The Ohio Valley E-Book

Gary and Thelma Hess

• Herausgeber: BooxAi
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

The Ohio Valley: A Call to Prayer is a practical and scriptural guide to praying for the Ohio Valley. This is a much-needed resource for all believers who have a desire to pray effectively for the states that encompass the region as well as apply the scriptural principles to your own region. 
This manual, with a harvest prayer focus, gives you an opportunity to pray and cover everyone that lives within this region and even your own if you live outside of the Ohio Valley. They are prayer suggestions of lists of seven states, over 600 counties and over twelve thousand cities and towns.
It has seventeen prayer suggestions to cover the lost, ministers, local congregations and the Body of Christ at large.
The fervent prayers of the Righteous avail much. May we enlarge our prayer vision and see much avail happen for the Kingdom even in these last days.

Leseprobe

Scripture quotes are taken

from the Holy Bible: KINGS JAMES VERSION unless otherwise noted.

Scripture is taken from the Amplified Bible, Old Testament, copyright © 1965

1987 by Zondervan Corporation

The Amplified New Testament, copyright © 1958, 1987 by the Lockman Foundation.

Used by permission.

Second Edition • 2006

All copyrights reserved by Gary Hess. © 1992. Please do not copy this book without permission of the authors. To do so would be a breach of Christian ethics and a violation of copyrights.

Published by BooxAi

ISBN 978-965-578-355-1

Contents

Preface

Preface

Chapter 1

Answering The Vision’s Call

Chapter 2

The Greater Prayer Life

Chapter 3

The Greater Works

Chapter 4

Focusing On The Eternal

Chapter 5

Praying As The Church Triumphant

Chapter 6

The Voice Of Prayer

Chapter 7

Prayer Preperations

Chapter 8

Local And Regional Prayer Plans

Chapter 9

The Ohio Valley Prayer Plan

Chapter 10

The Ohio Vall ey City and Town List

Illinois

Indiana

Kentucky

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Tennessee

West Virginia

Chapter 11

Scripture-Based Prayers

Prayer For All Men Everywhere

Prayer For All Men In The Ohio Valley

Interceding For The Lost: A General Prayer

Interceding For The Lost: A Specific Prayer

Prayer For Our Nation

Prayer For Appointed And Elected State And County Officials

Prayer For City And Community Leaders

Prayer For Public Safety Officials

Prayer For Ministers

Prayer For Local Pastors And Their Congregations

Prayer For Doers Of The Word

Prayer For The Gospel To Spread

Prayer For Spiritual Awakening

Prayer For Spiritual Growth And Maturity

Prayer For Unity

Prayer For Resources To Increase

A Harvest Prayer

Notes

Books Available From The Authors

The Ohio Valley

A Call to Prayer

Gary and Thelma Hess

This Book Belongs to:

_______________________

_______________________

_______________________

Date:

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Acknowledgements

Thelma and I owe a special debt of gratitude to a wonderful friend and editor, Shirley Elenbaas. She not only helped smooth out some manuscript wrinkles, but she also encouraged us when we needed it the most. We also want to thank Sarah and Greg Steinrock for their assistance. Sarah took time to review the manual while Greg drew the prayer plan illustrations. A big thank you to Rick Bullock and Chris Huber for their computer expertise. They helped us do what we did not know how to do at a very strategic time in the development of the book.

In this second edition of the book, God supplied a beautiful sister in the Lord and one with the expertise we needed to re-do the book named Betty Hatter.

DEDICATION

Thelma and I wish to dedicate this book to our parents, Herschel and Lelah McNeff Brokaw and Malvin Hess and Shirley Hess Christensen, who have gone on to be with the Lord, joining the heavenly chorus of saints in praising and worshipping the Father. They loved, encouraged, and supported us in so many ways.

Preface

God's View

When God looks down upon the small portion of His creation known as the Ohio Valley, what does He see? As dawn breaks, He sees a sea of green trees covering the mountains and hills of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. He sees the patchwork quilt of brown, green, and yellow fields in the plains and valleys of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. In the brightness of the day, He sees the headwaters of the Ohio River at Pittsburgh making their way westward down toward Wheeling, swinging upward to Cincinnati, then onward to Louisville, swirling beyond Evansville joined by the tributary waters of the Miami, Kentucky, Wabash, Cumberland, and Tennessee Rivers, becoming one mighty flow and rush of current surging past Cairo before emptying into the Mississippi. Like candles being lit in the twilight by the thousands, God sees the shimmering lights of cities, towns, and farms that dot the countryside.

Whether day or night, God sees this and more. Through the eyes of mercy and grace, He sees a great and magnificent valley made up of seven states, teeming with the breath and life's blood of approximately 50 million people. Knowing His son, Jesus, died for every man and woman, young person, and every boy and girl, He yearns for the unsaved as the precious fruit of the earth (James 5:7). He knows the ones who are born again by name, distinguishing each individual as the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). As the God of love, He awaits those, upon whom He has poured out His Spirit, to praise and worship Him, so that He can bless them even more (Acts 2:17, John 4:23).

Our View

In our minds' eyes, Thelma and I try to envision what God sees - as the need and the potential. We see the lost, the good, and the evil. We see indifferent Christians and caring believers. How do we perceive you? In faith's eyes, we see you as doers of the Word with the zeal of the Lord burning within you to such an extent that you desire this experience for others.

