By John Abiola
“You have come… to Jesus… and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” — Hebrews 12:24
The Burden for the Church
Beloved, there is a burden in my spirit for the praying Church.
Across our nations, prayer mountains are full. Night vigils are crowded. Fasting calendars are intense. Declarations are loud.
Warfare language fills the atmosphere. Psalms are quoted with force. Music resounds through auditoriums.
Yet we must ask ourselves a sober question: Are we praying according to the Cross?
We quote David, but are we following Jesus?
We invoke justice, but have we understood mercy?
We pray passionately, but are we aligned with the finished work of Christ?
This is not an attack on prayer. It is a defense of biblical prayer. It is not a criticism of zeal. It is a call to alignment. Because prayer that is not aligned with the Cross may be loud, but it will not be powerful.
We are under the dispensation of the blood of the New Covenant. The finished work of Christ must shape the language of our intercession.
The Old Covenant Cry: When Blood Called for Justice
The Old Testament contains imprecatory prayers—cries for judgment upon the wicked:
“Break the teeth of the wicked.” — Psalm 58:6
“Let his days be few.” — Psalm 109:8
“Happy is he who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock.” — Psalm 137:9
These prayers were inspired Scripture. They were prayed within a covenant where Israel functioned as a theocratic nation. Justice preserved covenant identity. Enemies were threats to national survival.
When innocent blood was shed, it cried for justice:
“The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.” — Genesis 4:10
Abel’s blood cried for justice.
But something eternal happened at Calvary.
The Cross: Where Justice and Mercy Met
At theThe Cross: Where Justice and Mercy Met Cross, two voices were heard.
The crowd cried, “Crucify Him!”
But from the Cross came another voice:
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” — Luke 23:34
Under the Old Covenant, blood cried for justice.
Under the New Covenant, the blood of Jesus cries for mercy.
“You have come… to Jesus… and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” — Hebrews 12:24
Abel’s blood exposed guilt.
Jesus’ blood removes guilt.
Abel’s blood demanded judgment.
Jesus’ blood offers redemption.
The Church must decide which blood will shape her prayers.
When We Pray Abel’s Language After Calvary
In many gatherings today, imprecatory language is directed toward perceived enemies:
“Let them die.”
“Let them be destroyed.”
“Let fire consume them.”
We must ask: Are we praying like Israel before the Cross, or like the Church after the Cross?
Stephen, while being stoned, did not pray for vengeance. He prayed:
“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” — Acts 7:60
That is New Covenant prayer.
Why Some Prayers Produce No Revival
Scripture says:
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly.” — James 4:3
It is possible to pray fervently and yet pray outside the redemptive heart of God.
When prayer becomes a vehicle for personal vengeance, rivalry, retaliation, or emotional frustration, it ceases to reflect Christ. God does not empower prayers that contradict the gospel of reconciliation.
Jesus did not die so that we could weaponize Scripture against sinners.
He died to reconcile sinners.
Jesus says,” And I, if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me” – John 12:32.
The Apostolic Pattern of Intercession
When the early Church was persecuted, they prayed:
“Grant to Your servants that they may speak Your word with great boldness.” — Acts 4:29
Paul urged believers:
“I urge that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people… This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved.” — 1 Timothy 2:1–4
Paul himself had once persecuted the Church. If believers had prayed for his destruction, much of the New Testament would not exist.
The Church is not commissioned to eliminate sinners. The Church is commissioned to reconcile them.
The Danger of Misapplied Psalms
The Psalms are Scripture. But they must be interpreted through Christ.
Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. To quote David without the lens of Calvary is to read the shadow without acknowledging the substance.
“Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” — Romans 12:19
Justice belongs to God. Mercy is the Church’s witness.
The Ministry of Intercession
Christ is our model:
“He ever lives to make intercession for them.” — Hebrews 7:25
What does He intercede for? Mercy. Salvation. Grace.
Biblical intercession prays for:
Strength for persecuted believers
Boldness in witness
Repentance for sinners
Restraint of evil
Revival for the Church
It does not celebrate destruction. It weeps for redemption.
Repentance Before Revival
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” — Proverbs 18:21
We must ask whether our words have released death where Christ desires life.
“If My people… humble themselves and pray…” — 2 Chronicles 7:14
Revival is sustained by brokenness, not by aggression.
