Pray Network Forum

What do all of these Christian Leaders – from different denominations, cultures, continents, and ages– have in common on Oct. 6th? They are praying for the peace of Jerusalem that day. Are YOU?

The annual Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem is the largest Israel focused Christian prayer movement in history. Global participation, for October 6^th, has strongly been endorsed by over 1300 Christian Ministry Leaders. International and well respected ministry leaders such as: Dr. Paul Cedar of Mission America Coalition, Pastor Samuel Rodriguez, President of National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, Kay Arthur of Precept Ministries International, Ron Luce of Teen Mania Ministries, T.D. Jakes - Bishop/Chief Pastor of The Potter's House, John Bornschein – Vice Chairman of The National Day of Prayer Task Force, Indian born Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias, Christian author and speaker Joyce Meyer, author and speaker Doug Stringer- Founder/CEO of Somebody Cares International, First Nations Leader Dr. Negiel Bigpond, and K.P. Yohannan, who has brought the Good News of Christ to millions in South Asia over the last three decades.

Their united call is for ALL believers to fulfill The Lord’s mandate in Psalm 122:6, to pray for God’s peace, blessing, and love to Jews, Arabs and Christians alike in God’s Holy City – Jerusalem.

As a strong supporter of God’s covenant purposes with Israel, Dr. Raleigh Washington - President and CEO of Promise Keepers - states: “Every Christian must reach out to the Jewish Community, bless them and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”

According to Dave Butts, Chairman of America's National Prayer Committee:

"There is no more urgent call to the whole body of Christ than the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem. This prayer movement blends the dynamic of tomorrow's headlines with the imperative of praying God's Word back to Him."

In an interview with Eagles’ Wings, Pastor Samuel Rodriguez - President of National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference - said:

“More than ever, we are in an Anti- Semitic wave, emerging not only on college & university campuses, but also in many public arenas and different governmental settings around the world. It’s aiming again at Jerusalem and the Jewish people. The Firewall against Anti -Semitism in the 21st century, IS the body of Christ… the Church of Jesus Christ…”

 Jane Hansen Hoyt, the International President of Aglow International - a global, trans-denominational Christian organization established in 166 nations on 6 continents - explains:

“Never has it been as critical as it is now that we stand in the gap for the nation of Israel and its people. The biblical mandate to ‘pray for the peace of Jerusalem’ must take on greater priority in our lives as we watch the intensity of warfare increase, both in the natural and spiritual realms, over God’s end-time purposes for His people – Israel and the body of Christ."

Joel C. Rosenberg – popular Christian author of the Last Jihad series and founder of The Joshua Fund – shares:

"As the Iranian nuclear threat grows, and leaders throughout the epicenter threaten the Jewish State with annihilation, now is the time for followers of Jesus Christ to bless Israel and pray faithfully for the peace of Jerusalem."

Dr. Dick Eastman - International President for Every Home for Christ - shared:

“Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.”

(Proverbs 20:11)

1. Pray your grandchildren will learn to follow instructions and conduct themselves with right behavior.
2. Encourage your grandchildren to be obedient to their parents
3. Help them to understand that being well behaved is pleasing to God, their parents, teachers, and others. Appropriate behavior will be beneficial to them.
4. Help them to understand that sometimes it is hard to be good, but God will help them to make right choices for appropriate behavior, if they ask him.
5. Pray they will have gentle, kind and honest words.
6. Pray that your grandchildren will recognize when they are tempted to sin, they will think about it and choose to resist the enemy.
7. Pray that if they do sin, they will admit it, confess the sin to God, and ask forgiveness, if they have hurt another person.
8. Pray also they will learn to think before they speak and choose their words wisely.

Taken from the book Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for your Grandchildren by Lillian Penner. The book is available at www.grandparentingwithapurpose.com

Guest blog by Mary Ann Turner

Grandma and I are seated in her kitchen. Grandma is on one side of the small table, and I am sitting across from her. I am sure that I already know the answer, but I ask anyway:  “If you could choose just one thing you would like for me to know and remember, what would that one thing be?”  Without hesitation, she says, “Have faith in God.”                                                         

She prayed daily; she trusted in God. Her faith is her legacy.  In heaven, Grandma’s prayers are a fragrance, residing in “golden bowls full of incense.” The Bible tells us in Revelation 5:8 that these are the “prayers of the saints.”

When we, as believers in Christ pray, our prayers reside in heaven. God hears every single prayer. What a privilege we have to come boldly before the throne of grace on behalf of our grandchildren. 

I am so thankful for my praying grandmother. After her death, my parents gave me her prayer book.  I look at the treasured gift, and I imagine Grams sitting in the straight-backed chair in her modest bedroom. I picture her turning the pages, giving thanks, asking big and boldly, and maybe shedding tears on our behalf.

I want my grandchildren to know and to remember me as a grandma who prays. What a comfort it is to know that our prayers are a fragrance to God, still active and alive after our feet have left this earth.

Guest Blogger: Mary Ann Turner has been married to Mark for 31 years. They have two married children and two grandsons. Mary Ann leads the Journey Women’s Ministry team at Christ Church in Fairview Heights, Illinois. She writes about the intersection of life and faith at www.maryannturner.com. Check out her blog.

PRAYER REALLY DOES CHANGE THINGS!

It changes things from the way they are, to the way they should be…from what exists here on earth, to what God has established in heaven. Your prayers and mine can make that difference; our prayers – TOGETHER – can make that shift.

This is why millions of believers from all different denominations, cultures, and generations, in over 175 nations around the world, will be participating on October 6th

in The Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem.

Will YOU be one of them?

Our prayers to heaven also need “hands and feet” here on earth, in order to give traction to God’s plans and purposes for Jerusalem. This is why hundreds of thousands of Christians - from all different denominations, cultures, and ages – not only pray, but also volunteer to bring this vision to their local church, city, or region.

Will you be one of THEM?

If you have been following our recent blogs, hopefully your questions have been answered, as to WHY Christians should pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Today, we want to answer the question; HOW Christians can be involved in this global prayer movement, right now…right where they are. Here are easy steps, to be part of what God is doing in this critical hour, that are FREE and EASY to do.

• Sign the Call to Prayer Resolution.
• Register your church as one participating in DPPJ on Oct. 6.
• Contact your local or state DPPJ Coordinator to see how you can help.
• Volunteer to mobilize your church, your city, your region, or even your state, if someone is not already doing so. Step into that gap!
• Get a Free DPPJ Informational Packet if your church is not already involved.
•  Download the DPPJ Phone APP for all Smartphones so you have everything you need to share about this strategic prayer movement at your fingertips.
• Sign up for DPPJ Prayer Texts for the 30 days, before October 6^th, so you can pray for the “behind the scenes” key leaders and volunteers, who facilitate this important work and who face daily spiritual warfare to do so.

 In upcoming weeks, we will not only continue to share more educational blogs, but also more practical ones that will link you to:

 General FREE Resources available on our website www.daytopray.com

 FREE Children's Resources for Sunday School, Youth Group, Christian School and Home   School.

 FREE Resources for College Students

 FREE translated DPPJ Resources in many languages

 Ways you can participate in “live” prayer on October 6th right from your own home.

For more information, check out the vast array of educational information and free resources available on The Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem website, or call 1-800- 51 WINGS, or Email us at office@eagleswings.to

God cares deeply about Jerusalem, and so should each one of us who call Jesus - The Jewish Rabbi – our Savior and Lord. A very wise and learned Christian Leader once said: “When we take what is special to God [Jerusalem] and make it special to us, He will then take what is special to us, and make it special to Him.”

