TALLIT: The mini Tabernacle

Tabernacle Prayer:  THE TALLIT

TABERNACLE PRAYER IS:

  • Strategic
  • Intentional
  • An ongoing journey to the Father’s Heart
  • A foreshadow of Heaven

THE TALLIT

This Jewish Prayer Shawl is a type and shadow of the Tabernacle.  In fact, word “Tallit” in Hebrew means “Little Tent”.  The Hebrew word for tent is translated “Tal”, adding the adverb “Lit” means little.  The actual word “Tallit” means “to cover”.  This symbolizes our being covered in God’s Presence.

Tallit (the Prayer Shawl) the corner fringes on this ritual garment remind the wearer of all the commandments in the Torah. The (tall-EET) or tallis (TALL-us) is a large rectangular shawl made of wool, cotton or synthetic fibers. In each of the four corners of the shawl are strings tied in a particular pattern, called tzitzit. The origin of the is biblical; the practice is prescribed in Numbers 15. The precept is to put these strings on the four corners of one’s garment — in ancient tradition, with a single strand of blue as well–as a reminder of the duties and obligations of a Jew. Since we no longer wear four-cornered garments, the tallit is worn specifically to fulll the biblical precept.

The Bible does not command wearing of a unique prayer shawl or tallit. Instead, it presumes that people wore a garment of some type to cover themselves and instructs the Children of Israel to attach fringes (????? tzitzit) to the corners of these (Numbers 15:38), repeating the commandment in terms that they should “make thee twisted cords upon the four corners of thy covering, wherewith thou coverest thyself” (Deuteronomy 22:12). These passages do not specify tying particular types or numbers of knots in the fringes. The exact customs regarding the tying of the tzitzit and the format of the tallit are of post-biblical, rabbinic origin and, though the Talmud discusses these matters, slightly different traditions have developed in different communities.[6] However the Bible is specific as to the purpose of these tzitzit, stating that “it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye go not about after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go astray; that ye may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy unto your God”.[7]

Traditionally, men wear a tallit during morning services; in non-Orthodox synagogues, many women also wear a tallit. In some Orthodox congregations, only married men wear a tallit.

To put on the tallit, many will first unfolt it and hold in both hands so the ATARAHis facing them.  One may see people gathering the tzitzit in their left hand and kissing them when the paragraph from the referring to them is recited.

Before putting on the prayer shawl, it is customary to say the following blessing:

Baruch atah adonai Eloheinu
melech ha olam
Asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav
Vitzivanu l’hitatef b’tzitzit.

“Blessed are you Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe Who has sanctifieed us with your mitzvot And commanded us to wrap ourselves in tzitzit.”

After reciting the blessing, the person will throw the Tallit over his shoulders like a cape and then position it on his shoulders.  After it is positioned, then they will bring their hands together in front of their face briefly and cover their head with the Tallit for a moment of private meditation.  Then the Tallit is adjusted on the shoulders.

TWO TYPES OF TALLIT (or Talliot)

Tallit katan – The Tallit katan descends from the Sephardic tradition.  Some believe Jesus wore this kind of Tallit.  It is a large rectangular cloth with a hole in the middle, worn over the head and under the outer garments. They wear it all during their waking hours, never take it off. Many Orthodox Jews wear this type of Tallit to this day.

Tallit Gadol – This is more of a Prayer Shawl that is draped around the shoulders.  This type of Tallit is worn around the shoulders only during the times of prayer and while in service at Synagogue.  This comes from the Ashkenazi tradition.

TALLIT IN LIFE CYCLES:

BIRTH – Eight days after birth the male child is circumcised, this is called the “BRIS” or BRIT MILAH.  As part of the circumcision rite, the father will wrap his baby son in his Tallit for a few moments and prays for his baby.  In doing this, the father is symbolically wrapping the baby in the Word of God and the protective covering of “Hashem” (Adonai).  The father then announces the name of his son and holds him on his lap throughout the ceremony as a sign that he will guide, protect and love his son.  This is a sign that the Name of God (not the father’s name) will live throughout the generations.  There is a similar ceremony for baby girls 80 days after birth.  They also are dedicated to God.

