For a number of years now, the Lord has been stirring the hearts of Japanese, Asian and non-Asian alike in the matter of repentance. As a house of prayer, our part in this stirring is to pray this into a daily reality. Since we held our first prayer meeting in November of 2008, God has brought believers across our paths one by one with the same cry of intercession in their hearts and spirits.
In fact, one of the prayer points on our 10+1 prayer list is for a spirit of repentance to fall upon the church of Japan that she may repent for the sins of the church towards the people of Japan and Asia. This is something we've been praying for with diligence for over a year now- having joined ranks with the voices of all those who've ever cried out to the heights of heaven with this matter heavy on their minds.
At the end of the Tokyo 2010 Conference, it seems the Lord set things in motion to cause that prayer to begin to manifest in a very big way. So big, it even made a post on the Elijah List. Please rejoice in the greatness of our God as you read the article in the link below. This indeed is heavens response to golden bowls filled with prayer and incence.
Elijah List Breaking Christian News Link
Christian Today Australia Full Story Link
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
The Truth: Christianity in Japan
Here are some news articles reporting most accurate results of percentage of those claiming Christian beliefs in Japan. The articles were written based on Gallup Polls conducted in 2006.
Why is this important? Because there are reports all over stating the percentage of those who call themselves Christian range from .5-2%. While this may have been true in the past, there is no doubt (based on real experiences) that Jesus is indeed increasing His government in Japan. Especially among the younger generations.
While still trying to locate the results of the original polls by the Gallup association, these news articles reflect the results with consistency.
Please keep in mind, the house church (organic church, simple church, cell groups, etc...) which meets in a wide variety of creative locations is very much alive and well in Japan. The numbers of these groups are challenging to track and record as most are informal meetings of those who prefer, for many reasons, not to go to traditional main stream churches.
Links:
Gallup poll of Japan finds Christianity on the upswing | Christian Examiner staff report
More People Claim Christian Faith in Japan | Christian Post
Gallup Poll of Japan Finds Christianity on the Upswing | Church Solutions
Why is this important? Because there are reports all over stating the percentage of those who call themselves Christian range from .5-2%. While this may have been true in the past, there is no doubt (based on real experiences) that Jesus is indeed increasing His government in Japan. Especially among the younger generations.
While still trying to locate the results of the original polls by the Gallup association, these news articles reflect the results with consistency.
Please keep in mind, the house church (organic church, simple church, cell groups, etc...) which meets in a wide variety of creative locations is very much alive and well in Japan. The numbers of these groups are challenging to track and record as most are informal meetings of those who prefer, for many reasons, not to go to traditional main stream churches.
Links:
Gallup poll of Japan finds Christianity on the upswing | Christian Examiner staff report
More People Claim Christian Faith in Japan | Christian Post
Gallup Poll of Japan Finds Christianity on the Upswing | Church Solutions
Thursday, December 10, 2009
What She's Doing Well
For sometime now, it's been on my heart to ask Abba what the church is doing right. When I first got back to the US, that's what I did. I asked God, "What's she doing well?"
The reason? It seemed like so much of what I was hearing and reading was focused on how bad off the church was. How immature she was. How so far off target she was...
Knowing that I personally tend to not respond well when I am in the "there's nothing positive about me" rut I decided to apply that to the church. Hence, the question "What's she doing well?" The following is the response I heard from Holy Spirit:
"She loves me."
"Oh, how she loves me."
"She may not know how to do things the way I want them or even be able to (know how) follow my directions...
... but, she loves me."
"Like a little toddler loves his or her parents...
... she loves me."
"That's what she is doing well."
The association to the reply that I have is very much something I could connect with. You see, for the better part of the last 10 years I have spent myself invested in teaching children. And one of the many lessons that came out of that was how much little ones wanted to follow directions and "get it right" but how so many times, they fell far short of the objective. This, often was due to developing motor skills or comprehension. Other times, it was due to a thing simply being so new that there was no grid for the request and no matter how much the desire was set in tiny hearts to do as asked, they simply couldn't and needed instead to be shown with patience and encouragement how to complete a task.
It was with this picture in my mind that Abba spoke His words, "She loves me. That's what she is doing well."
The point being, He knows we're not "there" yet. He knows, we fall so far short of out goal and the desires in our hearts to follow directions. He knows what we don't know. He knows what we can and can't quite do yet. And while being obedient to the things He's called us to, He is full of knowing that with out His loving and patient guidance, we'll never arrive in that place.
