Weekly Prayer (5/16)

 Weekly Prayer (5/16)

【Last Weekly Prayer (5/9)】  【Next Weekly Prayer (5/23)】

【Cleansing/Covering Prayer】

Editor’s Words

Editorial Special Section: Global 24/7 Prayer Wall Website Goals and Purposes

Date : May 9, 2022

Dear Intercessor Family,

First of all, we are very grateful for your participation, prayers, letters and suggestions. The editors and co-workers of this website are a small group of intercessors called by God. They pray together every week, seek God’s will, and write down the content of prayers in related fields for everyone’s reference and to pray with one heart, in order to bring God’s will till His kingdom comes, God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

…Detailed Reading

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Editorial Special Section: Lana Vawser: I AM TURNING ALL YOUR SORROW INTO JOY

Message : Lana Vawser Date: May 11, 2022 Chinese Translation: Kingdom Alive   Original : Lana Vawser Ministries

I SAW MANY FEELING LIKE THEY ARE SUFFOCATING IN SORROW AND JESUS CAME AND BREATHED UPON THEM AND SPOKE “I AM TURNING ALL YOUR SORROW INTO JOY”

Recently I had an encounter with the Lord and He showed me many in the body of Christ who have felt overcome with sorrow. The Lord showed me this sorrow was from circumstances in the last few years, but there were also things from many years ago that were still causing sorrow in the heart. I watched as these ones felt like their very breath had been taken by this sorrow. The word that surrounded me in this encounter was “overcome”.

…Detailed Reading

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Editorial Special Section: Scott Reese: And Suddenly!

Info : Scott Reece Date: May 13, 2022  Source: “Give Him 15 Minutes”

“And suddenly, there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” From Acts 2:2

God was about to change the course of the world! The earth was still resounding from the amazing season of the ministry of Jesus on the earth and now God was about to populate the entire earth with the sons and daughters of the kingdom, who would carry the message of the king and the kingdom into every stratum of life and every generation right up until this very moment.

…Detailed Reading

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Editorial Special Zone: Cheryl Sacks: Authority in Prayer to Change the Spiritual Atmosphere

Information: Cheryl Sacks  Date: May 11, 2022  Source: “Give Him 15 Minutes”

Every household, workplace, neighborhood, and even nation has a unique spiritual atmosphere or prevalent climate. I am sure you have felt it. You walk into a store or someone’s home and immediately feel something difficult to explain, whether it is peace and joy, or a prevailing darkness and heaviness.

…Detailed Reading

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Declaration Prayer: For President Trump and His Team [Update]

We declare in the name of Jesus :

• God will continue to bless and protect President Trump and his family, as well as the “scepter of justice” that God has raised up to support him in his government.
• The blood of Jesus covers them and those close to President Trump, bind and drive away any witchcraft or spells cast on them.
• The Holy Spirit continues to pour out and personally guide President Trump. He grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God. ( Lu 2:52 )
• The seven spirits of God are manifested in President Trump’s life ( Isaiah 11:1-3 ), giving him keen insight and discernment, judging the situation, and resolutely continuing to fulfill his call.
•  God will restore Trump to his rightful position at His best time and give people grace to transition.

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Declaration Prayer: Declaration of Justice and Righteousness for America’s Return

We Declare in the Name of Jesus :

• Victory in Justice In the forensic audit of the recount of the 2020 general election, to ensure the election was conducted in accordance with the constitutional authorization.
• The presidential documents relating to the incident in the Capitol on January 6 will be properly kept and will not be handed over to the partisan Special Investigation Committee of the House of Representatives.
• Courts at all levels will judge cases impartially, and unjust judges will be removed; the lives of those who maintain constitutional justice will be safe and grievances will be revealed.
• Corruption in the mainstream media will be exposed more, the truth behind the scenes and their manipulation will be revealed, and President Trump will win lawsuits against major technology companies and any other pending lawsuits against media organizations.
• More priests and churches who are godly, loving and patriotic are being raised up, courageously keeping God’s word and releasing God’s voice.
• The Supreme Court’s “Roe vs. Wade” and “Dobbs case” will be overturned, supporting the law that life begins at  conception and is established in each state. People who fight for life will be supernaturally protected.
• Repent of the crimes of human trafficking and abortion with repentance and intercession, and resist the agenda of LGTBQ+, communism, and CRT (Critical Race Theory).
• God supernaturally intervenes in the attack on the southern border, and the national sovereignty of the United States will be protected.
• Restore the patriotic education of 1776 and the original constitution.
• The evil plan of the elites to harm the United States will be exposed and dismantled.
• Pray that the American people will eventually demand that the truth will reign in our country, and God’s plans and goals for the United States will be rekindled in the hearts and minds of the people in this country.

