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In his book, A Sacred Trust, Alistair Petrie shares four defilements that Scripture indicates bring a curse on the land. By identifying these defilements and praying repentance and cleansing, intercessors can begin to take back the land in their own cities, preparing the way for revival.

Idolatry: Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs (Jonah 2:8, NIV).

• Idolatry is worshipping anyone or anything other than God. Possible idols include a strongly favored political party, education, money, reputation, religion, social status, entertainment, appearances, and success, etc.

Immorality/Fornication: The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity … those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21, NIV).

• When immorality is left unchecked, the church loses its authority on the land. It also indicates a lack of humility and willingness to serve others.

Untimely Bloodshed: Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed (Numbers 35:33a, NIV).

• Bloodshed comes through murder, sacrifice, war, abortion, etc. It also opens the door to spirits of anger, rebellion, bitterness, jealousy, rage, criticism, etc.

Broken Covenants: The earth is defiled by its people, they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt (Isaiah 24:5-6, NIV).

• There are consequences to promises not kept. These can include broken contracts, agreements, treaties, and spoken agreements between individuals, groups, or organizations in the land.

As intercessors pray over their communities, wisdom and insight can be sought in regards to these defilements, even from previous generations. Petrie recommends taking communion on-site as well as spoken promises from the Word to cleanse and rededicate the land to the Lord.

The Lord will establish you as His holy people, as He promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to Him. Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you. The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock, and the crops of your ground—in the land He swore to your ancestors to give you (Deuteronomy 28:9-11, NIV).

Order the book, A Sacred Trust, HERE.