If we're honest with ourselves, we've all Tivoed God (placed our endeavors, schedules, concerns, plans, etc.) ahead of God's in a specific moment in time.  It happened to me a number of times this past week. 

It's not pleasant to realize when one's put God off for their own selfish desires, schedule, or busyness.  Often, what God planned to do or share in that moment is lost.  Other times, He may offer a window of grace for us to repent and immediately follow Him in His prompting.  God is working to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ- so sometimes the lesson is best learned through us realizing our error, but also losing the blessing we may have received as a result of our delayed obedience.  Tough lesson!

Lord, today I seek your face to worship You, thank you, and honor you.  Show me any thing or way within me that obstructs your Spirit from filling me fully.  I desire to place You and your ways before mine.  Align my thoughts, schedule, plans, and desires with yours today- and help me to pray, meet you, and others at the exact times you've set aside.  You are faithful and will give me the words, thoughts, and actions in those moments as I humble myself before You.  I'm sorry for selfishly Tivo-ing you and your Spirit's promptings.  I desire to better hear your voice and respond to Your Spirit's quickening of my heart, mind, and life.  It's You I long to glorify.  Not myself or my ways any longer.  You are my Lord, King, Shepherd, and Savior.  Thank you for first loving me and drawing me to Yourself through faith.  Help me to hear and seek you every moment of this day.  You, alone are my Lord, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

When we were first approached by a young Christian mom with a vision in early April with the possibility of bringing the national prayer movement - God Belongs in My City (GBIMC), we were rightly inspired and gung-ho about the opportunity to participate in a growing national/worldwide movement which had its roots in a New York City subway! GBIMC sprung from the hearts of a youth group who happened to see a poster in the NYC subway system from 

American Atheists which said “A Million New Yorkers Are Good without God. Are You?" They went back and reported this to their senior church leadership and were so moved that an idea was birthed. This was in October 2009. One month later, youth from all five NYC boroughs began what is now the God Belongs in My City prayer walk through Manhattan. It has since spread like wildfire to Canada, Switzerland, Africa, Puerto Rico and last year over 30 cities in America alone! 

Sarah, Sam, Vicki Lutchman

Last Saturday August 24, GBIMC came to the capitol city of Illinois - Springfield and had a solid impact on the Spiritual life of this wheeling-dealing political and business oriented city of 115,000! It was not easy getting this through a closed and tightly religious system where every major church and denomination holds on firmly to its territory...all except one - Calvary Temple Christian Center. Senior Pastor there Mark Johnson caught the vision and empowered his outreach pastorStacy Barnett and contacted me and together with Ezella Millswho brought the idea in from New York, we set forth on a course which really made this take off. 

Jessica McGee and Gigi

This was solidified after the National Day of Prayer in May, which I hosted for the eighth year in a row and we were joined by former Channel 20 Morning TV host Jessica McGee who now works as the Marketing Director for the wonderful Staab Family. She represented them magnificently and our final planning meetings were attended by PJ Staab himself, without whom we would not have had the major business involvement necessary to underwrite the upfront costs and police permits and street closure permits necessary to make this happen in the natural. PJ is a super joy to work with. He is well loved by the regions military veterans for his involvement in a huge memorial outside the city of New Berlin as well as his sense of humor.

Calvary Temple Pastor Mark Johnson

Through all of this, we were covered in some major prayer, as there was one obstacle after another or one spiritual attack after another. We had tireless and faithful leadership from Stacy Barnett and her church support - not just from the pastoral offices and administration, but from the core of Calvary Temple. They believed in this. We have many people to thank and they will be mentioned in no particular order at the end of this post.

The Day of the Prayer Walk, which we called GOD BELONGS IN SPRINGFIELD and had hundreds and hundreds of t-shirts made up at cost by Edgar Williams of Ambitious Designs. We met at the Comer Cox Park at the corner of 18th Street and Capitol for the 1 1/2 mile walk down Capitol Avenue to the State Capitol Steps. The love and camaderie and Christian fellowship across deep racial lines was a beautiful thing to behold. Even though almost every church officially turned down this movement to re-establish Jesus as the LORD of this City, many of their members turned out anyway!

PJ Staab

Senator Sam McCann

One thing I will not forget is our tireless leader Stacy working so hard to get 1500 bottles of water iced down and ready for the anticipated crowd at the end of the walk; the volunteers there; the worship band already praying on the ground of the End of Walk service. My fond memories is the excitement of all different Christians in the same event T shirt all ready to work for Jesus. Stacy and I edited some ten or so prayer points which I read out all over the part to different groups of people with my bullhorn. The awesome sight of the Christian Motorcyclists Association led by brother Nick Courtney and the three Crosses behind them as almost 1000 people of all ages and backgrounds took off in a brisk walk down Capitol, was a sight to behold.

BMIC President Bernie Lutchman

The subsequent hour long service on the Capitol Steps by the Lincoln Statue was so powerfully moving that worship, constant worship was breaking out all over the place!! PastorJerry Doss of Abundant Faith Christian Center, assisted by his magnificent choir set the mood for Prayer and the Word as they led off they service. I was next with the spirit-led Praise-Repent-Yield call to the Assembly. We went through 7 minutes of that and they pressed in!!! We were followed by the Bishop of Springfield - Thomas Paprockion Religious Liberty after he was introduced by PJ and then some powerful praying by our State Senator Sam McCann. The powerful and timely message by Pastor Mark Johnson topped off an amazing and life altering (for this city) day.  The clarion call Pastor Mark proclaimed was to stand together, united, under the Banner of Jesus, or fall. This is the underlying theme of GBIMC - not unity at any cost where we toss aside the Basics of the Christian Faith, but unity in the Essentials to get right with God, through Repentance and then lead others to Jesus. This is the only way we can make any kind of difference and thus, show the world that God really DOES belong in our city!

Thank you to Springfield First Baptist led by Pastor Mike Henderson, for being the only other church, apart from Calvary Temple and Abundant Faith, to step up and support us from early. Over 30% of their church walked with us. Thank you to Todd Green and the Green Family Stores for underwriting the costs from the City of Springfield. Thank you to PJP Autos, The Staab Family and so many more who gave selflessly to this cause. Finally thank you - and in no small measure, to our wonderful MC - Calvary Temple Outreach Pastor Stacy Barnett! We are already planning next year's event and learned several things we can improve from this our first endeavor. Our primary purpose, my friends - to Lift up the Name of Jesus and proclaim Him as King over Springfield! Mission? ACCOMPLISHED!

Starting and Multiplying Prayer Movements

The first step is to pray. In Luke 10:2, the Lord invites us to pray and ask for laborers into the Harvest field. Seek Him to identify other prayer laborers in the community.

Secondly, look for where God is already at work. Identify existing prayer groups and networks that are already praying for the city. Explore the different types of prayer meetings that are going on in the community, how long they've been praying together and past attempts they've made to try to pray together with other groups.

Thirdly, identify any unresolved issues that might keep the community from praying together in humility and unity. Prayerfully seek reconciliation and possibly work together to resolve any problems.

Fourthly, Pray with and build relationship with prayer leaders in the community, i.e. pastors, intercessors, gatekeepers and ministry leaders. Call a community wide prayer gathering for the current leaders and intercessors within the community to meet one another and simply to pray together.

Discern together what the next steps should be for your community. Some cities will decide that the Pastors should meet weekly for prayer. Some will want an annual city prayer and worship gathering. Some cities start a 24/7 House of Prayer. Some communities start prayer walking troubled areas of their city. The goal should be an ongoing sustainable prayer movement that results in more disciples of Jesus, not just prayer events, but fostering a lifestyle of prayer for everyone.

Seek out resources that will help foster the prayer movement in your community and share them with those who are interested.

