Paul's Thorn and Yours

Paul's Thorn and Yours
By Eddie Smith

How short-sided we tend to be. Some actually believe that
anything less than a pain-free, trouble-free life is a reflection
of spiritual failure; either our failure or God's. But let's look
a little deeper.

The Apostle Paul suffered torment from a messenger (an angel) of Satan that was so painful it's referred to as a "thorn in his flesh."

Three times Paul asked God to remove it, and three times God said, "no." One might ask, "How could it possibly benefit Paul or even the Kingdom of God for Paul to remain in pain?"

The Lord told Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." And Paul resigned himself to God's denials by saying, "Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may overshadow me" (2 Cor. 12:9). God demonstrated His power and His glory through Paul's suffering, not by removing it.

Beyond that, consider this. Had God removed "the thorn" in
Paul's flesh, he would have temporarily freed from his
discomfort, but would have severely limited Paul's spiritual development.

Instead, in God's inifite wisdom, He went beyond Paul's three
requests. He extended grace sufficient for the thorn; grace that could easily extend to other areas of Paul's life and to other lives, like yours and mine today! God actually enlarged Paul's capacity to handle discomfort! To Paul, godliness with contentment was great gain.

We all have a thorn. It's our choice, we can whine or we can win. We can't do both. What is your thorn producing today for the kingdom?

pray for our Fellow Worker in Serbia, Lily Yankovski

Dear Intercessor,
Please pray for our Fellow Worker in Serbia, Lily Yankovski. She was attacked at the close of her house church gathering a few days ago and suffered the loss of her wood burning stove, among other things. Please lift her up in prayer and if God leads you to help her at this time of need, her contact info is at the end of her letter. Robert Fitts

Beloved Saints, intercessors, family and friends, I need prayer support more than ever from the Body of Christ, at this time.

Last Sunday, 2 “brothers” from nearby city of Nish joined our house church meeting, observing more than participating. The power of the Holy Spirit was moving, people being ministered to in gratitude and adoration to Holy Trinity; we have been exalting Jesus, that evening, really exuberantly.

When everyone left, they wanted to stay and talk with me for a “bit”. Within 10 minutes the most vicious attack began. First verbal, calling me a blasphemous American intruder into the true orthodox faith because I did not teach nor practice exaltation of virgin Marry and zillion of Serbian “saints”, nor do I observe the Krsna Slava Day (idolatrous celebration of the family protector saint).

When I tried to point to the scripture about this issue, I was hit with an open hand on top of my forehead, at which point I somehow ran out of the house at 23h into the thick of the night, finding refuge across the village at one brother's house. There was no sense calling the police, because there is no police in Prolom banja but in Kursumlija, one hour away, and since I had no bruises, we decided to pray and rest.

When I returned home in the morning, nothing was stolen, but all Christian mementos, angels, hard cover Serbian bible and the firewood burning stove expensive to replace was taken outside of the house and completely destroyed, giving me, probably, the message not to spend another winter in this home.

The police said that since I let them into the house voluntarily and they did not break in that this incident will be treated as misdemeanor which was either way of no consequence, since I did not’t even know the attackers full names, so I did not even file a useless police report, but forgave them.

At this point, I am finding comfort in the Word as Jesus who warned us about hatered and persecutions to be expected.

Numerous villagers came to see what took place, giving me a bunch of advice, from going back to Hawaii to not living here alone any longer. The new converts were mostly just stunned and scared, which is giving me the opportunity to minister to them at faster pace, teaching them the hard core realities of Christian faith.

I am in the process of fasting and prayer at this time, seeking His illumination and lessons from this experience, open to obedience to His future guidance.

The good news is, there is a church in Corona, CA. considering supporting my missionary work in Serbia on regular basis. I have been praying for a sufficient steady faithful financial source for several years-timing is everything! Perhaps, as it often happens in the Lord, this terrifying night was yet another test of faith precipitating a breaktrue blessing!

I don’t feel as safe as I felt before in my home, but His presence never left, although the diplomas and pictures have. I can do without those, but without Jesus, I can’t.

