The Jacob Generation

This generation is one of the most unique in history. Jesus spoke only of two generations in scripture- the one that was living on Earth during HIS FIRST appearing and the one who would be living on Earth prior to HIS SECOND appearing. I believe with all my heart that THIS GENERATION is that generation! We are the Jacob generation, the generation that has been given a unique, yet simple call - to seek HIM. David also wrote in the Psalms that the generation to come, (in Hebrew meaning 'last' generation) will seek God and PRAISE Him! So as both the Jacob and the last generations we are going to see a great outpouring of Grace to seek the Lord's face through the night watches of 24/7 prayer and intercession. There is no greater calling nor privilege to be called to. It's the mantle of the last days' army. It's the key to end-time harvest and evangelism. It's the heart of God for the Jacob generation!

By Chris McDonald

TEXT: Psalms 24:6 - The Jacob generation, the generation of those who seek him

Psalm 102:18  - This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord.
 

        As I write this journal, we have just experienced one of the most glorious weekends of God's presence our family has not felt in a very long time. Lisa and I attended three separate services where the rain of the Holy Spirit literally drenched us each time renewing a holy passion in our hearts for the Lord Jesus. I only wish I could bottle up the feeling I have in my heart right now  and send to each one of you reading this. I can only feebly try to explain how it feels through this in words - nothing less than JOY UNSPEAKABLE and full of GLORY! FULL of the GLORY OF GOD through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

        This journal was birthed in my heart over this past weekend - a call to the Body of Christ to return to its basic fundamental purpose - to seek God with all its heart, soul and mind and to learn how to pray. Notice I said, "learn how to pray." I will get more into that as we go along but it was the basic question the disciples asked the Lord while on Earth.

Luke 11:1-10  - And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. [2] And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. [3] Give us day by day our daily bread. [4] And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. [5] And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; [6] For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? [7] And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. [8] I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. [9] And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. [10] For every one that asketh receives; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

        Saturday night we had the awesome privilege to listen to the testimonies of 12 Holy Ghost filled and on fire for God young people who just graduated from the Morningstar School of Ministry in Charlotte, N.C. These 12 young men and women told of a recent encounter they had with the Lord where they were all touched with a tangible presence of God's Spirit that has changed their lives forever. All 12 were seen heaven through visions and dreams in a unique way. Each vision was different yet each one was alike. One young man said he felt like he was going up an escalator when at the top it stopped and when he opened his eyes he saw a rain forest unlike any he'd seen on earth. He didn't see any people but he said the peace of the place the Lord took him  was unlike any peace he had experienced (or ever will) here on Planet Earth. The Lord let him see this for a few minutes. What the young man didn't realize is that why he was watching the rain forest, the rain was falling on HIM!

        Another young lady told of seeing angels and the Lord Jesus Himself. The Lord said nothing to her but allowed her to view the Holy City and see the angels the Lord had assigned her on earth. She too made a point to mention the untold level of peace and glory she felt while there. This young lady incidentally had been battling deep depression and oppression but after this experience was totally free and is now walking in heavenly joy.

        A young man in the group said  during this experience the Lord allowed him to walk down a street that was paved with gold. with a gate at the end. When he got to the gate it would not open so he had to turn around and walk back the other way.  As he turned to walk back the other way, scores of people were behind him whom he did not know. When he turned, an angel appeared with him  whom he asked "who are all these people?" The angel simply spoke and said, "these are those you will evangelize with the gospel before your time is through on Earth!" Upon coming out of this heavenly vision, the young man went to a prophetic person in the church he attended and asked, "what did the highway represent?" The prophet said, "the highway of holiness."

