Tag Archives: prayer

How to Pray the Word of God

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11252727_964485193614588_8975425818702781495_nPraying the Bible Life Application

We learned about praying the Bible, praying it out loud for spiritual breakthrough, and the life-giving Word of God. We also studied about praying God’s promises, the life-giving Word of God, and the New Testament apostolic prayers of Paul. Now prayerfully do the following:

  • Study carefully the benefits of praying the Bible  – Write down any insight the Lord may give you as you study.
  • Choose two of the apostolic prayers of Paul, and pray them out loud each day this week – Choose from Ephesians 1:17-19; 3:16-19; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-12; 4:2-4; Romans 10:1; 15:5-7, 13; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-12; 5:23-24; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12; 3:1-5; or 1 Corinthians 1:4-8.
  • Choose two of the hymns from the book of Revelations, and pray them out loud each day this week – Choose from Revelation 1:4-7; 2:7-8, 11-12, 17-18, 26-29; 3:5–7, 12, 21-22; 4:8-11; 5:8-14; 6:9-11; 7:9-17; 19:1-8; or 22:12-17, 20.
  • Choose two of the New Testament promises and decrees, and pray them out loud each day this week – Choose from Luke 3:16; 11:13; 24:49; Acts 1:8; 2:17-21; John 1:50-51; 14:12; or Matthew 10:1, 8.

You also may want to do the personal exercise designed to bring forth “zoe” revelation. For the other weeks during this month, choose other apostolic prayers, hymns from the book of Revelation, and New Testament promises and decrees to pray during your time with the Lord. This is an excellent assignment to help you practice praying the Word of God out loud.

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

A Personal Exercise to Bring Forth Zoe Revelation

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11692554_990318764364564_5003763167195494253_n“The Word of God is a great help in prayer. If it is lodged and written in our hearts, it will form an out-flowing current of prayer, full and irresistible. Promises, stored in the heart, are to be the fuel from which prayer receives life and warmth. Just as coal, which has been stored in the earth, gives us comfort on stormy days and wintry nights, the Word of God stored in our hearts is the food by which prayer is nourished and made strong. Prayer, like man, cannot live by bread alone, ‘but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” Wesley and Stacey Campbell

Try this personal exercise to help bring the Word of God to life in your own heart. Take a portion of Scripture and read it out loud. Then write the Scripture out and outline the main points. Well-known author and prophetic intercessor, Chuck Pierce, suggests the following:

“Then ask God to activate the spirit of wisdom and revelation in you regarding that passage. Ask Him to show you things that go beyond your brain; things that you do not currently distinguish or recognize. Ask Him to show you things that you have not seen before. Write down any and all impressions you receive as you are meditating on the Scripture. You may want to do this on more than one occasion. As you allow yourself to receive these impressions, and trust the impressions enough to write them down, allow faith that God is speaking to you to arise within you. When it begins to become alive, and you start seeing rhema revelation that you have not seen before, then ask God how that applies to you and your situation. Ask Him to establish the rhema within you, so that it becomes ongoing, sustained zoe life.”

This exercise can be done in a group setting as well. I have personally seen how praying, listening, and singing the Word of God over and over brings it into “zoe”, life-giving revelation. This is where God wants us to live on a daily basis. CDs that pray the Word of God with worship can help bring “zoe” revelation. Let the Bible become a conversation piece where you talk to God and to others using His Word. Make sure that the Word of God is central in your House of Prayer.

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

The Life-Giving Word of God

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11329842_966469080082866_4753253200916526631_n“Another benefit of praying the Bible is that it makes you enter the throne of grace with new boldness, because you know that you are praying according to God’s will (1 John 5:14-15). Instead of hoping to receive answers to our prayers, we can be assured—based on the promises of God—that prayers prayed according to will in the Bible will be answered. Your faith will be strengthened, your wisdom will become spiritual wisdom and your knowledge of God will increase.” Wesley and Stacey Campbell

Wouldn’t you agree that most people would like an abundant, fulfilling life? We are naturally attracted to that which gives life, but few people realize that there is tremendous life in the Word of God. If they believed it they would read, study, and devour it. The primary way that God speaks to us is through His Word. He brings revelation as we pray it. Praying the Word of God, together with singing, is a powerful combination. Power is released on the earth as God’s Word is sung passionately into the atmosphere.

