As an overview for the topics I'll be leading, I want to suggest three intercessory operational levels that participants in the practicum can operate in -- depending on the approach they feel most comfortable with or the approach that is closest to their current operation as an intercessor. We will be proceeding forward together on these targets corporately, but individually, each participant should be asking the Lord for His wisdom and guidance for them individually -- relative to the approach they should be taking as they intercede.

The basic level for my topics will be what we will call "praying" strategically. This is foundational to what we call prophetic intercession. Prophetic intercession is interactive -- it involves "hearing" from the Lord and then responding accordingly. A central principle to praying strategically is what I call the Issachar context "understanding the times and knowing what to do."

Praying strategically begins by recognizing, identifying and addressing the context and the broad issues -- ideally from the perspective of understanding what the Lord is doing in the situation. Praying strategically has at its foundation -- a real dependency on words of knowledge and words of wisdom. Typically, strategic intercession deals with regional, national and global issues -- issues that undergird first what the Lord is doing and planning in a particular context; and once that is understood, only then moving into what the enemy is attempting to do in response to the Lord's initiatives.

The next level, in praying strategically, involves the operation of a greater level of authority. Understanding and operating in your own level of authority is very important. It's important to the success of what is being interceded for. It's also important to recognize the authority level the Lord has you operating in -- otherwise, you are moving in presumption -- which can result in you being vulnerable, overwhelmed and perhaps not as effective as you'd like.

As the authority increases, so does the ability to speak with authority -- making proclamations and declarations based on God's Word and what the Holy Spirit may specifically reveal for the situation. Intercessors who have been called to operate regularly in this arena, understand the importance of regular repentance in their lives -- before they can forward boldly -- in a bold level of authority -- to declare and proclaim what God's intentions in a particular situation are going to be. Let me again reemphasize, that as we pursue each of the topics in this practicum, we will be proceeding corporately -- and operating in the sphere of influence and authority of the person leading the particular topic.

So, the first operational level involves recognizing, identifying and addressing the broad issues -- the Issachar context -- of what the Lord is doing and praying forth what the Lord is showing us. The next intercessory operational level involves moving more boldly into the authority given us as called, cleansed and anointed intercessors. This operation of moving in our authority can range from making declarations -- of releasing what the Lord is doing into the situation -- to tearing down strongholds that the enemy is trying to use to thwart the Lord's initiatives.

The third level will be only for those who the Lord will speak specifically to in terms of their readiness for involvement at this level. It is a level only for those who are seasoned and experienced -- those called into this particular intercessory level. I don't recommend trying to operate in this level unless the Lord has specifically spoken to you about operating in this level. It will involve going into the enemy's camp.

There are many scriptural examples of going into the enemy's camp -- and the result ranges from determining the counsel and plans of the enemy so that they might be used against the enemy; to actually conducting a raid. During this practicum, those proceeding into the enemy's camp will go no further than for the purpose of the determining the enemy's plans.

With that as background, this prayer target addresses IDENTIFYING AND DISPERSING SPIRITUAL SMOKESCREENS.

The evil one's "smokescreen" strategy serves to give focus to situations that are very real issues but are designed to mask more important, more strategic issues. In essence, these are issues created as distractions and diversions. They are subtle "smokescreens," designed to divert our attention away from more centrally important issues -- strategic-level type of issues that usually have an important timing element associated with them. Smokescreens commonly reflect a preoccupation with inbred problems, needs and petty ways that we tend to tend to get locked into -- with the result being a SPIRITUAL MYOPIA. But smokescreens can be caused by the confusion and anxiety associated with a tragedy.

For example, there have been many smokescreens surrounding the incident at Columbine High School in Littleton Colorado. When we first moved to the Denver area in the mid-80s, we lived roughly a mile from where this incident occurred. This heinous incident occurred within two weeks of the time Cindy Jacobs shared with a group of Denver area pastors that this area was more primed for revival than any she had seen in some time. As we approach this topic, I will be sharing more -- but at this point, let me just say, that I am convinced the enemy's intentions are to duplicate the "model" of what took place at Columbine in other locations around the US. But the Lord has another plan. And the Lord is in control.

In order to effectively stand for the Lord's plans and to counter the enemy's plans, the smokescreens need to be dispersed. While many of these matters surrounding an incident such as that at Columbine need to be dealt with, the approach needs to be such that it prioritizes and allows us to move on to the more pertinent and strategic issues. To press beyond the smokescreens. It involves mobilizing believers -- and creating greater awareness and revelation into the central issues -- and not allowing ourselves to be drawn into the "heaviness" of a situation.

Rising above or dispersing the smokescreens will involve the Body rising above the "in-bred" issues that create spiritual myopia; with the Lord granting us individually and corporately much more wisdom and discernment in approaching the battle -- and given the appropriate focus and priority to the issues that make a difference; that we, as the Body, begin operating and functioning with genuine seeing eyes and hearing ears that we might begin operating and functioning in higher, more effective levels of maturity, unity and faith -- with a heart of love, humility, integrity and servant-hood.

First, I'd like everyone to pray this following prayer :

Father, we come to you in the mighty Name of Jesus. Lord we affirm, that it is not by might, nor by power, but by your Spirit that we serve as your warriors. Lord, we repent of anything within our lives that may not be of You. We ask you Lord, to cleanse us with the blood of Jesus. Lord, we thank you that we hear Your voice clearly. Lord we thank you that we are obedient servants. We go when You say to go and we stop when You say to stop. Lord we neither turn to the right or left without the leading of Your Holy Spirit. But Lord, we will proceed at Your direction and be bold as lions, because Lord we are cleansed by the blood of the Lamb -- we have on the full armor of God -- and Lord we utilize an arsenal of weapons that are mighty in power, weapons that pull down strongholds -- and Lord we thank You that no weapon formed against us will prosper.

Lord, we now thank you for accentuating our spiritual vision and discernment. Lord we thank you for clearly revealing and identifying the smokescreens operating in the situation surrounding Columbine. Lord we ask that you give us wisdom and insight regarding the enemy's intentions concerning not only this locale; but how this might be linked to other intentions the enemy might have in other areas -- especially as it relates to serving as an impediment to your purposes Lord -- especially as it relates to the enemy's intentions against the Body on a broader scale. Lord, we are waiting on You to show us what we need to know in how to proceed and what we need to know relative to the links that this situation has in other arenas of the enemy's activities.

Now, Lord, we take authority over the smokescreens. Lord, we thank you for the authority that has been given us not only in the strong Name of Jesus, but Lord we thank you for the mantle of authority you have given us through Your Holy Spirit. We now speak to you smokescreens, and in the mighty Name of Jesus, we say be dispersed.

Please limit your prayer/discussion to the current week's prayer target; please do not pray into or discuss previous week's prayer targets.
However, if you have a praise report to answered prayer from a previous week's prayer activity, please feel free to post them any time.