'Give God no rest'

Summary of the meeting

For our meal together, there were 20 of us crammed into the little kitchen/diner at the back of the building. 

After the meal Sally and Jim led us in reflecting on Isaiah 62:1,4,6-7

They had both heard this passage being used on Lectio 365 the week before, and both independently felt strongly that these verses are the starting point for our new journey at SoHOP.

What are the themes and imagery that we notice as we read the passage? Dwell on these. 

Notice Jerusalem and enquire whether that could be Southampton...

1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,

until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her salvation like a burning torch.

4 No longer will you be called “Forsaken,” nor will your land be known by the name “Desolate.”

Rather you will be called “My Delight Is in Her,” and your land will be known as “Married.”

For the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be his spouse.

6 Upon your walls, O Jerusalem, I have stationed sentinels.

Neither by day nor by night will they be silent.

You whose responsibility is to call upon the Lord, give yourselves no rest,

7 and also give no rest to him until he restores Jerusalem and makes her renowned throughout the earth.

Feedback - what came out to you from this passage?

(if you notice any errors or omissions, please let us know on info@sohop.org)

• Vindication

  • God is going to vindicate those who are downtrodden or have no direction or purpose. God will work through them. 

  • Vindication = clear of blame. A lot of condemnation and blame in the city. Salvation brings light and is transformational. 

• Fires/beacon/torches

  • Justice - shining like the dawn. This felt like a reminder of what we have felt God say to us over the years. In lockdown we had a vision of wildfires/beacons spreading around the city. Salvation like a flaming torch.

  • Southampton is famous for the Titanic - the pride of men, but a bad result. The city will become famous for being a beacon of the love of Jesus that goes out and impacts all around the world. 

  • Southampton as a city of habitation and refuge. Fires around the coast, seen from London, then coming together and affecting the nation. 

  • Power coming out of prayer towers facing east. Flattening local areas which were then reborn. People coming to faith in large numbers. 

  • We had with us the prayer journal from the time we had a weekly prayer room. Jim read out about what someone had written on 27 April 2019:

• Persistence

  • The church will keep watch and never stop interceding for the city. Not stop until our city is a light/beacon for Jesus for the whole earth. 

  • In Psalm 107:1-9 there was shouting, asking Him to make this happen. Like the widow nagging. Comment - I asked the Lord about keeping on and he said to me "Nag away!". Give yourselves no rest. Persevere.

  • Was drawn to 'not keep silent', action, no rest. I feel so inadequate, but I want to be like that.

• Southampton/Jerusalem

  • Couldn't swap Jerusalem for Southampton as I read it. Holy Spirit made me think of Jerusalem, reminding God still calls us to pray for Jerusalem.

• Proclaim

  • A mouth! Shofars, blowing out from the wall. A megaphone to speak over the world's voice, which is too loud, and always open, always speaking out. Be bold church. Sticking plaster over the mouth with "PC" on it. Speak out for whose sake? For Southampton's sake. 

• A 24/7 prayer room in Southampton?

  • One member had been praying can we have a 24/7 prayer room in Southampton, and felt God answer "Yes" during this prayer time.

• God has to do it!

  • It is us on the walls, but Jesus has to come in to change people's lives. God has to do it! 

• Bride - beautiful image. 

• Watchmen

  • God has POSTED watchmen. Not just placed, but given an assignment to them. Placed in position with a purpose. A job to do.

  • THEY will pray day and night. SoHOP is to be a connecting place for watchmen. Not THE connecting place, but part of what God is doing to connect watchmen together. 

    • HOW do we connect watchmen?

    • In what ways are we to facilitate watchmen gathering to pray together?

  • watchmen - an image consistent with intercessors, praying for others

  • watchmen - ministry of prophetic, seeing what God is doing. What links do we have with prophetic gatherings in Southampton?

    • Confirmation/testimony - someone contacted Richard from a prophetic group only yesterday!!!

  • a reminder of Pray 168, a rota for signing up to take a regular one-hour slot to pray for the city each week. 

• This is about the activity of God

  • Beautiful mystery: God will complete his work - but only if we ask him to.

  • at church leaders prayer meeting on Monday morning two of the leaders shared watchmen-type pictures of God looking over the city with delight - he loves this city, wants this city.

  • both had received new prayer languages, and felt God's love for the different cultures and nations he has brought here.

Future meeting dates/times

The SoHOP leaders are on a rota to coordinate the meeting each week and as time goes by they will involve others in the community in preparing our prayer activities. 

The emphasis is on discerning what God wants us to do. 

We will have a shared meal at 7.00pm every week, and begin the meeting time approx 7.30pm.

Sept 20 (Elaine and Richard)
Sept 27 (Fran and Jim)
Oct 4 (Fran and Richard)
Oct 11 (Elaine and Sally)