When we pray God’s Word, divine information is internalized. It transforms us as we speak it back to God. We become bold and are filled with faith as we pray it. We are praying God’s ideas back to His heart; we are coming into agreement with His thoughts and ways. This impacts us deeply, and touches our environment with the power and life of God.

There are four Greek words that describe the function of the Word of God. It is amazing how a group of people can all read the same passage in the Bible and receive something different. These four Greek words and their definition are:

  • Grape – The written, historical Word of God – This is where you understand the Bible as if you are reading a novel.
  • Logos – The meaning of the principles of the Bible – This is where you understand the good life principles that you are to follow.
  • Rhema – The revelation of the Word of God – This is where the Holy Spirit illuminates the “graphe” or “logos” to you.
  • Zoe – The Word of God dwelling within – This is where the Word of God becomes a creative, living part of who you are. The “rhema” becomes life-giving revelation.

In our Houses of Prayer we want the Word of God to become “zoe” life. We want it to be life-giving revelation. And this is what is happening as we pray and sing the Word. God’s Word becomes the living, creative part of those who are present in the prayer room. The Word of God must be at the very center of the prayer movement. It is God’s strategy for prayer in the end times.

Praying the Word will keep us strong as the days become more difficult. It will keep us in peace when the world around us is in turmoil. It will keep us joyful when the world is living in fear and gloom. The Word is alive and active. It is sharp and it penetrates into our thoughts and hearts (Hebrews 4:12). We need God’s Word written on our hearts and flowing through our prayers.

God’s Word can bring “zoe” life in a most amazing way!

In Baghdad, Iraq, a 22-year-old Army Private First Class soldier named Brendan Schweigart was on a critical mission wearing a bullet proof shield for protection. You can only imagine the tension in that situation. Before going out to battle, he carefully tucked his Bible in his pocket beneath his bulletproof shield. While on a dangerous mission, he was shot with a high-powered rifle. The Bible saved his life when it shielded the bullet from his heart. He told his mother that he always carried his Bible into battle. Brendan received a Purple Heart and was soon released from the hospital. The bullet was still in the pages of his Bible, a miraculous reminder of the amazing power and protection of the Word of God.

God’s Word will protect our lives when in spiritual battle. It can bring forth life in the darkest of situations. It can save us from those fiery darts from the enemy.

I wonder how many of us carry our Bibles into battle like Army Private Brendan?

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Praying the Bible

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10930949_964090020320772_5568470259813218675_n-2The mystery of intercession is actually profoundly simple. We tell God what he says in His Word. Everyone can pray like this—young and old, beginners and the experienced. God knows everything. We don’t have to come up with some intelligent method of praying, but He is deeply touched when we pray the truths in His heart back to Him.

God loves it when we agree with Him through His Word. We read His Word and let the Holy Spirit speaks to us through it. Then we pray it back to Him as the Holy Spirit leads us. His Words are Spirit and Truth (John 4:23-24; 6:63). When we speak God’s Word, it marks us on the inside, changes us, and builds us up. We unite with God’s heart in a most amazing way.

Our own hearts are transformed as we pray God’s Word.

God will actually withhold His blessing until we stand in faith, agree with His heart, and pray it back to Him (James 4:2). We can change whole cities when we agree with God’s heart and pray. Power and revival is released when we pray His Word over a city. God runs the universe through prayer. Praying God’s Word gives us sustaining power. The revelation we get from Him through His Word strengthens our emotions.

Haven’t you noticed when you’re discouraged or down, how different you feel after God speaks to your heart through His Word? It’s as if a light goes on that dispels the darkness. God upholds all things by the word of His power (Hebrew 1:3). When we read His Word we can have a living, active dialogue with Him in our heart (Hebrews 4:12). But we must receive it with obedience, faith, and devotion. When we abide in it (John 15:7), everything else seems to falls into place.

In my country, in the past most Americans respected the Bible. According to the Gallup pole, this has greatly dropped over the last several years. In 1963, 65% of the people believed the Bible literally, and today the number is only 32%. At one time most Americans were familiar with Bible doctrine. But this is not true today. Newsweek tells of a small child who saw a crucifix and asked, “Mommy, what is that man doing?” At one time most Americans accepted absolute moral standards. They knew that some things were right, and some things were wrong. Today 70% reject moral standards.

