--- By Chuck Pierce Glory of Zion International Ministries, Denton, TX www.glory-of-zion.org

This will be a year that we will know the Lord as THE ROCK. He will become steadfast and sure in our lives. Here are ten issues I hear the Spirit of God saying that will help us to pray effectively this year:

TRANSITION OF POWER

1. We are entering into a TRANSITION OF POWER. Just as we are seeing a new administration come into our nation, we are seeing a new administration raised up in the Body of Christ. This is a day where the apostolic-prophetic mantle of the Church is being fully restored for the next season of demonstration of power throughout the world.

We are about to see a new wave of the baptism or release of the Holy Spirit in the Church. In the past ten years, we have tried to become normal and acceptable. In doing this, we have lost a measure of power. We cannot see transformation in our cities without a sweeping move of the Spirit of God. I believe Joshua 5 is a key pattern for the coming year. Finally after 40 years God had a leadership positioned with the desire in their hearts to enter into the ultimate promised inheritance. When the priesthood’s feet stepped into the Jordan River with the ark, a supernatural miracle was displayed.

What had occurred 40 years previously at the Red Sea occurred again. This shook up the enemies that were holding the promised inheritance captive. We find this in Joshua 5:1-4. This demonstration of power caused the enemies' heart to melt and there was no spirit in them any longer. Instead of the children of Israel sweeping across the land and overcoming their enemies, the Lord asked them to do an unusual thing. He asked for flint knives to be sharpened and a circumcision to occur for the second time.

In the first quarter of the year I see us becoming very vulnerable, very submissive, and humble. As our hearts are circumcised, power will arise within us.

RESTORATION OF THE WAR MANTLE

2. There will be a RESTORATION of the WAR MANTLE of the Body of Christ. Why did the Lord circumcise them? The men of war of the past season had fallen into unbelief and this had been passed on to the next generation. The Lord not only wanted to demonstrate His power, but to cut away the unbelief and reproach of Egypt. Between March and June I see a shaking of systems occurring. Watch in the political, economic, and religious structures for conflict to begin. God will prepare us for this warfare. During this time I believe He will call 21 day fasts individually, corporately, and territorially. These will be supernatural fasts. We find a biblical pattern in Daniel where 21 days overthrew a principality that was holding back revelation for the future. As you fast, expect God to show how to establish yourself in what is arising as new around you. Also know that Jezebel, a controlling system, will be plotting to prevent the restoration of God's purposes in the earth. This spirit will be trying to hold old laws and legalism in place, and redirect God's supply for God's future Kingdom purposes.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BOUNDARIES

3. The word BOUNDARIES will become very important this year. A key scripture of the year is Deuteronomy 32:8: "When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, when He separated the sons of Adam, He set boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel." There will be a supernatural repositioning of the Body so we are standing in our proper boundaries. These boundaries can be territorial and/or functional. God wants His gifts drawn out of His people in this season. Supernatural alignment produces deliverance that propels us into God's purposes in our lives and our region. You each have a gift. God wants to draw out your gift and properly connect it in this season. If we are in proper alignment in our boundaries this will happen. Five questions to ask yourself are:

"Is the Father pleased with what He is seeing in my life? Is the Father pleased with how He is seeing me minister? Is the Father pleased with the release of His gifting through me? Where can I bring the Father the most honor? How can I bring joy to the Father's heart through the obedience's that He requires of me this year?

THE PASSING OF MANTLES BETWEEN GENERATIONS

4. There will be a supernatural linking, binding, and passing of mantles between the generations. If I see one thing the enemy hates most it is this: he does not want the generations to connect or communicate. Notice what Deuteronomy 32:7 says: "Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; your elders, and they will tell you." This will be a year where the Lord addresses fatherlessness in the Body of Christ. I see more intercession going on for both our natural and spiritual children this year. God is going to activate the desire for mentoring in individuals because He is raising up the next group of sent ones .

