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At the International Congress on Strategic
Intercession in Colorado Springs, held the beginning of February, 2003, the
Spirit of God impressed Cindy Jacobs to “Call My People To Stand and Worship
for 40 Days.”
Cindy said the following, “Worship is such a key
issue at this time. I believe worship will dethrone any throne that the
enemy has built in this world. Let us stand together to put a canopy of
protection around the nations, and to secure the borders from terrorist
attack as we worship, intercede and believe that God will move on our
behalf.”
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A Perilous Time for the USA
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As you are all aware, this is indeed a difficult and
perilous time for our nation and other nations throughout the world. We need
God's protection, wisdom, and strength in these days. It is critical that we
respond with worship and prayer to the many threats of terrorism in the
United States and around the world today.
The Biblical precedent that we can call on in seasons
like these is to "Send Judah First."
Worship and warfare are intimately related one to
another. Remember the passage in 2 Chronicles where the Lord, Himself, sent
ambushes against the enemy when Judah was sent to precede the army.
There are many military troops being deployed during
this hour. They are not only from America, but from nations around the
world. The turmoil must be extremely stressful for both them and their
families. We also want to recall the mandate that the Bible gives us to
bless Israel.
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Worship Creates a Canopy over YOUR nation
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As we worship, a canopy will be raised over your
nation, the United States, Israel, the nations of the Middle East and
throughout the world. With this in mind, we are calling for believers all
across the world to set aside the dates of March 7th-April 16th for 40 days
of 24 hour a day worship and intercession. Note that the 40 days will end at
the beginning of Passover. We are asking our friends around the world to
join us in worship and intercession for their individual cities, states, and
nations. If you choose to fast, it would be most appropriate. God is doing a
new thing in worship. This is happening not only in individual lives, but
also in the Church as a whole. As we have turned the corner into the new
millennium, we are seeing another momentous shift in worship. This shift may
be related to God’s redemptive word in our time and may also be pivotal in
the spiritual battle both on Earth and in the heavenlies. We are advancing
to an intimate, strategic, warring w! orship.
While the words “worship” and “war” are familiar,
they nonetheless produce extreme and opposing emotions—seldom do we see the
two work in tandem. As servants of God, we know we are to worship Him. We
also know that we fight a spiritual battle.
We usually render worship in adoration toward God and
associate it with good, uplifting and even ecstatic feelings. Worship is
often focused upward and can embody the qualities of holiness, reverence and
awe. We see ourselves as givers and God as the recipient.
Warring, on the other hand, involves taking a stand,
overcoming a threat, invading territory or conquering an enemy. In war, we
often view ourselves as defenders against a dangerous force or sustainers of
righteousness and truth.
This is true in spiritual as well as physical
conflicts. In the typical scenario worship has not been part of the battle
plan; it has come only in the form of thanksgiving after a victory God is
calling us to bridge worship and warfare. When we read the Bible we find
that God instructs us to ascend into the Throne Room in heaven, be clothed
in His authority and descend in war.
There is a sound of heaven that enables us to
recognize, embrace and advance through this process. It moves us toward
victory in accomplishing God’s will on Earth. God is calling us to be
worship warriors! As we individually seek God and ascend into the Throne
Room, we can hear the sound in heaven in our spirit man on Earth. God does
not play favorites. Everyone can embrace this call to ascend and become a
worship warrior. If we believe in Jesus, we are automatically enlisted in
His army. Worship warriors arise! Worship Warriors of every generation,
young and old, must connect and stand. This is the time to worship, enter
boldly into the Throne Room, and be clothed with favor and go to war. The
sound is being released. Listen to it. Enter the battle. Release the
Harvest!
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Let Judah Arise and Go First!
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There is a great inheritance that He has for each one
of us individually. He also has a corporate inheritance into which He is
calling the Body of Christ.
This corporate inheritance will affect each territory
throughout the nations of the earth.
The time is NOW to war for our inheritance.
There are personal promises God wants to manifest.
This is a time of the preparation and shifting of the mantle of authority
for the next generation. How do we proceed?
Judges 1:1-2 relates: “Now after the death of Joshua
it came to pass that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, ‘Who
shall be first to go up for us against the Canaanites to fight against
them?’ And the LORD said, ‘Judah shall go up. Indeed, I have delivered the
land into his hand.’”
Judah was selected as the tribe of divine preeminence
in Jacob’s patriarchal blessing. Genesis 49:8-10 gives us more insight:
“Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; your hand shall be on
the neck of your enemies; your father's children shall bow down before you.
