I Prayed have prayed
Lord God, thank you for the outpouring of prayer in the pandemic. May a worldwide harvest of conversions and Jesus disciples result from this crisis.
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International House of Prayer founder, Mike Bickle, just concluded a phone connection with about a million leaders and intercessors worldwide! We then engaged in an hour-long conversation focusing on the next phase of the continuing COVID-19 crisis.

Our friendship spans 40 years, so after 20 minutes of personal updates, I began to pepper him with questions to draw from his experience and deep spiritual well. Mikeā€™s passion for Jesus and prayer have been a constant inspiration to me and millions of Christians. Senior leader, RT Kendall, said Mike is ā€œa man of transparent integrity who shows us the way forward into areas where angels fear to tread.ā€

If you donā€™t know Mikeā€™s ministry, I encourage you to check out his website ihopkc.org to familiarize yourself with the magnificent work he does with his team. Their mission is ā€œto partner in the Great Commission by advancing 24/7 prayer and proclaiming the beauty of Jesus and His glorious Return.ā€

For over 20 years their community has engaged in 24/7 prayer devoting themselves to works of justice and evangelism. Over 2000 ā€œintercessory missionaries,ā€ raise their own support to reach others from a lifestyle of prayer and worship. Their New Testament church is healthy and growing, their training school equips believers in a balanced biblical worldview and their online resources serve people around the world.

King David mobilized and supported 4000 musicians and 288 singers to worship God night and day (1 Chronicles 23:5; 25:1,6,7). The IHOP Community leans into this pattern. From personal involvement I testify to Godā€™s manifest Presence in their midst.

I encourage you to listen to the 3 Ā podcasts on ā€œHereā€™s the Dealā€œ (Charisma Podcast Network) to get the full benefit of my interaction with Mike for your family and your church. It’s informative and inspiring.

We discussed a prevalent problem area for scores of people in the midst of this global pandemic: God and judgment. Is this pandemic similar to divine disciplinary dealings in the Bible? Is what happened the ā€œbeginning of sorrowsā€ Jesus spoke about in the end times (Matt. 24:8)? Are we starting to see retribution described in the Book of Revelation?

Mike stressed the importance of us being discerning in the midst of this international crisis. He highlighted 4 sources of pressure.

4 Pressure Points

First is the pressure God brings upon nations through shaking (Heb. 12:26-7) to awaken us and bring us back to Himself. Many people donā€™t like the ā€œJā€ word but itā€™s imperative we recognize God is loving but also holy and must deal with ongoing rebellion. God created the heavens and the earth and is to be served ā€œacceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fireā€ (Heb. 12:28-9).

Psalm 76 came to mind: ā€œYou, even You, are to be feared; and who may stand in Your sight from the moment of Your anger? From the heavens You gave their judgment, and the earth feared and was silent, when God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth (Ps. 76:7-9).

Secondly, pressure comes from Satan when he rages and schemes to ā€œsteal, kill and destroyā€ (Jn. 10:10). Jesus told us Satan is a ā€œliarā€ and a ā€œmurderer.ā€

ā€œHe (the devil) was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of liesā€ (Jn. 8:44).

The third source of pressure in our world comes as a consequence of manā€™s sin. ā€œThe wages of sin is deathā€ (Rom. 6:23). Evildoing has a ā€œpaydayā€ whether immediately or eventually.

ā€œBe not deceived. God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal lifeā€ (Gal. 6:7-8).

Finally, the fourth source of pressure that can come upon us is from creation. Floods, earthquakes, calamities and natural disasters have permeated human history and stem from Original sin. ā€œEchoes of Edenā€ continually reverberate and will until the return of Jesus to establish the ā€œnew heaven and a new earthā€ (Rev. 21:1).

ā€œFor the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but by the will of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from slavery to corruption into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until nowā€ (Rom. 8:20-22).

Righteous Responses

We are not to succumb to fear but rather submit to God in a biblically informed manner.

1. When God shakes the nations, we as His people need to proclaim truth and lead the way by humbling ourselves, confessing sin and bowing before Him that He would Ā ā€œheal the land” (2 Chron. 7:14).