Still shaken from this crisis, vacuuming 6 times to get all the glass out, running a fever and a flu on top of it all since yesterday, trusting our Heavenly Father to confirm His guidance through the Body of Christ, I remain steadfast in my love ready to continue with service to Serbs from the North to the South, and possibly, finally, in Belgrade a huge metropolis with much ministry opportunity, but when will depend on when He provides, right now I have $12.00, thank God!

Grateful for your prayers, much needed at this time, I send blessings your way, Sister L


Sister Lily Yankovski Th. serving Jesus in Serbia
www.lawfulfreedom.12h.us
Snail mail: Prolom Banja bb 18433 Prolom Banja Serbia
Mobile+0600771277 Land line 0113812788408
AEA Ordained minister
OFI Co-worker in the Balkans
NGO President www.zbogzdravlja.extra.hu
For essential support use www.PayPal.com via lawfulfreedom@yahoo.com
PLEASE PRAY FOR A MIGHTY REVIVAL IN SERBIA AND NEIGHBORING NATIONS OF
FORMER YUGOSLAVIA!
--
Robert Fitts
76-6309 Haku Pl
Kona, HI 96740
robertjoni@gmail.com
www.robertfitts.com


Where It All Begins
Out of the womb of prayer, praise and worship all things in the kingdom of God are conceived, nurtured, and brought to birth for the glory of God and the good of mankind.

A Declaration of Unity
I belong to everything that belongs to Jesus and everything that belongs to Jesus belongs to me! It's not us and them. It's just us! There's only one Body of Christ, and the problems of the church, the whole church, are our problems, for we are the church and we can do more united than we can do divided! So let's unify, simplify, and multiply!

Divine Appointment Prayer
Father, give me a divine appointment today with someone who is hungry for God, or sick, or in need, and give me grace to minister the love of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Winning the War on Terror by Prayer
Father, give every terrorist in the world an encounter with Jesus such as Paul had on the road to Damascus.

Living to Give
Father, make me a generous giver today! Show me where to give and what to give, and let all my giving bring glory to the name of Jesus.

Say "Yes" to Grace and "No" to Law
Law demands, demands, demands, But gives me neither feet nor hands. Grace and Truth are better things, They bid me fly and give me wings!

GPN 06-19-2009

GPN 06-19-2009


“God and prayer go together; to neglect one is to neglect the other” (1Sam 12:23; 1 Thess. 5:17) Pray and believe more this weekend! Have a wonderful weekend! Roberto Wijnhof, GPN

You prayed for me to get the US Visa and ticket, which brought to me by God through your faithful prayers. Pray for my safe journey to U.S.A and to receive God's favor upon my self. I need God to open up new doors for me to keep my family and church.

Amen. Pr.S.A.M

Here follows a testimony of what God is doing through prayer in UK. There have been stories of miracles, salvation, and a surge of prayer rooms exploding amongst young people particularly in schools! Just a month ago we received this report from a prayer room in Ayr, Scotland. ”The power of prayer has truly been shown in the Lord’s response to Paula’s illness. Ayr and Glasgow Royal hospitals gave confirmation of a cancerous tumor prior to her operation. But having been prayed for in the prayer room, the doctors could no longer find the cancer, and couldn’t explain why. Through the activation and constant chain of prayer, nearly 3 weeks later, following her 10-hour operation – there is NO CANCER OR TUMOUR the mass being fibrous scar tissue. This has amazed the surgeon in charge of Paula’s case, an expert in his field." Praise God for answering prayers. Pray that these testimonies will encourage those who are involved in 24-7 prayer globally to continue to dream of the impossible and see how God makes it a reality.

I declare that God shall reward me and push down all those that are pushing me far from my place of fatness. Jesus shall intervene in my case and dry up every spring of adversity that is troubling my life. Whatever is troubling my heart shall expire. S.

Please pray with me for the Lord’s favor and direction. I need a job or a business to enable me to sustain my family. Thank you , and may God bless you! H. T. C.

