Dear Intercessors:
Blessings on everyone. Thanks so much for your prayers and for your participation in the engagements about which I have been writing to you.
Alfred Lord Tennyson, in his poem, “Morte D’Arthur,” has the dying King Arthur speak these famous lines:
“If thou shouldst never see my face again,
Pray for my soul. More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” …
“If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer
Both for themselves and those who call them friend?
For so the whole round earth is every way
Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.”
I have always been greatly moved by these lines spoken by King Arthur.
As we have been in these prayer battles together, I am seeing more and more the power and the role of prayer in bringing God’s work and presence into the world.
That is how I interpret the stanza about the earth being “bound by gold chains about the feet of God.” I am seeing this poetic image become reality through our engagements.
The changes wrought by heaven through our prayer also let us know the strategic role of intercession. Through our petitions the Holy Spirit advances the Kingdom of God in the earth.
The Mountain Top Equipping Camp at the Community of the Cross, June 11-16.
Because of the importance of prayer in cooperating with God to bring change to the earth, we have developed an equipping camp. If you feel called to enter more deeply into strategic and tactical prayer, please consider attending.
At the camp you will also receive equipping as members of prayer cohorts who can together step into this work of intercession.
Please pray about taking part in the Mountain Top Equipping Camp at the Community of the Cross, June 11-16, 2018. For more information and to request an invitation, click here on Mountain Top Equipping Camp, June, 2018
Moses, Aaron and Hur in a Prayer Cohort
I would like to help you understand from an intercessor’s point of view more about what to expect at the Mountain Top Equipping Camp. So I’ll briefly discuss an example of the type of learning and training you will receive. To do so I will talk about a type of demonic stronghold which works through nations.
First let me state my strong conviction: The optimum context for the advancement of the Kingdom of God is free, pluralistic, democratic societies which allow freedom of speech and of religion.
What produces such free societies are Judeo-Christian values based on vital biblical faith. Through our faith these values then impact and shape society and culture, even among unbelievers.
Within our nations of Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, as well as South Korea, these foundational values underlying our free democratic societies and governments are under assault. In Discerning the Times I have been and will continue to communicate with you about the internal assault.
But the example to focus our attention on today is an outside challenge to our free societies. The challenge comes against us from nations whose societies were founded on non-Judeo-Christian values.
Such nations tend to threaten freedom and the advancement of the Kingdom of God within their own borders. As these nations grow powerful, however, they can threaten to oppress the whole world.
It seems to me that within a number of these nations Satan is building powerful demonic strongholds. I have observed that as the strongholds grow in power, their impact increases. These strongholds are pushing human society toward tyranny and totalitarian government.
While such strongholds shape nations under Islamic control, they also influence nations infected by the deception of Marxism or Communism. We have seen the latter in North Korea and other locations. My particular example regards China.
Call to Pray that Jesus Christ will Overcome the Demonic Strongholds Bringing Totalitarian Government—A Focus on China
I just spent a week in New York working with Rev. John Chang on preparations for teaching the Chinese Mobile Dunamis Project.
During our time together we discussed the ominous signs of growing strongholds in China. These signs became starkly evident in the Chinese newspapers.
Here is a video report on the developments which I believe indicate a call to prayer. In the video John translates the captions of some pictures in the Chinese newspapers, and we then reflect on their significance.
Rev. John Chang Explains a Chinese News Report
How to Pray
The guidance the Rev. John Chang gives in the video is really good:
“Pray that the Lord will continue to pour out the Holy Spirit in China. And pray that China, as a nation and as a people, will continue to fulfill God’s plans. That they be a great blessing to the world and advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the Earth.”
I would like to add further guidance on how to pray for the Christians of China. I think Paul’s prayer for the church in Ephesus may also be prayed for the church of China – which consists of millions of born-again people and continues to grow each day.
Ephesians 3:14-21 (NET)
For this reason I kneel before the Father, (15) from whom every family in heaven and on the earth is named. (16) I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, (17) that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love, (18) you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, (19) and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. (20) Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, (21) to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
I believe this prayer for the Christians of China is right from the heart of Jesus! I believe the Holy Spirit is using prayers like that of St. Paul for the Ephesians to bless the entire nation of China. Pray that Chinese people and their institutions will be “bound by gold chains about the feet of God.” This will mean first the casting off of chains crafted out of Satan’s lies.
As you join in praying these prayers, and hear us translate the newspaper reports, please ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as to how specifically to pray.
As always, if you receive any discernment, please notify Martin and me right away. Thanks so much!!!
In Christ,
Brad Long with Martin Boardman and the Discerning The Times Discernment Team
Learn More: Presbyterian-Reformed Ministries International
As I was praying, I felt that there was a need to take the spirit of greed, from both the Chinese and Russian leaders. Personal ambitions and greed were taking their countries into dangerous waters. Yet it was a prayer of conversion to Christianity of both leaders, or removal by Christian believers that would give God the victory over communism and the Pact set up by the enemy. Radical prayer is needed for this work, because of the strong message they send seems to be acceptable to the people. We need to pray for the raising up of prayer warriors throughout China, Russia and Christians that will join to help over come the evil that will be released if not stopped!! Prayer for the peoples to see the lies of the enemy and of those that lead them so that the chains may fall off and eyes opened, enabling the plans of God.
I pray that our prayers will release the power of the Holy Spirit in China and
Russia with the truth of Jesus is bright shining light and hearts will be opened and lives changed. Amen
March 10, 2018 at 8:32 am
I pray that our prayers will release the power of the Holy Spirit in China and
Russia with the truth of Jesus is bright shining light and hearts will be opened and lives changed. Amen