“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in high places” Ephesians 6:12
Frustrated by the rise in terrorism and the latest mass shooting in California, the New York Daily News shocked the nation on December 3 with this headline, “God Isn’t Fixing This“.
Strange when you think about it as God has not been welcome in the public and private lives of most Americans for the better part of the last thirty years or so and now, we have the audacity to complain that God is not fixing this?
Crazy, I know. And as strange as that may be, even stranger is the accompanying article by Rich Shapiro which begins with this statement- “prayers aren’t working”. (You can read his article here).
According to Shapiro, he is growing weary of politicians (particularly, the GOP) who mouth platitudes of prayers and condolences in the wake of the latest mass shooting or terroristic act without any real plan of action to back it up. Hence, prayers aren’t enough …. “prayers aren’t working”.
No matter that the Dems offer no solution of their own with the exception of implementing and tightening existing gun control laws ( a plan which he seems to be in favor of) which prove nothing except that law abiding citizens will no longer have the ability to defend themselves. Laughable really, if it were not so serious.
In some ways, I can understand Shapiro’s frustration. From the vantage point of someone who does not know God, it appears that someone must seize the reigns and take charge. And, it’s true that simple platitudes while nice are just that – platitudes. For prayer, is not wishful thinking, nice thoughts directed upwards or anything of that nature as some might imagine. True prayer is the most powerful and important activity a Christian can engage in. And that is what Mr. Shapiro fails to understand.
I was thinking about this as I was walking this afternoon and it occurred to me that it is exactly because prayer does work that the enemy would seek to belittle and diminish its importance. Remember, we are in a spiritual war as much as a physical one. And for this war to be won, it must first be won in the spiritual realm. No plan Democratic or Republican can succeed without it.
The enemy knows that prayer is our most powerful weapon which is why it was necessary to demean it in the very public NYT. So, for someone to say “prayers aren’t working” as Rich Shapiro did is to give voice to the greatest of lies. For Ephesians 6 :10-18 has this to say about spiritual warfare and prayer in particular.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having your feet shod with the gospel of peace, above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one, And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the Saints”.
There we have it, the importance of prayer. No one goes into battle without being prepared and protected. Therefore, put on all the armor of God and PRAY …..
Pray in the name of Jesus. Pray confessing and repenting of personal and collective sins (of the nation). Pray asking God for his divine intervention. Pray in sincerity – trusting God for his response whatever it may be. Pray in thankfulness for who God is and for what he has done. Pray giving God the glory for which he is due.
Pray and then, pray some more. And, never, ever doubt the importance and effectiveness of prayer.
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“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper who love thee” Psalm 122:6
Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus! Cindy
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Heaven Bound 
Reblogged this on For Such A Time As This.
By: Nina on December 8, 2015
at 5:16 am
Greetings Sister Cindy. Here are my thoughts on reading your post this morning…
Grace is indeed sufficient to save the most wretched of sinners, but grace through faith saves, and that (faith is) not of ourselves. It is a divine gift that comes with one’s hearing the word of the Lord. For faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of the Lord. Not with ears, but with brokenness of heart and faithful acknowledgment of one’s sins and God’s holiness in His righteous judgments. One must “receive a love of the truth” if they hope to escape strong delusion.
But what happens when it is a nation of hard-hearted sinners who persistently refuse to acknowledge their sins, or the holiness of the true and living God? What hope is there when they began to openly persecute His followers with the same hatred that they persecuted the Son of God? Can the prayers of mere religious men whose hearts have been repeatedly been proven to be far from He alone who can save them turn such righteous judgments around or keep them at bay?
Consider how God dealt with those who were “called by His name” and then ponder the chances of mercy for those who these days do openly mock and spit in His face and blaspheme His holy name…
Jeremiah 7:13 – And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not; 14 Therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by My name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. 15 And I will cast you out of My sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim. 16 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to Me: for I will not hear thee.
Jeremiah 11:8 – Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not. 9 And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear My words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers. 11 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto Me, I will not hearken unto them… 14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto Me for their trouble.
Two times Jeremiah was told not to pray, yet once more he acknowledges the sins of Israel and cries out to God on their behalf –
Jeremiah 14:7 – O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for Thy name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against Thee. 8 O the hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest Thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night? 9 Why shouldest Thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet Thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and we are called by Thy name; leave us not.
But consider God’s third response to Jeremiah’s pleadings –
Jeremiah 14:10 – Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; He will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. 11 Then said the LORD unto me, PRAY NOT for this people for their good. 12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.
But Jeremiah then makes excuses for the people, because they were being misled by the false prophets of their days –
Jeremiah 13 – Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. 14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in My name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart. 15 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in My name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. 16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them. 17 Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow. 18 If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.
Again, Jeremiah anguishes before the Lord because of the severity of His judgments against Israel and pleads for them nonetheless –
Jeremiah 19 – Hast Thou utterly rejected Judah? hath Thy soul lothed Zion? why hast Thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? we looked for peace, and there is no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble! 20 We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against Thee. 21 Do not abhor us, for Thy name’s sake, do not disgrace the throne of Thy glory: remember, break not Thy covenant with us. 22 Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon Thee: for thou hast made all These things.
Yet, even with such confessions and strong cryings before the Lord, Jeremiah learns that once God’s sufficient grace has been repeatedly rejected and frustrated there remains nothing but judgment without mercy. Yet the righteous will still be saved, so as by fire….
Jeremiah 15:1 – Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before Me, yet My mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth. 2 And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity. 3 And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy. 4 And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem. 5 For who shall have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? or who shall bemoan thee? or who shall go aside to ask how thou doest? 6 Thou hast forsaken Me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out My hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting. 7 And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy My people, since they return not from their ways.
If this is how God dealt with Israel, what hope has America who has systematically reject God and kicked him out of our schools, courthouses, and military? A nation that has now become a habitation of devils, a hold of every foul spirit and a prison being watched over by unclean and hateful scavengous birds?
My recommendation is that “believers” in America pray that they might be found worthy to escape the wrath which is about to come upon your nation…
Luke 21:34 – And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
TheEighthBeast.com
By: William E. Males on December 8, 2015
at 4:08 pm