Build a Prayer Wall

Week 40 Bible in a Year with Pastor Dodge

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#BibleinaYear #week40 #GospelOfJohn #1John #2john #3John This week we finish the Gospel of John and get an overview of the three letters (1, 2, 3. John) that John also wrote. Of the four Gospels, John has the most detailed account of Jesus words and actions on the night of the Last Supper. The three very short lettters of John address some of the key teachings of Jesus about love, about faithfulness, and about obedience. Find the full list of FREE resources for this week’s study here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/biay-index-page

Let’s Build a Wall of Intercession

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What is God asking us to do? God asks us to “stand in the gap” between Himself and people, to bring their needs before Him and to ask boldly! “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land…”   ——Ezekiel 22:30 NIV

There’s no bigger need, than to know the Living God, to declare Jesus to be Lord and Savior, to repent and come clean before God, and to allow His Holy Spirit to fill us, lead us and transform us from the inside out. He calls us to intercede in this way on behalf of all people. “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4 NLT

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit show us how to intercede. Both Jesus and the Holy Spirit plead and intercede for us to the Father!  Isn’t this remarkable?  We have the high privilege to participate in God’s intercession plan for people! “Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”  ——Romans 8:34 NLT

The Holy Spirit prays for us in accordance with God’s will!  As we are filled with the Holy Spirit, He informs us specifically what to pray for and when to pray.

Yesterday, I sensed the Holy Spirit prompting me to ask my high school buddies to pray for one of our classmates who’d recently returned to work following some heart surgeries.  Several weeks earlier we had all prayed for strength for his return.  But yesterday, “out of the blue,” I felt directed by the Holy Spirit, to gather at his house with other classmates and pray for healing for him.  My classmate welcomed the idea, so through an email invite, a number us planned to meet at his home and pray for him. 

However, suddenly this morning we got the news he had to go to ER the eve before our planned visit.  Instead of trying to get all of us together PHYSICALLY (impossible), God was leading us to pray from wherever we were, at the same time. So we agreed in prayer over God’s promises for our friend and continue to trust in those promises.

The Holy Spirit is teaching us moment by moment how to effectively intercede!

“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.”  ——Romans 8:26-27 NLT

How big can we pray?  We can ask God for HUGE things on another’s behalf, or something seemingly insignificant, which is not at all insignificant to God. “Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.”   ——John 16:24 NLT

Here are some real examples to pray for others:  

  • That the move-in process of a college student would go smoothly
  • That the breast milk of a mom would come in, for her newborn child
  • For God’s favor for a young man at his work
  • For a godly husband, for a lady
  • For an “empty nest” couple to grow closer, not further apart
  • That the Lord would locate a lost item
  • For God to heal a person with a “terminal” illness
  • For a pre-born child with severe health issues to live
  • For the sun to come out more
  • For freedom from a bad habit (an addiction?)

We can pray Scriptural promises back to God.  There are hundreds of promises in Scripture that God has given us.  We often are content to live as “beggars,” reading Scripture as simply an inspirational book, or worse, a history book of how God treated people in the past. Rather, Jesus wants us to take to heart what he did and said, and to know it is for us today – to rightfully receive the inheritance he earned on the cross for us, his precious, adopted sons and daughters!  (Ephesians 1:11)

Here are just a few promises:

  • “For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.”  ——2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT
  • “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”  ——Matthew 11:28 NLT
  • “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”  ——Acts of the Apostles 16:31 NLT
  • “I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.”   ——Mark 11:24 NLT
  • “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.”  ——1 Peter 2:24 NLT

How he lavishes his love on us!  

Putting it together on a wall.  What if we “build” an actual WALL of Intercession?  Can you spare a part of a wall or maybe an entire wall at home or work?  Start by taking down everything so you have a “clean slate.”  Begin by pinning up pictures of the people God places on your heart.  Then print up the words of His Scriptural promises, and pin those up around the pictures.  When you marry the biblical promises with people’s pictures, spiritual fireworks go off inside of us and in heaven!  We get very specific in our prayers.  We get very personal.  We get audacious.  And we get more expectant of God.  He loves that!

