Several months ago, I was praying and interceding for Western Europe.  I will be honest; I was completely overwhelmed and on the brink of despair over the condition of the continent.  Statistics show that 22 out 36 European countries actually have less than 1% of their population who identify as born again Christians.  The culture as a whole has almost completely rejected Biblical values.   Add to this a refugee crisis, a mounting terrorist threat, economic uncertainty, and an increase in antisemitism.  You could argue, from many different angles, that Europe’s future is looking very grave.  As all of these thoughts, and so many others, swirled through my mind and heart, it was as if the Holy Spirit arrested my voice in this moment.  I heard myself praying this prayer, “Jesus, I thank you that you have an anointing to match the crisis in Europe.”  This is the prayer that has completely revolutionized my faith.

There has never been a crisis on the earth that the Lord has not had an answer for.  There has never been darkness too black that God could not shine his light into.  There has never been an impossible situation that God has not had an anointing from heaven available to bring forth victory!  Yes, it is true; the Lord has a supernatural anointing to match any crisis that we face on this earth.

 

The Early Church

Think on the Early Church for a moment.  Jesus left a small band of believers on the Earth at his ascension and he gave them an absolutely impossible command.

Matthew 18:19-20 “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

I don’t know if there could have been a darker hour in human history.  The vast majority of Jews had already rejected Jesus’ earthly ministry.  Outside of Israel, nearly every nation was filled with idol worshiping people who didn’t know their right hand from their left hand.  And a demonized, morally bankrupt, Roman empire ruled with an iron fist over most of the known world.  And we think we have a tough task ahead of us!  The early followers of Christ were facing the most impossible situation for the successful advancement of the Gospel that could be imagined.  So how was the Gospel going to possibly penetrate the darkness and encircle the world?

If ever there was a moment when the destiny of the earth hung in the balance, it was directly after the ascension of Christ.  The future of God’s Kingdom seemed to be held in the hands of 11 weak men who just a few weeks before couldn’t quit arguing over who was the greatest.  Praise God that the Lord has always been able to work through weak humans.  God knew that it would take a heavenly endowment of power to build the blue prints of heaven for this earth.  With this in mind, he passed on to his disciples the master plans (go into all the world and preach the Gospel) and then He told them, “but not yet!”

Acts 1:4-5, 8  “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit….But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Camping out in an upper room, the band of believers prayed, worshiped, and waited.  In this beautiful place of surrender the Holy Spirit was poured out.  Weak, broken, and fearful men were transformed by the power of God.  Peter, who could not adequately testify to a slave girl just weeks earlier, stood in front of a mocking crowd of thousands and fearlessly preached the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  3,000 were added to the Kingdom that day and history was made.

The early church was faced with the impossible task of evangelizing the whole known world!  The Lord knew that in the natural this could never be accomplished.  But impossible situations do not intimidate our God!  There was an infilling from the Holy Spirit that brought with it an enablement to face the impossible head on.

Likewise, for every directive the Lord gives us to do, there is an anointing from heaven that makes it possible.  What vision has God put in your heart?  What impossible situation lies before you?  Do not forget that the Lord Jesus has given you EVERYTHING you need for life and godliness (2Peter 1:3).  The Lord gave the Early Church an impossible assignment, and then on the day of Pentecost He gave them the power from Heaven to accomplish it.  Both scripture and history testify to their success.

Acts 2:41 “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”

Acts 2:47 “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Acts 5:14 “Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.”

Acts 9:35 “All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.”

Acts 19:10 “all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.”

Acts 19:26 “And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced…large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia.”

The impossible task of evangelizing the WORLD became possible on the day of Pentecost.

 

The Womb of Prayer

Prayer is like a mother’s womb.  Long before you can see life emerge with your naked eye, a baby is being formed in the darkness.  Several months into the pregnancy process a bump appears.  Excitement grows as there is now outward evidence that life is in this womb.  Bigger and bigger you get until it’s obvious to the whole world that there is baby coming any day now.  Finally, after 9 months of anticipation, the day you have been waiting for comes.  It’s now time to meet, face to face, the little life that has been growing inside of you.