        Several of the young people spoke of seeing bright light, unnatural peace and serenity, calm, joy and happiness and just a sense of the Lord all around. The chaplain-leader of the group spoke several powerful statements about this life-changing event that shook this senior class to its core. One thing that stood out in my mind and heart was when she said, "the Lord wants more from us than even just a relationship, He wants to show us the REALITY of His existence and person!" Those are shouting words. I feel the anointing of the Holy Ghost. Neighbor, there is a DOOR opened in heaven right now for us to come in and worship the Lord around His throne. His invitation is open night and day. There are not any barriers to us coming there. He desires it. He wants it. His passionate fire will burn out the sin within us and set us free from the powers of hell itself. THIS generation needs such an encounter with a Holy passionate God. There is only ONE! There is only ONE! There is only ONE! His name is Jehovah and He bids us come to Him through the name of His beloved Son and the anointing of the Holy Ghost.

Rev. 4:1-3
After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. [2] And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. [3] And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

        John the apostle had such a similar experience many centuries ago on the Isle of Patmos while in exile for the testimony of Jesus. He had just seen the glorified Christ deliver seven powerful messages to the seven churches in Asia Minor. Messages that were straight from the mouth of the Lord Himself which brought correction, rebuke, encouragement and exhortation. Five of the seven were warned to repent or face the Lord's judgment. If we will judge ourselves, He will never have to judge us. You hear me? If we judge ourselves, we will not have to have the Lord judge us. Believe me, we want to judge ourselves. We want to ask the Lord's judgments in our life so we can inherit life eternal when we pass from this natural world into the real world - the spirit realm.

The Spirit Realm

    I want to talk about the spirit realm for a minute before we get into the main course of thought for this journal. Most Christians have no clue whatsoever of the real world that really controls all humanity. We live in a natural world with natural boundaries we see, hear, feel, taste and touch each day. Our "natural senses" put us in contact with this natural world that affects every human soul ever created. Yet there is another world we DON'T see with our natural eyes called the spirit realm that controls what goes on in the natural world.  Angelic "princes" control nations. Michael is the angelic prince which keeps watch over Israel (Dan. 12:1). Daniel was also told that the answer to his intercession was held up by warring princes from Persia and Gabriel. The fight over our families and cities is not carnal, but spiritual! Our weapons are also not CARNAL, but SPIRITUAL and mighty through God to the pulling down of these strongholds over the natural realm.

Daniel 12:1
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
 

Daniel 10:10-15
And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. [11] And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. [12] Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. [13] But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. [14] Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days. [15] And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.

Ephes. 6:10-18
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. [11] Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. [13] Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. [14] Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; [15] And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; [16] Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. [17] And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: [18] Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

2 Cor. 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: [4] (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) [5] Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

        This "war" refers to the battle in general between saints and spirit rebels who are against God. According to Dake, there are four main types of spirit rebels we war against:

1.Greek: archas (GSN-746), principalities, chief rulers or beings of the highest rank
and order in Satan's kingdom (Ephes. 6:12; Ephes. 1:21; Col. 2:10)

2.Greek: exousias (GSN-1849), authorities, those who derive their power from and
execute the will of the chief rulers (Ephes. 6:12; Ephes. 1:21; Col. 2:10)

3.Greek: kosmokratoras (GSN-2888), world-rulers of the darkness of this age, the
spirit world-rulers (Daniel 10:13-21; Ephes. 1:21; Ephes. 6:12; Col. 1:16-18)

4.Greek: pneumatika (GSN-4152) tes (GSN-3588) ponerias (GSN-4189),
spiritual wickedness, that of the wicked spirits of Satan in the heavenlies (Ephes.
6:12; Ephes. 1:21; Col. 1:16-18)

        In reality, our warfare has already been won by Christ at the Cross! Our battle is where we anchor our faith in this conflict. If we place our faith in experiences and any works we might be doing to merit victory - friend we will be defeated!

        There is an angelic prince over America right now. Whether that angel is a prince for righteousness or evil really depends on two things - the intercession of the saints of that nation, and the sovereign will of God. We have a part to play in the end time events that are soon to take place on planet Earth child of God. We DO have an important mandate from heaven for these last days and it's not "to go to church Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night." (Which is important but not that important when it comes to eternal events and the plan of God) Our calling on the 21rst Century church is to become a "house of prayer for the nations."

