This coming weekend, Tulsa, OK becomes the epicenter of a spiritual clash of good vs evil. Revival vs. lawlessness. This isn’t just about my city. This will affect our nation.
May 31-June 1 marks the 100th anniversary of the worst race riot in America’s history which took place in my hometown, Tulsa, OK. It is a mirror in many ways similar to the fight currently underway between Israel and Hamas. It is the same spiritual clash…get ready as it hits our nation.
Here are some things you should know about the Tulsa Race Riot/Race Massacre (the name was changed two years ago.) I attended school in Tulsa and can tell you the history was never taught—it was hidden. Over the years, as it has come to light, we have had several churches who have stood in the gap and gone to pastors in the black community to hold services together and repent for what took place. I believe that was an important first step to uproot the spirit of murder and racism buried in our foundation. (Remember we have discussed the need in city-by-city about uprooting spiritual issues in the foundation of our cities. This is a foundational issue for Tulsa.)
While the wrong can’t be undone, it can be healed and reversed. Sadly, as we approach the hundred year anniversary, the spirit of darkness has arisen to re-enforce the ugly, demonic spirit at the root of the initial race riot. That same spirit lives and has been stoked hard in recent years. It isn’t restricted to any one culture or group. It. Is. A. Spirit.
There are two groups coming to Tulsa this week. Those praying for and interceding for healing and revival and those working to stir up division and strife. I learned that intelligence from the FBI has warned that the Black Panthers/Antifa/BLM plan to come. No surprise really and we know what happens when they show up. Their goal isn’t to bring healing but further division and destruction. Like satan, the goal is to “steal, kill and destroy.” We have seen what they have done in other cities. We need to push that back in prayer.
NOTE: If you want to read more about what was Black Wall Street and my article about what we can do see healing and restoration, click here. I also recommend, “The Scapegoat” by Janice Ponds, which I assisted with research and writing. There is an entire chapter on the Tulsa Race Massacre that digs deeper into the spirit behind the tragedy.)
This week in city-by-city, please join me to pray, bind and uproot not only the approaching spiritual clash, but that the spirit of racism, which has been stirred and invited to increase the past several years in our nation will be bound and cast out for good. For true healing to take place this must take place.
Here are seven important prayer points as we approach this weekend followed by a scriptural prayer:
1. Oklahoma’s Governor Stitt endorsed HB 1775, a new bill to ban the teaching of Critical Race Theory in Oklahoma. Immediately he was removed from the planning committee of the Centennial anniversary of the riot. That speaks volumes.
Those organizing the event are for critical race theory. Although it is positioned as good and needed instruction to stop racism, it actually promotes racism, judging people based on skin color, shaming whites and making blacks victims for life. There is nothing healthy about it. We need to pray that this racist curriculum will be bound not only from being taught in Oklahoma but in any state in our union.
Positioned as “necessary” it simply plants seeds of hate, prejudice, shame and fear in young hearts no different than what started the race riot 100 years before. The lie must be exposed.
2. Singer and activist John Legend and Stacey Abrams (former Georgia representative) are both coming to Tulsa this weekend (as well as other recognized activists) to speak. In the past, their goal has been to fuel offense, ramp up rage, create division by color and keep the black community bound in a victim mentality. The goal is not healing. Please pray that their efforts will be ineffective as we pray for true healing, repentance and restoration to come and the spirit of God to be present.
3. Dr. Howard Hatcher, who has established the Crime Free/Color Free initiative, will be holding a meeting this coming weekend to help bring people together. As he says, “we aren’t color blind, we just refuse color bias.”
Nelson Mandela brought him to South Africa to address the black and white division in their country in one of the hardest hit cities of division between blacks and whites. In just two weeks, the area was transformed! Pray that this program, which was being discussed with Vice-President Pence to be taught in America, can be launched not only in Tulsa but throughout America to bring true healing.
4. Rehearsing the offenses of the past only re-establishes them. What we need to do is repent (which I do believe has happened on many levels and with various church groups) and then restore. What was stolen was the most prosperous black community in America’s history. It was never really rebuilt. Greenwood still exists, but more as a museum rather than a prospering economic community. What if Black Wall Street was actually revived in a positive way? (See the article “
5. The FBI have reported that the Black Panthers/Antifa/BLM are coming to Tulsa for this event and they are ready. We know what typically follows that group. We need to pray for peace and bind the spirit of violence that they will try to bring in over the weekend.
6. Pray for Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin. He has been a great choice for Tulsa and I have heard he has brought integrity, strength and healing to the police department. Last year when BLM tried to create havoc and Al Sharpton and his crew tried to invade Tulsa, Chief Franklin would have none of it.
He is well aware of the current threat of Black Panthers/Antifa and BLM to cause an issue over the anniversary weekend. Please keep him and the Tulsa police in prayer that whatever evil and havoc is planned against the city and community will be bound and not able to launch at all.
7. Pray for Sheriff Vic Regalado and his deputies. He is working with Dr. Howard Hatcher to help create a color free/crime free environment in the Tulsa area.
8. A national group made up of a coalition of gun clubs and Black gun owners is petitioning the city for a permit to march with their weapons. They are partnering with several groups, including the New Black Panthers organization.
The planned march will be the highlight of a Black Empowerment Convention being held in Tulsa at the same time. I’m not sure the point of walking down the street brandishing a weapon….pray for peace and protection.
9. Pray for Tulsa’s mayor, G.T. Bynum, that he will make wise decisions leading up to and during this event that will bring healing not further division.
Lord we pray for America and the root of racism that has been in our country, but not just our country, in every country around the world. It is not from You! We pray that it will be uprooted. We pray as we approach the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Riot/Massacre that rather than sparking further division, may it spark revival that will spread all across our nation.
Where some are coming to plant further seeds of division, victimhood and rage, Lord we pray that their efforts will be null and void. Lord we repent for the murders that took place here a hundred years ago as an angry and fearful mob rose up and killed because of the color of their neighbor’s skin. We repent for the homes and businesses that were destroyed and never rebuilt—for the prosperity that was lost and never restored. Lord, we ask for healing and restoration of what once was, that it could be again and with it we ask for a revival fire of the Holy Spirit to flood our cities, states and nation. That we would believe the best in each other and that people can treat each other with respect and love. That we would see each and train up our children to treat others not based on what is on the outside, but the heart and what is on the inside.
We speak to the foul spirit of racism and say, “You are not welcome here! We refuse you and your murderous, demonic spirit of division. Father we pray that you would bring healing not only between the black and white communities, but more than that, between all communities that we would indeed be color free, meaning free of color bias so we can also be crime free.
We pray for Dr. Howard Hatcher and the programs that he has developed to heal these divisions. We pray that it would be launched nation wide and those who have worked to prevent it would be removed so that it can move forward.
We pray regarding those who are coming or who are here with the plan to intentionally try to stir up division and violence not only in Tulsa but around our nation regarding this event, that instead of greater division, we ask that YOU would show up and pour out Your Spirit of revival and healing to hurting hearts. Heal the wounds of the past and present. Heal the divisions. Restore what was lost, stolen and destroyed.
Lord we pray especially for John Legend, Stacy Abrams, and any others coming that they will have a God encounter. Lord let them see You and meet You. Heal their hearts of the anger and division that has take root in their hearts. Heal them. Lord we pray that any words meant to continue to stir racism, would be silenced and instead let a spirit of love be poured out for both spiritual, emotional and physical healings to take place.
We thank you Lord that what satan has meant for evil that You are turning for good.
Lord we pray over Tulsa and our nation as we approach this anniversary, not to ignore the past, not to rehearse the past, but to see healing from the past.