Pray Together and invite people to come together for prayer. Don’t just pray for people -  pray with people.

Discover God’s DNA for Your Community

Connect through Prayer

In working together to disciple believers, prayer is your foundation and source of strength. Your relationship with God fills you with His love, which overflows into the lives of those you are reaching. As you connect with Him you are more prepared to connect with others. Prayer is the vital communication we have with Him.

Ask God for His Vision

God knows how He wants to mobilize a move­ment in your area to reach and empower every person. Why not allow Him to orchestrate the movement? Ask God to give you His vision and heart for your community.

Establish a Foundation of Prayer

Building a local movement means making prayer intentional. With whom can you pray and who will pray for you? Here are some ideas:

+ Make prayer a consistent part of your network meeting.

+ Meet regularly in smaller prayer groups.

+ Take one or more days to have a group prayer summit.

+ Enlist local groups to pray for your network and the communities you want to reach, i.e. Moms in Prayer, Congregational prayer groups, etc.

+ Set up an online social networking group to share requests.

3D Prayer

Prayer can be multidirectional for your community.

+ Pray Up: Establish the vertical relationship with God through praise and thanksgiving.

+ Pray Across: Intercede for one another regularly and at gatherings.

+ Pray Out: Listen to God as He reveals your community’s needs and resources for the people in your community.

Prioritizing Prayer

In our network one leader served at a small church that had a prayer garden and we met there. Our prayers were about seeking His will, lifting up our kids, and our community.

As we prayed, I saw us mature with cohesive­ness and intimacy among us. Then we were prepared to truly help.

--Venetia Yates, Network Coordinator Bosque Farms, New Mexico

Connect through Prayer

How is your soul today? How can prayer help you in working together to transform people into disciple makers?

Ask God for His Vision

Take some time to pray right now. How do you sense God is moving in the lives of people in your community? When can you schedule some more time to get away, asking God what He has to say about reaching and equipping youth in your community?

Establishing Your Foundation

Who would be willing to pray for the people of your community? What action points can you set to get people praying together?

Praying in New Dimensions

How can you build prayer more intentionally into your networking times with other believers?

Additional resources

http://nationalprayercommittee.com

http://prayersummit.net

http://www.ihopkc.org

http://www.praynetwork.org

http://www.youthworkers.net/index.cfm/fuseaction/blog.view/BlogID/1550

“I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever - the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive…. But you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:16).
 
We all want fellowship. We feel sad when we get lonely. We all want relationship with God, but how many of us know how to really fellowship with the Holy Spirit? Multitudes of believers never develop a relationship with the very one who dwells inside of them. So many of us feel like orphans all alone with no Father, no one to guide and help us through life.
 
The Holy Spirit wants our friendship! We are His temple (1 Cor. 3:9, 16-17; 6: 17, 19). He knows everything about everything.
 
He wants to reveal the deep things of God to us (1 Cor. 2:9). He wants to gives us His power and strength. A lady went to a jeweler to get her watch fixed. He disappeared and came back quickly with her watch running perfectly. She asked him, “How could you fix it in such a short time?” He told her that it only needed a small battery. All this time the lady had been trying to wind the watch. She didn’t know she only needed a battery to keep it running. 
 
This is so much like the Christian life. Many times we do not realize the inner power that we have in the Holy Spirit. He can run everything in our life, but so often we think we have to take matters into our own hands. So we live a powerless life. The lack of reality, godliness, power, and fruit in our lives is due to unbelief and our lack of fellowship with the Holy Spirit. We need to go deeper in partnership with the Holy Spirit if we want to live powerful lives. 

Many of us are living life with a dead battery. We feel dead inside. We must begin fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit. He will bring life to our hearts! He will show us the way to really live and find fulfilment.
 
How to Learn to Fellowship with the Holy Spirit
 
Fellowship with the Holy Spirit is not complicated. It’s all about a two-way dialogue. We learn to share our hearts freely with the Spirit. We start the conversation, and He speaks back to us. But we must stay engaged. He wants our heart connection. Out of our abiding connection with the Holy Spirit will flow all the issues of life (love, joy, peace, etc.) or death (Proverbs 4:23, Song of Songs 4:12, 16; 5:1; 6:2, John 7:38).

Learn to linger in His presence without rushing. Speak affectionately, slowly, softly, and briefly with short phrases to Him. Pause and listen to His still, small voice. Journal your thoughts and what you believe He is saying to you.

One way to enhance your fellowship with the Holy Spirit is by using these 5 practical phrases using the acrostic T-R-U-S-T.

• T - Thank you - Thank the Holy Spirit for His indwelling presence. We approach God through thanksgiving (Psalm 100:1-5). Pray, “Thank you Holy Spirit for your presence in me, for your guidance, etc. I love your leadership…”
  
  
• R - Release revelation - Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you His heart and open your eyes to the realm of His glory. Ephesians 1:17-19 is a great prayer to pray. Pray, “Holy Spirit, open my eyes to see the realm of God’s glory. Open the eyes of my understanding, give me the spirit of wisdom and understanding, etc.”
  
  
• U - Use me - Ask the Holy Spirit to use you more and more. Put your sails up and expect Him to use you every day. Pray, “Thank you Holy Spirit for releasing your power and gifts through my life. Use me fully for your glory…”
  
  
• S - Strengthen me - Ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen your mind, will, and emotions with His divine might so that you may contain more of His wisdom, fruit, and gifts. See Ephesians 3:16. Pray, “Thank you Holy Spirit for your love, patience, joy, etc. Increase my capacity to contain more of your wisdom, gifts, and fruit…”
  
  
• T - Teach me - Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you about God’s Word and ways. Ask Him to manifest His leadership in every area of your life. He will order your steps and give you new and creative ideas. See John 14:26 and 16:13. Pray, “Holy Spirit let me see what you see and feel what you feel. Release it with power through my life…”

The river that flows from the throne of God is the Spirit. Jesus said that out of your innermost being shall flow rivers of living water (John 7:38). The Bible describes 5 facets of the Holy Spirit’s activity in us as light, wind, fire, wine, and a river. In John 3:8 and Acts 2:2, the Spirit is described as the sound of a violent, rushing wind. My husband, Norm, is from Buffalo, New York where Niagara Falls is located. We often visit the falls and are always amazed at that violent, gushing waterfall. It is powerful and sounds like the violent, rushing wind. Look at the activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we fellowship with Him:

• Bright Light - gives life (John 1:4; 8:12), purifies, unifies, empowers (1 John 1:5-7), illuminates mind with revelation, truth, and direction (Psalm 43:3; Luke 12:35-36; John 8:32; 2 Cor. 4:4, 6), and overcomes the works of darkness (John 1:4-5; 3:19-21; Acts 26:18; 2 Cor. 4:3-6; James 1:7).
  
  
• Mighty Wind - gives divine strength, stirs hunger, imparts desire (Phil. 2:13), releases fresh creativity (John 3:8), and inspires, directs, and empowers the Church (Acts 2:2-4; 8:26-40).
  
  
• Consuming Fire - energizes (Acts 2:4), tenderizes our hearts, devours that which hinders love (Hebrews 12:29, Luke 24:32, John 5:35), and imparts God’s jealous affection for us (Deut. 4:24; Psalm 79:5; Song of Songs 8:6; Ezek. 23:25; 38:19; Zeph. 1:18; 3:8).
  
  
• New Wine - awakens the sleeping and revives (Song of Songs 7:9), imparts the Father’s love (Song of Songs 2:4-5), strengthens heart, refreshes soul (Isa. 28:12), releases joy and thanksgiving (Mt. 9:17; Mk. 2:22; Lk. 5:37-38; Acts 2:13; 15; Eph. 5:18-19).
  
