Displaying items by tag: Australia

In June police raided Australia's national broadcaster and arrested a prominent journalist, Annika Smethurst, after government allegations of ‘publishing classified material’. At the time ABC stated, ‘An untrammelled media is important to public discourse and democracy’. Recently Australia’s biggest news outlets, normally fierce rivals, united in support of press freedom with a campaign including blacked-out newspaper front pages and slots on prime time broadcasts. The media are highlighting the constraints on them under strict national security legislation. The news outlets joined forces through a coalition known as the 'Right to Know’, in a joint action designed to agitate readers into action. One newspaper asked, ‘When government keeps the truth from you, what are they covering up?’ Annika Smethurst now faces possible criminal charges, ironically because she reported that the government was considering new powers to spy on all of us.

From Queensland to New South Wales, successive droughts and the need for extra water to fight bushfires have caused unprecedented shortages. Regions face the prospect of taps running out within months. This is a portion of a national prayer for rain issued by Christian leaders: ‘We acknowledge that You are the Lord of the universe, the One who provides the rain to water the Earth so that crops, livestock and humans can flourish. We ask that in Your mercy You would send rain. We pray for physical rain and spiritual revival rain to flow through Australia. We thank You, Lord, for past revivals, and pray that the latter rain would be even greater than the former rain. Bless the work of our hands, especially the farmers on the land, and give us peace. We thank You for renewal of our land and renewal of our faith.’ See also

A five-year-old boy, from a family of Holocaust survivors, suffered anti-Semitic harassment at a school in Melbourne where pupils hounded him in the school toilets, calling him a ‘Jewish cockroach’. He was chased continuously to the bathroom and laughed at for being circumcised, to the point that he started to wet himself in class rather than using the toilet. His mother said that after behaving strangely for months, one morning he burst out crying over breakfast and literally fell down on the floor, saying, ‘Mummy, you shouldn’t love me. I’m a worthless Jewish rodent. I’m vermin’. Meanwhile a 12-year-old Jewish student was forced to kneel and kiss the shoes of a Muslim classmate. Then nine boys beat him up. Because the incident happened outside school, education officials denied responsibility for the incident. Melbourne media also reported other acts of anti-Semitism.

Warwick Marsh an Australian Prayer leader who is the Coordinator for the Canberra Declaration, after much consultation with Australian Christian leaders feels challenged to call the Nation to Pray & Fast for rain in October.

James Condon the Chairman of the National Day of Prayer & Fasting (NDOPF) and the Executive team of the NDOPF are also endorsing this prayer call as are many other Christian leaders, Churches and Christian Ministries all over the nation.

Australia is desperate for rain but our nation’s greatest need is for Repentance and Renewal. 

Watch this 3 minute video about the drought: https://vimeo.com/344449314

Every state in Australia has encountered some level of drought over the last several years. Some areas of Northern NSW and Southern Queensland as well as WA, SA and NT are equal to the driest on record. Some say the worst drought ever.

Some towns in Australia are about to run out of water and some towns have already run out of water. Elders Long Range Forecast shows little indication of significant rain over the next 28 days. The Bureau of Meteorology are forecasting a hot dry spring and summer.

In regional drought affected areas one farmer a week is committing suicide. The needs at every level in the bush in regional Australia are massive. 

Now is the time for both prayer and action.

Register now to receive daily devotions and login details for the daily 8PM AEST Time Pray for Rain calls from the 1 – 31st of October 2019 at WWW.CANBERRADECLARATION.ORG.AU/PRAYER-FOR-RAIN

Australia has a desperate need for RAIN, but we have an even more desperate need for God. We pray that as we get down on our knees to pray for RAIN in October that God will give us the grace of REPENTANCE and the RENEWAL of our love for our Father in Heaven. 2 Chronicles 7:14

1. Pray for Repentance – Father give us the grace to repent as a nation in Jesus Name: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Acts 3:19
2. Pray for Renewal – Lord we pray for renewal in our hearts, in the church, in the community and in the nation: “And now I pray, let the power of my Lord be great, just as You have spoken… The Lord is long suffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving the iniquity and transgression (of the nation) … Pardon the iniquity of this people I pray, according to the greatness of your mercy… Then God said, ‘I have pardoned according to your word’.” Numbers 14:17-20
3. Pray for Rain – Father we pray as we unite together to pray the first two prayers that you will give us the rain because of your abundant mercies: “The Lord sends the rain on the just and the unjust.” Matthew 5:45

We encourage our friends overseas to share this call for a Month of Prayer & Fasting for REPENTANCE, RENEWAL & RAIN  1 -31 October 2019 with your own prayer group, church and Denominational leaders.