(Adapted from the announcement of WFJM)

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Pray for America: The Myth of “Separation of Church and State”

Editor’s Note : This article is from Dutch Sheet’s May 3 “Give Him 15 Minutes” post.

【Current Affairs Background:  I have decided that one more post regarding the government is necessary. We did several posts a week ago on the subject; however, I believe “the separation of church and state” needs to be addressed. ...Detailed Reading】

• Isaiah 33:22   For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king;  it is he who will save us.
• Deuteronomy 20:4  For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”
• Hosea 4:6  my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge,  I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.
• Proverbs 29:2   “When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan..”

【prayer】

• Dispel the myth of “separation of church and state” : Father, in this season, we desperately need Your intervention. Your people are perishing because of ignorance. Please awaken Your children to the responsibilities and privileges of citizens of a free country, and break the church’s commitment to the myth of “Separation of “state and church”, free from the yoke of political and religious spirits; please give the American church wisdom, revelation, grace, strategy, and divine courage to resist those evil forces that seek to subvert America; raise up Your heavenly council on earth Work with You in exercising Your glorious mission and authority, actively participating in politics, and engaging You in our lives, families, cities, and nations through government power and government, continue to transform America, and make America walk in Your calling and destiny.

• In the name of Jesus Christ we declare :

• • God is the God of America.
  • The body of Christ will have a role in government.
  • God is the government: the legislator, the judge, and the king. The US government is set up according to this model.
  • The Lord Jesus Christ will reign in the American government.
  • The Ekklesia  on earth will arise as salt and light.
  • God will be glorified in America.

In the name of the Lord Jesus, amen.

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Pray For Israel: Will Israel Start Building the Temple?

【Current affairs background: Palestinian terrorists have been inciting religious violence during the fasting month of Ramadan. On April 8, a Palestinian terrorist attacked Tel Aviv’s busy Dizengoff Square, in local bars and cafes, tragically killed three Jews in their 20s. Shortly after the deadly massacre, Hamas explained their motives, announcing that it would fight with blood and bullets “the terrorism and its crimes that continue to occupy (Jerusalem), attempt to Judaize Jerusalem, and Sacrifices were carried out at the “Aqsa Mosque” during the “Passover” of the 1970s to build its so-called “Temple”. Through their statement, Hamas exposed their greatest fear: Israel will start building the temple.  …Detailed Reading】

• Daniel 9:24-27 Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish[ transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place. “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.  He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.
• Zech 1:16-17 “Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the Lord Almighty. “Proclaim further: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.’”
• 2 Corinthians 3:15-16  Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.  But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 
• Ephesians 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.

【prayer】　

• The time for the rebuilding of the temple is in the hands of Jehovah God: Heavenly Father, we see that the Jews and the surrounding Arab countries are getting closer and closer to the “firm covenant” mentioned in the book of Daniel, after which the temple will be built . Father, we praise you that you are the God of messengers, prophesied in the bible that you will rebuild the temple ( Zec 1:16-17 ). We declare that the rebuilding of the Third Temple will take place in Thy timetable, fulfilled in Thy will, and Thou shalt thwart the harm and destruction of all that has been advanced by human hands.
• Build the one body of Christ : Father, remove the veil of lies, religion, law, and tradition from the faces of the Jews, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may open their mouths to praise Your holy name ( Ezekiel 36:24 -26, 2 Corinthians 3:14-16, Matt 23:39 ). Please prepare a one new man church, so that the two become one, to welcome Your return ( Ephesians 2:14 ), to revive the church, to be sensitive and vigilant to the last days, to prepare the wise virgins with oil, waiting for the bridegroom to come ( Matt. 25:1-13 )

In the name of Christ Jesus, amen!