        Why you may ask? Because the prayers and intercessions of the saints determine the plight and atmosphere of the nations they live in. For instance, America has a good number of Christians living here (albeit the number is shrinking rapidly). Many of these Christians are praying men and women of God who intercede for their homes, their children and their nation. Our President mentions many times he "feels" the prayers of tons of people in the country who are praying for him. You better believe it! He really does! The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Let me say that again. The effectual FERVENT prayer of a righteous man availeth MUCH. Prayer changes things! Prayer changes people. Prayer changes nations. Prayer changes elections. Prayer changes eternity for millions of souls! Prayer changes the atmosphere around us. Prayer changes the arrogant attitudes of our rebellious youth and the hatred in the hearts of our grandchildren. Prayer changes the racism of society and permeates it with a love that is more powerful than an atom bomb. This is no ordinary love but the love of God which sets sinners free and destroys the powers of darkness.

        Lisa and I were in a service this week where the pastor brought an outstanding message on prayer. He told of how after 30 years nearly of being in the ministry he had never understood how little a man of prayer he was. He said that about five years ago the Lord spoke to his heart and said "become a man of prayer." With a perplexed look on his face, the pastor said, "Lord what do you mean, I'm already praying."

        The pastor said that when he started asking the Lord to show him what he wanted him to do he realized that he had never really learned how to pray like the Holy Spirit wanted him to pray! In prayer times the Lord would say things to him like, "pray for all the 19 year olds in America." The pastor would obey and just go into deep intercession for the 19 year olds in the country. He felt slighted at times he said telling the Lord, "Lord, Lord, I want to go to Africa for you, I want to go to China for you." The Lord's response was simple - "become a man of prayer!"

        About two months after praying for 19 year olds the pastor went to Mike Bickle's church in Kansas City where a 24/7 prayer movement has been in existence since 1999. The pastor is watching the church during one of the services lay hands on several young couples who were going to be sent out  to start prayer movements all over the world. Feeling very small, he said, "Lord I feel so small compared to this movement here, wow You are doing a great work here." That is when the Lord whispered to him, "some of these 19 year olds in the group are here tonight being sent out in ministry because of your prayers." The prayers of a pastor of a small Tennessee church for 19-year olds in America will not be felt in Asia, Europe, Africa and all over the planet. That's the power of prayer!

        One night while the pastor was in service, the Lord spoke to him and said "go back to the back of the church and just stand beside the couple on the back row." At the moment the Lord told the pastor this there was a man standing beside the couple so it made no sense to the pastor but yet he obeyed. While standing by the man, the man just casually left the room and went to the restroom. At that moment the pastor moved into the back row and stood beside the couple. The man looks up at the pastor and says, "Hello, how are you?" The pastor says, "Well, I'm great, great to have you in the service. I don't know why but the Lord just wanted me to come back here and stand beside you." The young man and his precious wife looked at the pastor with tears now flowing and said, "We know. We just got saved last night and felt the Lord wanted us to come to a local church and proclaim it publicly. We were scared to go down front by ourselves but now since you're the pastor of the church and are standing here beside us, we feel safe going down front with you by our side!"

        Neighbor that's the power of prayer. One night this same pastor said that after a season of learning to pray as God wanted him to that he was in a college chapel during an all-night prayer vigil. About 2 A.M. a young lady runs in the door with tears in her eyes and says, "Mister, I am in the car outside with three of my friends and I had them stop the car so I could run inside here. They think I come in here to use the rest room but I really came in here to see if there was any one here who could help me get right with God. I need to make peace with Him and give my life back totally to him. Can you help?" The pastor and some other students were praying at the college chapel for the Lord to bring revival to that campus. I believe the Lord heard them!

