A Season of Intercessory Shift
In this new season, the prayer
movement must shift intercession to not only praying for the mercy of the Lord
to be extended, but now for His JUSTICE to come forth and be established.
Then He spoke a
parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying:
“There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now
there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice
for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said
within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this
widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary
me.’” Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not
avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long
with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.
Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the
earth?” (Luke 18:1-8)
I’m always amazed at the mindset
of believers who are afraid of God’s justice. God’s justice entails His
judgments coming forth. When we speak of judgment, immediately most believers
think about the Greek conception of Zeus throwing down lightning bolts in anger
at people who do anything displeasing to him. How unlike King David, the man
after God’s own heart, who literally cried out for the Lord’s judgments to come
into his life that he might be freed to know, be loved by and love Him more!
The law of the LORD
is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise
the simple; the statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the
commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the LORD is
clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous
altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is
warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. (Ps 19:7-11)
BECAUSE David knew God’s heart was FOR him, and because he
knew God’s great compassion and mercy, he cried out for His judgments to come
into his heart and life, knowing that these were the only things that could
free him from sin and self. Many times, the problem we have with asking the
Lord for His justice (dealing with and removing everything that is hindering
His love, grace, justice and power from coming forth) is that we simply do not
trust Him to do what’s right and best. Some have even come up with a deceptive
theology that God no longer “judges” in the New Covenant age we live in now.
This is a most grievous error that will certainly set many up for deception and
offense in the coming days and years.
The intercessory prayer movement
MUST make a change in how and for what we pray. Most, not all, intercession for
this nation revolves around keeping the nation as it was in order to maintain
our American lifestyle. That day is over. Those prayers will not be answered,
and if they were going to be answered, they would have been by now. One basic
problem with western cultured Christians is that we will give ourselves to
prayer with little or no change in lifestyle. This means repentance is missing.
To approach the Lord we must have clean hands and a pure heart, separated from
the love of this world (1 John 2:15-17). For our intercession to be effective
in this new season, we must move to another level in intercession, asking for
the justice of the Lord to first come to our lives and the body of Christ, and
then to begin to manifest in our communities and nation. The scripture is clear
that this must begin first at the Lord’s house (1 Pet. 4:17). He
can be trusted to judge rightly! Any correction He brings to us is
always for our benefit that we may share in His holiness and kingdom (Heb.
12:6-10).
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