The Power of Group Prayer

The Early Church had a regular prayer hour, and this generated the force that evangelized the world at that time. It is important that every believer has a daily time of prayer. But the Bible tells us that united prayer has a tenfold power over that of a person praying alone:

Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had surrendered them? (Deut. 32:29,30).

Jesus told us that binding and loosing power is available when two people agree in prayer.

Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them (Matt. 18:19,20).

We trust that the message of this book will stir each reader to a ministry of prayer, which not only will bring the blessing of God upon his or her own household, but will also prepare the Church for the coming of her Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One

God's Call for a World Prayer Ministry

Chapter Two

Making Prayer a Business in Your Life

Chapter Three

Prevailing Prayer in the Bible

Chapter Four

Standing in the Gap

Chapter Five

The Spirit's Call to Prayer Warrior Ministry

Chapter Six

What You Can Do

Chapter One

God's Call for a World Prayer Ministry

Some year's ago when we were directing citywide campaigns and involved in great healing meetings abroad, God began speaking to us about a group of people whom He would raise up who would make prayer a business in their lives. He said although few recognize it to be so, the intercessory ministry is the highest ministry in the Church. Even Christ Himself is engaged in this ministry. "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:25).

In the days of the Early Church, a regular prayer hour was established (Acts 3:1). Before the present body of Christ can be perfected, it is necessary that this prayer ministry be revived.

The Lord told us to pray for people to gather together to intercede in agreement. He said the Spirit within would teach us how and when to pray. Like the regular hour of prayer established in the temple of the Lord, it would be established in the Church. He said His Spirit would cause believers to pray day and night, alone and together—there would be thousands praying daily.

God reminded us that He had a plan for His people. But to understand it, we must enter into a consistent prayer ministry.

We were to persevere and press in daily. We would find a vein of prayer, as if it were a vein in a gold mine.

The Lord said He would see that the harvest was brought in. His people were to pray and work. Many thousands of souls would be rescued before the end of the harvest.

God warned us that the forces of darkness would be exerted against those who pray consistently, but we should press in with all our strength. He also said that there was no time to be lost, for the day of wrath is at hand. He said, "Prove me. Press into My presence, for the powers of darkness are against you. If you press into My presence and prove Me, I will prove to you that I am God. I will prove to you that I hold in My hand, heavens and the earth and all those things that are therein, even man. Every soul in the earth is Mine. I will send you forth with great victory and you shall not fear, for the voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire. The voice of the Lord crumbles the nations and the kingdoms. It causes kings, princes and rulers to fall down at His feet.

"You shall pray for My kingdom to come, but you shall not pray against My Word that I send forth to destroy those who are destroying My people. For My judgments must be in the earth. When the earth is filled with My judgments, then the people shall learn righteousness, because I know you can withstand my judgments for a little while.

"Pray that I will send forth My mercy and not My wrath. The hour will come when you cannot pray this way. And you cannot pray My wrath away, for My wrath will come down even though men are saying today that God is a God of mercy and love. I will show this world that I am also a God of wrath.

"You will not be able to reach Me in the time of great wrath. No, you will not need to, because you will not be there. If you are obedient to me, you will be caught away into the realms of bliss and glory. I am asking you to pray now. I am the Good Shepherd, Who comes seeking people who will pray. I am seeking My sheep who have gone astray. You shall reach out and help turn the minds of My people back to My house, My service, My Word, My work and to Me."

The Lord went on to tell us that this was an hour that would never be repeated. Although Satan would battle as never before against those who pray, persistence would surely prevail. He said that men and women of prayer can change the outcome of world events.

He told us that we should command Satan's power to cease— that we have His authority as believers to break the devil's chains any time and any where, regardless of the hordes with him. "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (Jas. 5:16).

He said, "You shall pray, and a double portion of power shall come to you. This power shall continue; it shall spread even as waves spread upon the waters. You shall know that I am the Lord, that I am the same yesterday, today and forever.