Your View

When you look at the Ohio Valley, what do you see? Do you see yourself praying with your understanding and in the Spirit for family, friends, and total strangers, those that are near or those that are in far away places? Do you see yourself interceding for the lost? Are your prayers bringing faith and answers to the people of your church? Are you praying for the leaders of the Ohio Valley: the governor, sheriffs, mayors, business and educational leaders, and pastors? As you pray, do you see yourself praying for the gospel light to spread or for spiritual awakening to take place throughout your state and the states in the Ohio Valley?

We have written this book because God has called us to send forth a call for the people of the Ohio Valley to pray. Our desire is for prayer to increase.

Three Goals

We have translated this desire into three goals:

(1) to have prayer go forth for every unsaved individual that lives in a county;

(2) to have prayer go forth for the Body of Christ;

(3) to have prayer go forth for state, county, community, and ministerial leadership.

This book is designed to assist people of prayer, those just starting, intercessors, and prayer warriors. We want you to look upon this book as a resource, a tool, or a guide to help you pray for specific people and results. To do this, we have included (1) a prayer explanation, (2) an Ohio Valley list that names the states, counties, cities, and towns, and (3) scripture-based prayers. Our desire is for you to see the vision and understand the call to prayer for the Ohio Valley.

Please remember that this book is not a substitute for the Holy Spirit directing your prayer life! The Holy Spirit is our Helper. He is the one that helps us remain close to the Word and on the right track. We do not want you to stop praying for our nation and the president or discontinue praying for the things God has laid upon your heart.

Joining forces

We are calling you, and we are asking you to join us in praying for the people of this great valley. Look at this prayer endeavor as an opportunity and not as something that is overwhelming. All you have to do is be convinced that you want to be a part of God's prayer plan to pray for this region of America. Begin where you are and go as far as you can. You may be surprised at what you see and how far you travel.

ChapterOne

Answering The Vision’s Call

God's Call

I have called out with My voice,

And asked you to pray.

Today is the day.

Please come and do it My way.

See, behold, the people,

White to be harvested,

Pray for them.

I want them.

Do you want them for Me?

As I wanted you,

as I loved you,

As you were harvested for Me,

Coming out of the darkness.

Yes, as you received

Your awakening of Me,

Awakening, awakening

From spiritual death,

Awakened to eternal life,

And there is no end,

To My awakenings.

So come now! Follow and obey Me,

And you will see,

And you will see.

Shirley Hess Christensen

The Call To Prayer

Acts 10, an exciting chapter, shows us how God chose to answer one man's prayer. Cornelius, a devout but unsaved Roman centurion, prayed to God without knowing Him as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter, a member of Jesus' inner circle, also was a man of prayer. In a most dramatic way, God brought these two men together. When the centurion and the disciple met, Cornelius and his household were born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit. As a result of this, Peter realized that salvation was for all men - Gentiles as well as Jews.

In Matthew, Jesus tells us we can ask, seek, and knock (Matthew 7:7). Jesus also tells us that it is God's desire to give good things to those that ask Him (Matthew 7:11). Cornelius and Peter's experience teaches us that prayer is universal and available to both the sinner and the saint. Just as Cornelius and Peter prayed, each one of us can call upon God in prayer.

However, God also is calling us to prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17). God's call to prayer invites and seeks to persuade believers to join forces with heaven. By faith, we can answer this call (Colossians 4:2). When we take this step of faith and heed His bidding by committing our lives to be His servants, God's call to prayer becomes special. As His call draws us to prayer, and as we feel the drawing, we can give ourselves to prayer on behalf of others. By doing this, we become prayer laborers for the Lord. In these trying times, God needs laborers that will become His yielded vessels to pray for mankind.

As yielded vessels, we receive both general and specific prayer assignments. These prayer assignments answer the immediate needs and those ongoing needs that know no boundaries or time limits. We have been given the Ohio Valley as a portion of our prayer assignment. As you continue reading this book, we hope that you will gain a better understanding of the call and prayer vision we have (Habakkuk 2:2).

We are simply asking you to join us in this special call to prayer by praying for the Ohio Valley. We believe God wants prayer from the people of this area for this region, our nation, and the world.

How We Answered

As an associate pastor of a church in Frankfort, Kentucky, I began doing research on the Great Revival of 1800-1805. My revival studies revealed that praying churches got results, ministers began working together in harmony and unity, and people became hungry for the things of God. When revival broke out in 1800, it gave birth to the Bible belt and changed the lives of countless people. As I shared these things with our "Sunday night crowd," I began to preach that local churches needed to reach out to one another and pray for revival in their respective communities and throughout the state.

In 1986, slowly but surely, the Holy Spirit pushed Thelma and me toward the edge of our call. I reached a point in November where God's calling, burning on the inside of me, came to a boiling point. Nothing, not even a cold icy night, could deter me from sharing with our pastors what I believed God was calling us to do. With their encouragement, we soon began traveling throughout Kentucky to bring pastors and others together to pray. Not long after that, we established a Prayer Network that linked pastors and local churches to a regional, state, and interstate prayer vision.

From 1987-1990 we traveled throughout Kentucky and also to Tennessee, Ohio, and Indiana to hold corporate prayer meetings. As pastors and people of prayer came together, we prayed for God's will to be done on the earth and interceded for the lost. Also, we prayed for the move of the Holy Spirit and revival; for the five-fold ministry gifts, and for unity and harmony among ministers. We supplicated for the Body of Christ and prayed for our children and youth. From time to time, the Prayer Network brought together a geographical representation of people from across the state of Kentucky to pray together. This gave us the geographical breadth we sought but not the spiritual depth in prayer we desired.