BAR/BAT MITZVAH – The Tallit is presented to the young girl or boy as they reach the age of 12, the age of manhood or womanhood.  The new adult will then read publicly from the Word of God wearing his/her new Tallit.  The new adult is now taking on the responsibility of following the Word of God by becoming the son or daughter of the Commandments.  The child is now recognized as an adult and is responsible for his or her words and actions in the community.

TALLIT IN MARRIAGE – The Tallit is again used in marriage.  It is place on poles and creates a canopy over the couple, calling it the “Chuppah”.  The man and woman come together as husband & wife – one flesh – under the protection of God.  Marriage represents the completion of the Image of God.  Marriage also reflects our walk with Messiah, a foreshadow of Christ and His Bride.  When the man & woman bond together in marriage, it is no longer “him” and “her”, it is about them as a couple.  As the couple stands under the Tallit, or the Chuppah, they stand together as a three-strand cord with the Lord.  This is the beginning of a New Creation, their “oneness” with each other with God.  The Lord’s powerful will stands between this New Creation called marriage and the couple must realize the Lord will lead them, guide them and protect them.

TALLIT IN DEATH AN BURIAL – The man or the woman is to be buried with their Tallit only if they spent their lives walking with the Lord.  When the Tallit is used in burial, we remember that this is a sign of holiness and sanctification.  In life, the wearer of the Tallit is known to be one who is set apart for God.

PRAYER CLOSET – When a person covers himself with this prayer shawl, he shuts out the world.

Matthew 6:5-6 – “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by others.  Amen, I tell you, they have their reward to the full!  But YOU….when you pray, go into your inner room and when you have shut your door, pray to the Father Who sees you in secret, shall reward you.”

Some of the versions use the words “…..go into your CLOSET….”

We have to realize that in ancient Israel there was no such things as “closets”.  In fact, in most houses, they might have had only one room, not an “inner room”.  So what did Jesus mean when He said that?

The “inner chamber” is the Tallit.  Whenever someone had their Tallits over their heads, the other family members knew enough not to bother them.  They knew they were praying.  The one wearing the Tallit had “gone into his inner chamber and closed the door”.

Every observant Jew prayed 3 times a day:

  • Morning Prayer – Shacharit
  • Afternoon Prayer – Mincha
  • Evening Prayer – Maariv

Jesus was an observant Jew Who practiced every one of the jewish customs and observed every one of the Feasts.

This morning I was meditating on Jesus, His early morning prayers, which was called the “Shacharit”.
“Very early, while it was still night, Yeshua got up, left and went away to a place in the wilderness, and there He was praying.” Mark 1:35

So here Jesus our Lord and our Messiah, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords is praying early in the morning under this “tent”.  Not only did He pray in the early mornings, Jesus prayed 3 times a day!  Can you imagine the Glory that filled that Tallit?  The anointing this piece of cloth carried?

READ:  Exodus 33:7-11

Now if the Glory was so heavy upon Moses as He met with the Lord face-to-face under a tent…..so much so that Joshua wouldn’t leave even after the prayer was over…..what was in Jesus’ Tent?

READ: Matthew 9:20-22, Matthew 14:35-36

The people KNEW Jesus was their Messiah.  Jesus is the Promised One.

Malachi 3:20: But to you, who fear My Name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will break out leaping like calves released from the stall”.

Every observant Jew knew in this Scripture the Sun of Righteousness refers to their Messiah.  Also, every observant Jew knows the “Tzitzit” on the 4 corners of their garments always are called the “Wings”.

Every common person KNEW Jesus is Messiah.  Even though the religious elite and the Levitical priesthood never recognized Him….they did.  The common people did.

There is still so much more, but it is my goal for you to get a glimpse of this thing we call the “Prayer Shawl”, the Tallit.  Get a picture of Jesus wearing this Prayer Shawl around His shoulders and on His head during prayer.  Then get a glimpse of the crowds of people clamoring all over Jesus, wanting to just touch this Prayer Shawl, especially the 4 corners of the garment.

Jesus’ Prayer Shawl is available to all of us, in Spirit.  We can also come running to Him and beg to touch the “hem of His garment”, His Prayer Shawl.  Healing is still in His Wings.  We can touch Him….even today.