  
• Flowing River - invigorates, rejuvenates, restores, and satisfies the soul (John 7:37-39).

An author named Jamie Buckingham visited a dam on the Columbia River. He thought that the water spilling over the top gave the dam its’ power, but he was absolutely wrong. That was only the froth. The turbines and generators deep within transformed the power of tons and tons of water into electricity. All of this was happening quietly and without notice deep within.

In the same way, it is the Holy Spirit who is working deep within each of our lives. He gives us the power. It isn’t the flashy froth like in this dam, but it is His deep work in our lives that gives us real spiritual power and makes us like a river of living water. 

Without the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing. Our life depends on it. We must know His power!  

“It must be perfectly obvious to anyone that what the whole church needs from top to bottom is a deeper conversion, a profounder experience of the power of the Holy Spirit.” Samuel Shoemaker

The Holy Spirit wants to fellowship with us in life in a deeper dimension than we have ever experienced or dreamed possible. He wants to have His strength and power operating within us—He wants to give us His wisdom—He wants to participate in everything we are doing. When we pray, He wants to pray with us and through us. He wants to transform everything that we do with His glorious power. We must learn to fellowship with the Holy Spirit every day in order to go deeper in our prayer lives. This is an absolute necessity.

“This is more than the Spirit with a portion of Christ’s influence and power. This is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the glorified Jesus in His exaltation and power, coming to us as the Spirit of the indwelling Jesus, revealing the Son and the Father within us (John 14:16-23). This Spirit cannot simply be the Spirit of our hours of prayer. It must be the Spirit of our whole lives and walks, glorifying Jesus in us by revealing the completeness of His work and making us wholly one with Him and like Him. Then we can pray in His name, because we are truly one with Him. Then we have the immediate access to the Father of which Jesus said, “I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you” (John 16:26). Andrew Murray
 

• 4 books on prayer and intercession with a 20% discount on each book - Use the discount code – PL6G7Y59.
  Breakthrough Prayer: Praying God's Truth, Destroying Enemy Lies 
  24/7 Prayer Arise: Building the House of Prayer in Your City 
  Deeper Still: Secrets to a Deeper Prayer Life 
  Ascending the Heights in Prayer: Touching Heaven, Changing Earth 
• Have your friends sign up for Intercessors Arise here!
• If you would like to pray for us and get monthly updates, sign up here at Norm and Debbie's Prayer Partner.
• Become a member of the Intercessors Arise International Network here. Connect with intercessors and what God is doing in prayer worldwide! Discover many resources and training on prayer in this network.

Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
International House of Prayer (IHOP) KC Staff
deb@intercessorsarise.org
www.intercessorsarise.org

What A Joy!

19 July 2013

What a joy it has been to see what God had in store for me when I stepped out and accepted a position from Avery Willis to serve under him back in 2006 for a brand new, up and coming mission network. Today I continue to serve with that group, as the Prayer Director, for International Orality Network (ION).

My life certainly has changed from working within my denomination to becoming a free agent and seeing the activity of God all across the face of the globe. The opportunity to have input with global prayer leaders and work to influence prayer leaders all around the globe to begin to find out about "Orality" and "Oral Peoples" those who do not read as a part of their culture. And to work to be an advocate and educate others in how to pray for the Unreached People Groups (UPG) and the Unengaged Unreached People Groups (UUPG) across the face of the globe.

70% of the population of the world 5.7 billion are oral learners and of that group 1/2 are children! We have to get the gospel to them in a format that will allow them to really hear and an opportunity to hear the good news of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Not to mention the movement of getting the Bible the "Story of God" to the masses in a way that they can receive and make decisions for salvation.

ION is asking the Body of Christ to devote energies, strategies, and resources to provide access for all oral learners to engage the entire Word of God through audio-digital means, so that every tribe, every tongue, and every people group may hear, understand, and have the opportunity to respond!

-See more at: http://orality.net/declaration#sthash.7ZrWA8Ag.dpuf

I was asked to write up what God had done with our team that would be used as a chapter for a book that was to be published and presented at the Lausanne CapeTown 2010 gathering. Maybe you might be interested to hear about our journey.

Here is a pdf of that chapter* - "On Mission With God in Prayer"

Prayer%20Chapter%20-%20Journey%20in%20Prayer%20On%20Mission%20with%20God%20in%20Prayer.pdf

You can order the entire book thru International Mission Board (IMB) at:

CS-BREAKOUTS      Orality Breakouts: Using Heart Language to Transform Hearts

Using heart language to transform hearts is resulting in churches in many difficult parts of the world. Breakthroughs with indigenous partnership formations have resulted in brand new Bible stories in an oral format to reach the unreached....* The prayer chapter is included in the book

• Detail      $4.95      Order from:   http://imbresources.org/index.cfm/product/detail/prodID/3138/page/1

I am delighted to be able to help intercessors, prayer warriors, and pray-ers to see what God is doing in bringing the gospel to those yet unengaged and unreached, without scripture recordings or scripture portions. Did you know there are over 2,250 people groups who do not have even one verse! It is very exciting to be a part of seeing the completion of the Great Commission through the collaborative work of partner groups.

One of the things I get to do in sharing about this is to publish a monthly prayer focus which is available from our website at http://orality.net/weekly_prayer_focus

or you can come and find us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/International-Orality-Network/143049235766186?ref=br_tf

The International Orality Network is made up of over 1200+ organizations, agencies and individuals. Our focus is to influence the Body of Christ to "make disciples" of all oral learners. Understanding about orality can be very complex, but at the core, it is simply sharing the gospel and the stories of the Bible in small portions that can be understood, received and reproduced. We would be under estimating the power of His Word to present the gospel for performance, but truely see God at work when ordinary men with an extraordinary God share His Story and step back to watch it directly have an affect upon the heart of the receiver.

Orality tools can also be in audio or video format. It now involves digital devices that have gospel stories loaded onto them In all kinds of different approaches. They may include songs, skits, dances or full productions that share the stories of the gospel story, God's Story. Sharing the chronological story of God unfolding His Story. This also includes biblical videos or short movies. At this point in history, we really are amazed each day at the creativity of the Holy Spirit to help to put new tools and curriculum out that would not have been possible in times past. With new technology mission agencies are collaborating and working together to allow the reworking old tools into new tools, such as with the Jesus Film being used by MentorLink in their leadership training curriculum, "Days With Jesus" using a 40 days format to show how Jesus led and shared who he was in groups all around the world. http://www.mentorlink.org/

Included in orality is the multifaceted mix of a re-occuring theme of the church, to bring scripture engagement back to God's people. Now through the use of audio digitization of scriptures as a daily part of personal study of the bible, discipleship and teaching. If you have not already found out about this, may I introduce to you two exceptional apps to check out http://www.Bible.is and http://www.YouVersion.com --both of these have multiple options for daily bible study directly from the scriptures that you can download into your computer, tablet or smart phone. 

You may be interested to know that 2/3 of the world "do not, will not and cannot ever" depend on literate (letters on a page) methods or formats to hear the Gospel. Different ways to get the message to oral learners are emerging. Some only using audio formats, some using multiple methods. ION issued a declaration to share our heart, to influence mission leaders across the globe to begin to step into God's movement in this area. You can read the declaration at: http://orality.net/declaration

If you have questions or want to talk, I would love to hear from you! 

Persistently prevailing,

Linda Bemis

Director, Prayer

Email: IONPrayer@gmail.com

International Orality Network

- Influencing the body of Christ to make disciples of all oral learners

       - 70% of the world (5.7 billion) are oral learners and of that group 1/2 are children!