Depth in prayer has two dimensions, a numerical and a result side. More people from many backgrounds and denominations, independent fellowships, and churches need to be involved in prayer that forms bridges of support and unity with one another. We know a depth in prayer will result from unlocking the great financial, human, material, and natural resources within the Ohio Valley for the work of God's kingdom. The goal is a persistent, systematic prayer for immediate needs and long-term results.

Redirecting our steps, in April of 1990, the Lord caused us to move to Indiana and took us into full-time ministry. Over a period of time, He has shown us that the Ohio Valley has a vital role to play on behalf of America's strategic spiritual assignment for itself and the world. Times are such that we can no longer afford to be lukewarm or to allow ourselves to slumber. There is much work to be done in the realm of the spirit and on behalf of sinners and saints in this region. Unless we do what God has called this region to do in prayer, people's destinies and spiritual lives will not be what they should be. Much is at stake for the life of our nation as well as other nations.

ChapterTwo

The Greater Prayer Life

When the Lord called us to pray for the Ohio Valley, He showed a number of things we were to do: (1) encourage individuals as well as congregations to exalt and fellowship with the Lord, giving honor and reverence to Him; (2) motivate people unto love and good works; (3) promote leadership to be raised up for service unto the Lord; and (4) help release the financial, material, natural, and human resources within the Ohio Valley for the work of the gospel.

Exalting the Lord

The priority of prayer is praise and worship, the highest form of prayer. Praise and worship allow us to magnify His rank and dignity, honor His power and glory, and declare His righteousness and holiness. When we praise the Father, we extol His mighty works in our midst. Through worship, we love and glorify God for who He is. "O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth" (Isaiah 25:1).

By giving the Lord the love He so richly deserves, we set into motion our true motives for exalting Him. We are motivated by adoration, not fear, by desire, not obligation. We worship and love Him because we choose to: "give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name..." (1 Chronicles 16:29a).

Every time we come into His awesome presence to love Him, our spirit man rejoices that we are a living sacrifice, an offering of worship to the Lord. With joy, we declare, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou has created all things, and for thy pleasure, they are and were created" (Revelation 4:11).

We have spent hours singing in the Spirit, exalting the Lord through praise and worship in the privacy of our own homes. During these moments, there is a realization that a mutual exchange of love is taking place between you and the Lord. Your life absorbs His life in a never-ending process of spiritual joy and communion. You are giving and receiving. He is giving and receiving. As the song says, "We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord."

When we fellowship with the Lord, we soon recognize that we want to express our love for Him by serving others. By asking the Holy Spirit for guidance as we seek opportunities to pray for people, our prayer life will travel the path it should take. Then we will truly exalt Him in this important area of our life.

The Corporate Experience

The opportunity for churches to help people experience God through praise and worship in service is unlimited. As a youth, I remember hearing a Scottish woman evangelist sing the song "How Great Thou Art." Every time she sang those words, "When I in awesome wonder...," I felt the awesome presence of God. Congregations will raise the level of their praise to new heights as they sing with their understanding and in the Spirit, actively seeking the glorious presence of the Lord.

As churches learn to soften their hearts toward the Lord, ignore time constraints, and give and yield their spirit to Him, they will bow their knees to the Father. The key is giving the Holy Spirit the quality and quantity of time He longs for. Only then can we worship the Lord in spirit and truth. Once churches learn to flow in worship, they will no longer be afraid to sit in silence before the Lord. As this happens more and more, the Holy Spirit will be able to move in a greater way.

We desire to see the time when each of the respective Ohio Valley states will have an annual state-wide corporate praise and worship service. Then out of this experience, periodically, all of the Ohio Valley states could come together to praise and worship the Lord. We look forward to the time when the people of the Ohio Valley will raise their voices in unison to the Lord in praise and say: "The Lord is good, and His mercy endures forever. God is our God, and we are His people," (2 Chronicles 5:13, Hebrews 8:10).

Love Motivates Prayer

People and churches that pray are motivated by a deep, God-given love. If you give them a glimpse of their need, they know what to do. For a moment, let us take you on the same journey we have taken in the Ohio Valley to see the need we saw.

There are approximately 50 million souls living in this region. We have gone into the inner city and seen alcoholics, the hungry, and the poor living in run-down neighborhoods. We have been in shopping malls and seen the tall skyscrapers of prosperous cities. We have traveled through countless small towns and enjoyed the scenery of the countryside. It was while traveling on Indiana's back roads that God showed us we were seeing neglect and the neglected. The people living in the Ohio Valley - in its states, counties, cities, towns, and rural areas - are very real. They have genuine needs. There are sinners and saints, young and old, Native Americans, Afro-Americans, Orientals, Hispanics, and Caucasians. All of them need love and prayer.

Circles of Love

When we preach in local churches, one of the things the Lord has had us do is to ask a congregation to form a circle of love around their pastor and leaders of the church. We always have one member of the circle break ranks for a moment to show what a gap in the circle looks like. Sometimes openings in a church's hedge come from blows from the inside out as well as attacks from the outside in. Congregations that pray for their pastor's support and strengthen not only a man but also his gift. These circles of love illustrate the love that is produced when people are in unity with God and with the pastor.

