Vernon Robertson’s Message

A Focus:

Prayer groups and the charismatic renewal in general need a focus. For instance, St. Stephen’s Prayer Group in North Vancouver raised money for the poor in India. They learned about the need, they sought practical ways to meet the need and they put their plan into action. As a result, this 25 person prayer group was able to raise $11,000.00. After being clear about their focus the prayer group went about in practical way to attain with signs, leaflets and a basket.

Vernon also suggested putting on an event where people were told the prayer group would match any donations thereby doubling their contributions to the mission.

Intercessory Prayer:

One way of having intercessory prayer in groups is as follows. The prayer group can invite people to write their petitions and put them in a box and that the needs of these prayers will be prayed for at rosary before Mass, at Mass and throughout the day Monday to Saturday. At the meetings those gathered for prayer will see the box of petitions raised for prayer and a reminder that all the petitions are being prayed for on a daily basis. The healings that flow from this will also be acknowledged.

Vernon is available to train leaders in the Healing Ministry:

The McNutt Healing School training is being made available. Vernon will come to your group and get it started if you ask. The goal is that it will run on its own in the same fashion he has done in the past with the Alpha Program. All he needs are mature prayer ministry people who could be responsible to facilitate small groups.

ARC is also planning to have on its website a list of people and topics that can be presented at your prayer meetings. Those who would have this teaching ministry must be people in good standing with the Church as attested to by the parish priest. ARC will authorize people with known teaching gifts and who have the sanction of their pastors.

In terms of individual prayer ministry at the conference when we pray for people we will need to pray where the power of God is manifested. For instance, in the sanctuary of the Broadway Church more so than in separate prayer rooms.

The need for healing, teaching and evangelization is expected to increase and the renewal in Archdiocese of Vancouver needs to prepare. Therefore we are entering a time of prayer to seek God so that we can move from maintenance to mission. These will come only with prayer and fasting. Prayer groups and the renewal in general is never standing still; it is either going to God or going away from him. Therefore we need to prayer for direction so that we will know what it is that God is doing in our midst.

An important focus is prayer and fasting. We are calling all prayer groups to choose one day a week to fast and pray for their own groups and for the conference so that at the conference GOD will raise up a prayer army. Also we are calling together INTERCESSORS to pray for the conference on a bi -weekly or monthly basis. All prayer groups will be notified when and where and will be invited to join in intercession. After the conference we are invited to join in 40 days of prayer and fasting and each prayer group is asked to choose a day on which they will prayer and fast for God’s outpouring of the Spirit in Vancouver.

Vernon’s Prophetic Message:

We cannot be overcome by the world’s standard. We must have Christ and Christ in us as the standard we present to the world. This can only be accomplished with prayer and fasting, prayer and fasting. Take the Corinthians (2Cor 7), they had a Godly grief that lead to repentance, forgiveness and healing. This comes with humility. How do we humble ourselves? As King David says we humble ourselves through many fastings (Ps 35:13).

When we seek the face of God we come to know who He is. This humbles us in awe and we find that we do not know what to do. So, we prayer and fast and God speaks to us through the prophetic voice as spoken in Joel 2.

We must always keep in mind that our enemies are not people they are Powers and Principalities. To prepare for the battle with these spiritual powers we listen to the Lord. He first sends his musicians to praise and worship him. This readies the people to receive the promised protection and gifts of God. In the upper room the apostles and disciples were filled with fear and shame over their betrayals and failings. The power of the Holy Spirit took away the shame and empowered the disciples. God wants to do that today. He wants to raise up a prayer army accompanied with fasting for the next move of the Lord.

What legacy will we leave to future generations? What we have received from the Lord we have received by His work in previous generations. We must always be lead by the prophetic message to return to the Lord with all our hearts. We need to surrender our hearts. Revelation leads to repentance and repentance to mission. The Lord answers by promising to give ‘grain, new wine and oil (Joel v 19). These are the figurative representatives of the Eucharist and the Holy Spirit that will feed us and strengthen us.

God promises that we will never again come under reproach – our vindication will last forever. God will make up his great army never to be put to shame. By this you will know I am your God, He tells us. As with those in the upper room the shame, fear, reproach was completely taken away by the release of the power of God in their hearts. The prophecy of Joel is fulfilled, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all mankind…

The way to achieve God plan is by humbling, repentance, reconciliation, restoration and then will come revival. By this means all will come back to the Lord, the lost, the fallen away, those who do not know the Lord.

We must pray and seek the face of God. Ask Him to break the strongholds. Through prayer, fasting and intercession in our parishes and for the conference we will see a new Pentecost.