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Critical Event: “Take our children back from the “mouth of the tiger” – the turn of the century, closing the door on abortion

Editor’s Note : We recently received requests from intercessors to write prayers for children’s “sexual orientation” education. This is a serious global problem. As we seek God’s prayer strategy for this, the Holy Spirit reminds us that America is the initiator of confusion about the “sexual orientation” of the next generation, and that the Florida conservatives’ legal battle against Disney’s liberals, although localized, will have enormous consequences. effect. Don’t underestimate this battle. The United States has reversed, and it will bring about a global reversal like a domino effect. We should continue to pray for this, and ask the intercessors of all nations to pray together.

【Background: On May 4, 2022, the first draft of US Justice Samuel Alito’s 67-page private opinion on the ” Roe v. Wade” abortion case was leaked on social media Politico, causing an uproar. The next day, crowds gathered in Washington, D.C., for extrajudicial solidarity or protest. …Detailed Reading】

• Gen 1:27 So God created mankind in his own image,  in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
• Job 12:10 In his hand is the life of every creature  and the breath of all mankind.
• Isaiah 51:13a that you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretches out the heavens  and who lays the foundations of the earth.
• John 16:27a The Father himself loves you.
• Acts 17:28 For in him we live and move and have our being.’[a] As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.
• 1 Kings 11:7  On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites.
• Ephesians 6:12  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms..

【prayer】

• Overturn Roe v. Wade: Father God, it is written that the Lord is a warrior! When this lawsuit is in focus today, it’s time for You to turn it around! It is like the Normandy landings of World War II, the beginning of victory; it is the beginning of the American ship turning back to You; it is also like a domino effect, making victory and revival come to this place more and more intensely each time. Father God, give us strategies as we work together, so that the unlawful rights associated with this case are also broken down one by one, uprooted and never to be resurrected! Prepare the hearts of Christians to fight for overturning Roe v. Wade!
• Closing the door on abortion : Although US states have the power to decide whether abortion is legal or illegal according to the Constitution, the fear of God is the duty and foundation of man and country. Father, this is not just a war, but a big battle. Come and revive the churches and intercession armies in all states, trevail and pray, and stand on the breach and offer sacrifices. All You want is national awakening and be in awe, God! Come and wake up every state, every state government, every church, every living soul, and let the incense of prayer rise constantly, so that the state, county, city, town, and village may all become Yours, Surrender to Your love! The root of the poison that made Moloch kill infants and bleed people has been cut off! Father, we declare: The decision of every state, every county, and every city in America is to revere the life that comes fromYou and completely close the door to abortion!

In the name of Christ Jesus, amen!

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Pray for Native Americans: Indigenous leaders enter American Political Mountain

【Current Affairs: Joe Donnell, a young Sioux native leader who has traveled with Chinese in the East for many years, wrote to us a few weeks ago to inform us that he was invited to run for state Senate in South Dakota, and we are all very excited about it. Just as the Taiwanese aborigines began to participate in politics and released their voices for the aborigines, the government became more and more concerned about the aboriginal groups, and it also changed the public’s perception and respect for the aborigines. …Detailed Reading 】

• Isaiah 22 : 22   I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
• Isaiah 60:1-2   “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you..
• Isaiah 58:8  Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness[a] will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard..
• Proverbs 3:5   Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.

【Prayer】

• Joe Donnell enters entered the state government successfully : Father, You have prepared and called Joe Donnell for a long time, Now is Your chosen time for him to enter the political mountain, you will also give him all resources and ability to complete this new mission and journey according to Your faithfulness. Anoint him greatly, make him strong and courageous, and acknowledge You in all things. You will direct his path, give him divine wisdom and strategy, gather him a united campaign team, Your justice will go before him, clear his campaign obstacles, your glory will be Joe Donnell’s backing. Your grace will surround him like a shield, and fight for him personally, not only for him to win this primary, but also to become a state senator and enter his life calling.
• We declare in the name of Jesus Christ;
  • Now is the time for Indigenous peoples to rise up and shine.
  • Aboriginal people will wake up and understand the calling and destiny of the firstborn.
  • Aboriginal people have to enter various mountains, especially political mountain.
  • The U.S. government and people will understand the calling and destiny of the Indigenous peoples.
  • The U.S. government will apologize to the natives and restore the status and industries of the natives.
  • Indigenous peoples are the key to a revival that will bring about reconciliation and breakthroughs between groups.