May you develop new eyes of faith to see and pray as God leads, in Jesus’ name.

Here's an example of how you might arrange pics and verses on your wall. They can simply be tacked on your wall, printed on regular paper, laminated, framed or left unframed.

7 Reasons to Pray for America

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by Pastor Phil Bickel

As pre-election tensions rage, what can calm the political hurricane?  Here’s an idea: For every minute you devote to keeping up with the news, spend a minute talking to God about America.  Why bother?

  1. Talking to God is healthier than screaming at one another. 
  2. Praying for unity is wiser than splintering even further. 
  3. Praying for my opponents, God will show me ways to foster peace.
  4. Confessing my wrongs is more constructive than accusing others.
  5. Humbly listening is more fruitful than my taunting Tweets.
  6. Serving one another is wiser than tearing each other apart.
  7. Discovering God’s options surpasses all our political scheming.

So, pray for America.  Pray with others — even with folks you disagree with. 

Join Awake US Now in praying for America.  We are gathering prayer warriors from across America. Go to our Build a Prayer Wall for America page!

Expect Enemy Push Back

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Nehemiah and the Jews living in Jerusalem resolved together to rebuild it’s walls.  Soon after, there was enemy pushback by three characters.

“But when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab heard of our plan, they scoffed contemptuously. “What are you doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” they asked. I replied, “The God of heaven will help us succeed. We, his servants, will start rebuilding this wall. But you have no share, legal right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.””   (Nehemiah 2:19-20 NLT)

Jerusalem had enemies.  You could describe them as enemies of God, and any efforts God was doing among His people.  Was it jealousy or envy. Was it simply disdain for the Jews, God’s chosen people, the people through whom God wanted to display His love?  Or were these simply bullies?  In any case, when they heard of the plan to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, they began mocking and accusing.  That’s what God’s enemies do.  Nehemiah replied not by getting defensive, but by declaring that this was God’s initiative.  And that they were simply following His lead. Then Nehemiah shut them down, stating this was NOT up for discussion or a vote.  He and they WERE going to rebuild the wall with God’s help, no matter what!

As we step into prayer for America, and seek to follow God’s invitation to pray for this country, our people, for the rebuilding of America’s spiritual walls, we too will encounter enemy push back.  It may be subtle or blatant mockery, (ie – “what are you doing?” “Prayer is silly and worthless!” etc), or it may seem accidental/coincidental (ie – the appliances in your house all begin to break, etc.).  As these taunts just bolstered Nehemiah and the Jews’ resolve, we too can be bolstered and encouraged by these attacks at us.  Jesus, who experienced this enemy warfare more than anyone, which led ultimately to his death sentence on a cross, said, “in this world you will have trouble, but TAKE HEART, I have overcome the world” (emphasis mine, John 16:33).  We CAN be encouraged that we too are following where God is leading, and in fact, potentially suffering for Jesus’ name.  This is an honor indeed.  Resolve now to pray for America, her future, and for her people, no matter what!  And our Father who hears from heaven will reward you and me by taking our requests seriously and RESPONDING!  The wall WILL be rebuilt!

COMMIT AND DECLARE IT – OUT LOUD!

~ pastorkevinschuessler ~ 1 Comment

It’s been a number of weeks since posting on Building a Prayer Wall.  Let’s pick up where we left off.

As a recap – we are looking at America and building a spiritual “wall” for her through the lens of the book of Nehemiah and seeking to apply what God might be saying to US(A).

Nehemiah, at night, under the cover of darkness, scoped out the condition of Jerusalem’s wall.  He had only received reports, so he assessed the damage himself.  Now it was time to step out – in faith, and make a public decision.  He brought Jerusalem’s leaders together for a meeting and this is his account.

