40 Days of Fasting and Prayer
Focuses for Days 31 - 35
MEDIA/COMMUNICATIONS MOUNTAIN
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
Because the LORD has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;
To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. - Isaiah 61:1-3
"And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" - Romans 10:14-15
"Media is one of the most powerful tools on the face of the earth. It can release a thought over the minds of hundreds of millions of people and affect the course of nations." - James Nesbit, Prophetic Artist - Prepare the Way Ministries
According to Os Hillman of Reclaiming the 7 Mountains of Culture, the media is the prophetic voice of the nation. It's primary role should be to inform the nation of what is taking place by proclaiming truth and exposing unrighteousness, thereby holding leaders accountable. Media should present world events in an unbiased manner. This doesn't happen often, however, because so few in the media possess a biblical worldview. Instead of a spirit of truth, the spirit behind media is designed to create fear, despair and hopelessness and can often present situations inaccurately to portray good for evil and evil for good.
In order to take back the media and communication arts, and shift the nation toward righteousness, we must recognize that there is a spiritual battle taking place. In his book, The Seven Mountain Prophesy, Johnny Enlow identifies the Hittites in Joshua 1 and Deuteronomy 7 and the people group who represent the media and Apollyon as the name of the ruling spirit over them. Apollyon, which means destroyer, is a principality that uses bad news and the manipulation of truth to dominate and control the masses, promote infighting and division. His evangelists spread the paralyzing venom of fear, terror and despair through the airwaves to earth. As a result, through radio, broadcast and print media, this principality has shaped American culture to one that is largely ungodly and humanistic. This principality is working in direct opposition to God's purpose for the media-to cover the earth with the knowledge of the glory of God as the waters cover the sea (Hab 2:14).
Media has great power to persuade public opinion and shape culture. Sadly, fair and balanced reporting has been overtaken with sensationalism and politically, the press corps lean heavily to the left. The media has played a major role in shifting our nation away from God, Biblical values, and truth, and has filled the minds and hearts of most Americans with fear and faithless ideology.
The Gallup recently released a report about the media's growing bias, citing that fifty-seven percent of Americans have no confidence in the accuracy and fairness of their newspapers or television reports. Bias in the media and the struggle for Americans to be heard by the press and represented fairly in it's reporting is nothing new, but recent trends demonstrate that something extremely alarming is under way: our freedom of expression is seriously at stake. There is a calculated and tenacious effort to suppress opposing views in America. On social issues like homosexuality and concerning people groups such as Muslims, even the press has found themselves being pressured to engage in the very thing their institution despises: censorship.
Homosexual activists are not seeking tolerance of their lifestyles, but the intimidation of the media and the forced silencing of those who believe in moral absolutes. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has coerced many newspaper publishers into retracting or issuing apologies for printing language they've interpreted as "anti-gay". Just last week, the social networking giant Facebook officially linked arms with GLAAD to "end hate speech and anti-gay bullying" on the Internet. Anything they construe to be anti-homosexual will be stripped from the site, putting Facebok on the media's growing path toward censorship.
The Islamification of America is also being advanced through various media outlets. Wealthy Muslims are buying out stock in various news organizations as a way of pressuring media corps to present Islam in a favorable light. A leading member of the ruling family of the Sharia-totalitarian "kingdom" of Saudi Arabia, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, has made himself the second-largest shareholder of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., Fox News' parent company. It then only took a phone call from Alwaleed's office to ensure that Fox coverage of Muslim rioting in France not be described as "Muslim" rioting in France.
Although media and the art of communication have been used as tools of the enemy to advance the kingdom of darkness, it has also been used powerfully by those with God's heart and agenda to change the course of entire nations.
Martin Luther's 95 Theses ignited worldwide reformation. William Wilberforce used persuasive speech and writing coupled with influence the governmental level to bring an end to the British slave trade. Sophie Scholl and a group of university students referred to as the White Rose Movement published and distributed thousands upon thousands of leaflets denouncing the Nazi regime and calling for the end of the war and the restoration of democracy and social justice.
In our present day, there is a remnant of righteous voices proclaiming truth in the media. More recently, we have seen creative communication strategies effectively engaged in the fight for social justice and righteous governance.
A company of young people standing before the Supreme Court with red tape on their mouths displaying the word LIFE and a children's book and movie containing the catch phrase "a person's a person no matter how small" have been instrumental in bringing awareness about the cruelty of abortion and the value of life in the womb.
In preparation for the upcoming elections our good friend Janet Porter took a lead role in mobilizing the American citizens to send over 9 million pink slips to all 535 members of congress, warning them that their real pink slip will come on election day if they continued to vote for unrighteous legislation.