In the name of Christ Jesus, amen!

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Pray For Church

Pray for Participating Churches and Pastors on Regional 24/7 Prayer Walls

【Editor’s Note: The 24/7 prayer walls listed here are especially for local churches and pastors. If you are committed to watch on the regional walls, simply click on the link listed below to connect to the local prayer wall. 】

• East Coast 24/7 Prayer Wall – Prayers for Local Churches & Leaders
• Bread Of Life Christian Church in ShiLin
• NZ Awaken the Dawn

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Related Events and Prayer Background

Editorial Special Section: Global 24/7 Prayer Wall Website Goals and Purposes

Date : May 9, 2022

Dear Intercessor Family,

First of all, we are very grateful for your participation, prayers, letters and suggestions. The editors and co-workers of this website are a small group of intercessors called by God. They pray together every week, seek God’s will, and write down the content of prayers in related fields for everyone’s reference and to pray with one heart, in order to bring God’s will till His kingdom comes, God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

Our goals and objectives:

1. By praying, seeking, and listening, we can receive God’s current will, write down prayers, and provide reference for intercessors.
2. May God use the “Weekly Prayer” to ignite the fire of prayer in the hearts of every believer, and all of them will become faithful intercession warriors; Pray for a generation to disciple the nations!
3. Earnestly stay away from the soul-level understanding of the current situation and circumstances, but look from God’s perspective into the current situation and align our prayers with God’s will.
4. We take a Christ-centered stand that transcends the boundaries of nations, parties, and denominations, and based our perspective on the kingdom of God.
5. As one of the watchtowers on the Great Wall of God’s Kingdom Prayer, we expect to have more connections with intercessors from all over the world, especially the “Critical Key Areas”, we welcome letters, contributions, and to work together.

How deep are the riches of God’s wisdom and knowledge; how unfathomable are His judgments; how hard are His traces! What we know is limited, and although we sincerely give it our best, what we can provide is also limited. we only hope that our meager “five loaves and two fish” can be handed over to the Lord Jesus for Him to break and use.

We also hope that God will lead everyone to pray and cover the editorial team more, so that our spirits will be more sensitive to God’s guidance, declare God’s will and words, and accomplish God’s will.

May God remember your sacrifices and bless you and your family.

Sincerely, the editorial team

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Editorial Special Section: Lana Vawser: I AM TURNING ALL YOUR SORROW INTO JOY

Message : Lana Vawser Date: May 11, 2022 Chinese Translation: Kingdom Alive   Original : Lana Vawser Ministries

I SAW MANY FEELING LIKE THEY ARE SUFFOCATING IN SORROW AND JESUS CAME AND BREATHED UPON THEM AND SPOKE “I AM TURNING ALL YOUR SORROW INTO JOY”

Recently I had an encounter with the Lord and He showed me many in the body of Christ who have felt overcome with sorrow. The Lord showed me this sorrow was from circumstances in the last few years, but there were also things from many years ago that were still causing sorrow in the heart. I watched as these ones felt like their very breath had been taken by this sorrow. The word that surrounded me in this encounter was “overcome”. They felt overcome by the sorrow they were experiencing. They felt stuck in sorrow. Many were crying out “Lord I feel like I am suffocating in this sorrow” and that’s when HE stepped in.

I saw Jesus walk up before each one and He breathed upon them. His breath shouted LIFE and HEALING, SO loudly. His breath of life, His breath of healing, His breath of freedom, the breath of His deliverance, to BREATHE DEEPLY in peace again.