So what does He do? Instead of judging or criticizing His bride for her multitude of failures and shortcomings, He delights in the one thing which is perhaps, most essential to moving the Father's heart. He is glad, that she desires to do well but even more overjoyed that she, His beloved one knows enough to simply love Him with all of her heart.
May we continue to look at the Bride of Christ with these eyes. Not with judgement or harsh words about how badly she's messing up but with eyes that see the heart of the matter. That she loves Him in the midst of her myriad imperfections.
To borrow Abba's words, "Oh how she loves me."
Wow. Does it get any better than that?
"You have ravished my heart, My sister, my bride; You have ravished my heart with one look of your eyes, with one link of your necklace."
Song of Solomon 4.9
Blessings,
jg.
The reason? It seemed like so much of what I was hearing and reading was focused on how bad off the church was. How immature she was. How so far off target she was...
Knowing that I personally tend to not respond well when I am in the "there's nothing positive about me" rut I decided to apply that to the church. Hence, the question "What's she doing well?" The following is the response I heard from Holy Spirit:
"She loves me."
"Oh, how she loves me."
"She may not know how to do things the way I want them or even be able to (know how) follow my directions...
... but, she loves me."
"Like a little toddler loves his or her parents...
... she loves me."
"That's what she is doing well."
The association to the reply that I have is very much something I could connect with. You see, for the better part of the last 10 years I have spent myself invested in teaching children. And one of the many lessons that came out of that was how much little ones wanted to follow directions and "get it right" but how so many times, they fell far short of the objective. This, often was due to developing motor skills or comprehension. Other times, it was due to a thing simply being so new that there was no grid for the request and no matter how much the desire was set in tiny hearts to do as asked, they simply couldn't and needed instead to be shown with patience and encouragement how to complete a task.
It was with this picture in my mind that Abba spoke His words, "She loves me. That's what she is doing well."
The point being, He knows we're not "there" yet. He knows, we fall so far short of out goal and the desires in our hearts to follow directions. He knows what we don't know. He knows what we can and can't quite do yet. And while being obedient to the things He's called us to, He is full of knowing that with out His loving and patient guidance, we'll never arrive in that place.
So what does He do? Instead of judging or criticizing His bride for her multitude of failures and shortcomings, He delights in the one thing which is perhaps, most essential to moving the Father's heart. He is glad, that she desires to do well but even more overjoyed that she, His beloved one knows enough to simply love Him with all of her heart.
May we continue to look at the Bride of Christ with these eyes. Not with judgement or harsh words about how badly she's messing up but with eyes that see the heart of the matter. That she loves Him in the midst of her myriad imperfections.
To borrow Abba's words, "Oh how she loves me."
Wow. Does it get any better than that?
"You have ravished my heart, My sister, my bride; You have ravished my heart with one look of your eyes, with one link of your necklace."
Song of Solomon 4.9
Blessings,
jg.
Monday, November 16, 2009
God's Rice Field & Building Altars on the Threshing Floor
For sometime now, I've been studying and researching the Father's heart on our location and how it connects with the name of our HOP. The more I pursue this, the more firmly I believe our prophetic destiny as a house of prayer is written into our name and the locations where we met. Please see this link for the first writing. Please see this link for the second writing.
The first place of meeting was in a cafe. A place of eating and feasting called "The Decision." (At the time, it was still known as Art Cafe Decision by most)
That cafe is in an area of Tokyo that hosts the seat of government for the nation of Japan. The name of that area is called Chiyoda-ku.
The name of the area within Chiyoda-ku where The Decision is located is called Kanda.
The English literal translation of the chinese characters for Kanda is as follows:
>In 1 Chronicles 22, David makes a decision and determines that this will become the new location for the Temple of the Lord and the place of the altar for Israel's burnt offerings.
Moving forward to 2 Chronicles 7, Solomon has already become king. He has completed building the Temple of the Lord as instructed by his father, David and gone through the process of dedicating the newly completed temple. Before the Solomon and the people, fire again falls upon the altar which compels the people to worship Him all the more. Starting with verse 11, Solomon receives a response from the Lord to his prayers of dedication.
Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.
It is interesting that the altar which David built was one with a purpose of intercession. It is interesting that the altar was needed due to a decision David had made. It is interesting that the altar was built on a place where grain was separated from the chaff. It is interesting that God is the one who chose the location of the altar which later became the temple.