Judah is a lion's whelp; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows
down; he lies down as a lion; and as a lion, who shall rouse him? The
scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet,
until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.”
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Time to Go Forth in Praise
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Judah must go first.
Praise must take its preeminence within our lives,
churches, cities, states and nation.
Worship causes us to move thankfully with our body
toward our creator. Praise (or yadah) is to worship God with extended hands.
With hands lifted up, we declare the merit of God, and we thank Him for
everything He has put in our hands.
We find this concept first mentioned in the Bible
when Leah conceived her fourth son and named him Judah, meaning praise. When
Jacob acknowledged Judah, he extended his highest blessing upon him and
declared that even his brothers would praise him. He also declared that
Judah (praise) would triumph over all of his enemies with royal authority
(the scepter) and legal authority (the lawgiver).
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Praise, THE Key Weapon
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The word “Judah” also means to hold out your hand and
throw or shoot a stone or an arrow at your enemy. Therefore, we find that
praise will be a key weapon of the Spirit of God in our lives in days ahead.
Praise is a response to God’s revelation of Himself to which every child of
God should respond. Human praise of a holy God is a major theme throughout
God’s Word.
Praise is expressing to God our appreciation and
understanding of His worth. When Judah goes first, the scepter of authority
is then in place for ultimate victory. This is a time that the Lion of Judah
will roar louder than the lion that has sought to devour us!
Judah means “Praise Yahweh”.
In this season, a major shift is coming in the way we
worship and acknowledge God corporately. The word “praise” originates from
“value” and “price.” Yahweh signifies the God of covenant. This is a time
when God values our worship. Also, this is a time when we begin to value the
covenant that He has allowed us to enter into with Him. What a price He paid
to give us access to the Throne Room. Our worship will take on great
covenant significance in this time.
Our worship will release great blessings into the
earthly realm. The redeemed of the Lord will say so! This is a time when the
burning bush, “I AM,” type of worship is coming into the midst of God’s
people. It will release a deliverance call across Earth.
Deliverers will rise up! Entire groups of people will
begin to be delivered from the bondage and oppression that has kept them
prostrate, and they will begin to stand before the Lord with great shouts of
victory.
This is a time of much confrontation. When the
confrontation of the enemy comes, we are assured victory because of our
times of intimate communion and worship with our God.
This is a time when we must give Judah (our praise
and worship) the freedom to experiment until we come into the sound that
will bring victory into the earthly realm.
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This is the time to cross over into a new dimension.
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Passover is a crossing over time!
These next 40 Days (March 7 through April 16) as we
allow Judah to lead, we will enter into a new place of worship and
confidence:
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How to Pray Each Day for Forty Days . . .
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Day 1: Read Jer. 25:30. “The LORD will roar from on
high and utter His voice from His holy habitation; He will roar mightily
against His fold. He will shout like those who tread the grapes, against all
the inhabitants of the earth (NASB).” Declare that the Lord’s voice will be
heard in the nations of the earth today.
Day 2: Read Ephesians 1:3-6. “Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual
blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before
the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before
Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to
Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the
glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”
Day 3: Read Psalm 34. Read Heb 1:14. Praise God for
the angels that are encamping around you. Declare that these ministering
spirits will transcend to the natural realm from the spiritual realm. As we
ascend in worship, we also know that a portal opens for angelic visitation.
During our times of prayer and crying out to God, during those times when we
worship with abandonment as David did, we enter the realm of the spirit.
Day 4: Read Romans 9:29. Read Psalm 46. One of the
names and characteristics of God is Lord Sabaoth, Lord of Hosts. The Hebrew
word tsebha’oth means hosts or armies. The Lord Sabaoth is the God of the
armies of Earth, the God of the armies of the stars and God of the unseen
armies of angels. When we worship, He begins to order and align His armies
for victory. “Hosts” signifies an organized group under authority. God has a
multitude of ready and able servants. This suggests that the Lord is the
commander and chief of the armies in heaven. Sing the timeless hymn that
acknowledges this character of God: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”
Day 5: Read Psalm 29. When sound comes into air, the
air changes. When God releases His voice, creation must respond. When we
serve as God’s voice on Earth, Earth responds to the sound we release. When
we express ourselves in worship to the Lord, the air vibrates with our
worship. This causes our environment to change. Declare the sound of true
worship will cause your city, state and nation to be transformed. Worship,
and declare that your atmosphere will change.
Day 6: Read 1 Chronicles 15:16-24. There is an order
in worship. Declare that the new form of worship in your region will take
its proper form.
