Empowering Youth Through Anointed Prayer

The Old Testament prophet Joel prophesied: “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions (Joel 2:28 NIV).” God promised to pour out His Spirit, empowering youth to see visions and operate in the prophetic. Knowing God’s plan, the devil is working hard to deter the youth from being empowered by the Holy Spirit. But God is orchestrating the rise of a generation fervently dedicated to advancing His Kingdom. These emerging leaders, worshipers, intercessors, preachers, prophets, evangelists, and influencers are ablaze with divine passion, poised to transform the world. Through the conduit of anointed prayer, the youth will be empowered to overcome the opposition sent to derail them from their God-ordained destinies.

The enemy relentlessly assaults the essence of youth: their identity, their sense of belonging, and their purpose, all in defiance of the divine promise bestowed upon them. Satan is terrified of them recognizing themselves the way God does. He is mortified of them developing a holy hunger for the Bread of Life. He is petrified of them prophesying God’s word to their generation. Thus, he besieges their minds with a barrage of lies, waging war on their self-worth with doubt, loneliness, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. He orchestrates a relentless campaign to sow seeds of confusion, prompting them to question their very existence: "Who am I?" "Where do I belong?" "What impact can I make in this world?"

Parents and leaders often ponder how best to support the younger generation amidst their myriad of challenges. I propose two interconnected solutions: cultivating personal relationships and engaging in anointed prayer. First, nurturing a personal relationship with a young individual is paramount in offering support, empowerment, and guidance. Investing time in meaningful conversations and getting to know them serves as a foundation for building trust and understanding. Cultivating personal relationships serves as a disarming agent and combats loneliness. It addresses the fundamental question of belonging, reassuring them that they are valued members of the family of believers. Moreover, fostering a personal relationship provides a platform to affirm the unlimited potential within each young person, encouraging them to pursue their aspirations and contribute positively to the world.

Second, personal relationships produce anointed prayer. Through these bonds, adults can effectively intercede on behalf of young individuals because they have listened to their concerns and desires. They understand the young person’s vulnerabilities and where they need support. Through fervent intercession, the Holy Spirit can endow upon that young person, enabling, strengthening, and affirming them in their walk. The intercessor should plead the blood of Jesus to protect them from the evil one who comes to steal their sense of belonging, kill their identity, and destroy their purpose. The anointed prayer is one of crying out on their behalf for a godly community, the crucifixion of their flesh, and the fire of God to be upon them.

At Christ Church, we have witnessed the hand of God manifest in remarkable ways. Our youth have become vessels of divine empowerment through cultivating personal relationships and anointed prayer. As coworkers with God, it is our sacred duty to sow seeds of love, encouragement, and support in these relationships, nourishing them through anointed prayer and witnessing God's transformative power unfold (1 Corinthians 3:6-9). Teens have triumphed over darkness as they cultivate vibrant prayer lives. With God's guidance, young women have courageously stepped away from fruitless relationships, knowing God has better plans for them. Young men have answered the call to serve and lead. Countless teens have forsaken rebellion because they discovered the joy of the Lord. Lonely kids have found connection and community within God’s family. High schoolers have said “yes” to being God’s prophetic voice by leading corporate prayer, preaching the word, serving the less fortunate, and facilitating small group discussions.

As a result of committed servant-leaders investing in the next generation, we have witnessed God's profound empowerment of our youth in remarkable ways. God has taken what the enemy meant for evil and used it for His good by answering anointed prayer.