Sunday, March 29, 2009

ANNOUNCEMENT: April 2009 Schedule

Konichiwa minasama!
Please see below for April's sessions. We will have a grand total of 9 sessions this month. They will be each Monday & Wednesday evening as is the usual custom.

Very much looking forward to having you join us.
Grace-
JG

Wednesday
April 1st, 7-9pm
Session as regularly scheduled.
*the Human Trafficking report on Japan has been completed & there will be a short presentation
**there will also be a brief announcement on the 3 newly scheduled "night watch" sessions

Monday
April 6th, 7-9pm
Session as regularly scheduled.
* the Human Trafficking report on Japan has been completed & there will be a short presentation
**there will also be a brief announcement on the 3 newly scheduled "night watch" sessions

Wednesday
April 8th, 7-9pm
Session as regularly scheduled.

Monday
April 13th, 7-9pm
Session as regularly scheduled.

Wednesday
April 15th, 7-9pm
Session as regularly scheduled.

Monday
April 20th, 7-9pm
Session as regularly scheduled.

Wednesday
April 22nd, 7-9pm
Session as regularly scheduled.

Monday
April 27th, 7-9pm
Session as regularly scheduled.

Wednesday
April 29, 7-9pm
Session as regularly scheduled.
revision: cancelled- the cafe is closed due to japanese national holiday
(update on 4/26/2009)

"The Psalm 18 Prayer"

Note on Prayer
One of the most powerful tools we have for prayer is literally praying the scripture back to God. He goes so far as to tell us this directly through Isaiah 55.11 and also 2 Timothy 3.16. He also tells us of the power that's held within a word through Proverbs 18.21.

Psalm 18: Modified for Japan
Japan loves you, O LORD, for you are her strength. The LORD is her rock, her fortress and her deliverer; Japan's God is her rock, in whom she takes refuge. He is her shield and the horn of her salvation, her stronghold.

Japan calls to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and she is saved from her enemies. The cords of death entangle her; the torrents of destruction overwhelm her. The cords of the grave coil around her; the snares of death confront her. Suicide harasses her, isolation and conformation torment her. Materialism woos her while emptiness gnaws at her.

In her distress she calls to the LORD; Japan cries to her God for help. From his temple he hears her voice; her cry comes before him, into his ears.

The earth trembles and quakes, and the foundations of the mountains shake; they tremble because he was angry. Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blaze out of it.

He parts the heavens and comes down; dark clouds are under his feet. He mounts the cherubim and flies; he soares on the wings of the wind. He mades darkness his covering, his canopy around him—the dark rain clouds of the sky.

Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advance, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. The LORD thunderes from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounds. He shoots his arrows and scatteres the enemies, great bolts of lightning and routes them.

The valleys of the sea will be exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of breath from your nostrils.

He is reachng down from on high and taking hold of Japan; he is drawing her out of deep waters rescuing her from her powerful enemy, from her foes, who are too strong for her. They confront her in the day of her disaster, but the LORD is Japan's support.

He is bringing Japan out into a spacious place; he is rescuing Japan
BECAUSE HE DELIGHTES IN HER.
The LORD has dealt with Japan according to the righteousness she is starting to walk in; according to the cleanness of the hands she is begining to cry out for and he is rewarding her for this.
For Japan is becoming a nation that keeps the ways of the LORD; and will no longer continue to do evil by turning from her God. All his laws are before her; she will cease to turn away from his decrees. She will stand and is now begining to stand blameless before him, she is learning to keep herself from sin. The LORD will
reward Japan according to her righteousness, according to the cleanness of her hands in his sight.

To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
You, O LORD, keep Japan's lamp burning; her God turns her darkness into light.
With your help she can advance against a troop; with her God she can scale a wall.

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms Japan with the strength required to turn to him and it is God who makes her way perfect.
He makes her feet like the feet of a deer; he enables her to stand on the heights. He trains her hands for battle; her arms can bend a bow of bronze.

You give Japan your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains her; you stoop down to make her great. You broaden the path beneath her, so that her ankles do not turn.

