You have an enemy that fights against you, your friends, your marriage, your health, your destiny… and he fights against you every day. How often do you fight back?
This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, – 1 Tim 1:18
Are you waging war by using the sword of your mouth? You do? How often? Every day?
And what prophecies are you using in your war?
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. – 2 Cor 1:20
If there are problems in your city, it’s because you and the Christians around you are not waging the good warfare by using the promises of God which are now YES AND AMEN through Jesus Christ.
Pray for your city… so that you prosper
Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” – Jer 29:7
And for leadership
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior…” -1 Timothy 2:1-3
Trouble and problems are NOT normal
It’s that simple. All this trouble we experience is not “normal”. It’s common, but it’s not normal. It’s our fault, because we do not intervene and put a stop to it. Jesus did it all on the cross, He made all things new… and we enter into it through faith.
If we are not entering into it, why not? It’s a free gift. Why are we not taking it?
A message from Dutch Sheets
Let me say very clearly, I do believe an awakening has already begun, an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will impact the world more than any in history. I believe this will include America, as well, impacting it on the scale of our First and Second Great Awakenings. I also believe America can be reformed, restoring us to our God-ordained purpose, though this will take years to accomplish. I believe these two goals—awakening and reformation—define my calling.
And
Personally, I’m not so certain there was enough effort by the church. I don’t believe God was looking for quick, easy, one or two sentence prayers offered up during our quiet times or normal church services. I’m afraid most believers in the United States are still looking for convenient, inexpensive answers to our plight. There are none. God was looking for sacrifice, passion and desperation.
To illustrate my point, how many congregations in America do you think turned even one of their services into prayer meetings? I can guarantee you not one in ten thousand did so. How many of them conducted even one church-wide prayer meeting? I would be surprised if the total time most churches gave to public prayer for the elections over the month leading up to it equaled even fifteen minutes. How many pastors prayed a total of an hour concerning the election? I’m confident I have international students who prayed more for this election than the average American pastor. I would exhort those who are “certain” there was “enough prayer” to be somewhat cautious.
There are times when God, in His perfect balance of mercy and justice, can save through the prayers of a small remnant. However, I believe He is asking more from us at this time in our history. Until the desperation and commitment of more believers is commensurate with our condition, I don’t believe He can heal us. Obviously, in order for this to happen, we will have to change the watered down, make-it-quick-and-easy version of American Christianity we created to grow our churches.
by Dutch Sheets
So let me remind you again of that “wage the good warfare” scripture and I pray that you take it to heart…
This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, – 1 Tim 1:18
And what prophecies are you using in your war?
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. – 2 Cor 1:20
And although I dont think it’s necessary to state the obvious… this warfare that we wage is spiritual, and NOT against people. This is not a literal war. Im making this clear so that you know Im talking about your prayers and your faily choices about how you live your life…
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. – Eph 6:12
God bless you as you wage the good warfare!
Faith + Hope + Love 