"Warn others to humble themselves with fasting and prayer that the love of Christ would flow out to others. They should not respect those with nice clothing or with great personalities. They should recognize and acknowledge My Spirit upon the humble.

"Begin seeking and searching for those who would enter into this great move of prayer. Enlist them by the Spirit of the Lord and by the power of My Word."

God has designed a great and mighty move of prayer in intercession of weeping, mourning and crying out—as well as rejoicing and thanksgiving. Intercession must be tempered with thanksgiving so the intercessor will not lose his joy.

The prophetic message concluded with: "Go forth this day and arm yourselves in faith, with the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand the wiles of the devil. For he knows where to work and is working swiftly because he knows his time is short. Be in constant prayer, in constant contact with your Lord, and every day you will know which way to go."

Chapter Two

Making Prayer a Business in Your Life

Making prayer a business in your life is one of the most important decisions you will ever make.

Every Christian desires to live a successful life. The things the world has to offer do not satisfy the cravings within the soul. In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon testified that material gain and earthly achievements are only "vanity." The end result is "vexation of spirit." Money, fame, worldly honors and political success—all fail to satisfy the spirit of a human being. Death comes to us all, and we must leave everything behind. True satisfaction, therefore, must lie in achieving those things which bring rewards on the other side.

God has a definite plan for each life. Each of us has a special purpose. Our success or failure in life depends on whether we understand the purpose for which we were created. There is only one way to learn what it is. By seeking the face of God daily, we can find His will.

A PERIOD OF GREAT DEMONIC ACTIVITY BEFORE US

"Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea!

For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time"

(Rev. 12:12).

The above Scripture speaks of Satan being cast out from the heavenlies upon the earth. His activities will result in the rise of the Antichrist, to whom he will give his power (Rev. 13:4). At the same time a host of additional demons and fallen angels will arise out of the bottomless pit to join the powers of darkness that are already active upon the earth (Rev. 9:1-3,14,15).

No one knows better than Satan that his time is short, yet he has not resigned himself to defeat. He is desperate in his efforts to frustrate the plan of God. Because of the degree of evil that prevails on the earth, circumstances are extraordinarily favorable for unprecedented manifestations of demonic power and satanic delusions. The flood of sorcery, black art, witchery, devil worship, perversion and moral degradation that is unlike that of previous generations is evidence of that evil.

Even now we are in the shadow of future events. The terrible unrest in the world, the violence, the increase in crime and delinquency, the unprecedented use of drugs and barbiturates, and the breakdown of the moral structure of society all indicate that the onslaught of demonic forces against humanity has already been intensified.

Paul speaks of this warfare, which is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual powers in high places:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12).

Demons know that if Christians fail to pray, they are vulnerable to satanic attacks. Therefore, God's people, if they want to survive, let alone make headway against evil powers, must diligently pray against them. They must take the offensive and move into the heavenlies against these sinister forces. Demons seek to change the world for the worse. Only prevailing prayer can change it for the better.

WILL YOUR LOVED ONES BE SAVED?

All true Christians hope to see their loved ones saved. It is distressing to think of those whom we love being under the control of the powers of darkness. It is sad to see a loved one pass the time of decision and go to a Christless grave. Something is lost to us forever when a person who has been a part of our lives dies without Christ—eternally separated both from us and from God.

Many of our loved ones will surely be lost unless we pray. We must pray against the powers of darkness by which they are bound. We must claim them for God. Like Noah, who also lived in an apostate generation, we must be able to save not only ourselves, but our households as well. Christian parents must realize that Satan's most savage attack often will be against their children. Only persistent prayer will defeat his evil designs.

PRAY FOR DELIVERANCE FROM EVIL

Jesus told us to pray, "And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen" (Matt. 6:13). Unfortunately, most people do not pray this way. They are concerned only with their immediate problems. But we live in a perilous world, and tragedy is never far off. Many families, including those possessing wealth, are scarred with tragedy!

