John Robb,  IPC Chairman

God’s heart concern throughout history has been to dwell with humankind in closest fellowship and to infuse our broken, futile existence due to sin with the glory of His presence. The Lord desired to have the first humans as his companions to walk with in the cool of the day. He ordered the building of the Tabernacle by Moses as well as the Temple by David and Solomon for the same reason- to dwell with His people in close proximity and enable access into His presence through prayer. These Old Testament events foreshadowed His ultimate intention of constructing a habitation made of redeemed, reconciled human beings, Jews and Gentiles from all nations, ethnic backgrounds and walks of life in whom corporately He would live by His Spirit (Eph. 2:21-22) and express His glory throughout the earth. Finally, the Lamb invites all who will come to a gigantic, celebrative supper at the end of time to enjoy His intimate presence forever.

Over many years, in numerous cultural contexts and situations, I have observed that when believers really pray together, humbling our hearts before the Lord, listening to Him and one another, we taste something of His glorious companionship through the uniting work of His Spirit.  Walls go down even though we may come from different ethnic groups and denominations and may initially distrust one other. New, cooperative ministry networks and initiatives have often been the result because the Spirit of the Lord unites us through the practice of prayer. 

After their long exile, the prophet Haggai prophesied to the Jewish people in order to catalyze the rebuilding of their ruined temple. Through him, the Lord reminded His apathetic, self-centered people, so busy with their own affairs, that He wanted His house reconstructed so He could once again live among them. The heavens withheld the rain, the earth its crops, and His people never had enough of what they wanted because they had forgotten the centrality of God’s dwelling among them.

Through Haggai, God said that He “will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come” (Hag. 2:7). This verse could well describe the last year in our world, and especially the last several weeks, with the toppling of many governments as well as earthquakes and other natural disasters in various nations.  Jesus, the Messiah, and “the desired of all nations” said that such things would accompany His return.  In that same passage, the Lord said that He “will fill this house with glory”. Most probably He is not just speaking about the current temple rebuilding project, but looking to that future habitation of the Spirit which is His Church praying unitedly, experiencing the glory of His presence, and proclaiming Him together to the world. There is an obvious correlation with Habakkuk 2:14, His promise that the earth will be “filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”

The World Prayer Assembly will seek to connect and unite the different, diverse strands of what the Lord has been doing through the transformational prayer movement. It will be an experience of being in the presence of the Lord together, listening and learning as we pray together for our world. We will also receive His marching orders for our part in the construction of that habitation He is building among all peoples in preparation for the coming of “the desired of all nations”.

Prophetically gifted friends have given words concerning the World Prayer Assembly. Here is an excerpt from one of those words sent by an Asian IPC leader who has been a very accurate prophetic voice over the years:

The World Prayer Assembly is chosen to be a "Jerusalem", a Pentecost, where the Holy Spirit fell on the early Church. The Holy Spirit will be poured on the World Prayer Assembly, upon the Apostolic/Prophetic leaders, Pastors, Evangelists, Marketplace leaders, both men and women, youth and children. Like it was promised through the Prophet Joel 2:28 - 32, it shall be.

The old and the young will hold hands together- men, women, and children- and move forward in the power of the Spirit. The great move shall start at World Prayer Assembly and cascade to the nations, pulling down fortresses and boundary walls and uprooting strongholds. God will continue to shake the nations. Everything that can be shaken will be shaken violently. His warring angels are waging war against principalities and powers of the nations of the world. He is judging the gods of the nations, the arrogance and everything which tries to exalt itself above God. He is judging all perversion and everything false in the hearts of men. As God judges the nations, He will pour out His Spirit on all the nations of the world. Millions will come to the Lord, by way of people’s movements, nation after nation shall open their borders to the flooding revival of God.

Hallelujah!

Please pray with us for the WPA planning process which is very challenging, and if you and others you know meet the criteria for participation, plan to join us in Jakarta next year.

For more information, be sure to see  http://www.wpa2012.org/