Good
Monday morning (3-08-10),
Now that it’s starting to look and feel like spring, I’ve heard a lot of people comment on the latest flu season. As far as I have heard, most who comment or write about the pandemic “that never was” seem to feel that the whole subject was generated by zealous and misinformed medical officials who were looking for some sort of attention.
I’d rather not jump on the, “It’s obvious they didn’t know what they were talking about” bandwagon, and instead say that I’m just glad someone somewhere was paying attention to these kind of things. But of course the downside to the system is that it will always think and respond like the system is trained to think and respond, if you know what I mean.
I’ve noticed that Christians, as a whole, generally underestimate the effectiveness of their prayers. It can seem too daunting of a task for any one of us to believe we can change the course of history when we seek God. Yet, the Bible is loaded with examples of the “one” who prayed and therefore did make a lasting difference.
This is what I think happened last winter. Once the alarm was sounded about this potential health disaster, fortunately, many of God’s people did begin to pray. Perhaps you were one of those who stood in the gap and bound the virility of this sickness. God’s people prayed, and those prayers were lifted to His ears. Prayer mattered; the plague was stayed! To me, it’s not so much that “they” overreacted as it is that God’s people prayed.
Paul wrote to the
We don’t understand everything. Especially this: why do bad things happen to good, innocent people? The answer is that the, “mystery of lawlessness” is at work in the earth. That which opposes God’s good and perfect will is constantly battling God, His will, and His people.
But be encouraged, as 2nd Thessalonians 2:6-7 points out, “He who restrains [lawlessness] will do so until he is taken out of the way.” Who is the restrainer which Paul is referring to? The restrainer is “He,” the Church in covenant operating in Holy Ghost authority, holding back both the anticipated anti-christ and the full fury of satan.
Nations beware! At some point, as the Book of Revelation points out, the devil will be released in the earth for a short work. A time of unheard of testing is coming. Demons will arise in unhindered fury because the presence of a praying Church will have been removed from the Earth.
That’s right; a time is coming when the Church itself will be lifted out of this world, and Hell will be hindered only by the sovereign mercy of God. But until that time, as long as the Church is in this world and walking in its authority, the devil cannot just take control of everything he wants. We hinder him everywhere, all the time, that is when we pray! Hallelujah!
I will bless the Lord with all my soul and all that’s within me. I will say to my soul, “Why are you cast down, why are you so disturbed within me?” I will hope in God who is my deliverer, my healer, and my victory.
I will say to my soul, “Hope in God!”
Who are you, oh hindering mountain, that you should withstand God and His anointed ones? You shall be thrown down with violence! I decree it! The Stone which was rejected of men, the Stone which you sought to crush, this Stone has become the Cornerstone of God’s Church, and He has crushed you!
Every weapon (such as sickness) which has been designed to destroy God’s work will utterly fail. Every lie shall fall harmless, and every tongue shall confess on bended knees that Jesus is Lord!
The Ancient of Days has decreed, “This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased.” If you are His child, God is well pleased when you brandish the Word Of God in battle, in prayer. You are commanded to stand! You stand in the gap, and you fight the good fight of faith!
As long as the Church is in this earth, we will continue what Jesus started. We will pull down strongholds in His name. We will pray for the sick, and they shall be raised up. Plagues shall be stopped, and so nations shall be blessed! We will stand in the gap and see our communities transformed from ghettoes into prosperous livelihoods!
As long as you are in the earth, Christian, you must never lose heart by listening to the devilish voice of doubt and unbelief. You are tasked with great authority. You are part of that which hinders the very mystery of lawlessness.
To Him who overcomes, God will grant…!
Let’s give God glory for all good things. Thank God for His protective custody. Thank God for food and water and clothing and families and friends. And especially, thank God that in spite of the predictions of our best and brightest, we are still alive to see a new year’s dawn. Thank you Jesus!
Wayne
Witcher
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalms 103:1-5