Strategy for Defeating the Demonic Stronghold of Islamic Terrorism: Praying with the Holy Spirit for the Overcoming of the Demonic Stronghold of Terrorism
I. A prophetic vision: Calling intercessors to join in defeating and overcoming the demonic stronghold of Islamic terrorism.
God is calling us to do our part in the spiritual realm through intercessory prayer to prevent catastrophic weapons of mass destruction (WMD) attacks against any one or all of the following nations: the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Russia and Israel.
Satan is putting in place the spiritual and human stronghold needed to launch an assault, with the intention of causing millions of deaths and chaos to these nations that are the spiritual, cultural and military bulwarks blocking the advancement of a demonic stronghold that our discernment has led us to name “Islamic terrorism.” Please note this is not the same as Islam itself! Indeed there is much in the stronghold of Islamic terrorism that is a distortion of Islam. (Read the section on this site about praying for Muslims.)
We predict that unless strong and concerted measures are taken in the military, political and spiritual realms, a major attack may take place within the next two years. A time of special vulnerability to a WMD attack will be just before, during, or after the 2008 USA Presidential elections. This threat is escalating with even greater rapidity with the following developments in Iran: the election of the fanatical Islamic President and their relentless quest for nuclear weapons.
This concern that we stand at the brink of a major attack, but that we have been given time in which we must act to defeat and overcome the forces of evil that would implement it, is strongly supported by the February 25, 2006 issue of World magazine.
The cover story of that issue is written by Marvin Olasky and is entitled “Nuke Nightmare”. It provides a harsh warning based on the mounting evidence that the culture and political expressions of radical Islam have both the intention and increasingly the means to launch a major WMD attack against the Western World.
Interviewers for two years have asked Harvard’s Allison why we have not had one [a terrorist attack using WMDs], and his regular answers have been: “It’s a great puzzle…. I think that we should be very thankful that it hasn’t happened already…. We’re living on borrowed time.”
The Bush administration may have won us some time. It toppled the Taliban in Afghanistan and Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq, both made up of people willing and ready to give terrorists sanctuary and the opportunity to plan disaster in peace. The Bush administration, by showing it was not tame, also made it less likely that evil dictators would give nuclear weapons to terrorists, because those leaders could expect nuclear retaliation if a nuclear attack on the United States was traced back to them.
As long as the United States has firm leadership, such an expectation could keep Iranian leaders from giving bombs to terrorists — although fanaticism often knows no bounds. But what Winston Churchill said about Soviet leaders 60 years ago may now be relevant in the Middle East; “I am convinced that there is nothing they admire so much as strength, and there is nothing for which they have less respect than for weakness, especially military weakness.”
(After reflecting further on the recent ominous developments in Iran.) How seriously to take all this? It seems that we always have wars and rumors of wars, but Iran is a threat now as Germany was in the 1930s. Meanwhile, the lack of an Islamic terrorist attack on the U.S. soil for over four years is difficult to explain via natural causes. Even if nuclear materials were surprisingly unavailable, terrorists could have killed many Americans and induced panic through biological attacks involving anthrax, botulism, smallpox, or plague — but they have not.
“With so much going wrong, the lack of terrorist attacks (against the United States) is an indication that something is right in the world. Some might credit the Bush administration’s decision to go on offense rather than sit back on defense. Some will thank God. Others will do both, and pray.” – by Marvin Olasky
(Marvin Olasky has written a series of excellent articles for World exposing the nature of radical Islam. www.worldmag.com)
This article and its careful analysis of our situation come as an urgent call to not be idle with the time that has been bought through blood, treasure and decisive leadership.
We must engage in the spheres of activity that we have been given to defeat this growing evil that is being forming against us. For most of us, not having any role in government or military, it will be in the spiritual realm, involving intercessory prayer and spiritual warfare.
This call to prayer and prayer strategy will focus on what we are called to do in the spiritual reality as intercessors and prayer warriors.
This paper is intended to enable different levels of prayer engagement in the spiritual realm:
First, a call to general prayers for the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in whom there is life, freedom and salvation in the Muslim world.
Second, there is the call to participate through prayer in God’s sovereign work of defeating and overcoming with the love, peace and life of Jesus Christ this present and growing evil.
As of the winter of 2007, this demonic stronghold is still not yet fully formed and so can still be thwarted in its evil intentions with limited cost in lives and money. Indeed, with the vigorous response of the United States under the visionary leadership of President Bush, with many allies including the United Kingdom, Israel and Pakistan the formation of this stronghold has been slowed and in some places destroyed, but this is a temporary situation.
It is a breather and a mercy to allow us to mobilize our own spiritual offensive. To not act in the time given us will be to squander the opportunity to easily defeat this stronghold.
This prophetic word that a demonic stronghold is being built to deliver major WMD attacks against the Western world does not mean that these attacks are inevitable.
Rather, it is a call to discernment, prayer and action, to stop this from becoming a reality. To take action to prevent something from taking place while it is still a potential rather than an actuality is the most difficult form of leadership, but it is also the most crucial for securing the future.