Visit Orality.net

Isaiah 42:16 "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them."

“A preacher preaches a message. A voice is much more than this. A message can deliver content, but a voice comes from an anointed life that has the power to actually turn people. A message delivers information. A voice delivers people. Anyone can deliver a message, but only a consecrated life can be a voice.” Wes Martin
 
Today we are hearing voices from every direction. The voice of technology, and the voices on the internet and TV are at an all-time high. Rarely can we get away from all the noise. It is blaring for our attention all the time day and night. Everyone seems to be trying to be a voice in a busy and rapidly increasingly world of noise and empty promises.
 
But what is God looking for at this point in human history?
 
He is looking for consecrated ones who will be His voice; His voice in prayer, His voice in speaking words of truth, and His voice in everyday life in various situations that we encounter all day long. Even though we are in a world of noise, we are in a famine for truth. False promises and lies are everywhere. It’s time to stand on God’s Word and speak His truth into our life circumstances.
 
God is looking for those who walk in wholehearted abandonment like John the Baptist. His life is an example to each one of us.
 
The Life of John the Baptist
 
“Then they said to him, ‘Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?' He said, 'I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the LORD,' as the prophet Isaiah said” (John 1:22-23, NKJV). 
 
Let’s look at some of the qualities of the life of John the Baptist because he was God’s voice in the wilderness. What was John like? How could he become a powerful and anointed voice for God?

• John identified himself as a voice - He prepared people to encounter God Himself. When he spoke, decisive shifts took place in people’s lives and they turned toward righteousness.

• John lived in simplicity - He lived in isolation and was consumed with His message and the one who had sent him.

• John was a faithful witness - He was faithful to the word of the Lord regardless of cost (John 3:7-18, 29).

• John was established in His identity before God - He did not look to other men for his identity or for approval. He looked to God.

• John was a man of prayer and devotion - As he grew up he became strong in spirit in the desert (Luke 1:80). He had a deep life with God.

• John was a consecrated vessel - He was set apart as a Nazarite to minister to God all his days. He did not drink wine or strong drink (Luke 1:15). He practiced fasting regularly.

In these days God is looking for those who can be His voice in the wilderness. Like John the Baptist, He is looking for those who will prepare for His Second Coming.
 
Are you a voice for God? Are you that consecrated vessel God can use in this critical day? 
 
The Spiritual Violence of John the Baptist

“There has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater [in opportunity] than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force (Matthew 11:11-12).
 
John was the Father’s messenger who came to prepare the way for Jesus. He was the greatest man and a burning and shining light (John 5:35). Matthew 11:12  speaks of spiritual violence. It points to being resolute to pay any price necessary in seeking more of God. This is what John the Baptist was like. He violently reordered his priorities and the way he did everything. His lifestyle had a violent impact on the devil’s kingdom.

Jesus set John forth as the premier model of wholeheartedness in devotion. In his spiritual violence, John radically sought after God without reservation or compromise. He loved God. He was great in God’s sight. When God releases a greater measure of His power and presence, He looks for a greater dedication. In these days God is looking for those who will experience the Kingdom of God in greater measure by the holy forcefulness of spiritual violence. John the Baptist was this type of man internally because of his extravagant love for God that confronted all the inner hindrances and barriers to fully experiencing God in his heart. John the Baptist was hungry for God. He had a vision to have everything that God would give the human spirit in his age.

John called himself a friend of the bridegroom (John 3:29). This is how he saw himself. He had a forerunner ministry. He opened his heart to God and prepared the Bride for the coming of Christ. He stood, He heard, and He greatly rejoiced because of the Bridegroom’s voice. He modeled the way to prepare a spiritual highway (Luke 3:7-20). He emphasized calling people to repent and announced the coming of Jesus. He called people to righteous living. He modeled a wholehearted pursuit of God and what it looks like. His life’s message is clear. No one has ever passed him in abandonment to God.

So many in the Church have lost their purpose in life. In the pursuit of making this world a pleasant place to live, multitudes have chased after lesser gods. We must listen to the message of John the Baptist. We must repent and return to God with wholehearted abandonment. We must wait upon God and prepare in these end times (Matthew 24:42-43; 25:13; Mark 13:33-38; Luke 21:26; Revelation 3:3 16:15).

As we wait, pray, and live in righteousness, we gain strength for our hearts. Jesus is coming again. Like John we must prepare this generation for the Lord’s return. John prepared for the first coming of the Lord through modeling his lifestyle, his message, and through the power of the Holy Spirit that was on his life. We must prepare others for the second coming of Christ. We may be a forerunner as an intercessor, in the marketplace, in the media or as a preacher calling people to prepare the way of the Lord. We have the same Spirit in our lives as John did.

Let’s be inspired by John's life. Let’s let it challenge our lives to the core. We are God’s model of wholeheartedness. We are God’s voice at this time.

Being God’s Voice

As you pray, ask God to make you His voice. Ask Him to release His authority in your life to turn others back to God and righteousness. The world is living in a wilderness of increasing fear, anxiety, loneliness, and pain. People are hiding their fear through constant activity and in so many unfulfilling ways in their anxious attempt to make this life pleasant. They need God.

We are the voice of the Lord on the earth as we positively declare His will through our prayers and our lives. God is looking for consecrated vessels like John the Baptist. He is waiting for something to be done, waiting for someone to pray His will. We become God’s voice on the earth for breakthrough by praying His will as we listen and obey. Heaven responds to our prayers. God listens and acts on our behalf. 

The atmosphere changes; we change; our lives change.     

You are God's voice in this generation, pointing the way to His second coming. As you pray, you are releasing His power in the world. As you speak, you are declaring His will on this earth. As you travail, your tears are releasing His power to break the darkness over the land. As you live, you are modeling a dedicated life.
 
He wants to use you in greater and greater dimensions. He wants you to rise up higher as a consecrated vessel for His glory. But it’s up to you. The King of the Universe is calling you higher. Will you say “yes” to a holy lifestyle, to a deeper prayer life, to a level of consecration that only He can make real in your life?

Let’s be His voice in the wilderness. Let’s prepare others for His Second Coming. Let's prepare the way of the Lord.  
 
“He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in,
 every mountain and hill made low.
 The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God’s salvation... I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.' And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them” (Luke 3:3-6, 16-18).

A powerful word -  A Voice in the Wilderness - Prepare the Way of the Lord 

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Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
International House of Prayer (IHOP) KC Staff
deb@intercessorsarise.org
www.intercessorsarise.org

Every day, during my prayer time, I pray for my family, my colleagues, a few friends, folks on my prayer list for that day, those who have requested special prayer, but there is one group that is often missing from my prayer list – my enemies. Frankly, I’d rather not pray for them. It would be far more comfortable to ignore them, maybe even despise them. Apparently, the disciples had a similar problem.  In His Sermon of the Mount, considered by many as the most important sermon Jesus ever preached, the disciples heard Him quote Leviticus 19:18, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy’ then add, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). OK, I have very little problem with the outward acts proposed by Jesus – love, bless, do good, but when it comes to the inward, intimate act of prayer, well, as they say, “He stopped preaching and started meddling.”  How can I pray for my enemies, when I don’t even like them, don’t even want to think about them?  Seriously, when someone “spitefully” uses me and “persecutes” me, I’m supposed to pray for them? For me at least, this is a sign of maturing discipleship, and it only happens on my more spiritual days.  But happen, it must. And I must discipline myself to include this more often in my prayer life.  American Newscaster David Brinkley once said, “A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.”

Read more of Dr. Dan’s Monday Morning Manna at http://discipleallnations.org/blog.

 It is only 58 days until Sunday, September  8, 2013. I would like to share with you why Grandparents' Day of Prayer is a significant day for me, if you have missed hearing about it.