AMOS 9, THE KEY TO OUR FUTURE

5. Understanding Amos 9 is key to our future. We are seeing a great move of God to restore the Tabernacle of David in the earth. In each historical season this occurs. It was prophesied in Amos. We saw it happen in Acts. And now we will see this happen again in this new millennium. Prayer and praise in every region is key in the Church's future. However, the verse in Amos 9 that speaks to me this year is verse 13, "the plowman shall overtake the reaper." This means that great blessings are coming quickly. The more we allow God to build His plan on the earth the greater the cycle of blessings that will begin in our homes, churches, and regions. Prophetic seeds that have been sown and declared in your region should be plowed up this year. I see teams of plowmen being connected together. Many of us have received revelation, but tried to plow alone. If we connect and plow together then the fruit of God in a region will begin to be gathered.

THE CHURCH INCREASING IN MERCY TO THE JEWS

6. The Church will begin to increase in mercy to the Jews. God's mercy has been evident in his dealing with the Gentiles. However, we are approaching a time zone where God is attempting to restore His covenant plan into Israel. The Church is called to make Israel jealous. The goodness of God leads to repentance. It is time for the spirit of stupor that we find in Romans 11 to be broken from the Jews eyes, and them to be provoked to jealousy by the power of salvation that is displayed by the Church. There are great doors of opportunity in key Jewish areas that are going to open to the Church. Watch for this to occur in places such as New York City, Miami, West Palm Beach, Los Angeles, Detroit, Houston, Baltimore, Philadelphia and others.

The world will rise up and begin to persecute the Church as it begins to display mercy to the Jews of a region. This is also an indicator that walls of ethnicity in an area are being broken down. All ethnic groups will begin to have an opportunity for grace. This is a key prayer point for this year.

HUMILITY MEETINGS

7. There will be many "HUMILITY MEETINGS" this year. Over the last three years the enemy has attempted to tear down covenant relationships in the Body of Christ. Notice I say the enemy. I do believe in godly separation. However, broken covenants produce desolation. This will be a year that God gives opportunities to restore covenants that the enemy has attempted to break in the past.

If we enter into these kairos encounters then humility and desolation will be overthrown. We must lay down our "rightness" in many areas so we can listen to another person's perspective. This will tear down a political spirit in the cities where we live. We will never all worship the same way, but we can all come into the unity of common life through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

PASTORS BEGIN TO HUNGER LIKE NEVER BEFORE

8. The SHEPHERDS will be very surprised by God. Pastors are going to begin to hunger for God like never before. This is going to produce a visitation of God to the pastoral gift of the Body of Christ. When this occurs, it is going to cause both a fear and a glory to come to the Church. This visitation of God will cause a rethinking and reorganization in the administration of the Church.

RENEWAL OF GOD'S PROMISES

9. Don't rush! There will be an awakening and renewal of God's promises within us. This will cause a new release of faith. This produces fear in the enemy. Therefore, if he cannot keep us in unbelief, he'll try and get us into presumption. Be careful not to get out of God's timing in order to fulfill His promises.

DO NOT BE AFRAID FOR HIM TO MANIFEST

10. The ability to produce the next move of God is within you. The next move of God is already in the earth. We are carrying it within our blood by the Spirit of God. May He grant you according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith that you, being rooted and grounded in love may "know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, and be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us!" (Eph 3:16-20) For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. (Rom. 6:5) He is in you. Do not be afraid for Him to manifest for when He manifests His glory through us, this glory covers the earth and brings change. Do not look for past patterns, but know that the next move of God is already within us.

A PRAYER FOR YOU THIS YEAR

I have been reading Psalm 28 and praying it for many. "To you I will cry, O Lord my Rock Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry to you, when I lift my hands toward your Holy sanctuary... The Lord is my strength and my shield; With my song I will praise Him. The Lord is their strength, and He is the saving refuge (or defense) of His anointed!" May this be a year that you have confidence in prayer. May you find your place in His sanctuary and boldly enter the throne room of grace. May you be filled with renewed joy. May all of the trials and discouragement of this past year and any hope deferred be gone from you. May your soul rejoice and prosper. May the work of your hands prosper. May He work in you mightily to do His will. May the gifts of God within you be released and activated. May a new anointing arise within you and favor be seen upon you. May He defend His anointed. May your shield of faith be polished and renewed.

Blessings abundantly, Chuck D. Pierce www.glory-of-zion.org