II. The nations targeted for a massive WMD attack: the United States, United Kingdom, India, Russia and Israel.
Our conclusion of which countries are in the most danger is based on a review of history – who has been attacked in the past and which countries embody ideologies, cultures, and religions that are the most inimical to the religion, ideology and culture of radical Islam.
In the world today, these nations represent the ideology and culture of freedom, democracy and religious pluralism: the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, India and Russia.
There is also the reality that together these nations represent the centers of spiritual vitality for Orthodox and Western Christianity, Judaism and Hinduism. These nations represent vital religions that are opposed to Islam. Further, these nations have the political, economic, military and cultural vitality to oppose this stronghold of Islamic Terrorism and are currently blocking its aims of world domination.
III. Discerning the level of prayer one is called to engage.
This discernment and prayer strategy on defeating and overcoming the demonic stronghold of Islamic terrorism is offered as a call to prayer. However to engage a stronghold of this power and evil is dangerous business and will stir strong counterattacks from Satan.
We must move into high level spiritual warfare only at the direction of the Holy Spirit, otherwise we may move beyond the empowerment, authority and protection of Jesus Christ.
First Level – General Prayer to which all Christians are called.
The first level is general prayer for the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Islamic world. Jesus has given to all Christians a set of basic commands as to how to pray, such as “Thy Kingdom Come!”. (See IV. General Prayers for all Christians)
With what has already been given of this growing danger of a WMD attack against those nations blocking the aims of Islamic terrorism we may be led by the Holy Spirit to apply general prayer commands to the present situation. However, do not go beyond these general prayers unless specifically led by the Spirit to do so.
All Christians are called to pray into this situation. All of us are called to pray in the following ways (see below). These are not prayers for the engagement of this demonic stronghold but rather the general offering of oneself to the Holy Spirit to be used by God for the advancement of His Kingdom.
The areas of general prayer may be listed as follows:
A. All Christians are called to put on the armor of God and to be prepared for personal spiritual warfare.
We recognize that personal spiritual warfare is part of the larger arena of “powers and principalities” (Ephesians 6:10-18). It is essential for one’s protection and the covering of one’s family and church that “putting on the armor of God” be taken seriously as we pray, “Thy Kingdom come” anywhere in the world.
B. All Christians are called to pray for the fulfillment of the Great Commission as given us by Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:18-20 for the Muslim world.
We are called to pray for the fulfillment of the Great Commission in the Islamic world. In the hearts of many sincere Muslims there is a deep hunger for God. They are what the Bible would call “God fearers.” They fit well the description of Cornelius:
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. Acts 10:1-2 (NIV)
We must pray that God will bring those Muslims who already fear him into the opportunity to become disciples of Jesus Christ. We also must be ready to do our part in the fulfillment of this Commission whether it is intercessory prayer, giving, enabling missionaries, being open to witness where we are or going somewhere else as a witness.
We must pray that God will communicate the truth of Jesus by all the means appropriate to get past the barriers. This could be directly through angels, dreams, visions, or through the empowered witnesses of local Christians, through the radio or television, or through tent-making missionaries.
C. All Christians are called to pray Matthew 6:9-10, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…”
To pray, “Your Kingdom come” is to pray for the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in every part of the world. This is actually a spiritual warfare prayer. We are asking God to overcome the kingdom of Satan in all of its expressions.
The Heidelberg Catechism clearly shows us the spiritual warfare nature of this petition.
Q. 123. What is the second petition?
A. “Thy kingdom come.” That is: so govern us by thy Word and Spirit that we may more and more submit ourselves unto thee. Uphold and increase thy church. Destroy the works of the devil, every power that raises itself against thee, and all wicked schemes thought up against thy holy Word, until the full coming of thy kingdom in which thou shalt be all in all.
Some of us may be given a burden to pray specifically that the Kingdom of God will advance to overcome the stronghold of Islamic terrorism which is a powerful and wicked scheme of Satan being built for the destruction of the Church and the truth of the Word of God.
D. All Christians have been given the command by Jesus to pray that the Father would send laborers for the harvest field.
“Then he said to his disciples, ’The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’” (NIV) Matt 9:37-38
There are many places around the world and in our own back yards where there is urgent need for laborers for the harvest.
Perhaps the place of most urgent need is in the Islamic world. In nations in the grip of Islam, by law and the threat of death, witnessing to the love and truth of Jesus is forbidden. Some of us may be given a burden to pray for this most difficult and dangerous of harvest fields. We must also pray for those from within Islam and without who will be called to witness. For some, their witness will be through martyrdom. It may be that as we pray this prayer, God will call some of us to go as laborers or to supply the provision needed for someone else to go.
E. We must pray for our government and military leaders.
There is no direct command in scripture from Jesus calling us to pray for our government and military leaders; however, Romans 13:1 supports the understanding that they have been placed there by God’s decree for our welfare.