It is interesting that the story of The Altar IHOP, Tokyo so closely shadows some of the themes found in scripture.
And this is the word I believe Abba is continuing to speak to us about it:
Grace,
jg
The first place of meeting was in a cafe. A place of eating and feasting called "The Decision." (At the time, it was still known as Art Cafe Decision by most)
That cafe is in an area of Tokyo that hosts the seat of government for the nation of Japan. The name of that area is called Chiyoda-ku.
The name of the area within Chiyoda-ku where The Decision is located is called Kanda.
The English literal translation of the chinese characters for Kanda is as follows:
神 = God
田 = Rice FieldIn 1 Chronicles 21, David ended up at a threshing floor. A place where the harvest was brought in and prepared for distribution. In the context of the story, God speaks and instructs David to construct an altar in that place. David purchases the property and does as directed. In the process of making the sacrifice and carrying out the act of worship, fire falls from heaven and burns up the sacrifice in response to David's prayers.
>In 1 Chronicles 22, David makes a decision and determines that this will become the new location for the Temple of the Lord and the place of the altar for Israel's burnt offerings.
Moving forward to 2 Chronicles 7, Solomon has already become king. He has completed building the Temple of the Lord as instructed by his father, David and gone through the process of dedicating the newly completed temple. Before the Solomon and the people, fire again falls upon the altar which compels the people to worship Him all the more. Starting with verse 11, Solomon receives a response from the Lord to his prayers of dedication.
Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.
It is interesting that the altar which David built was one with a purpose of intercession. It is interesting that the altar was needed due to a decision David had made. It is interesting that the altar was built on a place where grain was separated from the chaff. It is interesting that God is the one who chose the location of the altar which later became the temple.
It is interesting that the story of The Altar IHOP, Tokyo so closely shadows some of the themes found in scripture.
And this is the word I believe Abba is continuing to speak to us about it:
I AM the LORD of the Harvest. The grain is mine. The kingdoms of the earth are mine. The governments of the nations are mine. The "field of japan" is mine and my kingdom will be made manifest in the earth.More insight to come as it is made known. Connecting threads are on The Decision and Ecclesia Cafe as modern day threshing floors and further study on altars.
Grace,
jg
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
We Are ONE!!!
On November 5, 2009...
The Altar IHOP, Tokyo will be one year old!
(yay Abba!!!)
Please come and join us at any one of our sessions the first week of November to celebrate the wonderful things God has done with us this past year.
Thanks so much and we are looking forward to seeing you.
The Altar IHOP, Tokyo
The Altar IHOP, Tokyo will be one year old!
(yay Abba!!!)
Please come and join us at any one of our sessions the first week of November to celebrate the wonderful things God has done with us this past year.
Thanks so much and we are looking forward to seeing you.
The Altar IHOP, Tokyo
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
ANNOUNCEMENT: You Tube
The Altar IHOP | Tokyo has a You Tube channel!
We've go a "how we got started" video posted as well as some links to other you tube video clips that the Lilley's of Fire & Fragrance (YWAM association) have been posting while visiting in Japan.
Please take a moment to look when you get a chance. There's some good stuff up there that will give you an idea of what's going on with the prayer movement in Japan.
Grace & Glory,
jg
The Altar IHOP | Tokyo's You Tube Channel: click here
We've go a "how we got started" video posted as well as some links to other you tube video clips that the Lilley's of Fire & Fragrance (YWAM association) have been posting while visiting in Japan.
Please take a moment to look when you get a chance. There's some good stuff up there that will give you an idea of what's going on with the prayer movement in Japan.
Grace & Glory,
jg
The Altar IHOP | Tokyo's You Tube Channel: click here
Monday, September 28, 2009
Q&A: Does IHOP have a meaning?
Answer: There are technically two ways to read "IHOP" One way is actually from part of a prophetic word given to Mike Bickle, Senior Director, of The International House of Prayer, Kansas City (IHOP-KC) by Bob Jones in the very early days. It goes like this:
I = Intercession
H = Heart of Jesus
O = Offerings to the Poor (i.e. orphans & widows)
P = PropheticThese are very important elements of the core vision and function of a House of Prayer.