Day 7: Read Joel 3:16. God roars as He goes to
battle. He will roar against His covenant enemies. His covenant people will
also begin to roar and become a fearful, holy remnant to contend with in the
earthly realm. He will be a shelter and a strength to those who respond to
His sound and call on Him. Worship this season will determine how the
multitudes in the valley of decision begin to decide to follow God. There is
an inherited roar within you. Let the Lord draw you near and develop that
roar within you so that this sound is brought forth at the appropriate time
in your life this season. Let a roar arise!
Day 8: Read Numbers 2:3. Judah led the tribe of
Israel through the wilderness. Judah also led the conquest of Canaan.
Therefore, it will be praise that leads us forth into our battles and
victories ahead. Praise causes the presence of the Lord to come into our
midst. Even though God is omniscient, He manifests His authority and rule in
our environment when we praise Him. When we praise, God comes in and leads
us forth. The word “inhabit” or “enthrone” means to settle in or marry. When
we praise and worship we restore our communion with a holy God. We become
one!
Day 9: Read Ecclesiastes 3:1, 8. To everything there
is a time and season, a time for every purpose under heaven … a time of
war.” When it is a time for war, we must have a paradigm for war! We are
experiencing a time in our nation when we are entering into a new war.
However, this war is not just physical but spiritual. The Church is being
prepared to enter its most dynamic season of warfare, worship and harvest.
The real issue is that without His presence, we are destined for defeat.
Day 10: Read 1 Cor. 10:1-11. The apostle Paul tells
us that the accounts of Israel’s journey to the Promised Land were given to
us as an example. God is demonstrating something to us in the order of
procession of the tribes. You or I might think that Ruben should have gone
first: He was the oldest, and with age comes wisdom and experience. But this
was not God’s decisive factor. Joseph was the favorite, as well as the most
successful and powerful of his brothers, but this was not God’s criterion.
The example God wanted to give us was that praise should always lead the
way.
Day 11: Read 2 Chron. 20:20-22. God gives us
strategies that are not of the wisdom of this world. The example He has
presented to us is to send Judah, not necessarily the wisest or the
strongest, first. Let praise lead the way. Praise breaks through.
Jehoshaphat was able to win the day by sending his praise team first.
Day 12: Read Hosea 10:11. Unshakable praise plows
through the hardest ground. When the ground is hard, when the circumstances
are adverse, God’s favor is on the one who will lead off with praise. Fallow
ground will break up. Declare the plow of praise will cut through ungiving
Earth and make a way for the good seed of the Word to be planted.
Day 13: Read Psalm 30:5. “Weeping may last for the
night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning” (NASB). Unshakable praise
must keep going. Judah goes first through wilderness experiences. Judah goes
first in the war for our inheritance. Judah goes first to plow a way into
new territory. Judah goes first when the cost is great.
Day 14: Read James 5. The Word of God tells us to
submit ourselves to God, draw near to Him and then resist the devil. I
believe that as we worship and submit ourselves to a holy God, we can come
into intimate contact with Him. Even though we walk here on the earth in our
worshipful submission, we ascend into heaven. As we individually seek God
and ascend into the Throne Room, we can hear the sound in heaven in our
spirit man on Earth.
Day 15: Read Numbers 10. Read Rev. 1. God always led
His people forth with sound. We find in Numbers 10 that trumpets would
sound. We also find this all the way through the book of Revelation. The
book of Revelation is just an incredible, elaborate pageant that is
interpreted to us by heavenly, celestial singers along with creatures and
elders. John saw a door standing open in heaven, and the voice he heard was
like a trumpet speaking and saying, “Come up here and I will show you things
that must take place after this” (see Rev. 1:10). The Lord’s voice many
times sounds like a trumpet calling us forth. The trumpet, or shofar, in the
Word of God had a distinct sound to assemble and call God’s people to war.
Day 16: Read 2 Samuel 5. Another sound we find before
God led His troops forward was “the wind in the mulberry trees.” In 2 Samuel
5, David had experienced a major breakthrough in his own life. What had been
prophesied over him 29 years prior had actually come into fulfillment. He
then had to lead the armies forth into battle. David had one driving
purpose: to get the Ark of the Covenant of God back into its rightful
position in the midst of God’s covenant people. When the Philistines heard
that David had been anointed as king, they rose up against him. David
defeated and drove them back out of his jurisdictional authority. However,
they regrouped and started coming back at him again. He then asked the Lord
if he was to pursue them. In 2 Samuel 5:24 the Lord answers, “And . . . when
you hear the sound of the marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then
you shall advance quickly.” The sound of marching is not just the wind
blowing the tops of the trees, but it is the hos! ts of heaven and the
armies of God rustling the leaves and signifying they were present to help
David in victory. In the book of Revelation, we find the real issue is
relationship between the sounds of heaven and the demonstration of God on
Earth. Sound leads us forth.
