PRAY FOR CLEVELAND

The City of Cleveland has been the subject of news reports all over the world and unfortunately it has not been good news. There has been a barrage of violent acts against women; and it seems there is a spirit of death and destruction moving through this region like never before.

The Good News is that we have an Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient Savior to turn to in moments like these. And we must remember that the fervent effectual prayer of a righteous man avails much. So it is going to take a multitude of believers praying to God, on one accord, to fight against principalities and powers that are not of God. So I ask that you take a moment, as a matter of fact on the 7th minute of each hour just pray. Why the 7^th minute? It is the spiritual number of completion and we should pray that this cycle of violence has come to an end.

Let us pray for the safety of women in this city, pray for the families that have lost loved ones, pray for the healing of those that have been returned to their loved ones, pray for the ones that are still missing, pray for the lost and sick souls that seek madness and murder. Just pray that God will cover and protect our citizens from all hurt, harm or danger and that we are covered in the blood of Jesus from this moment forward.

Use the following scriptures to pray God’s word back to him, in Jesus name, AMEN!

Isaiah 55:11 NIV

¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:  It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

⁶ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Matthew 18:20 NIV

²⁰ For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.

James 5:16 NIV

¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Psalm 5:3 NIV

³ In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

Romans 8:38-39 NIV

³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matthew 6:9-13 NIV

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, ¹⁰ your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

THOU SHALT NOT KILL

In light of recent events, many are in an uproar about the injustices of the American judicial system. But I ask you, what do you expect from fallen man? Do you really think that man’s law trumps the law established by God? Are we really surprised that one man killed another and walked away?  I know that I am not surprised given the circumstances and the multitude of laws in place that can easily be manipulated. The depravity of man seems to have no boundaries and we are living in an age where the law justifies every sinful behavior known to man. But God’s word is simple; it says thou shalt not kill. Period.

However, societal norms tell us otherwise. Murder has become so commonplace in our society that reasoning defines the act. The killing of one human being by another is called homicide and that is further broken down based on why, when, how, where and what can be proven by law.  Because it could be capital murder, felony murder, manslaughter, negligent homicide, vehicular homicide, genocide, serial murder, etc… the list could go on depending on the jurisdiction. But at the end of the day, no matter what title man has given it, it is still a sin according to God’s law.

Thou shall not kill seems like a simple enough directive, given by God for man to follow. The Israelites were a chosen people that God delivered for a purpose (see Exodus 19:5-6). The law was introduced by Moses along with 9 other commandments to govern the sinful nature of man. The Ten Commandments were given to deal with man’s relationship to God (see Exodus 20:3-11), and man’s relationship to other people (see Exodus 20:12-17). The law was introduced so that people could see their sin, turn away from it, and receive God’s grace (see Romans 5:20).  

The law was an act of love, to deliver people from death and destruction. If we consider love first, it is easy to do what is right. When asked what is the greatest commandment, Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself , Matthew 22:37-39. When we reverence this, it makes it hard to consider taking another’s life.

But there is nothing new under the sun; the very first murder was brother against brother, when Cain killed Abel (see Genesis 4:8). God was not pleased then and surely he is not pleased now. The shedding of blood has been an ordinary occurrence among men since that time. This world is unjust, and will only get worse given the legal precedents that have been established. But take heart, and look to the Lord for justification because He is the ultimate judge of all things great and small. Seek solace in Him, not the fickle justice system that prevails in this land. Reverence God’s word and His commandments and experience a peace unlike any other; it’s about love and relationship, not law and retaliation. God has the final say!

Scripture: You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. Matthew 5:21

Prayer: Father God, we cry out asking forgiveness of our many sins. We cry out asking you to comfort us in our losses; many have lost love ones by the hands of another and have sought justice in a system that is flawed at best. Our prayers go out to you asking that your will be done and justice is served according to your will. As we move forward we will continue to exalt you and praise your name in the midst of our anguish and we call upon you to meet each of us at our need and to continue to bless us. We thank you and praise you for covering us and protecting us from the evil that men do and ask that you will continue to be our Comforter, Redeemer, Deliverer and Savior. It is in the name of Jesus that we ask these blessings and so many others, Amen!

Read Matthew 5:17-20 to see what Jesus says about the law.

WEDNESDAY WISDOM WILL RETURN NEXT WEEK!

Thank you for your continued support. I pray that all is well and enjoy your day in HIM!

AN ELIJAH MOMENT

Spiritual warfare is real and prevalent for those of us that seek God’s guidance, adhere to His word, and walk by faith. We often find ourselves attacked by the enemy that seeks to kill and destroy all that God has fostered within us. Battling on the front lines can be exhausting, facing the threat of attack can be frightening, and the willingness to want it to be over is overwhelming. Elijah is an example of how battling with the enemy can drain you of any fight that you have left within (see 1 Kings 19:4).

I am having an Elijah moment and I ask that you keep me lifted in prayer as I find my “broom bush” for some rest and replenishment. I am seeking God’s presence to nourish and fulfill me so that I can return refreshed, anointed by the Holy Spirit and armed to continue in my purpose.  

Enjoy your day in HIM!

Read 1 Kings 19: 1-18