As a praying congregation joins forces with the pastor's anointing and vision, good things happen. The people will begin to express in word and deed the character of God's power of the Holy Spirit and walk in obedience and faith as they carry out the Lord's work. We have talked to pastors that know when congregations are praying for them. If congregations stop praying, pastors can tell the difference in the way people respond to the pastor's anointing and vision.

For a moment, assume that each church has a circle of love around it. If that circle of love was enlarged to include others, it could draw a circle of love around an inner city neighborhood, a nearby church, or another church in a distant city. It is possible for a county to be covered with circles of love that connect and overlap so that the affluent, the middle class, and the poor are enveloped by circles of love. If we allow God's love to flow through us, we are able to receive and freely give to others (Matthew 10:8b).

As we pray for congregations to be doers of the Word, we are praying that they will mature to a point where they start drawing circles of love and become profitable for the Lord's work (James 1:22).

Ministerial Leadership

Ministers inspired and led by the Holy Spirit can accomplish great and mighty things for the Lord. They can use the Word of God to set the captives free. They can rally people to God's cause and, at the same time, provide the direction and momentum believers need. As this happens, the Body of Christ will leap over walls of fear, doubt, and unbelief and enlarge its vision for the lost, the nations, and the needs of other Christians. Ministers understand not only what the Holy Spirit is doing at a given moment but also see glimpses of God's future plans and purposes.

We encourage you to pray for the ministers that live in your community, county, or state. These men and women are standing in the armor of God, fending off the fiery darts of the enemy with the sword of the Spirit and the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:11). They are preaching God's Word to a dying and needy world.

A Pastoral Vision

At the heartbeat of the local church are loving pastors. They care for and work with many different personalities and groups. They lead the flock to green pastures and still waters.

Pastors with a vision can make things happen that otherwise would remain undone. We are seeing pastoral prayer breakthroughs that we have not seen before. Reports are beginning to emerge of pastors praying together, confessing their sins, one to another, and interceding for the lost of their communities. They are beginning to provide the leadership that will make 2 Chronicles 7:14 a reality. "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

What happened in Sandusky, Ohio, is an outstanding example of how pastors and churches came together to pray for a city, ten surrounding communities, and a county. Approximately 4000 people joined in prayer on one-Fourth of July, and on a cold September Sunday night, l500 came to the same football stadium to pray with one another. You could feel the warmth and love Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Pentecostals, Charismatics, and many others felt for one another as they prayed together. It was as if the entire community experienced Jesus, and they liked the way it felt. This event told the world that it is possible for people to come together and love one another. Think of the spiritual potential to reach the lost and touch the lives of believers if more communities were to become involved in this type of prayer. What a catalyst for reaching people for Jesus!

Resources for the Lord

The local church is a wonderful training ground to help develop the human resources God needs in these last days. When properly motivated, many more people can be taught to walk in obedience and discipline, thus releasing their natural talents and energy to the Lord. As they grow and mature in love and faith, they will become willing and able workers. We are aware of how one church chartered an airplane to take 125 members of its congregation on a mission trip. That trip changed every one of those people's lives. One young woman, upon her return, became a soul-winner for the Lord, winning hundreds to Jesus.

Not every church has the numbers or the finances to do what this particular church did. This is one reason why the existing resources of the Ohio Valley need to be released by prayer. An increase of the resources must be made available for the work of the gospel. We need a greater spiritual awakening in the church so more believers will say, "Here am I, Lord, send me."

The Ohio Valley has many outstanding denominational and independent church programs designed to help the needy of our region as well as those in distant lands. When we become aware of churches and ministries with this type of vision, we can begin to pray that God will supply all of the resources they need to carry out the Lord's work.

We desire to see the prayer life of the local church increase and become effective to the point where there is a ripple effect throughout the counties, in a state, and then throughout the Ohio Valley. Through prayer, intercession, and supplication, we believe that the lives of sinners and saints alike can be changed. As we see an increase in prayer by the saints and on behalf of saints, we will see the release of all the needed resources. Thus, we will strengthen believers and encourage them to carry out their individual visions.

ChapterThree

The Greater Works

The Call For A Mature Body

In these last days, we believe the Lord is calling the Body of Christ to a greater level of maturity to do the greater works and fulfill the Great Commission (John 14:12, Matthew 28:18-20). We believe that preaching and teaching are essential to helping the church mature. In chapter four of Ephesians, Paul discusses the ministry side of this endeavor.

Ephesians 4:11-16

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

14 That we hence forth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, where by they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

In the above passage, Paul addressed the issues Jesus raised in the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:3-23 and Mark 4:3-20.

Through preaching and teaching, the Word is sown. However, as in the days of Jesus and Paul, people do not always receive because they lack understanding. They do not have the eyes to perceive or the ears to hear what is being said (Matthew 13:13). In some instances, Satan steals the word before it takes root. Others never go beyond the early childhood stage of their Christian walk. They continue to be tossed to and fro for a number of reasons. They have no root in themselves and become offended for the Word's sake when trials and tribulations come. Even those that reach a greater level of maturity can be caught up in the cares of the world, deceitfulness of riches, and lust for other things. However, there are those who will press on to receive and understand the Word and yield thirty, sixty, and hundred-fold fruit (Mark 4:20).

If the role of preaching and teaching is to cause faith to come forth to perfect the saints for the work of the ministry and edify the Body of Christ, what is the function of prayer in this process? (Romans 10:17, Ephesians 4:12).

