Even though four persons had to cancel due to illness, we were a group of 29 whom God called to pray, listen and pray for Switzerland.
This week (this was the fifth we held in a canton God chose) are an absolute highlight for every person who can participate. The reason for this is very simple and clear: When God calls and one withdraws for a whole week just for HIM, then he will in a special way reward those who week HIM. We experience that over and over again in a very impressive way. But this is not really about us, it is about Switzerland, respectively about Jesus’ body in our country! We will present here just a few of the focal points we received, prayed over and experienced.
Previous to the fasting week, one person asked me whether she could bring along a wedding dress because she had the impression that we could use it. And we actually did have an intercessory time for Jesus’ bride which the Father is preparing for his Son. As an introduction to this prayer time, the sister told us the story of the wedding dress. It belonged to a 25-year-old woman who bought it years ago as an expression of her deep desire to marry. But in reality she now has four children from three different men and is already pregnant again – although she never married. Most of us wept when we heard this story.
Regula remembered a prayer outreach at the Peter’s Square in Rome. There we encountered a young bride dressed in white, with high heels, network hosiery and a mini-skirt which almost didn’t cover her back end. Hair-do and make-up completed the impression of a “whore”. She was accompanied by three men of whom it was not clear which was the bridegroom. The Lord spoke clearly, “This is the condition of the bride right now. But I will make it without spots and wrinkles – for my Son!”
Both events point to the present condition of his church. But: the Father doesn’t want it to remain this way! He wants to make us into a beautiful, shining, pure and holy bride church. The only question is whether we recognize our condition and want to be changed. HE does not force us. Each person then asked himself whether he really wanted to place himself totally at God’s disposal. As a sign of our willingness, each one could take the bridal veil and the sword (symbol of God’s word) and speak a prayer from the heart. It was deeply moving and no eye remained dry when an 88-year-old sister pulled the veil over her head, took the huge, heavy sword in her hands and with tears proclaimed her dedication.
We believe that this act was prophetic and that God is once again going through his church; he will seek and find those who are ready to serve HIM with their whole being and be at his disposal.
We had an additional strong experience during a prayer outreach in the city of Zurich. First we prayed for the Jewish residents of Zurich and Switzerland (for protection, alijah (immigration), anti-Semitism and replacement theology) in a synagogue on the Löwen Street. While walking through the city to the main train station it rained a little. Therefore we continued to pray inside the station. One of our impressions there was that an attack was or is planned which would have great potential for destruction. So of course we prayed that it would not take place. Many things in the city of Zurich (positive and negative) have repercussions in the whole country and beyond. It was difficult to be there, where people live in a consumers’ temple. It is put over them like a bell – and they hardly notice it. They need further prayer in order to wake up.
Back home we read in the weather report, “Over Zurich there was a deluge of rain coming out of nowhere, accompanied by thunder and lightning.” A sudden storm swept overt Zurich and all of Switzerland! (That evening another newspaper wrote, “More or less out of nothing the clouds opened their floodgates and were emptied like a deluge which lasted for minutes! Over Switzerland ca. 230 lightning strokes were registered and a violent storm with wind gusts up to 175 kilometers an hour was measured.)
What did we learn from this experience? “‘Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit’, says the Lord Almighty” (Zech. 4:6). We love to pray in our own strength (loud, many words, etc.) and everyone is enthusiastic. But we were a rather meagre, freezing, weak and inconspicuous little group standing in Zurich’s main station. We had set out in obedience and said our prayers quietly, but in faith. The lord answered with rain, storm, lightning and thunder. “From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, severn lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God” (Rev. 4:4). Thank you, Father!
Another aspect which was emphasized during this fasting week: The Lord wants to distribute gifts. You will receive them when you reach out for them. They should serve to bring HIS body to maturity in love. They should complement each other, watching HIM and each other, developing in a healthy way. All should be equipped and encouraged to take their place in Gods kingdom.
We were gratefully surprised at how many worshippers were among us! They all had their instruments with them and were ready not only to play, but to take responsibility for times of worship. It was wonderful!
It is always difficult to part from each other after such a week and come down the mountain – into the lowlands of everyday life. But that is where we belong, filled with the Holy Spirit, nourished with God’s word and a deep, passionate love for HIM, for our brethren and for a lost world – and with the cry in our hearts, “Lord, here I am. Send me!”
W.+R.W.
