C harles Spurgeon noted, “We shall never see much change for the better in our churches in

general till the prayer meeting occupies a higher place in the esteem of Christians.” There are seven primary areas to consider in your corporate prayer gathering.

1. Start with a focus on God’s Presence. Offer praise and worship. Gaze at the Lord. This establishes an atmosphere that, in worshipful prayer, invites God’s Presence. Never start with the problems. The great crises moments in Scripture that turn to prayer always push back the issues and contemplate the greatness and goodness of God.

In Babylon, far from home and feel-ing that any effort to return to Jerusalem would be futile, the advice of the prophet was “Get up on a high mountain, and behold your God” (Isa. 40:9 KJV). What follows is one of the most poetic and glo-rious descriptions of God in the Bible. He “measured the waters in the palm of His hand and meted the heaven with its span”—the universe not as wide as God’s hand; and the oceans like a few drops of water in His palm. “He sits on the circle of the earth and the inhabitants are like grasshoppers … the nations but a drop of a bucket … He takes up the islands, a very little thing.”

SEVEN FEATURES OF CORPORATE PRAYER

To see God’s purposes for America fulfilled through sustained prayer and Spirit-led obedience

FIRST FRIDAY PRAYEROctober 2, 2015

We offer this publication 10 times annually (Jan / Feb, Jul / Aug combined) for a suggested donation of $25 per year.

On the first Friday of the month, we encourage all to fast and pray for America using the

prayer focuses below.

continued on page 3

By Doug Small

If the prayer meeting only went to this point, and yet those in attendance caught a fresh vision of God in His glory, it would be a success. Without such a vision of the transcendence of God, faith languishes, praise is only a half-hearted dribble, and hope for intervention disappoints.

2. Pray the principles of Scripture. The Bible is our prayer book. And it is meant to be read—and prayed. Point out two or three principles that can be used as prayer points, and pray through those principles. This is a critical component, as we are praying ourselves into harmony with God, and nothing gets you closer to God’s will than praying His Word. These first two movements—His Presence and His Principles—are the heart of your prayer meeting. Get these right, and all else will rightly follow.

3. Pray for the harvest. Move first into prayer for others, particularly, the lost. Here, you want to offer perspective for prayer. Why do we pray for nations, for closed doors, for cruel governments, for people who are the victims of disaster? From a North American perspective, we see stability and prosperity as the norm, with catastrophe and dearth as the exception. We have been so blessed, due to the favor of God deriving from our godly heritage. It is easy to forget that the

ETHNIC RECONCILIATION“For He Himself is our peace, who … has broken down the middle wall of separation.” (Eph. 2:14) Intercede against the rise of anti-Semitism on U.S. campuses. Pray for racial reconciliation and harmony between all indigenous and immigrant races in America.

October 2015

FULL CONVERSION“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the God-head bodily.” (Col. 2:9) Pray that the Holy Spir-it will displace doubt and unbelief, and work spiritual clarification, understanding, and full conversion to Christ in the hearts and minds of pastors, church leaders, and all Christians in your area.

UNITY AMONG BELIEVERSRecent church/state court cases, abortion battles, partisan political election cycles,

and legalization of same-sex marriage have caused contention and divisions in the Body of Christ. Intercede that the traditional, funda-mental doctrines of the Church be regarded, defended, and strengthened. Pray that church leaders and pastors be granted wisdom, strength, and courage to shepherd and direct God’s people.

CHURCH LEADERSOctober is “Clergy Appreciation Month.” Inter-cede for pastors and their church leadership, both ordained and lay, in your local congre-gation, city, state, and across the nation. Pray that revelation, understanding, and appre-ciation for the fullness of Christ and effective evangelism be granted to church leaders.

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Intercessors for America

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DAVID’S TENT A NATIONAL OFFERING

T here is urgency in the air for extra-ordinary prayer and extra-ordinary unity for America. A

team of intercessors in Washington, D.C. is calling the nation to keep the fires of prayer and worship on the altar, 24/7, in our nation’s capital. David’s Tent DC is set to run for 424 days, 10,000 hours of continuous worship from September 11, 2015, until after the national election on November 8, 2016. This unprecedented gathering of worship and prayer on the National Mall will be right beside the Washington Monument.