She pursues her enemies and will soon overtake them; she will not turn back till they are destroyed. She will crush them so that they cannot rise; they will fall beneath her feet.
You arm Japan with strength for battle; you make her adversaries bow at her feet. You make her enemies turn their backs in flight, and she destroys her foes.

Though they cry for help, but there will be no one to save them— to the LORD, but he will not answer. She will beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind; she will pour them out like mud in the streets. You will deliver Japan from the attacks of the evil one; you will make her well known among the nations; an example to the world of a nation walking in righteousness before you.

As soon as the enemy hears her cry out to you O God, he cringes before her. They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds and flee away as though they were nothing.

The LORD lives! Praise be to Japan's Rock! Exalted be God Japan's Savior! He is the God who avenges her, who subdues the enemy under her, who saves her from her enemies. You are exalting Japan above her foes; from violence and evil, from lust and perversion, from unbelief, rebellion and godlessness of every kind, you are rescuing Japan because of your great love for her.

Therefore
Japan will praise you among the nations, O LORD;
she will sing praises to your name. He gives nations that love him great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed and to their descendants forever.

Japan Among the Nations
Come Abba, raise up Japan from the dust and ashes that she may lead other Asian nations in worship of the Living God. One drop of Jesus' blood was enough to accomplish this. Send your heavenly host to wake up Japan's slumbering spirit that she may rise from the dead as mighty army of true samurai- loyal until death to the Master.

Japan is called to be a warring tribe- a mighty warrior people who contend for the things of the kindgom yet she has been rendered powerless and complacient under a stupor of false humility and apathy. She has a form of godliness but denys the power Father. She denys the poer because she does not yet have a love relationship with you.

Japan and the Japanese people are only one... ONE revelation away from the LIGHT of LIFE Abba- open the doors of revelation over Japan and the Japanese peoples. Open the doors that they may become who you designed them to be. Open the doors that Japan may fulfill her purpose for this generation as was the case with David. Open the doors of revelation that this people may take their rightful place among the nations.

Friday, March 27, 2009

UPDATE: The Last Few Months

Warm "hellos" to everyone!

Hard to believe April will be our six (6) month anniversary for The Altar IHOP, Tokyo! Amazing things God is doing... we have an average of one new person showing up per week and they've been coming from all directions. We just had two YWAM tribes join us last Wednesday and their teams came from various parts of North America (the US, Canada & Brazil) as well as Switzerland.

Last night, we were also led to pray over and prophesy a release to one of our Japanese tribesmen who's started coming recently. I kept seeing him preaching and starting churches. It was confirmed towards the end of the session when one of our regular members mentioned, "we need to release him." The passion for sharing the gospel this individual has is a rare thing for a Japanese- especially a Japanese guy. Please pray with us that God will continue to raise up the ones who are called to raise up their countrymen.

If you take a look at our First 10 +1  Prayer Directives as listed below, you'll notice point #3 states "God to raise up prophetic warriors- the worshipers, musicians & artists." God is indeed answering our prayers because this individual is an intercessor and an avid fan of Black Gospel music and is a member of a few choir groups.

In February, God sent unexpected visitors from another ministry based cafe' in Tokyo called "Yogen Cafe" which literally means "Prophecy Cafe" in English. One of them is a grad student at a well known university in Tokyo and has been prayer walking her campus. We were able to connect her with another HOP that was started nearby the university in January of 2009. She's also a member of the CIAsia Tribe. (Yogen Cafe doubles as church & cafe' and is part of the CIAsia family)

Crazy cool stuff and we are so lovin' it! 

To continue, we've been finding out here and there that mission organizations and churches are getting into the "24/7 prayer thing" and are scheduling prayer sessions at all hours. A few have even gone ahead and done things like "a week of 24/7" which is just absolutely awesome to see.

On our first Monday session in February, I was led to pray prophetically and prophesy Ezekiel 47 which led to a full prophecy based out of Luke 5. The prophecy was that we won't even have to cast our nets because the fish will begin jumping on our boats!
"They have fish called flying fish that fly but they'll have to invent a new name for a new type of fish. These fish will be called jumping fish because they will be fish that jump. We won't even need nets or fishing poles to catch these fish. These jumping fish will just suddenly start jumping in our boats and we won't know what to do about it. These jumping fish will also find themselves breathing better and feeling more alive out of the water and in the bottom of our boats than they ever did in the water they just came from."

