Introduction:
This is a word that I was given by God in 2002 but I feel to re-release it now. I believe this to be a word initially for Ireland, but will also apply to other countries.

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There is a new monasticism coming to the Church in Ireland.

It is first of all a monasticism of the heart - a heart that communes deeply with God - not superficial throwaway prayers, but an intimacy that transcends lifestyle and culture. It is a return to the ‘Practise of the Presence of God‘, as it has been called; that intimacy that is born out of many hours of solitude and soaking in the very presence of God. This in turn will lead to a quickened awareness of the presence of God in everyday situations - at work, at school, in the home and in the community. It is deep communion with God even in the midst of chaos.
This new Monasticism will operate on 2 levels:

1) An Attitude of Heart

In the hearts of all believers who will commit themselves to the changes necessary in lifestyle:

- more time spent in the presence of God, saturating in his very life,
- a shift from petition to waiting and listening,
- embracing fasting as a way of life,
- dealing with the impurities that impede his holiness.

In essence, this entails embracing all of the qualities and strengths of the former monks, yet living them out within the cultural context.

Qualities and Strengths:

Solitude
Community
Discipline
Hard Working Attitude
Mercy and Justice
Holiness
Sacrifice,
Simple lifestyle,
etc.

I felt the Lord highlight 2 key strengths of the former monastic lifestyle - Solitude and Community. These seem to be almost opposites yet when put together make up a whole. Solitude - spending many hours alone with God is complimented by the strength in unity of many others who have been alone with God too. Those who commit their lives to this solitude of heart will need the support and fellowship of others to enable them to translate their experience into the living reality needed to live it out in their everyday lives.

For the majority of believers the call is to a deeper level and walk with God within their existing situations.

2) An Actual, Literal Monastic Lifestyle

Yet I believe that God will call some to an actual physical monastic lifestyle, seeing the re-establishment of residential community life that embraces all of the qualities of the former monasteries, yet living within the modern cultural context. This will involve an embracing, not rejection, of culture and society, working with what is good and right, and seeking to redeem cultural ways that are not forbidden by the Lord. Thus, it will be common to see a fusion of inner city communities, marrying up of modern forms of music, art and culture with the spiritual disciplines such as solitude and silence, worship, service and fellowship. This will produce a dynamic expression of God incarnating in the culture, permeating, sanctifying and redeeming all around. This will be a very attractive expression to those who don’t yet know Jesus. These communities will only happen though if those who are called to live in them will first embrace wholeheartedly the call to adopt the Attitude of Heart.

The primary purpose of these modern day monasteries is to be Houses of Prayer with God calling many to give themselves to worship and prayer on 24 hour a day cycles. Prayer and worship will be the powerhouse of these communities yet they will be holistic centres, embracing the call to redeem the whole of creation from its bondage to decay (Romans 8). So works of mercy, care for those in poverty, speaking up for justice, healing of the sick, mission and teaching will all be part of the whole package.

Vision: “A Bowl of Fire”

In April 2005 I saw a vision of a large bowl of fire (like in the Olympic Games). From it people were running out with torches with fire burning from them.

There was a constant stream of them. Then I saw coming behind them skeletons. These too were holding torches. On the burning torches there was written “the fire on the altar must never go out (Leviticus 6 v.13)”.

The vision progressed. Now I saw the same bowl of fire but the people coming out of it were dressed like Roman soldiers in full battle dress - helmets, breastplates etc. In one hand they held burning torches, in the other hand a sword. The skeletons were the same.

Then the vision changed again. Now those who had come from the fire turned round towards the fire. From the fire rose a throne, on which was seated a king in full robes. The people bowed down to worship the king. As they did the light shone from the throne. The light touched the ground and made seed grow that had been previously planted. I saw small green shoots sprouting up and also fields of corn growing tall. I saw weeds that were planted among the corn shrivel and die and a hole appear in the black clouds above.

Interpretation:

I asked God what the skeletons represented. He said that they represent those whose vision and dreams had died but would be rejuvenated in the fire. They are the spiritually dead - both those who are part of churches, even active and involved yet their passion has gone, and those who have chosen not to follow the Lord anymore. They would come forth victorious with renewed vision, passion and dreams.

This vision came to me a few weeks after being at the European Worship Tabernacle gathering
in Switzerland in March 2005. I believe that God is looking for those who will worship Him night and day across Europe. Many now describe Europe as the ‘Dark Continent’ and God is longing that His light return to it. In this vision as people worshipped the King of Kings the light pierced the darkness and new life came. Many breakthroughs will come as we simply worship the Lord all across Europe.

Related Scriptures:

• Ezekiel 37
• Revelation 5

Jeremy Gadd
April 2005