Much To Pray!!

People of God, there is much to pray!

MICHOP exists to provide a stategic location for corporate prayer for our region, state and nation.  The Lord called for it, and set it in place.  It is our privilege and responsibility to hear from heaven and release on earth the will of God (PS 115:16).  MICHOP is one place we have the opportunity to do this, to pray and worship together in the name of our Lord Jesus!

There is much the Lord is saying and releasing NOW to His people in revelation and through kingdom directives.  Thank you for listening and sharing what you are hearing, and for praying and declaring His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. !!!!!!!!  It is effective in the spirit realm.  Don't stop.  Keep up the good work.

--Wendy Waterson, Local Director

Joining with Jesus in Prayer

What a wonderful thing it was to participate in The Call Detroit on 11/11/11 and see the work of Holy Spirit as He moved in hearts and lives!  The prayers prayed in Detroit will produce the changes of God! 

 

One of the blessed things that took place was greater unity in the Body of Christ.  Even some of the opposition to the gathering commented on the diversity of the event--they were surprised it was such.  The Lord drew His people together to pray, and He strengthened our bond of the Spirit, and our love, and our commitment to one another. 

 

He is moving to bring forth the unity of His Body for which Jesus prayed in John 17!  We agree with Jesus' prayer, and we call for it with Him!  Not only that, but we are willing to receive the changes resulting practically from those prayers of faith.  We agree to give ourselves to the relationships for which God is now calling, and we believe with the help of the Holy Spirit we will no longer be divided by race, or gender or generation.

 

Jesus, we join with you in prayer for ALL that is in your heart.  Let it come!  And Father, we pray this in Jesus' name.  Amen.   

 

--Wendy Waterson, Local Director

Greetings From the Staff--Wendy Waterson, Director

Welcome to the MICHOP website!  Please let us know if you have questions about the ministry, prayer, or how to get involved in the growing prayer effort.  MICHOP exists to faciltate prayer and worship through the saints of God, and for all aspects of our culture--city, state and nation.

Please access the Prayer Focus page to see what we are praying now.  Focus is refreshed each week.  The Lord is moving!  You will find critical needs addressed in the prayer focus, and we thank you for uniting to ask and receive from Him, to hear and declare His will over situations in the earth.

We look forward to seeing the kingdom come together with you as we call on our God and welcome Him--right here! 

 

  

The Sound of Harvest - by Ray Hughes

Article by Ray Hughes

Throughout the ages, harvest time has signified many things to many people. There have been songs, books, legends and poems that herald the joys of this special time of reward and reaping. There are also accounts of this time being one of devastation and weeping.

The harvest has always been extremely significant to God and His people, as well as their enemies. The enemies of Israel always seemed to show up at harvest time. After God’s people had toiled, sown and nurtured their crops, the Midianites or the Philistines stood by to invade, destroy or steal the harvest that was to sustain His people through the next seasons.

REVIVAL HARVEST
Typically a harvest is the spiritual parallel to what, in our time, we know as a “revival,” although I personally feel that there is a distinction between revival and harvest. I feel that revival has more to do with the spiritual condition of the church. The Old Testament harvests can be likened to the fields of humanity that are to be reaped into the kingdom in the end times, mentioned in the New Testament. Through the centuries, significant moves of God have caused masses of lost and purposeless souls to be saved. These revival harvests are the enormous yields of fruit produced from the seed sown and toil invested in a nation or area.

From the time that Jesus walked the earth to now, we have been commissioned to bring in the great spiritual harvest of souls for His kingdom. Although God’s enemies are still standing by trying to thwart the purposes of God and to steal the harvest right out of our hands, we can’t forget that He who is with us is greater than those who are against us. 
God has a plan and God has provision.

Virtually all the great revivals and harvests in past generations have had a musical sound that was unique to that move of God. At times it appeared that the music is what defined the revival, and at other times it seemed that the revival defined the music or sound. Whether it is a highly publicized musical sound or the sound of weeping and wailing in prayer, the Holy Spirit graces it with His presence and His power to fulfill His purpose.

Scripture tells us that many times we will see things manifest first in the natural and then in the spirit. God has recently given a new scientific parable for what He is now spiritually releasing into the earth through a fascinating new technique called “Sonic Bloom.” Let’s take a look at what the song birds of the air have to do with bringing in the greatest harvest the earth has ever seen.