By God's design, the displacing authority over the mountain of media and communications are His anointed and appointed evangelists who fill the airwaves with His good news-the highest intent and purpose for media. In this time devoted to prayer and fasting for the media mountain, let's repent for turning from God and truth, bind the principality that would instill fear in the American people and call forth gifted servants to fill the airwaves with the good news of the kingdom of our God!
Day 31: Repentance for Turning our Back on God and Truth
For our offenses are many in your sight,
and our sins testify against us.
Our offenses are ever with us,
and we acknowledge our iniquities:
rebellion and treachery against the LORD,
turning our backs on our God,
fomenting oppression and revolt,
uttering lies our hearts have conceived.
So justice is driven back,
and righteousness stands at a distance;
truth has stumbled in the streets,
honesty cannot enter. - Isaiah 59:12-14
- Repent personally and on behalf of the American church for:
- abdicating her role on the media and communications mountain;
- being consumers who have contributed to the moral decline within the industry through our silence and acquiescence;
- allowing ourselves to be deceived and swayed by the media rather than searching for truth in the Word of God.
- Pray that there would be a greater understanding on how the media and communication arts affect us for good or evil.
- Repent on behalf of the media industry for:
- reporting a worldview that focuses on humanistic foundations
- bowing to pressure from the radical right and liberal extremists resulting in biased reporting
- propagating fear through inaccurate reporting about people and situations
- turning their backs on God and the truth, thereby become activists for evil
- Invite God back into the media and all streams of communication
Father, we thank You for Your Kingdom purposes for the media and communications. We repent for failing to recognize and exercise the power of the written and spoken word for advancing Your Kingdom and bringing glory to Your Name. Forgive us as a body for sitting on the sidelines in the marketplace of ideas and for not taking a more active role in penetrating public opinion to influence decision-making. We repent for allowing the evangelistic, prophetic voice of the Bride to be silenced, rather than using it to stir the collective heart of humanity towards that which is good Forgive us, Lord, for failing to contend for the preservation of truth and integrity in the media and communication arts, resulting in the widespread escalation of perverted truth and ideology. Forgive us for taking the easy road of complaining and criticizing the media instead of setting a positive example as bold proclaimers of truth. We repent on behalf of our national media corps for turning their backs on God and the truth by bowing to pressure from the radical right and liberal extremism resulting in biased reporting. We repent for allowing unrighteous media outlets to mold our minds and the minds of our children, rather than actively engaging in a personal search for truth in the Word of God. Father, release Your Spirit of Truth upon us so that we can better discern the perversion of truth. We call forth a hunger and thirst for righteousness in social communications that promotes unity in the human family in the cause of truth and social justice. We invite You, Jesus- the way, the TRUTH and the life-to flow freely through all streams of communication in this nation.
Day 32: Waging War for the Airwaves and our Freedom of Expression
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. - Isaiah 5:20
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. - 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. - Ephesians 6:12-13
- Bind the strongman that wants to instill fear and anxiety in people through the media.
- Bind that spirit that wants to manipulate and report news that is either untruthful or slanted to persuade inaccurate reporting.
- Bind the spirit that wants to silence those standing for truth, censor the media and block communications lines.
- Pray against those news outlets and/or individuals we see carrying an unusual Apollyon anointing. (Al-Jazeera would be a case in point, as it has served as a Goliath for terrorism.)
- Pray against the trend of intimidation and censorship of conservatives and bias toward homosexuality (hate crimes legislation) and Islam.
- Intercede fervently for the preservation of our freedom of conscience and freedom of expression.
- Pray that those working covertly to control media would be exposed, all unholy alliances would be broken, and all communication lines unblocked and healed.
- Pray for the displacement of the demonic authority over this mountain by those who fill the airwaves with the Good News of the Kingdom.
- Pray for the Spirit of Truth to become the spirit of the men and women working in our nation's media marketplaces.
We declare that the Name of Jesus is above every other name and Your holy mountain, Lord, is chief among the mountains. In the mighty name of Jesus, we bind the strongman that wants to instill fear and anxiety through media to control the views and choices of the American people. We loose a spirit of power to embolden Americans to stand up for the truth and righteousness and to embolden journalists to accurately report the news. We loose the love of God to cast out all fear, and we loose a sound mind to rightly discern truth. In Jesus' Name, we also bind the spirit that wants to silence those standing for truth, censor the media and block communication lines. We loose the spirit of liberty to govern all instruments and mediums of communication. Father, we ask that You would expose those organizations and individuals who are working to control media, and we command all unholy alliances within the media industry to be broken and dissolved. Lord, hold back the rising tide of intimidation and censorship of conservative or Biblical views and raise up a righteous remnant within the media to contend for the preservation of our first amendment rights to freedom of conscience and freedom of expression. May Your the Spirit of Truth become the spirit of the men and women working in our nation's media marketplaces. We call forth an accelerated displacement of the demonic authority over the media mountain by Your righteous servants who fill the airwaves with the Good News of the Kingdom!
