Bible Study

 

Chuck Pierce: "32-Day Rearguard Prayer Focus"

"Establish My Rearguard Now!"

We are entering a season where we must understand the "rearguard" principle. This is a time of advancing. We are pursuing the manifestation of God's covenant blessings in our lives and nation. This is a time to secure our victory and allow God's standard to rise behind us.

I hear the Lord saying, "IN THE NEXT 32 DAYS, I DECLARE THE REARGUARD OF THE LORD WILL BE ESTABLISHED IN OUR LIVES."

 To fully understand rearguard praying, let's look at one of the best patterns--it's seen in the life of David. Once David had a breakthrough over the Philistines, he had to secure his victory because they mounted up an attack against him. That is what I see happening in our lives and nation. The enemy has a strategy to backlash against us in this next month.

"Establish My Rearguard now!" Pray from God's covenant plan of protection. God had a covenant with David. When I pray for individuals or regions, and especially our nation, I pray from the standpoint of covenant. Psalms 89:3-4 says, "I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: Your seed I will establish forever, and build up your throne to all generations." Verses 20-23, show how our covenant with God positions us to outwit the schemes of our enemy.

Rearguard Teaching

There is a tremendous prayer strategy that I believe the Lord is attempting to teach His people at this time. That strategy is called "Rearguard Praying."

Isaiah 58:8, "Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go forth before you; the Glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard."

Rearguard is a detachment of troops detailed to guard the rear of a moving column. The rearguard is generally used for security during a forward movement, but is also a detachment concerned with delaying the pursuit of a main military body in retreat. Sun Tzu inThe Art of War said, "Ground that is of great advantage to either side is contentious ground....On contentious ground, hurry up your rearguard." We are in contentious times, and the ground taken this year is very important.

James Robison shares, "In our spiritual struggle, we must show the same resolve as we have shown in the war on terrorism. But we must rely on the promises and power of God, rather than on the might of our armed forces. When the enemy raves and rants, we must remember that more than 60 times in the Old and New Testaments, God tells us to 'fear not.' In many other verses, like the one above, He assures us of His protection against anything satan can deploy against us. He will drive out the enemy before us(Deuteronomy 18:12). He will be our rearguard (Isaiah 58:8).Isaiah 52:12, "The Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rearguard."

God promises not only to look out for you as you're going into the battle, but also to be your "rear guard" after the battle. So when God has worked mightily, when God has used you significantly, don't get spiritually careless. That's the time to give yourself that all-important order--"Shields up!"

Pursue Breakthrough

This is a year to PURSUE BREAKTHROUGH. We have done just that as a corporate group of intercessors. To break means to cause to come apart by force; to separate in pieces by shattering; to burst and force a way through resulting in splitting a barrier; and to interrupt and bring about suspension of an operation.

There are times when God calls us to use prayer to break the power of the enemy over an area of our lives, or over a city or territory. The enemy will often get us in a vicious cycle through adverse circumstances. Satan attempts to weaken our faith, disillusion us, and keep us going around Mount Sinai until we are so weary, that we may even forget that there is a Promised Land. We can even see such desperation come over a territory that satan has held captive. We must use the power of breakthrough prayer to smash the vicious cycle of unbelief, and declare a breaking in the enemy's scheme. Once we breakthrough, we must understand the rearguard. 

How to Pray:

Day 1. Receive a new anointing. Read 2 Samuel 5:1-5. The Lord is bringing a new anointing to His people. That anointing will cause prophetic words that have lain dormant to begin to be activated in the atmosphere. The anointing breaks the yoke. Go where the anointing is moving and have a receptive heart. 

Day 2. Allow the Lord to show you any old iniquitous pattern that is hanging around in your life or prayer assignment. Read 2 Samuel 5:6-7. God had wanted the Jebusites to be overthrown when Canaan was taken. This was written around 400 years later, and 800 years from the time that the Lord first covenanted with Abraham to bring down the Jebusites. The Lord does not forget an old, iniquitous pattern that would weaken us. 

Day 3. Open your eyes and you will see the path of victory. Read 2 Samuel 5:8-16. If you come into a new place of intimacy and communion with God, your eyes will open to see new strategies to break the enemy's power. Don't be afraid to get your knees dirty. Crawl through that narrow place and surprise your enemy.

