WAtchmen on the walls

Tonight we welcomed 5 people who have started praying with us at SoHOP who weren't part of the discernment community. All  are keen to pray and glad of the opportunity to gather together as a community.

At the weekend the 100th person came through the prayer room.

Stories from the prayer room

We shared our stories from the prayer room. There is general feeling that we are encountering God more and praying more for the city and beyond.

• two hosts (Jo and Chris) were praying, one in the lounge and one in the prayer room. Both independently started to pray for the nation. A few minutes later one of them had a call from a family member needing help so had to leave. The two discovered they had both been praying for the nation and were annoyed to have to stop. There was a further call to say that the family member was ok now, so they could stay and pray. They prayed for the nation with renewed vigour and passion. 

• a man arrived at the prayer room and asked to look round - he had been to the church Sunday school as a child and wanted to come and see the place again. This was the same day that we were praying for the prodigals to return!!

• I have been blessed by the prayer stations - I am surprised how the Holy Spirit has guided my prayers and they have gone in a direction not before thought of. For example when we prayed for young people and technology I really prayed about content creation.

• it has been very helpful to have the structure of 30 mins for personal 1 to 1 encounter then drawing together to focus on a specific topic. 

• it has brought the sacred space alive to me - there is a different feel in there now.

• God is answering our prayers and we don't always recognise. There is a fresh breath of the Holy Spirit at New Community Central this last month. We should not be surprised because we spent a month asking God to bless the churches!

Then we sung a song together (Saviour, He can move the mountains) and went on into praying together. There was a lovely atmosphere of adoration and passion to see God's will be done.

Watchmen on the walls

The times of prayer over the last weekend have felt significant and we are understanding more about the calling on us as a house of prayer. At the weekend Kathy had a picture of people standing next to one another round the city walls, like in Nehemiah where the watchmen were posted around the walls of Jerusalem keeping guard whilst it was being rebuilt. This is what we believe the Lord is saying to us about this: 

• it is our job as SoHOP to stand as watchmen around the walls of Southampton and pray. 

• situations may come and attack us and take us out/ away from our job of praying and interceding for our city but we should keep going, resisting and standing strong and firm together so that as we pray we are guarding the city. 

• the 24 hour prayer cover from Friday to Saturday is important and every one of us has a part to play in that. We have a job to do. 

• in addition, we need to pray for one another to keep standing firm in the Lord. 

Vision

We continue to focus on our vision - 

• we are being built into a temple which God lives in by his spirit.

• not a house of admin, but a house of prayer.

• as we develop a rhythm of prayer together the Holy Spirit dwells amongst us. 

• this presence of God amongst us as a community is the power, life, uniqueness, key… of the house of prayer.

Next prayer topic - SALVATION

Our prayer topic for the next month is SALVATION.

• • we are praying for people to believe in Jesus and be saved

  • we are believing in God as our saviour - rescuer, our HOPE.

There is a series of special events put on by churches working together 29 May to 2 June - Church in the Park. 

• We will go to Church in the Park on the Saturday 1 June 2019 and cancel our usual drop in prayer on that day.

• We will put Church in the Park as topic for prayer in our 24/1 each week from now on.

Fasting

There was general agreement that fasting is very good for us and sharpens our prayers. We are encouraging everyone to fast fortnightly, fitting in with our community meal, according to your own commitments. 

Praying for one another

We really want to carry on praying for each other in pairs. A new list has been drawn up and sent out by email. 

Further prayers and pictures

In our final prayers tonight, the following words were given:

• I saw a greenhouse with lots of little plants in tiny pots germinating. God is bringing life and growth as we pray. We are asking for more seed to be planted, and more people to see/hear and come to pray.

• thinking about Jacob, who wrestled with the angel for the blessing. We must keep going, and wrestling for the blessing.

• saw a mantle falling and resting on us as a whole. Anointing us to come together to be watchmen - "it is not by might or by power but by my spirit, says the Lord."

• God is really wanting people to be drawn in. And is gently saying "hush, I'm speaking to you, I am drawing you close, now listen".

Good Friday Reflections

We are running a special hosted session from 9pm to 12 midnight. We encourage everyone to come at the beginning and stay till the end. Do you have any reflections to share? We are asking people from the community to cover 45 minute slots with a reflection. The idea is you start us off and then there is time for each person to pursue the reflection on their own.