I greatly appreciate the legacy passed on in my family as ancestors modeled their walk with the Lord and invested their prayers in my life. In response, God gave me a passion of praying for my grandchildren and for sharing this passion with other grandparents, so they, too, can share the joy and rewards of intercessory pray for their grandchildren.

When I found National Grandparents Day was the second Sunday in September, the thought came to me that it would be a good day to proclaim as Grandparents Day of Prayer. It would be a good time to encourage grandparents to unite in prayer for their grandchildren.

Since our nation and our world are in moral and spiritual decline, we are in a battle for the minds and hearts of our dear grandchildren. The enemy is trying to steal their lives and the plans God has for them, especially the family unit.

However, God values all of us including our grandchildren enough to send his son to die for them. As grandparents, we can stand in the GAP with prayer for them to allow their hearts to be tender and teachable to God's Word and recognize the deception of the world and guard their hearts. It is urgent that we stand in the gap to pray for their spiritual, emotional, and physical protection and their parents so they do not become victims of our culture.

For that reason, I am encouraging you to participate and invite your friends to join in prayer with for grandparents throughout the worldwide on Grandparents Day of Prayer on September 8 in your home or in your church.

Things you can do now:

• If you are on Facebook go to https://www.facebook.com/GrandparentDayOfPrayer?ref=hl to "like" the page, you will receive additional information in the Facebook frequent posts.
• You can also sign up for a "Free download" of a chapter from the book "Grandparenting with a Purpose."
• To learn more about this special event go to   http://www.gocgn.com/day-of-prayer
• Tell your friends about Grandparents' Day of Prayer on September 8.

May God grant you favor in your grandparenting,

Lillian Penner, Prayer Coordinator, lpenner@christiangrandparenting.net

As we witness prophetic events unfolding daily, we can attest without question, that the Church is in the last of the last days, the final hours before Christ returns for His spotless Bride. If there was ever a time when we, as Christians, need to safeguard our victory in Christ, it is today. The apostle Paul gives us the secret of securing our salvation in 1 Corinthians 9:27, “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

 The signs of the times are everywhere throughout the world—floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, wars, economic collapse, false prophets, terrorism—these global indicators are clear harbingers, signalling the end of the age. The spiritual battle is raging around us with greater intensity than ever. There is a great falling away, a spreading apostasy that is looming in the Church like dark clouds of deception as multitudes of careless, undiscerning christians succumb to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils that have infiltrated the House of God, openly defiling the Lord’s holy name and corrupting His Word. 1Timothy 4:1-2 heralds this sobering trumpet call- “Now the Spirit speaks expressly that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,  speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron”

 This is not a warning for the next generation—no, we are the final generation that is witnessing these exact Bible prophecies coming to pass before our very eyes! God, in His mercy, continues to send us “wake up call” after “wake up call” to shock us out of our slumber. All of these “breaking news” stories are occurring at an alarming and unprecedented acceleration. This should drive us to work out our own salvation in fear and trembling and for that reason, I have compiled this list of ten basic rules to safeguard your victory over the devil, who still walks around as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Don’t get hung up over the word “rule” which simply means “explicit principles that govern conduct”. What I’m endeavouring to do as God’s watchman is assist you according to His Word as to how we are to conduct ourselves as overcomers in these last days of time. Some would call this list of ten rules legalism, but Jesus calls it freedom. “If you continue in My word, then are you My disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32)  Here they are:

 1. SPEND TIME IN THE WORD DAILY- “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2)

 2. STAY ACTIVE IN PRAYER- “As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” (Psalm 55:16-17) 

 3. STAY IN COMMUNION WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT- “This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) 

 4. KEEP A GUARD OVER YOUR HEART- “Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) 

 5. LOVE YOUR ENEMIES-  “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Mathew 5:44) 

 6. FORGIVE OTHERS FOR ANY OFFENSE- “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11:25)

 7. STAY IN FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS- “Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhort one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching”  (Hebrews 10:25)

 8. TURN AWAY FROM YOUR SINS- “He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13)

9. GIVE THANKS IN ALL THINGS- “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20)

10. PROTECT YOUR FIRST LOVE- “I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent” (Revelation 2:4-5)

Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you daily to conduct your manner of living around these scriptural principles and then walk in your victorious freedom every day until Christ comes back for His overcoming Church! Sin shall not have dominion over you! God bless you!

I’ve often wondered what prompted the disciples of Jesus to ask Him to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1). Many things happened between their call to follow Him and their request to be taught prayer. According to Luke, just one chapter prior to their request, Jesus described the harvest as “great” and the laborers as “few” and then told them to pray (Luke 10:2). Since He was sending seventy of them into the harvest, two-by-two, they might have been surprised that prayer was included in His outreach strategy. They obviously understood the commands to go, to serve, to share, to minister, to teach, to preach, etc.? But the command to pray? This may have been the most confusing command of Jesus. Today, in many circles, it is the forgotten command of Jesus. I have heard, read and been a part of the planning of more outreach strategies than I can remember. Those saturated with prayer were in the minority. It must have thrilled Jesus to be asked about prayer, on the heels of His command to go to the harvest field. It would no doubt, thrill Him today, if we made prayer more a part of our harvest-field strategy.

Read more of Dr. Dan’s Monday Morning Manna at http://discipleallnations.org/blog.

                                                                        Did you know that there are now an estimated 6 to 8 million Muslims who are our neighbors, living here in the USA? Regardless of how this might make you feel, we know our call in Christ is to love our neighbors which is why we must pray for them. Did you know that many Muslims are spiritual seekers who want to know spiritual truth? Most Muslims are not opposed to the Gospel, they just haven't heard it presented - not once or in a way that makes sense to them. That is why we must pray for them. There is no better season to pray for Muslims then during Ramadan which in 2013 is July 9th to August 7th.

But how do we pray for Muslims? Ethnic Embrace USA, a partnership of Mission America Coalition and Ethnic American Network, was launched to provide resources for the Church to help pray informed cross-culturally for the many people groups who now call the USA home. For Ramadan, visit www.EthnicEmbraceUSA.net to download a 30 day Ramadan Prayer calendar representing the 30 largest Muslim people groups in the USA. While there download the "How to Pray for Muslims - 10 Prayer Points" 

        A few years ago, I found a letter my great-grandfather, a preacher in Poland had written to his son, my grandfather after my grandfather had immigrated to America. In the letter, he wrote that he was praying for his son, my grandfather, his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and future generations.

             It blessed my heart to see in writing that my great-grandfather had prayed for me before I was born. His prayers had a ripple effect on my grandparents, my parents, my life, my children, my grandchildren and my future generations.

Grandparents Role

            The role of godly grandparents is to communicate their faith in Jesus Christ and pray diligently for their grandchildren. However, if you did not have the privilege of growing up with a Christian heritage you have the opportunity start the ripple effect for your future generations.

            We read in Matthew 6:19.20, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” I think my children and grandchildren are my treasures.

            We may not have wealth to pass on to our children, grandchildren, and future descendents. However, author Jennifer Kennedy Dean shares in her book, The Legacy of Prayer about a Spiritual Trust Fund that will only increase in value.

• We can leave behind for our descendants a spiritual trust that can never be stolen, squandered, or lost.  
• We can lay up a storehouse of imperishable wealth by praying for our grandchildren and future generations.
• Our prayers are deposits in their spiritual trust fund and will be for withdrawals when needed. ¹

            Our descendents do not inherit salvation. Nevertheless, we can pray our descendants will live in a constant awareness of God’s presence and be firmly established in His Word. Praying their hearts will be prepared for when presented with an opportunity to step into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

            Our families need material things, but those things are only temporary. Prayer is the greatest gift we can give our family and will affect many generations.