Day 33: Raising a Standard of Truth
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. - Philippians 4:8-9
I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his house, and he will minister before my anointed one always. - 1 Samuel 2:35-36
So shall they fear
The name of the LORD from the west,
And His glory from the rising of the sun;
When the enemy comes in like a flood,
The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him. - Isaiah 59:19
- Ask God to raise up more Kingdom voices in mass media and grant favor, strength and excellence to those already there.
- Pray that believers working in the media industry will be bold to report the news from a Kingdom perspective, fully utilizing their First Amendment rights.
- Ask God to raise up news networks, newspapers, blogs and other media methods that have Gods agenda, are Kingdom-minded, culturally relevant and competitive with secular sources.
- Release vision and encouragement over young spiritual leaders who are called of God to infiltrate the media industry and make a powerful impact.
- Pray that all who work in the media industry would cherish truth more strongly than their own prejudices and personal agendas.
- Pray that those in the communication arts would present truth in a way that will enlighten hearts rather then inflame passions and conflicts.
- Pray that the accurate reporting among some news outlets will force a new level of accountability upon other news outlets.
- Pray for fair and balanced reporting---especially leading up to election and concerning government/executive/congressional action.
- Pray for defenders of Godly standards in the media industry to be voted into office.
- Pray for a powerful cultural upstream within the media and communications mountain to come forth, especially through the political arena.
- Pray that elected officials would be more proactive in influencing national policy to make television, radio and cable programming appropriate for the general public.
- Pray for the Federal Communications Commission to create and enforce regulations to control obscene, indecent and profane programming
Father, we thank You for the righteous remnant within the media industry and we bless them for whatever measure of light they are releasing from their positions of influence. Lord, we ask You to raise up more righteous voices in mass media and grant them favor, strength, excellence and boldness to report from a Kingdom perspective, fully utilizing their First Amendment rights. We release fresh vision and encouragement over young spiritual leaders who are called of God to impact the media industry. Protect their minds and hearts from liberal and humanistic theology and embolden them to uncompromisingly stand for truth. Father, we ask You to raise up and resource news networks and other media sources that have a Kingdom agenda. May these sources of accurate reporting force a new level of accountability upon other news outlets, causing them to value truth over their own prejudices and agendas and communicate truth in a way that will enlighten hearts rather than cause conflict. Fill the airwaves with truth in reporting and righteousness in the preparation of those reports. May stories that promote fear and anxiety be replaced with stories of nobility, justice, truth, virtue and praiseworthy things. May unbalanced views of situations and people be replaced with accurate reflections of what is taking place and the people involved. In light of the upcoming elections, we pray that fair and balanced reporting will come forth, especially concerning government, executive and congressional action. And where there the truth is concealed or misconstrued, we ask for the discernment and conviction to vote for God's choice. May defenders of Godly standards in the media industry be voted into office and influence national policy for creating and enforcing broadcast decency. Lord, stem the flood of deception and fear and raise up a standard of righteousness in the media and communications arts. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.
Day 34: Filling the Arsenals of God's Media Army
For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. - 1 Cor 16:9
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. - Eph 6:19-20
And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. - Deuteronomy 8:18
- Release a spirit of holy inspiration, technical excellence and divine creativity among Godly communicators for effectively demonstrating a biblical worldview through the written or spoken word.
- Career doors in national media are often very difficult to break into without an insider family member or Ivy league connection. Pray for open doors to careers, increased favor, visibility, influence and strategic relational connections for believers within the media industry.
- Call forth Christian philanthropists and business leaders to make generous commitments of finances toward communicating a Biblical worldview.
- Pray for the transfer of wealth to come into the hands of Godly Christians who possess the revelation for the implementation of new Kingdom-based media models and strategies.
- Release the wisdom of God for those in the media industry for the good and faithful stewardship and expression of their God-given gifts, talents and abilities.
- Pray for ample covering (intercessors, church family support, mentors, accountability partners, principled, divine protection, etc.) for Christians who desire to make an impact in this mountain.
- Pray for protection over the marriages and families of believers in the media industry from the pressures and entrapments of influence.