The levels of child abuse in South Africa are increasing rapidly. A child is raped in South Africa every three minutes. This means that about 530 child rapes take place every day. Other factors that contribute to child abuse are drugs and alcohol. In Western Cape, it is found that 90 percent of child abused cases reported, drugs and alcohol played a role. Young girls are lured into the drugs and later became prostitutes. Continue to pray for the children of South Africa. Pray that God will restore this generation and that their lives will be preserved to testify of the goodness of God (Ps.118:17).

Pray for multiplication and Increase of God’s anointing to Hope Mission International K.W. Uganda

CSW’s partner organisation, The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL), released a statement recognising the distinctive role of Christians in the reconciliation process, and committing themselves to fully to it:



“As the church encompasses both the Tamil and Singhalese communities, we are in a unique position to model unity and reconciliation, both at a grassroots and political level. We commit ourselves to work together in unity for the restoration and healing of individual lives, communities and our country Sri Lanka.”



Please join us as we praise God for the end of this conflict and pray for the rebuilding process

Due to fear of oppression and persecution, millions of victims worldwide seek asylum and protection. They flee from their homeland, facing the pain of separation from loved ones. These displaced people show incredible strength and perseverance to find hope and security in their lives. Refugee Sunday falls on the following Sunday to the World Refugee Day. The Refugee Sunday is a period of common prayer day in which the Churches are encouraged to focus on refugees and refugee related issues. It is a time when the Church across the Globe comes together, in their own locality, to pray and support the refugees. Pray for those who are separated from their loved ones; ask the Holy Spirit to console them when they are lonely and afraid. Pray that all people will be accepted and loved irrespective of their background or culture.

Pray for Akbar and his family to be saved and delivered. Pray for Olecia and her Mom to be saved and to attend my cell group. Pray for her to stop looking to occult solutions. Pray for me to feel better, to have favor with my boss and landlady.

CSW would like to invite you to join us and other NGOs in prayer and personal reflection on the 21 June for peace in Sudan.

Please pray for the graduating students of our Philadelphia Bible College in Delhi. The graduation ceremony will be held tomorrow at the IPC Church in Rohini, Delhi. This is our first batch of B.Th regular students. Pray that the Lord will continue to use these young ones as they go into new fields in North India and especially in the regions that face persecution and severe hardships. Pray specially for those who are going to Kandhamaal in Orissa. Amen.

We had "the day of the dead" in Russia. Pray for all the wicked spirits that were evoked to be bound in Jesus name. Pray for God to forgive Russia's sins, to free this country from evil. We declare that Jesus reigns in Russia forever! Pray for us. S.

We praise God for Pastor Dinesh Das from Jhadoda Church who has been able to initiate a new work in Ghaziabad, a satellite city to Delhi. Please pray for the Church and its members that they will continue to add new souls to kingdom and be effective in reaching to the lost ones. This Church needs a place of worship for their people. Pray that God will provide it in time.

GPN 06-16-2009

GPN 06-16-2009


“God sends the storms to prove He is the shelter”. Psalm 91:1; Psalm 63:3. Greetings Roberto Wijnhof GPN.

I praise the Lord for getting me out of the terrible pit. I was discharged from the hospital. Please, pray for my full recovery. Make haste, Lord, and deliver me from illness attacks and attacks upon my finances. Lord, let your funds come!

Please pray for our work in the state of Orissa. We have work in East and West side of Orissa. The work is ever growing. Four of our Churches that are under construction after the recent violence. Pray that we can complete it soon and also be able to provide livelihood to the people and families affected severely by this religious oppression against Christians in that state.

We are leaving for Pune in India for 6 days today. Please pray that under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we would reach the hearts of our Hindu & Sikh brethren (our background) with the Gospel. Also travel mercies and for Divine HEALTH & PEACE. Alleluia !

I praise God for giving me new people to minister to! I'm so excited! Pray that the love of God will bring salvation to Jews, Russians and Palestinians as He is the only One who can bring peace and dissolve hatred. For the protection of believers.

Requests:

Pray for Sveta to have wisdom and obedience. Pray for her and Natashia to be good friends. Please, pray for me to have more support at this difficult time. Pray for Sveta not to be messy. Pray for the riches of the Gentiles to come into my hands.

Please pray that there will be a provision of assistance to all those who are hiding along the border areas off North Korea, and for the safety of women who

arrive in China and are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.

Pray for protection, wisdom and guidance for all those helping North Koreans, who do so knowing they face risk of arrest and detention.

THIS PRAYER REQUEST IS FOR ME.I am not asking for prayer for the other people involved in this request. I need deliverance from the demons associated with these people. have co-workers into the Masonic lodge, daughter of the eastern star. I need deliverance from any demon. I have a supervisor who in a staff meeting intentionally denied mentioning my name for recognition as a team worker who did a lot of work. It was very intentional putdown, disrespect of me. I worked as assigned by the supervisor with another female and we did a lot of work. The other female co-workers name was mention, mine was intentionally left off. I was told by this supervisor that I was not at work when I was physically at work with other co-workers waiting for my work assignment. A co-worker intentionally destroyed a project I had worked on. I came back 5 minutes later to add an addition to the project and there were 3 co-workers there when I left it in tack. There are acts of sabotage against me.

I need prayer for deliverance from a 400 lb female boss who thinks other females in her work place are in competition with her for the male ATTENTION she desires. Pray against the isolation, comments about my weight loss other disrespect given to me as a female employee. Pray God grant deliverance from 400 lb overweight female supervisor dysfunction toward female co-workers on her shift. Supervisor views female workers as threats for her male ATTENTION. Please ask God to reveal to this SUPERVISOR females work for CASH.NOT MALE ATTENTION. Please ask God to deal with the sabotage this female supervisor wants to do toward me. Pray God deal with this 400 lb demon filled assignment from hell to harass me. Pray God deals with the co-worker who intentionally sabotaged and destroyed my work after I had completed it.

Father, because I love thy salvation give me reason to permanently glorify Thy name! I ask for a complete healing! Lord, please save: Sonia, Natasha, Alena, Lena, Lida, Irina, Alica, Olesya, Tatyana, Galia, my landlady and her son. Lord, shine on me

Please, pray for me, I need healing

Pray for Pastor Basant, Pr. David and Anora who are doing engaged in ministry in Bengal and Bhutan as well as neighbouring country Nepal. In West Bengal most of the areas had been effected by the recent cyclone Aila. Many victims lost their houses and possessions. Pray that God will meet the needs of them all, including the members of our churches. We are planning for a crusade in Silliguri in September, so pray that God will prepare people before hand.

Please pray for a young lady Christian N., she lost her joy and hears the wrong voice. She feels so guilty. That she will be set free from these voices and will hear the voice of her Shepherd again. R.

I still need your prayers. I have to see a doctor, I keep having breathing problems. I will also have to see 2 more doctors. All of this is very expensive. Please, pray for my strength and health. I declare that by the stripes of Jesus I'm healed.

Pease, pray for street kid Zukra. I've met her recently. Her 13 year old sister has killed herself. Zukra is very unhappy. Please, pray for Zukra to come to Jesus and for me to be able to help her. Pray for Zukra to be healed from coughing. Thanks, Sasha

Hi my brothers and sisters asking special prayer for strength and provision to make it through the week and as I am homeless right now also for GOD to help me get to camp it appears I have the bus fare but I still need prayer for strength to get there. GOD richly bless you, brother Danny.

GPN 06-12-2009

GPN 06-12-2009


Jesus said: “Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my father will love them, and I will love them. And I will reveal myself to each one of them”. John 14:21. What a beautiful promise Jesus gives us here. Have a blessed weekend and see His promise to come to pass. – Roberto Wijnhof GPN.

I ask for help to come my way, in Jesus name. I ask for salvation of one my English students: Dania and salvation of his parents. I ask for deliverance of Dania's family.

