLY AND OPENLY."

“VOYAGES OF PEDRO FERNANDEZ DE QUIROS 1595-1606", QUOTED IN "NEW ZEALAND'S CHRISTIAN HERITAGE" BY COL STRINGER.

If possible, please join in this time of prayer for Australia tomorrow (Wednesday) evening, or as soon as possible afterwards, speaking forth the above Declaration and also praying also as follows:

1st Segment

·       Giving thanks for the rich Christian heritage of our nation.

·       Giving thanks for those who have gone before us who established the Christian faith as the underlying value system of our nation.

·       Pray that we, the current generation, will be able to continue to preserve and build on that heritage for our and future generations.

2nd Segment

·       Acknowledge the presence and work of the Holy Spirit which has preserved our nation as a free land down through the years.

·       Invite the presence of God to dwell amongst us and to continue to bless our nation into the future.

·       Call for a revival of faith amongst God's people and a return to Godly values by the whole nation in the year ahead.

3rd Segment

·       Pray for those in authority over us. The Governor General Quentin Bryce, the Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

·       Pray for your State leaders:  Your Governor, Premier and Opposition leader.

·       Pray for those in leadership within Local Government across our nation; Mayors and Councillors of local Councils.

4th Segment

·       Pray for Godly Government, for God fearing leaders who will seek to govern according to God's laws.

·       Pray for the people of Australia that we will turn back to God as a nation.

·       Pray for our Universities, Colleges and Schools across Australia that they will not only teach our youth and children academically, but will also instil in them the spiritual values that have undergirded our nation since its foundation. Pray that a Christian worldview would replace the humanistic worldview taught in recent years.

5th Segment

·       Give thanks for the power of the Gospel to save.

·       Give thanks for the many people from other nations who have found faith in Australia.

·       Pray for an increasing unity of the spirit amongst all Christians living and serving in Australia.

6th Segment

·       Pray for a renewed vision of God's purposes for His Church in Australia to be received and embraced by all Christians, irrespective of denominational or ethnic background.

·       For doors to open up in Australia for those of Christian faith to be raised up into positions of leadership within the Nation as a whole.

·       For strong and effective leadership to emerge within the Church in Australia.

7th Segment

·       Give thanks for the abundant blessings God has bestowed upon our nation since the beginning of time.

·       Ask for wisdom and discernment in ensuring we do not take such blessing for granted. Pray that we preserve the Godly values He has given us in all fields of endeavour, be that politics, business, education, or the fields of art, entertainment and sport.

·       Pray for a return to Biblical ethics and values in the making of laws and statutes that we are governed by. Pray too for the overturning of ungodly and unjust laws.

8th Segment

·       Pray for a revival of faith to sweep our nation.

·       Pray for every knee to bow in worship and adoration of Jesus Christ and for every tongue to confess His Lordship over us individually and corporately.

·       Pray that we His people will arise in the power of His Holy Spirit to take back that which the enemy has stolen from us and to reclaim our nation as the Great Southland of the Holy Spirit.