Fervent intercession is remarkably close to the Lord's heart. All throughout history, great things have been pushed through by the powerful prayers of those who tapped into the incredible power of the Holy Spirit. Right now, the Lord is preparing a special company of discerning watchmen who are known for their fervent prayer life. They will stand on the wall on behalf of the rest of us, understanding and interpreting the signs of the times, then praying until they see a breakthrough.
In Isaiah 62:6-7, we read: "I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give Him no rest till He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth."
The Lord has always posted and assigned prayer warriors in strategic times and places, and this is no exception. He has called them for such a time as this! By His mighty hand, they are planted in villages, towns, and cities around the world. These watchmen refuse to be silenced; they fervently pray day and night for spiritual hotspots where His presence is then revealed in a special way. The same Spirit that was placed in Anna the Prophetess burns in the hearts of these intercessory watchmen.
Luke 2:36-37 says this: "There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying."
Do these verses stir you? Can you sense a burning deep in your spirit? What caused Anna the Prophetess to not leave the temple? Why did she remain there day and night refusing to leave her assigned place? She stood in her divine commitment and fervently prayed and sought God until He let her know she was free to go. Oh, to be like Anna in this very season in history!
Beloved of God, let this be your heart's prayer today:
Lord, whatever was in the heart of this special prayer warrior prophetess, place it in me! Let coals of fire burn once again for prayer and fasting across this great nation. Set me on the wall, dear Lord, that I may never be silent day or night, nor shall I rest until You establish Your Kingdom on Earth.
Prayer Adoption
Over the years, the Lord led me into an incredibly special type of intercession. I have never talked much about it; it's something I've done in private, but this year the Lord laid it on my heart to share what I call "Fervent Prayer Adoptions" in the hope that it will encourage others. My deepest prayer is this: that this instruction will inspire Christ's Bride. Let me explain.
Not far from my home there is a village so small that you can't even buy a can of Coca-Cola or a tank of gas there. Seneca Castle is located in Ontario County right in the Finger Lake region of New York State. I have passed through it nearly every day for the last eight years.
One night as I was driving by, I noticed a large farm to my right, just off of the road. My heart leapt within me and immediately a prayer burden was placed deep in my heart. I started to pray and intercede for the owners of that farm, their family and those who work there, as well as their families. I prayed until the burden passed. The next night as I passed that place, the burden returned in full force, so once again I interceded. The third and fourth nights it happened again. It was then that I knew the Lord was up to something unique! I had received a prayer burden and was ready to adopt that farm as a prayer mission, standing on the wall, covering those precious people in the spirit. Days turned to weeks, weeks to months, and months to years while I fervently prayed over that farm with passion and consistency. (Photo via Pixy.org)
Years later, I adopted in prayer other farms, as well as a small local church there. I fervently prayed for revival up and down the streets, over every house I passed. Seneca Castle, NY was a supernatural prayer burden that God gave me so that I could adopt them, interceding for them in the spirit. To this day, I've never met a single person I prayed for. I've never told anyone in this town about my prayers. I kept it all a secret in my heart until now, and I only reveal it now because the Lord wants to use this testimony to encourage others to do this too.
"Enoch Walks" & Adopting Full Countries
I grew up in a little town in Ohio, a beach town on the shores of Lake Erie, located in the northeast corner of the state. I was fascinated by the beautiful sight of Canada across the lake, and I started to intercede for Canada when I was ten years old. For years, I spent hours, days and weeks at a time making plans for a trip across the lake to Ontario. One day, when I was older, we made plans to actually see the other side. Unfortunately, while we were on the way the car broke down as we crossed the bridge into Canada; it was a huge disappointment. So, it wasn't until some years later, when I was an adult, that I finally made the long-awaited journey to the other side.
Just as Enoch walked with God in intimate fellowship, speaking his whole heart to his best friend, the Lord, I realized that I too could take a walk with Jesus and talk to Him as an intimate friend of God. I called these times "Enoch walks." I visualize Enoch, after having embraced his kids and family, picking up a walking stick as the sun was setting and taking a walk with God. I also carried my "Enoch stick" when I took long walks with the Lord every evening when the sun was getting ready to set. On one of these walks, I received a prayer burden for Canada, and this soon became a lifelong prayer adoption. My Enoch stick still leans in my office corner reminding me of this burden.
For years, I would take Enoch walks with God on those shores of Lake Erie. For those unfamiliar with the Great Lakes, they're like small oceans. You can't see the other side, and the wise would never venture across by small boat. I would raise my hand toward Canada and speak prophetic promises over its people. I would walk with God on the beach, weeping for that country, asking for revival. I held my walking stick toward Canada and made bold declarations. A deep sense of intercession would hit me on those evenings as I walked. The Lord gave me a prayer burden for Canada, so I adopted them in the spirit as a prayer missionary.