Many Christians have faith for personal salvation, but that is as far as it goes. They are in no position to withstand the attacks directed by their antagonist, the devil. Danger is all around, but they are blissfully unaware of it. They live a semi-prayerless life, quite unaware that the enemy of their souls is preparing to strike. And when he does, they often panic. In desperation, they seek for some person of faith who they hope can pray them out of their troubles in spite of their years of prayerless and careless living.

Danger lies ahead for everyone, whether a minister or lay member. We must learn the secret of prevailing prayer.

The Scriptures have promised that "he who dwells in the secret place of the Most High" (Psa. 91:1) needs not fear evil. To dwell in that place, one must first learn the art of prayer. God will send His angels to protect the man or woman who prays. "The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them" (Psa. 34:7). Why wait until disaster strikes? Why not anticipate evil before it comes? By making prayer a business in your life, you can often avert danger before it even arrives.

PRAY FOR DIVINE GUIDANCE

Divine guidance in this life is so important. The average Christian is often unsure of the will of God when making important decisions. Believers often make grievous mistakes, which result in serious losses or problems. Prevailing prayer can avoid these pitfalls. We are told in Romans 8:28 that God is able to make "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." The key is found in Romans 8:26—praying in the Spirit. The implication is that God makes all things work together for good for those who have learned to pray in the Spirit.

When we depend on God to lead us, He can overrule our faulty judgment. Even if we make mistakes, we can recover from them before it is too late. We can anticipate and help members of our family avoid making wrong decisions. Divine guidance is available to those who make prayer a business in their lives.

THE PROMISE OF FINANCIAL SECURITY

We are living in an age of insecurity. Though our government is trying to provide more security, people are feeling more insecure than ever.

Tragedy can strike overnight. A catastrophic illness, a long layoff, loss of a job or severe economic fluctuations can result in financial disaster. But our God of miracles can supply our needs. The Lord supplied oil and meal for Elijah through a widow. He supernaturally provided bread and fish for the hungry multitude. The Lord is still able to perform miracles today. But miracles of supply are only for those who learn the art of prayer. Jesus taught His disciples to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matt. 6:11). Natural conditions cannot keep God from answering prayer. For forty years out in the barren wilderness God sent manna and quail sufficient to feed two million people. Neither recession, depression, Wall Street's fluctuations, war or peace can prevent God from caring for those who put their trust in Him. “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

ONLY THOSE WHO PRAY CAN DISCHARGE THEIR DEBT TO THE HEATHEN

We who live in America, land where the Gospel is preached from hundreds of thousands of pulpits, are much favored. The peoples of other nations are not so fortunate. The Apostle Paul said we are indebted to get the message of life to them. We cannot all be missionaries, but we can all pray and give. The preaching of the Gospel to all nations is closely tied to that great event to which all Christians look forward: the Second Coming. As we look upon the condition of the world today, we cry, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus." Yet Jesus said that the end of the age would come only when the Gospel was preached to all nations (Matt. 24:14).

But how will the powers of darkness that oppress the heathen be broken? How will the laborers be sent into the harvest fields, with the anointing of God upon their ministries? Jesus gave the answer: "Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest" (Matt. 9:38).

How will God's people become one, except the Church come together in mighty prevailing prayer. You and I are the Church.

These impelling reasons should drive us to our knees, as God's intercessors, to pray until victory comes.

Prevailing prayer will not only change our own worlds, but bring change to the nations. We must make the decision to make prayer a business in our lives.

Chapter Three

Prevailing Prayer in the Bible

When Jacob returned from Padan-aram, he was confronted with the most serious crisis of his life. His unsavory deals with his brother, Esau, had brought bitter hostility. Jacob was told that Esau was on his way to meet him with 400 men of war. It seemed Esau was on an expedition of revenge. Jacob knew that he had not the slightest chance of defending himself against such a force.

Anticipating the blow to strike, Jacob divided his company into two groups. That way if one group was destroyed, the other might escape. He sent several droves of cattle ahead, hoping against hope that Esau might be appeased by these gifts. In a spirit of desperation, Jacob poured out his soul to God for deliverance.