        And neighbor, the Lord wants to hear us! The Lord takes GREAT pleasure in seeing us seek his face. This is the mark of the Jacob Generation that is being raised up. Jacob was not a perfect man by any stretch of the imagination - but as the Psalmist wrote, the Jacob generation was a generation that SEEKS GOD! We are that generation! There is a move of the Holy Spirit that is calling us to corporate, 24 hours a day, seven day a week PRAYER! It's taking fire in many cities - especially here in Knoxville, Tn. where we live and I'm thrilled to see it. It's an intercessory based move where men and women of God come together and forget their denominational titles and labels and just get before the Lord and let Him move through them with the power of the Holy Ghost!

        The prayers of the saints will change the dynamics of the spirit realm. The real battle is fought THERE, not here on earth in the physical. We must never forget that. The battle for the souls of men and the harvest that is ahead will be won or lost in this plain and arena. I want to look at four mandates for the Jacob generation that I believe are key to these last days and the work that is ahead of us.

The Church Has Been Called To Be A House Of Prayer, Not Politics

Isaiah 56:7
Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

Matthew 21:13
And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Jeremiah 7:11
Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord.

        Our Lord alludes here to those dens and caves in Judea, in which the public robbers either hid or kept themselves fortified.

        As Adam Clarke writes in his commentary on this passage,

"They who are placed in the Church of Christ to serve souls, and do it not, and they who enjoy the revenues of the Church, and neglect the service of it, are thieves and robbers in more senses than one. Our Lord is represented here as purifying his temple; and this we may judge he did in reference to his true temple, the Church, to show that nothing that was worldly or unholy should have any place among his followers, or in that heart in which he should condescend to dwell. It is marvelous that these interested, vile men did not raise a mob against him: but it is probable they were overawed by the Divine power, or, seeing the multitudes on the side of Christ, they were afraid to molest him. I knew a case something similar to this, which did not succeed so well. A very pious clergyman of my acquaintance, observing a woman keeping a public standing to sell nuts, gingerbread, etc., at the very porch of his Church, on the Lord’s day, "desired her to remove thence, and not defile the house of God, while she profaned the Sabbath of the Lord." She paid no attention to him. He warned her the next Sabbath, but still to no purpose. Going in one Lord’s day to preach, and finding her still in the very entrance, with her stall, he overthrew the stall, and scattered the stuff into the street. He was shortly after summoned to appear before the royal court, which, to its eternal reproach, condemned the action, and fined the man of God in a considerable sum of money!"

        Isaiah said the Lord's house has always been destined to be a house of prayer. Matthew records the Lord repeated Isaiah's words when shortly before He was crucified, He came upon money changers one day in the house of God selling items and making profit off the ministry. The zeal of God ate our Lord up as He drove them from the temple with cords and whips declaring "MY FATHER'S HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER!"

        We have lost this message in a very serious way in the modern 21rst Century Church! I have been in church since I've been a child and have seen the ugliness of church politics for nearly 40 years now. The Lord loves the church but He HATES the machinery of politics it has become and the spirit of greed and lust for power this machinery has produced. We have ONE calling in the church today - TO PRAY and INTERCEDE! PERIOD. No questions, no discussions but PRAY. Preaching done without prayer is just dead words and will not affect anyone. Singing without prayer will affect NO one. It will be just words falling on hardened hearts. PRAYER sets men free and softens heart as it opens the gateway of the heavenlies to pour into our churches and fellowships and break the powers of darkness over men.

        Our calling in the church today is NOT to elect better candidates for local office, even though good government is important. We are starting a prayer movement for just that - to see the right men are placed into office by God. But our movement is based on PRAYER, not politics. All we can do is intercede - the ultimate decisions over men's affairs on earth are determined by the Lord and His sovereignty.

