It’s been a busy few weeks with LAUNCH and various other things I’ve been privileged to be part of but rather than sit on my notes from some talks I listened to I thought I’d share them in fairly rough form so here goes one, subscribe or check back for more as I do them. This one is from LAUNCH South, following a great talk from Jonathan Conrathe, Jonathan said ‘He just preached my talk!’ Then he brought these gems to encourage and equip us. if you want the full LAUNCH content you can get the Digital Access Pass here.

Light yourself on fire with passion and people will come for miles to see you burn. That was what John Wesley said, he was Anglican but so on fire it could not be contained within any denomination.  

We are in a time when the Lord is lighting some bonfires, a time where wild fires break out! True Christians, who have had an experience with God so now he lives in and through you. 

Jonathan told us of how he was brought up in Islam but found that Allah did not speak to him. Then he went to a Christian service out of curiosity at college at the age of 19 and heard God say clearly, ‘Receive my Son – Jesus’

So, he met the groom before he met his wife. Then he asked, “Are you related?!”

He didn’t go to a church just met with friends, and they prayed and reached others. Because the movement of God is not about having pastors and the leadership team doing everything. We need to press the rewind button on the church and go back to the book of Acts. Then press play again! 

Watch as Philip goes to Samaria and creates chaos, see Stephen is meant to be in the kitchen but he’s on the street preaching.

We are not meant to come to church and have the pastor tell us what to do. 

We are to come and tell the Pastor what God is doing! 

Will we have bottlenecks, or wildfire?! 

The leaders are necessary if they are there to provide guidance and support and discernment- but all through the week God should be breaking out through everyone. We need the Holy Spirit most of all!

We must rediscover who we are,  and we do that by reading the Word. When I read it, it says pray, it says lay hands on the sick.

So can we test a hypothesis? Get out and do it.

William Temple said “When I pray coincidences happen, when I stop praying they do.’

Have you noticed that?

In 1987 Jonathan had just become a Christian but not told his Mum and Dad, he was studying to be a Doctor when the Lord spoke again and the Lord said to him “At 1247 your parents will walk in through that door.” It happened at just that time. He knew – God speaks! 

In the early 90s, Jonathan planted a church in East London and his wife said to him, “We need a house, ” So he prayed and the Lord said ‘Start looking for a house.’ 

Where will we get the money?

He looked in his bank account and there was £1500 that just appeared 

They had no idea where it came from!

Then another £1500 came in

And another 

And they went and told the bank, the bank had no idea where it came from!

But with that in the account they applied for a shared ownership scheme – it was just what was needed at the time for the deposit. Then the bank said it was a mistake, so you have to pay it back – the terms were agreed, at £70 a month. Interest free.

It was a ‘coincidence’ that happened, as they prayed for a specific need.

When you pray, coincidences will happen.

He took a group to Israel. The tour guide was a Zionist Jew, who did not want to hear about Jesus. Until they prayed for his daughter and she got healed. 

Then he went to Ami (the guide) he said ‘When we get to the top of Mount Carmel I’m going to pray for rain” (It hadn’t rained for many weeks). As the group prayed, one prayed in tongues and another tourist heard what he said as Haitian Creole, another prayed and it was in Hebrew. They So showed him the book of Acts that it happened then and it was happening again.

And soon after they received the report that it was pouring! 

Jonathan had a dream where he’d escaped from a large fire by being lifted up and able to jump a huge gap, and then he prayed as he landed and his friends were then able to make the jump too. When he awoke he knew now he could pray for his friends and family to do the same, to escape hell and be saved!

In 1998, his church was about 2000, majority African n Islington, but he had a dream of reaching the white people in the UK. As they prayer walked, the city received funding for development and the area changed – more and more white people to reach! Coincidence?

In Leicester they organised unity prayer gatherings – the year they did so Leicester City went from relegation to winning the league – Coincidence?

Look at Acts 12

”After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.“ ‭

Acts 12:4-5

Literally ‘the church became a prayer factory’

So what happened? Coincidentally?

”Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. ‘Quick, get up!’ he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. Then the angel said to him, ‘Put on your clothes and sandals.’ And Peter did so. ‘Wrap your cloak round you and follow me,’ the angel told him.“

Acts 12:7-8

As they prayed, angels moved!

So…

List a number of things you know are the will of God like someone you know needs to come to know him or a particular need and focus on them energetically focus on them night and day. 

As you pray listen to what God will say so he can give you insight on what or how to pray. 

The law is that when people pray, something happens!

Jesus said ask and you will receive.

Can we test this? Put the matter in the microwave of prayer 

Then be consistent – PUSH! Pray Until Something Happens