I could feel the longing of His heart so deeply to set them free, to break the chains of these sorrows that had entangled and weighed down their hearts and looking into their eyes, His eyes brimming with love, He spoke:

“I AM TURNING ALL YOUR SORROW INTO JOY”

At that moment I knew all the sorrows that have kept the hearts of these precious sons and daughters of God caged, were now being healed, they were being brought back to life. There was a deep soothing and healing taking place in their hearts as His love and His presence encompassed their sorrowful hearts. I could feel such a weight in that moment of the divine turning. I could feel the weight in that moment of the recompense of the Lord. I could feel the weight of His restoration. I could feel the weight of “beauty for ashes and joy for mourning” (Isaiah 61)

When the Lord spoke “I AM TURNING ALL YOUR SORROW INTO JOY”, I felt the word “ALL” highlighted. I then began to see these ones that have been on their knees crying out to the Lord for so long and I could hear the words “Lord, there are SO MANY SORROWS. There are SO MANY SORROWS. There have been SO MANY SORROWS” and I knew when the Lord spoke “ALL” that He was going after that list of sorrows. There were such powerful revelatory truths of His love, His nature, His goodness to work ALL things together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28), that IN HIM there is LIFE and LIFE abundantly (John 10:10) and for whom the Son sets free is free indeed (John 8:36), His heart to release and restore double (Isaiah 61:7-8) that was exploding all around. As He breathed over these ones and He spoke truth over and over, over these ones, these seeds of revelation were landing in the heart and resurrection life was beginning to explode within them.

There was a DEEP DEEP joy that was being released from His heart, from His Word, from His breath upon them deep into the very core of these ones. It was a DEEP JOY that was bursting forth of being IN HIM and in His presence.

It’s a time of turning. It’s a time of breakthrough. He is healing and removing the suffocating sorrows and restoring peace, restoring joy and bringing deep, deep healing to hearts.

I heard Him speak again:

“Where there has been suffocating sorrow, you will now SEE and HEAR the SOUND OF LIFE WITHIN YOU AND ALL AROUND YOU. It’s time for RESURRECTION LIFE.”

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Editorial Special Section: Scott Reese: And Suddenly!

Info : Scott Reece Date: May 13, 2022  Source: “Give Him 15 Minutes”

“And suddenly, there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” From Acts 2:2

God was about to change the course of the world! The earth was still resounding from the amazing season of the ministry of Jesus on the earth and now God was about to populate the entire earth with the sons and daughters of the kingdom, who would carry the message of the king and the kingdom into every stratum of life and every generation right up until this very moment.

This suddenly moment was the response to an upper room call. Things would never be the same again. Life would never go back to normal and the ministry and life of Jesus would be perpetuated throughout the generations because the first century Ekklesia stepped beyond the boundaries of their comfort zone and stepped into the reality of God’s kingdom being birthed on the earth as it had never been before.

I believe that even as it was in the first century and in that small gathering place, when a kingdom assignment was released, the Ekklesia stands at a pivotal moment, and once again, we are being beckoned into upper room moments so that suddenlies can be released in you and through you.

You are coming into a “Suddenly Season!”

This scripture has been resonating in me for the last several days, and there are many things that God is speaking to me about this, but I have to release this one today…

And, Suddenly!

The Greek word for suddenly is “Aphanes.” It actually means something that has been hidden and not yet manifest. In other words, your “suddenlies aren’t so suddenly.”

Your suddenlies are those moments that have been ordained by God, and are being released at the exact moment that your destiny and purpose demand it. The suddenlies are determined by God, but activated by your faith and obedience. Many suddenlies have been delayed because of disobedience or even sometimes spiritual resistance from the enemy.

The disciples of Jesus gathered in obedience in the Upper Room, came into agreement, and began to permeate the atmosphere with worship. Their faith activated the kingdom realm and the response was a “Suddenly,” that had been planned for eons of time!

The Word of the Lord

• “I am bringing you into your “Suddenly Season.” The plans and purposes of your life have been carefully and strategically orchestrated. The kingdom administration that will bring alignment to your natural world has been released.
• “The delays regarding your destiny have been deactivated. I have ordained divine encounters, supernatural moments, prophetic partnerships, breakthroughs, and provision to usher you into this season of your suddenlies. The result will be a breakthrough outpouring of My power and grace that will give birth to a new movement in your life, family, and future.
• “What you will see and experience in this season will be the manifestation of the dreams, passions, and visions that you have held on to in your heart. The intimate whispers that you have heard in the night from My Spirit are coming into fruition.”

