Earlier this week as our Intercessory Team convened for an "Awake Georgia Conference Prayer Call", the Holy Spirit highlighted this passage out of Numbers 10 related to the "sounding of the silver trumpets." We sensed the Lord admonishing us to declare over the state that the SOUND TO ASSEMBLE and the SOUND TO BEGIN THE NEXT JOURNEY to ADVANCE THE KINGDOM would be heard across the State and even across the Region. The Lord gave these instructions to the Children of Israel - to His covenant people, therefore to us who have been grafted in by faith - "as an ordinance forever throughout your generations." It was the Lord's provision of leadership to the Nation. There were times when the sound was only to leaders. Other times for the entire assembly. It was necessary for the sound of the trumpet to be understood and properly responded to by all. It was God's way of speaking to the collective assembly so that together they would do what He was speaking . . .

A sound is coming forth out of heaven by the Spirit of the Lord calling out to the people of God, "Wake up! Stir yourself from your slumber. Rise up and stand in the strength that I have given you. Shake loose from all that is holding you back. You have not realized it, but those things that have held you bound are fragile and not strong as you have supposed. Do you not know that I am here? I am near to all who will call upon My name….even before you call upon Me, I am here. Receive My Spirit anew to quicken your spirit with fresh life and empowerment, for now is the time and this is the season that I desire to send you forth to release joy as you declare and demonstrate the glorious gospel of My Kingdom."

God is indeed stirring a new move of His Holy Spirit in the world today, and it is one where He is pressing in for His intended purposes through all His disciples to be fulfilled. The days of only a few select individuals doing the work of ministry, and only (or primarily) within the walls of "the church" are over. The message of Gospel of the Kingdom declares that "in Christ" we are a kingdom, and priests unto God" (see Rev 1:6). We have all been called to be His ministers to carry the Gospel of the Kingdom into all the earth - not just bringing the message of salvation, but bringing the culture of the Kingdom of God to bear upon society in tangible ways that will cause people to want to know Christ.

In the book of Nehemiah 4, we clearly see a picture of God's desire for us to listen and respond to the sound of the trumpet call to rally to the aid of our brothers and sisters who are building other portions of the wall around our state. Such a sound has come from the SE Region of Georgia, specifically for Brantley County. The following information has been developed for our use as we rally to fight with them through intercession against the schemes of the enemy that would seek to bring further division, hatred, racism, bigotry, violence and bloodshed into the region and state.

Preamble: To perpetuate the principles of free government, insure justice to all, preserve peace, promote the interest and happiness of the citizen and of the family, and transmit to posterity the enjoyment of liberty, we the people of Georgia, relying upon the protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution. Georgia, may be commonly known as the Peach State, but prophetically, we continue to press forward in agreement with what the Lord has declared us to be as a "Governmental Gate State." During the Root 52 week focusing on Georgia, we want to agree with the Word of the Lord over key issues that relate to the restoration and establishment of our covenant with the Lord, with each other, and with this nation. Please take the following points of Prophetic Revelation, the accounting of our Covenant Root Condition, and the Encouragement and Hope for the Future as a guide to provide fuel for your intercession this week.

We have entered into a new year and many are experiencing a new burst of Holy Spirit life and a renewed sense of anticipation and excitement over what the Lord has in store for us in the days ahead. In many ways, 2009 was a year of great testing, intense challenges, dramatic transitions, and many were found wondering, "can I make it through?" God has proven Himself faithful time and time again, and has once again brought us into a new year with new opportunities to walk with Him and to advance His Kingdom.

"ROOT 52" USRPN National Prayer Strategy We are calling this initiative "ROOT 52" because it is a 52-week prayer strategy to bring the nation back to it's covenantal roots. A torch of prayer and fasting will go "en-route" from state-to-state in the sequence that they joined the Union and came to form the United States of America.

Mike & Cindy Jacobs of the United States Reformation Prayer Network have asked each of the states to join them in a national prayer initiative for 2010. They are calling this initiative "ROOT 52″ because it is a 52-week prayer strategy to bring the nation back to it's covenant roots. A torch of prayer and fasting will go "en-route" from state-to-state in the sequence that they joined the Union and came to form the United States of America. Georgia's week of prayer and fasting will be February 5-12. (We will be providing more information specific to Georgia closer to this date.) Read on for more details.

Update: The Lilburn City Council denied the request for rezoning & special land use permit (for the cemetery). Keep praying as there has been a promise of a lawsuit if denied. This is clearly a legal decision based on zoning criteria that should stand, but we are called to pray it through to the end. It is today as it was in the when Nehemiah declared and instructed those who were rebuidling the wall of Jerusalem. "Then I said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, "The work is great and extensive, and we are separated far from one another on the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us." (Nehemial 4:19-20) The suburb-of-Atlanta town, Lilburn, that I live in is currently facing a challenging situation over the proposed development of a Dar-e Abbas Islamic Center.

On Thursday evening, we gathered to worship, intercede and release prophetic proclamations over our city and state. The presence of the Lord was tangible as we come together "as one" - to build relationships as the Family of God, so that we might go out as the Army of God to advance Christ's Kingdom. It was a glorious evening and we are looking forward to more across the city and state in the months to come as we answer the call of the Lord to Rally the Troops month by month for His purposes.