Jacob arose from prayer, but he felt the issue still hung in doubt. In the darkness of the night, he crossed over to the other side of the brook Jabbok. There he had the experience of wrestling with the angel. The details of his spiritual struggle contain some important lessons for us:

1. "Jacob was left alone" (Gen. 32:24). Great spiritual crises are resolved when a man or woman gets alone with God. Some people give up too soon and allow themselves to be crushed. Others rise to the challenge and lay hold of God's promises. "Man's extremity is God's opportunity."

2.    "And a Man wrestled with him" (Gen. 32:24). Here we consider one of the mysteries of prayer: Jacob wrestled with an angel. He was not engaged in a physical contest, for who could out wrestle an angel in that way? It was a spiritual battle. All night he struggled in an agony of spirit. We who have had experience in intercessory prayer can identify with what was happening. We also know that to prevail with men, we must first prevail with God.

3.    In prevailing with God, there is a price to pay. The angel touched Jacob's thigh; it shrank and became out of joint. In the natural, Jacob was less able to flee from Esau than before. But Jacob would not have to flee.

4.    Finally Jacob said to the angel, "I will not let You go, unless You bless me" (Gen. 32:26). Jacob had prevailed with God! And the angel said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed" (Gen. 32:28). "Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: 'For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved"' (Gen. 32:30).

Later, when Jacob met Esau and his 400 men, instead of fleeing, he fell into Esau's arms, and both of them wept in a beautiful spirit of reconciliation.

MOSES, THE MAN WHO SAVED A NATION

Moses, the man of God, reached his greatest stature with his intercessory prayer; his intercession spared the lives of two million people. While Moses was on the mountain with God, the children of Israel had committed the sin of worshiping the golden calf. God told Moses to turn aside so He could destroy this stiffnecked people that had turned so quickly from Him to idols:

And the LORD said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation." Then Moses pleaded with the LORD his God, and said: "LORD, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?" (Ex. 32:9-11).

Moses realized the full extent of Israel's sin. He had witnessed their orgy of licentious worship, even to shamelessly dancing in the nude. And yet he could not reconcile himself to seeing his nation perish. He spent forty days and nights on the mountain in intercession, beseeching God to forgive Israel. If God was not going to forgive Israel, then Moses wanted his name blotted from the book He had written:

"Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written." And the LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book" (Ex. 32:32).

God heard Moses' prayer and promised to spare the children of Israel. More than that, He promised that His presence would go with them:

And He said, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Then he said to Him, "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here" (Ex. 33:14,15).

This is the power of intercessory prayer—the prayer born of unselfishness which springs from a love for the souls of men. Today we sorely need men and women who, like Moses, will intercede for the people. Moses changed Israel's fate and the course of history. Intercessors can move God to change destiny.

DANIEL, THE MAN WHO ALTERED THE DESTINY OF NATIONS

The story of Daniel contains a most enlightening lesson on the art of prayer. Daniel's life spanned a century of time when divine judgments were being poured out, nations were being overturned, and kingdoms were rising and falling. Yet Daniel, the prophet, not only lived a spotless life, but through prayer was able to alter the destiny of nations.

Daniel's prayers resulted in the conversion of the most powerful monarch in the world—Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel lived in the secret place of the Most High. Once, when he was thrown into a den of lions, God sent an angel and shut the mouths of the beasts so that he suffered no harm.

There are many wonderful deliverances recorded in the book of Daniel. God revealed to Daniel that the Messiah was coming, but that He would be "cut off," and desolations would come upon the people of Israel (Dan. 9:24-27).

On one occasion when Daniel prayed, God sent an angel on the very first day he began waiting on God. But the angel was unable to reach Daniel for a full three weeks! The hindrance is plainly revealed. "The prince of Persia" that opposed the angel's mission was one of Satan's chief lieutenants. The real power that controlled this nation was not its human ruler, but an invisible prince of darkness that influenced and controlled the actions of people who were not fully subject to God.