Western Cape teens are selling their younger brothers and sisters to their friends for group sex sessions. Children between 14 and 18 would invite friends around for group sex sessions with their siblings or cousins who are as young as 11 years old. The older kids tend to use the money either to contribute to the household income or, more often, to fuel a drug or alcohol dependency. Open your mouth for the speechless (Prov.31:8) and cry out to God to deliver the children of this nation from evil. Ask the Holy Spirit to convict young children when they are doing wrong and that they will start walking in the fear of God and start trembling at His Word, walking humbly with God. (Isa.66:2; Micah 6:8).

Pray for me, may God connect me to E.K,A.K and others for the sake of building the kingdom of God. A.M.M.S

"During 2009 years 43,000,000 born-again believers were murdered for NOT denying their Faith in their Savoir and Almighty God, JESUS CHRIST, still every day 300 are being martyred for the same reason around the world, 200,000,000 Christ following believers, to-day live in countries with indescribable persecution and inhuman suffering, 60% of them being children". Please pray for your brothers and sisters.

Global day of Prayer 31st May 2009 could well prove to have been the biggest prayer meeting as all 220 nations took part this year – the first time ever. In Santiago, Chile, about 1,000 Christians braved the cold at the seat of Chile's government to pray for their nation. In Argentina, Christians marked the Global Day of Prayer in every one of Argentina's 23 provinces. There is testimony of areas that experienced zero crime for the 10 days of 24-hour prayer before the Global Day of Prayer. The Global Day of Prayer does not end on Pentecost Sunday. It begins a season of service, where churches pledge to serve their communities and their nations for the next 90 days. Thank God for this breakthrough in every nation of the world. Pray that the next 90 days will bring forth change worldwide as Believers commit themselves to be God’s hands in their communities and cities.

The reason why I am mailing you is because I'd like to ask a prayer. Indeed 2 persons, members of our church council, are opposed to me and want to bring confusion. But in the meantime the Church is doing great, it's growing and it's blessed. There is a lot of jealousy and an evil spirit that tries to control and manipulate me through various ways.
We have new people who gave their lives to Jesus, the Church stands firm, we also see a spiritual breakthrough these last couple of weeks and that is so rejoicing.
Could you pray with us so that God will be glorified and that the Church, my ministry and my family will be protected, for we are under attack.
We will have a church council meeting on Saturday evening, it will be an important time where we will talk about the problems, thank you for your support in prayer, may God anoint me, that I will be under His authority so that I can stand firm against Satan's craftiness. Your brother in Christ, Pastor Christian VIVES

Lift up Sudan in prayer.
Sudan faces upheaval on all sides and is in desperate need of your prayers.

The ruling party represses, intimidates and obstructs peace in both northern and southern Sudan. Tragedy continues in Darfur, with rape brutally used as a weapon of war, and an outbreak of fierce fighting is destabilising the south.

For the past six months, 16-year old Asya, with her parents and younger brothers who live in Iraq has been forced to move five times. The Christian family is no longer accepted by other family members who are devoted to Islam. Other family members want to take revenge because Asya murdered her father's brother. Out of self defence, Asya stabbed her uncle in 2006. Asya was arrested and convicted despite the fact that she acted out of self defence. She spent two years in prison and was released early in November 2008. However, Asya is not free to go wherever she pleases. Because family members are still on the hunt for her, Asya is forced to stay indoors. She cannot go to school. Not only because it is dangerous for her but also because she has to deal with what has happened. Please pray for the protection of Asya, her parents and brothers. Pray that they will not be discovered by their family. Please also pray that Asya will be able to deal with the trauma of murdering her uncle and spending time in prison. Pray that she will be able to return to school and gain perspective for the future.

Raise your voice in prayer for internally displaced persons (IDPs) forced to flee Burma Army attacks late last week. Around 5,000 IDPs fled Ler Per Her camp and surrounding villages as the Burma Army and its allies attacked the camp. Villagers fear for their lives as they face being forced to be porters and human mine sweepers for the Burma Army – up to 200 people have reportedly been taken for slave labour. They are in urgent need of your prayer and support.

