As I have been reflecting on the violent protests around the country this week, the loudests voices were ones of hatred and anger. Large numbers of mainly young men were squaring up, mostly towards the police looking for a fight. We could discuss the reasons behind such behaviour and look to deal with the root causes but I think the issue can only be addressed spiritually!
It's time to wake up and recognise what is taking place spiritually in our nation. Fear is rampant in our towns and cities and opposing groups are taking to the streets causing chaos and carnage. Christians are expressing fear and anxiety rather than rising up with the spiritual authority that we have been given; silenced into a passive stance of 'what can we do, no one is listening?'
'Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you'. Isaiah 60: 1-3AMP
We can do plenty! We can be a counter voice. We can be the light that dispels the darkness. Our collective and individual voices are heard by a higher authority in the courts of heaven. God Himself is listening to the cries of the people and wants to answer those cries through the prayers and declarations of His body, which we are part of.
A Fight to the Finish!
'So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no weekend war that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.' Ephesians 6:11-19 MSG
You have a powerful voice and it's time to use it in prayer!
The Bible is full of the love and wisdom of God. It contains answers to some of life's most complex questions. We can learn from the triumphs and failures of those in both the old and new testament. We can receive the boldness and strategies we need for the situations that face today, right at this moment in time.
It's time for the Esther's, the Barak's, Deborah's and David's to arise.
David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?” 1 Samuel 17:29
David answered, “You come at me with sword and spear and battle-ax. I come at you in the name of God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel’s troops, whom you curse and mock. This very day God is handing you over to me. I’m about to kill you, cut off your head, and serve up your body and the bodies of your Philistine buddies to the crows and coyotes. The whole earth will know that there’s an extraordinary God in Israel. And everyone gathered here will learn that God doesn’t save by means of sword or spear. The battle belongs to God—he’s handing you to us on a platter!”
That roused the Philistine, and he started toward David. David took off from the front line, running toward the Philistine. David reached into his pocket for a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine hard in the forehead, embedding the stone deeply. The Philistine crashed, facedown in the dirt. 1 Samuel 17:45-49
Sometimes the enemy is just too big to miss!
Esther said, “Go, gather all the Jews that are present in Susa, and observe a fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids also will fast in the same way. Then I will go in to [see] the king [without being summoned], which is against the law; and
if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:16 AMP
"For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?" Esther 4:14 AMP
Barak said, “If you go with me, I’ll go. But if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”
Judges 4:8 MSG
Deborah said, “Of course I’ll go with you. But understand that with an attitude like that, there’ll be no glory in it for you. God will use a woman’s hand to take care of Sisera.”
Judges 4:9-10 MSG
Time for the Watchmen, Intercessors and Gatekeepers to work together!
'And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize—a [a]share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion]'.
Matthew 11:12 AMPC
In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, a message was made plain to Daniel, whose Babylonian name was Belteshazzar. The message was true. It dealt with a big war. He understood the message, the understanding coming by revelation:
“During those days, I, Daniel, went into mourning over Jerusalem for three weeks. I ate only plain and simple food, no seasoning or meat or wine. I neither bathed nor shaved until the three weeks were up........I heard his voice. At the sound of it I fainted, fell flat on the
ground, face in the dirt. A hand touched me and pulled me to my hands and knees.
‘Daniel,’ he said, ‘man of quality, listen carefully to my message. And get up on your feet. Stand at attention. I’ve been sent to bring you news.’
“When he had said this, I stood up, but I was still shaking.
‘Relax, Daniel,’ he continued, ‘don’t be afraid. From the moment you decided to humble yourself to receive understanding, your prayer was heard, and I set out to come to you. But I was waylaid by the angel-prince of the kingdom of Persia and was delayed for a good three weeks. But then Michael, one of the chief angel-princes, intervened to help me. I left him there with the prince of the kingdom of Persia. And now I’m here to help you understand what will eventually happen to your people. The vision has to do with what’s ahead.’ Daniel 10: MSG
Some prayers take time to manifest, because like Daniel there's an enemy at work.
Be patient and ask for Gods wisdom in the waiting process!
The whole body of Christ needs to be mobilised:
"But I also want you to think about how this keeps your significance from getting blown up into self-importance. For no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of. An enormous eye or a gigantic hand wouldn’t be a body, but a monster. What we have is one body with many parts, each its proper size and in its proper place. No part is important on its own. Can you imagine Eye telling Hand, “Get lost; I don’t need you”? Or, Head telling Foot, “You’re fired; your job has been phased out”? As a matter of fact, in practice it works the other way—the “lower” the part, the more basic, and therefore necessary. You can live without an eye, for instance, but not without a stomach. When it’s a part of your own body you are concerned with, it makes no difference whether the part is visible or clothed, higher or lower. You give it dignity and honor just as it is, without comparisons. If anything, you have more concern for the lower parts than the higher. If you had to choose, wouldn’t you prefer good digestion to full-bodied hair?
The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don’t, the parts we see and the parts we don’t. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.
You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your “part” mean anything. You’re familiar with some of the parts that God has formed in his church, which is his “body”
1 Corinthians 12: 21-27 MSG
You may feel like you're an armpit, but it's your choice whether you stink or smell good!
The day of the passive christian is over, we are in a war, a war we win because we have far superiour weapons and armour!
'Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom!' Luke 12:32 AMPC
Just because August is seen as a holiday month, it doesn't mean we can't mobilise!
Here are some suggestions as to how you can use your voice and mobilise those around you.
Gather some friends and have a prayer meeting in your home/office/workplace.
Gather some friends and have a worship/ prayer time in local park or garden.
Declare scriptures over your neighbourhood, children and friends.
Gather some friends and have an encouragement coffee day to bring neighbours to.
Send encouragement cards to your local MP or police station.
Use your gifting to inspire others.
Look for ways to improve your neighbourhood, gardening projects, making simple crafts.
Organise a games day for your neighbours kids.
The Holy Spirit has many inspiring and creative ways to help you be a bright light in your community or neighbourhood, just think back to lock down! We overcome evil with good!
Don't underestimate your anointing or giftings and don't compare yourself to another person. God has made you a unique member of the body of Christ.
You can make a difference, small or large that can have a lasting impact on an individual, family, community, town and nation.
"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”Zechariah 4:10 NLT
"You formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside and my intricate outside, and wove them all together in my mother’s womb. I thank you, God, for making me so mysteriously complex! Everything you do is marvelously breathtaking. It simply amazes me to think about it! How thoroughly you know me, Lord! You even formed every bone in my body when you created me in the secret place; carefully, skillfully you shaped me from nothing to something". Psalm 139: 13-15 TPT
“I can’t afford to live in reaction to darkness. If I do, darkness has had a role in setting the agenda for my life. The devil is not worthy of such influence, even in the negative. Jesus lived in response to the Father. I must learn to do the same.”
Bill Johnson, Hosting the Presence.
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