Day 17: Read Deut. 20. Read Deut 32:30. One can put
1,000 to flight, but two can put 10,000 to flight. This is a valuable
principle of multiplication. Ask the Lord for an increase in strength.
Day 18: Read Matt 18:19. Jesus told us, "Again I say
to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask,
it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 18:19, NASB).
This is the power of agreement that increases the effectiveness of our
prayers. The word “agree” means to come into harmony with. It actually means
we make the same sound on Earth that is coming from heaven. Declare that our
sounds on earth will be in harmony with the sounds of heaven.
Day 19: Read Matt. 18:20. We have a special promise
from Jesus that He, Himself, will show up when we gather together in His
name. “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there
in their midst” (Matt. 18:20, NASB). When we come together, He is there with
us. Declare that we will be a people who abide in the Lord’s presence. Also
read and sing Psalm 91.
Day 20: Ask God for a new Song of the Spirit. The new
song is mentioned seven times in the Old Testament (six references in
Psalms, one in Isaiah 42:10). It is referred to once in the New Testament
(Rev. 5:9). This should inform us that both Psalms and Revelation publish
theology that is sung. Before scriptural trust is systematized, it is sung.
The Church must always sing ahead of its theology, because our hearts must
be impacted before our minds are informed. Otherwise we are left with head
knowledge only. Of course, an informed mind can enhance our worship once our
hearts are impacted! The New Covenant called for a New Song—a new worship
response to the finished work of Christ in His death, resurrection,
ascension, and exaltation!
Day 21: Enter in to the Throne Room with a Song of
Enthronement. These are songs that declare the coronation of our King on
high! Psalm 110:1-2 is such a song where the Lord God calls for His Son to
be seated at His right hand until all His enemies are made His footstool.
This passage is referred to by Peter at Pentecost in Acts 2:29-36. Pentecost
was the installation of King Jesus and the inauguration of His everlasting
government. In fact, Pentecost fulfills the covenant promises to David that
one of his seed would sit on the throne forever. Church, let’s go up to
Zion! Let us, through the Spirit, ascend into the heavenly places (Ephesians
1:3; 2:6; Revelation 4:1).
Day 22: Acts 15:16 records James’ quote of Amos 9:12
which refers to “the remnant of Edom” and a remnant of the nations being
called by the Lord. Ask the Lord for a Song of Harvest. Notice when James
quotes this he expands the remnant to “the rest of mankind.” Historically,
David ruled over Edom and they paid him tribute. Jesus, the Son of David,
will rule all the nations and the Church will reap a massive harvest from
every tribe, kindred, tongue, and people! (Rev. 7:9). Psalm 126 sings of the
harvest coming in after a time of tearful sowing. Church, we need to
worshipfully sing the harvest in and evangelistically bring them in as
sheaves carried by a harvester!
Day 23: Read Rev. 5:8-9. Let Songs of Prophetic
Declaration and Intercession arise within your heart. This is where we see
harps and bowls in heaven. Harps speak of worship and bowls of intercession.
Our intercession is like incense ascending into heaven which the angel
collects in bowls. When the bowls are full, they are tipped and released by
the angel into the earth realm in the form of voices, thunderings,
lightnings, and earthquakes (Rev. 8:3-5). This sounds like the shaking at
Mount Sinai. The point is: when we are faithful to corporately release
incense through our intercession, the Lord is faithful to intervene into the
situations and lives for which we have been praying! Don’t miss this: we
find the mingling and merging of worship (harps) and intercession (bowls) in
both the Psalms and Revelation. This is the pattern for our corporate
worship in the Body of Christ! This merger releases the dynamics of the
prophetic ministry! Then we are emboldened to prophesy over ! churches,
cities, nations, and civil governments. Amen!
Day 24: Read Exodus 15. Sing a Song of Victory and
Deliverance. These songs are the results of the victory of God and His
people over their enemies. The Exodus clearly presents this truth when the
redeemed and delivered people of God sing of their deliverance from Egyptian
bondage by the supernatural power of Jehovah. Their song has historical and
prophetic dimensions. In fact, 40 years later when the spies met Rahab in
Jericho she told them that the men of Jericho began to fear the people of
God when they heard of the Exodus. The prophetic song put fear into the
hearts of their enemies! In the book of Revelation, worship and intercession
overcome apostate religious structures and beast-like political structures.
