Weekly Watch Focus: July 4th—God Bless America

Friday, July 1, 2016—This July 4th we unite in celebrating America’s birthday, giving God thanks for the liberty and prosperity we enjoy as do few nations on earth. We acknowledge the debt of gratitude we owe to this nation’s Founding Fathers who endowed us with the Bill of Rights and our Constitution, as well as the many others who gave their lives to preserve our liberties.

Though we have drifted far from the standards set by our Founding Fathers, we pray for a national awakening and revival to return us to our Judeo-Christian foundations. We arise in intercession, praise, and thanksgiving, crying, “Jesus is Lord and God Bless America.” Declare recovery of our Judeo-Christian foundations and the freedom of every person to pursue life, liberty, and happiness as a civil society under God. May America be restored as a shining city on a hill, a beacon of liberty and hope to the nations, and a great, true friend of Israel. Pray that every public gathering to celebrate this holiday will be covered with God’s protection. Bind any potential terror attacks or violence planned and release angels for protection for these gathering.

Part II: Pray for Turkey

This week terrorists targeted Istanbul's airport in an attack that left 41 persons dead and 239 injured! Pray for the wounded and the families of all those affected. Pray especially for all Christians in Turkey.

In addition to the general pressures increasing in the nation whose population is 98% Muslim, the government recently seized the last six historic churches claiming them as property of the state though unlike government-supported mosques, the churches are supported by Christian denominations. One of the churches seized is 1700 years old. The apostle Paul was born in southern Turkey and travelled there as a missionary after his conversion. The seven churches of John's Revelation were in Turkey.
Believers under tremendous pressure in Acts 4 prayed: "’And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.’ And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.”

The Greek word iasis used in Acts 4 means to cure, to make well again, to restore, to heal; a remedy. Pray that the Holy Spirit would flood Turkey with the glory of Jesus to make the land and her peoples well again.

Bind the work of ISIS. Pray for safety across the nations, especially during this Fourth of July weekend. May God put a shield of protection around our children from future attacks. Pray for the families of all who have lost loved ones, and for the healing and restoration of those who were wounded.

Lev. 25:10 “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family.”

2 Chron 7:14 “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Psalm 33:12 & 22, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, just as we hope in You.”

Jer. 6:16 “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.”

Ps. 91:5,6, “You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday”

Ps 125:2, “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.”

Deut. 20:4, For the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”

Ps. 18:37, “I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them; neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.”