We are in a serious battle throughout the world over the authority of the Bible. We read in 2 Timothy 3:16-17:

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

This is one reason why we must uphold it as absolute, authoritative truth in our prayers. As we do this, we combat the lies of the enemy and spiritually strengthen our ability to abide in God’s Word, in our prayer meetings and to all we meet. We choose to obey God’s Word as we pray it. We feed our hearts on it. We learn to talk to God about His Word and then we listen. We internalize it, and we say it back to Him.

As we pray the Bible, it brings joy to the heart of God. Feeding our mind on Scripture and praying it helps determine our thoughts. When we speak the Word of God, it impacts our mind to follow what we speak. If we get our words right, then our thoughts, emotions, and behavior will follow the right path (James 3:2).

Praying God’s Word fights the fleshly battles of life using His spiritual weapons. This gives us authority in the supernatural realm to pull down strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). We no longer are in agreement with darkness but agree with the light of God’s Word.

Praying God’s Word refreshes us internally and enables us to live radically for Him long-term. Let’s learn to cultivate a spirit of radical devotion to God’s Word as our everyday lifestyle. David wrote many of the Psalms in the Bible. He saw himself and others through the eyes of God as he prayed. He understood the love of God even when facing difficulty because His attitude was right. Praying God’s Word is a positive way to live.

“When you pray the Bible, you will understand how God views you and how He views others. In a culture distorted by negative media images, we all need to be founded on what God thinks of us. David’s self-image came through prayer. He saw himself as God’s anointed, as the apple of God’s eye. David knew that God loved him, and that he was favored when the wicked were not. Therefore, we need to pray the Bible until we receive the same attitude that David did.” Wesley & Stacey Campbell

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

The Biblical Call to Day and Night Prayer

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11144453_965502933512814_2928668468155993148_n“The life of a Christian is all about passion… Nothing is more powerful than when the Holy Spirit reveals the Son of God through the words of Scripture. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, every heart began to burn when God revealed Himself. When He unveils Himself and we have understand-ing of what He is saying, passion is the result. Seeing the face of God, and then gazing at it, has to begin sometime and some-place. It begins by bringing our whole person before the consuming fire who is God, reciting His words—the Bible—out loud to Him and then letting the Holy Spirit reveal Christ to us. That is why we pray the Bible.” Wesley and Stacey Campbell

As we build the foundations for a House of Prayer, it is vital for us to realize the importance of the Word of God in prayer. Perhaps we should begin with the Biblical foundation for day and night prayer. We must be convinced that it’s the passion of God’s heart. Day and night prayer is Biblical.

God wants us to be watchmen in prayer. He has appointed us to this position. He calls us to watch and pray in His Word. He Himself watches over us day and night (Psalm 121). The fire on the altar was kept burning continuously in the Old Testament (Leviticus 6:12-13). This symbolized continual worship and intercession. The angels and elders worship God night and day in Revelations 4-5. The Apostle Paul speaks of day and night prayer in his writings and through his example. Doesn’t this convince you of how important day and night prayer is to God? But just to emphasize this further, here are a few more Biblical examples:

The Biblical Call to Day and Night Prayer

  • Isaiah 62:6-7 – “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.”
  • Luke 18:7-8a – “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.”
  • Nehemiah 1:5-6a – “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, 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.’”
  • Lamentations 2:18-19 – “The hearts of the people cry out to the Lord. You walls of Daughter Zion, let your tears flow like a river day and night; give yourself no relief, your eyes no rest. Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at every street corner.”
  • 1 Thessalonians 3:10 – “Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.”

Our Prayer for Wisdom in Developing a House of Prayer

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11705283_989926471070460_3465871511591201976_nDear Lord, we pray for a Spirit of wisdom and revelation that we may know You better. Open the eyes of our hearts and enlighten us to know the hope to which You have called us (Ephesians 1:17-19a). Help us to start a House of Prayer in our city, and increase prayer in our churches. Give us dynamic prayer lives. We ask for you to give us practical wisdom when we pray with others. Give us Your creativity and a faithful team. Raise up dedicated intercessors and worshippers, and help us to plan carefully. Show us how to train and motivate people to pray.

Help us to be considerate of others in the prayer room, and teach us to love the diversity of your Church. Help us to be open to all types of prayers. Teach us to enjoy times of silence and times of music, times of intercession and times of thanksgiving, times of meditation and times of reading and praying Your Word. “Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long” (Psalm 25:4-5). “Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.” (Psalm 43:3-4).  