I hear the Lord saying, “this is not a season of delay, but delight.” Get your natural house and world in order. Become alert, aware, and attentive to the slightest moves of the anointing and the clouds that hold the rains of your provision.

Why is that so important?

There is a suddenly mantle that is being released upon this generation. A mantle that has only been experienced up to this point by individuals, but the demand for breakthrough demands a corporate mantle.

God is moving upon the entire movements of people who will be connected by the anointing, not by denominational or organizational ties. In these days, organizations will become dimmed by the light of a new anointing that unites instead of divides.

The day is at hand. These are not days where the Ekklesia will bow down and surrender, or only a handful will make it. Jesus is establishing His kingdom throughout all the earth!

The enemy has control over the carnal kingdom of the world, but the greater kingdom is arising in strength, power, favor, and breakthrough, and it will subdue the kingdoms of this world and its gods.

The promise is to the Ekklesia, not to an organization. The church stands united, not under the banner of men, but under the victorious One who righteously reigns supreme and with all authority!

Get ready for your suddenlies!

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Editorial Special Zone: Cheryl Sacks: Authority in Prayer to Change the Spiritual Atmosphere

Information: Cheryl Sacks  Date: May 11, 2022  Source: “Give Him 15 Minutes”

Every household, workplace, neighborhood, and even nation has a unique spiritual atmosphere or prevalent climate. I am sure you have felt it. You walk into a store or someone’s home and immediately feel something difficult to explain, whether it is peace and joy, or a prevailing darkness and heaviness.

We may feel powerless to change negative atmospheres and start thinking “that’s just the way things are!” But that’s simply not true. Storms can be calmed instantly, as we saw when Jesus rebuked a storm at sea (Matthew 8:23-27). It’s true of spiritual climates as well.

Dutch Sheets, as you know, is a bestselling author, speaker, and former pastor. He shares this story about authority in prayer:

“When the Lord first started talking to me about changing the atmosphere, He started by dealing with me about the atmosphere in my home. One morning in our house, there was this tension. We have a great family relationship—all of us. We don’t fight, and my wife, Ceci, and I don’t argue. We talk things through. We make sure we honor one another in that way. But everybody was kind of on edge, irritated and frustrated. Nobody had a reason. So everybody had to guard their tongue and be careful. Finally, I just said—sort of to myself—Lord, I really don’t like the atmosphere here right now.

“Just as clearly as I have ever heard the Lord, He said, Well, why don’t you change it? The Lord said, You’re in charge of your house. You have authority here. Just begin to decree My Word and decree that the tension has to leave, and the peace of God will fill the atmosphere of your house.

“I thought, I’m going to try this and see what happens. I didn’t gather the family and pray because I didn’t want them to know what I was doing. I wanted to know whether this was going to be something supernatural or people just trying harder. For only five minutes, I walked through the house, and under my breath, I quietly started praying and decreeing. Within minutes—not hours, but minutes—the atmosphere changed. People were singing and happy, and engaging one another in conversation. It was like they’d had their morning cup of coffee—everybody changed. I thought, Wow, this is pretty good.

“A short time after that, I was in our church service on a Sunday morning. It didn’t feel right—like there was this oppression.

“I said to the Lord, I don’t like the atmosphere in here right now. The worship team was struggling, and people were kind of lethargic.

“The Lord said, Why don’t you change it? You’re in charge. Change it.

“So I told my associate that we were going to agree in prayer, that we were going to change the atmosphere in the room. I did what I did in my home and within minutes, the place was alive—like fire. I thought, Wow, this is pretty good!”

Dutch gives us a powerful and practical model here that we can apply. Every day we are in various spiritual battles relating to our families, workplaces, and communities. However, in the end, we must remember that the war is over the presence of God. Who will rule the atmosphere in a given place? Will it be the Holy Spirit or something else?

I (Cheryl) remember when I was teaching in a large public high school in Texas riddled with drugs, gangs, depression, and sometimes violence. It was a teacher’s nightmare! In one of my classes, the students’ absenteeism was higher than their grade average. The students who were in class would put their heads on their desks and sleep almost the entire class time. I was still new to teaching and didn’t know what to do. My college professors hadn’t mentioned that teaching would be like this, much less told us what to do about it. 

