Our Prayer Changes Things! Let’s Shake This Generation!

James W. Goll, Franklin, TN

Are you ready to make a difference? The recipe for enduring change is simple. It is spelled P-R-A-Y! Yes, prayer changes things and history belongs to the intercessor!

Let’s arise and get on with God’s original program of extending the rod of His Kingdom authority into every cultural sphere of life. Let’s impact the seven societal mountains with history making prayer. It’s time to shake ourselves free from the influences of this lethargic “what will be will be” pervasive attitude and take our rightful position seated with Christ Jesus in the heavenly places looking down upon the affairs of men! In fact, let’s change this present darkness by calling forth brilliant displays of God’s great presence.

Why do I burn with this message? Because, this is not just about being highly gifted. Prayer is God’s equal opportunity card that each Believer in Christ gets to punch! We can each cast out demons! We can each pray for the sick and see them recover! And we can each release history making intercession! Let’s shift things through the prevailing power of effective intercession.

What Is Intercession?

An intercessor is a “go-between.” An intercessor mediates, occupying a middle position. You become a middleman for God! The most familiar phrase is “standing in the gap,” which comes from Ezekiel 22:30 (God speaking), “I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none” (KJV).

Jesus, our High Priest, who sacrificed His own life to redeem us from death, is the foremost intercessor. He interposed Himself between sinful humans and the justified wrath of His Father, and He still intercedes for us, day and night. We read in the book of Hebrews, “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25, NASV).

All Believers are called to be intercessors. There is no special list anywhere in the Scriptures indicating that prayer, praise, worship and intercession are special “gifts of the Holy Spirit.” They are the birthright of every Believer! We are each called to co-labor with Jesus Christ. We simply lift up to our Father every need, every desire, and every thought. But we do it from the heart, expecting, and we do it with a sense of delight, not obligation.

You see, the Bible is filled with urgent summons to pray: “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NASV). What is God’s will? Rejoice, pray and give thanks at all times! Awesome! What an approachable Father God we have!

In the Footsteps of Abraham

One of the first great intercessors in the Bible was Abraham, and his most famous intercessory prayer was for one of the most sinful places in the ancient world! Sodom and Gomorrah have become synonymous with sin, sexual debauchery, and sodomy, yet the great Patriarch of Israel, the “father of faith,” interceded passionately that those twin cities of sin be spared! I believe it was this kind of compassion that led God to say, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?” (Genesis 18:17, NASV).

When God told Abraham that He planned to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, the patriarch asked God if He planned to destroy the righteous people along with the wicked. Abraham then made the counterproposal, “…wilt Thou indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?” (Genesis 18:24b, NASV). When God agrees to relent if 50 righteous people were found, Abraham persisted to drive the numbers lower, knowing only Lot and his family could possibly qualify. The patriarch whittled the number down to 20, and in verse 32 he reached a pivotal place that is important for us to see. Abraham said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?” (Genesis 18:30, NASV).

God agrees to Abraham’s request, but this passage causes us to wonder, “What if Abraham hadn’t stopped at ten?” God definitely showed no signs of being angry with Abraham over his persistent intercession and pleading on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah. In fact, I believe God liked it. I have a hunch that Abraham could have gone even lower. (But then again I wasn’t there and I certainly don’t have all the facts at hand.) However, this incident illustrates one of the fundamental laws governing the relationship between God and man: God quits when man quits.

What did you say, James? Yes, God quits when man quits! God loves a good fight and He calls us to be His tenacious bulldogs in the Holy Spirit, and get hold of the promises of God and not let go…until. History making intercessors just flat out never give up. They continue until!

As the Waters Cover the Sea

God has clearly portrayed in His Word His desire and intention to bring revival to His people and spiritual awakening to the earth. His promise is straightforward:

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14, KJV).

A day is coming when the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will fill the earth. In that end-time season all people will see Him and, willingly or not, acknowledge His presence and His glory. Christ will be magnified and glorified in His Church and His name exalted above every other name so that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (see Philippians 2:9-11). All things will be put in subjection under Christ’s feet, who then will subject Himself to the Father, in order that “God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:27-28).