Yours for Revival & Rain

Warwick Marsh - Canberra Declaration
http://WWW.CANBERRADECLARATION.ORG.AU/PRAYER-FOR-RAIN

Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert, an Australian-British lecturer in Islamic studies at Melbourne University, was arrested last September, tried, and imprisoned for ten years for espionage. She is in solitary confinement in Tehran’s Evin prison, with no contact from family or friends. The British and Australian governments have kept the identity of their arrested citizens out of the public domain, believing diplomatic efforts for release would be more effective if conducted behind closed doors. Others argue that publicity will generate international, community and political support, providing impetus for release negotiations. Meanwhile, Jolie King, a British-Australian woman and Cambridge University honours graduate in Middle Eastern studies, and her Australian boyfriend Mark Firkin were arrested ten weeks ago near Tehran for flying a drone near military installations. They were shooting pictures for a travel blog of their overland journey from Perth to London. Also, please continue praying for Nazanin Ratcliffe.

Australia Honours and thanks the nations for your Intercession

in our looming hour of crisis and hope.

“I have always believed in miracles” declares our unashamedly Christian Prime Minister following his “highly unlikely win” in the May 18 Federal Election. He also secures a far more workable Senate.

The Great Southland of the Holy Spirit, Australia, was pivoted on a historic threshold of persecution or reformation, or both. My sense is that we are getting both.

At stake were many affronts to our Judaeo-Christian heritage  including the following:

Legal abortion to full term in all states and territories.
Threat to our relationship with Israel including building an embassy in Jerusalem.
Removal of opening Parliament in prayer including the reference to “humbly relying on Almighty God”.
Defunding of Chaplaincy.
Removal of charitable status for churches.
Imposition of gender fluidity doctrine on our children.
Assault on freedom of thought, conscience and belief in many contexts including the curriculum in our Christian schools.

We have a 3-year window to pray and work to see Australia fulfil her mandate as the Great Southland of the Holy Spirit.

Our Prime Minister has been shown great favour by President Trump by choosing him to have Dinner at the G20 meeting of nations, inviting him to be an observer at the G7 meeting and hosting him at a historic State Dinner in the White House next month. There appears to be a growing closeness between the first ladies - Ivanka Trump and Jenny Morrison. My sense is that our Prime Minister has been raised as an Ambassador of International reconciliation in the midst of tensions between China and America and the escalations in Hong Kong.

 The abortion issue has also flared up in two of our States.

The sequence of Abortion being liberalised was UK, Adelaide South Australia, the rest of Australia, before Roe v Wade opened the global bloodgates for the destruction of young lives and the breaking of the hearts of our women. There is a sense that, if we can wind back here in this source city of Adelaide we could see reversals like in the USA, everywhere. A submission has been prepared by lawyers from the UK, Australia, USA and doctors from around Australia centred on care for women, care for babies, care for children in the womb, care for families and care for life (“5Cs”) movement. An adapted submission is in the hands of politicians in New South Wales. As the fight against the Spirit of Death and Hell rages in the next weeks in the Parliaments of both States, this Saturday, we will be concluding 21 days of prayer near the abortion mill in Adelaide (loveadelaideprayer).

Please pray as you are led along the following suggestions :

That wisdom, counsel and might will be upon our praying Prime Minister especially as he has opportunity to privately minister to International leaders and be an Ambassador of reconciliation between them.
That the Ekklesia in Australia will be willing in the day of His power to maximise the opportunity she has been given.
That healing and hope will touch the hearts of the one in four women in Australia who have an abortion in their lifetime.
That the veil that the wicked one has placed over the eyes of our sisters and our communities will be lifted.
That life will be celebrated without condemnation for those who have been ensnared and that our laws will reflect or Heavenly Father’s heart.
That the Esther’s, Deborah’s, Daniels, Mordecai’s, David’s, Josephs and other modern equivalents are revealed and begin to fully function.

Thank you for this great victory and opportunity as Australia moves toward reflecting our Father’s heart in every sphere of society as the seeds of a  discipled nation.

May your love and intercession for this nation be multiplied and showered on your own cities and nations.

Mark Mudri

Facilitator Advocates Oceania
Executive member Global Council

www.advocatesinternational.org

Mission Australia is a Christian charity supporting disadvantaged families and children, fighting homelessness and issues around mental health and addiction. They have invited young people aged 15-19 to participate in a wide-ranging national survey. Last year’s survey identified mental health as the top issue facing young Australians, with a rating of 43% (it was 34% in 2017 and 21% in 2016). The top three personal concerns in previous surveys were coping with stress, school or study problems, and mental health. The annual survey provides a valuable snapshot of where young people are and offers important insights that inform the work of charities, community groups and government decision makers.

On 31 May 2006 Dwura, an Iraqi Christian housewife, saw her brother-in-law gunned down by terrorists who asked him for his identity card and when they saw that he was a Christian he was shot in the head and chest. ‘From then onwards we lived in fear’, she said. The family stayed in the plains of Nineveh, where Christians have lived for nearly two millennia. But things got worse and they fled for their lives with tens of thousands of other Christians. Now families can return but their homes are destroyed, there is nothing there. Dwura and her husband wanted to start a new life where they could live freely as Christians. With visas from the Australian government and financial help from Barnabas Fund, they flew to Australia a few days ago. Over 100 similar air tickets have been issued since March.