The prophet Daniel was in the habit of getting his prayers answered, although this time no answer seemed to come. But Daniel would not give up. For three weeks he prayed and fasted. Then on the twenty-first day, an angel from God suddenly appeared in his room. According to the celestial messenger, Daniel's prayer had been heard on the first day, and the angel had been sent to him; but "the prince of Persia" had withstood him the whole time.

Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia" (Dan. 10:12,13).

In prayer warfare, we battle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. God is never without resources, and because Daniel continued to pray, reinforcements that insured the defeat of Satan finally arrived.

What would have happened if Daniel had given up? Obviously, the prophet would not have been present to receive the answer. Pray that God will raise up many "Daniels" for our day—men and women who will remain on their knees until the answer comes.

Chapter Four

Standing in the Gap

"So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads," says the Lord God (Ezek. 22:30,31).

The above Scripture gives us insight into the relationship between divine providence and the administration of divine justice. God's cup of wrath had reached its full measure and was about to be poured upon the people of Judah.

Still there was a chance for the nation if God could find a man or woman who would be stirred to intercessory prayer. The Lord was looking for someone to stand in the gap. Out of the hundreds of thousands of Judah's inhabitants, He could not find one person selfless enough to put his own interests aside and intercede for the people. Not one!

Instead of being alert to the times, the citizens of Judah were engaged in a frantic race to increase their material wealth. They were unaware that the nation stood on the brink of disaster.

The clergymen of that day did not lack religion. There were many prophets, but most of them were false prophets. Their policy was to prophesy good things that the people wanted to hear. Jeremiah, the man of God, warned them that a judgment was coming. But the false prophet, Hananiah, boldly challenged Jeremiah's warning and predicted that within two years the "yoke of the king of Babylon" would be broken (Jer. 28). His false prophecy did not come to pass; instead, in that very year, he died under the judgment of God. Shortly after this, Nebuchadnezzar invaded the city with his army from Babylon, burned the great temple, and took the people into captivity.

Today in America, we see a situation similar to that which existed in Judah before its dissolution. The judges who sit in our highest courts have put the Bible and prayer out of our schools. As a result of their permissive rulings, the vilest pornography now floods the nation's bookstores. Immorality is permitted to be shown in movies and on television (Lk. 11:52).

THE BROKEN HEDGE IN SODOM

The name Sodom is recognized as a curse and is applied to the vilest perverts of the human race. News of the sin of that city reached heaven, and it was necessary for God to take account of it and decide what should be done. Righteous Lot lived in the city. Had God been able to find as few as nine other righteous men and women, God would have spared Sodom. If Lot had been as faithful in prayer as Abraham, he would not only have gained his own family, but they would have been enough to make God's quota and would have saved Sodom from destruction.

THE WESLEY REVIVALS SAVED ENGLAND

The great Reformation swept over Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries, bringing salvation and blessing to the nations of Europe. The Huguenots had been greatly instrumental in a revival in France. The enemies of God in that country, in the St. Bartholomew's massacre, wiped out most of the Christians. France never recovered from the blow, and it finally drifted into the wild and bloody excesses of the French Revolution.

In Scotland, the same thing might have happened. But in that country a man by the name of John Knox prayed, "Give me Scotland or I die." Bloody Mary fearing his prayers as nothing else, backed away.

In England, religion was at a low ebb. The clergy had become corrupt; drunkenness was rampant, and England was quickly slipping into the condition of France. But John and Charles Wesley and George Whitfield, in those historic Methodist prayer meetings, reversed the drift and saved England. As these men continued to pray and preach under a mighty anointing, a revival broke out which spread throughout the nation. The theme of the Wesley revivals was holy living, dedication to God and personal evangelism. Soon Wesley had a following of preachers that spread the revival fires everywhere. Even secular history concedes that these revivals saved England from the disaster that befell France. By their prayers, these men stood in the gap.

