I was in Herrnhut, Germany and then to Jerusalem in July 2013. The focus was to “dig” into the presence of God in these places. Herrnhut is where the Moravians kept prayer watch for 100 years after a revival under the leadership of Count Zinzendorf and Christian David. Jerusalem is a city that is most mentioned in the Biblical that pertains to the historical, present and prophetic understanding and destiny of believers of Jesus Christ.
Hope you enjoy the video!
I arrived at Frankfurt airport on 5 July after 18 hours of flight travel (including transit) to meet up with a friend who is traveling with me. I am so thankful to be able to have a shower at a Frankfurt hotel and had lunch before boarding my train at 1pm from Frankfurt to Lobau with a transit at Dresden. By the time we arrived at Lobau, it was 7.30pm. The ride to YWAM Herrnhut castle, where we are staying, was about 15min but we stopped by the supermarket to get some bottled water and small bites. It took me 28 hours from the time I boarded my first flight to arrived at Herrnhut! As you might have guessed, I completely crashed out that night!
I have longed to be in Herrnhut for many years, drawn by the Moravian history of a century long continuous prayer virgil and from which birthed the first Protestant mission sending force. I have heard friends who have been to Herrnhut describing the place as thin, referring to the distance between heaven and earth. Besides having open heavens it is also a very deep well where the Moravian church had dug the wells of living waters continously for a century.
THE WOODS
The first place we went on 6 July Saturday morning is the woods right next to the YWAM castle. Once I stepped into the woods, my spirit felt an immediate refreshment by the tangible divine presence of the Holy Spirit. In the woods, there are many hidden spots of spiritual significance. We first headed to the monument commenerating the first tree chopped by Christian David to clear the land for the building of Herrnhut village. The name of the village Herrnhut literally means “The House of the Lord”. As true as what its name implies, God has made his abode in Herrnhut exemplified by its history through the devotion of the Moravians.
WATCH TOWER
One of the signicant places in Herrnhut is the Watch Tower. The Moravians spent a big portion of their time keeping watch in prayer over Herrnhut and Berthelsdorf (the village where Zinzendorf lived), both spiritually and physically. The Watch Tower is strategically positioned at place whereby it can see both villages. Before reaching the Watch Tower, there is a cemetery dedicated to the Moravians. This cemetery does not have the usual creepy-eerie feel. There is a deep sense of peace that all these saints are resting in the arms of our Lord Jesus. The tombstone of Zinzendorf and his wife, Christian David and also the famous missionaries Leonhard Dober and David Nitschmann, who sold themselves as slaves to St Thomas island to preach the Gospel to the slaves who had never heard of the Gospel, together with many nameless, faceless Moravian heroes of faith are found in this Moravian cemetery. Here’s a link with tells of Christian David and Daivd Nitschmann story, including worship song video, if you want to know more http://timschaaf.wordpress.com/tag/johann-leonhard-dober/. The Watch Tower gives a 360 view of Herrnhut. Rolling meadows, pretty houses and the woods give a breathtaking view of this small, quaint village that God chose to pour out Himself so mightily.
BERTHELSDORF
The Sunday afternoon was such a beautiful weather that we took a walk to Berthelsdorf. It is about 4-5km walk from Herrnhut town. The castle of Count Zinzendorf was not opened so we basically looked at it from the outside. Following which, we went to the original church building of the Moravians when the Moravian church started. By the time we got there, the church santuary was locked. It was a Sunday mid-afternoon when everyone was back home. We believed it was God’s purpose so that we did not get distracted by the interior of the church santuary. The gate into the church compound was not locked. Instead we wandered into the garden of the church (many tombstones as well) and was drawn to a fountain. Before arriving at the church, we ran out of water and was extremely thirsty and there was no shops or stops whereby we can buy water. The fountain looked so inviting and we felt that we needed to drink it even though we are not totally sure if the water was potable. We said our prayers and drank from it. The water was so fresh and sweet! In the natural we were quenching our physical thirst, but in the spiritual God is quenching our spiritual thirst at this place of deep well where the Moravians had dug deep. We sat at the bench next to the fountain and worshiped, soaking in His presence!
Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. Revelation 21:6 (NASB)
“June is a time to complete things.
God is bringing healing to many people who have suffered from “hope deferred” (Proverbs 13:12) or what I call prophetic disappointments. July through the end of the year will be a time of “promises fulfilled”. Many things that God has promised you will begin to take shape. We will see lots of movement and relocation.
That being said, June is a time of closure for an old season that is coming to an end. Tie up loose ends, make preparations, and get ready to cross over to a new season starting in July.” – Doug Addison
This word hits me to the core as I can definitely identify with “hope deferred”. My life has been truncated by several significant sudden events that the automatic coping mechanism shuts down all hope. The promises of God are buried, dead.
A few months ago, the Lord puts in my heart the thought of going to Herrnhut, Germany and Jerusalem, Israel to spend time worshipping and praying in these significant places with rich spiritual heritage. It is to SOAK in the spiritual atmosphere where there are open heavens. It is to drink from the waters of these deep wells to be refreshed and renewed once again for the new season ahead. To shake off the dust, wash up and face the future with the confidence in God. It is amazing that this notion of almost impossibility is actually a reality with airtickets and schedule planned. God has been faithful to carry through the impossibles of this trip, for me and my prayer partner. We stand amazed by the power and grace of God through it all!
I am so excited about this trip. I have longed for a proper extended time-out with God. Setting off to the airport in less than 4 hours, my heart is bursting with restlessness in wanting to see what God has in store for me. Yet, another part of me is anxious about things I find it hard to let God at home. O God give me the faith and trust that I need to be fully at rest in You.
I will be spending time at YWAM Herrnhut (http://mission-live.com/) and Succat Hallel in Jerusalem (http://www.succathallel.com/). Just time with the God and His people to let Him speak and fill. I will write more as I learn from the Lord.
Keep well and God bless!