Lord, encourage our hearts and unite us in love, so that we may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that we may know the mystery of You, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:2-3). Release the wisdom of Your Spirit in our lives and in our city. Teach us how to pray in the prayer room both corporately and individually. Reveal Your will for our lives and Your love for us. Let your light enter our hearts, let Your Word grip our minds (Psalm 119:18, 105, 130; Colossians 3:1-3), and help us to make quality decisions to walk in righteousness (Psalm 24:3-6, 119:11, 32). We give you all the glory and praise. We thank You for the wisdom You will give us as we begin. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Verses to Memorize

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power to us who believe” (Ephesians 1:17-19a).

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOP-KC

How to Practice Wisdom in the Prayer Room

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11403171_990321821030925_1910952849621166331_nWisdom in Prayer Life Application

We’ve looked at how treasures of wisdom are released in Houses of Prayer. We’ve discovered how to develop a dynamic prayer life in the prayer room, and learned important guidelines in starting a House of Prayer. Carefully review about wisdom in the prayer room and answer the following:

  • What practical wisdom will you apply in the prayer room? – Write a paragraph that specifically relates to you and is something you can look back on as a reminder.
  • Spend time daily this week praying the following Scriptures over your city – Psalm 25:4-5; 43:3-4; Ephesians 3:8b-11; Colossians 1:9-10 and 2:2-3. Write down any insight and wisdom you have received from God through praying these verses for your city.
  • How do you plan to develop a dynamic prayer life in the prayer room? – What will be your personal action plan? Take some time and write down your action plan specifically. Look at the prayer wisdom given in this wisdom section, and adapt it to your action plan. For example, a personal Bible plan, praying the apostolic prayers, making a prayer list, praying for wisdom, social issues, etc.
  • Picture with the eyes of faith what God wants to do in your life, your ministry, and in your city – Write a prayer bringing this picture before God.
  • Study carefully the guidelines in starting a House of Prayer – Write down any ideas and concerns as you look at when and where you should have it, length of time, creative approaches, who should be involved, what you can handle, etc. Share and discuss this with other like-minded people.
  • Evaluate and assess your city and Christian community – Pray with other like-minded people regarding the following: a consistent start, a faithful team, dedicated intercessors and worshippers, careful planning and clear guidance, and the training and motivating of intercessors. What areas do you need to work on the most?

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Practical Wisdom in the Prayer Room

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10407494_964089923654115_5859114877055829784_n-2The wonderful thing about God’s presence in the prayer room is that He seems to ambush you, and you don’t want to leave. I have seen the prayer room change people in prayer dramatically over a short period of time. What happens is quite supernatural. God changes our hearts.

One key as we start praying in the prayer room is simplicity. The prayer room is for beginners as well as the experienced. Everyone can do it. Encourage people to try different ways of prayer—reading a Psalm, praying the Scriptures, writing a song or letter to God, standing, kneeling, lying down, reading a devotional on prayer, singing, praying out loud, silent prayer, soaking prayer, etc.

Here are some helpful hints to keep in mind:

  • Pray the promises of Scripture – Claim God’s promises in the Bible over your city, church, and family. God’s Word will not return void (Isaiah 55:11). When you pray God’s promises over your family, neighborhood, or nation, you are planting seeds of God’s Word that will eventually grow and produce a harvest.
  • Pray for revival in your church, city, and nation – It is wise to bathe your area in prayer for revival. This releases God’s Spirit in the city. Spiritual breakthroughs usually come after Houses of Prayer are established.
  • Pray for things that are familiar with others in your geographical area – Pray for the needs in your area that are common to those in the prayer meeting. People can best agree in prayer over common concerns in the city.
  • Don’t pray long prayers – Realize that three to five minute prayers are long enough. In a corporate prayer meeting, you want many to be involved. When one person dominates the prayer room, others who desire to pray can feel frustrated. Here at the International House of Prayer we often pray ten to fifteen second prayers called “rapid fire” prayers.
  • Don’t inform God or others of the details of specific circumstances – God knows the circumstances, and others do not need to be informed. Too much time is often taken in sharing a prayer request rather than praying it.
  • Don’t teach or preach to others in your prayers – Always remember that you are praying to God and not others. Concentrate on Him, and pray to Him directly.

Realize that God uses all kinds of prayers. Variety is the key. Let people pray the way they want. There will be times of silence and times of music, times of intercession and times of thanksgiving, times of meditation and times of reading and praying the Scriptures. Some people are loud and some are quiet. Some kneel and some pace the floor. Some like to be alone in the prayer room and some like to pray in groups. The diversity of prayers and people is amazing. It’s different from hour to hour, and that’s what makes it so fresh and alive.