Going through the Fence

TABERNACLE PRAYER

Into the Outer Court Fence

Make a courtyard for the tabernacle. The south side shall be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains of finely twisted linen, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts. The north side shall also be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

“The west end of the courtyard shall be fifty cubits wide and have curtains, with ten posts and ten bases. On the east end, toward the sunrise, the courtyard shall also be fifty cubits wide. Curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on one side of the entrance, with three posts and three bases, and curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on the other side, with three posts and three bases.” (Exodus 27:9-15, NIV)

“This translates to an area 75 feet wide by 150 feet long. The tabernacle, including the courtyard fence and all the other elements, could be packed and easily moved when the Jews traveled from place to place. The fence set the holy ground of the tabernacle apart from the rest of the camp. No one could casually approach the holy place or wander into the courtyard.

Linen was a valuable cloth made from the flax plant, widely cultivated in Egypt. Workers stripped long, thin fibers from inside the stems of the plant, spun them into thread, then wove the thread into fabric on looms. Because of the intense labor involved, linen was mostly worn by rich people. This fabric was so delicate; it could be pulled through a man’s signet ring. Egyptians bleached linen or dyed it bright colors. Linen was also used in narrow strips to wrap mummies.

The linen of the courtyard fence was white. Various commentaries note the contrast between the dust of the wilderness and the striking white linen wall wrapping the grounds of the tabernacle, the meeting place with God. This fence foreshadowed a much later event in Israel when a linen shroud was wrapped around the crucified corpse of Jesus Christ, who is sometimes called the “perfect tabernacle.”  Jack Zavada

The fenced-in Tabernacle grounds at 75 feet by 150 feet are about the size of a city lot.  The white linen was about 300 feet long by 7.5 feet high.  It surrounded the Outer Court, where all people had access.  The greater number actions of praise and worship took place within the Outer Court.  Yet this is the lowest stage of spiritual communion, yet it stands for whatever was the most fundamental and most important.  From this place the Altar of Sacrifice (redemption) and the Brazen Altar (repentance) were widely visible and was the absolute center of the sacrificial system.

Blessed is the one You choose and bring near to dwell in Your courts!  We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your House – Your holy temple”.  Psalm 65:4

“For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else”. Psalm 84:11

As we enter into the Outer Court through the Gate of the Tabernacle, we see the fence from the inside, the white linen fence.  When I meditated on this, I suddenly had a flash.  The fence is there to close us in, not keep us out. There is a gate to the Tabernacle and everyone is welcome to come in.

The fence is a type and shadow of the Tallit, the Jewish prayer shawl.  We all know but we don’t think about is the fact that Jesus wore a tallit.  Just like any good Jew, Jesus wore His tallit all of the time as a reminder of living a lifestyle of prayer, and His tzitzit, the fringes hung out just as we see how orthodox and Hassidic Jews wear their tallits today.  We are familiar with what happened to the woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34 and Luke 8:43-48.  This woman had the audacity to reach through the pressing crowd and grab onto the fringe of Jesus’ Tallit, the tzitzit of His Tallit so she can be healed!  But this woman wasn’t the only person who touched the tzitzit of Jesus’ tallit for healing.  Many did this, read Matthew 14:34-36, Mark 6:56.

In Mosaic law, the Lord instructed His people regarding the corners of their garments, they were instructed to make fringes or tassels to hang from the corners of their garments (Numbers 15:37-41).  It doesn’t make sense to us because of our own culture, how we wear our clothes today.  Our garments no longer have “corners” like the outer cloaks of the ancient Middle Eastern people.  They wore as an outer garment a large piece of cloth with a hole in the middle for their heads.  After putting it on they would tie it around their waist with a piece of twine, cloth or leather.  The ancient Middle Eastern people would mark the corners of their outer garments as part of their identity.  The Lord, when He called the children of Israel to be His own, called them to place tassels on the corners of their outer garments to mark them as His own people.  The children of Israel were to take on the LORD’S identity from now on.  No longer were they to identify themselves as slaves of the Egyptians, they are now entering into their own destiny as a kingdom of priests, serving the Great I AM. (Exodus 19:6)

Remember the story of Ruth?  In Ruth 3:9, this woman asked Boaz to “extend the borders of his garment and cover her”.  What Ruth was asking of Boaz was she wanted to be one of his people, one of God’s people.  She was requesting for herself to be identified with him.