The very next Wednesday, Abba sent us two people. One a good friend (J) with whom I've spent many an hour in prayer & worship. He brought a friend (G) with him. These two ended up doing two hours straight of harp & bowl style worship on the guitar. At the end of the evening, one of our tribesmen felt that the Holy Spirit was leading us to anoint one another with oil and pray over each other.

As we did this, the Holy Spirit came even stronger than before. When we got to the last person (G) and began praying for him, I saw the cloud of God even thicker and stronger than it had been in some time. It wasn't until we went out to eat afterwards I discovered why that was.

I was told (G) wasn't a Christian yet but that his siblings were!!! Now, I don't know about you, but that doesn't get any more "jumping fish" to me than it possibly could at that moment. One of the best parts about all of this? (G) told (J) he would like to come again and next time (J) comes to please invite him!!! (G) also commented that the whole experience was like some kind of trance or rave like experience and he thought it was pretty cool.

I realize there is a need for caution and all that but, when you see God moving on someone and wooing them into Him through an avenue with which that individual is already moderately familiar... it's just breathtaking. It cracks me up thinking, "Now, how would this work out in the states? There's no way you'd get an unchurched individual taking part in a full on, intense Holy Spirit manifesting, tongues speaking, people shaking under the power of God harp & bowl prayer/worship session." It just wouldn't happen.

Yet, here's this young guy in the middle of Tokyo, who's about to meet Jesus (getting so totally set up by the way) saying, "that was pretty cool- I would like to come again."
GOD??? ARE YOU SERIOUS? WE GET TO BE A PART OF THIS STUFF YOU ARE DOING HERE? OH-MY-GOSH!! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE MORE! 
On a personal note: Abba finally showed confirmed my role as a "lead worshiper"... whew! What a relief THAT has been. I've been struggling for the last year at least with "God, how can I LEAD worship when I can't play any songs that people actually KNOW?? I can't even play songs I KNOW!!!"

It's shocking how slow I am to get things at times. :-) 
So... here's the revelation:
  • There are those of us who are called to lead others in worship as a group through song. These individuals are often (and rightly called) "worship leaders."
  • Then, there are those of us who are called to lead others in prayer that at times involves pointing the direction through song. Songs that have most likely never been sung before on the planet and will probably never be sung in exactly the same way again. THIS is me. 
Yay! I can't tell you how much easier it makes it to know how one functions in this realm. The stress and pressure to perform has completely melted away and has been replaced with a deep knowing and certainty that does not come except through the peace and grace of God.

Daily, Abba reveals to us who we are in Him. This has been such a huge prayer on my heart in this past season. "Abba, show us... teach us... who we are IN you." How good it is that He gives those who love Him that which they ask for.

Truly, it is only through knowing who we are IN Him that we can begin to function as we were designed to- as individuals and then subsequently, the church.

Hoping this blesses & encourages!
Grace, glory & fire-
JG

Thursday, March 26, 2009

ANNOUNCEMENT: Night Watch Sessions

Greetings Tribe!

We are turning up the heat a few notches in our furnace and going to expand to the night hours...

We are planning three (3) night watch sessions to get things started. We will need a minimum of three (3) participants to host a session. So, please, please put the dates on your calendars and RSVP!

Sunday/Monday
May 24/25, 2009 > changed to July 19/20, 2009

Details: our theme scriptures are John 3.8 & Habakkuk 2.14
  • some of our prayer focus will be on breaking the church (and ourselves) out of her comfort zones and into becoming so filled with the Spirit that she can become fluid and organic like the wind
Prophetic Image: a field of dandelions which have gone to seed- the wind comes and blows away all of the seeds so they can be dispersed in different areas to be planted, grow and blow away with the wind
  • the field of dandelions represents the church, the body of Christ
  • a dandelion represents individual believers
  • blowing away represents being surrendered to and being led by the Spirit 
  • being dispersed represents the apostolic calling of the NT church to spread the gospel in areas where there is not yet "...knowledge of the glory of the Lord..." 

