[39] 3-2-1 Go!

We were back to our routine of eating together at 7pm tonight after 2 unusual weeks (meeting with the wider community last week and at All Saints, Millbrook, the week before).

After our meal we met in the Sacred Space. After a simple song and time of speaking out our thanks and praise we turned our attention to the weeks ahead. We have just 3 normal Wednesdays before our end of year party, and then it is the launch on New Year's Eve and the praying begins on 4th/5th January. Hence "3-2-1 Go!" as the title today.

The first location for SoHOP

Tonight we revealed our decision about where we will begin the house of prayer. 

Since October (and our retreat day) the Lord has been guiding us to focus on starting. It has become clear that we will be starting in one location and at a later date moving on to somewhere that will fulfill all the elements of the vision that we have discerned this year. 

We have been building the momentum in prayer by meeting together in smaller groups in our homes at various times in the week (Monday morning, Tuesday morning, Wednesday afternoon and Thursday evening).

Over the last month we have been offered 4 different places as potential for the house of prayer. It is wonderful to have this level of support from the body of Christ in Southampton. We will look into each of these as potentials for the long term location for the house of prayer.

But for now we believe the Holy Spirit has chosen the Sacred Space at City Life Church (286 Burgess Road) for our first location. 

The leaders at City Life have offered the Sacred Space to us before, but we put it out of our minds as we wanted to discern what God was saying first. It has been a long journey, but here we are, after all. This way round, we are sure this is where we should be starting, rather than just wondering if we are in the right place. 

Many people who pray here have a sense of God's river flowing here. It causes a flow of praise, worship, faith, and prayers for God's kingdom to come.

Here are some key words God has already spoken to City Life members praying in the sacred space. We believe they are for all who will come and pray here.

Living Room

One of the students who prays here had a wonderful revelation in May that we are coming into Jesus’ living room. He has the sofas ready, he is welcoming us, blessing us, looking forward to spending time with us. This is so much the other way around to what we often think as we come to pray.

Set apart for no other reason...

I had this clear impression whilst praying in July 2018: "You (City Life) have set apart the sacred space 'for no other purpose than to meet with me'. But I tell you, I have also set it apart for no other purpose than to meet with you. I have set it apart as a holy place where I will meet with you and transform you." It was like God was saying, just seek me in the sacred space and I will transform you. 

As we gather together...

City Life has some prayers called declarations that are fashioned from the words and prophecies given to us over the years. They begin: As we gather together we are believing God for... This is a powerful way to start. When we remember this, we are not gathering aimlessly or faithlessly, but actively believing - clinging to, depending on, focusing on what God has said He will do. This is part of the goodness we inherit as we use the sacred space. A spirit of faith is coming upon us that will lay hold of God to do what He has said he will do. 

New Year's Eve - Consecration

The first actual meeting of SoHOP will be on Monday 31st December - we will see the new year in together, celebrating and praying and consecrating ourselves to this venture.

The New Year's Eve meeting will be at All Saints, Millbrook. However, the question was asked, that if we are going to be in the sacred space for SoHOP, wouldn't it make more sense to have our consecration here too? A good question! As we discussed and thought, it served to confirm our calling to go to All Saints on New Year's Eve. On our journey so far, the Lord has been leading us to discover 'hidden treasures' and this is one of them. 

We decided to start at 9pm and go on until 2am. It will be great to celebrate what God has been doing through the SoHOP discernment community over the last year, bringing together friends and families to consecrate the birth of SoHOP. The evening will include a finger buffet, worship, prayer, party games, opportunities for quiet reflection as well as corporate celebration. 

More details and delegation of things to be done next week.

Please spread the word and get people to sign up so we get an idea of numbers. Follow these links:

• On Facebook 

• Or direct with Eventbrite.