NATIONAL SOLEMN ASSEMBLY UPDATE 6

A NATION GATHERS IN PRAYER - HOW YOU CAN BE PART OF IT

The National Solemn Assembly to be held in Canberra on Friday, Saturday & Sunday of next week (9th/11th March) will be the catalyst for tens of thousands of Australians to gather in prayer across the Nation in repentance for past sins and in passionate prayer for redemption and restoration of the Church and Nation.

You can and should be part of what will be an historic moment in our nations spiritual history. This is how you can be involved.

1. Travel to Canberra and be part of this nation changing gathering. Nothing could be better than being with the several thousand expected to travel to Canberra for this once in a life time experience. Registration is not required so you can make your decision to come even at this late stage.

2. If you cannot come then ensure your local fellowship has its own Solemn Assembly on Sunday 11th March from 12 Noon till 3.00PM (join with other Churches if you can) to coincide with the final session of the Assembly being held outside Parliament House in Canberra.

3. If your Church is not holding a Solemn Assembly then find other praying people in your community and meet together in a home or a hall and hold your own Solemn Assembly from 12 Noon till 3.00PM on Sunday 11th March.

4. If you cannot find others to meet with then set aside those three hours in the privacy of your own home to spend with the Lord on behalf of His Church and our nation using the format for the Solemn Assembly as a guide.

So no one with a heart to participate need miss out.
Source: Australian Prayer Network

SUGGESTED SOLEMN ASSEMBLY PROGRAM FOR USE BY CHURCHES, PRAYER GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS

Suggested Order of Service:

Worship to draw you into the presence of God—15-20 minutes

Can be interspersed with brief prayers of Adoration, Honour and Worship

Reading of some of the key scriptures that are the focus of the Assembly—15 minutes

2 Chronicles 7:13-15, Psalm 68:6, Isaiah 58:1-5, Jeremiah 3:2-5, Haggai 1:2-11

Include times of Reflection on each of the scriptures. Ask Holy Spirit, “What are You saying to me through this scripture?”

Worship centring on God’s Faithfulness, Mercy and Compassion—10-15 minutes

Prayer time (45 minutes) focused on Repentance, and covering the 6 areas of sin in our Nation that God revealed during the 40 Days of Seeking His Face, which are an offence to Him. (Lack of Intimacy in our relationship with Him, Idolatry, Sexual Immorality, Shedding of Innocent Blood, Injustice and Broken Covenants) - for more detailed in formation go to www.ausprayernet.org.au and click on Solemn Assembly.

Worship centring on God’s Forgiveness and Redemption—10-15 minutes

Reading of some more key scriptures—15 minutes

Psalm 68:7-10, Isaiah 58:6-14, Micah 6:8, Haggai 1:12 to 2:9, Malachi 4:1-6

Include times of Reflection on each scripture

Prayer time (45 minutes) on Redemption, Restoration, Holiness and asking for God’s help

Praying into being the opposite of what we repented of.

Close with worship (15 minutes) giving praise and worship and thanksgiving for what He will do in our Nation
Source: Australian Prayer Network

WHAT IS A SOLEMN ASSEMBLY?

A Solemn Assembly is called specifically to confess any known sins, to restore a right relationship between God and His people and in bringing healing and restoration to society and the land. A solemn assembly is marked by seriousness, reflection and a sense of awe before God. It’s a time for believers to listen to what God has to say to them through scripture, to confess together where they have missed the mark and to renew their covenant with God and before those gathered.

A Solemn Assembly may be described as, a divinely ordained process for corporate repentance. It is an urgent call from leaders for the people of God to gather.

Solemn Assemblies can be called for: when the church (individual or corporate) is facing deep spiritual problems.

Solemn Assemblies can be a proactive, preventive measure to keep dissatisfaction from taking root and problems arising.

Solemn Assemblies may be a way to bring healing from past sins and mistakes, and they can be a cry for guidance from the Lord as well.

In preparing for a Solemn Assembly, people should understand from the outset, that the assembly will be an encounter with God!

Therefore, it must be guided by God’s agenda, not theirs (all hobby-horses should be stabled) God is calling the assembly, and people need to stay focused on God and wait until He is through speaking to them. Therefore people need to be well prepared before they come. They must be really ready and anticipation needs to be high: each person must own it as part of their own personal experience with the Lord.

Scriptures like: Exodus 33:7-11: All Israel to come out from the camp for a solemn assembly, to meet God in His tabernacle and to hear what God had to say to them.

1 Samuel 7:5-6: To help people prepare for the return of the ark of God the prophet Samuel called a solemn assembly.

Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoiada, Hezekiah, Josiah, Zerubabbel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Joel all proclaimed solemn assemblies throughout Israel’s history.

In Joel 2:15-17 God spoke to him and said to declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Although in the Old Testament and today it is the spiritual leaders who call a solemn assembly, in a deep sense it is God himself, calling out to His people to return with all their hearts. This is the biblical vision of a solemn assembly.

What we can expect:

There are many unknowns in a solemn assembly. It’s impossible to know before hand, for example, what and how God may lay issues and things on peoples hearts, what scriptures or songs will prove the most powerful, and what parts of the service may need to be prolonged or expanded to allow the Spirit room to work. But we can count on some things. Both ancient and recent history show God’s wonderful response to His people’s heartfelt repentance and recommitment.

If we are serious about seeking God, we can expect God to answer our prayers for guidance, reveal hidden sins etc, move individuals to speak His truth, and send spiritual refreshment and healing where it is needed the most.

So we call it and we prepare ourselves to come together and to listen to the Word of the living God. Then wait and see what the Lord of heaven and earth will do.

Source: Australian Prayer Network

SUNDAY SESSION OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT HOUSE

A final reminder that the Sunday session of the Solemn Assembly will now be held on the grassed area outside Parliament House, Canberra known as Federation Mall from 12 Noon till 3.00PM.

In the event of rain we will move back to the Budawang Building at Exhibition Park in Canberra where the Friday and Saturday sessions are being held.

Source: Australian Prayer Network