Day 25: Ascend through the Psalms. Through the Psalms
of Ascent there is a cycle of crying for help, being delivered and ascending
higher until the people arrive. Read Psalm 120, 121. Psalm 120 begins the
ascent with the people in trouble and crying out to God. They are surrounded
by lying and deceit and are being shot at with flaming arrows. The solution
is to ascend to the Lord in Zion. Psalm 121 is the actual beginning of the
ascent at the foot of Mount Zion. Ask the Lord to help you in the ascent,
and to secure your footing. Trust that He will keep, protect and guard you
as you go out and come in.
Day 26: Read Psalm 122. This is a Psalm of praise and
joy and worship. Focus on the joy set before you as you enter the gates of
your city.
Day 27: Read Psalm 123. As you ascend, cry out for
God’s helping hand. When under attack, know that you can look to the Lord.
Day 28: Read Psalm 124. When the battle becomes
fierce and the enemy seeks to trap and overwhelm you, remember who is on
your side! Declare you will not be swallowed alive.
Day 29: Read Psalm 125. Declare you will escape the
traps and snares of the enemy. Declare that you will not be moved! The land
begins to rejoice in this place of ascension.
Day 30: Read Psalm 126. Turn your attention to the
joy of entering Zion. Allow the power of remembrance of joy to come upon
you. A divine release comes at this place of ascension. Declare that old
thought patterns of grief and disappointment are broken.
Day 31: Read Psalms 127 and 128. Do not allow worry
and concern about your family, home and city deter you from ascending in
worship. Thank the Lord for watching over your city and labor.
Day 32: Read Psalm 129. Ascend, gain new strength and
overcome the attack; put your enemies to shame.
Day 33: Read Psalm 130; Rev. 2:10. Praise God for
removing your past and extending abundant grace and forgiveness to you.
Stand in His Presence, receiving an outpouring of His grace. Let Hope arise
anew and afresh. Let assurance of redemption rest upon you, and command all
fear to leave you.
Day 34: Read Psalms 131 – 134. Praise God and let
perfect peace manifest in you. Stop striving and leaning on your own
understanding concerning your circumstances; allow trust to arise. Embrace
the faithful love of God. As a weaned child rests against his mother’s
breast, declare your soul is a weaned child within you. A weaned child has
come to a new place of maturity. There is no peace until all our enemies are
under our feet. Ascend above your enemies and reach the goal of the throne
room. Sing, praise, and worship in the presence of the LORD. Receive a new
anointing, like the oil poured on Aaron’s head and flowing down the hem of
his robe.
Day 35: Read Joshua 5 & 6. Praise God! Ask the Lord
for the strategy of worship that will dethrone that which is invincible in
your life and stopping you from moving forward in your promise.
Day 36: Read Isaiah 12. Numbers 21:10-18. Praise
breaks open your wells of salvation. Praise is the cure for dryness. Receive
a renewed spirit!
Day 37: Read John 14:21. Read John 16:7-9. Read
Ephesians 4:7-32. As you worship, receive a spirit of revelation. Obey.
Usually, He will tell you something very simple to do. There are many needs
during this season, both physically and emotionally. Ask the Lord to speak
to you over how to give. As you give, you will receive revelation of who the
Father is. Jesus ascended so the Helper (the Holy Spirit) could come to
Earth on our behalf. Therefore, if we worship and ascend, we are promised
that the Holy Spirit will fill our lives. He will bring conviction when we
sin, open the way for us to experience our righteousness through faith, and
condemn the devil on our behalf. Ask Him to fill you anew and afresh.
Day 38: Read Acts 7:54-60. As we ascend in worship,
we are comforted in our sufferings. Ask the Lord to touch you in the place
where you have the most need.
Day 39: Read 2 Tim. 4:16-18. Read 2 Kings 6. Don’t
allow the enemy to convince you that he is more powerful that the Lord. Open
your eyes and see the angelic host around you. We can experience the Lord
standing with us and strengthening us so that we might accomplish His will
on Earth. We can experience the power of His ascension and deliverance from
every evil work. Day 40: Read Heb. 2:9. Declare that the power of any voice
of death over the personal vision of your life be broken. From His
ascension, He demonstrated that glory, not death, is the final word of
operation in our lives. Make declarations of faith. Only through worship do
we ascend into a new faith dimension.
Blessings,
Chuck D. Pierce
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Note from Steve Shultz, The Elijah List:
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For those who follow the ministries of Chuck Pierce
or Cindy Jacobs, their Materials are at:
Chuck Pierce:
