Cindy Jacobs

I admit that I find the Religious Right's commingling of prayer with politics endlessly fascinating, especially the way they formulate specific political goals as prayer targets, which is why I keep posting them.

The targets set out by Cindy Jacobs and Generals International are particularly revealing, as she has been providing specific day-by-day prayers heading into the election.

Her latest prayer update focuses mainly on reclaiming the "education mountain," and seeks to remove "unrighteous leadership" for the nation's public school system so that the "light of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the fear of the Lord" can be spread by educators. 

In addition, Jacobs declares that "progressive politics" and "multiculturalism" must be stripped from the nation's textbooks because they are "denigrating the importance of Christianity in American culture" and asks God to "break unholy conspiracies and expose for public scrutiny those who are advancing pro-Islamic textbooks and school curriculums under the rhetoric of diversity, rights, tolerance and democracy."

And, of course, Jacobs urges activists to pray to end "Homosexuality and Sexual Perversion in our Children's Schools" and calls the "blood-covered justice and judgments of God" down upon those who seek to "destroy the family unit through the advancement of the homosexual agenda":

· Pray for exposure to public scrutiny those who are covertly working to advance the homosexual indoctrination of our children through the educational system.

· Pray that God would raise up righteous leaders to successfully contend against the encroachments of the homosexual activists upon our nation's educational system.

· Pray that defenders of family and protectors of our children's welfare remain strong and courageous and true to their calling.

· Pray for protection of our children's minds and hearts as they sit in school, college and university classrooms.

Father, we come before you humbly crying out for mercy upon America's civic and household leaders for allowing the minority homosexual community to make such deep inroads into our nation's educational system. In Jesus' Name, we pray that You would awaken believers to the critical importance of being involved in preserving Biblical principals for living as the foundation of our children's education. Father, raise up Christians across America who will vote in leaders that will strongly oppose the encroachments of the homosexual activists upon our nation's educational system and diligently protect our children from being subjected to lessons in sexual perversion, deviance and decadence in their school classrooms and libraries. We ask You would expose to public scrutiny those who, under a cloak of "equality" that is devoid of Judeo-Christian values, are working to undermine parental rights in education and indoctrinate our impressionable school children in an effort to change public attitudes toward homosexuality. We release into our children the knowledge and wisdom of God and the boldness to stand up for what is true, holy and pure. We release strength, boldness and divine strategies to the faithful defenders of Your precepts for the instruction of our children and declare that they will not compromise their standards or cave to the abhorrent demands of the homosexual community even in the face of great opposition and threats. We release the blood-covered justice and judgments of God upon those forces that are trying to subjugate American education and thereby, destroy the family unit through the advancement of the homosexual agenda.

Yesterday we were noting that there are at least six different right-wing 40-day prayer efforts under way that are aimed specifically at seeing Republicans elected during the mid-term elections.

Among the various efforts is one being led by Cindy Jacobs and Generals International and today her United States Reformation Prayer Network sent out an email containing a "prayer guide for the next 5 days of our fast, which focuses on the governmental mountain" with this purpose of disrupting the "evil advisors" and breaking the "unholy conspiracies" that are controlling our government and removing them from office. 

In addition, Jacobs offers specific prayers for the victories in Colorado's personhood amendment, California's marijuana initiative and that God will "open the blind eyes of the supporters of the DADT repeal to stop this detrimental measure in its tracks": 

In Jesus' Name, we ask that You raise up those that will yield their heart to righteousness in government matters, that they would be bold and courageous and willing to obey Your word. We pray that they would act fairly, humanely and with insight in the execution of their duties. Grant them Your wisdom, favor and abundant grace as they take a stand in the political courts of men's opinions inwardly acknowledging it was you who called them. Disrupt the counsel of evil advisors and surround our leaders with Godly counsel. Expose the snares of those who would present themselves one way but whose hearts intent is to seduce the people to drink from the waters of deception. Let the upright dwell in our government; let men and women blameless and complete in Your sight remain in positions of authority. God, break unholy conspiracies and let the wicked be cut off from our government and the treacherous uprooted from our land.

...

As we prepare ourselves to cast our vote, show us which ones would advance and uphold policies based upon Biblical standards of righteousness. Give us ears to hear and discern by Your spirit the truth as we listen when issues are being debated at town hall meetings, organized forums and media presentations throughout the nation. As we vote we ask that our decision would reflect our cry to see our nation come into alignment with righteousness such that those who have dishonored the voice of Your word and Your ways would be removed. Father, we thank You that fervent, united prayer and action can and will powerfully affect this election and the nation!

...

· Pray for the passing of the Kansas Constitutional Amendment 62 to uphold and preserve their right to bears arms (On Kansas Ballot for November 2)

· Pray that the California Marijuana Legalization Initiative (Prop 19), allowing the possession, cultivation or transport of marijuana for personal use, would NOT pass (On California Ballot for November 2 mid-term election)

· Pray for the passing of Colorado Fetal Personhood, Amendment 62, to apply the term 'person' as used in those provisions of the Colorado Constitution relating to inalienable rights, equality of justice and due process of law, to every human being from the beginning of the biological development of that human being. (On Colorado Ballot for November 2 mid-term election)

· Pray that a "lame-duck" congress would not succeed in their attempts to force through any unrighteous legislation (DADT, embryonic stem cell research, another massive stimulus package, cap and trade bill, etc.) ...

· Pray for the safety of our military-in Afghanistan and elsewhere, and concerning the attempts to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, thereby allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the military, and requiring military hospitals at home and abroad to perform abortions ... May God open the blind eyes of the supporters of the DADT repeal to stop this detrimental measure in its tracks.

One of the most difficult things about keeping track of the rise of self-proclaimed Prophets, Apostles, and Intercessors within the Religious Right is the fact that the movement is so massive and diverse.  There are dozens, if not hundreds, of different leaders all with different organizations and ministries which often work together and frequently overlap while maintaining their own agenda's and handing out their own prophecies.

For every Lou Engle, Jim Garlow, and Cindy Jacobs who makes the open transition to Religious Right activism, there are dozens of other equally committed but less front-and-center activists like Rick Joyner and Chuck Pierece. And for every Joyner and Pierce, there are dozens of others we have never even heard about ... like Georgian Banov.

But just because we haven't heard of Banov until today, it doesn't change the fact he hast spent the last six months engaged in a targeted prayer effort focused on the East Coast as part of a "campaign of electing a new leadership for the United States of America":

The Lord of the Angel Armies personally disclosed Heaven’s battle plans with His own breath. Elijah was to anoint two kings and a prophet -- there was to be a changing of the guard, God had provided the defeat of the enemy.

Last November, along with several Washington DC churches and house of prayer ministries, we gathered in our nation’s capital for a week of intercession for the United States of America. Leaders who love life were elected into office in both of the states we were praying for; we had a landslide victory and the freedom bell began to ring.

That night we began to hear the Lord’s holy whisper – I have a plan to shift your nation back onto its righteous course. The vision unfolded and we saw a new Congress filled with humble yet strong leaders.

In just six months, the United States midterm elections will be held. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 36 of the 100 seats in the Senate will be contested. The Lord has already chosen men and women that He wants in these governmental positions. He has picked leaders with hearts that are filled with the values of Heaven—those who love life and justice, compassion and truth.

Next week we will launch a prophetic summit and prayer initiative from Boston, which will continue nationwide through the 2010 elections on November 2nd.

On the audio clip posted on that page, Chuck Pierce tells Banov that an "Army of Saints" would arise out of Boston and sweep out over the nation and achieve the goals that Banov had set in his list of very specific, very political prayer targets: 

• We declare that another great awakening has begun.
• We declare that this awakening will bring about a cultural transformation and a return to the values of our founding fathers.
• We declare that the church will again be salt and light in American society.
• We declare revival in the church, restoring the fire of the early church during Pentecost and birth of Christianity.
• We decree a shift in the United States Congress in the Fall of 2010 towards life, justice, compassion and truth.
• Just as the election of Senator Brown was a signal of the end of secular liberalism, let these decrees be heard as thunder in the heavens and shake Washington DC this November.
• We call for a new congress of leaders who are servants, not career politicians; sons and not orphans; lovers of life, truth and compassion.

And now, as the mid-term elections approach, Banov and company are descending upon Washington DC for a week of strategic "worship, prayer and prophetic declaration over our nation" in order to gain control of the 7 Mountains that dominate our nation:

The Glory Shift events in New Jersey, Maine, and Washington DC are a part of capturing this divine opportunity. Join us as we bring together apostles, prophets and intercessors to pray, declare and decree. This is a glorious opportunity for the Church to shape the future of our culture and shift the direction of our country toward compassion, justice, truth and righteousness.

Much has been brought to light about the "7 Mountains" that shape society. In America, of these seven, the roots of four lie deeply in the Northeast – "The Womb of the Nation."

...

Washington, DC, which is also in the Northeast Corridor, is the epicenter of US politics. It is the home of our President, Congress, the Supreme Court, and the offices of the Federal Government. Much of the future of our nation rests upon the decisions that are made in this powerful city.

We invite you to join us as we worship, pray, declare and decree the destiny of Heaven over our nation. Hear what national prophets are saying at this pivotal time in history. Be equipped in the Supernatural School of Ministry to do greater works, which Jesus said we would do. There are miracles waiting to be released into our lives and into our land as we embrace everything that Christ has done at Calvary. There are signs, wonders, and miracles ready to explode into the Northeast from the Throne of God as we gather together with faith-filled joy and expectancy for a manifestation of His Kingdom here on earth as it is in Heaven.

It really is remarkable just how widespread this type of prophetic political activism is and how much of it goes on below the radar of people like ourselves who are actually starting to be on the lookout for it.

• John Wright @ Dallas Voice: Group backing Sally Kern calls her transgender opponent Brittany Novotny ‘a confused it.’
• Towleroad: Shirley Phelps-Roper: We Burned a Quran, and Nobody Cared!
• Ian Millhiser @ Think Progress: Hate Group-Funded Campaign To Remove Iowa Justices Falsely Claims Justice O’Connor’s Support.
• Sarah Posner @ Religion Dispatches: Beyond Terry Jones' Qur'an Burning.
• Simon Maloy @ Media Matters: Beck and Palin need a better scheduler.
• Joe Sudbay @ Americablog: Wash. Post editor won't defend or explain endorsement of NOM-backed candidate.
• Good As You: Tony's TV priorities: Making 'Real Housewives' drama seem that much less frivolous.
• Bruce Wilson @ Talk To Action: Plot To Install a Christian Supremacist as Hawaii's Next Governor Hangs By a Thread.
• Finally, the quote of the day from Herescope: "Time for a reality check. What all this means for you, if you are an American, is that you must now submit to Cindy Jacobs, whom C. Peter Wagner apparently appointed to be the 'U.S. national apostle' in charge of our nation."

Earlier this week I was marveling at how different groups just keep announcing redundant pre-election efforts, so that there are now at least four separate groups launching prayer efforts heading into the mid-term elections: Pray and ACT, Cindy Jacobs and Generals International, the National Religious Broadcasters, and the Southern Baptist Convention.

But you know what was missing?  An election-targeted prayer effort that is being orchestrated by a university.  But fortunately, the University of Mobile has stepped in to fill that void:

A Christian university in Alabama is calling people to join together in prayer for a nationwide spiritual and cultural transformation as the mid-term elections approach.

The University of Mobile recently founded the Center for Leadership Development (CLD) to help leaders fulfill their responsibility to God as American citizens. Director Dr. Joe Savage tells OneNewsNow the first action the group is taking is launching The twelve23 Prayer Movement for America. The initiative is based on John 12:23, which says, "The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified."

"Beginning October 1 through November 2, each day at 12:23 we're asking Christians to simply humble themselves and pray -- just for a moment," Savage explains. "Can you imagine if Christians across this land, at restaurants across this country, if people would stop for a moment and bow their heads and pray right there at the 12:23 hour?"

The twelve23 website makes the connection to the elections quite clear:

Beginning October 1, 2010 and concluding Tuesday, November 2, 2010, we are asking Christians around the world to pray for the United States and their own faithfulness every day at 12:23 p.m. and/or 12:23 a.m.

America’s mid-term elections are Tuesday, November 2, 2010. On this day, millions of Americans will exercise their constitutional freedom by voting for the candidate of their choice. This is a wonderful privilege! Knowing this is an extremely important election and knowing that our nation needs God more than ever, we invite you to commit to praying and to get others committed to participating as well!

And the accompanying twelve23 Contract lays out exactly how the godless liberals have been destroying this country:

Godless arrogance, at large among political leadership, has resulted in continued disintegration of effective and healthy state and national policies. Decline of religious instruction in homes and churches has led to clouded understanding of God and the embracing of Christian and pagan thought with equal standing.