One of prayer's purposes is to protect and nurture the Word so that it can come to full maturity in a believer's life. As the Word is being sown, prayer can intervene on behalf of believers to the point where Satan's attacks fail. Through prayer, we strive to defend those believers that are shallow and worldly hearers by providing them a safety net of protection until the Word has a chance to grow and mature in their lives.

We can make effective use of the armor of God when we stand in the gap on behalf of those needing assistance to stand against the wiles of the devil. By praying for believers that Christ be formed in them, we can help individuals grow to spiritual adulthood (Ephesians 6:11, Galatians 4:19).

However, it isn't enough just to protect believers from attacks. They need to be nurtured. Prayer can give believers support during the various stages of their growth and help them to become receptive hearers. As receptive hearers receive the Word, they will be able to experience the revelation of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:17-18, Colossians 1:9-10). It is this type of believer who will walk in faith and cause his good ground, his field, to be enlarged to produce the fruit of the increase (Matthew 13:23, John 15:8).

We can also stand in our armor and pray for those that are willing to evangelize and witness to others. Paul asked for believers to strive in prayer to God on his behalf (Romans 15:30). He also asked for prayer so that he would continue to boldly proclaim the gospel (Ephesians 6:19). Men and women that are ministers of reconciliation report that it is much easier to witness to others about the saving grace of Jesus when they are covered in prayer (2 Corinthians 5:18).

Prayer Leadership Role

Mature believers are those that are willing to accept the prayer leadership role in the Body of Christ the Lord has given them. Leadership involves accepting responsibility for one's thoughts, words, actions, and deeds. We are accountable unto God for our own level of maturity and Christian conduct. By making ourselves available to God's call to prayer, we become accountable for others. Thus, we are willing to accept responsibility for ourselves, those we know, and those we do not know. As this takes place, God rewards us with a greater revelation of what He is doing in the world, in the church, and on our behalf. He shows us the great potential and opportunity that exists for a world-wide harvest.

A mature Body of Christ recognizes that not just one group or organization has the answers. Every member and joint together supplies what is missing and needed to accomplish the work that is to be done in these last days. Christ, the Head of the church, is looking for His faithful servants to carry out His work until He comes (Luke 19:13). He seeks the increase from those that are willing to exercise their authority as believers so that He can reward those faithful in little things with more responsibility (Mark 13:34, Luke 19:17). Through the Word and the name of Jesus, our job through prayer, preaching, and teaching is to fight the good fight of faith that produces long-term results (1 Timothy 6:12).

Close communion with the Father enables us to assume a greater prayer leadership role by relying upon the Lord's prayer agenda rather than our own. It is encouraging to know that the Lord never asks us to undertake leadership responsibility that belongs to others.

ChapterFour

Focusing On The Eternal

Most Christians that pray follow Jesus' admonition to pray and not faint (Luke 18:1). They recognize that persistent prayer is needed. The issue is not whether the Body of Christ is praying, but rather we are praying prayers that God can answer! Jesus always acted in accordance with the will of His Father. "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me" (John 6:38). We, too, should be praying for the will of the Father.

Our Will or God's Will

God's desire is for us to avoid shallow, selfish thinking that will result in manipulative prayers. Let us avoid praying our will because we want someone to do things our way. For example, we have heard of a parent praying that one of their married children would not leave their relatives, friends, home, and job to attend Bible college in another state. Another person prayed that the Lord would convict people that stayed up late on Saturday night watching TV to go to bed early so they would come to church on Sunday. Prayers have gone up against darkness, immorality, and sin and yet have not hit the mark. It is hearing the glorious gospel message that sets people free from sin and darkness. People without Jesus need to know that He loves them and can deliver them. We need to pray for the gospel light to spread and laborers to go forth, which is the solution to the problem.

How Jesus Prayed

When Jesus prayed, He focused on the central issues individuals faced. Through prayer, He spoke God's wisdom, which enabled people to receive answers and solutions to their problems. By praying for the will of His Father, He was able to change the outcome of people's immediate problems and influence the future course of events.

Just days before He went to the cross, Jesus prayed for Peter so his faith would not fail him, knowing that Peter would betray Him. Jesus chose not to center his attention upon the cause of Peter's betrayal or try to violate his freewill (Luke 22:31-34). By focusing on the solution that Peter's faith would prevail and grow stronger, Jesus prayed the answer that helped Peter turn his life around after he had denied knowing Jesus three times. The outcome of Jesus' prayer was three-fold. Peter was able to repent, convert, and strengthen the brethren. On the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came, it was Peter that declared that the words of the Prophet Joel were fulfilled (Acts 2:16-18). This event forever changed Peter's generation, the generations that followed, and even our day.

Like Jesus, let us focus our prayers on answers and long-term results to accomplish the central thing the Lord wants us to do in these last days.

From Generation To Generation

In John 17, Jesus prays for His disciples' future and ours as well. "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word" (John 17:20). Jesus knew the Word needed to go forth from the lips of His disciples. It was of the utmost importance that the gospel be passed on from generation to generation. Preaching would bring faith into the peoples' hearts. Then they, in turn, would travel the highways and byways to reach the hearts of others.

An example of long-term prayer reaching down through the generations occurred in Logan County, Kentucky, when James McGready and his congregation prayed this prayer over 190 years ago during the winter of 1797-98.