THE SOUND OF HARVEST
In the nation of Indonesia, the Crop Agricultural Service has reported that the rice crop per hectare (2.47 acres) has more than doubled, and the growing time has been shortened so much that they can grow three crops per year instead of just two. Very soon they will be able to fit four crops into each growing season. They have also reported a 125 percent increase in yields of ginger, potatoes and onions. Throughout the U.S. and other nations, there are reports today of soybean plants producing up to 300 pods per plant when the norm is only 30-35. Corn is growing 18-22 feet high with several ears per stem. Apple yields have increased 50 percent with the zinc content 1,750 percent higher per apple. Strawberry yields are 300 percent higher. Fruit is showing increased sugar levels and greater resistance to disease and bugs. Tomato crops are mature 35 days sooner and the yields have nearly doubled. Bell peppers are bearing 50 peppers per plant instead of the normal 4-5. All of the fruits and vegetables have a shelf life twice as long as normal, with incredible increases in vitamins, minerals, sugar and flavor. The list goes on and on. What is happening to these crops to cause such incredible harvests? Believe it or not it is 100 percent natural, 100 percent organic and 100 percent biblical. These plants are being awakened by a sound that allows them to more fully receive what they need to mature, thrive and increase at astonishing rates.

It began during the Korean War when a young American soldier witnessed a Korean mother deliberately throw her four-year-old’s legs under the back wheels of a military truck. A crippled child was a far greater asset to a begging family’s income and was the only way she knew to keep her family alive. The young soldier walked away horrified and weeping. He spent the next few days in his foxhole praying, thinking and searching for answers. Later he learned that 40 percent of the area’s farmers had starved to death that year because they would not eat the seed that was to be planted for next year’s harvest. Dan Carlson, the young soldier, went home from that experience determined for the Lord to use him to help end the world’s hunger problem. He gave the next decade of his life to study and research, prayer and experimentation.

Carlson discovered that God’s original method of watering the plants of the earth is, in fact, still God’s best for today. Genesis 2:6 tells us that “a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground.” It turns out that plants are able to obtain 72% of their nutritional requirements through their leaves via thousands of mouth-like pores, called the stomata, on the surface of the leaves. Plants translocate excess nutrients from their leaves down to their root system to condition the soil and store up nutrients for future use. From this revelation, Carlson began tediously developing a perfectly balanced, nutrient-rich spray that could be misted onto plants’ leaves. In theory, it was to be like the mist that rose from the nutrient-rich soil of the Garden of Eden. Once finished with his laborious and prayer-filled task, he found that a leaf could absorb 300 percent more nutrients from his spray than from any other foliar spray.

In his studies he also came across some research that proved there were certain sound frequencies that could stimulate the leaf stomata to open. With this newfound information, he experimented with various frequencies until he found that 3,000 to 5,000 kHz range did the trick. When used in conjunction with the spray, the leaf was able to absorb a phenomenal 700 percent more nutrients than normal, causing unheard of results in the plants.

When a musicologist friend heard the sounds that Carlson was using on plants, his ear immediately recognized the pitch, and he began his portion of the research. He soon made the connection that the sounds that the birds make just before dawn are of the perfect frequency to have the same effect on plants as Carlson’s recording. No one has ever been able to explain why birds sing in that hour before dawn. Those particular songs are not mating songs or territorial calls. They just sing. We now know that they sing to awaken the seeds and plants from their dormancy to receive life-giving nutrients from the morning dew. This two-fold process of sound and mist is what causes the harvest to be so abundant in the examples given above. (www.sonicbloom.com)

May we all have an ear to hear what the Lord is saying through this parable to His church for today. The Lord is adding a new element of fresh revelation to accelerate His harvest that is already in process. The cornfields are already there and have been growing for years. But the “now” of harvest will simply be a miraculous acceleration of increase. God is revealing the purpose of the new sound in our generation. Just as the song that the bird sings immediately before dawn has, until now, been unidentifiable, the role of this new spiritual song has oftentimes been somewhat of a mystery. Psalm 40:3 says, “He has put a new song in my mouth—praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD.” The Hebrew definition of the word praise here is Tehillah, which means a laudation and spontaneous song of worship. When the new song of praise is sung, the Lord will allow people to see the song, their eyes will be opened and they will be compelled to fear God and put their trust in Him.

This new Sonic Bloom release is not going to eliminate the need for true prayer, preaching, prophecy and praise as they all relate to the harvest. These four fundamentals are obviously used by the Holy Spirit to accomplish many things in the kingdom outside of the roles they play in the harvest, and they will always be effective in the sowing and planting and in releasing the light of His gospel truth. They are effective in faithfully plowing the ground, weeding out the plantings of the enemy and reaping the awesome plantings of the Lord, as well as breaking open the heavens to cause an outpouring of life-giving water to fall back down into the thirsty soil.