A liberal political philosophy, historically weak in the face of evil, continues its influence at a time when we most desperately need protection from evil from within and beyond our borders.

Concepts of responsibility to God, responsibility to others, and self-sacrifice are lost in a national sea of greed and self-entitlement.

We believe these conditions constitute a spiritual and cultural attack upon the health and welfare of our nation.

Pray and ACT is calling for 40 days for prayer and fasting heading into the 2010 mid-term elections and so is Cindy Jacobs ... and now the National Religious Broadcasters is getting in on the act as well, announcing its own pre-election 40-day prayer effort:

In response to the unprecedented spiritual and moral decline in our nation, the NRB Executive Committee is issuing a call to God’s people to devote ourselves to 40 days of earnest, soul-searching prayer, beginning September 1, 2010 and ending October 10, 2010. The theme verse is 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people.” We must seek God for the revival of our souls and the life of our nation.

NRB is requesting that you join us in calling upon God's people to commit to these 40 days of prayer. God will hear our prayers and heal our land only after we humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways.

Specifically, we are asking:

• Stations to air 30- and/60-second PSA’s, encouraging Christians to take part in the “If My People” prayer initiative. To assist you, previously recorded PSA’s are available here.
• Ministries to include the NRB call to prayer in their September programming. This would remind and encourage audiences to participate beginning September 1 for 40 days.

As Peter said, judgment begins with the house of God. Now is the time when we must be transparent before the Lord to let Him change us, so that through the power of the Holy Spirit we might change the world.

And if 2 Chronicles 7:14 sounds familiar, that is because it has become the passage around which just about every Religious Right events has been organized including Janet Porter's May Day 2010 Prayer Rally, the Global Day of Prayer, the National Day of Prayer, and the FRC's Call 2 Fall event.  In fact, even the fast at the center of Pray and ACT mission is explicitly linked to this passage:

The fast will begin at 7:14am (based on 2 Chronicles 7:14), on Sept 20 and end at 7:14am, Oct 30, 2010. Although many will follow only a liquid diet, persons can fast as God directs them during this 40 day span.

Ever since President Obama was elected, 2 Chronicles 7:14 has become the verse around which the Religious Right has mobilized ... and that should give you a pretty good understanding of their mindset at the moment:

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

A few weeks back, I wrote a post about Rick Joyner and The Oak Initiative, one of the "prophetic intercessor" groups that, like Lou Engle and The Call and Cindy Jacobs and General International, are becoming increasingly active within the more "mainstream" Religious Right.

Like The Call and Generals International, The Oak Initative is a member of the Religious Right "supergroup" known as The Freedom Federation and Joyner, along with Engle and Jacobs, participated in the group's "Awakening" conference earlier this year, sitting on a panel on "Pastors and Political Activity" with Rick Scarborough and Richard Land.

Later this month, The Oak Initiative will be hosting its first ever Oak Convention in South Carolina which is scheduled to include Joyner, Samuel Rodriguez, Lance Wallnau, Jerry Boykin, Cindy Jacob, and others where they will discuss methods for gaining influence over their version of the 7 Mountains: 

At this time it is important to establish a leadership forum that focuses on the current major areas of dominant influence and crisis, including:

1. Spiritual and moral
2. Government and politics
3. Media
4. Economic
5. Social Issues
6. Environmental
7. Education

To do this we want to establish a leader and a council to address each of these spheres. Organizing this will be one of the major goals of the August Oak Convention. We will be establishing each of these with a Chairman, Asst. Chairman, and a staff devoted to both Research and Communications. The purpose of these councils will be to provide an accurate assessment of the great issues of the times, and to propose answers and solutions to them.

And among the ways they hope to do this is by creating their own "Christian Intelligence Service" and building their own media empires [PDF]: 

The formation of a Christian Intelligence Service

This is for training an army of “watchmen” who are skilled in discerning important issues or events as they unfold, and can gather basic information about it that is accurate and trustworthy.