Are there keys to unlocking the glory of God? Yes, the Scriptures are full of them. Consider the following passage:

You shall make an altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you (Exodus 20:24).

Where will God’s name be “remembered”? Everywhere an altar is built. In fact, the whole earth is to be offered up as an altar where the fire shall be kept burning and never go out! (see Leviticus 6:9-13.) Are you building an altar of worship, praise, prayer, and intercession?

Do You Want Your Life to Make a Difference?

I am not satisfied with reading about history. I want to live it! Do you want your life to make a difference? Then join me and thousands of others on the walls of intercession in this critical transitional time.

Here is my goal. I want to be a battering ram for the Lord that can break through doors that have been shut, and bust low ceilings of limitation wide-open through the passion and power of intercession.

I exhort you to get so saturated by the presence of Jesus, that you will carry an open Heaven over your own head. Then wherever you go, you will create an atmospheric change by becoming a “gate of Heaven” for others.

A hard task you say? Not if you know and practice the passion and the power of intercession! Do you want to shape history? Then follow along with me on the path well worn by pilgrims of former days and let’s shake this generation for Jesus Christ sake!

Father, I present myself to You for the purpose of prayer. I join the host of others who are praying around the world at this time. Come, Holy Spirit, and take possession of us all. Fill me with the Spirit of grace and supplication in Jesus’ name and for the sake of Your Kingdom. I volunteer freely in the day of Your power to be a watchman on the walls for such a time as this. Amen.

With Anticipation!

Dr. James W. Goll
Founder of Encounters Network • God Encounters Training e–School • Prayer Storm
Email: info@encountersnetwork.com
Website: www.encountersnetwork.com / www.prayerstorm.com

(Sourced from the Elijah List go here.)

 

Godly Women Arise! It’s Your Time to Be Seen and Heard!

Joni Ames, Rock Hill, SC

Our Current Battle

There truly has been a shifting of gears now that we, as a nation, have chosen a righteous president. Although the end results will be awesome, we are in the midst of a battle right now.

A few years ago, there were many prophecies saying that a civil war in the Church was coming. Even then, the Lord spoke to me that it would be a literal civil war in our nation. Basically, that is what we are now experiencing. We are at war with one another in our own nation.

We, as Conservative Christians, have had a victory with the election of Donald Trump. However, it is not a time to let pride or haughtiness creep in. We must maintain true in humility before God and in the sight of man.

As I watched the “million women march” on TV, my spirit was grieved. Truly those women do not represent me, nor the many godly women I know. I heard many reports say that they have only just begun and are setting up a plan to try to disrupt and destroy our new president and anything he tries to do.

I was actually embarrassed by seeing those women out there acting out. As a woman in ministry, I was also pained. We have come so far in seeing women brought forth in many arenas, and I saw what happened as an attempt of the enemy to cause us to lose ground.

Arise Godly Women!

As He often does, the Lord spoke in His small still voice, and downloaded the Scripture to me, “Do not fear. More are those that are for us than those against us” (2 Kings 6:16).

He began to speak to me, “It’s time to call to the godly women of this nation to arise and be heard.” The Scripture He gave is this, “For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth I cry out” (Isaiah 42:14).

ALL of creation is groaning. “For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now” (Romans 8:22).

But God is calling for the godly, interceding women to help birth a new type of women’s movement and saying, “Consider now! Call for the wailing women to come; send for the most skillful of them” (Jeremiah 9:17).

In the Old Testament, they called for the weeping women to help mourn over the loss of lives and destruction of the land. Let’s read that a bit further:

Jeremiah 9:17-21, So says the SOVEREIGN of Warriors:
Reason within yourselves, and call for the keening women to come; send for the wise, skilled women to come; let them quickly raise a wailing over us, so that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids flow with water. For a sound of wailing is heard from Zion:

“How we are ruined! We are completely ashamed, because we have forsaken the land, because they have cast down our dwellings.” Hear, O women, the word of the HOLY ONE, and let your ears receive the word of God’s mouth; teach to your daughters a wailing, and each woman her neighbor-woman a keening: “Death has come up into our windows, it has entered our palaces, to cut off the children from the streets and the young women and young men from the squares.”