Since I had no other training, my Bible became my manual. I pray walked the halls and the four-block perimeter of my school. I took authority over the oppressive atmosphere there and invited Holy Spirit to come in. I anointed the doorway of my classroom and prayed over the desk of every student. Then I gathered the other English teachers who I knew were Christians to pray with me during the lunch break.

I soon discovered in the back of the English department’s book room a classroom set of the book, The Cross and the Switchblade by Nicky Cruz. Nicky had been the leader of the notorious gang, the Maus Maus, in New York City. The book tells his life story and his conversion to Christ after meeting the preacher, David Wilkerson. Don’t ask me how these Christian books ended up in the book room of a public high school. All I know is that the Lord put them there for me.

I started teaching the book, “as literature” of course, and I saw an immediate change in the spiritual atmosphere in my classes. Students were interested and motivated and there was an evident spiritual hunger. Just before the end of the school year, I had the thought that I should invite Nicky Cruz to come and speak to the students in our high school assembly. When I mentioned the idea to the school principal, he said “NO way! We can’t have a preacher preaching in our high school.” The school superintendent agreed it was not a good idea and it was not going to happen. At first Nicky Cruz himself said he couldn’t come. But we prayed and God miraculously opened the door.

I will never forget the day Nicky Cruz stood on stage in our school auditorium and shared his life story with our 2,000 students. When Nicky explained how Jesus Christ died on the Cross for his sins and theirs, the room was filled with the palpable presence of God. As he shared how Jesus had changed his life and could change their lives, too, the student body, without any prompting, jumped to their feet and erupted in an exuberant roaring applause. This went on for several minutes. Nicky wasn’t allowed to give an “altar call,” but still students streamed to the front of the auditorium to talk about God and ask for prayer. Revival broke out that day and the entire atmosphere of my high school changed.

Scripture tells us that we live in two realms—a physical realm and an invisible realm. Just because we cannot see the spiritual realm doesn’t mean it is any less real. It has the power to influence our lives —and the atmosphere in our homes, workplaces, and even our nation. A spiritual atmosphere has the power to shape our lives—to confuse or inspire, to affirm or reject, to make sad or happy, to restrict or empower.

How do we know what atmosphere is ruling a given place? The Bible says that “The kingdom of God is…righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). In other words, when God’s Spirit is in charge in your home or elsewhere, you can expect to experience peace and joy. That is an awesome promise!

On the other hand, the Bible tells us that we have a spiritual enemy who comes “to steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10). When these dark forces are at work, they rob our peace, our health, our finances, and our spiritual vitality.

Since Jesus dealt with satan’s authority – the right to use his power and abilities (see Colossians 2:15)  – then we need to deal with him as a usurper, a rebel, a thief that has no right to steal, kill and destroy, but who will if not stopped. If we have been delivered from satan’s authority and given a higher authority in Christ’s name, then we must exercise our authority over the devil’s works and power. When we do, God’s awesome power will back up our authority..[1]

Jesus put it this way: “Behold I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19; NKJV). This means that we don’t have to submit to our negative circumstances and environment, we can change the atmosphere wherever we go by walking in our God-given dominion. 

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Pray for America: The Myth of “Separation of Church and State”

Editor’s Note : This article is from Dutch Sheet’s May 3 “Give Him 15 Minutes” post.

【Current Affairs Background:  I have decided that one more post regarding the government is necessary. We did several posts a week ago on the subject; however, I believe “the separation of church and state” needs to be addressed. In last week’s teachings, we stressed that God honors the concept of government. More than simply believing in it, however, He tells us in Isaiah 33:22 that He IS government: Lawgiver, Judge, and King. Our government, with its three branches – Legislative, Judicial, and Executive – was formed after this pattern. He, as the Author of government, desires to funnel His wisdom, will, and ways into the earth’s realm through a righteous government.

I have often said, “Although God initiated, endorsed, and therefore blesses the concept of government, He despises the ‘political spirit.’” The political spirit is to govern what a religious spirit is to have a relationship with God. Both are perversions of the truth. They are evil. These spirits partnered to crucify Jesus. In America, the political spirit has so defiled our government that deception, a lust for control and power, antichrist ideals/agendas, and greed control much of Washington, D.C. This rebellion and rejection of God eventually opens the door to depravity, such as killing babies up to a month old, which some are now trying to make legal.