In this same way, on the continent of Europe a mission’s movement is being knit together in the womb of intercession.  Ordinary lovers of Christ have been crying out to the Lord for the salvation of their own people.  Being a mother myself, I understand the pain of labor and delivery.  But pain gives way to pure joy when you come face to face with the promised child you have been carrying.  Beloved of God, the prayer movement of Europe is about to come face to face with the answer to their prayers!  Behind the scenes, where few can see, in the womb of prayer, the Lord has been knitting together the answer to Europe’s crisis.  It is the end times Missions Movement.  Friends, this coming Missions Movement will dwarf every other mission’s effort this earth has ever seen!  As we approach the end of this age, Jesus will have His promised Bride and the Father will have His full family.

A fearless, faith filled, Jesus loving people are being raised up in this hour.  Enamored with King Jesus, consumed by the call, wholeheartedly devoted to the Kingdom, confident in His love…they are leaning on their Beloved and ready to run into the Harvest field.  Their testimony will be like the Apostle Paul’s.

Philippians 3:8 “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.”

I have never had more hope for Europe than I do right now.  In this dark hour, there are believers that are looking to the God of Heaven for the answer.  Small bands of courageous Christians have been coming together to fast and pray for heaven’s release over their nations and people.  Just as the Upper Room in Jerusalem was a womb of intercession that gave birth to the first great mission’s movement, so also the upper rooms that have been prepared throughout the earth will birth this last great mission’s movement.

Luke 10:2 “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Friends, there is an anointing from heaven to match the crisis that Europe is facing!  The prayer movement is giving birth to a mission’s movement.  And co-laboring with Christ this generation will see the greatest harvest of souls the earth has yet to experience.

 

Praying for Europe

  1. Strengthen Your Church in Europe to be a House of Prayer. Lord, we ask you to draw your people in Europe into intimacy with you.  Release to your people a spirit of prayer.  Help believers in Europe to fix their eyes on you and to not be distracted by the cares and pursuits of this world.  We ask that every church in Europe would be a true House of Prayer that exalts the name of Jesus.

Mark 11:17 “My House will be called a house of prayer for all nations”

 

  1. Release an anointing for corporate prayer gatherings across Europe. Lord, we see that sin and darkness covers the land. Holy God, we acknowledge that there is only one solution for a nation who has gone astray.  We must humble ourselves before you and seek your face.  Lord of Heaven’s Armies release to Europe a gathering anointing.  Raise up bold believers who are not afraid to “blow the trumpet” and call your people to corporate fasting and prayer.  Release grace to gather and seek you, Mighty God!  It is your mercy that we need in this hour.

Joel 2:15, 17b “Blow the trumpet in Zion. Announce a holy fast; proclaim a sacred assembly!  Gather all the people…let them pray.”

 

  1. Release a persistent spirit to your church in Europe. Mighty God, strengthen your church in Europe to overcome disappointment and discouragement.  Give to them a strong and resilient spirit.  We believe your Word, faithful God!  Surely, you will grant your people justice when they cry out to you day and night.  Grant your church in Europe grace to persevere in the place of prayer until we see you break in with power.

Luke 18:7 “God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night”

  1. Raise up and release a Missions Movement in Europe. Lord of the Harvest, we ask you to send out laborers into the fields.  You told us to open our eyes and to see that the harvest is ready to come in right NOW.  Lord, help each believer to be a missionary where they live.  Lord, help the European Church to fearlessly share their faith.  Make them a light to their world and a city that is set upon a hill.  Draw people in Europe to you, Jesus Christ.  May you, Jesus Christ, receive the full reward for your suffering in Europe.  Bring together your bride from the European nations.

Luke 10:2 “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”