In Ezekiel 16:8 the Lord used a word picture of spreading His garment over His people to cover their nakedness.  He was reclaiming His people.

When David cut off the corner of Saul’s garment in I Samuel 24:5, what he did was cut off one of the fringes from Saul’s Tallit.  Today we might wonder why David’s heart was pierced.  We think, “big deal!  He just cut off a piece of Saul’s robe.  What’s so terrible about that?”  We don’t understand that what David did was that he defaced Saul’s identity and his divinely authorized kingship.

Today, because they no longer wear long robes with 4 corners, over the years the Tallit was constructed.  This prayer shawl with its fringes is a symbol of their covenant with the Lord.  The Lord has extended His garment to cover them / cover us with His grace.

The Prayer Shawl is symbolic of the Tabernacle. 

Whenever the prayer shawl is properly used, the face is covered.  This is symbolic of being closed in with the Lord.  We wear the prayer shawl to “close us in” away from the distractions of the world so we can spend that time communing with the Great I AM.

Around the Tabernacle was a long white linen fence.  The fence around the Tabernacle was a type of Tallit.  The fence was not there to keep out.  The fence was there to keep us in.  The linen fence of course couldn’t keep anyone or anything out.  It was made of linen fabric and that fabric could easily tear if someone wanted to get in badly enough.  Linen is an expensively made delicate fabric

The Lord wants to cover us with His presence.

Genesis 3:8-11 relates how Adam & Eve suddenly realized they were naked, and they became ashamed and hid from the Lord.  The reason why they suddenly realized they were naked was because of their sin they lost the covering of God’s Presence.  Without His covering, they were naked!  Up to that point, Adam & Eve were “covered” by the Lord’s Tallit.  Then, as we know the Lord slaughtered animals to cover them.  They only can be “covered” through the shedding of innocent blood.

This is a picture of the Tabernacle.  The entire Tabernacle: Outer Court and Inner Court are surrounded by the white linen fence.  That is a picture of the Lord’s covering.  In a sense, the fence is a shadow of the covering of the Lord’s Presence as what Adam & Eve had before they sinned.  Just inside the Gate there is the Altar of Sacrifice, where the shedding of innocent blood was performed daily.  That, as we know is a type & shadow of the price Jesus paid on the cross at Calvary. As we enter into the Lord’s covering, we cannot go any further until we see the Cross.  We must accept the Cross and the price Jesus paid so that we can enter in.

WHAT THE TALLIT, THE FENCE DOES FOR US:

  • The Tallit, the fence covers our eyes so we won’t be distracted by the world (Psalm 101:3).
  • The Tallit, the fence covers us, protects us from prying eyes as we enter into the Lord’s Presence.
  • The Tallit, the fence protects at that moment from caring about other’s opinions of us.
  • The Tallit, the fence protects us from physical harm or danger (Psalm 91).
  • The Tallit, the fence protects us from exposure to the world and feeling like we are at another’s mercy.

As we remain in the center of the Lord’s will, we are safe.  The safest place we can be, whether we are in the midst of war, or in a far-off jungle, whether we live in a dangerous neighborhood, or whether we live in prosperity in a nice middle class home; the safest place we can be in right in the center of God’s will.  It doesn’t matter where we are.  We can be confident of the Lord’s protection.  We can rest in the Lord, “like a weaned child resting against his mother” (Psalm 131:2).

Right now, if you’re in a place of victory, go in and shut the door.  Go into the Tabernacle and have a “praise party”.  Go in and rejoice with the Lover of your soul.  Sing and dance wildly!  The Lord loves it when you crazily and loudly praise Him.  Cut loose and praise the One Who created you and gives you victory!

Right now, if you are in a place of confusion or distress, if your spirit is restless and unsettled and you don’t know where to go or who to turn to, I encourage you to go inside the Tabernacle.  Go inside and gaze at the linen fence.  The Lord is here.  Go in, shut the door.  Put your head in the Lord’s lap and weep, cry out and travail.  You are safe in this place.  You have the Lord’s permission to emote.  Shut yourself in.  Turn off the TV, computer, cell phones.  Shut out all external noises and go in.