Sunday/Monday
July 19/20, 2009> changed to September 20/21, 2009

Details: our theme scriptures are John 15.12-14,  Ephesians 5.25,  1 Corinthians 13, Song of Songs 8.7 & John 14.12
  • some of our prayer focus will be on obtaining and releasing deeper revelations of the love Jesus demonstrated so that we can understand the true value of His gems (the peoples of the earth and the spiritual gifts He's given us to use to minister His glory, honor and testimony of His name)
Prophetic Image: someone pointing a gun at a beautiful woman then, the woman's husband stepping in front of his beloved to protect her... he gets shot and dies, she lives
  • the gun is the curse of death that has come into the world through sin
  • the bullet is the fruit of sin
  • the woman is the bride of Christ
  • the woman's husband is Jesus
  • the husband taking the bullet is Jesus' demonstration of His love for his bride and the role of lover & protector he fulfills in His role as the head of the household

Sunday/Monday
September 20/21, 2009. changed to October 11/12, 2009

  • some of our prayer focus will be petitioning for a great raising up of laborers to work in Abba's fields, for the harvest to come in and most importantly for the body of Christ to get ready for the harvest by walking in alignment with God's word
Prophetic Image: a dry barren landscape being prayed over by more and more individuals- suddenly, drops of rain  begin to fall on by one until it's raining very hard then, the sun comes out and seeds long buried underground start springing up
  • the dry barren land is asia
  • the individuals praying are the intercessors God is connecting and drawing together daily
  • the fields are families, schools, companies, cities, nations, government structures and every manner of organizational structure 
  • the rain is the living water that's released to break the curse of spiritual and physical famine due to sin and rebellion
  • the sun is the light of life
  • the seeds are places that the Word has already been planted but as of yet unable to grow for lack of light and water
Additional Details
Location: Chiba (i.e. Jen's Place)
Station Name: Chiba New Town Chuo
Start Time: 6pm- 8pm arrival, dinner and fellowship
Prayer Session Start Time: 8pm ~ TBA 
Things to Bring: self, bible, sketchbook, journal, whatever you need to "get into God", food or snacks to share

Final Notes: one room will be a dedicated prayer room- there will be enough space for those who need to get some rest however, I only have two futons and a sofa so please bring a sleeping bag if you have one and think you'll use it- thanks :-)

Saturday, March 21, 2009

"The Tsunami Prayer"


The Event
On December 26, 2004 the earth shook just off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. It shook as though it were a gong struck by a sledge hammer calling for and demanding humanity's attention. It resonated not only in the natural realm but first and foremost in the spirit realm. There was an undeniable change which took place that day- and while something was toppled among the ruling thrones & powers of the Asian Region, we have yet to see the full manifestation of this event. However, we can all be certain, it is coming soon. Much, much sooner than any of us think.

The Prophecy
The first public prophecy I delivered at The Altar IHOP in Meadville, PA (early February, 2005) was in relationship to the earthquake. During worship, I saw a picture of my hands covering my eyes. At first, I couldn't see anything and it was very dark. Then, I separated my fingers just a bit and was able to see through the cracks. As I saw this picture, I felt the Spirit was saying, "THIS is what has been accomplished in Asia." As I was thinking on this, the following scripture passed through my mind, "The people walking (living) in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." Isaiah 9.2 (NIV) & Matthew 4.16 (NIV)

The word accompanying this vision was something akin to, "the spiritual darkness that has been covering over Asia is giving way and My LIGHT is starting to shine through." The word followed along the same lines as John 1.5 which states, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." (NLT)

Below is the prayer I felt compelled to post on a prayer list in response to the earthquake. The original posting of this prayer was January 5, 2005. The list, which I am still a part of, is operated by a ministry called GodSpeak International.

The Prayer
As one who has been living in Asia for the past 6 years (10 as of this blog posting) and has seen with my own eyes the power false religions have over those who claim to practice them, I feel led to pray like this....