        The church's call is NOT to build buildings and steeples higher than the Empire State Building in honor of MEN which bring NO GLORY TO GOD, but just increase the ungodly spirit of pride among church leaders today. There is a spirit of arrogance that needs to be rooted out in many fellowships. There are many shepherds who build ministries to honor themselves and fleece the sheep with false claims and demonic arrogance. The sheep pay the ultimate price for such foolishness and the foolish shepherds will stand before God accountable for the sheep they have hurt with their idolatrous visions.

         We need buildings without a doubt to house the people who come to worship with us - but that is not our call today. We are not called to jockey for position or office in our church's either. So many good and well meaning men of God succumb to this spirit of competition we instill in those seeking leadership today. Whatever happened to praying and asking God to send us the right people to lead us instead of hiring pulpit committees that interview candidates and seek those with just the right education or standing in the financial community. Whatever happened to pastors being able to ask the Holy Spirit who HE wants to be in leadership, not what the board wants or even the pastor himself. Whatever happened to the pattern in Acts 13 when the church prayed and fasted and THEN they SENT Paul and Barnabas on their missions work into Asia. Why do we feel we need a missions board to tell a local church where and how to send their money????????

Acts 13:1-5
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. [2] As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. [3] And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.  [4] So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. [5] And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.
 

        The reason is we have become a house of politics and not prayer. We hold our business meetings thinking that we can do the work of God without the power of the Holy Ghost. We think we can see souls saved without the power of the Holy Spirit and the convicting power He brings to God's word. We think we can promote ourselves to a world that could care less about our cheap gimmicks and entertainment concerts without a true move of God's spirit among us. The Holy Ghost is outpoured in our midst because of one thing - PRAYER. Intercession unleashes the power of the anointing on us and it is intercession and intercession only that touches the heart of God! Our gimmicks don't move God. Our foolishness don't move God. All our programs don't move God. All of meetings don't move God. All of our efforts in the flesh don't move God. All the ritual, the ceremony, the dead works we do each week do nothing but STINK in His nostrils. We need a fresh touch from heaven in our churches neighbor. We need an outpouring of the Holy Spirit so powerful that the foundations of our churches are shaken, our people set free from religious bondage and we see the souls of men come to God in great numbers unlike we have ever seen before.

        Neighbor, it's getting late. It's getting too late for us to be playing the same games we keep playing. It's getting late preacher, too late for you to get up on Sunday morning, Sunday night and preach preach preach about how many cars God wants your people to have in their garage and not talk about ETERNAL things that matter in the life to come, not just in this life. God help us. God help us when the church leadership complains about the unfaithfulness of its people when in fact the reason for MOST unfaithfulness, not all of it, is the pure fact that our churches are DEADER than dried bread and COLDER than a polar bear's nose on Sunday.

        Our churches are dead because the Holy Ghost is not there! And the Holy Ghost is not there because we have become a house of politics and not prayer! There is no greater calling on earth than intercession, yet the church seems to believe it's call is to form institutions full of religious machinery that can run "church" without God.

        Without the power of Holy Ghost, men will be lost and go to hell. Without the power of the Holy Ghost, our churches will see NO SALVATIONS, no people HEALED, none filled with the HOLY GHOST with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. Bondages will never be broken without the HOLY GHOST moving in our churches. And as I have stated in previous journals, the HOLY SPIRIT has come to point us to the finished work of CHRIST on the CROSS. Our deliverance is not based upon feelings or emotion, but by the precious blood of the Lamb. LOVE GREW where the blood fell neighbor. Flowers of hope SPRANG up for men in misery. SIN DIED where the blood fell! AND I'M SO GLAD, I'M SO GLAD LORD as I write this journal, that His precious BLOOD COVERS ME! I'm not ashamed of it. I want to shout it to the highest mountain. The blood of Jesus sets men free through the HOLY GHOST. He still sets men free neighbor. And preacher, your church needs to be a house of prayer and deliverance, and NOT a house of politics.

