Anyone who follows my ministry knows I fully believe that “America shall be saved.” Though I have believed this for several years, I must admit I breathed a sigh of relief when the late renowned evangelist Reinhard Bonnke stated emphatically that Holy Spirit spoke these same words to him. Since then, other trusted prophets have heard the same through dreams, visions and prophetic words. In a dream given to our friend Gina Gholston, an angel stood in the entrance to the U.S. Capitol House Chamber, where the annual State of the Union message is delivered, and declared into the packed room, “America shall be saved!”
Though the prophetic is important, it certainly doesn’t require a prophet to discern America’s desperate need for being saved. In fact, it no longer requires discernment. Our condition has deteriorated from serious to critical; we are on life support, no longer able to sustain or heal ourselves. No human effort—laws, programs, money, education and so forth—can save America. None. Only God, through a powerful spiritual awakening, can free us from our covenant with death (Isa. 28:18). Thankfully, He is merciful and willing to bring this awakening.
Yet Yahweh’s revivals and the salvation of a prodigal nation do not result from His willingness alone. They occur as 1) hearts repent and turn to Him, 2) causing a return to His Word and ways, 3) which disempowers strongholds of darkness and 4) releases God’s power to deliver and revive. Then and only then can human efforts, righteous laws, needed reforms and good people succeed in restoring nations. What produces these four occurrences? Prayer.
Thankfully, this prayer is occurring. Millions of believers here and around the world are praying for America. We must finish well, however, refusing to grow weary in our well-doing. We will reap, only if we do not faint or lose heart (Gal. 6:9). As a way to unite in our ongoing appeals heavenward, here are four prayer emphases for believers at this strategic time. With each of them, I’ve also included a prayer we can pray together.
Pray for the Church in America to Awaken
Some may find it surprising that the first of our prayer points is regarding the church. However, as Christ’s body on earth, we are the means to His end—His voice of truth, His access to the harvest and the enforcers of His victory at Calvary. Heaven has no Plan B. This is why awakening always begins with the church, then moves to unbelievers. The early church in Acts knew they were Christ’s instruments and made such an impact that they were accused of turning their world upside down (Acts 17:5)—with far fewer resources than we have today. They prayed, moved in Christ’s gifts, preached with His authority, healed the sick and cast out demons. As they did, lives were transformed, and the body of Christ multiplied exponentially. We can do the same.
Pray for the church in America to receive a greater revelation of our God-given authority and responsibility. We are Christ’s ambassadors, His representatives. The literal meaning of “represent” is “to present again.” A representative is entrusted with the authority and responsibility of “re-presenting” the will of another. As ambassadors of Christ’s kingdom, we are called to re-present Him—not ourselves—presenting His heart, principles, gospel, power and authority here on earth. Pray that the church would receive fresh revelation of this calling and authorization.
Pray also for awakening in the leaders of the church. Many have no fire or passion; some have left their first love (Rev. 2:4). Numerous pastors reject portions of God’s Word, while others avoid parts of it, ruled by the fear of man. Because of this, millions of American believers are extremely ignorant of His Word. This must change. We need not be mean-spirited, legalistic, or condemning to preach and teach truth regarding marriage, sexuality, gender, morality, the sanctity of life, Christ as the only way to God and other important biblical issues. This can and should be done with gentleness, grace, mercy and love. However, the truth of God’s Word must be taught; Jesus said it would produce freedom (John 8:31-32).
Pray for Holy Spirit fire to fall in our churches. His fire produces purity and passion. Much of the American church is lukewarm and complacent, having no real concern for Christ’s cause. Still, others compromise biblical standards of morality. The church needs a revival of fire and the fire of revival. Ask for this!
A friend of mine recently received a powerful dream in which he and I were reopening stopped-up wells of past revivals in America. We recognized the names of all but one. Neither of us knew what Tennent’s Well represented. Our research revealed that Gilbert Tennent was a preacher used greatly during the First Great Awakening. His messages challenged the clergy of his day, many of whom were lukewarm, to awaken.
In the dream, when Tennent’s Well was reopened, fire shot up from it. Thousands of pastors came to the well of fire carrying pieces of wood, which they ignited. The wood, as it turned out, was pieces of their pulpits which they had broken into pieces and brought with them. They carried the “flaming pulpits” home, and fires of revival broke out in their churches. Pray for the fire of revival to break out in the American church.
Here is a prayer we can use:
Heavenly Father, on behalf of the church of America, we ask You to forgive us for not representing You as we should. We ask that complacency in the church would be broken and replaced with revival fire. Bring another Pentecost: Fill us with Your Spirit, crown us with fire.
Release fresh revelation to the church of our calling and authority. Remind us that we carry Your keys with which we can open and close, bind and loose, forbid and allow (Matt. 16:18-19). Awaken a hatred of evil along with a passionate love for people. Stir within us Your mission statement of Luke 4:18-19: preaching the gospel to the poor; proclaiming release to spiritual captives, sight to the blind, freedom to the downtrodden and declaring the Jubilee freedom of Christ.
And Father, we ask You to revive leaders in the church. Renew fire, hunger, boldness, love for You and Your Word, and passion for truth. Reopen Tennant’s Well of Fire! We ask these things in Christ’s name.
