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City Wide Prayer

City-Wide Prayer has been stirring in my heart. The Lord took me to Nehemiah 4 today. Since you are an intercessor or pastor, you may see the importance of congregations (plural) coming together to pray. How does that happen? When? How can this complement what began at the Tent Meetings? How can this complement other prayer gatherings around the area?

Nehemiah 4:1-23

Now it came about that when Sanballat (Satan?) heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews. And he spoke in the presence of his brothers and the wealthy men of Samaria and said, “What are these feeble Jews (Charlestonians?) doing? Are they going to restore it for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the dusty rubble even the burned ones?” Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and he said, “Even what they are building—if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!”

Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity. Do not forgive their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before Thee, for they have demoralized the builders. So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height (its usually hardest when we are half way there), for the people (the church?) had a mind to work.

Now it came about when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, and that the breaches began to be closed, they were very angry. And all of them conspired together (world, flesh, devil?) to come and fight against Jerusalem (Charleston) and to cause a disturbance in it.

But we (PLURAL) prayed to our God, and because of them we (Charleston Churches) set up a guard against them day and night (House of Prayer?).
10 Thus in Judah it was said, “The strength of the burden bearers is failing,
Yet there is much rubbish;
And we ourselves are unable
To rebuild the wall.” (is this how I feel or what?!)

11 And our (hellish?) enemies said, “They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them, and put a stop to the work.”12 And it came about when the Jews (pastors/overseers) who lived near them came and told us ten times, “They will come up against us from every place where you may turn,”13 then I stationed men (intercessors) in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears, and bows.14 When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” 15 And it happened when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had frustrated their plan (PTL), then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work.16 And it came about from that day on, that half of my servants carried on the work (ministry) while half of them held (intercession) the spears, the shields, the bows, and the breastplates; and the captains (pastors) were behind the whole house of Judah.17 Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon.18 As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me.19 And I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people (congregations of Charleston), “The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall far from one another. At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”

21 So we carried on the work with half of them holding spears from dawn until the stars appeared.22 At that time I also said to the people, “Let each man with his servant spend the night within Jerusalem so that they may be a guard for us by night and a laborer by day.”23 So neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us removed our clothes, each took his weapon even to the water.

Some things that have been stirring in my heart:

• charlestonPrays.org: where corporate and open prayer gatherings in Charleston area are promoted
• As there was daily preaching meetings at the tent for the 40 days, have daily prayer times at neutral sites (small tent, Marion Square?? etc) Have pastors and intercessors LEAD PEOPLE TO PRAY (not pray on behalf of the people).
  Prayers would be offered for Charleston, for Jerusalem, for the world....local, regional, global.
  People could be led to pray through the Lord's Prayer's themes.
  People could be led to pray a la the Harp and Bowl model.
  People could be led to pray themes of Scripture a la Concerts of Prayer
  People could be led to pray Prayers of the Apostles
  People could be led to pray Prayers of the Psalms/ Old Testament
  People could be led to pray Prayers of Jesus
  People could be led to pray with geographical emphasis: North Chas, Peninsula, East Cooper, West Ashley

AND "let us come together and seek God together ­ intercessors and pastors

This is what is stirring in me.
Proverbs 15:22 Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.

David Bateman

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