I Prayed have prayed
Father, do not let us live in fear. Help us to make no provision for the enemy to attack and give our nation wisdom and discernment.
Reading Time: 5 minutes

Picture the scene: one of the most influential and brilliant leaders in history sat shackled and shivering in a dark dungeon during this, his second imprisonment. He knew the sands in the hourglass would soon run out as he pondered his upcoming execution. One of his final acts would be leaving a lasting legacy of faithfulness to his son in the faith, Timothy.


Awaiting his death he wrote his final letter that reverberates through the tunnel of time containing nuggets of divinely revealed insight that challenge us to this very day.

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, and I have kept the faith. From now on a crown of righteousness is laid up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2Tim.4:6-8).

Bible teacher, Derek Prince, once said, “There is no way to finish your course and keep the faith unless you fight the good fight.”

Paul previously told this young man that “God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control” (2Tim.1:7). The word “fear” is best translated “cowardice” and appears only one other time in the New Testament and that is in Revelation 21. There God tells us of those who “shall have their portion in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone” (v.8). Scripture identifies the woeful candidates: “the abominable, the murderers, the sexually immoral, the sorcerers, the idolaters and all liars…” but first on the list of the rogues gallery is “the cowardly.”

Having set the table in this commentary with what is intended to be a call to be courageous in these increasingly tension-filled times, let me introduce you to one of my closest friends for over 40 years whom I believe is modeling courage and boldness in a season when it is desperately needed.

Courageous Christian Activist, Che Ahn

Dr. Che Ahn, senior leader of Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena, California, is founder of the Harvest International Ministry (H.I.M.) with churches in 70 nations and 162 churches in California. He also serves as the International Chancellor of Wagner University training leaders worldwide.

Earlier this year Che united with Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel, a Christian ministry protecting Christians’ legal rights, to confront Governor Gavin Newsom of California who put forth restrictions prohibiting among other things, Christians singing in church services and hosting Bible studies and fellowship gatherings in homes! Knowing this had implications for Christians across America, Che prayed, sought counsel and knew it was time to be “bold as a lion” (Prv. 28:1) and stand up courageously to the former leftist mayor of San Francisco.

Lean in and listen attentively as Che lays out on the podcasts embedded in this commentary exactly what happened before, during and after this chilling development. This is undoubtedly a horrendous example of overreach and violation of constitutional rights.

It also represents a foreshadowing of what other far-left political leaders are doing to stamp out the Church’s influence and presence in our American society.

As a public policy advisor with Liberty Counsel, I’ll defer to Mat Staver in describing what’s happening and why Che seeks to awaken pastors across America.

“All home based small group Bible studies and private worship among friends and family were deemed illegal for 80% of the California population! The same order that banned religious gatherings in private homes allowed and even encouraged the insane anarchist riots, blocking highways and destroying city blocks… In California you could stand shoulder to shoulder with Marxists singing about killing cops, but you couldn’t worship with freedom in your own home.”

In the podcast Che explains in shocking detail how even their local mayor of Pasadena threatened to arrest him and church members! Church was branded “nonessential” yet abortion clinics, liquor stores and marijuana dispensaries were all A-OK and allowed to be open for business.

Criminals and rapists in California are released from jail in the name of “social justice” and fighting “systemic racism,” yet God-fearing, respectful and patriotic Christians are stigmatized and stopped from practicing, “freedom of religion,” our very First Amendment, Constitutional right.

Che mobilized intercessors and worked with other courageous leaders until the case actually went before the United States Supreme Court. They won an initial victory but the case isn’t over with other legal rulings forthcoming to try and thwart the victory.

But Mat counters with this: “The Supreme Court has already issued its Constitutional roadmap for places of worship that leads to the inevitable conclusion: Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive edicts violate the First Amendment. The High Court has ruled and therefore all lower courts must obey that decision to allow churches their First Amendment freedom.”

Courage is Contagious

Although Billy Graham ministered in a time when our Judeo-Christian values were honored and even celebrated, he took a righteous stand against racial discrimination and told us that “courage is contagious.” Before he died he aligned with his son Franklin in a public affirmation of the biblical design for one man/woman marriage as opposed to same-sex marriage promoted by Barack Obama, the Democrat party, Hollywood and an overwhelmingly leftist media.

Che communicates clearly and I concur unequivocally that our religious liberties are under assault and that the 2020 election was one of the worst scandals in United States history. We believe the presidency was stolen and the election was characterized by horrific fraud and corruption.

Acquiescing, staying silent or taking a fatalistic approach during this pivotal time is contrary to our commission as “salt” stopping decay and “light” exposing deception.

Standing for righteousness will cost us  (for me personally it was called a “deal breaker” in a church when I produced a video on biblical versus gay marriage).

The choice remains: Will we cower in trepidation, forgetting “the fear of man brings a snare” (Prv.29:25) or will we “serve the purpose of God in our generation as David did” (Acts 13:36), slaying any Goliath standing in our way? That translates into shedding cowardice and standing courageously in a culture increasingly hostile to Almighty God and Kingdom advancement.

