It was a Sunday at church like any other. Or so it seemed. But it was a day I will never forget.

Have you taken your place on the wall?

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We had just finished worshiping together and taking up the offering. Our pastor was about five minutes into the sermon when the atmosphere began to change. Tony, an 89-year-old man, began struggling; as his family rushed to gather around him, it was obvious that something was very wrong: Tony was ashen, limp, unresponsive.

While the attendees looked on, not fully aware of what was happening, the pastor halted midsermon and admonished the church to pray for Tony. We were blessed to have a nurse in attendance, who proceeded to check his vitals but found no pulse. Tony’s heart had stopped. Because he has atrial fibrillation, it was possible that he had suffered a heart attack in church; no one really knew. As preparations were made to administer CPR, the rest of the church moved outdoors to respect the family’s privacy and to pray until the ambulance arrived. Indoors, declarations of life were being prayed over Tony, and outdoors there was continual prayer as well.

Then a miracle happened.

A few minutes after their arrival, the paramedics ushered Tony out of the church. He was alive, and he was alert! Hallelujah!

Not only was he alive, but the paramedics said there was no evidence of a heart attack. We had witnessed a miracle. A resuscitation had taken place. We went back into the church building and continued to pray. But God wasn’t done yet.

A young man came up to the altar as the church was contending in prayer. This man, a husband and father, had worshiped Santa Muerte (Our Lady of Holy Death) his entire life. He had about 20 idols set up throughout his home. He decided at that very moment to tear down those altars, he immediately renounced his worship of Santa Muerte, and he was delivered and saved that very day.

The Spirit of God was definitely at work, and no one could deny any of what we had all seen. Even though this happened inside a little church on the south side of San Antonio, Texas, what happened that day was a prophetic wakeup call to the entire body of Christ.

It’s Time to Get Back Up!

Maybe weariness from the battle has silenced you. Maybe it’s distress over a bad health report. Maybe it’s the uncertainties stemming from a presidential administration that wants to remove God from America, or anxieties over the economic turmoil connected to inflation. Maybe you have backslidden from your first love and have been bound by shame. Whatever the case, the devil’s purpose is clear: He seeks to kill, steal, and destroy. He wants to keep you in fear, bound, muzzled, and defeated — but today the Lord is saying: Get back up!

… for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity (Proverbs 24:16).

It’s Time to Be Bold Again

In 1 Peter 5:8, the devil is likened to a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. But even though Satan is like a roaring lion, we can be bold and fearless. We are blood-bought followers of Jesus Christ, the Lion from the tribe of Judah! You and I are the righteousness of God in Christ. We are sons and daughters of the Most High, and we can be bold as lions too. God has given you a voice. It’s time to roar.

The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion (Proverbs 28:1).

It’s Time to Shine

The times keep growing darker, and biblical prophecy is unfolding before our very eyes. If there’s any hope for this nation, it can be found only in Jesus.

We need an awakening now! It seems as if we are surrounded by darkness at every turn — but it is in the darkness that God calls His people to arise and shine (Isaiah 60:1–3). It’s in times of darkness that God’s glory shines ever brighter, and He does this through us. When we are obedient and yield to Him, we become a vessel of honor fit for the Master’s use, as 2 Timothy 2:21 tells us.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:14–16).

It’s Time to Become a House of Prayer 

In the book of Acts, the Church was, no matter what came, a people of prayer. In fact, the believers were meeting together in an upper room and praying when the Spirit of God came to them and His power was poured out on them. Read the entire book of Acts to see how prayer was indeed the heartbeat of the early Church. No matter the depths of darkness or the pains of persecution that surrounded them, they continued meeting regularly and having prayer together.

The disciples were privileged to learn prayer from Jesus. He modeled a lifestyle of prayer. Jesus even quoted the prophet Isaiah in Matthew 21:13, “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” If prayer is important to Jesus, it should be important to us too.

What if we actually believed what we are praying for and then stepped out in faith? Would we see the “greater works” that Jesus spoke of in John 14:12? If Jesus said we would see and do them because we believe in Him, then it means we will see and do them.

Awakening the Lazarus Churches

What happened that day in church with Tony reminded me of a prophetic word the Lord gave me in July 2019. It was a word about an awakening for America; however, there was something different about this word: He said, “I am going to awaken my Lazarus churches.”

After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him” (John 11:11).