“Knowing God and having Him reside within you is a treasure of infinite value. Jesus likened this value to that of a perfect pearl. The collector would readily sell everything he had in order to possess this one matchless pearl (Matthew 13:45-46). Your relationship with God places an immeasurable value on your life. The treasure of God’s wisdom and knowledge are available to you through Christ (Colossians 2:2-3). His love now fills you. His incomprehensible peace surrounds your heart and mind (Philippians 4:7).” Henry and Richard Blackaby

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Treasures of Wisdom Released

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11329842_966469080082866_4753253200916526631_n“It’s very valid to pray for spiritual passion, for consuming zeal, for a release of insatiable hunger in your heart, for holy thoughts and godly desires. It’s valid to pray that you might see and feel what the Father sees and feels when He beholds His dear Son. It’s valid to cry out for intimacy with the person who feeds you from His own hand, the person who guards your soul, the person who gives you wisdom and revelation, the person from whose mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” Mike Bickle

As we near the end of the age, there is the increasing necessity to know God’s wisdom in our personal lives and in the corporate body of Christ. We cannot afford to live undisciplined, prayerless lives. It’s time to pray for a spiritual passion and zeal to consume the people of God. We need to cry out to God for a new level of His wisdom.

Day and night prayer and worship releases the wisdom and the purposes of God. He will give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation when we pray for it (Ephesians 1:17-19). This will enable us to live out God’s will in a practical way. He will direct us to do the most important things at the right time. This will bring a greater increase of fruitfulness and effectiveness as we move out of the prayer room armed with the wisdom and authority of God.

I believe that every time I enter the prayer room to seek God, I receive new revelation for the day. My burdens and thoughts seem to transfer into God’s way of thinking. What seems perplexing or confusing in life turns into a new dimension of understanding when in God’s presence. God’s wisdom is worth more than gold. It’s something you have to dig for, but every time you enter His presence, you discover new nuggets of truth that seem to change everything around you. And God’s wisdom is so desperately needed in today’s world. Even the secular environment puts a high value on wisdom.

Henry Ford, who specialized in the auto industry, asked electrical
genius Charlie Steinmetz to build the generators for his factory. One day all the generators suddenly stopped working without explanation, and the repairmen could not discover the problem. Henry Ford called Steinmetz to come and fix the problem. Steinmetz tinkered with the machines for a few hours, threw on the switch, and the generators immediately came to life! Later Ford got a bill for $10,000. In those days that was really a lot of money. He was extremely upset and asked Steinmetz why he got such a high bill. Steinmetz’s reply was, “For tinkering with the generator’s – $10. For knowing where to tinker – $9,990.” Ford paid the bill.

When we spend time in the House of Prayer, God shows us His wisdom that can radically impact our society. When the world around us stops working, we will know where to tinker to find the power of God. Through prayer, we will see His wisdom.

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOP-KC

Our Prayer for the Church

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11390094_968828946513546_3817218908514737680_n-2Lord, we pray for the Church in our city and around the world [Name your city.] Help us to seek You and dwell in Your House. Teach us to gaze upon Your beauty (Psalm 27:4). Prepare us for revival. We know that prayer and worship prepares the way. May the praise of God be in our mouth and a double-edged sword in our hands (Psalm 149:6). Teach our church to worship and pray. Bring the Church in our city into enjoyable and anointed prayer. Unlock the hearts of Your people into the beauty of prayer. Teach us perseverance, and give us greater faith in prayer. Cause us to arise in prayer and passionately pursue You. Help us to know our identity and give You our devotion and praise. Unite our churches in prayer, and break down every barrier. We want to focus on the lost and see Your Kingdom come on earth.

Help Your Church to transition into the end times. Bring Your Church worldwide into the reality of heaven. Raise up forerunners in prayer, and strengthen the foundation of prayer in Your Church. Help us all to be obedient step-by-step, and listen to Your strategy and direction in every detail. Help us to pray Your purposes and plans in our city. We ask You to fill the atmosphere of our city with praise and worship. Invade our city with the atmosphere of Your presence. Thank You that Your Church will become a grace-empowered praying Church. You are forming Her into a beautiful Bride. We give You glory and praise. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Verses to Memorize

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:18-21).

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOP-KC