Monica
My vision for the city of Bendigo is to pray for the people to come to the Lord, to open their eyes, to clean out the temple and renewing the love for God that belongs to Him (and has been robbed by Satan). God’s children will rise up in love. Families are so important in this time. My Lord wants me to come as there is power in praying with those He has chosen. To see the dross removed in this city; the drugs, sexuality that is flaunted by our young women & women who have been led astray. To keep praying and hold the ground we have taken, do not let the enemy take it back. Once Bendigo is revived and no longer Sodom & Gomorrah we will spread out across this land to the nations of the world. My Lord says there is much to be done; this is why He has called me. Keep your hand to the plough, keep your eyes on me and make straight your paths. LISTEN to my Word, do not be tempted.
Julie
I see a city where the children and the youth grow up knowing Jesus, not just knowing of Him. A city that is prosperous, but shares that wealth with other cities, and especially the rural communities. A community where "good" things happen. A city where the church and the community are one. The church provides for the needs of the community, and the community asks for the help of the church. I see a city where all churches work together, regardless of denomination. I guess that would be why I became involved with Pray Bendigo - I think the churches should work together, because it is the only
way we will see this city transformed. I see a city where "street" healings are common, a city where preaching on the streets is acceptable.
Elizabeth
I see a city that reveres and lifts up the name of Jesus, a city where God’s light shines, where the good news is preached to the poor and they respond in love and adoration to the Lord. A place where the wounds of the broken-hearted are truly bound up and healed, captives of every kind –especially those with mental illness – are freed, where God’s favour is seen, outward in good relationships. Families are reunited, people are reconciled to one another, different denominations within the church of Bendigo co-operate to extend God’s kingdom together. Differences of past times are healed, as the urgency to build God’s kingdom grows. Spiritual battles are fought together.
I see good solid relationships established between church leaders and civic leaders, flowing into increasing relationships between church members and many others in the community as we all reach out not only to those perceived to be “in need” (physically) but to those who don’t know how much they need to know the Lord Jesus. I see our community being transformed increasingly as the love of Jesus is seen more and more clearly by everyone. I see even small children testifying to their faith in Jesus and leading others to know Him.
I also see a great division coming. God and evil seen more and more clearly to be diametrically opposed. I see that there sill be some very hard times and some very exhausting times. LOADS of prayer will be needed and COMPLETE dependence upon the Lord will be crucial, also great humility, giving ALL the glory to God. Yet, as we all hang in there in love and complete obedience to the Lord, we will also have great encouragement we see the Lords work amongst us. He is going to set Bendigo like a beacon on a hill and many will come to see it, as social problems begin to disappear in marvellous ways and people can begin to see how great and our powerful our God is.
Ruth
My vision for Bendigo is the culmination of progressive visions or words that the Lord has given me personally over the last 30 years.
The first was the very clear call of the Lord to music / worship ministry to the nation of Australia. In 1977 – a year BEFORE I knew I was going to live in Bendigo, I had this very vivid vision: I saw a map of Australia and on it there was a small spark or spot fire over central Victoria. This spark grew into a raging fire and was filled with the glory and Presence of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 best describes what I saw where this spark was.
“…indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying:
“For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, 14so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.”
But this fire over central Victoria began to send embers elsewhere in Victoria and gradually began spreading to the other parts of the nation until the whole nation was on fire.
In 1978 I was sent to Bendigo by the Education Dept and wept for three days – sure that God had made a mistake in sending me here. The Lord has repeatedly said “I have sent you to Bendigo – this was the place of the vision.” At times it has been so hard – we even tried to sell our house and get jobs in Melbourne – but the Lord would not let us leave!!
It is my vision that 2 Chron 5:13, 14 would be a reality in this city. There is only ONE Body of Christ (not many) and I see the whole church would so love God with their whole heart and soul and mind and strength, to worship Him with total abandonment that would release His glory in a very tangible way in the city. As a result of the Lord’s glory filling the church, many would see it and fear and trust in the Lord. (Psalm 40:3)
I see the fear of the Lord consuming the city; miracles would be frequent, those who are abused and broken-hearted and bound by mental problems would be supernaturally delivered and healed.
As there is gold in the foundations of the city –geographically and historically – so the church in Bendigo would have Spiritual gold. Gold that is refined in the fire of God. Malachi 3:2, 3 Revelation 3:18 I believe the fire I saw in the vision is the fire of His Presence, a Holy Fire that purges out ALL the dross. Hence the process to see this vision fulfilled will not be “comfortable” as it requires a deep work of God to bring us all to that place of humility, repentance and total dependence upon Him. After much shaking and purging I see a church that functions according to the word of God and led only by the Holy Spirit. This will be a church that has totally come out of Babylon (Rev 18:4) and the shackles of mans traditions and denominations will have fallen off
For some years prior to Pray Bendigo being formed we had being meeting with other intercessors in our home praying for the church in the city. So when the Spiritual Mapping team was formed I felt that this was the “next step” in God’s purposes. Though I would like to have been on both research and intercession teams, it was prophetic intercession where I felt drawn as this was my stronger gifting.
Muriel
My vision for this city has never changed. God said, “I am going to send revival to Bendigo and that will flow forth to touch the nation and the nations.” It was in July 1998 that God first began to speak to us about our return to Victoria and to Bendigo. As that call was established in our lives over the months prior to departure He said that He had heard the cries of His people in this city for revival, that He was calling us back to come alongside in the battle and that He would call others from other places into the city with a Heart for His Kingdom and a vision for the city. What He required of us was obedience and He also said that it would cost in great trials and tribulations.
As we boarded the plane to come down to buy a house we were astounded to hear the old hymn “Be Thou My Vision” being played over the sound system. Part of that hymn says that,
He is our armour, our strength for the fight,
Heart of my own heart whatever befall,
Still be my vision O ruler of all.
My vision for this city is that we might hear God’s heartbeat, how He longs to see the sinner set free, the oppressed bought into liberty, captives set free.
I want to see a city so transformed by the power of God that even those who come into the city will know that it is different because they will sense the presence of God. I want to see Jesus exalted as Lord and also the Holy Spirit breathing life into this city. My vision is also that we are a united people for the Kingdom of God, seeking His purposes, His direction and his Glory.
I cling to the scripture, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should repent, Has He said, and will He not do” Or has He spoken, and He will not make it good? Numbers 23:19
God said, I am sending revival to this city, I trust implicitly that He will bring His word forth.
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