Right, if you’re in the doldrums, just barely living your everyday life, go into the Tabernacle.  Shut the door.  Listen for His voice.  The Lord wants to speak to you.  The Lord wants to share His secrets with you.  Go in and sit before your Lord and your God.  Wrap your prayer shawl around your face, remove all distractions, go in and meet the Lover of your soul.

He’s waiting for you!

CT Capitol Prayerwalkers

CT Capitol Prayer Walkers
   April 2018 Newsletter
Robin Hansen, Lucy Snow – Team Leaders

Praise God and thank you for your faithfulness in praying for our state … and there is a lot happening!

First … we are revamping the ministry of the CT Capitol Prayer Walkers.  Nothing dramatic – just tidying up a little. For over 10 years, Lucy Snow has been the Coordinator of this ministry.  She has done an incredible job, but it is a lot of work, so as of 2018, Robin Hansen will be co-coordinating with Lucy.  Robin has been a prayer walker for over 4 years & is thrilled and excited to come alongside & partner with Lucy to help share these responsibilities.  

In the next couple of months, we will be creating a new brochure, hosting a “Info Session” at the Capitol, renovating our web page on the House of Good Hope’s website,  and doing a radio interview on Christian Radio Station WIHS, 104.9FM.  Details to follow…

We will also be creating a newsletter that will contain current prayer needs and other information.  The Newsletter will probably be every other month (we’ll see)

And … we are working on a Facebook page – stay tuned!!  


2018 provides a unique & powerful opportunity as all of the following are up for election:



ALL 151 seats in the State House of Representatives
ALL 36 seats in the State Senate

All 6 State Constitutional Offices:
   Governor  & Lieutenant Governor
   Secretary of the State  
   State Comptroller, Treasurer & Atty General
ALL 5 of Connecticut’s U.S. Representatives
PRAY – Get the word out about this  – VOTE

67th Annual National Day of Prayer
          Thursday, May 3, 2018

National Day of Prayer events will take place in over 160 locations throughout our state & throughout the day at various times.  Get involved & tell others! Attend one of more events and make a public witness for Jesus!  For the nearest location(s) to you visit www.nationaldayofprayer.org

CONNECTICUT PRAYS – This is part of New England Prays, the Prayer Initiative to have New England covered in prayer 24/7/365 until Jesus returns.  The goal is to have our state covered in prayer by uniting churches across Connecticut to participate. There are currently over 25 churches across our state that are involved!  Maybe YOUR church wants to get involved?  For more information &/or to get your church involved, visit www.ctprays.org

CT Capitol Prayer Breakfast – On Tuesday, April 24th the Connecticut Capitol Prayer Network, along with several State Senators, are hosting the Connecticut Capitol Prayer Breakfast at the State Capitol.  All State Senators and State Legislators are being mailed official invitations.  (this event is not open to the public)

Personally invite YOUR Legislators by writing a note, sending an email or calling their office — they are much more encouraged to attend if they are personally invited by the very people they represent!!    

Prayer Points

1.  PRAY God will raise up bold, born-again  
   Christians to serve in our State Government!!

2.  PRAY Christians will spread the word about this year’s election & VOTE!!

3.  PRAY for supernatural intervention at each event on the National Day of Prayer!  And for great weather!!

4.  PRAY hundreds of churches across CT will get involved with Connecticut Prays!!

5. PRAY every state citizen personally invites their Representatives AND that every single state legislator attends the breakfast & joins as we pray in the Name of Jesus!!

6.  PRAY God’s protection and wisdom for Peter Wolfgang and the Family Institute of CT.

7.  PRAY for God’s protection for local Christian Radio Station WIHS – 104.9FM.  PRAY for His wisdom and guidance for the WIHS Board of Directors!

