CMJ Bicentenary Prayer Conference
12/13 July 2009
Hayes Conference Centre
Swanwick
Introduction
Following the main CMJ conference 100 staff and supporters remained at Swanwick for a prayer conference in the chapel. Our aim was earnestly to listen to the Lord in order to grasp what He was saying to us in CMJ about the future. The ministry needs to understand how we should change in order to move in the flow of the Holy Spirit.
The conference began at 5.00pm on the Sunday and finished at 12.30pm on the Monday. All who were able to do so fasted during the conference. The following is a record of what is strongly perceived as the word that the Lord gave to us. This could be a mandate for CMJ world wide in the future. It needs to be carefully weighed by those involved in leading aspects of the ministry in order to establish what is of particular significance for each national board.
The Process
We sought to understand what the Lord would show us about the phrase ‘a future to declare’ and our theme was considerably helped by Bishop John’s message to all supporters at the end of the main conference. He preached from Isaiah 43 with some focus on verse 19:
‘Behold I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up. Do you not perceive it?’
This was our prayer platform. We were challenged to believe that what the Lord was saying was that we were already doing something He requires but had not yet grasped its true significance. After a time of praise and personal and corporate reflection and repentance we began to ask the Lord what was the new thing and how should we be doing it.
In the first session representatives from the nations present at the conference (UK, Israel, USA, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand) lined up by the microphone to pray for their home nation. After this powerful time of repentance, a picture was given and subsequently confirmed. Someone who had been praying with their eyes closed and had not seen those lining up at the front gave the following picture:
‘I saw a line of people from the nations and they were holding a very large and heavy key that no one person could have held alone’
Shortly afterwards another picture was shared which felt significant:
‘I saw a large stone jar that had a big crack running down the side from top to bottom and there was water leaking out of the jar – living water’
The conference spent the much of the rest of the time praying about these two pictures. Words and scriptures were given and these led us gently until we felt able to piece together what the Lord was saying.
We finished with communion, the ultimate sign of unity
Summary
This is what we perceived the Lord was saying:
The jar is a picture of CMJ. The crack can be seen in a number of ways;
· The jar is cracked and cannot be repaired. The crack represents the broken relationships that have often troubled CMJ from Joseph Frey onwards. As we repent the Lord gives a new vessel without any defect and expects us to work in new ways to restore relationships and protect them in the future.
· The crack is like that in an egg shell when pressure created by the growth of the new life inside causes the shell to crack. CMJ is growing and as that growth continues it will need a larger jar.
· God has caused the jar to crack so that living water can flow out from it. The Lord needs us to be constantly filled with the living water.
We believe the key is a picture of the internationalisation process that CMJ has begun. When the nations are working together in harmony the key will turn and our work will further unlock the heart of Jewish people. This has begun and needs to be strengthened and developed.
We believe that there is not one new thing that the Lord is doing, there are several and that He is clear about how he wants us to continue the work. The ‘WHAT’ and the ‘HOW’ are equally important.
What does he want us to do?
The Lord showed us four new things that He has already begun but that we must recognise and run with:
· The nations working together to support the work in Israel,
· Helping to develop the growth of messianic schools, (perhaps not only in Israel)
· Attracting young people to support the ministry
· Building an authentic model of the one new man through trust, co-operation, respect and reconciliation.
These things will only be achieved through prayer, hard work and an ear tuned to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. The conference believes that the Lord is inviting us to move into the next century with pride in the history we celebrate and with a glorious future to declare.
How does he want us to work?
The Lord showed us ways in which He wants the work to be done.
· With honesty and integrity and restored relationships.
· With joy.
· With a servant heart which washes one another’s feet.
· With confidence in Him and our calling, (not on the back foot.)
Important scriptures
Repentance and restored relationships – Acts 3:19, Acts 17: 24-30, Zechariah 3:3-5, Lev.25:17
Joyful service – Malachi 4:2, Lev. 25: 10
Servant heart - John 13 1-17
The key – Rev 3:7, Matthew 16:17
The potter – Jer.18: 1-11
Young people – Zech 2:4, Judges 16:26
Words from the Lord
‘Turn us, O God, and we shall be turned.’
‘The key is held by the International Board’
‘Children are the future of CMJ but sometimes we do not feed our children with rich food from God’s banqueting table but give them crumbs that fell to the floor. Take care and feed well My lambs because they are the future.’
‘To the nations I have called you’
CMJ is grateful to those who took part in the prayer conference and to those praying saints who have sustained the ministry and whose prayers have given us a hope and a future. We pray that the notes from this conference will fuel more prayer amongst supporters who were not able to be present. The ministry is deeply indebted to their faithfulness.
Robin and Sue Aldridge
Prayer Conference Facilitators