A voice and a new joy.

A voice and a new joy l Byron Bay, Australia02.16.08On the heels of one of the most historic moves of the Australian government to date…we BURNED hot and bright last night. It almost seems at times as if God is moving and aligning the history of the world around our little worship and prayer times. It has begun to change from a nice little theory we talk and dream about to actual reality. He is shifting heaven and earth in response to our midnight cries. I am convinced of this now more than ever.

I am in love with this little town here in Byron Bay, Australia. Not only is it absolutely gorgeous and summer here…but this town is jammed full of young people! It is a hippie and backpackers paradise with great coffee, lots of weed, sunshine, and nice waves. Thats the combo this generation of seekers is looking for in the world! We are planted right in the middle of this town and God has ruined our hearts for this land and these people. As I shared last night and bombed this PS. 132 mandate on a generation…there are two verses that have been blazing in my mind that I cannot shake. I’ve been praying them, speaking them, and meditating on them daily. Even as I read this verse last night…people everywhere just began to cheer and clap and yell like it was their new Aussie mantra or something!

Isaiah 56:7 – “These I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer.”

I saw a hippies, backpackers, seekers, and young kids everywhere in a dream walking in off the street to the House of Prayer in Byron Bay and getting blasted with the glory bomb and His Presence!! They were filled with a new JOY that completely broke away their addictions, perversions, and insecurities. This joy catalyzed them to live a righteous life and “shine like the stars.”

But the Joy was ONLY released from the holy mountain in the house of prayer. It was not another great worship album coming from Australia or big ministry hype…it was weak, humble, and an authentic cry to Abba in the midnight hours that won over His heart.

So far on this trip… the number 333 has haunted me… I see it everywhere and everyday. I see it in clocks, planes, airports…everywhere and anywhere. Finally, after I woke up in the middle of the night a few nights ago and the clock was blinking 333 yet again. I decided I better look into this deal. Its funny how God is so persistent in His messages… He really does “chase” us down!! At first I thought it was Jeremiah 33:3…which would have been great and even applicable in this time…but that didn’t jive with my spirit…so I cracked open to Psalm 33:3 and there it was:

Psalm 33:3 – “Sing to Him a NEW SONG: play skillfully and shout for joy”

Our worship times have been nothing short of massive explosions of Gods Presence…almost every session God drops another bomb on us and leaves us all on the floor, laughing or crying, dancing or prostrate! Its been some of the freshest stuff I’ve experienced in some time.

Their is a mindset SHIFT taking place in this nation and city to rise up and release something NEW and FRESH that will captivate the world. There are so many creative people in this region trapped by fear, doubt and insecurity and it keeps them from releasing that NEW sound the nations are longing to hear!! There is a heavy mantle on this place for creative release. You see it everywhere in the way people dress, talk, the art they create and so on. Its here…but its misguided at the moment. We are contending and BURNING in Byron for a prophetic release of Heavens sounds in this town to change the earth. Its a beautiful collision that leaves no man unchanged.

So back to the Historic government move I mentioned earlier…well this is HUGE! There is a group of people they call the STOLEN GENERATION. Between the early 1900′s and 1970…a decision was made by the Australian government that greatly affected the first nations and Aborigine people. They passed a law whereby every child born to an Aborigine was taken away and given to a white family or put in an orphanage for adoption. Millions of children were taken from their parents within that time. This was a massive event that has forever impacted the Aborigine people and created a giant rift in the nation as their own children were STOLEN from them because of fear that they did not know how to best take care of them. These people were not given a voice in their time.

The government has long slid this under the carpet, denied it happened, and never took any ownership for the atrocity. The new head of government is a believer that miraculously won the seat in the election and taking care of this issue was very high on His agenda.

Two days ago he called for NATIONAL REPENTANCE DAY across the entire nation as delegates and government officials weeped for their fathers father mistake and ask forgiveness on behalf of a nation. They admitted their huge wrong and urged the Aborigine leaders to forgive them and release grace on the new government and nation in this hour.

SOMETHING SHIFTED ACROSS THE NATOIN THAT DAY. IT WAS A DAY IN HISTORY THAT WILL BE REMEMBER FOREVER. A YOKE BROKE AND A GRACE RELEASED. A “STOLEN GENERATION” WAS GIVEN A VOICE AND SOUND AGAIN.

This is only the beginning of what God has in store for this nation filled with destiny and promise.

Release it Lord as we BURN before you in day and night worship and pray. Turn your gaze on this place again and look down with favor and love.

FULL RESTORATION COME.I took this pic below in this little hippie town outside one of the shops…it says it all.

blaze on…_sean