Much like condensation, our praise and worship rises, only to return to produce a potential spiritual health in a region or nation. Since the time of the Tabernacle of David, I don’t know of a generation in history that has placed more of an emphasis on praise than the present generation. The praise and worship movement of the last two decades has surprisingly continued to be a force in Christianity. When it started some felt that it was simply another trend in Christianity and felt that it would lose its steam like many other seasonal emphases. But I think everyone would agree that it is proving to be more than a seasonal emphasis; it has become a dominant factor in Christian life. Praise and worship really can’t be seasonal but must be a lifestyle, for that is the way God intended it.

In the last twenty years, God has been faithful not to allow His people to remain trapped in selfish ambition beyond repair. He has rescued many from seasons of self-indulgence. He continues to reveal His heart for true worship, and He is dramatically bringing His people back to a heart and passion for worship, humility and obedience. He has been preparing and posturing us to prophetically receive and release the freshly-proclaimed “new sound” with purity. As it begins to be unleashed anew into the earth, there is coming a great and victorious harvest of souls, the fruit of which will be above and beyond what anyone has ever seen or heard of on the earth before.

SPIRITUAL STOMATA
In Dr. Carlson’s research, there were certain sound frequencies that stimulated the pores to open. Some of those frequencies are above hearing range: they are ultrasonic. Simply said, they are a sound too high for us. But I believe that we are at a time when God is going to release the sound of His pure word. And it will be a certain sound, causing mouths to open “that He might fill them.” This new sound will release the spiritual nutrients of heaven to go to the very depths of those who are the plantings of the Lord and to all of the harvest fields that have been lying spiritually dormant, never reaching their full potential in God. It is time for the church and the lost to be so impacted by the new sound that our lives are opened up to the infilling of the Holy Spirit and we produce the miraculous fruit that we were created for. It is time that our lives come into agreement with the worship of all of creation and join in this end-time Sonic Bloom.

David sings in Psalm 108:1-6 about the praise of his soul being sung among the nations and being sent forth to awaken the dawn. He prays that the Lord would be exalted so that the ones that God loves may be delivered: 
1My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul.
2Awake, harp and lyre; I will awaken the dawn!
3I will give thanks to Thee, O LORD, among the peoples; and I will sing praises to 
Thee among the nations.
4For Thy lovingkindness is great above the heavens; and Thy truth {reaches} to the skies.
5Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and Thy glory above all the earth.
6That Thy beloved may be delivered, save with Thy right hand, and answer me!

May our hearts be steadfast as we pray our prayers, as we sing our praises, as we preach our sermons and as we declare our prophetic words. May we live thankful lives among the people every day. May the song of love to our God resound through the nations, for His lovingkindness to us is great. May the truth of His word declared upon the lips of those who love Him reach to the skies. May God be exalted in such power that it releases His glory over all the earth, so that those He loves may experience victories that can only be wrought by His mighty right hand. May our hearts be so attuned to His love that we would be counted as harps and lyres, instrumental in awakening the dawn.

Forever Praising,
Ray Hughes

 

Transforming a region through prayer and praise - by Rick Warzywak

By Rick Warzywak – Transformation Michigan Facilitator

After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things. – Acts 15:16-18

Rebuilding the Tabernacle of David is a body of Christ function where Jesus Christ is the foundation. This is accomplished through a unified church that is able to come together as one. The prayers of the saints intermingled with praise and worship of God acts as an incense that is pleasing to God.

Each county in our state is a part of this rebuilding process. We are in a time of favor and blessing where God is allowing us to connect in new ways. He is giving us new connections and even having us revisit and rebuild old ones.

God is the author of sound, music and song. He inspires people as it resonates with our spiritual DNA through hymns of old; contemporary and the spontaneous new song. God uses many formats and music forms as we look worldwide. We must lay down our divisions in this area and embrace each other as we are moved to sing praises and thanksgiving unto Him. The life giving Word can be proclaimed over our state. This is one of the purposes of Transformation Michigan.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. – Prov 18:21

We are able to speak and sing life giving words over our families; churches; state; and nation. There is a power in singing and praying God’s Word! The Bible speaks of a “Harp and a Bowl”.

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth. – Rev 5:8-11

Our prayers arise to heaven as incense and a bowl in heaven is filled and spills over onto the earth. A town, city or nation can be transformed in a moments notice because God literally shows up. Our praise/prayer/worship can join heavens instantly as we turn our hearts towards Him. It is intimacy and relationship with God that we yearn for. The heavens are open to feel and be touched by the “Father Heart of God”.

