COLLEGIATE DAY OF PRAYER 2.26.2015

As the students go, so goes our nation! If we win the spiritual battles across our nation but neglect our college campuses, all our progress will be undone in a generation. Therefore, students today need our support and earnest prayers. However, college students don't just need more prayer, they need our UNITED prayer. Without a greater degree of genuine, unified prayer, our hopes and dreams for this generation may never be realized. According to Matthew 18:18-20, the greater the number united in faith and prayer, the easier the battle for this generation can be won. Just as a team of horses can move a heavy load faster and easier together, so our greatest barriers can be better overcome through united prayer.

 

Prayer focus: This is a promising and challenging intercessory opportunity! Praying for an Open Heaven, an Open Heart, and an Open Hand will provide an open window for God's grace to "invade" many college and university campuses for evangelism and revival. Experienced intercessors will remember campus revivals of the past that led to widespread mission conferences. Thousands of students responded to God's call to foreign and home missions that changed the world for Jesus Christ, nation by nation. May God move in such power once again!

 

"For 'whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!' But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, 'Lord, who has believed our report?' So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom. 10:13-17)
       


AMAZING ECHOES OF QUEEN ESTHER

Controversy surrounds the Prime Minister of Israel's forthcoming appearance on Capitol Hill.

Invited by Republican House Speaker John Boehner to address Congress about the threat of Iran's nuclear ambitions, Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed this opportunity to share his country's existential concern as the Iranian regime comes ever closer to achieving the capability of fulfilling its avowed goal of the total annihilation of Israel. But the White House has made known its displeasure. A growing number of Democratic lawmakers said they would boycott his talk. Vice President Joe Biden, who as president of the Senate would normally oversee Netanyahu's address, said he would be out of town. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said she hoped the speech "doesn't take place."

 

Prayer focus: We commend Rabbi Blech for citing the analogy between Queen Esther's courage and faith in her day and what Israel faces today. In both cases, demonic forces were and are involved in a determination to destroy the Jews. The historical settings differ, and the comparison won't work if we seek a parallel between Esther and Prime Minister Netanyahu. But without divine intervention, the wicked Haman would have succeeded, and in today's conflict, Israel is vulnerable unless God steps in. Pray much for Mr. Netanyahu's U.S. visit and speech. Consider prayer with fasting as you are led.  

 

[Jesus laments:] "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!" (Luke 13:34)

 

"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God." (Rom. 10:1-3)

       

CHURCHES COMING TOGETHER 
Churches come together in Northern Indiana to bring revival... 
Kyle Lance Martin, leader of Revive Indiana, shares about the current revival happening in the heart of Amish country.

Hundreds of believers from numerous denominations, ages, and races came together the first of this year to take their cities for Christ. Known as "Revive Indiana", these churches are mobilizing not only churches, but many youth in local high schools, to take Jesus into the streets and homes of their communities. Entire high schools have cancelled classes to allow hundreds of students to go to the streets with the gospel. One Amish couple shares their testimony of being baptized in the Holy Spirit, fueling the vision for denominations to come together.

 

Watch a short clip of their story and follow along on their journey at their website: http://reviveindiana.org



SUPREME COURT: THE OBAMACARE OBSTACLES

A legal challenge that threatens to unravel President Obama's health care law has been stricken by a series of ill-timed setbacks before next month's Supreme Court showdown.

The four plaintiffs' qualifications to bring the lawsuit have been cast in doubt because of their low incomes and potential eligibility for other government benefits. At least one of the four Virginians must show that the law constitutes a burden.

The legal theory behind the complaint - that Congress intended to deny financial aid to consumers in states that use a federal health insurance exchange - has been refuted by the law's authors. Officials from 22 states told the court they were never warned of that possibility.

 

Prayer focus: IFA is not a partisan political organization but a ministry to encourage intercessory prayer for America and its leaders. We pray "for" or "against" issues when moral questions call for decisions that represent truth vs. evil or injustice. Many citizens believe they have been deceived in the confusion of the federal government's health care law. Pray that the Supreme Court be led (or restrained) by God's Spirit in their decisions for what is right and best for the U.S., based on God's moral law. Pray for God's will to prevail.

 

"Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. No one calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; they conceive evil and bring forth iniquity." (Isa 59:1-2, 4)

       




WALKER'S ANTI-UNION LAW: REELING IN WISCONSIN      

At the old union hall here on a recent afternoon, Terry Magnant sat at the head of a table surrounded by 18 empty chairs. A members meeting had been scheduled to start a half-hour earlier, but the small house, with its cracked walls and loose roof shingles, was lonely and desolate.

"There used to be a lot more people coming," said Magnant, a 51-year-old nursing assistant, sighing.

The anti-union law passed here four years ago, which made Gov. Scott Walker a national Republican star and a possible presidential candidate, has turned out to be even more transformative than many had predicted.

 

Prayer focus: Intercessors, be alert! As you know, IFA is not a political voice. However, we remind readers that now, early in 2015, the 2016 presidential campaign is already "unofficially" underway. We offer readers this example: former Wisconsin governor, Scott Walker, has not said he is a presidential candidate, though he is "out there" making speeches and has become a "target" for liberal news outlets, including The New York Times and The Washington Post. In the past week alone, the Post has run six anti-Walker stories. One calls him "spineless" (Feb. 22). It will get worse. An ideological war is waging. IFA is neither for nor against Governor Walker. Other conservatives will be pilloried. We will report. Please pray as you are led. 

 

"For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." (Jas. 3:16-18)  

   


WILL ISIS FALL TO JORDAN?

With the barbaric murder of Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh -- the Jordanian pilot locked in a cage and burned alive by operatives of the Islamic State, for all the world to see -- Jordan's King Abdullah faces the most dangerous moment since ascending to the throne in 1999.

ISIS jihadists in Syria and Iraq have publicly threatened to invade Jordan and "slaughter" the Abdullah, whom they denounce as a "tyrant." Extremists inside Jordan took to the streets last summer shouting, "Down, down with Abdullah!" The latest ISIS propaganda video attacks the king as an "ally of the crusaders." One figure in the video proclaims, "all Arab tyrants should...be burned."

 

Prayer focus: Thankfully, Joel Rosenberg is a friend of truth and an insightful and fair reporter. The situation in Jordan is, as he explains, complicated, intense, and dangerous. We urge intercessors not only to pray but to share your intercessory vision with Christian friends and church leaders. God will respond to the effectual, fervent, and unified prayers of His people. Pray for the Church to have a great awakening and renewed vision to help change the world through united prayer and fasting. Pray that international leaders receive an infusion of divine wisdom to handle the threat to Jordan.

 

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (Jas. 1:5-8)  

 







COLLEGIATE DAY
OF PRAYER


ECHOES OF
QUEEN ESTHER


SUPREME COURT
OBAMACARE


ANTI-UNION LAW
REELING IN WI


WILL JORDAN
DEFEAT ISIS?


ITALY AND VATICAN
ISIS THREAT


STRAINS IN U.S.
FARM ECONOMY