David’s Tent DC was birthed in the fall of 2012 for a period of 40 days. God graced it to repeat again in 2013 and 2014. The vision was inspired by King David’s devotion to the Lord in Jerusalem 3,000 years ago, when 4,000 musicians and 288 singers were appointed to minis-ter to God continuously around the ark in a tent erected in the capital city (1 Chronicles 15). This governmental administration was centered in the Pres-ence of God and became the most influen-tial and blessed season in Israel’s history.

There are three motivations for doing this. First, we know that Jesus is more than worthy of a lavish offering. It’s that simple. Second, we do feel the urgency of the hour for America and the increased need for intercession for our nation. We want to minister in the fear of the Lord and pray to see widespread reformation,

including tens of millions of souls being saved. Third, it’s a public witness to the goodness of God and the power of His Presence right on the National Mall.

Again and again, we see people burst into tears as they enter the tent, over-whelmed with God’s Presence. In the past three years, we have seen hun-dreds, if not thousands, of lives changed when they come to the tent and encoun-

relay race, one after the next, to keep this continuous love song to Jesus going. In addition to the worship tent, there is also a 24/7 Bible Read-a-thon called Ezra’s Platform. Believing that God heals, our prayers are for Him to heal our land and to bring back a spirit of repentance to America as Ezra did in Nehemiah 8.

Our hope has been to become a plat-form for our nation to bring an offering of worship and prayer. Our desire is that this would be owned by the Church of Amer-ica. But this will not be what it needs to be, before the Lord, unless everyone takes their part, whatever that might be. Now is the time for a lavish offering such as this! Our team invites any choir, worship team, or intercessor to consider joining in this ongoing offering of worship and prayer. No matter the musical style, language, or denomination, as long as it’s pure minis-try to the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ, you are invited to be a part of this public demonstration of God’s Presence. Last year, 225 different worship teams par-ticipated in an unusual display of multi-ethnic, interdenominational unity, simply around Jesus. Since 2012, Olympia, WA, Salem, OR, and Nashville, TN have also pressed into a David’s Tent in their re-spective state capitals. This expression of devotion to Jesus is spreading, specifically in governmental places.

T he greatest testimony of David’s Tent DC, so far, is that God has proven Himself true! When we

seek Him, He comes and no one can stay the same! As we press into a full year of worship and prayer, we expect our whole nation will be changed. To sign up your worship team, support financially, or serve at David’s Tent DC, go to www.davidstentdc.org.

By Jason Hershey, Founder and Director of David’s Tent DC

ter God. Souls have been saved, hearts have been restored, and bodies healed. One woman was healed of arthritis in her knees just as she crossed the side-walk into the park. No one even prayed for her, and she hadn’t yet made it into the tent. Another young woman had a similar experience with a knee injury, only for her, the Lord touched her as she entered under the canopy stepping into the tent. The Lord inhabits our praises, for real! And for many, hope is being renewed in seeing Jesus raise up this prayer initative with such unity and devotion.

David’s Tent DC schedules worship teams in two-hour time blocks, like a

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INFORM

This First Friday Prayer Letter, provided on request, is published 10 times annually. IFA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry. All Scripture refer-ences are NKJV unless otherwise noted. Contents may be reproduced, except for items separately copyrighted; please credit IFA. IFA Office: Post Office Box 915, Purcellville, VA 20134; Tel 800-USA-PRAY; e-mail IFA@IFApray.org. IFA Web sites: IFApray.org and IFAresources.com

In groups of three to five, people can ex-press a prayer need and receive prayer. These can be powerful times of agree-ment in prayer and ministry. The main goal is to encourage intercession and create an atmosphere where people feel free to pray. It is in these small groups that we learn to pray. How? By praying! There is no other way.

—P. Douglas Small is founder and presi-dent of Alive Ministries: Project Pray. He is the author of several books and founder of the Praying Church Movement. See more at AlivePublications.org.

world, including our nation, lies under the wrath of God. The earth has rejected Him and His creative claim, killed the prophets, and crucified His Son. In a world where God should be celebrated by kings and nations, He is not. And yet, what He offers through the cross to all people groups is mercy! Pray to be agents of peace and reconciliation in a world that is at war with God.

4. Narrow the focus by offering one or two examples of specific problems or challenges to the Gospel around the world. Share some news item or specific example in which people need prayer or the purposes of God are being resisted. Pray for a nation closed to the Gospel. Pray for a people group yet to hear the Good News. Pray for a persecuted family or missionary. Pray specifically.

