Shields Up: Establishing a Prayer Shield for Your Family, Ministry and Sphere of Influence By James W. Goll Tuesday, August 21st, 2018 I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4, NASB I. Priority Praying as Spiritual Amor Bearers While there are different gifts in the Bible, worship, prayer, praise and intercession are never listed as special spiritual gifts anywhere in the scriptures. We are each called to be worshipping intercessors and interceding worshippers. With this in mind, as New Testament believers in Christ Jesus, we are each called to be spiritual armor bearers through the power of prayer. A. Why Pray for People in Authority? 1. Two Reasons Listed in 1 Timothy 2:1-4: a. So that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. b. So that God can save all men and bring them to knowledge of the truth. 2. Without Prayer You will not have power to carry out your plans. Prayer-less intentions are like a building that is wired for electricity, but if it s not connected to a power source, nothing will work, even if the wires are in good order and the light fixtures are beautiful. 3. Pray and Obey We should pray for those who are in authority simply to be obedient to the will of God. He wants us to obey people who are in authority as far as it is possible to do so. If you do good, as Romans 13:1-7 says, You will have no need to be fearful of the authorities. B. For Whom Should You Pray? 1. For Those in Governmental Positions From the perspective of the United States government, you should pray for the sixteen individuals who make most of the key governmental decisions in the United States: our President, the nine justices of the Supreme Court, the two
senators from your state, the U.S. congressperson from your district, the governor of your state, your state senator, your state representative, and also for others who work on local levels of government. 2. For Spiritual Leaders on All Levels Pray for the leaders in your church or ministries in which you participate. Do this for your local pastors and church staff members as well as for those regional and the national leaders with whom you are aligned. Pray blessings for anyone in spiritual authority who oversees an aspect of spiritual life that impacts your life. 3. For the Leaders of the Seven Spheres of Society This includes: Government, Family, Education, Business, Religion, Arts and Entertainment, and Media. Pray for marketplace leaders, for the elders who sit at the gates of your city, and for those who impact the commerce where you live. 4. For Your Family You should pray for your family (from the heart) by name. Every Sunday, I pick a scripture to pray over my family for the entire week. (For more teaching on How to Pray Your Family into God s Family, see my book and study guide, Prayer Storm.) II. A Spiritual Warfare Encounter Shields Up! While praying for the Middle East, especially for Israel s protection, in midst of the Syrian Civil War, the Holy Spirit spoke clearly to me and through me. I was given a dream that I was an adviser to Israel as a General in the U.S. military. I was dressed in battle fatigues and shouted out orders while sirens blared the atmosphere was one of chaos, fear and imminent danger. I appeared to be somewhere close to the Sea of Galilee in the northern part of Israel. A clear word bellowed forth through a megaphone I was carrying. I heard myself declare, SHIELDS UP! All of a sudden, in the dream, shields started arising quickly from underneath the ground. These shields formed into high walls that were impenetrable. They were voice activated and came up at my command all along the borders of Israel, shielding Israel from the impending bombardment being launched from Syria and Lebanon. I woke up from the dream encounter knowing these words were a scripture in the Psalms. So, I went to my concordance and found in Psalm 47:9, The princes of the people have assembled themselves as the people of the God of Abraham, for the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted. It is time to call forth the shields of the earth, which belong to God, to arise. It is my belief that as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you can call forth a hedge of protection within the spheres of your domain. SHIELDS UP!
III. Additional Key Scriptures A. Ephesians 6:11-20 The Full Amor of God Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual [forces] of wickedness in the heavenly [places.] Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil [one.] And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and [pray] on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in [proclaiming] it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. B. Zechariah 13:7 Spiritual Warfare Principle Awake, O sword, against My shepherd, and against the man, My Associate, declares the Lord of hosts. Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered; and I will turn My hand against the little ones. C. Psalm 47:9 Shields of the Earth Belong to God The princes of the people have assembled themselves as the people of the God of Abraham, for the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted. IV. Ten Points for Persistent Prayer for Leaders A. Pray for the Spirit of Conviction Pray for a spirit of conviction to come upon leaders and that as a result they would realize their daily need for cleansing of sin and any hindrance that could be in the way of walking in greater intimacy with Jesus Christ. B. Pray for Dependency on God Pray that they would recognize their personal inadequacy to fulfill their tasks and they would depend upon God for knowledge, wisdom, and the courage to do what is right. C. Pray for Godly Counsel Pray that they would reject all counsel that violates spiritual principles, trusting God to prove them right.
D. Pray for Discernment Pray that they would resist those who would pressure them to violate their conscience and that they would grow and mature in discernment. E. Pray for Boldness Pray that they would take bold stands for morality, life, and put in place boundaries that are safe and wisdom-filled. Pray they have strength to take a stand against evil. F. Pray for a Pure Heart Pray they would be ready to sacrifice their personal ambitions and greed for the sake of Christ. Pray that they would ascend to the hill of the Lord with clean hands and a pure heart. G. Pray for Hunger for the Word of God Pray that they would rely upon prayer and the Word of God as the source of their daily strength, wisdom, and courage. H. Pray for Integrity Pray that they would be used to restore dignity, honor, trustworthiness and righteousness in their sphere of authority. Pray for the restoration of integrity. I. Pray for Quality Role Models Pray that they would surround themselves with good role models to encourage them. Pray they remember that as a leader they are called to a higher standard to be good examples for others in the affairs of everyday life. J. Pray for Revelation of Eternal Judgment Pray that they would be reminded daily that they are accountable to Almighty God for the decisions they make and that one day we will each stand before the judgment seat of Christ. V. Daily Prayers for a Prayer Shield Some prayer warriors are only prophetic intercessors and do not follow a script but rather listen and respond to the Holy Spirit s leading. Others are list intercessors and do best by working within structure. No matter what type of intercessor you might be, here is a practical daily guide you can adapt for your sphere whether it be for your family, business, government leaders or those in any of the seven cultural mountains of influence. A. Sundays: Favor with God Psalm 90:17 NIV May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us yes, establish the work of our hands. B. Mondays: Favor with Man Acts 2:47 NASB [And they were] praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
C. Tuesdays: Pure Vision Habakkuk 2:2 NKJV Then the LORD answered me and said: Write the vision and make [it] plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. D. Wednesdays: Spirit, Soul, Body I Thessalonians 5:23 NASB Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. E. Thursdays: Warfare and Protection Psalm 91:1-3 NIV Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. F. Fridays: Priorities Matthew 6:33 KJV But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. G. Saturdays: Family Ephesians 5:33-6:4 NASB Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must [see to it] that she respects her husband. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. VI. Lifting Up a Prayer Shield While we each have special prayer assignments, we are all called to pray for people who are in authority. It is God s heart, His Word, and His command. A. Praying with a Heart of Honor These are additional Scriptures to help us understand how to pray for people who are in positions of any form of authority. 1. 1 Peter 2:17, NKJV Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 2. Proverbs 24:21-22, NIV Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with the rebellious, for those two will send sudden destruction upon them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?
3. Proverbs 29:2, NKJV When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. B. Closing Prayer of Blessing Holy God, in the mighty name of Jesus, I present myself to you to be one who stands in the gap for my family, city, nation and the spheres of responsibility in which you have placed me. Teach me how to take up my shield of faith to be able to extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one. Use me in crisis intervention through intercession to call forth, Shields Up, creating a Psalm 91 place of protection in Christ Jesus. Thank you for raising me up for these days to make a difference for the Kingdom of God.