1. Jennifer Kennedy Dean, Legacy of Prayer (Birmingham, New Hope Publishers).

by Lillian Penner

Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 214 | Wed 12 June 2013

SYRIA: THE BATTLE FOR ALEPPO

by Elizabeth Kendal

The Iranian-backed, Lebanese Shi'ite terrorist organisation, Hezballah, has officially entered the Syrian conflict. In a televised speech on 25 May, Hezballah leader Hassan Nasrallah wooed Sunni Arabs by provocatively, strategically and typically framing the conflict as a struggle between the 'Western Zionist agenda' and the Syrian 'resistance' that refuses to accept the West's dictates. According to this framework - which emphasises geo-politics over sectarianism - Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been drawn into a US-NATO-Israel axis plot, rather than the US and NATO being drawn into a Saudi-Qatar-Sunni Arab axis plot. The difference is subtle but critical, aimed at encouraging Sunni Arabs to reject sectarianism and join the 'resistance'.

On 5 June the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), supported by Hezballah, liberated the strategic city of Qusair which lies close to the border with Lebanon, in Syria's central province of Homs. Under rebel control for over a year Qusair had been home to 30,000 residents, including some 3,000 Christians. Today the city is a ghost-town, utterly ruined. Homes have been reduced to rubble while churches and monasteries have been desecrated, vandalised, looted and defaced with sectarian slogans. Qusair is integral to maintaining supplies. 'We've cut a major umbilical cord of the opposition,' boasted Homs governor, Ahmad Munir Mohammad, a Sunni Muslim and government loyalist. According to General Yahya Suleiman (SAA), 'Whoever controls Qusair controls the centre of the country, and whoever controls the centre of the country controls all of Syria.'

The battle now moves to Aleppo, a city of nearly three million people, including a sizeable Christian minority and with large Armenian and Greek communities. The battle for Aleppo has been deadlocked for close to 12 months. Christians have suffered immense hardship due to the rebel blockade of government-held areas - food, medicines and fuel are all scarce and costly. Leaving the house is fraught with risk. On Sunday 9 June foreign jihadists in Aleppo executed a boy whom they accused of blasphemy. Mohammad Qatta (15), a coffee-seller, had refused to give a 'customer' a free coffee, reportedly saying, 'Even if Muhammad comes down, I will not give it as [a] debt.' After beating and lashing the boy for hours, the rebels returned him to the street where they executed him in front of a crowd that included his distraught parents. Since the beginning of May, some 3000 Free Syrian Army fighters have defected to the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusrah Front which is leading an alliance of local and foreign jihadist groups and has raised its black flag in Aleppo's Tariq al-Bab neighbourhood. According to fresh data compiled by Western-sponsored activists and organisations and relayed to NATO, the jihadist ascendency has led many Sunnis to abandon the rebellion. According to the data, 70 percent of Syrians now support the Assad regime, 20 percent are maintaining neutrality while only 10 percent are still expressing support for the rebels.

More than 4000 Hezballah fighters are reportedly in Aleppo to support the SAA. Their first aim will be the lifting of rebel-imposed sieges. The battle for Aleppo will be a protracted house to house conflict with many casualties. In Lebanon, the largest Christian party (the Free Patriotic Movement) is in a formal alliance with Hezballah. Theoretically therefore, it should be in Hezballah's interests to respect the lives and rights of Syrian Christians. However, the reality is that the ever-pragmatic Hezballah has no love for Christians but exploits them as vote cattle and human shields. Hezballah's participation could well help end the conflict's stalemate by tipping the balance of power in favour of the Syrian government. But whenever victory comes through the assistance of foreign armies, sovereignty suffers. For Syrian Christians there will be no 'good' outcome in the short to medium term: only terrible (genocide at the hands of Sunni jihadists) or less terrible (domination by the clerical regime in Tehran and terrorist Hezballah). However, as the enduring, 'plodding', pioneer missionary William Carey noted: 'The future is as bright as the promises of God.'


PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT -

* Syrian Christians will look to the Lord, particularly the many thousands of Christian families besieged in Aleppo; may the Holy Spirit draw them close to their Almighty Father and remind them of the love of Christ, comforting, encouraging and fortifying them in their faith for the extremely testing times ahead.

'Therefore [because our struggle is not against flesh and blood (v12)] take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. . . . In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one' (Ephesians 6:13,16 ESV).

* as the decisive battle for Aleppo takes its course, God will shelter and preserve all his precious faithful people, whether they are displaced, hunkered down in their homes or being held captive by rebels.

'Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfils his purpose for me. He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!' (Psalm 57:1-3 ESV)

* God in his great mercy and grace will intervene in Syria to advance his purposes for the sake of the Church and glory of his Holy Name.


SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE

THE BATTLE FOR ALEPPO, SYRIA

On 5 June the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), supported by the Lebanese Hezballah, liberated the strategic city of Qusair near the Lebanon border in Syria's central province of Homs. Qusair, which had been under rebel control for over a year, had been home to more than 3000 Christians, some of whom are now trickling back. The battle now moves to Aleppo, a city of nearly three million people, with a sizeable Christian minority. Rebels in Aleppo recently executed a 15-year-old boy they accused of blasphemy. Since 1 May, some 3000 Free Syrian Army [rebel] fighters have defected to the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusrah Front which has raised its flag in Aleppo. The battle for Aleppo will be protracted with many casualties. Please pray for Syria and for the Church, especially in Aleppo.


To view this RLPB with hyperlinks or to access RLPB and RLM archives, visit the Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin blog at http://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.com

We suggest that churches and fellowships using the Summary above might also provide a copy of the listed prayer points to be used in their worship by people who are leading in prayer.

This RLPB was written for the Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (AEA RLC) by Elizabeth Kendal, an international religious liberty analyst and advocate, and a member of the AEA RLC team.

Elizabeth Kendal is the author of
'Turn Back the Battle: Isaiah speaks to Christians today'  (Deror Books, Dec. 2012)

http://turnbackthebattle.com/thebook.html 

Elizabeth is Adjunct Research Fellow in the Centre for the Study of Islam and Other Faiths at the Melbourne School of Theology. She is Director of Advocacy for Christian Faith & Freedom based in Canberra, Australia.

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Most women would be happy to have a praying husband. But what if the sounds of intense intercession keep you awake night after night?"Could you come down out of the heavenlies long enough to give me a hand with this dirty laundry?"

Have you ever uttered those words in your home? Some wives have trouble pulling their husbands away from the TV set. Others struggle to keep them from bringing work home from the office. But a growing number of women these days are asking: "How do I deal with my husband, the intercessor?"

First, let me congratulate you women who are married to intercessors. Of all the ministries to which a man could be called, none is more important than the ministry of intercessory prayer. Thank God for men who are committed to intercede for the needs of others, for revival and for spiritual awakening in our world! These men give their families the priceless gift of prayer.

But let's admit it: Having an intercessor for a husband can present its share of challenges.

Tools of the Trade
Communication in marriage is difficult for all couples at times. But understanding a spouse's intercessory burden can be particularly trying.

"He's too emotional" is a common complaint I hear from the wives of intercessors. These women are concerned that their husbands are frequently tearful, weepy or burdened—many times for no apparent reason! Actually, the men themselves may be worried about the same thing. Some male intercessors don't understand intercessory travail and therefore resist the assignment when it comes upon them—especially if they know their wives will think they're weak or strange.

Men have a natural inclination to present a strong, "macho" image to their families. But a posture of weakness before the Lord makes any intercessor effective. This challenge—remaining strong before their families and at the same time weak before God's throne—is difficult for some men.