Day 4. Don't allow the enemy's backlash to get you off course. In2 Samuel 5:17-19, we read, "When the Philistines heard of David's new anointing they mounted a counter attack. So David inquired of the LORD, saying, 'Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?' And the LORD said to David, 'Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.'" Many of God's people begin to have victory and then fall short. The enemy sees your new anointing, and then raises up new forces to come against you. When you sense this backlash or retaliation, once you are having victory, don't let fear engulf you. Stop and pray. Just as David did, ask the Lord if you are to war or to wait. If you hear Him say,"War!" then do it! 

Day 5. Declare deliverance and breakthrough throughout this day. Outline your Baal Perazims. Read 2 Samuel 5:20-21. Declare that the Master of Breakthrough will rise on your behalf. Ask for a new anointing of intercession. 

Day 6. Don't drop your shield until you see your enemy completely pushed back. Read 2 Samuel 5:22-23. The Philistines returned with another counter attack. Even after victory occurs, stay alert to the enemy's location. Any time you discern the enemy's presence, inquire of the Lord. Much creativity is needed to utterly defeat the enemy. Yesterday you had God's strategy and direction; today He has a new path for you to take. God is faithful morning by morning. Gain your direction daily. See your enemy that is encroached upon your territory, totally removed.

Day 7. Wait for the sound of the Holy Spirit in your midst. Read 2 Samuel 5:24. The Holy Spirit is breathing a new, fresh sound for victory. If we miss His sound, it will take us out of God's timing in facing off the enemy. Hear the sound of the Spirit of God.

Day 8. Declare everything in your "land"--life, home, church, city, and nation--to be secured. Read 2 Samuel 5:25. David secured his covenant territory.

Day 9. Worship and establish God's presence in your midst. Read 2 Samuel 6. After a false start, David brought the Ark back as the central force of all of Israel. 

Day 10. Read 2 Samuel 7:25-29. Declare: The Lord will establish my house! Also, pray for the church or ministry you are most connected to. 

Day 11. Read 2 Samuel 8:1-14. David took Metheg Ammah. This means the bridle of the mother city. Once the presence of God was established, David actually took the stronghold of the Philistines. Declare that you will take hold of that which is leading you, and instead of being led, you will lead forth in God's purposes. 

Day 12. Receive a new strength. Read Isaiah 52. Isaiah 52:1 says, "Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments." Our strength to withstand the attack of the enemy is something that we actually have to put on. We must review the condition of our armor, and repair every place that has been weakened through apathy or a spirit of slumber. This can rob us of strength. We need to order our prayers, gain strategy, and allow our steps to be ordered of the Lord. In doing so, we will gain the necessary strength for the war that lies ahead. 

Day 13. There is a new strength. Read Psalms 89. "With whom My hand shall be established; also My arm shall strengthen him" (verse 21). Strength means to have power, vigor, might, energy, and fervency. But another definition of strength is to have power by reason of influence, authority, or resources. Like anointing, our covenant with God positions us for strength over the enemy by the very influence, authority, and resources available to us. Strength also means "power to withstand an attack." 

Day 14. Declare any plan the enemy has set against you, will be found out and seen. Read Psalms 89 again. We will not be outwitted by the enemy. "The enemy shall not outwit him, nor the son of wickedness afflict him" (verse 22). The literal meaning of this verse has to do with demanding a debt to be paid without showing mercy. Because of our covenant position with God, in this case, standing clean and blameless before Him through the blood of Jesus, we are not indebted to the enemy and, therefore, we need not be outwitted nor afflicted by him.

Day 15. Declare that the thief will have no power over you. ReadJohn 10:7-18. We have the power to outwit the enemy because of what he is attempting to steal from us. He is, therefore, in debt to us, and because of our covenant position, we have a right to fight him from that position, and demand back what is ours through strategic prayer. 

Day 16. Praise God that He will take a stand on your behalf. ReadPsalms 89. "I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague those who hate him" (verse 23). Once we are in covenant with the Lord, He displays Himself to overthrow the power of the enemy on our behalf. 

Day 17. Let the Lord raise His standard against your enemies. Read Isaiah 59:19. "So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him." A standard was considered in Old Testament times as a token of protection and fidelity. According to the New Unger's Bible Dictionary, God's lifting or setting up a standard implies a peculiar presence, protection, and aid in leading; and directing His people in the execution of His righteous will and giving them comfort and peace in His service. Our covenant with the Lord positions us under this powerful standard.

Day 18. Put on the whole armor of God. Read Ephesians 6:10-13. Position yourself for faith against any evil that might surround you. Hold at bay or stand in front of, and oppose in active battle the enemy that has been taunting you. Take your stand for the next battle.

