We are at war! We are fighting for our lives--with
an invisible enemy.
"For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against
the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:12.
These powers are
mustering forces for earth's final battle. This battle is the all-out war for
the eternal salvation of every man, woman, young person, and child on this
earth.
The stakes are high...as
HIGH as they can get! This struggle is real and unrelenting. This is plainly
revealed in the Bible, our 'Manual of Arms', and is evidenced by the happenings
throughout the world.
As in every secular
military, basic training is but the beginning. Now that you have the 'basics'
taken care of, it is time for you to find out what your OPS is.
OPS stands for Occupational Prayer Specialty.
There are 4 distinct prayer specialities:
1. INTERCESSOR: This is
'the ultimate'--interceding for the salvation of those who are lost Our
Commander-in-Chief said "For the Son of man is
come to seek and to save that which was lost. "Luke
19:10). Do you have a yearning for individuals to be saved for the heavenly
kingdom? Would you be willing to give up YOUR salvation (like Moses was in
Exodus 32:32) to save others? If your response is yes, than this is your OPS.
2. PLEADING FOR HEALINGS: Do you have a deep
compassion for people suffering physical, mental, or spiritual ailment, or
injury? Do you long for them to be fully recovered (James 5:15,16)? Then this
is your OPS.
3. PETITIONING FOR MATERIAL BLESSINGS: Or, do you
wish there was a way you could give and give, and give...to this one and that
one, and to someone else...? Jobs, places to live, financial assistance, etc.
(Matthew 7:7,8,11). Than this is your OPS.
4. PRAISE. This is the hardest of all the
specialities. Why would I say that? To praise the Father, instead of pleading
for Him to heal or petitioning Him to provide, the Prayer Warrior acknowledges
his/her/their acceptance of something that GOD is allowing to happen. Our
heavenly Father has a perfect plan for everyone's life; so He 'allows'
situations to come and touch individuals lives to get them to focus, not on the
outward, but heavenward to what He can do. If you are 'in sync' with the Master
Planner, than this is the OPS for you.
REMEMBER: In a good many battles you are engaged in, these 4
specialities will overlap.
Allow yourself time to
find the speciality that you are most enthusiastic and comfortable with; once
you are sure of your OPS, then it is time to mobilize others.
MOBILIZING OTHERS.
1. Seek the LORD in prayer. Spill out your guts to
Him; all your plans and ambitions, your purpose for a special Prayer Forces
group. Ask the Father, if this is His will, to bless it.
2. Ask Him to send the HOLY SPIRIT to fill the right
people with a prayer hunger; making sure that you have your Pastors affirmation
if done in a church; then ADVERTISE your intentions. By word-of-mouth, and
via 3"X5" cards, on the church message board, in laundromats,
supermarkets, etc.., announce to those who are interested a time and a place to
meet to start such a group.
3. As individuals respond, advise them of what you
have learned, your goal and purpose for the group...let each one decide,
without any type of guilt pressure, if this is what they are interested in.
4. For those who stay, advise them to discover their
OPS. Encourage them to take time 'in prayer' to discover what their prayer
specialty is.
5. Once #4 is completed, ask everyone for their
input. In particular, times and places to meet as an ARMED FORCE in prayer. Ask
them also to each list areas of burdens they have and want bombarded with
prayer. Develop within the group clear goals and objectives.
Prayer assaults, like
their secular counterparts, must be orchestrated (definition: to combine all
means) in the most highly effective ways to make the most difference. Which is
another reason why we as Prayer Warriors must use only our Commander-in-Chief's
artillery situation system. In effect this is:
A) Following proper Protocol.
B) Using our Power of Authority.
C) Pleading the Merits of JESUS' Blood.
D) Claiming GOD's Promises.
E) Inviting the Heavenly Forces to join the
F) All praying of One Accord for the Same
objective.
NOTE: Our combined Forces
must always remember that Prayer Warriors are not passive, we do not sit
on the sidelines, but are found in the very thick of combat.
This kind of praying is
like the combined militaries of the world and the Northern Alliance
systematically and repeatedly bombarding from land and air, the Taliban forces
in
In this way, fellow
Warriors, we are able to wreck the most havoc on satan's forces.
6. There are many books and articles written of the
subject of size. How large or how small should a prayer group be? Some say no
larger than 8 to 10 members, (which if you use Biblical multiplication-Joshua
23:10-one person plus GOD is a majority) is still a mighty force. However, as I
was writing this part, the HOLY SPIRIT impressed me to read Acts 1:12-15. A
prayer meeting is in progress, 120 strong. So, I would be inclined to say that
size is a personal decision.
7. Once established, confidentiality MUST BE stressed for the prayer
objectives-individuals-who desire to remain anonymous. Then it is time to move
into 'THE WAR ROOM.' Where everything else should be discussed. What is a War
Room? According to Webster's dictionary it is a place where strategies and
plans, etc. are plotted out for whichever campaign the military is engaged in.