I DESPERATELY NEED any kind of job/income, being layed off as a professor (marketing, communication, PR, branding/image, education, business administration etc.), in Mexico recently, loosing us $1200 additional income and now living only on us $ 2100 net pension, unable to pay my us $ 1000 rent and $ 500 car payments in July, as such being forced to return to Mexico to feed my 3 minor children, 2, 6 and 10 as a 70 year young...

Thanks for for your kind consideration and additional prayers for his perfect will in our lifes: staying in the USA or returning to Mexico? Mr. A.G.

GPN 06/09/2009

GPN 06/09/2009


“When God measures a man. He puts the tape around the heart, not the head”. 1 Sam.16:14-17 Greetings, Roberto Wijnhof GPN

Pray for salvation of: SH, CP, FY, OM, IL, Teddy M, VT, Dima, IJ, WE, RI, Tobbi, Malika, Siumien, NP, AP, Sanya, ME, DC, Subochev, AR, E, GE, ET, CA, AM, EV, Larry, IB, NE, CH, TR, ES, Kunchikov, Lena, Aurora, CO, FG, BG, PS, PA, R, SE, Bill, MO.

My name is H. N. and I am living in Connecticut USA alone without any relative.
I have a sickness that is serious and I want you to join me in prayers for Jesus to heal me. I want my life to be of great service to God and the sickness keeps me unhealthy for a long time now. Please also pray that I will be a great leader and Christ labourer. I want to use up my talent for Christ. Thank you, H.

We praise God for the victory of Secular parties in the recently concluded general elections in India. We thank God for our answered prayers. Please pray that the ruling party and its elected leaders will be able to guide the country into a new phase of progress, stability and peace.

The us embassy issued me a visa today 8th June 09.that is great and awesome because of you prayers. Pray for me to get a ticket in this very week by his power and mighty.

I need the favour of God, protection in the way and god to destroy all the obstacles try to discourage me. Ap.S.M.

Pray for us affected by these storms in our lives: for our financial, spiritual and physical well-being. Pray that our landlady will not cause us damage, but will be nice to us. Pray for her to be saved and filled with the Spirit. Pray for our ministry.

Praise God for our work in Aligarh Area of UP in India. We have a very responsive field here. We are covering over 20 villages in 4 districts. We have a school here and for the first time we are starting a Children camp here. 150 children from various faiths will attend it for the first time. Pray for Vijay Tandi under whose leadership this camp is going to be organized. Pray that the children and their families will receive Jesus as their personal saviour.

Asking prayer for strength and provision to make it one more week and for GOD to supernaturally open a door so i could get to camp in Virginia. GOD richly bless you brother Danny

Pray for Sveta to have favor on her job and for them not to cheat her out of her money. Pray for her to be on fire for Jesus and to become responsible. Pray for favor between my landlady and me. Pray for me to have funds to fix things in my apt.

Sasha

Pray for our homeless kids: Fedia, Zarina, Nastia and Oleg. Pray that they will come to repentance and be saved. Intercede for the Russian government. Pray For Peace to Reign in Russia and for the war with Chechnya to end. Pray for us! Pray for President Medvedev's salvation.

Pray for the human rights situation in North Korea, particularly for all those who continue to suffer under the repressive state.

Pray that the suffering of many would not be forgotten by the international community while they focus their attention on the nuclear issue.

Pray that world leaders would have perseverance, wisdom and integrity as they attempt to bring change to North Korea, and that the DPRK government would listen and respond off actively to the cries of its people.

We Praise God that nearly 1500 children participated in our first Summer Children camp called ‘Baal Grishm Mahostav” held at the Satyawati Public School, Nangli Deri. A total of 616 children invited Jesus to their lives. Please pray for all these children and also for their parents so that they will be receptive to the word. Please also pray that we will be able to effectively integrate these children to our existing Children Bible clubs and open new ones, if necessary.