When I was given this word, I wasn’t sure when or how it would happen. Several months later, COVID came, and the world we had known until then underwent drastic change. The message was loud and clear: The Church, His Church, was asleep and in need of awakening.

Lazarus was dead. Four days, stinking in the tomb, and bound by grave clothes. But Lazarus’ story didn’t end there; it was just the beginning. We know this story ends with Lazarus being raised from the dead and loosed from his grave clothes. We know that God was glorified. People came to see this man who was raised by the power of God. Can’t He do it again? Is anything too hard for God?

Church, it’s time to wake up!

It’s time to hear the voice of God calling you back today. Come back to the house of God and to fellowship. Come back home to the Father. Come back into His presence. It’s time to break free of those grave clothes that have you bound. Let go and give it to God. It’s time to move forward. Just as Lazarus came forth, so can you.

Refuse to be silent any longer!

Your children and families need you.

Your community needs you.

Your church needs you.

Your city needs you.

Your nation needs you.

Somebody, somewhere needs you.

They are waiting for you to do what God has called you to do. Now is not the time to shrink back in fear. Now is the time to rise up.

We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. I’m here to tell you that miracles are still happening today. The dead are still being raised. People are still being healed. People are still being delivered. Families are still being restored. Lives are being transformed by Jesus. Don’t give up now!

I don’t believe merely that God is going to move, I believe rather that He is already moving — and that He’s waiting on you to move and to come into agreement with Him.

It’s time to see yourself as God sees you. It’s time to believe in the impossible again. It’s time to pray bigger, bolder prayers. It’s time to call those things that are not as though they are and to step out in faith.

You are a force to be reckoned with, and the devil knows it. That’s why the warfare against you and your family has been so intense. That’s why he uses the same old tricks. That’s why the slanderers and accusers keep trying to bring you down. That’s why he wants you to focus on your hurt and your failures. That’s why he’s trying to keep you in bondage. He’s trying to stop you from fulfilling your God-given purpose. Rise up!

There’s a promise on the other side of the battle. Are you willing to contend for that promise?

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33 NIV).

Are you ready to move with God? Let’s pray together:

Father, I glorify Your name. There is no one like You — none who can save like You; none who can deliver like You; none who can love us the way You do. I thank You for your tender mercies that are new each morning. Thank You for Your grace that gives me strength to overcome. Thank You that I can boldly come before Your throne into Your presence, where I belong, where I find everything I could ever need.

Father forgive us. You have given us freedom, but rather than serve, we use that freedom to indulge in sin. We’ve taken advantage of Your grace. It wasn’t ever meant to be a free pass; Your grace was for us to rise up and overcome. We were bought with a high price, and we are called to glorify You with our bodies. Forgive us for when we have failed to do so. Stir up a hunger and thirst for righteousness in Your Church again.

Forgive us if we have treated Your Church like a social club. We meet, we clap, we sing, and then we go home and lives are unchanged. The lost are still hurting. People are hungry, addicted, and dying. They need You, Jesus. Forgive me for when I have made light of the opportunities to lead people to You.

Our families, our cities, we all need You! Apart from You, we can do nothing. We know that darkness will come, but we hear Your call to arise and shine. We know that a praying church is a powerful church. We know that prayer is the breeding ground for miracles. Lord, give us a praying spirit and make us a house of prayer. 

We pray for a greater move of unity. We pray for pastors and leaders to work together for one purpose: to see souls saved and cities transformed by the power of Holy Spirit. We pray for divine alignments and open doors. We pray that unity would prevail over strife and competition. This isn’t church versus church — this is about the kingdom of God. It’s not about us, it’s all about You, Lord. 

We don’t just want a move of God. We desperately need it. Lord, Your church needs You. Come with Your resurrection power and wake her from her slumber. Let Your Lazarus churches awaken. No more grave clothes; no more bondage; only freedom. Make a way where it seems impossible, and let the dry bones live again.

The harvest is ripe, the fields are white, and I don’t want to waste another second. I want to make the most of every opportunity You give me. We are contending for Your resurrection power in our lives, cities, churches, and nation. You are the God of revival.

Do it again, Lord!  In the mighty name of Yeshua and all for Your glory! Amen.

… Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:14–17).

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light (Romans 13:11–12).

Are you stirred to believe God for the impossible again? Share your thoughts below!

IFA Contributing Writer Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor to listen to her podcast, Something To Share. Photo Credit: Canva.