URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT!

PLEASE KEEP PRAYING AND FASTING

God exhorts His people in Matthew 6:33 to "Seek His Kingdom and His righteousness" first and foremost above all things, and this will be my ongoing prayer for not only America, but for all nations of the world ... that the leaders of each nation will begin to realize that God is not obligated to bless a nation, nor the leaders of that nation, nor most of the people who live in that nation . . . unless the law-makers and the law-enforcers of that nation are concerned about God's Kingdom and God's righteousness MORE than building their own selfish empires, when expedient, at the compromise of God's righteousness.

For anyone who might be uninformed, the following scripture found in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 gives God's people a clear mandate to pray for both the leaders of their nation, and those who have authority over them:

Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Let us never forget that our spiritual authorities in our local Church are also included in this scripture admonition.  Keeping our local Church authorities covered with prayer is every bit as important (necessary; wise) as praying for our national political authorities, if not more important.

Just a reminder . . . it seems quite clear to me that if Christians living in the United States (or any other country, for that matter) aren't willing to pray (let alone occasionally fast) for ALL who are in authority for them on a regular basis ... for God to protect the Church from undue persecution ... then they too might very well experience various forms of judgment and/or persecution that they might not have had to experience otherwise.

The Old Testament documents times when God moved the nation of Israel to fast for the very survival of the nation.  Satan had a full-blown plan to execute HIS Judgment against the Jewish people.  Ester 3:13 and 3:15-17 is one such occasion.  God implemented fasting (with prayer) on several different occasions to stop evil from prospering regarding the Jewish people.  Fasting and prayer often was first executed before taking any other action to combat evil, when the Jewish people had leaders who truly sought God's help. (There's good reason for that!)

Who says God will not hold back overt evil from prospering in America (or any other nation, for that matter) against true Born Again believers if enough of God's people are willing to fight on their knees in prayer with humility and sacrifice through fasting?  Will the leaders in the Body of Christ start rallying to this call to fasting and prayer moving into 2009 ... or will they just let evil keep making greater and greater inroads against the Body of Christ? 

What would be wrong with the spiritual leaders around the world calling at least a one-day fast every month ... say the first Sunday of every month? (Or whenever else it is convenient for you).  What would there be to lose?  I see it as nothing to lose, and everything to gain. 

Spiritual darkness at various levels is growing across the land, and to spot it and not get unnecessarily caught up in it, walking more in the Spirit should help each of us make wiser decisions in a very challenging world, and deal with stress (the cares of this world which certainly involves FEAR) that constantly tries to ensnare us and rob us of our peace and joy in our intimate relationship with God.

Maintaining a close, intimate relationship with our heavenly Father during these trying times is the only thing that will sustain Christians as we move ever closer to the return of our Lord Jesus Christ to end evil on this planet once and for all.  If we fail to see that prayer and fasting is first and foremost a means of drawing closer to God, and THEN secondarily, two of our spiritual weapons ... we can grow to loathe prayer and fasting every bit as much as we loathe the deception and evil that proliferates around this globe.

Something else I feel is important to say.  Let us not confuse the judgment of God and the judgment of Satan.  God is not only in the process of judging America, but He is also judging every other nation to one degree or another.  And of this writing November 21, 2008, we haven't seen ANYTHING yet!  But God is NOT judging the Body of Christ in America nor in any other place around this globe.  God clearly tells us in His Word that he chastises and disciplines His Church for THEIR good and THEIR spiritual growth, and he can certainly use evil people and evil circumstances to assist in that cleansing - purifying process, but for true believers in Jesus Christ, they have ALREADY been judged on the Cross some 2,000 years ago in terms of His wrath being poured out on us. (Nevertheless, God also tells us clearly in the Word that we are to take frequent inventory of our relationship with God, so undue judgment does not come upon us, which I believe to be Satan's judgment.  When we are disobedient and are sinning, that gives Satan legal right to judge us.  Of course, He must have God's permission to do so.  If we have a wrong attitude about our sin [disobedience], then odds increase greatly God will pull a little of His protection away from us, and let Satan inflict a bit of his vengeful wrath upon us, until we get right again with the Lord).

On the other hand, Satan's judgment is nothing but outright 100% wrath against the Church, The Bride of Christ.  He has no intention of inflicting his wrath on his OWN.  If he had full say about it, which he doesn't, (praise God!), every true Christian believer would have ALREADY had their funeral!  Be extremely careful about listening to voices trying to get you to believe the judgment of God is the ONLY reason WHY you may be going through great suffering.  When God's chastisement is upon you, the Holy Spirit will give you peace in your heart about it, and what you are to do about it.  When Satan's judgment is against you simply because you are his enemy, learn to hear the Holy Spirit say to you,  "You're in a battle, mighty warrior!  Put your armor on and keep swinging your sword while keeping up your faith shield!"