We feel encouraged to unite our supplications to a prayer-hearing God, for the outpouring of his spirit, that his people may be quickened and comforted, and that our children, and sinners generally, may be converted. Therefore, we bind ourselves to observe the third Saturday of each month, for one year, as a day of fasting and prayer, for the conversion of sinners in Logan County and throughout the world. We also engage in spending one-half hour every Saturday evening, beginning at the setting of the sun, and one-half hour every Sabbath morning, at the rising of the sun, in pleading with God to revive his words.*

The thing that is outstanding about McGready's prayer is that it focuses on the answers that were needed to bring about revival. McGready asked for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, conversion of sinners, and for God to revive His Word. History tells us McGready and his three congregations did not see results until the summer of 1800. But their persistence paid off. The revival came, and thousands were converted to Christ over the next five years.

The wonderful thing is that we can still link up with a living stream of prayer that is forever in effect. There are still people in Logan County, Kentucky, that are being saved, as well as those throughout the world, because of what McGready prayed. We, too, can be enablers that bring faith and answers to individuals by praying prayers that never cease. Prayers focusing on answers will produce desired outcomes because we can pray the Word and in the Spirit, directed by the Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus.

_______________

* Boles, John B., THE GREAT REVIVAL, 1787-1805, Univ. Press of Kentucky, pp. 47-48.

ChapterFive

Praying As The Church Triumphant

The King of Kings

In fulfilling the plan of redemption, Jesus conquered Satan and destroyed his works (1 John 3:8b). Jesus Christ spoiled principalities and powers, making a show of them openly (Colossians 2:15). Exalted by the Father, our King of Kings and Lord of Lords sits at the right hand of God with His enemies as His footstool (Philippians.2:11, 1 Corinthians 15:25). We, too, are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). Because of who we are in Christ, the prayer life of the Ohio Valley Church should reflect the victory that Jesus gave us.

Paul recognized our victory in Christ and called us more than conquerors. Thus, we have already won the victory through Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37). We are a church triumphant. Through the preaching of the Word and prayer, we build, establish, nurture, protect, and restore the Body of Christ. Our task is to occupy till Jesus comes, possessing and repossessing that which the enemy has stolen or tries to steal (Luke 19:13). Because Jesus won the battle, all we have to do is enforce the victory.

Winners, not Losers

Believers can have a victorious attitude to "pray" the price some situations demand. When God's people get a hold of their victory and start wearing their armor as a police force or an occupying army, enforcing the peace that passes understanding, they will experience a spiritual awakening that arrests the power of the enemy every time (Ephesians 6:10).

Every city, town, or rural community has a certain cultural, ethnic, and work ethic heritage. Some cities and towns are known for their pride or greed. Other communities face rampant adultery and divorce problems. Certain cities have high crime and violence rates.

Prayer can help the light of the gospel spread and overcome the world system and its evil. One minister told of how the Good News went forth from his church, down the street, covering block after city block with light. Another minister, describing the background of his community, told how strong the occult and witchcraft had been. He pointed out that as a result of the Charismatic Renewal, the valley he lives in now has thriving and growing churches. "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world (1 John.4:4)."

We can pray that the message of salvation comes into the midst of people, so they will repent and will be in the right standing with the Lord. Also, we can pray that Christians will repent, humble themselves, and call upon their God (2 Chronicles.7:14). The answers to these prayers will enable sinners to become believers and believers to become true disciples of Christ.

As kings and priests, we can pray in faith, knowing that we receive the answers to our prayers (Mark 11:23-24, John 14:13-14, 1 John 5:14-15). By walking in faith and love and believing our prayers prevail, we can enjoy Christ's victory over the enemy.

ChapterSix

The Voice Of Prayer

GOD'S DESIRE FOR HIS PEOPLE

Out of the depths

Of the heart of God

For His people,

Comes His prayer of love

That they will pray,

Pray more for a world,

That as yet doesn't know Him.

But because My people,

Humble themselves,

And do as I have asked them,

And pray, I will give them

The inheritance of the lost and undone.

The fields white unto harvest,

will find many in them,

Laboring in love and haste

To bring souls to Me.

So I may rejoice and heaven also.

Prayer brings forth

The laborers

Who have been all too few.

Because you see My people,

I depend on you.

Shirley Hess Christensen

Scriptural Praying

Although this guide emphasizes praying very specifically with your understanding, we want to encourage you to continue praying in the Spirit just as you have been. Paul exhorts us to pray with our understanding and in the Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:15a). He told the Ephesians to pray for the saints in this manner: "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" (Ephesians 6:18).

When praying scriptural prayers, you can have the assurance and confidence that God will answer because you are praying His Word, which is His will (1 John 5:14). The Ephesians' prayers are some of the most comprehensive, scriptural prayers you can pray. By substituting the pronouns in the Ephesians prayers with your name or another believer's name, you can make them more personal. These prayers can also be used to pray for the unsaved.

Ephesians 1:16-20

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what the hope of his calling is, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 3:14-21

14 For this cause, I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.

As we pray these scriptural prayers, we are praying that our eyes of understanding be opened to see the love, glory, and power of God working in us. Thelma and I prayed these prayers together for a number of years and then stopped. Once again, we are praying these prayers together with renewed faith and find that it is making a big difference in our lives.

When we pray scriptural prayers and in the Spirit for the saints, we take the opportunity to love and serve others. As we pray for the saints, we want to encourage and strengthen them so that they also can pray for all men.