One of the most important statements in America’s founding documents is found in the first sentence of the Bill of Rights, Amendment I: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

This Amendment was written to keep our nation from favoring any denomination or religious group, and from forming a state Church or religion, as had occurred in England. The king was the overseer of the Church of England and the combined power of church and state in that situation was very oppressive to many people. The First Amendment also ensured individuals could relate to God as they desired without the intrusion of government. It was meant to keep government control out of the church, not keep God or His influence out of government. Our founders wanted God’s influence in our government. The rotunda of the Capitol was actually used for church services every Sunday morning for decades. Presidents, including Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, and others regularly attended. Jefferson actually did so just two days after penning his now-famous letter to the Danbury Baptists, in which he used the phrase “wall of separation between church and state.”

This statement, “a wall of separation between church and state,” does not exist in the First Amendment – or any other place – in the Constitution. Jefferson stated it in a letter to answer a question posed to him by the Danbury Baptist Association of Danbury, CT, who were concerned about the government forming a state religion. Here is what Jefferson, one of the authors of the U. S. Constitution, actually said in this response dated October 17, 1801:

“Gentlemen – Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God; that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship; that the legislative powers of government reach actions only and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church and State.” (1)

David Barton, considered an expert on the intent of our nation’s Founders, said this:

“Thomas Jefferson had no intention of allowing the government to limit, restrict, regulate, or interfere with public religious practices. He believed, along with the other Founders, that the First Amendment had been enacted only to prevent the federal establishment of a national denomination.” (2)

Over time, the overall effect of the false doctrine regarding “The Separation of Church and State” concluded that neither the church nor God should have any influence in the American government. The true meaning, government not controlling or favoring certain religious groups, has been largely ignored.

Consider the following examples:

• The Little Sisters of the Poor won a Supreme Court case on July 8, 2020, after a 10-year-long battle regarding the Obamacare mandate requiring them to provide contraceptive coverage to their employees. This is against their religious beliefs. While “churches” were exempt from the mandate, other religious organizations were not. President Trump’s “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” made all religious organizations exempt, as they should be. It took an Executive Order to finally get this basic First Amendment right granted to Little Sisters of the Poor.
• COVID-19 saw the shutdown of almost all businesses and places of worship. On re-opening, some states tried to keep churches and synagogues locked down while opening bars, casinos, malls, and the like. This made no sense and was obvious discrimination against Christians and Jews. Churches went on the offense. Some chose civil disobedience, opening anyway, while complying with the same laws similar businesses were following. They also sued their states and cities. Pastor Mike McClure and Apostle Che Ahn, both in California, were on the frontlines of that battle. Pastor McClure was fined millions of dollars for keeping his church open. He spearheaded a case representing the Christians of Santa Clara County against the state of California and the County. Che Ahn’s case for Harvest Rock Church was returned by SCOTUS back to the lower court decision, giving them a victory. On 2/6/21, the Supreme Court ruled in McClure’s favor. (Click here to read FRC’s report on the case.)
• “Boston violated the free speech rights of a Christian group, Camp Constitution, by refusing to fly a flag bearing the image of a cross at City Hall as part of a program that let private groups use the flagpole while holding events in the plaza below, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled on Monday (voting 9-0)…The dispute arose over Boston’s practice of allowing private groups to hold flag-raising events using one of three flagpoles on the plaza in front of City Hall. From 2005 to 2017, Boston approved all 284 applications it received before rebuffing Camp Constitution. The vast majority of flags were those of foreign countries, but also included one commemorating LGBT Pride in Boston…The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, has taken an expansive view of religious rights and has been increasingly receptive to arguments that governments are acting with hostility toward religion.”(3) We give God thanks for this!

We currently have an administration that is anti-Christian. Therefore, we will continue to see boldness in trying to advance the restrictions of religious freedom during their tenure. We must stand strongly and bravely against those attempts. We will pray, we will act, and we will never allow any tyrannical government to restrict our freedom to worship as we believe is right. This is not only a political or philosophical battle; it is a spiritual battle. We will fight and we will win.

“For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and He will give you victory!” (Deuteronomy 20:4 NLT)

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