As the great Civil War was about to break, Charles G. Finney, prince of evangelists, tells of the tremendous burden that came upon him for the people of America. Ministers with keen perception saw little hope that the conflict could be averted and realized that a terrible reckoning was ahead in blood and tears. While the masses went merrily along and orators fanned the emotions of the people in fiery speeches, Finney and those who carried the burden of souls wrestled with God. The spirit of prayer took hold of thousands. Finney in his biography tells about it:

"The winter of 1857-58 will be remembered as the time when a great revival prevailed throughout the northern states. It swept over the land with such power that for a time it was estimated that not less than fifty thousand conversions occurred in a single week.

"This revival had some peculiarly interesting features.

It was carried to a large extent through lay influence, so much so as to almost throw the ministers in the shade. There had been a daily prayer meeting observed in Boston for several years; and in the autumn previous to the great outburst, the daily prayer meeting had been established on Fulton Street,

New York, which still continues to this day.

"Daily prayer meetings were established throughout the length and breadth of the northern states. I recollect in one of the prayer meetings in Boston that winter a gentleman arose and said, 'I am from Omaha, Nebraska. On my journey east I have found a continuous prayer meeting all the way. We call it,' said he, 'about two thousand miles from Omaha to Boston, and here was a prayer meeting about two thousand miles in extent."'

Because there were those to stand in the gap, the revival came in time and saved hundreds of thousands of people before the Civil War began.

THOSE WHO STOOD IN THE GAP AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY

The Church at the turn of the century lacked one important element: Pentecostal power. True, many of its ministers stood for the inspiration of the Scriptures; they believed in miracles and in the gifts of the Spirit. But almost universally, they assumed that the days of miracles were past, and such things had been only for the apostles. Consequently, the modernists and the critics had a field day. In effect, God was a God of yesterday and not of today.

There was, of course, no Scriptural support for the belief that the days of miracles were past. But the established clergy was not willing to face the truth that the lack of such manifestation was due to the fact that the Church had lost its first love, and not because God or His promises had changed. Fortunately, not all took that position. Little prayer meetings began springing up all over the country. People began engaging in hours of prayer, soul searching and agonizing for the return of apostolic power.

These earnest men and women stood in the gap against the smug complacency of the nominal Church and prayed for a renewal of apostolic ministry. One humble man who lived in Wales, Evan Roberts, stood in the gap in intercessory prayer— and a revival of historic proportions shook his country.

A year or two later came the great Pentecostal outpourings in Kansas, Texas, Los Angeles and elsewhere. When prayer warriors pray, the windows of heaven are opened. A great apostolic renewal visited the earth unlike anything since the days of the Early Church.

Today God is again calling His people to stand in the gap. Armageddon is closing in; a day of darkness and catastrophe is on the horizon. Now is the last opportunity to work in the harvest. Will you be one of those who responds to His call?

Chapter Five

The Spirit's Call to Prayer Warrior Ministry

(Given in the Spirit of Prophecy)

Without prayer and intercession for themselves and others, one cannot enter this ark of ministry. Ministers have neglected this. They do not comprehend its immensity nor realize it is the end-time message. But there is an ark of prayer God's people must enter into. It provides protection and shelter. Many have prayed and Satan has beaten them down. But now they can have a shelter, a hiding place.

God said, "Teach my people to pray by precept and example. There are those who need to be renewed in their life. Some have had a struggle and almost have declined to continue in the ministry. There is no age limit on the praying power of my seniors. Therefore, go forth and stir the older prayer warriors. Stir them up and let them know they are important. Help them realize they are wanted and needed."

God is revealing that His priesthood is coming into view again. It is coming with His Spirit upon the intercessors, even though they be insignificant in the eyes of others. God desires that this priesthood message be ministered to His people.

He said, "Bring my body into unison, for this is the hindering factor everywhere. Very few groups have developed a ministry of intercession and can communicate with each other. In this is the love of God manifested. It is time for the priesthood to be manifested. Not all My saints shall qualify for the priesthood. They must have dedication, consecration, such as Moses and Aaron had under the law, but they must have it under the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. And this law must progress under the anointing of the priesthood. It is by this law of love all men will know you are my disciples.

