PLUS

Please enjoy the following guest post from Pastor Brad Wells (https://gracewaydc.com/):

Jonah 1:2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.”

Jonah 3:2 “Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.”

He was an unlikely candidate for ministry, but the day I saw Leslee Daniels walking toward me on that dirt road, I felt God say, “This is the guy.” Perhaps it was the dreadlocks, or the disheveled clothing, or the homemade cigarette tucked behind his ear, but he didn’t quite look like a preacher. I asked him to become my sports news announcer at our radio station in Papua New Guinea, and about a year later, Leslee accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior.

Fast forward seven years on March 3, 2013, Preacher Les took the pulpit and began his message, “Arise, go to Ninevah, that great city, and cry against it…”

After weeks of praying and seeking counsel, God’s voice sounded like thunder. The answer was clear—I was to leave my beloved mission field and move to Washington, DC to “cry against” it. As one of the many confirmations of this calling, God had used my “Timothy” in Papua New Guinea to declare it.

But, how does one “cry against” a city? This has been the quest of my life — and the lives of my dear family — for the past eight years. We started with a football in the park. Then a service on the Capitol lawn. I spent many hours walking the streets and witnessing as I was given opportunity. Regular church services began at a local art center in January 2015. Visits to congressional offices, singing and passing out tracts at metro stops, door to door canvassing— we “cried” any way we could think of.

On February 13, 2016 the news of the passing of late Justice Antonin Scalia reached our heavy hearts. One of the most conservative justices on the Supreme Court and a giant of constitutional law, he had bolstered a slim majority. How could we expect to hold any legal and moral ground if another liberal justice was appointed?

It was with this incredible sense of urgency we gathered on the frosty steps of the Supreme Court for the very first “Supreme Prayer” that Saturday night. We repented of the sins of our crumbling nation and begged God for mercy — and the miracle of another conservative justice.

We gathered again on February 20^th; and on the 27th. Before we knew it, we had been praying at the Supreme Court for over six years. Our numbers have grown. God has given us far more than we asked for — three conservative justices!  No greater evidence of their unprecedented significance was the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the victories for religious liberty in 2022.

Weekly prayer at the Supreme Court is another way to “cry against” this great city. Standing between the Capitol and the highest court in the land, we cry to God for mercy.

And, Pastor Les joined us for a Supreme Court Prayer Meeting in 2018. It seemed as if the calling had come full circle, though there is significant work that still needs to be done in prayer for our nation and our leaders.

AMERICAN CHRISTIANS, PLEASE CRY AGAINST YOUR OWN GREAT CITY BY GATHERING WEEKLY FOR PRAYER WITH OTHERS. Arise and cry against it!

Luke 11:1, 8-10 “And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples … I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.  And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

Esther 4:14b “and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

The weekend after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision was released this past June, GraceWay Baptist Church (https://gracewaydc.com/) met as they always do to pray for our nation on Saturday evening. While their normal spot was blocked by security fencing and the entire area was abuzz with thousands of protestors, these prayer warriors found a nearby spot to pray. As they did so, there were many who jeered and some who cheered. One assumption was made by most of the crowd – that these people who were praying were there as a result of that week’s Supreme Court decision. Those who asked were surprised by the answer – “not exactly”.

Yes, the members of GraceWay had been praying for the Dobbs decision, and they praised God for the results of the ruling in that case. But they had also been praying for the Carson decision and for the Coach Kennedy decision, and many others that would impact our nation. And, while the temporary crowds would be gone soon, these importune prayer warriors would be there praying next week, and next month, and next year.

They would be praying faithfully for the President, and for the Congress, and for the Supreme Court. They would be praying fervently for our nation and for our leaders. They would be praying with importunity for revival in our land!

The power of consistent faithfulness and importunity was stunning as compared to the fickle crowds that were there on that rowdy evening. On the cold, dark winter Saturday nights that would follow when the calendar changed from summer to fall to winter, members of GraceWay would still be praying when no one was around. It wasn’t about the crowds, nor the weather, nor the exact circumstances. It was about faithfulness and importunity that God would work a miracle in our land that would bring about widespread revival.

AMERICAN CHRISTIANS, PLEASE PRAY WITH IMPORTUNITY FOR REVIVAL IN OUR LAND. God promises us that we shall see results as a result of doing so.