One of the number one issues that seems uniform across nations and cultures at this time is a deteriorating trust in the media for accurate reporting and information. Most of the people on earth have never had government information sources that they trusted to be accurate, but in recent times even the most trusted governments have had a significant collapse of integrity and trust. If this void is not filled with truth and accurate information, the level of deception of the people will continue to grow. We believe this is a basic call of Christians who are supposed to be a light in their times, which is more than just preaching the gospel, but it is also exposing what is hidden in darkness with the truth that will set people free. We believe fundamentally that all men were created to be free, and that the basis of all freedom is truth.

The formation of media outlets with the highest standards of integrity and accuracy

We intend to build a world-class media outlet that is built more on trust and integrity than just style and technology, though we intend to be good at these too. The body of Christ has the people resources to quickly become a great light that shines in this darkness with truth. We have the ability to almost immediately reach virtually every major nation, and most of the world’s population with news and information for less than the cost that is now paid to a single executive at present media outlets.

And of course the aim of all of this is decidely political, as demonstrated by this new ad The Oak Initiative has posted on its YouTube page which declares that America regrets electing President Obama and the Democrats because they are a threat to this nation and so "we're coming after you" and "now you will pay" in 2010: 

Update: Apparently this video has been around for a while and is not an original Oak Initiative ad.

Last week, Cindy Jacobs issued "a serious warning and a call for urgent prayer," warning that God had told her that unless the nation turned to massive prayer, fasting, and revival - along with support for Israel and proper voting, of course - our economy was going to be destroyed.

Since then, Jacobs has had a bit more time to convene with God and so now she is back with a new video message reporting that God has told her that whether the US receives His blessing or His judgment depends entirely on how we vote in November:

The next elections, 2010, are so critical. We know that they'll take place November 2, so this is what I feel from the Lord: we must declare a forty day fast leading up to the elections. We must have a situation where we have a movement called "Fast America," meaning every single day thousands, hopefully tens of thousands, of Americans will fast and pray for God to give wisdom for these next elections, for His candidate that are His choice - pro-life, pro-Biblical definition of marriage - that will be put in office . It is not only critical but it is imperative that we do so.

This is not something that will be easily turned. It will not be turned without a battle, a battle both through our prayers, a battle on our knees, but a battle with our feet. We must vote with our feet for righteousness, for these pro-life, pro-Biblical values candidates. We must engage as we have never engaged before.

But I know that if we will do this, that God is going to have mercy upon the nation.

There is actually a lot more in the original video, as Jacobs explains how their intercession capped the BP oil well and turned away the hurricane that was threatening the Gulf and also assures us that the Word she received from God has been endorsed by the "other major prophets in the Aposotilc Council of Prophetic Elders," so you know that you can trust that it is totally legit:

Cindy Jacobs reports that on July 17, God spoke to her and warned that America was on the verge of slipping into "another Great Depression" and the only hope of stopping it was for massive prayer, fasting, revival, support for Israel ... and, of course, proper voting: 

A few days ago as I watched the financial news, the Lord clearly spoke these words to me, "The nation is teetering!" I then had a vision of the economy of the United States, on what looked like a "scale of justice." He then went on to show me that we must fast, pray and cry out to the Lord for mercy and solutions that will balance righteousness and justice.

In praying to the Lord for wisdom about this word, I realized what must be done—it is time for the Church in America to stand up and take her place once again in the nation. I mulled over the fact that we have already lost so many of our liberties and this is what I heard, "If the Church doesn't fast and pray for a faster acceleration of revival and awakening, the iniquitous sin structures in the nation will tip the scale that is teetering and there will be another great depression."

Of course, this word shook me to the core of my being. Many of you may be aware that the Holy Spirit spoke to me almost a year before the September 2008 economic melt down, that there would be "no more business as usual."

The balance of the economy is fragile and depending on the way we fast, pray, and how we cast our votes in the next election will depend on which way the scale tips. We must pray and do. We must pray and act. We must awaken the Church to the state of the nation without fear of pleasing man or fear for our reputation.

God is watching to see which way the die will be cast. If we shift the nation to Biblical values in the arenas of righteousness and justice, the economy will follow. If we continue in our stance of support for Israel, the Stock Market will stabilize and prosper, and that which is fragile will become strong. Supernatural solutions will be sent from Heaven that our natural minds could never reason, nor grasp and they will heal the land.

If we do not heed in this hour there will be a tumbling of our economy and dark days will be ahead to such a degree that our nation will possibly never fully recover from and have the greatness as a nation that God has favored us with for generations.

God have mercy. God send an awakening. God send salvation.