It seems to me that the battle lines are being drawn like never before.  We have recently seen two conservative judges elected to the nation’s highest court and states are introducing bills concerning abortion and defining marriage as between one man and one woman so  that these cases will be heard in the Supreme Court, with the thought of overturning abortion law and establishing traditional family values.

On another front, Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code*, which asserts that Jesus was married to Mary Magdelene, in a union which produced children and present day descendants, starring Tom Hanks will come out in May. On NBC’s Dateline, a gentleman is espousing that Jesus hung on the cross but did not really die (The old Passover Plot concept.) In our own state, the battle lines are drawn in many locations concerning whether casinos will be built in those locations. This comes at a time when the church has unified for prayer in unprecedented ways positioning the church for the greatest revival in decades.

            We must be girded with our battle armor.  I am not talking about getting up in the morning and speaking my way through each piece like I am putting on cloths, but I am talking about appropriating every weapon that the Lord has provided for us.  The promise that Paul gave is that if we put on the full armor of God that we would stand “having done all.”   This means that as we do the will of God, we will engage the enemy.  If we appropriate what the Lord has provided for us, we will get to the end of the battle as a soldier with sword in the air enjoying victory  (See and study Ephesians 6:10-13).

            In addition, we face a very important election in 2006.  Pennsylvania will elect a governor and we will elect a new House of Representatives.  The impact will be great. It is truly an exciting time to be alive.  We have the potential to effect change which will help to usher in the Kingdom of God.

            Christians are also drawing lines in the sand.  I recently met with a group from northeastern Pennsylvania, southeastern New York and northwestern New Jersey.  They are beginning to meet to see what these three regions can do to usher the Kingdom into their region.  The event that brought these believers together was a world wide convergence, sponsored by the Himilayan Institute in Honesdale, PA.   The convergence will not take place in the US, but the group decided to meet in order to find ways to march together as an army of intercessors and  leaders  in that region.  Many of the leaders who attended participate in regional prayer efforts in their respective states.

            This week, the PA Strategic Prayer Network will call together regional prayer leaders from 10 regions of the State to network and find ways to work together and increase our prayer efforts in the State of Pennsylvania. Let us pray that God will do an amazing job in knitting hearts and giving strategies either at the meeting or through the continuing relationships that develop.

            God has provided a very special way for us to engage in prayer regionally.  On Global Day of Prayer, June 4, 2006, upwards of 200 million people in locations around the world will gather in prayer events in their cities to pray for their region, their nation and the world.   On a recent trip to India, a friend told me that they are planning for 100,000 people to gather for the GDoP event in Mumbai.  If there is not a GDoP planned near you, I encourage you to plan an event in your town. It is best if this is a joint effort of multiple churches and denominations so that it becomes a means of facilitating the unifying of the Body of Christ. I also encourage you to register at www.globaldayofprayer.com.  Leaders in Harrisburg, Lancaster and York are meeting to look at joint meeting in that region. I am also away of at least one GDoP scheduled for the Philly area.  If you let me know about your event, I will be glad to publicize it in the PA Prayer Alert. 

            I also want to mention that GDoP is more than a one day event.  The goal is to have 10 days of prayer leading up to the event and then outreach after the time of prayer.  (You can certainly do the event without the others but these increase the impact greatly.  See the web sight for details.)

1.      Pray that God would unify His church in each of the regions of our state.

2.      Pray that God would develop a powerful network of prayer networks in the State.

3.      Pray for the election of our governor and congress persons.

4.      Pray that God will raise up multiple regional houses of prayer throughout the State.

5.      Pray for the Unrelenting Prayer Seminar April 28-29. (See details below.)

6.      Pray for your pastor and the pastors in your region.

1.      The Unrelenting Prayer Seminar, sponsored jointly by The Reading House of Prayer and the PA Strategic Prayer Network will be held at the Reading House of Prayer April 28-29.  Find details at www.rhop.net.

2.      The PA Strategic Prayer Network desires to engage in regional prayer events throughout the State in 2006. All you need to do is extend  an invitation at john@kquestministries.org or 717-968-0766, provide a place to have the meeting, provide a worship team from your  region (either from one local church or  a regional  group), and provide a love offering or  honorarium for the speakers and  prayer leaders.  The goal is to lead up to a state wide event in 2007.

May God bless you,

John

* A few years ago, a pastor recommended that I read the DaVinci Code in order to understand something of what we are battling in our day.  I am not necessarily saying that you should read it.  However, let me make a few observations.  First, it is extremely well written.  Dan Brown is a good writer.  Secondly, there is a tremendous amount of spiritual power manifesting as the book is read. I felt the need to engage is spiritual warfare in order to combat the lies of the enemy and the confusion that comes as one reads.  I personally believe the enemy is using the book to cause confusion and to cause doubt.  Reports are coming in telling of many people who have been confused by what they read.  The movie will touch many more lives.  I recommend that your churches be prepared.  Josh McDowell has written a book designed to be evangelistic, but addresses the flaws in the DaVinci Code and gives evidence to counteract.  You can get info on JOSH.ORG on packets that you can use to counteract this movie.  A pastor friend of mine is preaching on the subject and using it for an outreach.