You O God who have given over into our hands all power over the enemy, the keys to doors in heaven and on the earth- the words to command that whatsoever is opened in the heavens to be opened and whatsoever is to be closed in the heavens to be closed also, upon the earth. The power to refute every attack and accusation of the enemy, the access to your thrones of Mercy and of Grace. Lips and mouths to petition for nations and your promise therein that if we come to you and ASK of you- that you WILL give us the nations as our inheritance.

You O God, who have caused Kings to write such things as Psalm 144 that state it is YOU who teaches us to battle and to war. You, Mighty God, who gives us access to the weapons in your store rooms and instructs us to use them. You Holy of Holies- who gives us the courage to go out and stand before giants with only a sling and a stone. It is You O God the God of gods, the God of the LIVING we come to in times of need.

Father I speak out and I declare that your will and your perfect plan for the nations of Asia will be accomplished. That NO POWER, NO PRINCIPALITY, NO DOMINION, NOR ANY OTHER WHO COMES TO TAKE UP A STAND AGAINST YOU WILL PROSPER. I say that when the enemy comes in like a flood the LORD will raise up a standard against him. I say that even the LORD LAUGHS at the enemy knowing that his time to afflict and do damage has worn itself dreadfully short. I say that in the midst of this disaster the LORD is STILL seated on his throne and he sees to it that ALL things work themselves out for the good of those who love him and who are CALLED according to his purposes.

I PROCLAIM from the mountain tops that the WORD of the LORD is a double edged SWORD that is LIVING, ACTIVE AND FULL OF POWER- that it is able to cut between soul and spirit, bone and marrow... that the AX is at the root of the tree and the Word of God does not go out and return void but that it FULLY accomplishes the purpose for which it was sent. These weapons of our warfare are not carnal but MIGHTY to the PULLING DOWN of strongholds. I say that the ARMY of the LORD is at the enemies gates and he is powerless to defend them.

LORD GOD OF HEAVEN, by your word I speak and I say the ties which have held these people of Asia and the Middle East to these religions and gods that are not of You... are being severed and cut away. That the curse of death over this region is broken away and canceled out by the blood of Jesus your Only Son. For where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Life and Freedom- there can be no darkness because the LORD is LIGHT. The 3 monkeys representing "see no evil, hear no evil and do no evil" that are prominently displayed in Buddhist temples... these that actually blind and deafen people from understanding or being open to the Word of the LORD- YOU HAVE NO Power here anymore. I say that the blind see, the deaf hear and those who have not up until this time been able to understand or accept Jesus Christ as Lord WILL understand and see him with their own eyes. That they will hear him with their own ears.... I say to you nations of Asia whom satan has had such power over for so long... I say to you enemy who has kept these people in prison and from knowing their GOD for so very many ages, I say to the Host of Heaven who set out to do the will of the Lord upon the earth, there is FREEDOM in this place and the dry bones of Asia in these last days are being raised.

I say that God has come to Asia and the enemy will not stand against Him. For more are on our side than those on the side of the enemy. I say Holy Sprit come down here and fill up this place with people who can't get enough of You. I say where there is light the darkness can NOT overcome it. I stand and I shout from the top of my voice there IS LIGHT IN THIS DARKNESS. For the Lord spoke into the darkness and said, "let there be light" and there was light. In this place O God Let there be light. Not just light God, but such an explosion of it that it causes the entire western world to take notice.

Yes King of kings. You have come to Asia that we may have life and have it abundantly. You restore all that the worms have eaten away. You allow calamity and disaster to prepare hearts and minds for you and your grace. Prepare these hearts. Prepare these minds from the top of Siberia to the tip of the Philippines and every nation and every people that is on the coast of the Pacific Ocean from the North to the South. Come down here O God and do a work, a mighty work in this place that all may see and know and acknowledge YOU ARE THE LORD.