        The Money Changers And The Ministry Today

        I'm going to get in trouble for saying this but it needs to be said. It is a disgrace of how the ministry "industry" today has taken the gifts of God and merchandised the anointing to where religion has become big business in the church today. I was sharing with a local pastor the other day over lunch that most music artists today won't darken the door of a church without a fee to sing. Most won't come to a small church of 40-50 because the love offering won't be enough to cover their "expenses." Whatever happened to walking and ministering "by faith?" What ever happened to "freely you have received this gift, FREELY give?" Since when is God pleased with us charging $150-200 for conferences to come hear preachers speak the words of God that were FREELY GIVEN TO THEM WITHOUT PRICE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT? We have not only become a house of politics but a house of thieves and den of robbers. We have taken the gospel and prostituted it for pay and it is an abomination before God. If Jesus were here today, I'm 100% sure He'd have his cords out and the money changers would be driven out again just as they were in the days of His walk here on earth.

        As Matthew Henry puts it:

"Christ found some of the courts of the temple turned into a market for cattle and things used in the sacrifices, and partly occupied by the money-changers. Our Lord drove them from the place, as he had done at his entering upon his ministry, John 2:13-17. His works testified of him more than the hosannas; and his healing in the temple was the fulfilling the promise, that the glory of the latter house should be greater than the glory of the former. If Christ came now into many parts of his visible church, how many secret evils he would discover and cleanse! And how many things daily practiced under the cloak of religion, would he show to be more suitable to a den of thieves than to a house of prayer!"

        We need a house cleaning today in the church! We need to return to our basic destiny and prophetic call- PRAYER! We are a house of prayer, not a house of thieves and robbers. The money we are getting on our material does not need to be lining the pockets of preachers but going to feed the poor and needy and helping fund missions trips to spread the gospel overseas to a lost and dying world. If our PRAYER meetings were as large as our TAPE PRODUCT lines we'd be in business - SPIRITUALLY and not bankrupt as we are today in our souls. God help us to return to this calling. It's a call not on a few but ALL. We are the body of Christ and we as the Body of Christ have this mandate - PRAY! PRAY without ceasing as the apostle says in 1 Thessalonians:

1 Thes. 5:17-18 -  Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

        The hour we live in does not give us the opportunity to "play Church," or have a "come to Jesus and get rich quick" service. I can't state it in greater terms nor in stronger words on this site but to say "the day is far spent, the night is at hand. WORK NOW while there is still daylight, for the night comes when NO MAN WILL BE ABLE TO WORK." NOW is the acceptable day of salvation and PRAYER for the church of the living God. NOW is the time when we must take this mantle of responsibility seriously enough to find our way again in His throne room through our intercession and prayer.

        This is the call of the Jacob generation - to become a house of prayer once again and not politics! Prayer changes the world.

        Before I move on quickly, let me mention one quick thing. Patrick (known as St. Patrick by many) was a Catholic monk who in the 1200s started a 24/7 prayer movement in Ireland. He took about 100-150 monks into caves where they prayed to God all night long for months at a time. In the middle of this movement, the Lord opened Patrick's eyes one morning while in prayer and showed him the valley below him that had become full of angels. These were not just angels standing and doing nothing but these angels (untold numbers of them according to tradition and legend) were singing to each other in antiphonal style praising God. This started the great fires of the Welsh revivals of Ireland eventually lead to the Celtic revival. The seeds of these revivals birthed the Hebrides revivals later in the same area. PRAYER CAN CHANGE THINGS CHURCH. PRAYER can bring America the same grace and healing if we will return to our calling and remove the spirit of greed and avarice from us. It's time we became a house of prayer again.
 

The Jacob Generation Will Be A Generation That Watches In The Night

Ephes. 6:18
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Genesis 32:24-28
And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. [25] And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. [26] And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. [27] And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. [28] And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

       Throughout scripture there is evidence of God's power being released when people went without sleep (WATCHED) and prayed - both individually and in one accord with others. Webster dictionary defines a watch as "the state of being wakeful," a practice that is almost obsolete in most cities. It was never obsolete in Biblical times and I believe it will not be obsolete in the Jacob generation, which we will see in a moment is the "last generation," we believe.