Father, we thank You for Your eternal purposes for the media and communication arts and ask that You bless believers in this arena with the gifts of Your continual presence and peace to guard their hearts and minds from the entrapments of power and influence. May they fulfill their calling to be instruments for the communication of truth with unique creativity, technical excellence and divine inspiration-may their plumb line always be Your Good News. Father, release wisdom upon believers in the media mountain for the good and faithful stewardship and expression of their God-given gifts, talents and abilities. We ask You, Lord, to fling wide the doors to careers and rapid advancement to positions of great visibility and influence for Your sons and daughters called to the media mountain. Grant them favor and connect them strategically with individuals and communities that will provide ample covering, accountability, and support for their advancement to the top of this mountain. Lord, give them a platform, give them a microphone, and give them an audience-may their influence be greater than that of Oprah Winfrey! Raise up faithful intercessors, Father, to pray strategically and persistently for the media mountain and those working within the industry. Lord, You have promised to add all things unto those who seek You and Your Kingdom first. We call forth philanthropists and business leaders to make generous financial investments to undergird the communication of a Biblical worldview. Lord, release Kingdom wealth into the hands of Godly Christians who possess the revelation for the implementation of new Kingdom-based media models and strategies. We thank You, Lord for granting us the power to create wealth and for supply for all our needs according to Your riches in glory. We thank You, Father, for filling the arsenals of Your media army with every resource and weapon necessary-offensive and defensive-- for effectively waging and winning the war for truth.
Day 35: Releasing God's Media Army: The Bearers of Good News
By [speaking] the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [to attack] and for the left hand [to defend]; Amid honor and dishonor; in defaming and evil report and in praise and good report. [We are branded] as deceivers (impostors), and [yet vindicated as] truthful and honest...Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians [we are hiding nothing, keeping nothing back], and our heart is expanded wide [for you]! - 2 Corinthians 6:7-8, 11 AMP
Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. - Acts 4:29, 31
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" - Isaiah 52:7
For the earth will be filled
With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD,
As the waters cover the sea. - Habakkuk 2:14
- Pray for the Church to regain its biblical worldview and manifest it through the media.
- Pray that God will raise up a courageous new generation of uncompromising godly representatives in the media that will cause truth and righteousness to come forth and impact government and every sphere of societal influence.
- Pray for representatives at a national level willing to stand up for righteousness when they are confronted with bowing down to the god of power and influence that contradicts Biblical worldview.
- Pray that believers in the media industry would follow Jesus' instructions to live as sheep among wolves and be wise as serpents and harmless as doves (Matt 10:16-20)
- Pray for the guidance and anointing of the Holy Spirit upon what believers in media speak and write so that it shapes perceptions of truth and reality.
- Pray that the light of Christians in the industry will shine brightly so others will see their good works and give glory to God.
- Pray for revival among journalists, broadcasters, television producers, news network executives, and all those in the media industry.
- Pray for a great harvest of souls to be brought into the Kingdom as the Word goes forth through all media outlets.
Father, we ask for a holy visitation upon Your Church, such that we would regain and boldly proclaim a Biblical worldview-both from the pulpit and through the press, causing iniquitous foundations of the mountain of media to be shaken and brought to utter ruin. Lord, raise up Nehemiahs to rebuild the wall of the righteous reporting, even in the face of great opposition and slanderous personal attacks, finding their vindication in You. Raise up believers in the media, Lord, to have the spirit of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who refused to bow to the god of the age. May these faithful ambassadors of truth be used of God to displace the demonic authority upon this mountain, and occupy the highest platform for amplifying God's Voice and God's Message. Lord of hosts, we ask You to unleash Your mighty army to infiltrate the media mountain and skillfully wield heavenly weapons of warfare for the pulling down of strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. We also ask for the guidance and anointing of the Holy Spirit upon what believers in media speak and write so that it shapes perceptions of truth and reality and delivers the masses from the dark veil of uncertainty, fear and manipulation. May the Name of the Lord be proclaimed and the glory of God released from the top of the media and communication arts mountain to the ends of the earth. May a great harvest of souls to be brought into the Kingdom as the Word goes forth through all media outlets. Father, we ask for nothing less than revival among journalists, broadcasters, television producers, news network executives, and all those in the media industry for renewing minds, transforming and turning hearts to You, and reforming the United States of America. God, let Your Kingdom purposes for the media come forth. Your truth and Your purposes cannot be withheld. You are mightier than the media! In Jesus' Mighty Name, we pray. Amen.http://www.generals.org/prayer/root-52/40-days-guide-7
