Tearing Down Strongholds Through Prayer

By Jay Comiskey
Staff Writer

CBN.com -- CBN is calling the nation to prayer through "Operation Breakthrough". This 21 days of intercession from June 22 through July 12 is focusing on the following goals:

Divine intervention and spiritual breakthroughs in Iraq;
A successful transition of power in Iraq;
Supernatural protection of U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan;
The capture of key terrorist leaders;
Divine protection of the U.S. in this season of heightened terror alerts;
Guidance for President Bush and his administration during this critical period; and
A future of hope, stability, peace, and democracy in Iraq and throughout the Middle East.

As we prepare for Operation Breakthrough, it is important to remind ourselves that we are called as "soldiers" in the Lord's Army. Understanding the qualities and your responsibilities as a "soldier" will help you prepare for victory in the days to come.

1. Endurance: Good soldiers realize there will be difficulties and are prepared to persevere through tough times.

Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus (2 Tim 2:3).

2. Focused: Good soldiers do not allow the "cares of this world" to distract them.

And as Christ's soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army (2 Timothy 2:4).

3. Content: Good soldiers are thankful for the blessings they have. They don't waste their time complaining about what they don't have.

For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content (1 Timothy 6:7-8).

4. Fight the Good Fight: Good soldiers must be willing to "fight" the battles that the Lord has assigned them. Retreating or hiding from conflict is not an option in the Lord's Army.

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses (1 Timothy 6:12).

5. Holiness: Good soldiers know they must guard their hearts with all diligence.

Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart (2 Tim. 2:22).

6. Good Report: Good soldiers have bold faith for the future. Like Joshua and Caleb, they believe the "good report" of God's ability to lead His people to victory.

Be strong and very courageous (The Lord to Joshua, Joshua 1:6).

I am the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:8).
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us (Romans 8:37).

We can face the future with confidence because Jesus Christ is our Commander!

7. Weapons of Our Warfare: Good soldiers know their spiritual weapons and are prepared to use them daily (prayer, praise, peace, a good confession, etc.).

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses (2 Cor. 10:4).

Operation Breakthrough is calling the Body of Christ to utilize the mighty power of prayer to "tear down strongholds" of the enemy that are hindering God's purposes in Iraq and throughout the Middle East.

…the earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results (makes tremendous power available). Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for the next three and a half years! Then he prayed for rain, and down it poured … (James 5: 16-18).

The Word of God is a powerful weapon (Sword of the Spirit) that we use in prayer and declaration to see God's intervention on earth.

Wielding Our Weapon

Here are some key scriptures to strengthen your faith and intercession as we enter Operation Breakthrough:

…upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys (authority) of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven (Matt 16:18-19).

I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven (Matthew 18:18-19).

And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly (Luke 18:7-8).

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18).

Behold, I have given you authority to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you (Luke 10: 19).

The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).

In this way, God disarmed the evil rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by His victory over them on the cross of Christ (Colossians 2:15, NLT).

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours (Mark 11:24).

Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered! (Psalm 68:1).

The LORD shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they will come out against you one way and will flee before you seven ways (Deuteronomy 28:7).

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