Ephesians 6:12-18 “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. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Standing therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”

Luke 14:23 “And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”

I recently came across a powerful older Christian song by Steve Camp entitled “Run to the Battle” that provides a stark reminder about the potency of GraceWay Baptist Church’s weekly prayer at the Supreme Court (https://gracewaydc.com/). The song starts with the following lines:

“Some people want to live
Within the sound of chapel bells
But I want to run a mission
A yard from the gates of hell”

Unfortunately, Christians can cling to the complacent comfort within the confines of our cloistered churches. But, the mission field is outside the walls of our chapels and churches, and God has called us out to bring people in. As the battle rages, God is calling Christians out onto the front lines. The Supreme Court, and institutions at every level across our nation, are the front lines. It isn’t about militancy, but it is about faithfully following God’s calling for us to saturate such mission fields with His presence, His love, and His truth. On a week like this, it is also a call for us to fulfill our citizenship responsibility by praying for the midterm elections, voting, and voting based on Biblical values.

Of course, we can’t do so alone, and God has armed us with His protection and provision. And, it is important to remember that the armor is made for us to advance towards the battle and not retreat from the battle. In fact, we may not be protected if we do the latter instead of the former. The song continues:

“Do you have your armor on?
We’re in the middle of a raging war
We’ve been training for so long
Have we learned to use His sword?
We may not be many
But we serve a mighty Lord
And He’s made us more than conquerors
So what are you waiting for?

Let’s run to the battle
We got to run, run to the battle”

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD ENGAGE WITH SOCIETY ON THE FRONT LINES WHERE GOD HAS CALLED US TO REPRESENT HIM IN THE NEEDY MISSION FIELDS OF OUR LAND. At the Supreme Court, at the polling places as we cast our votes this week, and elsewhere, may we run to the battle!

I Timothy 2:1-4 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

Proverbs 21:1 “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”

Matthew 5:13-16 “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

For nearly seven years, the members of GraceWay Baptist Church (https://gracewaydc.com/) have met on the steps of the Supreme Court on Saturday evenings to pray for our nation and our leaders. And, while at face-value there is nothing particularly powerful about prayers at such a location, this concept does provide a potent example of the presence of the Lord that pervades all areas and institutions of our society. And, while a Saturday evening prayer time at the center of the power structures in Washington, DC doesn’t exactly translate into standing before kings, it does provide an opportunity to call down God’s influence on the buildings where major decisions are made by our leaders that impact the entire planet and that disproportionately influence our well-being.

Prayer at the major institutions of our society also provides both a personal and a public reminder that we refuse to cede any ground to the adversary. In fact, just the opposite – we are claiming God’s promises that He can turn the heart of the king whithersoever He will. And such prayer provides an opportunity to sprinkle salt in places that need savour and shine light in places that need illumination. It isn’t an empty pharisaical show, but is instead a full testimony that God’s power is everywhere and God’s people are unbowed to the cultural deities that clamor for our affection.

PLEASE MAKE TIME TO PRAY AT INSTITUTIONS IN YOUR IMMEDIATE AREA THAT HAVE AN OVERSIZED INFLUENCE ON OUR ABILITY TO LIVE QUIET AND PEACEABLE LIVES. Your prayer in such areas will give you an ability to stand before kings by calling upon the King of kings and Lord of lords.

ADMIN: Please see these following links for previous posts about standing before kings:

https://prayatlunch.us/standing-before-kings/

https://prayatlunch.us/standing-before-kings-ii/

Ezekiel 22:23-31 “And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation. There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things; they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have daubed them with untampered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken. The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.”

Esther 4:14b “who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

On February 13, 2016, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Antonin Scalia passed away in his sleep. The unexpected death of this stalwart jurist threw the future of the court into question. In some ways, the ultimate direction of our country depended on how things would transpire over the next days, weeks, and months.

Pastor Brad Wells and GraceWay Baptist Church (https://gracewaydc.com/) recognized the need for prayer in this situation, and met that weekend on the steps of the Supreme Court to pray for our nation and our leaders – to pray for revival in our land. It was a targeted application of the PLUS ministry concept that was urgently needed for such a time as this. And, for nearly seven straight years, Pastor Wells has led a gathering of GraceWay Baptist Church on Saturday night on the steps of the Supreme Court to pray for our nation and our leaders – to pray for revival in our land.

In many ways, the calling to do so was for someone to make up the hedge and stand in the gap for our land. Fortunately, in this case, unlike the situation in Ezekiel 22, God found someone obedient to answer His call – Pastor Wells and the members of GraceWay Baptist Church. And as they pray on the steps of the Supreme Court this Saturday evening yet again, may Christians all around this great nation be encouraged by their faithfulness and convicted of our own need in our own context to faithfully pray.

AMERICAN CHRISTIANS, PLEASE FAITHFULLY PRAY FOR OUR NATION AND OUR LEADERS – PRAY FOR REVIVAL IN OUR LAND. God is calling all believers to make up the hedge and stand in the gap in a nation that desperately needs us to do so.

ADMIN: This post is the first in a short series of thoughts during the next few weeks on the weekly prayer time at the Supreme Court, and how Christians around our land can apply such a concept in our own lives and in our own contexts.