In this, I sense a call to the godly women of this nation to arise and pray, as well as to arise and have their voices be heard. There are more of what Ronald Reagan called, “the silent majority,” than there are of those who are acting out right now. MANY more.

I know and understand that it is easier and more comfortable to quietly be in your prayer closets. But you must understand the times and the seasons and realize that was simply preparation time for now and not meant to be a “hiding from reality” place. There is a mandate from the Lord to, “Come forth!”

His Women Will Explode in Power

While walking my dogs recently, I heard a loud “BOOM!” I looked up and all around and there was nothing there. In fact, even on the Charlotte, NC news that night, it was reported that many calls had come in where people heard the same thing. I mulled over it a few days, and finally the Lord reminded me of something He’d told me several years ago.

He said that as other women have “come out of the closet,” there was coming a time when HIS women would explode forth from their PRAYER CLOSETS in such power and anointing that it will set the rest free. I believe THIS is that time. The explosion we heard was that.

There is warning in this as well. We don’t have to scream and holler, pound on pulpits, act aggressively, etc. That kind of stuff will not produce the type of fruit the Lord is after.

We must, like Esther, seek the Holy Spirit regarding how to obtain favor for the purposes for which we are called. If you read the book of Esther, you will see that she accomplished what she was called to do by totally dressing, looking, and acting like a lady. Esther studied and prepared herself in every way to be the type of woman that would find favor with the King.

We can’t accomplish what God has called us to do by being like those who are out in the streets acting like a bunch of banshees. I use that term because a banshee is a demonic female spirit that calls forth death.

The Lord is calling to you, oh women, of the Most High God, to come forth in both intercession and action “for such a time as this.” And to do so as the godly ladies He made you to be.

It’s time to come forth from the prayer closets in the anointing that you obtained while in there, and now do and be what that has produced. Not to forsake praying. Never. But to realize the time and season for hiding in there has ended, and the time to be “seen and heard” is now.

What that means will be different for each one. But it’s time to be heard. Maybe start with letters to the editor, your senators, and even the news media. He may perhaps send some of you onto the campuses of the nation and speak to the young women there. Or into any of the women’s shelters where battered and abused women need a touch from the Lord. Maybe even into the women’s prisons. He may have you start a ladies Bible Study in your home or the lunch room at work.

He may have you even covertly attend some of the meetings that are being launched against Trump and rescue some women out of that mess. Then again, you may well be one He instructs to establish or participate in some godly marches of your own. But seek the Lord and do what it is He has called you to do.

Again, not at all forsaking prayer. But let us not use the prayer closet as a place to hide from the reality of what’s going on around us. Let us stop being the “silent majority” and arise to be and do what God has called us to for such a time as this. It’s time to be seen and heard. Not herded and misrepresented by the enemy.

Prayer: Father, we hear You. Help us each individually to know and understand what that means individually for us. Help us to be ambassadors of Your making who represent You well. For such a time as this. In Jesus name. Amen.

Blessings,

Joni Ames
The Ministry of Joni Faith Ames
Email: joniames@aol.com
Website: www.joniames.org

(Sourced from the Elijah List go here.)

The Battle Is Real

Think of this scene as what is going on in the spirit realm over America right now and intensifying up to the inauguration on Friday the 20th of January 2017. The Heavenly Armies are fighting for America and we need to do our part as an army of intercessors! Put on the full armor of God and keep your eyes on Jesus and what is happening in the spirit, not the media distraction. “This is the season the people of God need eyes to see and ears to hear what the Spirit of God is saying and where He is moving, as God is going to move in UNEXPECTED WAYS and PLACES.”