Pray for America’s Protection
America and other nations are navigating great global tension caused by wars, including the threat of World War III. Nuclear warfare is even being spoken of. We must act as watchmen for our nation, praying with a confidence rooted in authority and faith, not fear.
So much more is at stake than just our physical protection from foreign threats. America must remain free to fulfill her God-given purpose of being a “city on a hill,” a “light to the nations” with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet, our government is now weak, misguided and in a state of denial. Our enemies know this. China and Russia have aligned, sensing this may be the time to strike. We are in extremely perilous days, so we must pray.
Pray fervently that God protects us supernaturally during this time of weakness and vulnerability. Our government has failed us, but God can work miracles to turn this around.
Pray that as He does so, wise, God-honoring and patriotic leaders will replace those whose decisions are now destroying us.
Pray for protection for our nation:
Father, as we stand in the gap for our nation, cities and families, we declare that the power of the blood of Jesus covers us. We appeal for Your mercy. Cause every scheme of evil to be exposed and thwarted before it can be carried out. We ask that no weapon formed against our nation prosper.
We ask this not only for our protection, but for the protection of the billion-soul harvest You have planned. Thwart the evil leaders of China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and elsewhere. Work against them supernaturally, as You have done for Israel over the centuries and for America at its birth. “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord, our God” (Ps. 20:7).
Pray for a Spiritual Awakening in America
The prodigal in Scripture “came to his senses” (Luke 15:17b, NASB); America must as well. For this to occur, a veil that covers the hearts of unbelievers must be removed. Second Corinthians 4:3-4 tells us: “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
Our prayers play an important role in removing this veil. The power released through the sharing of the gospel is also part of the process (Rom. 1:16), but prayer is the precursor. Paul spoke of this in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (TLB). This is a profound promise.
According to these verses, our spiritual weapons—prayer (Eph. 6:18), the name of Jesus (Mark 16:17), Christ’s shed blood (Revelation 12:11) and the Word of God (Eph. 6:17)—are empowered by God to demolish strongholds that keep people from finding Him. Through these God-empowered weapons, the verses tell us we can capture rebels, changing them into people who desire to obey Christ.
When Christ delegated His authority to us (Matt. 16:18-19), He said we would bind (forbid, stop, disallow) demonic schemes, plans and actions. As we do so—and ask for the power of Holy Spirit to be released through our prayers—the veil of deception and blindness is lifted off unbelievers. Revelation occurs, enabling them to see their need for Christ and understand the gospel. This is a process, of course, usually taking place over time. If we persevere, however, we will prevail.
Pray for Holy Spirit’s Hovering
The reference to Holy Spirit’s role at creation is somewhat vague: He was “moving” (Hebrew, rachaph) over the earth (Gen. 1:2b, MEV). Other translations use the words “hovering” and “brooding.” That helps a little. One of the meanings of “brooding” is a hen covering eggs so they will hatch; another meaning is to incubate. Indeed, the Hebrew word rachaph is actually a reproductive term, even used to describe sexual intimacy. God is telling us that as Jesus was giving commands at creation, Holy Spirit was hovering over the earth, releasing His creative power to create or “birth” what Christ was declaring (“Let there be”).
The Greek counterpart (episkiazo) describes Holy Spirit’s hovering over (“overshadowing”) Mary when Christ was conceived in her (Luke 1:35). One of the word’s meanings is “to envelop in a haze of brilliancy.” In other words, it describes the hovering presence and glory of God. In Acts 5:15, this same word describes the hovering of Holy Spirit to heal sick individuals.
When true revivals occur, the spiritual atmosphere in cities, regions or nations becomes conducive to Holy Spirit’s hovering presence. He so permeates the atmosphere that it becomes pregnant with His power, conviction and revelation. Not only are individuals impacted, but multitudes—even entire cities or nations—are moved upon. Corporate revelation—the removal of the veil over regions—occurs, and many are saved. This occurred in Ninevah. Certainly, it happened in the book of Acts. It took place in the Hebrides and Welsh revivals, the First and Second Great Awakenings, and many others. We must ask Holy Spirit to brood over America, producing this level of breakthrough and revival.
Here is a prayer we can pray and use as a guide regarding this final prayer point:
Father, You told us our spiritual weapons were empowered by You to demolish Satan’s blinding strongholds. Every proud argument against You and every wall that keeps people from seeing You can be broken down and demolished by Your power. We release this power over our family members (and others) in the name of Jesus. We also wield the sword of the Spirit, Your Word. You said in Matthew 16:18-19 we could bind Satan’s activities. We do so over our loved ones now, forbidding the plans of the evil one to succeed. In Christ’s name, we break his hold over them. We ask You to release Your power now to capture rebels, changing them into people whose hearts’ desire is obedience to You.
And we ask that Holy Spirit would hover over people and regions, releasing His power and glory. Lift the veil of spiritual darkness. We ask for His hovering presence to convict of sin, reveal the truth of the gospel, break strongholds, release signs and wonders, and open the heavens over entire regions. We ask all of this in the name of Christ.
Dutch Sheets is an internationally recognized author, gifted teacher and conference speaker. He travels extensively, challenging believers for passionate prayer and societal reformation. For more information on Dutch and his ministry, please visit dutchsheets.org.
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