Throw It down...

When Prayer Really Matters

I'm not sure how many of you know all the exact details of what I'm doing in Poland, but a lot is getting accomplished in a short period of time. You know why? Because of prayer, and the prayers of friends. Prayer matters! What I'm seeing is that it doesn't matter the size of the enemy, or how long a certain dark presence has ruled over a territory. Nothing can beat the presence of God, or the power of all. Nothing can beat the power of when people pray God's will into circumstances. Darkness may come against us, try to slow us down, or distract us. However, when we are connected to Jesus, and His church, nothing can stop us. This is coming from the voice of experience, not a head nodding amen session at church. It's a whole different ball game when you are personally facing the giants, and are put in a crisis of faith. I have seen time after time in Poland as I confront, establish, and expose it doesn't come without a fight. Luckily not only have I been taught how to pray, I have learned the value of asking for others to join with me in the fight. It has turned out to be a win win situation. It goes something like this:

• I walk into a situation that needs to line up with the Word of God, because it's not right.
• I throw it down in prayer. If I don't see a change, the battle is fierce, I call upon a few friends that know how to connect with God. I'm careful in who I ask, because not everyone is praying prayers God considers prayer. Not everyone is walking by faith either. I'm not looking to complain, I'm looking to turn the situation so that it lines up with the will of God.
• I am worshiping, praising, and thanking God during the situation. I'm staying faithful, and giving.
• I am aiming God's Word like a sword right at the issue, because His Word ALWAYS works.
• God arises...end of story. It's testimony time, and time to thank God profusely for the victory!

This past week I went through a very difficult situation that required a little help in prayer. There were things coming up against the children's ministry I had established, especially the new toddler ministry. I was walking into the 3rd youth service, and needed a breakthrough with this group. I needed to find a new place to live, because I wasn't going back to the U.S after all. By faith I knew I needed to stay to December. Plus, I had been ill, and things in the spirit were coming against me. Did I do anything bad or wrong? No! Am I doing what God wants? Yes! I am totally reminded of when Peter was thrown in jail (Acts 12), and his friends prayed him out. He was thrown in jail for doing what was right, and I'm sure that was not fun at all. They (King Herod's group) had just killed a few of his friends, and he was next. I'm sure he was praying up a storm, and luckily his friends were praying too! That night an angel woke him up, and helped him escape. We know his friends were praying because when he got to their house, they couldn't believe it was him at the door. They were praying for him, and there he was. There is nothing more satisfying than praying for a situation, and then experiencing God answer your prayers. So yeah, I was going through this stuff, and I asked a few friends in KC to pray. Plus, I grabbed a friend from Poland who had been trained how to pray, and we prayed together over the phone. This is the testimony of how in just a few days something got pushed back, and how God arose over it all!

• For the first time the youth service I have been reconstructing went perfectly. There was shalom, Kingdom order, anointing, youth stepping up in ministry, and leaders in unity.
• As of Friday, I received a call from Pastor Janusz informing me that miraculously I was given a flat to live in for one month. It is fully furnished, EURO CHIC, close to church, close to the city center, close to a grocery shop, and a miracle. I got to move in Sunday.
• This Friday's service was the best one I have been at since arriving to Warsaw, and Pastor Steve would have been proud of what Pastor Marcin preached on Sunday morning. The stirrings of revival are starting to breakthrough. I see it happening with my own eyes.
• Things that were coming against the children's ministry were put into order before I even stepped into the building on Friday night. That was a breakthrough. I had two new people say they want to be in the children's ministry. That was a 3-4 week prayer being answered!!!!
• The spiritual darkness and the sickness I was experiencing was completely gone by the weekend.

The prayers of the righteous are powerful to push back any enemy, in any country, at any time. It doesn't matter what religion, stronghold, heaviness, or wall that is in God's way. God has given us His mighty power to do something about it. God has given us people to fight along side of, and this is pleasing to Him. So if you're facing something with your family, job, friends, or finances...it's time to 'throw it down.' If it's too big for you, grab a friend or two, and 'throw it down.' It's time for things in your life to get accomplished, and for situations to begin to line up with God's Word.