 

Measure Those Who Worship - by Francis Frangipane

by Francis Frangipane


“Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, ‘Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations…” (Revelation 11:1-2).

At the end of the age there will be two types of Christians: those who worship in the inner court and those outside the place of intimacy who are, to some degree, subject to the influence of “the nations.” For whatever this verse ultimately means, it tells us now that the Spirit of God is measuring worshipers – those individuals whose treasure is in heaven, who abide in the inner court of God’s temple.  Beloved, those who worship God dwell in a measured and protected place.

Consider: In our world of terrors, pressures and trauma, our only place of safety exists in the living presence of God.  We must not accept a religion about God instead of the presence of God.  If we would truly dwell in the divine Presence, one thing perhaps above all others will take us there: we must become true worshipers of God. 

True Worship

Jesus taught that “true worshipers” are those who worship “the Father in spirit and truth” (John 4:23).  In other words, their worship of God flows from their heart unhindered by difficult outward conditions.  “Spirit and truth” worship is genuine worship.  Indeed, right now on planet earth, the Father is seeking such people “to be His worshipers” (John 4:23-24).

Consider well the priority of God.  He isn’t seeking for us to be miracle workers or great apostles and prophets. He desires more from us than the cultivation of good leadership skills or administrative strengths.  What does He seek? He desires that, in spirit and truth, we become His worshipers.

Genuine worship causes us to become genuine Christians.

If we focus on making our worship true, our Bible study, prayer and extended service to God, whatever that may be, will also be true. Indeed, a worshiping heart floods all other spiritual disciplines with legitimacy and substance.  If we bow in worship before studying God’s word, His word will plunge deep into our soul; our fruit will be sweeter and more enduring.  If, before we open our mouths in prayer, we honor God in worship, our intercession will ascend toward heaven on wings of unfeigned trust and expectant faith.

Worship rescues our spiritual efforts from routine, religiosity, pride and guilt; it takes our minds completely off ourselves and burrows us into the overwhelming life of God.

We have all heard teaching that God desires to have a relationship with us, and it is true.  Yet, the implication is that His relationship with us is perfectly accommodating, nearly casual in its nature, and mostly defined by our terms.  Yes, God desire that our union with Him be full and wonderful.  Yet, His descent into our lives, His commitment to redeem and restore us has one ultimate purpose: that we can ascend into a relationship defined by His terms.

The consequence of possessing such a relationship with God is that the reality of His presence transforms us into worshipers.  Indeed, worship is the evidence of a transformed life. Worship may be expressed with tears of joy or in silent awe; it may create an abiding gratitude toward God or inspire songs in the night.  However the expression, the worship the Father seeks is absolutely meaningful.  It turns our complete being toward God in love.

If, however, the idea of “worship” seems to be a strange thing; if it’s feels mechanical or the words expressed seem hollow (and not hallowed), it is because the soul of the individual has not first been transformed.  The closer we draw to God, the more we are transformed; the greater our transformation, the more completely we respond in worship. You see, true worship deepens and matures as we walk on with God and His glory unfolds before us.

Recall the aged apostle John’s testimony.  He was in his nineties when he wrote: “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us” (1 John 4:16).   Listen to that first phrase: we have come to know.  When we first come to God, by necessity, we must come as we are with sin and shame.  Yes, we seek to repent of our obvious sins, but the work of God is destined to go much deeper.  As young Christians, we still carry attitudes of pride, ambition and fear, as well as many other sins, that cause us to misrepresent the actual nature of God to others. 

Though we are sinful, God does not abandon us.  Instead His work continues.  His illuminating fire enters the darkened caverns of our hearts.  Here, in this furnace of divine refinement, stripped of our pretenses and pride, spiritually naked without a rag of self-righteousness in which to clothe ourselves – in this stark reality we come to know God’s unconditional love and acceptance.

If you have true worship for God it is because you have, indeed, been loved by Him. “We love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).  What once sounded like an impossible command – “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND - is transformed from a Law into a promise full of hope, an anticipation that He will transform all that we are and, in the process, create the praise of our lips.  It is as though He says, You shall love Me with all your heart for that is exactly how I love you, with all My heart.

Our worship is the result of His drawing near to us; it is the effect He has upon the redeemed. Yet, it is also a choice we make.  I choose worship as a way to demonstrate my trust in God when my circumstances appear hostile; I choose worship as my means of burrowing into the heart of God when all around me is in turmoil.  And as I’m lifted into His presence, I am also aware that the character of my life is being measured, and it’s being measured by my worship at His altar.