Wednesday Night Prayer September 11, 2024

Horse Gate

This gate represents spiritual warfare and victory. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). We will stand our ground with truth, righteousness, and peace. We will defeat the enemy’s attacks with our faith in God (Ephesians 6:16). We will advance against the enemy by knowing and declaring the Word of God and applying it to every situation (Ephesians 6:14-17). We will advance the Kingdom of God into every mountain of influence by staying alert and by praying in the Spirit at all times with perseverance and intercession for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18).  But, most importantly, we will shift the atmosphere in this region for Jesus by hosting the presence of God in our everyday life.

Ephesians 6:12-18 (HCSB)

12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. 13 This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. 18 With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and stay alert in this, with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

1^st Prayer Point: We want to be a people who are intentionally spending time in our secret place with the Lord. Intimacy with the Father and His Word is where we discover our true identity and the authority that has been given to us. Those who are in Christ have been seated in heavenly places with Christ. This means we have all the power and authority over every principality, power, rulers of darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness. (Ephesians 2:4-6, 3:10, and 6:12) We must understand that spending time in His presence and His Word are our best defenses against the enemy.

• Pray for a deeper intimacy with the Lord. 

John 15:4-5 (HCSB) Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. 

James 4:8 (HCSB) Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people!

• Pray for a continuous hunger for His Word. 

Psalms 1:1-2 (HCSB) How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path of sinners, or join a group of mockers! 2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.

Hebrews 4:12 (HCSB) For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as to divide soul, spirit, joints, and marrow; it is a judge of the ideas and thoughts of the heart.

Ephesians 6:17 (HCSB) Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the  Spirit, which is God’s word.

2^nd Prayer Point: One of satan’s strategies is to destroy us through intimidation and isolation. On the contrary, God’s purpose is for us to be in relationship with Him and others. Pray for a stronger community within the Body of Christ.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (HCSB) Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 9 Resist him and be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world. 

• Pray that we as a body will be intentional about doing life in community.

Galatians 6:2 (HCSB) Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

James 5:16 (HCSB) Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful.

• Pray for our Life Groups, Sisterhood, Ironmen, and Reengage groups.

Proverbs 27:17 (HCSB) Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Matthew 18:19-20 (HCSB) Again, I assure you: If two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them.”

Romans 1:11-12 (HCSB) I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

• Pray that we will recognize when we are becoming isolated and have the strength and desire to come out of isolation.

3^rd Prayer Point: We must be faithful and persistent in praying for each other. We know that part of spiritual warfare includes interceding for one another.

• Pray for Pastor Greg and Pastor Tamara.
• Pray for The Crossing staff.
• Pray for our Dream Team and our entire Crossing family.
• Pray for the Church of Tampa Bay and all around the world.

4^th Prayer Point: We are asking for a deeper revelation of God’s presence here with us. Lord, help us to understand how to host your presence in the Tampa Bay Region.

• Pray for Holy Spirit to speak to us individually about how to keep Him at the center of all that we are doing throughout our day. Help us to see ourselves as gatekeepers of every area we occupy.

Psalms 24:7-8 (HCSB) Lift up your heads, you gates! Rise up, ancient doors! Then the King of glory will come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle.

• We are not pleading for God’s presence, but recognizing and delighting in the fact that He is already with us.

Matthew 28:20 (HCSB) “…And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

John 14: 16-17 (HCSB) And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you.

Psalm 139: 5-12 (HCSB) You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me. 6 [This] extraordinary knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to [reach] it. 7 Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. 9 If I live at the eastern horizon [or] settle at the western limits, 10 even there Your hand will lead me; Your right hand will hold on to me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will become night”- 12 even the darkness is not dark to You. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to You.

• We believe that God’s Presence is greater than any stronghold—and we will pray and make declarations accordingly. 
• Lord, redirect our focus to you and all that you are doing in our region. We are asking for an outpouring of your Holy Spirit on our neighborhoods, communities, cities, schools, churches, and workplaces. 
• Help us to shift the atmosphere by establishing Your Kingdom here in this region as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:10 (HCSB) Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

2 Corinthians 3:17 (HCSB) Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 

Deuteronomy 31:6 (HCSB) Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.”

• With our legal authority from Jesus Christ, we bind up the works of darkness in our region and we command them to loose their hold on the people of this region. Father, send your angel armies here to dismantle and destroy every principality, every ruler and authority, power and dominion not only in this age but also in the one to come.
• We thank you Lord for releasing unity, peace, joy, restoration, healing, and transformation in the Tampa Bay region!

50 Day Fight – Begins Sunday, September 15

What started out as a push into the political mountain to influence it for God by prayer has expanded to include every aspect of life and society to advance the Kingdom of God. Join a nation of Christians praying as one.