Benign and Undisruptive

I've been in Boston for about 4 days now. Actually, I'm in Cambridge near Harvard University. It has been late (that's putting it mildly) in developing, but we now have a venue for our 40 days of prayer and fasting. Right now I'm sitting in a Starbucks across the street staring at this old building. I met with the pastor of First Baptist Church yesterday to hammer out the final lease details. It's a beautiful historic church in Central Square that was originally built in 1817. It will serve as our base of operations for the duration of the 40 days. There will be 12 two-hour prayer sets each day to create an unending 24/7 atmosphere of intercession before the Lord. Our young people will be living and sleeping on the premises, so the next few days will be intense for me to get the place ready. When I said it was "historic," what I meant to say was that it's really old and not in great shape. I have to build temporary walls and dividers in the main vestry for our young people to live. Not sure how that's gonna work.

I can't help but ask, "What am I doing here?" Honestly, I could have never thought of a scenario in my life that would have ever brought me to Harvard University. This institution supposedly produces the best of the best. And yet here I am- a poor boy from a poor family. And not all that bright either. Maybe Peter kinda felt the same way. Did he ever look back and say, "What am I doing here? I'm just a fisherman." God seems to like using weak and simple instruments whether it be to kill giants or bring down the proud. Maybe it's because a simple person is just stupid enough to simply try. God will offend the mind to get at the heart. There is such a prideful, haughty spirit that pervades the atmosphere here. Unfortunately, the Church is no different. I'd like to say that we've been universally welcomed by the locals, but that's not the case. On the contrary, we've met opposition from established Christian groups that have said what we're doing isn't welcome here. Why's everyone so worried? All we're going to do is pray, right? Afterall, prayer is oh so very benign and undisruptive, right?

Wrong. I believe the heavens are already beginning to quake at what's coming. This Baptist minister I met with yesterday told me a very interesting story. For the last year local pastors from the Boston area have been randomly contacting the First Baptist Church and telling them that their building was supposed to be a house of prayer. That's a confusing word for someone who had no paradigm for it. He has now welcomed us into this strategic location and seems excited about what God is about to do. God is preparing the way for something revolutionary. House of Prayer is rumbling everywhere. 24/7 is beginning to vibrate throughout the Body of Christ. Harvard has no idea what's about to hit it. All I can say is that it won't be benign, and it won't be undisruptive.

C'mon South Dakota

"South Dakota Senate passes abortion ban bill"

These state battles are incredibly important right now. When Roe v Wade comes down, and it is coming down, the likely result will be to revert back to the individual states. Many states are siezing the moment to enact legislation that will already be in place when that day comes. The masses are beginning to speak, and they're saying "Abortion is wrong." The pollution of America by the shedding of innocent blood has reached it's fever pitch. All hell is waging war on multiple fronts because its end is near. There's a shaking in the enemy's spiritual camp. Spokespeople for Planned Parenthood and NOW are already conceding defeat in the battle over the courts. The Body of Christ must rise up at the state level. The Church is meant to be the head and not the tail. It's meant to lead the parade of history and not just spectate.

Houses of prayer must rise in each state to wage war on the issue of abortion.

HB 1080

So I've been doing a little more study on House Bill 1080 this morning. In a nutshell, this bill passed the general assembly on February 1, and now it is before a Senate committee. If this bill becomes law, then it would be in effect July 1, 2006. My understanding of the bill would require all nine abortion clinics in the state to be inspected by August 1 for facility compliance. Once notified of uncompliant issues by September 1, each clinic would have until January 1, 2007 to make necessary updates. If specified issues are not resolved, then the doors would close. Not only that, but each clinic would have it's liscense revoked.