The ways of God are becoming so plain and clear that only the obedient can follow.

Here’s the deal: Che and I as longtime friends agree that “the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God” (1 Pet.4:17) and radical obedience to King Jesus must now be the norm. No more “man pleasing.” The soul of our nation is at stake and our children’s and grandchildren’s wellbeing hangs in the balance.

“Am I now seeking the approval of men or of God? Or am I trying to please men? For if I were still trying to please men, I would not be the servant of Christ.”

Larry Tomczak is a cultural commentator of 46 yrs, Intercessors for America board member, best-selling author and a public policy advisor with Liberty Counsel. His innovative video/book, BULLSEYE, develops informed influencers in 30 days (see www.bullseyechallenge.com). Hear his weekly podcast here. (Photo Credit: Unsplash.)

Share your prayers for courage in these times we are living in. . .

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hugh
January 11, 2021

brother in hospital on ventilator please recover thanks

Scott Singletary
December 27, 2020

“AND THEY SHALL REBUILD THE OLD RUINS, THEY SHALL RAISE UP THE FORMER DESOLATIONS, AND THEY SHALL REPAIR THE RUINED CITIES, THE DESOLATIONS OF MANY GENERATIONS.“
Our election was stolen! JESUS help us. The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men (or women) to do nothing. The evidence is overwhelming even if not widely dissimilated by big media. My state of Georgia was stolen when they illegally counted after they lied, faking an emergency and forcing everyone out. But they stayed behind and counted thousands upon thousands of illegal ballots at the Fulton County State Farm Arena. But they forgot to turn the security cameras off so we have the videos documenting this crime!
Most of the swing states have similar stories of faked emergencies and after the officials left coming back to count illegally! And at the National level, it’s documented that the parent of the election company used servers off shore based in Frankford Germany. Even though most of the States election laws like Michigan for example prohibit internet connections. That’s enough to totally call the National Election rigged. But there’s more Eric Metaxas has documented how China purchased the company that performed our Election in October one month before the election. We have foreign ownership of our election process! Further the software has the ability to rig elections as reported in the “Epoch Times” and on “Intercessors for America.”
Seems hopeless unless JESUS shows up. We believe HE did show up through the Return Event we held September 26, 2020 on the Washington Mall. It was a huge Sacred Assembly with thousands and thousands of us gathered there in DC. And millions more gathered on line across the Nation. And the Global Church prayed for America through the 10 Days of on line prayer. We confessed our sin of not being under His WORD the Bible and 62 million abortions in our land and systemic racism especially in the Church. WE believe HE heard us and forgave us and is healing our land. That’s why we believe Trump will get to serve the next Four which he rightly won.

” BUT YOU ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, HIS OWN SPECIAL PEOPLE, THAT WE MIGHT PROCLAIM THE PRAIES OF HIM WHO CALLED US OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT.” What could it look like if every one of us began practicing the reality of this one verse today?
Scott Singletary, December 27, 2020

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Carol
December 27, 2020

Father God, I can see no other path, but bold obedience to gather and worship. for us to stand strong in civil disobedience to a unlawful MANdates by breaking the promises in our U.S. Constitution provide for recognizing religious freedom that are God given. Please bring every governor, mayors, city counsel members, legislators, judges and citizens to bow their knees and confess you are LORD and they are not our little gods. Humble us with your conviction of your Holy Spirit. Please deal with these office holders that are overly blinded by their pride in themselves. We trust in your mighty deliverance. Let this momentary tyranny be a wake up call to fight and stand strong in our worship and obedience to you, Our Lord and Savior Jesus.

7
Cole
December 27, 2020

The conviction I have had (I know I’m not alone in this conviction) for quite sometime is that middle of the road Christianity won’t cut it.
We see corporations, local or state & federal governments modifying their policies to be politically correct (another nice term to try and legitimize immorality or restructure hate themes) and our entertainment fields force-feeding our citizens perversion or morally bankrupt views in every imaginable form. Their reinforcing message is “there is no God. God is who we say it is. You better not argue or make a stand or we will make you pay”.
This message is everywhere. We even had a Democratic candidate for president this year who is homosexual, married (if you call it that?) to another man and challenging others about it through his smooth delivery of bible passages (his own distorted version).
Truth stands in courage. We never have to apologize for the truth whereas those who pervert or add/subtract from the truth are continually modifying their arguments for self survival… not realizing they are committing eternal suicide while doing so.
Stand firm in the faith. We may never see the rewards here on earth but we will see them on the other side.

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Praying
December 27, 2020

The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.
Proverbs 29:25 NKJV

Our Father,
You are near to us, even in the valley overshadowed with threatening evil. In this season of strife we look to You. Strengthen us by Your Spirit. Grant us the fortitude to withstand the flaming arrows of the enemy. Help us to rely on You as our only source of strength.
We stand against the fear of man.
May our confidence in You give us boldness in saying what needs to be said. Grant us the courage to speak the truth in love. Give us the wisdom to speak truthfully and articulately. We pray that we will be strong in You and in the power of Your might. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

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