God has awakened His Bride in Australia. Even the pundits are calling Christian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's re-election a miracle. Mr. Morrison himself called it a "miracle" given the polls against him.

The Living God answered many prayers!

The Godly roots planted in that unique nation will still require constant prayer, fasting and repentance, but an awakening has happened that can now inspire Christians in other nations. The centuries old prophecy for that nation to be a light to others, as the Great Southland of the Holy Spirit, has been strengthened.

Warwick Marsh, leader of  Australia's National Day of Prayer - a dear friend of mine, standing each year for our National Day of Repentance - called for 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting nationwide for the 2019 federal elections. After the victory Warwick said:

'Scott Morrison is not the answer for Australia. Jesus is the answer. The fact that Scott Morrison is our continuing re-elected Prime Minister only means we have three years to see Revival and transformation come to our nation without overt persecution. God has given us a window of opportunity....we need to keep on praying for the salvation of souls and renewal in the church... it is very humbling indeed and a great privilege to be part of true Christ centric national Christian unified prayer and fasting that results in a miracle victory. Having said that, the victory has come through the grace of God and through the blood of Jesus. 'Not of works lest any man boast.' This victory is a victory for God and God alone....Your prayers are shifting this nation towards righteousness.'

And Hilary Moroney-Egerson, key intercessor/prayer warrior in Canberra's House of Prayer for All Nations, had this insight, including how repentance was stage one:

What a Glorious Victory - Look what God did! Let us Raise a Hallelujah!!!!

However my heart has been burdened today for the Get Up youth and many others standing against God's Truth & Righteousness, weeping that they will Repent before Almighty God and NOT Rage against Him - so that the spirit of death will not be able to take them out in suicide, drug overdoses, alcoholism.

Let us PRAY Today that just as the Charge at Beersheba was the beginning of the Victory, our prayers can continue, just as the strategic troops went to dismantle all the mines in the wells before they detonated. If they hadn't done this, all the troops and horses could well have died from lack of water -

Let us PRAY for a radical harvest of souls from this young generation - that they would hunger and thirst after Righteousness and Truth and seek after God and be found by Him Jer 29:11-13, to come to the revelation of HOPE in His Saving Grace alone, for them and our nation, and the preciousness of every human life......instead of struggling  feeling lost, angry, betrayed.

Let us Raise a Hallelujah and lift those of the losing side before the Throne of Grace the God's Victory will be fully won - Be Blessed by these words below and let's keep on Praying & Worshipping our God and Praying for the New Governent Leaders

The Canberra Declaration/Warwick Marsh/Margaret Court evening zoom call 21 days has gone through 3 clear phases ...

1. Repentance, travail, and a cry for forgiveness for the sins of Australia

2. A militant powerful declaration that the Lord Reigns over Australia and the election

3. A celebration of the Lord and a change of prayer tone to declare of the Gospel of Jesus and revival/transformation

-- this is God's endgame; not the election which is a temporary situation; but the Gospel being made clear to the nation

-- Recognising our sin, the need for repentance, and His grace and forgiveness through Jesus and the cross

My feeling is that similar things happened in all the prayer groups/initiatives to one level or another.

The evening zoom group started in unity and become very much one (i.e. same heart).

There have been thousands praying across Australia in this season, in fact this election has brought the largest united prayer effort ever in this nation. 

The big deal now is how to continue this with a view to the ecclesia rising up to her fullness in Christ and seeing Australia come into a full awakening and national transformation!! 

As part of this we must better engage the under 35 NextGen in prayer and spiritual leadership.

'For the LORD will not abandon His people, now will He forsake His inheritance.  For judgment will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.' Psalm 94: 14-15

Thanks to repentance, thanks to prayer and fasting, thanks to a call for nation-wide unity among Christians, God heard those cries and acted.

The southern Cross shines bright in Australia; His anchor still holds!

In Jesus' Holy Name,

Pastor Jeffrey Daly

Founder/Director

National Day of Repentance

More at: http://www.repentday.com

Western and central New South Wales faces a water crisis within months unless it rains. The Murray-Darling basin in south-eastern Australia has two rivers (Murray and Darling) draining 1/7th of Australia’s land mass. They expect 10% reduced water entitlements in Australia’s most significant agricultural area. In 114 years of record-keeping, 2019 is among the driest years and it is getting worse. The NSW government sent 13 representatives to towns to discuss their water supplies and assess the impact of the prolonged and severe drought on businesses. Burrendong Dam is at 5.9% capacity and even with water restrictions, will be empty within 12 months. There is no ground water to be accessed by bores. Authorities are considering building emergency pipelines. The Bureau of Meteorology has put Australia on an “El Niño WATCH. Meaning a 50% likelihood of El Niño developing. Meanwhile India focuses on acute water challenge in major cities. See