New National Prayer Alert Issued by Colorado Pastor
By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent
ASSIST Communications
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (November 1, 2000) — Dutch Sheets, senior pastor at Springs Harvest Fellowship in Colorado Springs, Colorado, author of several books on prayer including “Intercessory Prayer,” has issued an impassioned “NEW NATIONAL PRAYER ALERT” following on the heels of his nationwide “PRAYER ALERT FOR THIS NATION” concerning the U.S. Presidential Election, November 7, 2000.
In his earlier call to prayer, Sheets said: “During our Wednesday night service on October 4, 2000, the Holy Spirit moved upon me with the greatest prayer burden I have ever experienced. It would be impossible for me to exaggerate the depth of the prayer burden I was given. This time of intense, overwhelming travail for our nation lasted for three and a half hours. During that time, I wept off and on harder than I even knew was possible.
Sheets said: “The Lord began to speak to my heart about the upcoming presidential election, which is the most critical in decades. There must be a turning in this nation toward righteousness, and this will only happen if God’s man is elected into office. It is not so much that this man is now ready spiritually to take the nation where God wants, but rather that he has a heart upon which God can effectively move. I believe that if the election was held now, God’s purposes would not be established. (I am not basing this on polls or debates, but solely on what the Lord revealed to me that night.) In fact, the results would be such that His purposes for this nation would be set back for many, many years – possibly decades.”
Sheets said that during this intense time on that Wednesday night, “God led me to Daniel 10 where the account is given of great warfare in the heavenlies between the forces of darkness and light. He showed me that the outcome of the current battle regarding this election will be determined by the prayer of the Church. If there is enough prayer and fasting, God’s person will be elected, righteousness will prevail and God’s plan will be established. If there is not enough prayer, God’s person will lose the election and the turning of this nation will be drastically delayed.
“I realize that what I am about to say could sound presumptuous, but I believe God witnessed to my heart that one of the greatest prayer efforts in the history of our nation must be mobilized immediately. The amount of prayer that would normally be done for the election is absolutely not enough. I have never before attempted something such as this, but after seeking confirmation from trusted national leaders in the Body of Christ, I believe the Holy Spirit earnestly desires that I issue an alert regarding the seriousness of this hour,” Sheets said.
Sheets is asking for those who feel this warning is from the Lord to intensify their prayer efforts by doing several things including incorporating significant amounts of prayer into church services, perhaps turning some entire services (Wednesday nights, Sunday nights, even Sunday mornings) into times of intercession for this purpose. If not entire services, at least giving major blocks of time to prayer.
Sheets also suggested additional prayer meetings, both day and evening, be orchestrated for this purpose and a national fast be held during the last 21 days before election day. (This would begin October 17th and continue through November 6th.). Prayer meetings on each of these 21 nights are needed.
Sheets said: “Daniel 2:21 states: ‘He changes the times and the seasons, He removes kings and sets up kings, He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.’ This can and must happen. It will be realized, however, only if we heed this imperative call to intensified, fervent prayer.
“If you agree with the urgency of this message, please pass it on to your contacts and ask them to do the same. Let us unite in this cause and see God turn our nation back to Him,” Sheets said.
In his latest call to prayer, Sheets said: “Thank you for your overwhelming response to the ‘Prayer Alert For This Nation.’ We appreciate the hundreds of responses received in our office, but please understand that it is impossible for us to respond individually.
“The wonderful way the Body of Christ has banded together to intercede for this purpose has been extremely impressive,” Sheets said, adding, “Millions have joined together to fast and pray as this alert has circulated throughout this nation and even into other parts of the world. It has crossed denominational lines, bringing unity to our prayers. I know our intercession has had an impact.
“However, we must not let up at this critical point. I am extremely concerned as we enter into this last week before Election Day. We are in danger of apathy and fatigue keeping us from faithfully interceding until the end. We cannot stop; we have not yet prevailed in this endeavor. There is a great, great urgency that we intensify our intercession during this last week. It is not a time to decrease and let down our guard because we re approaching the finish line. Rather, it is a time to press forward with even greater strength to see the goal accomplished. Once again, I am asking, please intercede for this election,” said Sheets.
Sheets suggested that pastors, (should)”please hold daily prayer meetings in your churches and devote time for prayer during your regular services. Church members, please give this alert to your pastors and plead with them to call their people together for concerted prayer. I am strongly encouraging that from Wednesday, November 1st, through Election Day, Tuesday, November 7th, 24-hour prayer chains be put into effect. Also, I believe we must continue to fast in whatever form the Lord leads during these critical days, and, if possible, do a water or juice only fast Sunday through Tuesday.
“As stated in the initial ‘Prayer Alert For This Nation,’ I firmly believe this is the most critical election in decades. The results of this election will not only drastically influence America, but other countries as well. I believe Israel will be especially impacted, and what God wants to do in the rest of the world will also be greatly affected by the outcome of next Tuesday’s voting,” said Sheets.
“Please, increase your intercession and fasting. Join together with the Body of Christ for this purpose; there is great power in unity. We must not let down our guard. Encourage others to vote for righteousness and life, and be sure to vote yourself. It is extremely urgent that we fulfill our responsibility next Tuesday,” Sheets said.
This prayer alert, as well as the previous alert, are available at his website http://www.DutchSheets.org. Sheets may be contacted at: Dutch Sheets Ministries, 1015 Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, CO 80907. Telephone: 719-548-8226
Michael Ireland is a British freelance journalist in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A former reporter with a London newspaper, Michael is the Midwest representative of ASSIST Ministries and Chief Correspondent for ASSIST Communications of Garden Grove, CA. Michael emigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a naturalized American citizen in September, 1995. He is married with two children. Michael is a regular contributor to UCB Europe radio, a British Christian radio station. E-mail: mireland@usfamily.net