So what do you do? Sit back and wait to see what happens? Or surge forward in a massive corporate thrust? Again, the Church does have a voice in this hour, and I'm not just talking about writing letters and making phone calls. Her voice must rise in crescendo to shake the heavens and spiritual forces of darkness that govern the land. When you have an opponent on the ropes, you don't back off. You don't retreat to your corner and let them catch their breath. You strike, strike and strike again until you get the knockout. For too long the Church has been content with fighting and sometimes winning skirmishes. It's time now to fight with the express intention to win. We fight until we win or die trying. King David, the warrior poet, sang in Psalm 18
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet. I beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind; I poured them out like mud in the streets. (v. 34, 37-38, 42)
I'm not talking about physical violence. We've all seen enough of that. But I am talking about becoming violent in the place of prayer. Do we understand that kingdoms increase by advancing and imposing their standards? Jesus said in Matthew 11:12 that the violent take it by force. Indiana, you WILL align yourself with kingdom standards.

What if? That's an important question. It's a dangerous question. It's good to ask "what ifs." What if the Church in Indiana mobilized between now and March 26 (about five weeks) a Moravian-style prayer movement. From March 27 to December 31 churches could cooperate in calling a corporate fast. For 40 weeks (the gestation of a baby) every single day would get covered in aggressive, offensive prayer and fasting. If you had about 47 churches in the state willing to go to war on the issue of abortion, each church could each sign up for two 3-day fasts some time during the 9 months. Cover the entire 40 weeks without missing a day. Combine that with each church warring over the abortion issue in their corporate prayer meetings, and I mean war. Imagine the outcome of such a radical corporate assault on the enemy's stronghold. Imagine the revelation and divine intelligence that might come from a move like that. I'm talking about the kind of intelligence that divinely maneuvers political officials and blocks lawsuits.

Indiana, you're the "Crossroads of America." All eyes are on you in this hour. Be the FIRST STRIKE state.

C'mon Indiana

This article is two weeks old, but we've been hearing about it lately.
Indianapolis Star

What should be done in a moment like this? Is it a matter to be relegated to the politicians alone, or does the Church have a voice in this hour? Unfortunately, it sounds like there has been a rather loud voice, but it was one of hate expressed to Ms. Greening.

The Church in Indiana does have a voice and an unprecedented opportunity to sieze a moment of time. What might happen if she throws herself into massive prayer and fasting during the next nine months? O to stretch forth from Zion's hill a scepter of authority over the Hoosier state. Align with the will of God you congressmen, governor and civic leaders. Some trust in lawsuits and election-year pressure, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

In the place of prayer, hold Gov. Mitch Daniels to his goal of "making abortion more rare" during his administration. Pray that God would raise up righteous men like Congressman Mike Pence from the 6th District as a prophetic voice to the state. It has been prophesied in recent years that Indiana is the "First Strike" state. Could Indiana be the one that takes the lead on the abortion issue? It will all be contingent on a praying Church that gets the revelation of who they are. Royal blood flows through her veins.

Facedown40

The website for Facedown40 launched today. Much of our focus and energy from now until April 9th will be on two key areas.

• The Middle East- Praying for the souls of 1.4 billion muslims, the escalating tension throughout the Middle East (especially in Iraq and Iran), and the security and salvation of Israel.
• Great Awakening- April 9th marks the centennial anniversary of the Azusa Street Revival. Could God be preparing the way for another Great Awakening that will impact the entire globe?

Although we have initiated this national call to prayer and fasting, we're happy to have the support and backing of Mike Bickle, Dutch Sheets and Francis Frangipane. Kim, the family and I will be relocating to Boston next week to help facilitate a 40-day gathering there. As part of the prayer & fasting initiative we are mobilizing 40 days at Harvard University targeting humanism and intellectualism. It's called the Uprising, and we believe God is wanting to bring revival to college campuses across the nation. I believe that out of that revival will spring a new Student Volunteer Missions Movement. Psalm 110 says that on the day of battle the youth will come like the dew arrayed in holy majesty. Perhaps their motto will also be "Evangelization of the world in this generation" as it was before.

WANTED: PREACHERS.