The House of Prayer is growing at a rapid pace here in Fort Mill. We are open day and night with many in the day watch and a few in the night watch (10pm-6am). This is such a big accomplishment for us considering we are only about four months old. We are having new visitors come each day and gaining new intercessors weekly. Our weekly Encounter God Services are taking off and the Spirit is moving in different way than we’ve seen before. The Lord is truly imparting His joy into this company of people. Its not just us pressing in for the breakthrough anymore, it’s doing it with a joyful spirit because He is worthy of a whole generation praising His name. It’s not just us here keeping the fire burning, we get the honor of partnering with His heart to bring worldwide change. We are beginning to have this understanding imparted to us.

    On February 10-13, we had the honor and privilege of having Mike Bickle come out to Fort Mill. He was one of the main speakers at the Kingdom Leadership conference that Morningstar hosted and he also was able to speak at ZHOP to our staff. It was so encouraging to hear him speak about how the Kansas City House of Prayer started and all the prophetic history behind it, not only behind IHOP but the significance of ZHOP and the promises for the land we are on. We truly believe that there is a well of revival that God wants to uncap once again on this land.

 From February 17-18, 7 Thunders took a team to Knoxville, TN. When we returned to Fort Mill that next night, each of us shared on what had happened to us individually. In the middle of testimonies the Spirit of the Lord fell on the whole room and we truly tasted the spirit of adoption. People were laughing, crying, speaking in tongues for the first time, dancing and singing. We felt like an actual family. It was like all of our differences faded away and it was just us as a family and the Lord. We felt the delight of the Lord over us like we have never felt it before. Ever since that night it’s felt as if we are a totally different group of people in a totally different place. What was really cool is that this outpouring happened on February 18 (2-18) and we have been praying Acts 2:18.. The very date where God poured out His Spirit.

 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.” Acts 2:17-18

Internship

On Monday January 30^th, our very first Zadok Internship started. The internship is led by Isaac and Morgan Bennett and Adam and Taryn McArthur. Here is an update from Adam about how the internship is going:

 “…the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok… which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.”  Ezekiel 40:46

The Zadok Internship is underway. God has given us the aspiration of the Zadok Internship through Ezekiel 40:46. Our desire is to move as a company of people; a company of priests that will approach the Lord and will be keepers who will preserve the fire perpetually on the altar. We are in passionate pursuit of what it means to be “sons of righteousness (Zadok).” Above all, we are drawing near to the Lord, worshipping and praying to our Holy King, then waiting for Him to meet us. We currently have 7 interns that are going full time. They are praying and ministering unto God 4 to 6 hours a day in the Zadok House of Prayer and are helping pioneer the land during their off time. These first interns are being lit to burn before their God. In the spirit of Malachi 3:16, we have classes twice a week where we meditate and talk about the Word of God, allowing it to transform and develop us to be those who contend against the spirit of this age. We will be relentless in standing before the Uncreated One…and in this we contend to know the man Christ Jesus. Our next internship starts July 28th and is 6 months long. Pray for us as we forge the path for others to come near to the Lord.

For more information and applications for our 3 internships: Zadok Internship (day-time), the Awakened internship (night-time), or Camp David Youth Internship (3 ½ week internship for ages 14-17) please visit www.zhop.org/internships

Meditation

We believe that meditation is key for understanding and going deeper in the word. What we do is we have one verse that we will meditate on for about 3-4 weeks at a time. We have meetings each week to share what we have received from the Lord. Right now we are meditating on Ezekial 40:46. Here is some insight from one of our team members Brianne Nichols:

 “…For the priests who keep charge of the altar.  These are the sons of Zadok, who… come near to the Lord to minister to Him.”