Watch for my next blog … a powerful Word for the USA tomorrow from Lana Vawser for Washington DC and a release that will occur in the spirit on the day of President Elect Donald Trumps Inauguration.

Preview of coming Word: “Parts of this word were released to me while in Washington DC over the past few days. Since sitting with the Lord on these keys, the rest of the revelation has flowed. So I felt to release it today. This is a VERY SIGNIFICANT, STRATEGIC season in the USA right now, what you are about to see God do will leave you in AWE and wonder of His GOODNESS and POWER!” ~ Lana

 

One of the Most Powerful Weapons: Gratitude

I am not off the campaign trail for God and America but this post fits well because Gratitude is something we must express to God for all He has given us and sometimes it isn’t what we asked for or wanted but in the end it is the best for us.

Post by Randy Walter

Our Weapons – Criticism or Gratitude?

2 Corinthians 10:4 says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.” 

How is gratitude a weapon? The Lord told us: “The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. He uses fear to capture hearts. He uses lies to capture land. Gratitude prevents him. Gratitude actually takes territory from the enemy. Thus, gratitude is a weapon in spiritual warfare.”

The weapons we use are either from God or from the enemy. When we use the enemy’s weapons of fear, hatred, criticism, complaining, judging and taking offense, we let him steal our identity, kill our hope and destroy our future.

 Criticism is a form of complaining and the opposite of gratitude. It is a tactic from our adversary to disrupt unity.

The Lord explained:

“Being critical is an attempt to be justified. For people steeped in that spirit, it is very difficult to understand that critical words are accusations and curses. It is even more difficult for that person to recognize it as exalting himself at another’s expense. 

“If asked, the critical person would not want that same standard applied to him. Yet Scripture says that as you judge, you will be judged. 

“Think of all the people it’s easy to criticize – your spouse, children, neighbors, pastor and leaders. What if you saw yourself speaking vile curses over all those people? Wouldn’t that take away your sense of justification? 

When Paul called himself chief among sinners, it was not false modesty. He had learned how exalting himself over others by thinking he was always right (he was trained that way before his conversion) leads to death. He thought he was judging heretics when he was actually judging Jesus Himself. Once Paul was free of that critical spirit, he learned how to bless and curse not.

Last Days Doom and Gloom

Even though we live in perilous times, the best is yet to come. However, much last days negativity is being circulated by many people, including Christians. The Internet has become a growth medium for fear. Giving into a mind-set of doom and gloom plays into the enemy’s plan to incapacitate us with fear and dread of the future. We can’t let temporal facts cloud our understanding of eternal truth. Jesus said, “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28).

He explained to us:

“By imagining worst case scenarios, you make things worse than they are. When you tell these things to other people, you instill fear. That is not of Me. Fear is the chief tactic of the enemy. When you use his methods, you promote his cause.

“It is the immature to assume fear can be a tool for righteousness. The tool I give to My servants is love, and you need to use it to draw people to Me. It only takes a little doom and gloom for people not to take you seriously. There is enough of that in the world, and you don’t want to be identified with it. 

“Worldly people are starved for love… Only when love cares for a man’s soul does he feel accepted and at peace. The lack of peace in the world today speaks of the lack of love. I want My children to change that. You will not win the world with your logic, you will win the world with love. There is no logic that can explain My love. So let joy infiltrate your hearts, peace dictate your thoughts and love craft your words.”

Good Reports

Barbara and I recently gave names to our personal gates. Our eye gates we named “Purity”; our mouth gates, “Self-control” (for what goes in and what comes out); and our ear gates, “Good Reports.”

Barbara had been viewing network news for much of the day while working in the kitchen. A subtle spirit of fear drew her to the negative reports – the doom and gloom. Fear was undermining her joy and sabotaging her gratitude.

After realizing how harmful this was, she went on a fast to blur out negativity. We are also very careful to blip out negativism that comes over the Internet. We’re not burying our heads in the sand but selecting what we dwell on. This is what Paul said to do:

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true… noble… just… pure… lovely… of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

Prosperity or Poverty in the Spirit?

