On June 25-27, 2010 the leaders of the most industrialized nations in the world will be meeting in the Muskoka area near Toronto, Ontario. The G8 leaders will meet June 25-26 and the G20 leaders will meet June 26-27. These are annual meetings and this year is the 5th time that Canada has been host to this gathering of international leaders. (you can find out more information at the Government website)
In anticipation of this event, God has raised up a national prayer initiative called ‘The Luke 18 Weekend‘ to pray over the G8 and G20 meetings. This initiative is being led by Cityscape Prayer Ministries and there are over a dozen Canadian houses of prayer and other prayer ministries that will be involved from coast to coast. The weekend will consist of a call to 72 hours of continuous prayer and worship in cities and regions across Canada. This is truly an historic event because never before in Canada has there been such a national mobilization of night and day intercession for a single event!
In the context of a western culture that has grown increasingly cynical about government and politics we must understand why it is important that we pray for such an event. It is easy to simply say that the G8 and G20 meetings are ‘much ado about nothing’ and that similar meetings of international leaders rarely change anything.
Today I want to look briefly at some Christian and Biblical reasons why it is extremely important to be involved in the Luke 18 weekend:
The most immediate reason is that as Christians we are commanded to pray for our leaders. The words of Paul in 1 Timothy 2:1-2 are familiar to us:
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority…
It is clear that God’s will is for us to be in prayer for those who are in positions of governmental leadership. Our cynicism does not release us from the mandate to pray for our leaders.
A second reason that the Luke 18 weekend is of tremendous significance is in light of the hour of human history that we are living in and the need to sound a prophetic voice to the kings of the earth. Psalm 2 is a well known Psalm that speaks to the human drama at the end of the age. It gives a powerful declaration in verses 10-12:
Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
The G8 and G20 summits are clearly a gathering of the kings of the earth. To host these leaders in our nation of Canada is an honor that should be taken seriously. As Christians we must also be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit is saying through the Scriptures. The great need of the hour is for the kings of the earth to hear the warning of Scripture to respond and honor Jesus Christ, who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the One who is coming to rule over all the nations of the earth!
How will they hear this warning? Will it be through picketing and protests? No, such a warning must strike their spirits and this will only happen by the power of God moving in response to the intercession of His people!
The final and most important reason why the Luke 18 weekend is so critical and why Christian believers across Canada should be involved is this: God desires it. This national prayer initiative is not simply some idea that was cooked up out a desire to be cool and trendy. The Luke 18 weekend is a gathering that the Lord has raised up. God is saying “I want there to be continual worship and intercession over these meetings”. Christian leaders from across the nation have agreed that this is what God is saying and Christians are responding to this call to continual worship and intercession for this important event.
Here in Edmonton, there will be 72 hours of continual prayer and worship hosted by House of Prayer Edmonton. More information about how to become involved can be found on the HoPE website. For people in other regions of the country, more information can be found on the Cityscape website.
It is time to put our words into action and gather together and pray!
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Jim
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