"Call My people to march. When Gideon marched, it brought such victory that it has never ceased to reverberate down the corridors of time. So arm yourselves and go forth to claim this victory; claim dominion for my servants that they may enter into the spheres of ministry and higher activities of the Spirit, even to come up into the heavenlies.

"There is a deep hunger among My aged ones who have reached maturity. They can be renewed, strengthened and reestablished in that which I have for them. When the youth and aged ones come together, the aged ones will be like the trunk of a tree, and the youth like the branches and the fruit. The horticulturist of heaven is searching and inspecting. He is cutting away the dead branches, bringing life and pruning those that remain.

"Oh, that My people might gather together and pray in one accord in a great unison of believers. For when the disciples were praying in one accord, My Spirit came upon them like a mighty rushing wind. Then at a later date when they were praying again, the place where they prayed was shaken. If My people will pray earnestly, seek My face and cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh, a mighty inflowing would come from the presence of God and from the fountain of living waters.

"This is the hour for military augmentation. Therefore, a great prayer army must be mobilized.

"I would have groups who would unite in fervent prayer. Many things can be conquered by fervent prayer. This is how a prayer army will develop. It will take an army to cope with the wicked spirits. I must have human prayer warriors who are equipped and qualified with My Word, My spiritual gifts, and who are led by My Spirit-filled leaders.

"This battle is not yours, but the Lord's. This is not done after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Prepare yourselves with the weapons that I have ordained in the sixth chapter of Ephesians: truth, righteousness, peace, meekness, and with fervent prayer for all the saints. Rise up from any lethargy, apathy or complacency because it is time for aggression in the Spirit.

"Put all in the hands of God. Call the people to solemn praying, to solemn thinking, and to solemn interceding."

CALL FOR PRAYER GROUPS—AMERICA IS SEETHING IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS

"Call them to weeping and mourning and seeking the Lord for the cities. The nations of the earth are seething in their unrighteousness. Assemble the prayer army—men and women who will pray and lead prayer groups. There are many who desire a ministry of prayer.

"Obey what I have spoken and prepare to assemble people as prayer warriors, for you have only a little time to prepare the Church for My welcome.

"America is fallen, except there be a mighty awakening. But it can be, and it is even now on the way."

Chapter Six

What You Can Do

Jehoshaphat's league with the ungodly house of Ahab brought the wrath of God upon his kingdom. "And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, 'should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Therefore the wrath of the LORD is upon you... (II Chr. 19:2). The only thing that saved his people was the fact that Jehoshaphat recognized his mistake and repented of the grave error he had made. The Moabites and the Ammonites were rapidly advancing against him. Jehoshaphat called his people together for a time of fasting, prayer and humbling themselves before God. God gave them a great victory.

Abraham Lincoln, leader of our nation during the Civil War, had an experience similar to Jehoshaphat's. General James F Russling of Trenton, New Jersey, relates a significant conversation he heard on Sunday, July 5, 1863. He was in the room where General Sickles lay wounded. When the President came in, the General asked whether the President had been anxious about the battle at Gettysburg. Lincoln gravely said, "No, I was not; some of my cabinet and many others in Washington were, but I had no fears." General Sickles inquired how this was, and seemed curious about it.

Mr. Lincoln hesitated, but replied, "In the pinch of your campaign up there, when everyone seemed panic-stricken, and nobody could tell what was going to happen, oppressed by the gravity of our affairs, I went to my room one day and locked the door, got down on my knees before Almighty God, and prayed to Him mightily for victory at Gettysburg. I told Him this was His war, and our cause His cause. We couldn't stand another Fredericksburg or Chancellorsville. I made a solemn vow to Almighty God, that if He would stand by our boys at Gettysburg, I would stand by Him. He did stand by you boys, and I will stand by Him. Soon a sweet comfort crept into my soul that God Almighty had taken the whole business into His hands and things would go right at Gettysburg. And that is why I have no fears about you."