Yes God, it is time for us to rise up and PROCLAIM FREEDOM FOR THE CAPTIVES AND DELIVERANCE FOR THOSE IN CHAINS. It is time O King for the enemy to be put to shame. Let not thee be put to shame O Lord in this place but the enemy who hates thee- let him be put to shame. Let those who would destroy thee be scattered O God, that those who hate thee flee before thee. Yes Lord, rise up and let your enemies be scattered, a footstool- they shall be a footstool at your very feet.

Voices like trumpets and steps of thunder come forth and gather round, proclaim the Glory of the Lord in this place. Who is so Great as our God? From the first of them to the last of them it is HE who lays claim to all things. It was by him that all things have been created, who are you O enemy to withhold from the Lord that which is His? The earth and the fullness therein belong to him. Send forth the captives, send them forth for the Lord God Almighty has need of these. Again, who are you O enemy that you are able to withhold from He?

Our mouths are open God and we are asking you to fill them, we roar for our prey like the lions- like the young lions. For the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force. Praise and Glory and Honor be to the Rider of the White Horse, the Man of War who has trained our fingers to battle and our hands to war. Not by might or by power but by Your Spirit O God for nothing is impossible with you. Holy Holy Holy, all Glory and Honor be to thee O King. Worthy Worthy is the Lamb of Glory- the Lamb who was Slain. For Goodness and Mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives as we sup at the table in the presence of our enemy. Let thy will be done in the heavens and upon the earth, not our will O God but yours. Have your way in Asia Father. Have your way in this place.

In the Name of Jesus to which all will bow their knee- amen and amen.


May this posting bring blessing and an ignited passion for His passion.
Grace,

JG

Friday, March 13, 2009

Japan in Prophecy

"...and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?"
Nemiah 4.2

And this is what God says:

Japan is being rebuilt. For does not my Word say, "I will build my church and the gates of hades shall not overcome it?"

Japan is being rebuilt. Many have said "it's coming, it's coming." And many more have grown weary with waiting saying, "it will not happen, it has not happened." But I AM speaks and I AM says, "Even now, lift up your eyes and look around you. What was not will be."

Though many have laughed, taunted and sent discouragers to discourage. Though armies have stood off to the side creating a great and mighty roar, I tell you, I AM is rebuilding that which has been torn down and destroyed. For I have apointed those who will restore the desolations of generations. I have apointed those who will rebuild. Even now, the work has begun and the craftsmen are being trained again in their arts. They are taking up their crafts- for the tools of their crafts are their weapons. As a soldier wields a sword so wields a painter his brush and a worshiper his voice.

I tell you, I AM is in the business of rebuilding desolate inheritances. And as those who would oppose the work of the Lord in this land stand trying to oppose it, I shall rebuild before their very eyes. As they mock and utter words of contempt, I say as I said back in the days of Nemiah, "Rebuild. Live."

And as I speak, so shall it be for I AM is Lord. And I AM is on the throne.
It has begun. It is no longer "coming soon." For the restoration of all things is here and that restoration is I AM.

"In the first year of King Cyrus, the king issued a decree concerning the temple of God in Jerusalem: Let the temple be rebuilt as a place to present sacrifices, and let its foundations be laid..."
Ezra 6.3

JG

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

ANNOUNCEMENT: March 2009 Schedule


Hello again!

So sorry for the delay in posting the monthly schedule. It's been a challenge to confirm certain things. Please see below for the HOP March scheduled sessions. Important point to note: we have a few times that we are not meeting due to scheduling conflicts.


Our schedule for March is as follows:

Monday
March 2nd, 7-9pm

Session as regularly scheduled.

Wednesday
March 4th, 7-9pm

No session scheduled.
Due to scheduling conflict.

Monday
March 9th, 7-9pm

No session scheduled.
Due to scheduling conflict.

Wednesday
March 11th, 7-9pm

Session as regularly scheduled.

Monday
March 16th, 7-9pm

Session as regularly scheduled.

Wednesday
March 18th, 7-9pm

Session as regularly scheduled.

Monday
March 23rd, 7-9pm

Session as regularly scheduled.

Wednesday
March 25th, 7-9pm

Session as regularly scheduled.


Wednesday
March 30th, 7-9pm

Session as regularly scheduled.

Looking forward to seeing you!
Grace,
JG