        The Biblical pattern of watching in the Old Covenant was often that of mourning and desperation because events or seasons of desolation and despair. These events, such as captivity, threats from enemies and natural disasters, caused the people to see their desperate need for God and then turn to Him. ARE WE NOT IN SUCH A TIME AS THIS?????????????????? Do we not need to see a move of corporate repentance that touches not just our emotions but our souls? A repentance that will make us repent of more than just what we have "DONE" but who we "ARE?" What we "ARE" is utterly hopeless and wretched without HIS NATURE inside us and the HOLY GHOST leading us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

        There are two Hebrew words in the Old Testament used for "watch" - "mishmereth," which implies the act of watching or the post itself. It is a duty, a charge, an office, a safeguard. Mishmereth is the feminie form of mishmar, which means, "diligence, guard.....watch." Both these words are derived from shamar, a primary root word indicating actions, such as to hedege about (as with thorns), to protect, attend, be circumspect, take heed, keep, mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, save, lay wait for and watch.

        Are those not words WE as the BODY OF CHRIST need to be doing right now? PROTECT; ATTEND; TAKE HEED; OBSERVE; MARK; SAVE; LAY WAIT and WATCH. Watch means to peer into the distance and to observe, look up and WAIT for the watch or to keep the watch.

       The Bible records a time in Jacob's life while he was running from Esau that he watched all night. Wrestling with the angel was not the heart of this account. The true conclusion of this watch in Jacob's life was the Lord changed his name from Jacob, which meant, "supplanter" or "deceiver," to Israel, a "prince before God" or "one who has authority before God." Therefore, because Jacob persevered and watched throughout the night and wrestled with the angel, the Lord transformed his identity.

        In our watches that are coming to the body we need to tell the Lord, "WE WILL NOT LET YOU GO!" We so desperately need to grab hold of HIS GARMENTS during these night watches and gather till daybreak to see a breakthrough over our cities, our nation and our personal lives.  It will be during these watches that the Lord will transform us from weak believers who THINK we understand Godly authority to believers who KNOW Godly authority and who truly possess it.

        Through the night watches He is about to birth in city after city our name is about to be changed. It's a process of course, of going from glory to glory, but the process of change is happening. When we come forth, we will come forth as GOLD neighbor and the DROSS of this sinful wicked world will have been removed from our hearts and minds.

The Passover Watch

Exodus 12:42
It is a night to be much observed unto the Lord for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.

        During the First Passover, God moved to bring His people out of 430 years of bondage into Egypt through many unprecendented and unusual miracles and means. The Israelites, after slaying the Passover lamb, applied its blood to their houses and roasted and ate the lamb's flesh. They stayed awake through the night, not leaving their houses, and watched the hand of the Lord to bring their deliverance. That night was commemorated from then on. The night vigil will bring us the power of the LAMB once again and it's a call that will come to the Jacob generation in cities across this great land before the Lord returns.

The Rahab Watch

        Rahab is also a picture for us of the watchman who lays hold of a fresh promise in the midst of devastation and the threat of destruction. She lived on a city wall, the place where the watchman kept their charge. On the basis of her faith in God of Israel, she received the Lord's messengers, the men sent by Joshua to spy out Jericho. Rahab had heard of the God of Israel and she believed. She didn't wait for disaster to come. She negotiated with the men of God beforehand, just as this generation is called to seek God in the watch to avert trouble - and trouble neighbor is on the horizon. It don't take a spiritual giant or genius to realize or feel something is in the air and it's not just the birds whistling.

David And The Watches Recorded In Psalms

        David seems to have spent many nights awake with the Lord, both as a shepherd and as a king. When David and Bathsheba's son lay dying, David sought mercy from God; he "fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground."