Praying for All

In writing to Timothy, Paul pointed out; in order to get specific results, it was necessary to pray for specific outcomes. This wisdom continues today.

1 Timothy 2:1-4

1 I exhort, therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men:

2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

4 Who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Paul tells us what the Lord wants us to do: supplicate, pray, intercede, and give thanks for (1) all men, (2) presidents, governors, mayors, and (3) leaders, those in authority. Our prayer mission and goal is to pray for a quiet and peaceful environment in the Ohio Valley so the gospel can be spread. Media reports tell us that neighborhoods in some of the large cities in the Ohio Valley are torn by violence and crime. Gangs and hate groups continue to raise their ugly heads in some metropolitan and rural communities. We need civil peace and safe streets so people can live and work without fear. This type of environment allows the gospel to spread.

Paul makes the point that we should not overlook the prayer needs of our government and civic leaders. It was a moving experience to hear one public official say he appreciated and desired the prayers of the people of his community. Our public and civic officials, along with private and community leaders, are the men and women with the authority and power to make things happen. They face increasing pressures and problems because of the trying times we live in. In so many spoken and unspoken ways, these individuals influence the course of events by opening or closing doors of opportunity for the common good. We need the kind of leaders who have the ability to make good decisions that promote the gospel rather than hinder it.

When Paul stood before King Agrippa, he preached to the king so that Agrippa, the man, could hear the gospel. We can follow Paul's example not only by praying for the office but also for the individual in that position. We have not had to experience repression and dictatorship as some countries in the rest of the world have. We have been blessed to have Christian presidents, governors, mayors, and other civic and community leaders that acknowledge Jesus. Preaching, teaching, and prayer can help this important and godly tradition continue. That is why we are charged to pray for all men. We encourage you to pray for those in authority in the Ohio Valley, our nation, and the world.

The Precious Fruit

It is also of vital importance to pray for the precious fruit of the earth for the Lord would have all men saved. James 5:7 says, "Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain." You are a portion of the Ohio Valley's precious fruit that has been harvested. As you pray for the loss of your nation or the world, also pray for the loss of this region so that we might see an increase in His precious fruit.

Based upon a recent poll, the national average of those that confess being born again in our country is about 50 percent. What of the 25 million of those 50 million that live in the Ohio Valley that are unsaved? How many of these lost souls have been prayed for by name? If we were to pray for just ten percent of the lost in this area, that would mean only two and a half million lost people would have been prayed for by name. Can we rise to the challenge to fill in the gap?

There are many ways to accomplish this. One church uses a telephone book to pray for the lost in its community. One pastor told his congregation to pray for every lost family member. Some churches, using names provided by the congregation, hand out prayer lists of those that need salvation and healing.

When Jesus went about doing good and healing all, He saw a great harvest. That is why He instructed his disciples to pray for laborers for the plentiful harvest.

Matthew 9:37-38

37 The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few;

38 Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.

A Harvest Question

On one occasion, as we were praying, the Lord spoke to us about the Body of Christ's perception of the harvest. He told us that we go into one field and ignore another. "You say to the Lord, 'We have gone into this field and have gathered the wheat.' But the Lord would ask those that boast, "Why do you ignore the other field? Why do you ignore the other field? Why isn't it harvested? Oh! Man, you cannot answer because you do not know the answer. You have come up short."

We know the harvest is here. But who is to pray and say, "Lord thrust forth laborers into the harvest"? The ground has been plowed, the seed sown, and the plants watered. The harvest season is now. For the harvest to come forth, there must be laborers to go into the fields. When will we begin to speak with one voice to send forth these needed laborers? There are those in the churches that sit and do nothing. Many need to be encouraged to become laborers. They need help to know what to do and where to go. Without this type of praying, there will not be the numbers that will say, "Here am I, Lord, send me."

ChapterSeven

Prayer Preperations

History Changing Prayer

Few mothers in Israel were like Hannah, the prophet Samuel's mother Hannah changed the course of Israel's history with a prayer (1 Samuel 1:10-11). Her natural desire to be a mother gave birth to a prophet. What Hannah and Samuel did for Israel, people of prayer can do for this region of the United States. We, too, can change the course of the Ohio Valley's natural and spiritual condition. Through prayer, we can help "birth" the lost into the kingdom of God. As we supplicate for the Body of Christ, we can support and strengthen men and women as doers of the Word and laborers for the harvest.

In order to do this, we need to have a prayer focus that recognizes that the prayer potential for the Ohio Valley is unlimited. We can enlarge our tent, lengthen our cords, strengthen our stakes, and have the heathen as our inheritance (Isaiah 54:2-3, Psalms 2:8). We have developed a number of prayer plan options for you to consider. These prayer plans found in chapters eight and nine are suggestions that will enable you to pray in an organized and systematic manner.

Please do not feel overwhelmed by the number of options or suggestions. When choosing all or portions of any plan that may fit your prayer call, style, and time constraints, allow the Holy Spirit to lead you. By taking time to commune with the Lord, He will reveal to you the specific geographical area and people He is calling you to pray for. This may include your town, city, county or several counties, and state. Let your prayer life be guided by these scriptural principles: "...not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts," and "except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it..." (Zechariah 4:6b, Psalms 127:1a).

As the Lord reveals the prayer gaps that exist and how they can be closed, more and more people that live in rural and urban areas will be covered in prayer. Lives will be changed, and the harvest will be reaped if we are willing and obedient. Each one of us, doing a small part, will be able to make a big difference.