 

Please feel free to submit your suggestions, ideas & input for the CT Capitol Prayer Walkers.  Email us at ctprayerwalkers@gmail.com
Connecticut Capitol Prayer Walkers is a ministry of House of Good Hope/Hartford House of Prayer.  For more information visit www.hartfordprayer.com

“.…And who knows whether you have not come to the Kingdom for such a time as this?”  
Esther 4:14b (RSV)

 

Prayer Training

Last Saturday night at the conference I attended, the worship was so exquisite!  In fact, the atmosphere of the room became more of an intercessory worship more than just a congregation in worship, loving on Jesus.  We all began to scream, cry out, dance and sing our prayers & intercession.  It was raw, noisy and raucous and wonderful!  I’ve been in that place many times before, mostly with the group of people I was with that night.  Many of us have been friends and prayer partners for years, some for decades.  The sanctuary was filled with intercessors with a burdened passion to pray for the next Great Awakening in New England.  We all were of one heart, one mind, one spirit.  I cried out , begged the Lord to increase my passion for prayer.  I asked the Lord again to put a birthing travailaing prayer for New England back in my gut.  Over the years I found that I’ve grown tired, bitter and cold.  I found that I was better at organizing prayer rather than entering into the place of deep intercession.  But that is not where I want to be.  I know that the Lord wants to take me into the deeper places of intercession: to be prayer rather than to “do” prayer.  Organizing another prayer meeting won’t do it.  Teaching on prayer won’t do it.  I need to pray.  I need to travail in prayer.  I know the Lord has been calling me to this, but somewhere along the line I got burned out.  My cry has been “RE-FIRE ME Lord!”  I need that passion, that burning passion back in my gut again.

A few years ago the Lord had me study the process it takes to be an excellent marathon runner.  My daughter at that time was training to run the half-marathon and she shared her experiences with me every step of the way. Through her sharing this with me,  I heard God’s voice.  I heard and began to understand that this thing that I’ve spent my life doing is going to be a lifetime work.  I need to know that one short prayer meeting is not going to bring in revival.  It’s going to take a lifetime of prayer.  There is no magic formula for this.  There will be years of hard work, little or no recognition, and many many tears of intercession.  I need to be trained well in this.  I need to learn the value of living in constant repentance, and constant humility.  Many will not understand what I’m doing or why I’m doing what I’m doing, they may even try to tell me not to waste my time.  They may even make fun of me.  But no matter what, I’m to continue in prayer and intercession, no matter if I have to do this alone.  The years have been long,and it has been exhausting.  And, as in a marathon, I know the culmination is about to come.  I also know that it gets even more exhausting just before we reach the finish line.  I must not give up.  What I’ve been praying and travailing for in intercession is about to break through!  I cannot quit yet.  I also cannot coast or be half-hearted.  I cannot organize another prayer meeting and rely on the others to do the praying for me.   I must run this race to the end.

That was the cry of my heart Saturday night.  I found myself face-down on the floor, prostrate in worship and in prayer.  It’s been a long time since I’ve been at the front of a church face-down on the carpet.  It felt good!  As I was lying on the floor, I suddenly felt something covering my legs.  Someone dropped a “cover cloth” on me.  As it hit my legs, the Lord told me this was His prayer mantle He was placing on me.  This was His “tallit”.  He was giving me His mantle of intercession and travail once again.  A sweet sense of peace overwhelmed me!  Even though I had been “slacking”, the Lord has not forgotten me!  The Lord has not turned aside looking for others to do what He has called me to do.  I heard the Lord calling me once again to the place of intercession and travail that He placed in me when I first moved to Connecticut almost 31 years ago.  It seems so many years ago that I had to pull over to the side of the road as I was driving because I was crying in travail so deeply for this state, for these people!

Because of the Lord’s word,  it was a little disappointing to see that it was just a “cover cloth” many churches have, not actually a tallit that covered my legs.  But the cloth was a brilliant red filled with sparkles. Somehow I had a sense there was something to the color, at first I didn’t quite get it.  The next morning I was listening to John Paul Jackson as I traveled to another prayer gathering.  He said the color red was the color of anointing.  I didn’t know that!  How reassuring!  So there was a glittering RED tallit covering me!  A re-establishment of anointing!