The husband of one of our closest friends is an intercessor. For some time, he and his wife were both perplexed by what seemed to be his emotional instability. He was apt to burst into tears at the most inopportune moments. His tender heart had become an embarrassment to both of them.

I explained to them that just as wrenches are essential equipment for an auto mechanic, tears are the tools of an intercessor's trade. "Tears are a language God understands," Dottie Rambo's song declares.

And Scripture promises: "He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing" (Psalms 126:6, NKJV). When tears have watered the soil into which the seeds of prayer are planted, we can expect a harvest!

It is true that male intercessors, like their female counterparts, are often preoccupied with spiritual things. They seem to be always stuck in the prayer room—if not physically, then mentally. At times they may seem out of touch with reality and so committed to prayer that they are oblivious to the everyday needs of their families.

The call to intercession, however, is not a measure of spiritual maturity. Intercession is an assignment from the Lord, like any other assignment. Intercessors need to grow in wisdom and discernment, just like the rest of us—and wives of intercessors need to be patient and prayerful in that process.

In extreme cases, a prayer warrior may refuse to hold a job or provide for his
family, using his call to intercessory prayer as an excuse. But a mature, godly man knows that his spiritual responsibilities do not release him from his physical responsibilities.

Paul wrote that a man who fails to provide for his own family is "worse than an infidel" (1 Tim. 5:8, KJV.) If God calls a man to pray instead of holding an outside job, God's provision for his family will be the evidence. In other words, God's provision usually confirms God's direction.

Some male intercessors are impulsive. They "get a word from God" and act on it immediately. But to assume that they have heard God clearly, have correctly interpreted what they heard Him say and are applying it rightly is presumptuous! With that tough-guy, John Wayne mentality, they overlook the fact that, at best, "we prophesy in part...we see through a glass, darkly" (1 Cor. 13:9,12).

Refusing to wait for the Lord to confirm the word or for their wives to come into agreement actually breeds marital resentment. It doesn't take much of a man to win an argument or walk all over his wife's feelings. It takes quite a man to trust God!

It is crucial that male intercessors allow their wives time to process and participate in important decisions. As Ephesians 5:21 says, we must submit to one another.

A Lesson I Learned
In 1979 my family was living comfortably in a nice house on a beautiful lake in North Texas. The occasional concert or revival meeting paid the bills. Only nine months after moving into our new home, however, I was offered a job in Houston, as the executive director of an evangelistic association.

I felt strongly that God wanted me to take the job. To my surprise, Alice felt just as strongly that He didn't.

I knew there was no use trying to "railroad" her. I had to act from a position of truth.

According to the Word, Alice and I are one. We are to be of one mind—especially regarding something as important as selling a house and moving to another city. And that one mind is to be the mind of Christ.

"Honey," I told her sweetly, "I really believe that the Lord is calling us to this new position. However, it's clear to me that you disagree. So here's what I'm going to do.

"First, tomorrow I will call the ministry in Houston and explain to them that we are unable to accept the job at this time and that more prayer is needed for us to come to a decision. Second, I will not mention this offer to you again. I'm not going to bug you with this.

"Finally, I'm going to trust the whole situation to the Lord. If God has spoken this to me, He can just as easily communicate it to you. And if and when He does, you let me know."

Understand, I knew I could be wrong. Perhaps the job wasn't God's will. God has often used Alice to keep me from making stupid mistakes. At the same time, it could be that she was wrong.

What if, while waiting for Alice's agreement, someone else got the job and I missed God's plan for my life? Was I confident in God's ability to speak to my wife—confident that I could leave this issue in His hands until He had finished working out all the details?

It wasn't easy, but I kept my word not to mention the job again. I was determined not to whine about it, and I refused to say, "If it weren't for you, I could be doing God's will right now!"

Late one night about six months later, Alice came into my study wiping tears from her eyes.

"Eddie," she said, "The Lord has told me that you are to take that job in Houston."

"Oh, Alice, I'm certain that the job was taken by someone else long ago," I replied.

"No, the Lord told me that it is there for you," she said. "Call them tomorrow, and you'll see."

The next morning I called the ministry in Houston and learned that the position, amazingly, had not yet been filled. I also learned that the night before, at the same time Alice had heard from the Lord, the ministry leaders were in prayer, asking God to confirm His will in our hearts.

I accepted the job offer, and we moved. The pay, the housing—literally everything about the job—was better because we had waited those six months. That experience proved to me that Alice and I can submit to each other in the fear of the Lord—because we have a faithful God!

Being a Helpmate
How can you support your husband in his ministry of intercession? Here are some ways to start:

• Avoid the urge to judge or criticize him. Intercession is a difficult job. It is a heavy responsibility to represent life-and-death issues before God's throne. Don't become an additional burden to him. Be a help, not a hindrance.

• Find ways to assist him. Perhaps you can offer to assist more with the administration of the family. I'm not suggesting that you replace him. Nevertheless, there may be ways you can help him when you sense he is under a particular spiritual burden or when he is fasting.

• Guard your heart against jealousy. Don't be jealous of his relationship with Christ. If you don't experience the same level of intimacy with the Lord that your husband shares in intercession, that's OK. Thank God we are all different!

Pursue your own intimate relationship with Christ. Find your own rhythm of prayer. After all, intimacy with Jesus is a journey, not a destination; learn to accept yourself and where you are on the journey.

• Release him to learn. Today there are many opportunities for your husband to learn from other intercessors and teachers. Conferences, seminars and books offer a wealth of necessary training for him. Your generosity in allowing your spouse to learn from others will have far-reaching effects in the kingdom.

Remember, the fruit of your husband's prayers and tears—measured in transformed lives—will be applied to your heavenly account as well. Why? You're partnered with him so he can be a more effective minister of intercession.

Your praying husband is a precious gift, not only to you and your family, but also to the church. Understand him. Help him. Pray for him. And enjoy the blessings of your ministry together.

This article is loosely based on a chapter in "Help! I'm Married To An Intercessor," a book by Eddie Smith, who is co-founder and president of the U.S. Prayer Center in Houston. Eddie is also an internationally known conference speaker and best-selling author. He and his wife, Alice, are available to minister in churches and conferences. http://USPrayerCenter.org

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We would like to assume that much prayer goes into the preparation of sermons. How tragic it is when men stand in the pulpit to speak for God having briefly consulted Him during the week. However, it is possible that even less prayer comes from the lips of those who preach after they have delivered the sermon. We should be just as urgent in prayer after we have preached! Consider the following prayer focuses for praying following your preaching:
- Release all glory to the Father (Eph. 3:20-21).
- Praise the Father as the God of the Word (2 Tim. 3:16).
- Magnify His Word as the source of power in the pulpit (Eph. 6:17).
- Magnify His omniscience and providence in the lives of your hearers, rather than basking in your eloquence (Heb. 4:12).
- Rejoice in the presence of God that His Word does not return void or empty (Is. 55:11).
- Thank the Father for revealing His strength in your weakness (2 Cor. 12:9-10).
- Ask the Father to enable your people to be doers of the Word and not hearers only (Jas. 1:22); not forgetful hearers, but doers of the work (Jas. 1:25).
- Intercede intensely that the enemy will not snatch the Word away (Matt. 13:19).
- Pray that difficulties will not cause hearers to stumble and forget the Word (Matt. 13:20-21).
- Pray that the Word will not be choked out by the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches (Matt. 13:22).
- Pray that the Holy Spirit will captivate the minds of hearers with the Scripture text from Sunday, guiding them into meditation and obedience (Ps. 1:1-3).

Keeney Dickenson - www.prayeridigm.com