2 Samuel 12:16
David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

        We are also given a glimpse of this relationship in the Psalms David penned I'm sure many nights in the quietness, but not lonely, caverns where his sheep grazed. I'm sure the Lord's presence was so great that David was more than happy to wait as long as he needed to to commune with his Father.

Psalm 63:6
When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

Psalm 16:7-8
I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. [8] I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Psalm 22:2
O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.


        David, "meditated," "remembered," "blessed the Lord," and was "instructed," during the night watches. Is there no greater blessing we need than this today in the modern church world? Can we truly carry on business as usual without having a "remembrance" of the former things; a "meditation" upon God's word?; a "blessing of the Holy Ghost" upon us and our hearts; and to be "instructed" in the ways of God?

        The prophet Samuel, the one who anointed David for service, also knew about communing with God at night. He received his first lesson as a child when God called to him. Samuel didn't know the voice of God yet, but Eli the priest, with whom the young Samuel was living in the temple, finally realized that it was God calling the little boy. He told Samuel to reply, SPEAK, LORD, for your servant hears."

1 Samuel 3:9
Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

        Later when God rejected Saul, Samuel was grieved. He cried, "all night unto the Lord." Watching and praying were a continuing part of both Samuel and David's relationship with the Lord:

1 Samuel 15:11
It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night.


Solomon's Night Watch

        David's son, Solomon received visits from God during the night, a time when God loves to speak to His people. The first night visit happened when Solomon, early in his reign, went to the tabernacle and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings to the Lord:

2 Chron. 1:7
In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.


        IN THE NIGHT, God asked Solomon, "ask what shall I give thee." Solomon answered with humility and didn't ask for riches, but WISDOM to govern the people well and God granted it. IF THERE WAS EVER A TIME DURING THE NIGHT WATCHES OF THE JACOB GENERATION WE NEED TO ASK FOR WISDOM I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER. WE ARE LIVING IN SUCH PERILOUS TIMES WHEN THE CHURCH NEEDS THE LORD'S WISDOM NOT MAN'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

James 3:13-17
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. [14] But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. [15] This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. [16] For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. [17] But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

        We will pick this up in part two of this journal. As we close part one, let me make a closing remarks.

        The Lord's desire and the church's calling in this generation is "corporate prayer," "night watches," a group of people who are sold out totally to "seeking HIS FACE" at all costs! The coming year will be one of trial and trouble friend. Hear what I say to you. I wish I had to optimism of the pundits but the Bible says things will not be getting better on the immediate horizon nor on the long-term horizon. It's time to pray! When the watchman sat on the wall in ancient Israel and saw the trouble coming he was commanded by God to sound an alarm and warn the inhabitants. The inhabitants then had a choice - obey the warning and get themselves ready to deal with the coming enemy or ignore the warning and be at the mercy of the danger.

        I pray as I have tried to sound a shofar in part one of this journal, that you will do the former, not the latter. There's a storm coming friend and it's coming soon. It's time to get ready for the Lord's return and the events that are about to shake planet Earth. It seems over the past 72-hour period that every single message, every single meeting and every single TV program Lisa and I have listened to or been part of has had one theme attached to it - CORPORATE PRAYER, SEEKING GOD'S FACE and a 24/7 hour prayer initiative to seek God's face throughout the universe.

        I am nothing without God. Even with God I am mere mortal flesh that is flawed and sinful and has no wisdom outside of what the Lord gives me. I am just a voice. This voice the Lord has given me calls you today to the decision to find time to seek his face. You and I are part of the Jacob generation. We will deal more with what that means and look at other watches in scripture in part two of this journal. This is the call of the modern church. Whether the church listens and obeys is irrelevant. I know God is raising up an army that is listening and IS obeying.

        It's getting late neighbor and it's harvest time. Seek the Lord with all your heart and soul and make HIS HOUSE a HOUSE OF PRAYER ONCE AGAIN. Shalom and our love, Blessings.