When I finally took the long-awaited trip to the other side of the lake from my hometown, to cities called London, Saint Thomas, and Port Stanley, Ontario, I was overjoyed to finally see the people of Ontario for whom I'd so fervently prayed all those years. At one point, the Lord said that I would eventually lose count of how many times I would cross the border into Canada to minister. This has certainly come to pass! I still pray for Canada, now from the shores of Lake Ontario in Rochester, NY; and during these times, I can sense the Father's heart for the beautiful people there. It has been forty years of praying but I won't stop! I love them so much that I can't stop. The burden has been my assignment.
Jesus Walking the I-90 Highway
For almost ten years, the Lord has kept us strategically planted here near Rochester for the purpose of plowing and pressing into the Spirit. Many years ago, we adopted the I-90 corridor! This is the major highway that connects many key cities in the state. We live just a few minutes off this superhighway.
Years ago, the Lord gave me a vision of Him walking up and down I-90. He was moving into New York state, slowly walking up Route 90 and yearning to visit His cities once again, yearning to shake communities with the raw power of God; to bring the lost home, heal the sick, cast out demons, and shake up the slumbering Church.
He was eager to stop in Buffalo, NY to breathe on the Church afresh, to make Buffalo "a city of light" reflecting His glory with signs and wonders. I also knew there would be outpourings popping up in unexpected places, and divine visitation on the college campuses. Even in the bowels of the city, I knew there would be signs and wonders that would shake entire communities to the core.
Then I saw the Lord moving east toward Rochester searching for a place where He could "rest awhile," where He could linger and feel welcome to stay for an extended time. I saw a welcome mat set out, ready for the Lord. Will Rochester be eager for His arrival, setting aside all else to make Him feel at home? (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)
I see Jesus searching for those in the cities along I-90. Revival will flow into Syracuse, Utica, and Albany. From Syracuse will come a prophetic flow that will abound with great words of knowledge and wisdom, which will astound even the unsaved. Spiritual fathers and mothers are being raised up to mentor others.
I saw the Lord moving into Utica once again...they will see a revival with many healings and creative miracles being poured out. The Lord also moved into Albany; here they will see a revival focusing on the creative arts, dance, as well as prophetic art, film, and drama. Powerful worship will come forth and it will touch nations with the very atmosphere of Heaven. I can even see warehouses and industrial buildings being renovated for the Kingdom.
This liberal state will be shaken to the core, and those who spoke words of death, declaring that God could not move here, will stand in awe at the mighty wind of God blowing once again on this beautiful state.
In fact, the I-90 will be the crux of this next mighty move of God; not just in New York but going west to Pennsylvania and Ohio. My prayer is that hotspots of revival would pop up from Boston to Seattle, following the I-90, and then to the rest of the country!
Every revival recorded in the Word reveals certain people who carried a special burden to intercede and fast to bring it to pass. I believe the Lord is giving prayer burdens and adoptions to those who desire it with all their hearts. The Lord is currently walking the highways and byways throughout the world, seeking those that will make Him feel welcome—those who will compel Him to rest in their cities. He is calling intercessors to pray it in and the watchmen to see it coming! Their assignment is to adopt the roadways and redeem new territory through their fervent intercession.
Receiving a Prayer Burden
Receiving a prayer burden and prayer adoption for cities, countries, or even major highways is not done to gain credit or recognition. Those things do not matter to a prayer missionary; it's all about carrying the Father's heart for towns, cities, or regions—to weep, to fast, to plow, and to push something special through in the spirit.
Prayer adoption gives you the opportunity to sow into the spirit for the precious lambs He loves and is waiting to welcome into His family. Its purpose is to love strangers you've never met, to sacrifice in prayer and fasting for people you may never meet on this side of eternity.
The Holy Spirit will pray through you; you will groan and battle; you will carry a deep burden; you will wear out the rug under your knees as you weep for lost souls. In fact, prayer fires will burn in the depths of your soul. You will weep and not know why. Then you will laugh and dance for joy when the breakthrough comes!
Oh, how refreshing it is to receive a prayer adoption from the heart of the Father. I see a company of fervent intercessors singing songs of rejoicing over new territory that is being assigned even now. May the watchmen's walls be full in the end times as we take our place praying on the wall of fire.
Dear friends, as you take your next drive down the road, open your heart to the Father's desire as He stokes embers of fire in your soul for the cities and towns around you...for the lost lambs and the broken and hurting. They need you. For me, it was Seneca Castle, Canada and the I-90 highway. Where will your highway lead?
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Steve Porter
Refuge Ministries
Email:Â G524walk@yahoo.com
Website:Â www.findrefuge.tv
Steve and his wife Diane founded Refuge Ministries and a presence-driven publishing company, Deeper Life Press. Steve is a regular contributor to many prophetic publications, including the Elijah List, Spirit Fuel, and the Identity Network. His writings have been read worldwide by hundreds of thousands of people. Steve's books, maturity tracts, articles, and videos have touched countless lives around the world. The Porters reside near Rochester, NY.
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