We were all excited. Seeds of faith were scattered amongst us that afternoon as we read verses from the Bible and prayed for the Government... fresh vision for what that Christian community across the political scene began to be conceived... and new friendships were formed, friendships that have endured and widened far out into various networks. The body of Christ is alive and well in Westminster, you know.
I particularly remember praying for one of the security guards, for Holy Spirit to guide him, equip him and fill him... only to open my eyes and find he'd crashed to the floor. I panicked momentarily, but he seemed very happy when he got up a couple of minutes later. I remember him grinning, saying "Thank you, brother!" like a proper Londoner.
Like I said, something began that day... something that has grown into an ongoing relationship between the Christians in Parliament and Christians in Government networks, and into regular co-operation around this annual week of prayer.
As we've prayer-walked and also prayed this afternoon in Portcullis House, I've been thinking and praying around the first chapter of Paul's letter to the Ephesians... and have been speaking/praying it out in faith over the Christian MPs and staff across Westminster.
Ephesians 1 (The Message version)
"I ask - ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory - to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what he is calling you to do...
It's hard to see clearly right now... it's confusing and distracting, noisy and scary. And very little of what politicians are saying and what journalists are writing right now is intelligent... nor discerning. And so we echo Paul's prayer. Father, help these women and men know what you are calling them to do, and give them courage to do it.
"...grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him - endless energy, boundless strength."
Those who trust him. It's hard for MPs to know who to trust at the moment, especially when hardly anyone seems to trust them... even those who haven't falsely claimed expenses. Father, remind these women and men of your unfailing love, the fact that you choose them first, and that you trust them... help them to trust you, and experience this endless energy, boundless strength.
"All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments..."
Catch that? Jesus is in charge. He rules of everything... galaxies and governments, even ours right now.
"...no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but for ever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the centre of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence."
Father, I pray for the body of Christ across Parliament and Government departments. I pray for your church in these places... the 2s and 3s who gather in your name, the places where you are present. May they know that they are not peripheral, not marginal, not insignificant, but in the very centre of all things... where you are.
Father, I pray that you would raise up the pastors in politics, to care and counsel those who are lost, encourage and heal those who are hurting...
I pray that you would raise up the teachers in politics, to speak kingdom truth and godly wisdom into complex issues, to make disciples of their colleagues...
I pray that you would raise up the prophets in politics, to provoke and challenge injustice and unrighteousness, to speak the new things into being...
I pray that you would raise up the evangelists in politics, to lead many into your presence and into experiencing salvation...and I pray that you would raise up those with apostolic gifting in politics, to help lay the foundations for a new politics in this nations... where you are the centre.
Jesus, build your church. And may the gates of hell not prevail against it.