The other way to read "IHOP" is the one most are familiar with and goes like this:
I = International
H = House
O = Of
P = Prayer
The best way to understand "IHOP" is to think of it in the following terms:
An International House of Prayer (IHOP) is a place where the body of Christ can find people who choose to Intercede for the things God puts on their heart to pray. i.e. the lost, human trafficking, 7 mountains, etc... It is a group of people who desire to know and have the true heart of Christ. It is a group of people who are dedicated to giving to the poor and especially helping orphans & widows. It is also a group of people who walk in the prophetic believing this is one means by which they can draw closer to the Father.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
UPDATE: The Altar IHOP, Tokyo WEBSITE!!!
Hi there tribe!
We are so excited to let you know that our website is now online and running.
We're about 95% completed so there are a few pages and features that are not on display at the moment but, are in the works and coming very soon. The other languages are also in the works and will be coming eventually.
We'll get started making the Japanese available in the next month or so, please keep checking back for those additions as well.
Okay then... without any further adieu our URL:
be sure to share the link with family & friends!
Grace!
jg.
Monday, August 31, 2009
ANNOUNCEMENT: August 2009 Schedule (change)
Just a quick note to say that our Monday Night session (today, August 31st) at The Decision Cafe from 7-9pm is cancelled due to the typhoon.
Apologies for the short notice and we will meet on Wednesday evening as normally scheduled.
Thanks!
jg.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Japan in Prophecy: word from Cindy Jacobs
This word was posted to Generals International and is dated 2001.
At The Altar IHOP, Tokyo, this is one of the things we pray into- that there be a sweeping move of God among students and young people.
Please see below for the word or click the link to go directly to the Generals International page.
WORD FOR JAPAN
October 28, 2001
Category: Prophetic Words, Asia
God’s love is very intense for Japan...
Prophetic Intercession Conference, Harvest Rock Church
I have a WORD for Japan. Oh, I’m so excited. God’s love is very intense for Japan and the Lord would say, “Surely I have heard the cries of my Japanese people. Many have said revival cannot come to Japan, but I would say, TRULY I am going to do a work that the nations will wonder at when they hear about Japan, says the Lord.“
For my Japanese people are my warriors and I am getting ready to release a new sound of war that will be a God sound out of Japan.
The Lord says: I am truly going to move among the students, for there will be a student revival which will be birthed, says the Lord.The Lord says, I am going to move… form Hokkaido to Okinawa, I am going to move from the North to the South and I’m going to move from the North to the South an I’m going to come together by MY SPIRIT, says the Lord… and the Lord says, “For this is the day I am going to reconcile the evangelicals and the new churches … the charismatic type of church… I am getting ready to move by my Spirit and Japan is a sword in my hand …
And I will move the Japanese and they will touch Bangladesh, all of Southeast Asia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Lord says … I am getting ready to send missionaries, missionaries, missionaries, for there will be a missions movement out of Japan says the Lord…
And the Lord says … “I will not forget the cries of my martyrs and the cries of my people from this great Nation, says the Lord.”
Friday, August 28, 2009
LINKS: "Overcoming Spiritual Barriers in Japan"
This is a book by former missionary to Japan, Keith E. Webb.
It covers some very good key points for Identifying Strongholds and Redemptive Gifts in reference to Japan and the Japanese people. It also has a Prayer Guide which will be great to use in prayer meetings and personal intercession times over the nation.
Please see the link below to order the book and to get more details about the ministry that sponsors it:
Keith E. Webb
(book available in English & Chinese)
Thursday, August 27, 2009
UPDATE: The Altar IHOP, Tokyo WEBSITE!!!
Hello once again all!
We are so excited about this new "baby" ... okay- I (as in "me", a.k.a. Jennifer, Jenni, Jen-jen, IHOP Jenni) am SO EXCITED about this new baby.
After a lot of hard work typing, designing, consulting on everything from color to fonts to fire and then re-designing almost all of it... our website is ALMOST done and hopefully will be online soon. As in, by the time I leave Japan on September 10th.
A few of the tribe got a tiny peek last night at our Wednesday prayer & worship session and the result was applause. Yay!
The site will most likely launch in English with some Japanese and more Japanese to follow soon after.
We will then hopefully get the site in in other languages as well... the target right now is to have 4 languages:
English
Japanese
Korean
Portugese
But, first things first. We gotta get the English done! LOL.
Some things you can expect:
-green, green and more green
-an updated logo
-easier to access maps & directions to our various meeting locations
-and lots more
Please stay tuned.
More cool stuff coming S-O-O-N!
Blessings!
jg.
ps. if you want to check out some of the other work our web-designer has done, please click here to go to the site: Design Gate
pps. in case you didn't already know, our website address is: www.thealtarihop.com
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