So, dear intercessor, to all of you who are reading this: Be encouraged in and through all of your prayer and intercession.  You are not forgotten!  This intercessory ministry at times may be hard, difficult, even lonely.  But the Lord has called you to a special place.  You are “famous” in the eyes of the Lord rather than famous in the eyes of man.  That’s a uniquely special place to be!  Also remember that the most powerful position you can ever hold is flat on your face in deep intercession.  People may not know what you’re doing, but God does.  Great is your reward in heaven!

Wherever you are…..keep praying!  Do not stop!  In fact, increase your prayer.  Pick up the pace a bit.  The finish line is within sight!  The answer to your intercession is right there!

Pray for the street gangs in Hartford

As we pray for the city of Hartford, we were given a mandate by the Lord to pray for the street gangs in the city.  There are as many as 12-27 gangs in Hartford alone that we know about.  Below is a list of the gangs we’ve been praying for: 

NorthSide / North End:Blue Hills / Bloody Hills / Chappelle Gardens / Tuscan Homes (Montville) / Backyards (Soldier City) / Albany / Money Green Gang (Bedroc/Bedford Gardens, Magnolia Side) / and more
East Hartford: Deerfield Park Projects / Burn Side Zone 1-4 / Wickham Gardens (Wick Town / Parkview Gardens) / Easton Projects
SouthSide / South End: Los Solidos (Franklin Ave / South Green Park) / Zion Hill (Trig Town / Park Terrace) / Netas / Latin Kings (New Britian Ave) / Sur 13 (Sur Side) / Flatbush Mob /  and more
West End: Orange Street / Park Ville / Cap Town / New Park

The video below was made a few years ago, it gives you an idea on how dangerous some of these gangs are, especially how the youth get drawn into them  Watch it as you pray for our capital city.

Prayer Points for Connecticut Government

The following prayer points was written by Lucy Snow, one of the House of Good Hope intercessors.  Use these prayer points as you pray for Connecticut’s state government:

PRAYER POINTS FOR CONNECTICUT’S GOVERNMENT


Psalm 18:49
Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name.

Psalm 21:13
Be exalted in your strength, Lord; we will sing and praise your might.

Nehemiah 1:5-7New International Version (NIV)
5 Then I said: “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

Zechariah 1:17: Cry yet, saying Thus said the Lord of Hosts, My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion and shall yet choose Jerusalem.

Lord you are the giver of life! We declare and decree this is your word! It is written that you give life and you have defeated the power of death.

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

PRAYER POINTS:

  1. Father Lord, by your mighty power, by the power in the Blood of Jesus, Fire of Holy Ghost, scatter and destroy any hindering spirit around us, in the name of Jesus.
  2. Father Lord, scatter and destroy the power of devouring spirit and limitation, in the name of Jesus.
  3. Father Lord, any decree made upon destroying of life, let it be revoked in Jesus’ name.
  4. We declare in the blood of Jesus you have defeated death on the cross!
  5. Father Lord, let our lives be anointed and washed by your blood to lead me to peaceful places, in the name of Jesus.
  6. Father Lord, release the spirit of carpenter upon us to destroy the horns of enemies, in the name of Jesus.
  7. Any decree to cause satanic road-block in our way of breakthrough, be scattered by the blood of Jesus. We declare and decree you have broken all satanic power.
  8. Father Lord, come and be our shepherd, to keep us together and save us from thieves, in Jesus’ name.
  9. Every satanic or collective power that wants to scatter what I have gathered, I command you to fall down and die, in the name of Jesus.
  10. Association of evil gang-up or witchcraft power to cause derailment in our lives; scatter by the blood of Jesus and in His powerful name.

Lord we worship you and pray that you lead us to repentance, give us your revelation and guidance. We seek to partner with you, we want to see your kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven for your glory and our good.

Thank you that in worship we can put aside the uncertainties of this world and rest upon the certainties of the Kingdom for your promises are not changeable as those of a Statesmen might be but immovable and eternal.

Thank you that we can bring to your feet all the hurts and fears that trouble us and leave them there
knowing that your strength and assurance are all that we require

Thank you that as we draw near in worship we are transported from a world of concerns and fears
to a place where we can be at peace in your presence find healing, wholeness and refreshment.

We praise you Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All honor and glory belong to our GOD! Amen.