2. When Satan rages we are to ā€œresist him firmly in the faithā€ (1 Pet. 5:9) utilizing our spiritual authority and God-given weaponry: ā€œThey overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the deathā€ (Rev. 12:11).

3. Regarding mankindā€™s sin, the solution is simple: repent! The message of the New Testament is not ā€œaccept Jesus as your Savior to go to heavenā€ but confess and turn from sin declaring Jesus Christ as Lord, risen from the dead (Rom. 10:17). ā€œIf anyone will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Meā€ (Matt. 16:24). The content of the message determines the quality of the convert!

4. Regarding natural disasters and calamities in creation, we should pray, prepare and provide for those suffering as we rebuild and replenish after tragedies.

Mike Bickle reminds us to rightly interpret judgments as either punitive or redemptive, intended by God to draw people to Himself and learn His righteous ways. Isaiah 26:9 reassures us ā€œfor when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.ā€ This is why we must recognize “divine appointments” and engage consistently in lifestyle evangelism.

As we are surrounded by lost people who are fearful, anxious and confused, may we seize opportunities to practically share Godā€™s love and the transformative message of the gospel.

Twofold Biblical Narrative

Mike Bickle strongly encourages us to embrace the twofold biblical narrative outlined in Isaiah 60:2. ā€œFor the darkness shall cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord shall rise upon you, and His glory shall be seen upon you.ā€ In other words, conditions prior to the Return of the Lord will be gory and glory!

Demonic activity, evil and pressures are going to intensify greatly! At the same time, Ā a victorious church (Book of Acts!) will emerge characterized by bold preaching, the promised end time harvest, amazing angelic activity, signs and wonders plus powerful, mountain-moving prayer!

Listen to these three podcasts and let your heart be stirred as Mike describes the exploding global prayer movement declaring over the COVID-19 crisis what the enemy ā€œmeant for evil God intends for goodā€ (Gen. 50:20).

Hereā€™s the deal: as the nation begins to reopen after this unprecedented pandemic, letā€™s rise to the occasion throwing off all sin, compromise and silence in the pulpit to boldly proclaim the truth and the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ! “And who knows if you may have attained royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).

 

Larry Tomczak is a cultural commentator of 46 yrs,Ā Intercessors for AmericaĀ board member, best-selling author and a public policy advisor with Liberty Counsel. His innovative video/book,Ā BULLSEYE, develops informed influencers in 30 days (seeĀ www.bullseyechallenge.com). Hear his weekly podcastĀ here.

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Nan Isaacson
May 16, 2020

Thank you for this prayer list and all the information. I will be able to send a donation next month. Am sending to my church and our Bible study group. God Bless you Richly. We pray daily for the President, his staff and council and for God to guide him and protect him. We pray earnestly for the criminal element in D.C. to be removed and Justice to be served. It is LONG over due.
Thank you so much for your information and prayer guides.

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Karen Secrest
May 16, 2020

Thank you for the encouraging word.

I keep hearing the Lord say, ” My ways are not your ways. MY thoughts are not your thoughts. I AM not a man that I should lie.”

That WORD encourages me to continue in that path that you have highlighted from Mike Bickle. This season is Redemptive!
Thank you, Jesus and believing believers everywhere..

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Jerry Carpenter
May 16, 2020

I visited IHOP bookstore in ’07 while working nearby. I was alarmed at the “new age” books on display! I hope this is not the case today. Many of these authors lead into Eastern practices and seeking spirit guides, something to attain, works that appeals to our fallen nature. This is creeping into many churches and denominations like a cancer. God deliver us from such as this in the name of Yeshua!

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    Sue Lemke
    May 16, 2020

    I hope that has changed. The simple power of the Gospel that Jesus died for our sins to forgive us and He rose from the dead…..to give us new birth ….eternal life…His life in us.We don’t need to add the world’s ways. Be careful and know sound doctrine.

    2
Mary Jean
May 16, 2020

Lord, thank for Godly men like Mike Bickle. Continue to lead and guide him to speak Your truth boldly. In Jesus name Amen. I have been to IHOP. (International House of Prayer). What a blessing. Also have been challenged and encouraged by his recent teachings on YouTube. (NOW).

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