By David Kubal

5. Lace in praise reports. Tell stories of breakthrough. Cite examples of an-swers to prayer. Allow one-minute praise and thanksgiving reports. Remind every-one that the Good News story is not only to be told among us, it is to be told at the edges of the darkness. We must not keep silent about a God who answers prayer and intervenes in the lives of His children and all who call on His name.

6. Review specific petitions. Choose the most urgent and pressing one(s). You can offer suggestions on how to pray for these needs—pray in faith, pray Scripture over them, pray with the enabling of the Spirit, pray for the will of God to be re-vealed and completed, pray for insight in the lives of those suffering, pray for grace to endure, and pray for a spirit of praise and vitality in the midst of the problem.

7. Finally, pray for one another. Your prayer meetings should provide some time for everyone to voice prayer.

SEVEN FEATURES OF CORPORATE PRAYER

A CALL TO FIRST FRIDAY FASTING

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F orty years ago, the call to fast and pray on the first Friday of the month went out across America.

It was perfect timing for Intercessors for America (IFA), whose founders were al-ready appealing to heaven with every pos-sible spiritual weapon. Two years earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled in Roe v. Wade to legalize abortion, producing an urgent sense that this ungodly decision must be confronted, as it would inevitably create a slippery slope of further cultural decline. In God’s providence, the ongo-

ing stewardship of the First Friday call to prayer was entrusted to IFA, and from its humble origins, the union of prayer and fasting has been a marriage made in heaven. Over the years, hundreds of thou-sands of faithful intercessors have united hearts and voices in worshipful, sus-tained, and focused prayer on this day.

Recently, IFA added a conference call for unified intercession. The impact was immediate. One retired pastor, a veteran of many prayer meetings and a long-time friend of IFA, gave this report: “When Dave Kubal opened the microphone and invited everyone on the call to pray simul-taneously, the voices raised together made an emotional impact on me that is diffi-cult to describe. I felt it was a small pre-lude to the praise and worship of heaven, which we’ll experience some day around the throne of God.” In another testi-

mony, a lady shared how she was moved to tears as the entire group, spread all across America, prayed together in agreement for the various emphases.

W hether you join us on the conference call or not, please consider a com-

mitment to fast and pray for our nation on the first Friday of the month. You can do this indidually, or ask your spouse, a friend, or your Sunday school class/Bible study group to join you. Some even host a local gathering on this day. Imagine the potential impact as God’s ear is attuned to many Christians abiding in unity in prayer. “Father, may Your Kingdom come and Your will done on earth—now!—as it is in heaven!”

—David Kubal, President and CEO of Intercessors for America

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WILL U.S. SUPPORT ISRAEL?Secretary of State John Kerry sent a letter to all members of Congress on September 3 outlining U.S. security commit-ments to Israel and the Gulf Arab states in light of the Iran nuclear deal. State Department officials said the letter would be sent before Kerry delivers what is being billed as a major policy speech on the Iran agreement in Philadelphia. The officials said the speech was to focus on how the deal makes the U.S. and its allies safer. Kerry also planned to attack what the officials said is a “mythology” of false claims about what the deal will do. Meanwhile, Christians across America who are aware of biblical prophecy are interceding fervently for Israel’s safety, knowing—sadly—that the administration has little or no knowledge of the Bible’s content or its relevance. Regardless of the U.S. Senate vote (9/17), intercession is focused on seeking direct divine intervention. (CF 9/2)

U.S. ECONOMY IS UNCERTAINThe great global monetary tightening of 2015 is under way, but it’s not being led by the Federal Re-serve. Even as U.S. policy-makers pondered whether to raise interest rates in September or October, one recent source of central bank liquidity in financial markets is drying up, and the loss of it partly explains August’s trading volatility. Behind the drawdown are the foreign exchange reserves run by the central banks. Bolstered following financial crises in the late 1990s as a buffer against capital outflows and falling currencies, such hoards fell to $11.43 trillion in the first quarter from a peak of $11.98 trillion in the middle of last year, according to the International Monetary Fund. Driving the decline is a combination of forces including the economic slowdown and recent devaluation in China, the Fed’s pending rate hike, the collapse of oil, and decisions in Switzerland and Japan to cease intervening in currencies. Throw in the uncertainty of prophetic hints and “signs” in the latter part of 2015, and the upheaval is calling attention to biblical references and Jesus’ warnings about the end times. (CN 8/29)

