Blessings,

Steve Shultz,

THE ELIJAH LIST

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"YOUR APATHY WILL KILL YOU"

A Word and call to prayer by Pat Cocking Pat's email: cocking@telus.net http://www.the-war-room.com/

Tuesday, October 09, 2001

As I was coming home from church on September 16, 2001 these words resounded in my spirit: "YOUR APATHY WILL KILL YOU". The words brought a jolt to my emotions to say the least. I believed that the Holy Spirit was giving a strong alert to the church in this critical hour.

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A FERVENT SPIRIT IS NEEDED

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James 5:16 -18 "...the fervent, effectual prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the sky poured rain, and the earth produced its fruit."

Deuteronomy 6:5 "And you shall love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your strength."

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A CALL TO A GREATER PASSION

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I believe the Holy Spirit is calling His church to a level of fervency, focus and passion such as we have not yet known. It is absolutely imperative that we shake off all apathy, complacency and prayerlessness at this time. It is a fervent focus in worship and prayer which will bring us into a right posture before the Lord.

The recent terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre with the accompanying responses of confrontation via "Operation Enduring Freedom" has carried with it many messages and wake up calls. There are many things that need to be prayed for and tended to. The victims and their families, the city of New York, the U.S.A., global freedom from terrorism, wisdom for government leaders, safety for innocent people, etc. are all very important prayer needs at this time and should not be ignored but there is a need that is much more pertinent and that is: the heart posture of the church.

There is absolutely nothing impossible for the Lord and if He is given His place in our hearts both individually and in the church corporately there will be no force which can prevail against His purposes, protection and provision. He is a God of love, mercy, righteousness and truth....who can stand against Him?

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A FERVENT FOCUS

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If we, His church will establish a position of fervent focus in worship, seeking His face there will be victory against evil and security. He is looking for those whose hearts are completely His so that He might show Himself strong on their behalf.

Fervency and passion do release faith levels which unlock unprecedented power....either from the presence of God or from the presence of demonic spirits depending on who is receiving the worship and the focus. Every time without fail in Bible or church history when God's people turned to Him with fervency of commitment and serious consecration, His overcoming and victorious power was released. On the other hand if you take note of times in Bible or church history where you find extreme and fervent commitment from individuals towards demonic worship or a strong passion for an evil cause, you will also find a release of power....not godly but evil. It is fervency and passion of focus that has the potential to release it either way.

The human vessels of terrorism in the recent attack on the WTC were so full of fervency and passion for their evil cause that they were willing to give their very lives for it. Is this same level of passion and commitment found within the church today?

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SHAKE THEM ALL OFF--APATHY, COMPLACENCY, PRAYERLESSNESS

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God is calling us to shake off our apathy, our complacency, our prayerlessness. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!

Proverbs 1:32 "The waywardness of the naive shall kill them, the complacency of fools shall destroy them."

2 Chron 7:14 "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land".

Recently I visited New York city and experienced a heavy intercession burden for three days as a result. I had a distinct impression that things were not yet secure or safe in the nation. We must be watchful!

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NOT THE STRENGTH OF MAN

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It will not be the strength of man, government, military might, or strategic security measures that keeps the nations safe in these days....our well being will be determined by our fervent focus towards God Himself.

I believe that the Lord is calling for His church to corporately and seriously fast, pray, mourn and wail over our complacency and prayerlessness as we turn to Him with all of our hearts.

The following prayer directive and scripture meditations will help us to secure the grace of a fervent spirit towards God for the Body of Christ in this hour.

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PRAYER DIRECTIVES

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1. Pray for a spirit of repentance and conviction for the Body of Christ for any and all areas of apathy, complacency, carelessness and prayerlessness. (John 16:8; 2 Chron 7:14))

2. Pray prayers of identificational repentance for the items mentioned in #1. (see Daniel 9:17 -20).

3. Pray for the release of the remission of sins for the Body of Christ. (John 20:21,22)

4. Believe the Lord for an impartation of a fervent spirit, passionate worship and consecrated focus for all believers in your nation. (James 5:16-18; Deuteronomy 6:5)

5. Believe for the restoration of the tabernacle of David (24/7 prayer movements). (Acts 15:16-18; Mark 11:17)

6. Pray for the unity and camaraderie of the Spirit amongst all believers. (Psalm 133; John 17:21-23)

7. Pray for a "violent humility" amongst believers. (Phil 2:1-8).

8. Believe for fervent love in the Body of Christ. (Phil 1:9-11)

9. Pray for leaders and for all who are in authority -- both in the Body of Christ and in Government positions. Pray that government leaders will have keen discernment and wisdom and will be very careful to obey and fulfill the will of God for their nations concerning alliances with Israel. (1 Tim 2:1,2).

(Especially pray for President Bush of the United States and Prime Minister Tony Blair from England as they launch and spearhead many of the current strategies).

10. Pray for the powerful exaltation of Jesus Christ in the nations! and believe Him to do exceedingly abundantly above ALL that we could ask or think. (Eph 3:20)

11. Pray for a harvest of souls amongst the Islamic nations. Believe that they will see through the deceptions of Osama bin Laden and take a strong stand against terrorism. (Psalm 2)

12. Pray for Israel to be given favour, protection and love in this hour. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. (Psalm 5:12)

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FASTING

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Would you please pray about spending some concentrated time in prayer and fasting. Perhaps you could set some time apart and join with some prayer groups in your church or in your region. Let's unite our hearts in fasting, praying and mourning before the Lord. He WILL refresh and strengthen us as we posture ourselves in fervent, passionate, seeking of His face. These are treacherous times.

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THE GLORY OF THE LORD IS RISEN UPON YOU!

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Isaiah 60:1-3 Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon you, and his glory shall be seen upon you. And the nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Blessings to each of you as you give yourselves to fervent and effectual prayer!

PAT COCKING from THE WAR ROOM http://www.the-war-room.com/