“The city officials did not know I (Nehemiah) had been out there or what I was doing, for I had not yet said anything to anyone about my plans. I had not yet spoken to the Jewish leaders—the priests, the nobles, the officials, or anyone else in the administration. But now I said to them, “You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!” Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king.  They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work.”   (Nehemiah 2:16-18 NLT)

This a key turning point in Nehemiah’s story.  It’s commitment day!  Nehemiah stepped out THREE TIMES by speaking up and committing.

  1. He told the leaders he had secretly scoped out the wall’s condition.
  2. He asked the leaders to join him in rebuilding it.
  3. He recounted how God had shown him favor this far!

What a great example of how God likes to work powerfully in and through people like Nehemiah!  And also you and me!  This account is in the Scriptures, not only for us to admire and be inspired by, but for God to provoke us, as well, to step out in faith toward Him. This is what I believe we are to do:

  1. Once we determine the condition of America’s spiritual wall (by asking the Holy Spirit to give insight and wisdom), tell someone what you believe to be true.  How have we strayed from God’s wonderful plan for US(A)?  How have we turned our backs on Him and followed our own ways?
  2. Ask that person (or persons) to join you in prayer.  Pray from the perspective that God’s will is always good, perfect and pleasing (Romans 12:2).
  3. Recount how God has shown this country favor, and shown YOU favor.  Pray with thankful confidence in Him.

It doesn’t have to be complicated or arduous, just a simple step of faith.  One person joining with another person to do our part in rebuilding America’s spiritual wall. So let’s pray! In Jesus’ Name!

BUILDING A PRAYER WALL FOR AMERICA LAUNCHES TODAY!

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Today is the launch of Building a Prayer Wall for America. We are inviting people from all around the country to build Tablecard Building a Wall of Prayer for Americaa “Wall of Prayer” for America: Followers of Jesus in every state committed to daily prayer to God for a spiritual Awakening in our nation.

What could the future of America look like if God’s people came together in prayer for her? We invite you to join us and others from across this great nation in rebuilding the foundation on which America was established. Let us commit to praying for an awakening, for revival, for healing. One nation, under God, built and rebuilt on Jesus the Foundation.

BUILD A WALL OF PRAYER!  By Pastor Chris Dodge

Our nation, dearly loved by all, needs our prayers.
These game plan use this one 2are critical times. It has nothing to do with partisan politics or political parties. It has everything to do with turning the hearts of people back to God. God desires that His people look to Him and that people everywhere come to a knowledge of Jesus Christ as their Savior.  Only that can renew a nation and only that can change the future.  So we invite you to join us in prayer for our country for the next 52 weeks.

WHAT IS A PRAYER  WALL?  By Pastor Kevin Schuessler

A prayer wall is a spiritual wall that is a barricade to evil and holds people inside its walls together!  It is doing by prayer what Nehemiah did physically.  Nehemiah and God’s people were in a broken-down state.  The city wall around Jerusalem was in shambles, allowing Israel’s enemies the ability to keep its citizens in a defeated state.

Prayer with verbiage for webpage.jpg

Be part of praying for America. Join us and others from across America in praying for revival, a Great Awakening, for the people, for the church, for our nation and our nation’s leaders. Join us today in building a prayer wall for AmerI want to Pray for America-3ica.

Available each week for 52 weeks:

Prayer points

Bible Reading

Devotional

                         

There is no set date to start. Start when it works for you!  Start with WEEK 1 and finish with WEEK 52.

  • PRAY individually or gather a group to pray together.
  • SIGN UP by filling out the registration form. Tell us where you are from and we will add your city on our map of America.
  • CLICK “yes” to receiving our Prayer Wall Newsletter for encouragement, emergency prayer needs for America, and important updates and info.
  • GO TO MATERIALS – Download materials.

Sign Up Here.    Download Materials Here.   View Pastor Dodge’s video invitation below and learn about the free resources available for individual and group pray-ers!