JUNE 7 - THIS IS THAT

Key Scripture:
"Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: 'Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people..."'" - Acts 2:14-17a

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." - Hebrews 13:8

1-HOUR PENTECOST PRAYER GUIDE
Peter's declaration-"This is that"-reveals a profound spiritual principle: What God promised in the past, He fulfils in the present. The Holy Spirit's outpouring on Pentecost wasn't something new but the fulfilment of ancient prophecy. The Greek phrase Peter uses, τοῦτό ἐστιν τὸ (touto estin to), emphatically identifies what they were witnessing with what Joel had foretold centuries earlier.
Today, as we gather to pray, we stand in this same prophetic lineage. Pentecost wasn't a one-time historical event but the beginning of an ongoing reality. As Peter declared in Acts 2:39: "The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call."
In Acts 2:33, Peter explains that Jesus, "exalted to the right hand of God... has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear." Jesus continues to pour out His Spirit today from His position of authority at the Father's right hand.
Throughout Acts, we see the pattern: the Spirit falls in Jerusalem (Acts 2), in Samaria (Acts 8), in Caesarea (Acts 10), and in Ephesus (Acts 19). Each outpouring confirms that Pentecost wasn't meant to be a museum piece but a living reality for all generations of believers.
Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." The Jesus who baptised believers in the Holy Spirit in the first century still baptises believers today. The Spirit who empowered the early church still empowers His church now.
As we pray today, let our declaration be "This is that!"-confidently claiming God's ancient promises for our present reality. Let us pray with the expectation that the God who moved powerfully at Pentecost will move powerfully among us today, for His character and promises remain unchanged.

1-HOUR PENTECOST PRAYER GUIDE

Preparation of Our Hearts (10 minutes)
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." - Psalm 51:10-12

• Take time for silent confession of any sin or hindrance to the Spirit's work.
• Ask God to create clean hearts and renew right spirits within us.
• Pray for a profound hunger and thirst for God's presence.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to stir up passion for Jesus in every heart.
• Pray for unity in the Body of Christ, removing barriers between believers.

Our Nation and World (10 minutes)
"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people." - Proverbs 14:34
"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." - 1 Timothy 2:1-2

• Pray for spiritual awakening across Australia, city by city.
• Ask for God's mercy on our nation and the turning of many hearts to Christ.
• Pray for the protection of religious freedom and the advancement of the gospel.
• Ask for the Holy Spirit to convict of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8).
• Pray for the restoration of biblical values in our society.
• Ask for the breaking of spiritual strongholds over cities and regions.

Church Leaders and Workers (10 minutes)
"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God." - Ephesians 4:11-13a

• Pray for a fresh anointing on pastors, elders, deacons, and ministry leaders.
• Ask God to protect leaders from spiritual attack and moral failure.
• Pray for wisdom as leaders navigate complex cultural challenges.
• Ask for the spirit of revelation in preaching and teaching.
• Pray for the raising up of new leaders filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom.
• Pray for unity among leaders across denominational lines.
• Ask for prophetic insight for leaders to guide the church in these times.

Healing, Signs, and Wonders (10 minutes)
"Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people." - Matthew 4:23
"And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." - Mark 16:17-18

• Pray for the sick by name, asking for complete healing.
• Ask for the gift of faith for healing to be stirred up in the church.
• Pray for supernatural provision for those in financial need.
• Ask for testimonies of God's power to spread throughout your community.
• Pray for courage to step out in faith and minister in Jesus' name.

Outpouring of Spiritual Gifts (10 minutes)
"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." - 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

• Pray for the activation and increase of the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).
• Ask for prophecy to encourage, comfort, and strengthen the church.
• Pray for words of knowledge that reveal God's intimate understanding.
• Ask for faith that moves mountains and conquers impossibilities.
• Pray for miraculous works that demonstrate God's power.

For Pentecost Sunday and Church Growth (10 minutes)
"Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." - Acts 2:46-47

• Pray for Pentecost Sunday to be marked by a tangible outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
• Ask for salvation of many on Pentecost Sunday, as in Acts 2.
• Pray specifically for the salvation of families, not just individuals.
• Ask for supernatural joy, unity, and love to be evident in your church.
• Ask for a church culture of discipleship and spiritual growth.
• Pray for multiplication of small groups and community connections.

Church Planting and Leadership Development (5 minutes)
"The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others." - 2 Timothy 2:2
"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up." - Ephesians 4:11-12

• Pray for vision and resources to plant new churches locally and globally.
• Ask for the Holy Spirit to call and equip church planters and missionaries.
• Pray for wisdom in identifying and developing new leaders.
• Ask for mentoring relationships that multiply spiritual maturity.
• Pray for Bible colleges and training institutions to equip Spirit-filled leaders.
• Ask for mature believers to disciple new converts effectively.
• Pray for the raising up of the next generation of leaders.
• Ask for apostolic vision that extends beyond maintaining to multiplying.

Closing Prayer and Declaration (5 minutes)
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." - Ephesians 3:20-21

• Thank God for His faithfulness throughout generations.
• Declare together: "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel!"
• Thank the Lord for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
• Make a commitment to remain open and available to the Spirit's work.
• Ask God to help us carry this fire beyond Pentecost Sunday into daily life.
• Thank God in advance for what He is about to do.