Worshipper Warriors
The Lord is rebuilding David's fallen tent (see Acts 15:16). David was a worshipper warrior. Through King David, the nation of Israel extended it's borders right to the Euphrates, as God had promised to Abraham. He was not satisfied until he had taken his full inheritance. He knew that in doing this, he brought glory to the Lord God, whom he loved.

The Lord is looking for such worshipper warriors today. We have an inheritance as God's children:

'Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession' (Psalm 2:8).

This is God's heart for us. In fact he tells us through Isaiah the prophet,

'It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob...I will also make you a light for the Gentiles (the nations), that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth' (Isaiah 49:6, brackets mine).

The Hebrew word used as 'small' in this passage is a very strong word. It actually means, it is a 'despicable' thing, a 'dishonourable' thing. If we are just concerned with our own nation, it grieves the heart of God. He has given us a great inheritance in the nations; whether we go ourselves, or send our prayer and support, we have a part to play.

Celebration for the Nations is part, we believe, of the Lord restoring into His Church, the heart that David had. Intimacy and warfare go hand in hand in the Kingdom of God. The world is waiting for the armies of the Lamb. Armies that fight with the high praises of God in their mouths, and a two edged sword of God's word in their hand. Armies that win by losing, that conquer by denying themselves and laying down their lives. Warriors that realise that the greatest weapon is love, and that love never fails.

Sound the Trumpet
The preparation for this Celebration, and the cost, and the opposition can be crushing. I have found myself personally overwhelmed again as I think of all that needs to be done, and the wisdom and understanding that is required. Just recently as I struggled with all these things I felt the Lord say, 'sound the trumpet'. The trumpet sounds a call to battle. When the troops hear, they rally. I believe that there is a trumpet sounding in heaven. The Lord wants us to respond on earth, and sound our trumpets too, rallying the people together to worship and to warfare, to prayer and intercession. As we continue in this journey of Celebration, the battle intensifies. Yet at the same time, the revelation grows, and our knowledge of the Holy One who is with us, grows.

One of the Hebrew words for 'blowing the trumpet' is a word that was very precious to me in the first Celebration in 2007 , 'teruw'ah'. It also means 'jubilee', and 'shout'. This is the time of God's favour, this is the Year of Jubilee. Jesus came and declared that Isaiah 61 had been fulfilled, as he began his ministry (see Luke 4:18-21). He declared that for those who believe, it is jubilee; debts are forgiven, prisoners set free, the oppressed released.

We need to build on the revelation that we already have, and move forward to take more ground. We have been promised a breakout from heaven. It is worth any price!

The battle
In the light of these scriptures, and the Lord's precious presence with us, we can go into battle.

1) Continue to pray for breakout of the living waters in North Korea. May the believers there hear the trumpet sounding, and find strength to know that they are not alone. There is an army from around the world standing with them.

2) 'In that day a great trumpet will sound. Those who are perishing in Assyria and those who were exiled in Egypt will come and worship the Lord on the holy mountain in Jerusalem' (Isaiah 27:13). Some of old Assyria is present day Iran. There are so many people coming to the Lord in that 'closed' nation, that their government are threatened, and are presently debating a law that would give a mandatory death penalty for apostasy,(i.e. leaving the Muslim faith).. The trumpet is sounding and those in the Middle East are beginning to respond. Pray for their strength and protection.

3) The Lord is asking us to take the Celebration out into the nations. We started in a small way this year in Wales, England and Germany, but for 2009 we would like to see worshipping warriors out in places like North Africa, the Middle East, China as well. Pray for the right leaders, and the teams to come into place.

4) Here in Wales, and particularly in Llanelli, we want to work closely with church leaders. There are some differences in theology and particularly in how evangelism should happen. Please pray for our hearts to be humble and united. We would like to submit all we do locally to the local church leadership, and be a blessing to the church in Llanelli.

5) Everyone is busy with their own responsibilities and work, including me! Celebration is added on to what we normally do. When we agreed to go forward with Celebration 2009 it was on the understanding that we would have a key administrator in place by the end of September. It is now the beginning of October, and though we have some part time help, we don't yet have the person who can take the weight of the admin. It is already getting late to start booking marquees etc.

Unless someone comes into place soon (Korean with good English or first language English) it may be that we have to let 2009 lay as a 'fallow year' and go forward for 2010. Please ask for the Lord's timing and wisdom in this situation. I am sounding the trumpet!

6) We know the Celebration will cost well over £100 000, possibly up to £150 000. We have about £7000 in the accounts, and praise the Lord for another £5000 promised. However we need breakthrough on this.

7) Worship leaders and worshippers. We need the word to get out, and the people to come!

Dates for Celebration for the Nations 2009
1) 18th -24th July : Simply Worship and worship evangelism! One week just to 'tabernacle' with Jesus. Worship leaders from various nations. (1500 places).
2) 27th July onwards (exact times to be confirmed) : Worship and training for placements in the nations.(150 places).
3) Then Celebration teams taking God's presence to the nations.

Together, shoulder to shoulder, we will succeed, because Jesus is our commander, He is the Mighty Warrior.

'They will make war against the Lamb, but the lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings – and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers' (Revelation 17:14).

Yours in that victory

Gail and the Celebration Team