Terror is the key weapon of the terrorist no matter what else they may carry and use in their attacks. Are you afraid? Then, it is working!
My heart and prayer goes out to all victims, and their families, friends and neighbors near and far, of terror attacks. Nothing written is intended to bring further pain to anyone. In my heart, my writing is to share purpose and solution, and expectantly ignite a fighting spirit within the only hope available, the power of God through the church of our LORD Jesus Christ.
What is the bottom-line problem? Well, the problem lays within the existence of the only other kingdom, though a lesser kingdom, besides the Kingdom of God, the kingdom of Satan. The following verse tells a little of Satan’s ability to confuse and lead humans away from the Kingdom of God:
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. “ (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
Satan not only blocks the only truth from people, but he helps them to find a substitute truth that they can easily buy into because of their bent toward sinful behavior. It becomes a way of justifying their actions. He also has brought this help toward self-justification and permissiveness into the church. The same sins of the world are in every church.
A Sinful Nation:
The Church, prior to the 60’s revolutions of drugs and sexuality, had always held up a mirror in which American society could see reflected some of its uglier aspects, and somewhat guide the people toward what was right. However, after the 50’s, and up to today, society does not like what it sees reflected by the church, so it has become angry but not, as it should be, with itself, but with the Church. Both the revolution and the anger toward the church, plus the draw of the flesh, have weakened the righteous reflection of the church. This is particularly obvious when it comes to issues of personal self- gratification and sexuality, all of which has led us into a denying of biblical marriage, fornication, homosexuality, and most devastatingly, abortion. The battle cries of the sixties were, in part: “I’d rather do it myself!” “If it feels good, do it!” “Make love, not war!” “We have a right to our own bodies!”
The blood of millions of aborted unborn human beings, not only flows through America like a raging river of crimson, but it covers the hands of all of her citizens. “We the people” are the people of America, and we the people stand equally guilty of all of her national sins against a Holy God!
“ And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. “ (Isaiah 1:15)
“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)
“If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.” (Proverbs 29:12)
“Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin” (Isaiah 30:1)
“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2)
God’s Approach to a Sinful Nation:
“If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.” (Jeremiah 18:8)
“Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning” (Joel 2:12)
“But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the Lord.” (Jeremiah 12:17)
God’s Hope:
“Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” (Ezekiel 18:31-32)
Pastor/Preacher Response:
“Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?” (Joel 2: 15-17)
“Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.” (Psalm 119:136)
“And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.” (Exodus 32:31-32)
“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God.” (Ezekiel 22:30-31)
Beloved brother pastors and preachers, when God’s Word calls us to “stand in the gap”, it literally means to stand, to stay in the gap . . . to continue interceding without interruption! Our problem is, we quickly leave our stand as so many other things that distract us! This is a call to humble, repentant, exampling prayer for the rescuing of a sin-sick nation and church! Will we answer the call? Will you answer the call?
The Congregation Response:
“Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.” (Joel 2:12-13)
The Truth:
Our hope, and only hope is in God, and that hope will only come when we choose to make ourselves right with Him, at any cost! Pay the price! Pray the price! Let us get it right, finally, to the glory of God and His Kingdom! If we will not, there is no hope!