Actually, Lincoln not only prayed, but he called the whole nation to prayer in one of the most beautiful appeals ever made by the leader of a nation:

Whereas it is fit and becoming in all people, at all times, to acknowledge and revere the supreme government of God; to bow in humble submission to His chastisement; to confess and deplore their sins and transgressions, in the full conviction that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and to pray with all fervency and contrition for the pardon of our past offenses, and for a blessing upon their present and prospective action:

And whereas when our own beloved country, once, by the blessing of God, united, prosperous and happy, is now afflicted with faction and civil war, it is peculiarly fit for us to recognize the hand of God in this terrible visitation, and in sorrowful remembrance of our own faults and crimes as a nation and as individuals, to humble ourselves before Him and to pray for His mercy—to pray that we may be spared further punishment though most justly deserved; that our arms may be blessed and made effectual for the establishment of law, order, and peace throughout the wide extent of our country. ...

Therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do appoint the last Thursday of September next as a day of humiliation, prayer and fasting for all the people of the nation.

Within America today the seeds of moral deterioration are rapidly taking deep root. Crime has increased. Police everywhere are fighting a losing battle. The Bible and prayer have been taken out of schools. Other rulings have admitted the pornography into the theaters.

A CALL FOR PRAYER GROUPS

Our dedicated prayer partners have had a substantial part in the accomplishments of Christ For The Nations.

Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had surrendered them? (Deut 32:29,30).

This Scripture indicates that when two or more prayer partners join forces, they are able to increase their power in prayer tenfold! Two can put 10,000 to flight!

Here are the words of Jesus:

Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them (Matt. 18:19,20).

Christ emphasizes the power that two or more people have when they agree together in prayer. They can invoke the binding and loosing power of the Spirit of God. While the presence of God is always with any believer, it is present in a very special way when two or more believers are gathered together in the name of the Lord. For this reason, we are urging all prayer warriors to initiate a prayer meeting in their homes at least once a week, in which one or more believers will join with them in prayer, therefore taking advantage of the binding and loosing ministry.

THE HOUR OF LAY MINISTRY

This is the hour of lay ministry. The present revival is springing up especially through laymen upon whom God is pouring out His Spirit. (Just one word of caution: Sometimes there are those who come into these prayer groups who take up time with rambling conversation or have an axe to grind. Do not permit such people to take over. Make sure that you have a prayer meeting, or else the whole purpose is defeated.)

The benefits of these prayer meetings are many. First of all, this prayer ministry will bring God's blessing upon your home and upon your neighbors. Secondly, you can have a very real part in this vast end-time revival and therefore receive a great reward in heaven.

HOW TO PRAY AND WHAT TO PRAY FOR

It is a good idea when coming together for group prayer, for all to pray unitedly at first. After that, various needs and requests can be given and prayed for separately by different ones, with others agreeing. Each person can take a turn praying for special requests. There are many urgent things for which to pray. Here is a helpful list:

1.    Pray for your own particular needs: salvation of family members, finances, healing, etc.

2.    Pray for the needs of others present and any special requests that have come in.

3.    Pray for the work of your local church.

4.    Pray for all prayer groups. That way each prayer group is praying for all others.

5.    Pray for world revival.

6.    Pray for Israel. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you" (Psa. 122:6).

7.    Pray that God's people will be ready for Christ's Second Coming (II Cor. 11:2).

8.    Pray for Christ For The Nations Institute and other ministries training laborers for the harvest. Jesus said, "Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest" (Matt. 9:38).

9.    Pray for "kings and all who are in authority" (I Tim. 2:2). Pray for the leaders of your country, that they will be providentially guided in their decisions.

These are just a few suggestions. You will have other things about which to pray.

Table of Contents

God's Call for a World Prayer Ministry

Making Prayer a Business in Your Life

Prevailing Prayer in the Bible

Standing in the Gap

The Spirit's Call to Prayer Warrior Ministry

What You Can Do