Can you be considered a son of Zadok unless you keep charge of the altar?  Who is a son of righteousness except one who prays?  Without a prayer life there is no righteous sustenance.  How does God feel about us keeping charge and taking care of His house and His altar?  As we draw near to minister to Him, He also ministers to us.  As we come close, He purifies His Bride so that she is able to draw even nearer, become even more like Him, and draw even nearer again.  It is this incredible cycle that allows me to know the very heart of God.  This priesthood does not live by religious acts and rituals; it is a lifestyle of prayer and worship.  We as priests are called to stand, serve, minister, and burn before the Lord (2 Chron. 29:11).  This is real, and God really likes it.  We are here to let God be in charge, but to keep the flame on the altar from going out like our life depends on it.  Priests make sacrifices to God.  “God, this is my sacrifice: all my ambitions, my time, my efforts, my passions, my pursuits, my life.  I am after You.  You are worthy of all that I am.  Oh God, unveil You.”

 Trips

From January 26-29, a team from 7 Thunders went to Hampton Roads, VA.   Here is a report from Jonathan Mills, one of the team members who went on the trip:

      7 Thunders took a team of 4 to Hampton Roads, VA on January 26-29. There were about 350 people from all over the state of Virginia that attended this “Beauty of the Lord” conference. The first night Kirk spoke on the Oil of Gladness out of Psalm 45. The Joy of the Lord broke out and everyone was laughing and dancing. It was awesome to see young and old joining together worshipping God.

     The second day was on the perfect leadership of Jesus and on Revelation 4 and 5. It’s amazing to realize how many emotions come out when you talk about the Leadership of Jesus. All the love and adoration comes out because you do love Jesus, But then all this bitterness comes out because you realize that the God who has held you through the storm is actually the one putting you through the storm. It offends our hearts so easily. God was really challenging me on this. So as I was dealing with this issue in my heart, Kirk starts to speak on the Throne Room. (Revelation 4-5) I began to see the worthiness of Jesus in the face of all these different circumstances in my life. And although it doesn’t changes everything overnight, that revelation of Jesus is changing my view of everything.

Upcoming Trips:

New Zealand May 8-21

Dallas, TX June 2-4

Events

Camp David Youth Internship

Who: Those ages 14-17.

When: July 1-27.

Where: Located right on the ZHOP Base.

What: An intensive training time for those who are called to something higher than just a normal lifestyle. The radicals who are meant to be priests before God. These 3 ½ weeks will be centered around a priesthood culture of life. We will be training them in the prophetic and how to minister to the heart of God. We believe that there is a generation arising who is called to a lifestyle of prayer and we want to train the young ones to live that lifestyle. (www.zhop.org/internships)  

Prayer Requests

* The 7 Thunders staff  _ Luke Ahrenholtz, Katie Bennett, Andy and Bek Hickman, Rebekah Myers, Mercy Falkner, Jonathan and Heidi Mills, Isaac and Morgan Bennett and the Zadok House of Prayer team. That the Spirit of Grace and supplication would continue in them to pray and prophesy; especially as they are setting themselves in Fort Mill, SC. 

       * Kirk - Pray that he has understanding and revelation on leadership and fathering the next generation

       * Dee- for increased revelation as she leads the young ones.

       * Isaac and Morgan - that God gives them grace and strength each day as they lead the internship

       * Katie - for grace and strength to lead, as she is one of the main worship leaders at ZHOP.

       * Abby - Increased joy and zeal for God as she moves to a new environment.

Something of real power is continuing to happen with our children, and we’re asking for the Spirit to guard and disciple them in it.

      * The I.H.O.P.s - There are houses of prayer springing up all over the world. We have had the extreme privilege to be friends with an amazing number of them. Pray for ways to keep those friendships available and strategic.

·       The Nightwatch- for strength to keep pressing in. The nightwatch is key to a House of Prayer. We believe that the night belongs to the Lord and we are going to take it back. The main leaders of the nightwatch are Jake Ferrell and Lacy Vaughn.

* The Bennett’s - Pray for the health and well being of our family, our finances, and understanding in our lives.

 * Pray the 22 word Prayer 7 times daily _ Jesus, I plead your blood over my sins and the sins of my nation, God end abortion and send revival to America!

 Trips - guidance and direction concerning this year.