Please pray for a young Christian girl N. that is depressed. She really needs a touch of deliverance and a bundle of joy.

Please pray for our Cell groups or small group initiatives. We have nearly hundred of them in Delhi. It is growing. Pray that we will be able to provide strong leadership lessons to all which is Biblical and Christ like. Pray that people will continue to grow in word and in likeness of Jesus Christ.

From Freedom to Bondage

Insight from Eddie and Alice
For our wonderful Insight Newsletter family.
Have a blessed week!

From Freedom to Bondage

This is the day of "new beginnings"; unfortunately, they are not new beginnings that reinforce our Christian faith. Greed, lack of self-control, and over-extended credit have replaced financial stability. Like the world, believers are over their heads in debt; live out of control lifestyles, and long for better cars and bigger houses. Americans, we have lost our way and the price is costly. We Christians are at a crossroads. Either we will humble ourselves and make the necessary adjustments to move with the cloud of God's presence; or we’ll drift along with the world system and live with nothing more than distant memories of past divine blessings. I don't know about you, but I'm moving forward!

I’m grieved to see our national civil liberties ebb away by the day. More and more Christians turn a blind eye to perversion, infidelity, and unethical leadership in the Church. Jesus said we are to be the salt of the earth. (Matt. 5:13-16) But where is the voice of the Church today? Rather than be the salt that alters “the flavor” of the world, we’ve lost our distinctive and have taken on the flavor of the world. Do you remember when businesses were closed on Sundays; and schools and other neighborhood groups wouldn’t have thought of scheduling something on a Sunday night or Wednesday night because Christians were committed to their Churches on those nights? Early in the life of our nation, no one would have considered planning an activity without first checking the schedule of the Church. The church was first given top priority. What’s happened to us? All the while Satan and his demonic hoards work 24/7 to extend their territory and take advantage of our families, churches, cities and nation.

My Old Testament professor in college taught us the “prophetic duality” of Scripture; an evil physical ruler versus an evil spiritual ruler. Specifically, he explained that Isaiah Chapters 10-14 describe an evil ruler of that time and as a typology, describe Satan as well. Notice in the passage below how the Devil moves boundaries, changes laws, and works to rob us of our true wealth, our dignity, our laws, a generation of our children, and to silence forever the voices of God’s people.

"I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes. (Lucifer fell because of pride) For he says, 'By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. I removed the boundaries of nations, I plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their kings. As one reaches into a nest, so my hand reached for the wealth of the nations; as men gather abandoned eggs, so I gathered all the countries; not one flapped a wing, or opened its mouth to chirp.’” (Is. 10:12-14)

Friend, it’s time for us to open our mouths, chirp and flap our wings. How? Live righteously; honor God in our business and in our relationships; tithe, give, and discipline ourselves to adopt a modest lifestyle. Sure. There are definitely appropriate times to engage the enemy in spiritual battle. However Eddie says a profound statement in regards to “pulling down strongholds.” He says, “How can we pull down with one hand, what we hold up with the other. We can’t possibly pull down the spirit of pride over our city as long as we are prideful.” So true.

Let’s pray, fast, and weep for our nation and ask the Lord Jesus to let us be the ones who see a shift in the heavenly realm that secures victory and breakthrough. A crisis is at hand. Our republic is shifting from freedom to bondage and we’d better wake up!

In 1997, Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota said, "A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.

"The average age of the world's greatest civilizations, from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:

1. From bondage to spiritual faith;
2. From spiritual faith to great courage;
3. From courage to liberty;
4. From liberty to abundance;
5. From abundance to complacency;
6. From complacency to apathy;
7. From apathy to dependence;
8. From dependence back into bondage "

Professor Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the "complacency and apathy" phase of democracy, with some 40 percent of the nation's population already having reached the "governmental dependency" phase. Quite prophetic, isn’t it?

Apathy without discerning the times is the greatest danger to our freedom. Please join me and ask God to intervene in the affairs of these United States of America.