Insofar as our government and military leaders are called by God to protect our nation from threats from within and from without, they need our prayers. They especially need our prayers when facing such an adversary as Islamic Terrorism, which is ideological and spiritual in nature and not defined by a particular nation-state. They need great wisdom, perseverance and stamina to fight and defeat such an elusive enemy.
They need great understanding of and flexible options for the use of difference kinds of force to provide deterrence against a WMD attack from the stronghold of Islamic terrorism when the old forms of deterrence no longer seem to apply. The irrational world of mutually-assured destruction (MAD) that kept the Soviet Union and the United States from attacking each other during the cold war no longer functions like it used to when the enemy is interwoven amid nations or populations that are not hostile.
F. Pray for the Renewal and Reformation of the Christian Church Worldwide
To these general prayers, I would add another: Pray for a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit to bring renewal and reformation of the Church in the West. The Church is the vanguard of the Kingdom of God on earth. When the Church is weakened through apostasy and heresy then it can no long provide the cultural vitality necessary to resist the growth of demonic strongholds, whether these strongholds come from within its own cultural fabric like Nazism or from without (like Islamic terrorism).
Pray for the waves of renewal and awakening that are already taking place in the Western World and for those organizations that support them such as PRMI and GEAR (in the UK).
Pray for the advancement of the Gospel in Russia, Israel and India and the strengthening of established churches in those nations.
G. Summary of First Level General Prayers
For many people this work of prayer may be completed with these general prayers. Pray in these areas and ask the Holy Spirit to clearly direct you as to how they may relate to the Muslim world and to the present growing stronghold of Islamic Terrorism.
Putting on the armor of God and preparing for personal spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18)
Praying for the fulfillment of the Great Commission as given us by Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:18-20.
Praying Matthew 6:9-10, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…”
Sending laborers for the harvest field (Matt 9:37-38)
Praying for government and military leaders
Praying for worldwide renewal and reformation and advancement of the Christian Church.
Please go no further with this prayer unless led by the Holy Spirit to do so. To move to the next level will require preparation and discernment.
Higher Levels of Engagement: Breaking Curses, Exposing, Engaging and Expelling High Level Spirits
A few Christians, especially elected and equipped spiritual warriors, may be called by God to the processes of breaking curses and exposing, engaging and expelling high level evil spirits that are working to form and to work through the stronghold of Islamic terrorism.
As you begin to pray about this be open to the possibility that you are called to this level of intercession. However, this is an area of great danger unless you are especially called and anointed.
How do you know what level you are called to? Upon the correct answer to this question rest not only your own safety but also the love and salvation of Jesus Christ transforming both the Christian and Muslim worlds.
This call must be individually discerned, or if you are working in a prayer group, it must be corporately discerned.
Some indications that you are called to go beyond general prayers into engagement with the evil spirits are as follows:
You will experience the direct command from Jesus Christ to engage. Normally you do not enlist for these types of engagements; rather you are called into action. This may come as a sense of burden or urgency in your heart to pray for particular areas. Your role is obedience.
You will find that Jesus is giving you the authority and the guidance as to how to apply that authority.
You will be given specific directions as to what to do to contribute to the battle in which Jesus and the angels are engaged.
You will find yourself in actual engagement with the high level spirits who have been driven out of hiding from the stronghold of Islamic terrorism, through the prayers of God’s people.
If all this sounds a little extreme and dangerous – it is! This call to engage at the high level is not something that you may immediately know. Rather, it will become apparent as you follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Just be careful not to get ahead of God’s protection and guidance. At the same time, it is dangerous for the Kingdom of God for us to hold back and not engage as the Holy Spirit calls us. God in His own sovereignty has determined to include us in His work on earth, so He needs all different forms of intercession and holy warriors ready to do their duty. If God calls you to move forward with Him, you can expect attacks and struggle – this is, after all, a war, but do not be afraid; you have the authority in the name of Jesus Christ to engage. You also have the promise of the protection of almighty God.
Jesus’ promises to His first disciples apply to us as we walk in obedience to His commands.
Luke 10:19-20
19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.?20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (NIV)
Mark 16:17-18
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (NIV)
We are promised empowerment and authority for spiritual warfare to deal with the demonic. We can go forward trusting this authority, for it comes right from Jesus Christ who sits at the right hand of God the Father.
For those who are called to go this next level in high level intercession there are many resources available:
A. Check out the Advanced Ministry Course offered by the Dunamis Fellowship on High Level Intercession.
B. Call or e-mail the PRMI office (prmi@prmi.org) for a copy of the full prayer strategy that we have received from the Holy Spirit for joining in His work of overcoming this stronghold of terrorism.
C. For a more complete secular military analysis of the aims of this stronghold of Islamic terrorism download a non-classified briefing from the American Joint Chiefs of Staff: “Fighting the Long War: Military Strategy for the War on Terrorism”. This analysis does not include the spiritual dimension – that is our role as intercessors – but is very helpful for understanding the full extent of the threat that is being formed against the Western World and Christianity.
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