Day 19. Get your back side covered with the glory of God. ReadEphesians 6:14-20. The armor God has supplied to His New Testament soldiers, does not provide for protection of the back of the warrior outside of the intercession of others (Ephesians 6:18). This is also consistent with the armies of Old Testament Israel where the "glory of the Lord" was to be their rearguard (Isaiah 58:8). 

Day 20. Withstand any attempt of the enemy's plans against you. Read Ephesians 6:13. To withstand is to "anthistemi." This Greek word comes from the same word as antihistamine. It means to vigorously oppose, bravely resist, stand face to face--just as an antihistamine puts a block on a histamine. Declare a new resistance to be built within you. Ask God to show you any place where your resistance has been torn down. 

Day 21. Declare vindication from your enemy. Read Genesis 30:4-6; 49:16; Numbers 2:25-31. The tribe of Dan served as a rearguard to the north for all of Israel. The tribe of Dan served as a rearguard. Dan means vindication. "He will be the serpent in the road to bite the horse's heals so that its rider falls backward." When operating in rearguard prayer we ambush our enemy and cause them to stop their pursuit and actually lose strength. 

Day 22. Prepare a special offering for the King. Read Genesis 30:12-13; 49:20; Deuteronomy 33:24-25. "May his foot be dipped in oil." May your feet be anointed and shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. May you be ready to accomplish anything God tells you. Receive new favor and anointing for your steps to move forward. The tribe of Asher also served as the rearguard. Asher means happy and fortunate. Ask the Lord for new joy to move forward. Asher is linked with favor and blessing. Asher fought with Gideon and pursued Midian. Anna was of the tribe of Asher (Luke 2:36). Wait patiently until you see a manifestation of the promise. As you give your offering, declare that you will hit a deep well of financial release. 

Day 23. Gain strength to wrestle your enemies to the ground. Put your feet on the head of your enemies. Read Genesis 30:7-8; 49:21; Deuteronomy 33:23. Naphtali was also a rearguard tribe. Naphtali means to wrestle. Wrestle over your promises. 

Day 24. Align yourself with those in your area who are warring for their inheritance. War alongside them, that you might obtain your inheritance. Read Judges 4, 6. Naphtali fought with Barak and Gideon. 

Day 25. Declare that the army of God will begin to grow. Read 1 Chronicles 12:1. 1 Chronicles 12:21-22 says, "And they helped David against the bands of raiders for they were all mighty men of valor and they were captains in the army. For at that time they came to David day by day to help him until it was a great army like the army of God." Declare that the armies of Heaven and earth begin to agree. Ask for the Host of Heaven to be our rearguard. In 1 Chronicles 12:40, Naphtali brought food and provisions to the men of war at Hebron. Celebrate the King coming into your territory, and declare abundant provision for the leadership of the Church to advance God's Kingdom at this time. 

Day 26. Pray that the presence of God will be established anew and afresh in our nation. Read 1 Chronicles 13. The rearguard was positioned to protect the nation and the Ark.

Day 27. Declare that every Pharaoh spirit you are aware of will let go. Read Exodus 14. Allow God to establish His Glory. Press out of our bondage and allow God to establish His Glory behind you. Set your heart to worship differently. God's people wanted Pharaoh to let them go so they could worship in a new way. Find some new way to worship differently, and cast aside everything that would prevent you from it. 

Day 28. Give God all the glory for what He has done in your life. Read Malachi 2:1-2. Take it to heart to give God the glory for all He has done in your life, so you might advance into His covenant blessings. 

Day 29. Do a Jericho march, even if it's in your prayer closet. ReadJoshua 6. Ask God for a quietness and confidence against your enemy. Do not release a victory shout until His perfect time. 

Day 30. Pray for the peace of your city. Read Joshua 6 again along with Jeremiah 29. Declare that any invincible force in your city will fall. Declare wholeness over your city. 

Day 31. Declare God's perfect timing over your life. MemorizeIsaiah 52:12. Declare God's redemptive work through Jesus Christ, will come in new fullness in your life. "For you shall not go out with haste nor go by flight; for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard!" Wait on the Lord. Let your feet be put in His perfect timing. Order your prayers. Write them on a sheet of paper. Once you have ordered your prayers, let Him order your feet.

Day 32. Let the trumpet sound. Hear the sound coming forth for war. Read Numbers 10. Move forth in God's order of victory. Declare that the leadership of your church or ministry connection be freshly established. Declare the leadership of this nation fully in order. War is on the horizon. Depart from the place you have settled in. Go forth and know that God already has the victory plan.

May the Lord bless and guard you. 

Blessings,

Chuck D. Pierce
Glory of Zion International Ministries
www.glory-of-zion.org  

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