Step Into Your Assignment
For ‘Such a Time as This!’
Do you ever wonder why you are here? Do you wonder why you are on earth in this period of history? Some periods of history seem to evoke a certain charm and allure. They offer a journey into a more peaceful and gracious time. Today is quite a different story. News headlines tell of one atrocity after another. War dominates throughout the world. Our country moves daily from the Christian roots on which it was founded.
What can you do as an individual? Of course, you can become active politically to let your representatives know what you expect of them. You can pay close attention to candidates who will compete in our upcoming elections. Learn what they stand for and vote with a keen awareness of the issues. Being a Christian does not mean to stay within church walls while the fate of our nation is at stake.
Politics Aside?
I had a pastor tell me recently that they do not talk about anything political at their church. Sadly, this is not an isolated case. I have heard time and again from church leaders that they do not address politics. The law states church leaders cannot promote a particular party or candidate. It does not say we must sit uninformed in our churches. We are to be in the world but not of it. To be thus, we must be aware of what is happening in our political world and how it impacts our rights and future as Christians. I am blessed to have sat under a pastor who weekly tied what was happening in the news to our walk as followers of Jesus Christ. It is crucial to have a solid perspective.
If we continue to leave timely discussion out of the pulpits we will continue to have elections taking place without the majority of the Christian vote. Being a Christian is not just going to church on Sunday. We are to be Kingdom ambassadors here to change the landscape of our nation. We are to impact the marketplace. How can we do this if we keep political discussion out of church and consequently keep church out of the political election process?
Prayer ‘For Such a Time as This!’
How can you impact the future of our country? First and foremost, pray. We are in a season that requires spiritual warfare as never before! Pray as if your life depends on it because it does. There are forces in the world and in this country right now whose sole mission is to annihilate Christians and Jews. Period. It is that simple. That is their agenda. Unless we pray up this country and pray in godly men and women to lead this nation we greatly risk losing all that we hold dear.
You are not here in this time in this place by accident. God has placed you here ‘for such a time as this!’ Perhaps up to this point you have been somewhat complacent about prayer. Perhaps you have been complacent about praying beyond your personal needs and those of your family and close friends. Everything is rapidly changing and your warrior prayers are needed now. Your warrior prayers are needed for this country every single day. Your assignment is rise up to war in prayer for your country. Your assignment is to join your warrior prayers with others across this land and beyond who stand in this season to see America remain a bastion of freedom.
Warriors Are Needed Now!
This week on August 27, the movie War Room opens in theaters. Churches across the country have sold out showings in their cities. This movie is from the same people who brought us Facing the Giants, Fireproof and Courageous. Prayerfully consider going to this movie not only to support Christian theater but also to be encouraged and inspired to rise up and pray in this season.
Prayer is critical. Prayer is necessary. Prayer is your assignment as a believer. Jesus is the model. He often separated Himself to pray. Through prayer He communicated with the Father. With prayer the Holy Spirit empowers believers today. May God raise up an army of prayer warriors today. Accept your assignment to pray with others for our country and for our freedom ‘for such a time as this!’ The soundtrack for War Room has been released and is most powerful and anointed (http://warroomthemovie.com/music). Stephen Curtis Chapman sings “Warrior.” If you have been warring, listen to this for encouragement. See you at the movies.
It Is Never Too Late!
If you have not yet made the decision to accept Jesus into your heart, do it now. Do not wait another minute. Speak to Him from your heart (for it is always a heart issue). Tell Him you have fallen short in your life. Sincerely apologize for your sins, ask Him to cleanse you and come into your heart and into your life. From this moment forward let His Spirit guide you along the narrow road that leads to everlasting life.
Quotes to Ponder This Week
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ~Jesus, Matthew 6:21
“These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.” ~Jesus, Matthew 15:8
“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.” Jesus, Matthew 21:43
“You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you.” ~Jesus, John 15:16
“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place-unless you repent.” ~Jesus, Revelation 2:4
“…If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” ~2 Chronicles 7:14
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of god, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” ~1 Peter 2:9-10
“God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their basis?” ~President Thomas Jefferson
“You are Lord and You are mighty and You are merciful. Raise up all who would call upon Your name. Raise up those that love You and seek You and trust You. Lord, we need an army of believers that would stand on Your Word above all else. Raise up warriors, Lord, who will fight on their knees; who will worship You with their whole hearts, Lord. Lord, call us to battle that we may proclaim the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Raise them up, Lord. Raise them up!” ~Miss Clara, War Room the Movie
“Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.
Certain activities or expenditures may not be prohibited depending on the facts and circumstances. For example, certain voter education activities (including presenting public forums and publishing voter education guides) conducted in a non-partisan manner do not constitute prohibited political campaign activity. In addition, other activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process, such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, would not be prohibited political campaign activity if conducted in a non-partisan manner.
On the other hand, voter education or registration activities with evidence of bias that (a) would favor one candidate over another; (b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or (c) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, will constitute prohibited participation or intervention.”
~The Restriction of Political Campaign Intervention by Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organizations, IRS, Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 06-Jan-2015
A Prayer Request
Thank you for your continued faithfulness to pray. Please keep all who serve our country, our servicemen and women and their families in prayer for salvation and safety. They are our front-line on the battlefield, let us be their front-line in the spirit. Also, let us cover all who have come home wounded that they and their families will receive the kindness, help and support they need to go forward in their lives. God bless all our diplomatic and military personnel and their families. May the Lord keep them safe.
Pray for all throughout the world for hedges of protection against radical Islamic extremists and all forms of terrorism. Pray for Christians who face violence and death for their faith. We have long prayed for spiritual victory over radical Islam in Esther’s Warriors Ministry. We now see the reality of this threat come to the forefront in this time in world history. As Iranians and Islamic extremists are shouting ‘Death to America,’ let us speak life, hope and a return to God in America!
Please pray for all in authority over us, for the full truth to come forth concerning Benghazi. May God richly bless the United States of America, bring to light every single crooked place and keep her safe. The lives lost in Benghazi, the continuing targeting of conservative groups by the Internal Revenue Service, Operation Fast and Furious, the Department of Justice targeting journalists phone records, the National Security Agency overstepping its legal authority are hardly “phony scandals.” We continue to pray for truth to prevail in each of these situations. Pray for the families who have lost loved ones, for those relentlessly targeted and for all of us who are proud to call ourselves American.
May we may arise united once again as One Nation Under God in this auspicious season in our country’s history. These are treacherous times and now more than ever we must maintain our walk with the Lord, saturate this country in prayer and stand for all that is right in America. Fail not in this hour.
Pray for peace in Israel. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Please Join Me In Prayer
Father God, we thank You for the ultimate price that Jesus paid to set us free. Raise us up in this season, Lord, to be powerful prayer warriors. Equip us with Your Word. Ignite our hearts with Your Holy Spirit fire. Let prayer be our weapon of warfare. Give us prayer strategies to empower our prayers to You. Let us each step boldly into our assignment as prayer warrior ‘for such a time as this.’ Hear our corporate cries and heal our land.
Place deep in our hearts the love of God and love of country that has guided this Nation from its inception. Place deep in our hearts Your compassion for our fellow men and women. Lead us to pray without ceasing for our brothers and sisters who suffer at the hands of Islamic terrorists. Open the eyes of our leaders to arise in this season to defend the very belief in You upon which our Nation is founded. Thank You for keeping Your hand on America. We humbly pray this in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen and Amen.