What stops revival? What can derail us from our own personal destiny?
John Bevere referred to it as “The Bait of Satan.” I refer to it in my book, “Infected” as stage two of a seven-stage spiritual pandemic sweeping our nation that ends in insanity. It is offense.
It is a subtle weapon Satan uses. We often embrace without realizing it. But once we do we are firmly trapped in its embrace. Offense has a twin—deception. Once in offense, deception will always enter as well. These combined forces can stop revival in our lives and in our cities.
Since my husband and I are coordinators for the upcoming Flashpoint & Mario Murillo Miracle Services coming to Tulsa on April 21 & 22, we think a lot about revival. That is what we are contending for to launch from these meetings not only for our city—but for yours and our nation.
So how do we prepare? How do we pray? Because we must do both.
First, we pray to uproot any pride, offense and deception off our lives personally as well as our families, friends, cities and churches. Pride and offense (which then brings deception) are what most often stop revival. We believe it should look like the last revival or move of God, but it won’t. God always does a new thing—His thing. Let’s pray this week that revival, and the needed transformation for our nation, will begin this month! It is already taking hold in some areas. May it come to each of our cities!
Father we humble our hearts before You as we continue to cry out for You. Lord cleanse our hearts, our minds, our homes, our cities and our nation. May we be Your bride spotless and white ready to receive You.
Even as we pray for justice and righteousness Lord, we know that without heart transformation, true change will never come. Lord transform our hearts. We repent of pride along with every area in which it may have slipped in. Forgive us Lord. We pray you would reveal any area of offense which we have allowed to take root and any area of deception. (Take a moment to let Him reveal any area for which you need to pray personally or for your city or America). Lord I call out what You have revealed to me and uproot it from its place now. I repent of it and cast it out. I throw this mountain into the sea with no doubt in my heart that as I speak this out it will happen and be done.
Father help us to be slow to anger, and to overlook offenses. Help us to be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath. Your Word says a brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle. And so help us to avoid that at all costs. Where we have been offended and unyielding, forgive us. Where we have been quarrelsome, please forgive us. Where it has become a stronghold in our city, state and nation, we declare it cannot remain and we uproot it now as we repent of that which has taken hold and declare we are free from that demonic tool that has tried to take over the minds and hearts of our nation.
We know as we declare the name of Jesus, that it brings offense. Yet we will not back down. We pray for those trapped in that deception and offense that their hearts and minds will be opened as we declare that He is the way, the truth and the life. We declare that He reigns over (name your city), over (name your state) and over America.
Father we pray for revival. We pray for hearts and minds to be transformed by Your Word to understand that You came and died for all. We pray for the conviction of the Holy Spirit to overshadow and fill (your city), (your state) and our nation so that even as people step foot here that they will sense Your Presence and drop to their knees in repentance.
Lord we don’t want to miss our day of visitation. Help us not reject what You are doing in our land or reject who You choose to use. We declare that there will be “Saul’s” who turn to “Paul’s” as they encounter Your Presence and Your Light.
Help us to be ready Lord and we ask for a mighty outpouring of Your love, light, glory and justice upon (your city), (your state) and our nation!
Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to You we pray. In the morning, Lord, You hear our voice; we lay our requests before You and wait expectantly.
Mark 11:23, Prov 19:11, James 1:19, Prov 18:19, Ps 5:1-3