FIRST FRIDAYPRAYER

CONFERENCE CALL

PLANNED PARENTHOOD UNMASKEDIs Planned Parenthood’s house of lies crumbling? The first lie was, “It’s not a baby.” Planned Parent-hood has been successful in convincing Americans

that the federallyfunded group performs very few abortions, but the mask has come off that lie as well. The grisly disclosures keep coming, and while PP’s PR team is battling back, the evidence of evil intentions with the sale of baby “remains” to the highest bidder is being further revealed. Christians give thanks for exposure to the truth, and ask God to close down every PP office. (BN 8/25)

PROTESTING PLANNED PARENTHOODIn a closely related praise report, thousands of Americans gathered outside more than 320 Planned Parenthood facilities across the U.S. on August 22 in hopes of shutting down the world’s largest abortion provider. The American Family Association, along with 50 other pro-family and pro-life organizations, rallied thousands in all 50 states to peacefully protest the payment by our government of more than $500 million to the organization dedicated to the killing of unborn babies. Give thanks for the increased public-ity through nationwide public protests. (ONN 8/23)

MARCH FOR LIFE WINS IN COURTThe March for Life, the pro-life group that holds a huge rally outside the Supreme Court of the U.S. every January, does not have to abide by Obamacare’s birth control mandate, a federal judge ruled, saying the organization deserves the same protections as churches. In a strongly worded opinion, U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon said the Health and Human Services Department practiced “regulatory favoritism” by exempting houses of worship on grounds its employees are less likely to want the contraceptives, while rejecting pleas from March for Life, a secular group that says its employees don’t want them, either. This opens a door for other conscientious objection where closely held convictions have been cast aside. Give thanks and continue in prayer. (WT 9/1)

FIRST FRIDAY PRAYER CONFERENCE CALLPlease plan on setting these important 30 minutes aside to join with hundreds across the U.S. in praying for America, its leaders, and its citizens on Friday, October 2, 2015 from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. (ET) Call: 712-432-0075 Access Code: 1412452#

Issues for Prayer

PRAYER FOR PEACE OF JERUSALEMJoin in the Global Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem on Oct. 4. See www.DayToPray.com.

POPE FORGIVES ABORTIONSIn a papal letter released September 1, Pope Fran-ces declared that any woman who has had an abor-tion and who is repentant will find forgiveness and a welcome back to the Catholic Church instead of the once-inevitable excommunication. This is part of the “Year of Mercy” that Francis proclaimed last December. While a “welcome back to the Church” will not necessarily result in an assurance of per-sonal salvation, the pronouncement does mean that many lapsed Catholic women may now find a “pathway to grace” otherwise impossible within that Church’s theological structure. Evangelical Christian women who reach out to post-abortion women may find a wider doorway to share the Gospel. (FN 9/1)

CHICK-FIL-A UNDER FIRE AGAINThe Chick-fil-A res-taurant chain faces another battle over the CEO’s support of “biblical marriage.” Several Denver city counci l members

don’t want the fast food chain to open at Denver International Airport (DIA). They say that the city’s reputation would be damaged because Chick-fil-A’s CEO, Dan Cathy, is a proponent of “biblical mar-riage.” Chick-fil-A’s application for a concession lease at DIA’s Concourse B food court was selected by concession officials because of its popularity and profitability. Ironically, while all Chick-fil-A loca-tions are closed on Sundays, DIA officials believe the restaurant will bring in more money for the city than another chain open ALL seven days. The protesting council members believe that Mr. Cathy’s personal views are incompatible with the image Denver wishes to project. The significance for IFA readers is the extreme discrimination represented here by those who oppose Chick-fil-A because of the CEO’s conservative views. (BCN 9/1)

WESTERN U.S. IS BURNINGEven seasoned firefighters have called them “infer-nos,” as out-of-control forest fires continue raging through several western states, principally Califor-nia, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. In August, about 200 active duty military personnel were sent to what officials called “the quieter parts of the fire.” The full damage has not yet been calculated, and lives have been lost. Pray accordingly. (CNN 8/25)