There is an actual spirit of poverty which hinders gratitude. Poverty is both financial and spiritual in nature. The Lord told us, “Poverty is the absence of a viable relationship with Me.” Notice there is a qualifier. “Viable” means “capable of living.”

Poverty takes people’s eyes off the Lord and focuses them on themselves. It reduces people to survival mode and makes it hard to think in terms of eternity, and this fosters spiritual ignorance.

The Lord told us:

“People with a spirit of poverty are not just at risk for being financially poor. Their outlook on living is destitute. They have resentment and self-doubt. Blaming is a common device to diffuse their pain. Poverty is not only found in their circumstances but their mind-set.

“How do people come to poverty? Those who don’t manage their resources well are usually ungrateful, and that’s why they suffer loss. All of the pride sins – especially poor stewardship and ingratitude – invite the devourer to take.”

Part of Gratitude is Properly Stewarding What We Already Have 

Barbara and I conduct devotions at an area homeless shelter. “Ingratitude and entitlement” has been a stronghold for some of the people there. Those emotions carry with them spirits of abandonment, rejection, self-condemnation, shame and poverty.

The cycle of resentment and self-pity must be broken. Preparing for devotions at the shelter recently, the Lord said to tell the guests:

“Never consider what you lack without reminding yourself of all the blessings you have. That way, you’ll always be grateful.

“Gratitude creates an atmosphere for increase. Being grateful for everything is the key. Look at all of the traps gratitude helps you avoid: self-pity, entitlement, resentment, greed, lust and anger are a few. See what a great strategy gratitude is? 

“Gratitude helps you avoid disappointment and indignation. As an active strategy for wellness, it promotes healing. It balances the three parts of your being because it is an act of worship. It leaves little room for fear. Gratitude and contentment are the same thing. They enhance godliness as you set your affection on things above and not things below. That is great gain.” 

The Immensity of the Shift

Gratitude means being grateful not only for what God has already done but for what He is about to do. Combining faith with gratitude multiplies the power of this spiritual weapon.

Here is how He put it:

“In the same way you cannot be fully prepared for the things to come, you also cannot be fully prepared for the extent of My glory which is about to be revealed. 

You’ve been mistaken. You thought you would have to program yourselves to see what I was doing in the midst of terrible things you may witness. I say you are already programmed, and seeing My hand and My glory will not be difficult for you.

Trusting Me will not be a strategy of last resort; it will come naturally. It won’t be hard for you to do the right thing. You will be grateful for all of the training you received through adversity, when you see how easy it is to trust Me and to recognize the fulfillment of My plans and prophecies.

Because of the immensity of the shift that is about to take place, you will find it easy to temper yourselves. But you will not stand in awe of events; you will stand in awe of Me for revealing these things to My prophets, who shared them through My Word. You will appreciate the shortened time of distress and the saving power of My hand. The things you hoped would be true will materialize as your peace comes from Me. 

Before all is over, My People will feel like Jesus in the boat, rebuking the storm. They will derive their authority from their identity as members of My household. The world is about to stand in awe of My People, as My People stand in awe of Me.”

Randy and Barbara Walter
Shiloh Ministries | Salisbury Revival Prayer Network
Email: shilohministries@comcast.net

Randy and Barbara Walter conduct Shiloh Ministries on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, emphasizing intercession and the prophetic and facilitating seminars and workshops. They have interceded on-site and led prayer journeys at hundreds of locations through their Chesapeake Revival Prayer Network. The Lord has assigned them to pray for awakening, outpouring and cultural transformation. For 25 years, Randy edited a regional Christian newspaper called The Manna. Randy and Barbara have ministered together throughout their 34 years of marriage. They have published their sixth book, Where Do You Hurt? Where Do You Hide?

Note from One Blue Horse: I got this article from "The Elijah List" which comes daily with short teachings and prophetic words. Good source for up to date true Christian news! To Subscribe to the Elijah List go here