Prayer Lists

Prayer lists are a very practical way to keep track of what you want to see accomplished in prayer. By using your own personal prayer lists and the scripture-based prayers contained in this book, you can pray more specifically for individuals, groups, institutions, organizations, cities and towns, counties, and states from a local, regional, or state-wide perspective.

Thanksgiving and Praise Report Lists

Philippians 4:6 admonishes us to pray with thanksgiving. List thanksgiving and praise reports that you have experienced. This helps to reinforce your faith because you know the Lord has answered your prayers. A praise list helps you rejoice in God's victories and triumphs in your life as well as in other peoples' lives.

The Harvest Field List

Develop a harvest field list of unsaved people in your community and intercede for their salvation. This may include the unemployed, homeless, minorities, orphans, children and youth, unwed mothers, divorced single parents, widows, the elderly, drug abusers, delinquents, and criminals. What about those you know that manage and work at your favorite grocery, drug, department store, bank, and gas station? A prayer walk, bicycle, or car prayer drive through your town or city may give you an opportunity to add others to your harvest list. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you enlarge this list by making you aware of other harvest fields, individuals, and groups to intercede for. Even if you cannot pray for someone specifically by name, you can continue to intercede for the lost in a particular target area.

The Leadership List

Identify and list those in the following leadership roles.

The names and positions of elected officials in your state, county, city, or town. * (Perhaps you will feel inclined to do this for more than one county or city.)The names of key community leaders, the power base, and opinion-makers; the names of bankers, business, industry, education, media (newspaper, radio, and TV), and professionals such as doctors and lawyers;

Body of Christ List

Create a ministers and laity list by identifying the following:

The names of the leaders of the Catholic Church, Protestant denominations, fellowship organizations, independent groups, specific churches, and missionaries: the names of ministers, those that travel, local pastors, and elders that live in your county or area; the names of individuals directed by the Holy Spirit to form ministry teams for such endeavors as witnessing, children and youth work, foreign missions, and other outreaches.

_______________

(*Ask your public librarian for assistance.)

The names of laborers in the harvest fields; doers of the Word; the ministry of help in local churches such as Sunday school teachers, children, youth workers, ushers, etc; and the names of those in Christian radio and television.The names of new converts and backsliders, your Christian friends and relatives that may need prayer for a particular reason.

How to use "Prayer" Maps

Maps help expand our prayer possibilities. We rely upon maps because they enable us to see the areas our prayers cover. A good map would enable you to do the same thing. You, too, can identify where individuals live that need prayer. As you become aware of sections and areas you are covering in prayer, you will also become aware of the people and geography that remain untouched by your prayers. The Holy Spirit will show us how to touch those in need.

There are a number of map sources. For example, state tourist agencies have free state maps, and grocery stores have road atlases. A book store also has atlases, road maps, and city maps. Local Chambers of Commerce can provide maps of their particular town or city. Your telephone directory is an excellent source for your city map and can be photocopied for prayer purposes. County maps or plat maps of rural areas may be available from banks or real estate agencies. Also, some county assessors' offices have these kinds of maps.

ChapterEight

Local And Regional Prayer Plans

Prayer Plans

To expand the practical side of your prayer vision, we have included local and regional prayer plan options in this chapter. Two illustrations will help you better understand the emphasis of the local plan options. The first involves a" spoke pattern." The second involves a grid. When praying on a regional county level, we have used circles of love or a bull's-eye concept. Chapter nine deals with the Ohio Valley Prayer Plan, which covers all seven states, the respective counties, cities, and towns.

Three Prayer Elements

Each of the prayer plans uses all or portions of the three elements listed below.

(1) The Ohio Valley City and Town list

(2) The scripture-based prayers

(3) Your personal prayer lists

A Local Plan

Figure 1 is a map of a town, perhaps similar to your own, overlain with a spoke design. This type of plan allows you to pray not only for the person at the end of the arrow but others anywhere along the line. The heart of the spoke begins where you live. Each line of the arrow is drawn so prayer can go up for particular individuals, families, and groups of all types. You may know many of those you are praying for. In some instances, you may have to take time to identify the names of individuals that work for various organizations or institutions.

[FIGURE 1]

For example, one of the arrows may pinpoint a close relative or a best friend; another arrow may be directed toward a pastor and church; other arrows may be drawn to include a retirement home for the elderly or a university; some arrows point to the police, schools, business owners, or a factory. You may be praying for the mayor or others that work at city hall. What about praying for those that work at the airport? Perhaps you also could pray for businesses and residences along this same line. Consider using the scripture-based prayers beginning on page xx as a part of your daily prayer schedule.

By using a map of your city or town, colored pins, and thread, you can create a quality spoke pattern illustrating your prayer outreach. Although your design may not look like Figure 1, we believe that this pattern will enable you to see where you are pinpointing your prayers. As gaps appear, leaving certain areas uncovered by prayer, you and others can begin covering these sections and neighborhoods with prayer.

Figure 2 is a map of a city overlain with a grid pattern. The grid pattern enables you to pray for a city or county based upon those you know personally or individuals, groups, institutions, and organizations who you are willing to identify and pray for within a given grid. The address information from your personal prayer lists will enable you to place individuals and groups within each of the respective grids. The more individuals and groups, the more specific in prayer you become. Having a plan and having specific names identified will make your prayer time more fruitful.

[FIGURE 2]

GRID PATTERN