Mercy and True Church Growth
“I, when I am lifted up… will draw all people to Myself.” — John 12:32
Souls are drawn by Christ exalted, not by enemies cursed.
The early Church grew under persecution not because they destroyed their enemies with prayers, but because they forgave them.
The blood of martyrs became the seed of the Church because it testified to Christ’s love.
The Revival We Truly Need
We need a revival of:
Cross-centered prayer
Mercy-driven intercession
Soul-focused evangelism
Spirit-led repentance
Christlike forgiveness
We need prayer meetings where tears flow for the lost. Night vigils where intercessors cry, “Father, save our land.” Fasting that seeks transformation, not retaliation.
A Final Appeal
The Church must not pray as though Calvary never happened.
We are not under Sinai. We are under the blood of Jesus.
Let our prayers sound like our Lord:
Father, save our persecutors.
Father, strengthen Your Church.
Father, restrain evil.
Father, revive us again.
Father, let the blood of Jesus speak mercy over our nation.
If we pray from the Cross, revival will follow.
If we pray from anger and bitterness, heaven will remain silent.
The Lamb who was slain is enthroned.
Let our prayers reflect His heart.
Let the blood that speaks better things shape every word we release.
Let us pray
Prayer of Repentance
Father of Mercy,
We come before You humbled by the light of Your Word. If we have prayed from anger instead of love, fear instead of faith, or wounded pride instead of Christlike compassion, forgive us.
If we have weaponized Scripture to fight human battles, if we have released words of death where You desired redemption, have mercy on us.
Wash our lips in the blood of Jesus. Purify our motives by the Holy Spirit. Cleanse our prayer altars from mixture.
Let the blood that speaks better things speak over our churches.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayer for Mercy Over Our Nation
Righteous Father,
We do not stand as judges of sinners but as recipients of mercy.
We ask for mercy over our land, our cities, our leaders, and those who do not know You. Let the blood of Jesus speak over every region. Where there is violence, let mercy answer.
Where there is corruption, let righteousness arise. Where there is darkness, let light break forth.
Save our nation, O God.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayer for Persecuted Believers
Lord Jesus, Head of the Church,
Strengthen Your persecuted children. Give them boldness to speak Your Word. Give them endurance in suffering. Give them supernatural peace.
Let no root of bitterness grow in their hearts. Let forgiveness flow even in pain. Preserve their faith. Defend them by Your mighty hand. Turn their suffering into testimony.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayer for the Salvation of Persecutors
Father,
You transformed Saul the persecutor into Paul the apostle. Do it again.
Visit those who oppose the Gospel. Confront them with Your light. Break hardened hearts. Turn enemies into evangelists. Where there is hatred, plant conviction. Where there is blindness, release revelation. Where there is violence, release repentance.
Let no persecutor escape Your saving grace.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayer for Restoration of True Intercession
Holy Spirit,
Raise up intercessors who reflect the heart of Christ. Teach us to pray according to the Cross. Teach us to weep for souls. Teach us to love our enemies. Teach us to trust divine justice without personal vengeance.
Remove from us the desire to destroy. Plant within us the burden to redeem.
Let our night vigils birth salvation. Let our fasting release revival. Let our prayer mountains become mercy mountains.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayer for Revival
O Lord, revive us again. Not with noise, but with holiness. Not with retaliation, but with reconciliation. Not with vengeance, but with victory through love.
Pour out conviction upon the Church. Restore the ministry of reconciliation. Let repentance begin with us.
Lift up Jesus in our pulpits. Lift up Jesus in our prayer meetings. Lift up Jesus in our hearts. And as He is lifted up, draw multitudes to Yourself.
In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Declaration Based on Hebrews 12:24
We declare that the blood of Jesus speaks better things over our churches. It speaks mercy instead of wrath. It speaks salvation instead of destruction. It speaks restoration instead of revenge. It speaks revival instead of retaliation.
We align our prayers with the voice of the Lamb. We will pray from the Cross.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Revive Us Again – Series 121.
Revive Us Again — A Global Prayer Movement for Worldwide Revival
By Prophet John Abiola
Intercessor | Revival Voice
Nigeria Global Intercessors.
For collaboration, publication, and prayer alignment:
globalintercessors7@gmail.com
nigeriaglobalintercessorsngi@gmail.com
prophetjohnabiola97@gmail.com.