ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE NATIONAL INTERCESSOR
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ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE NATIONAL INTERCESSOR
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I Prayed
have prayed
The past few months I thank the Lord for leading me to IFA and other prayer groups praying for our nation- for TRUTH, JUSTICE and RIGHTEOUSNESS. It is a blessing to see more and more prayer groups, intercessors and prayer warriors diligently seeking and praying to our Lord. I believe all our prayers are not in vain, the Lord is accomplishing His purposes for His Bride, the Body of Christ. As I listened to different men and women of God, I also was led to seek the Lord for His words. I would like to share some of the encouragement I received from our Lord.
Psalm 125:3:
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.
(This nation/land is founded upon Christian principles, and the Mayflower covenant by the pilgrims 400 years ago).
Proverbs 10:28:
The hope of the righteous will be gladness, (praying Church/saints)
But the expectation of the wicked will perish. (those who do fraud/cheat/wicked scheme)
The way of the Lord is strength for the upright, but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
Psalm 7: 11-16:
God is a just judge,
And God is angry with the wicked every day.
If he does not turn back,
He will sharpen His sword;
He bends His bow and makes it ready.
He also prepares for Himself instruments of death;
He makes His arrows into fiery shafts.
Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity;
Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.
He made a pit and dug it out,
And has fallen into the ditch which he made.
His trouble shall return upon his own head,
And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.
Isaiah 44:27-28:
Who says to the deep, ‘Be dry! (drain the swamp)
Who says of Cyrus, ‘he is My shepherd and he shall perform all My pleasure, and saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built . . .” (President Trump according to some prophetic voices is like Cyrus. He recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem).
Daniel 9:4-5:
And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments… (I prayed for forgiveness for the sins of the past administrations/leaders of this nation (presidents and Supreme Court Judges) for allowing abortion, same sex marriage, taking out prayer and Bible reading from schools, and other sin including immoralities, etc.)
Daniel 10: 12-13:
Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. (I was also reminded of the deal the past administration made with Iran. The deal with Iran may have opened up the nation to the prince of Persia (a principality in Iran). We pray to the Lord to cancel this in the spirit. Thank the Lord President Trump has cancelled this deal.)
Please pray for the Lord to close this door.
Isaiah 22:22:
The key of the house of David, I will lay on his shoulder; so he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open. (Pray for the church, the prayer warriors and the saints to fast and pray for the Lord of Hosts to send Michael the archangel to defeat the prince of Persia.)
Ephesians 6 :12-13:
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Habakkuk 1:1-4:
O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!” And You will not save.
Why do You show me iniquity and cause me to see trouble?
For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises.
Therefore the law is powerless and justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.
(I felt the burden of Habakkuk to have justice in the midst of wickedness.)
Then God replied to Habakkuk in Chapter 2:2-3:
“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
Then God spoke to Habakkuk about sure judgments to the wicked:
Habakkuk 2:9-15
“Woe to him who covets evil gain for his house…Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed, who establish a city by iniquity…
And other woes, and judgments…
Habakkuk 2:14 “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the water covers the sea.”
Habakkuk 2:20 “But the Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before Him.”
Then, Habakkuk responded to the Lord in Chapter 3: 2
O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid;
O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years!
In the midst of the years make it known;
In wrath remember mercy.
I felt the agony and bitterness of soul that Habakkuk had. I echo his complaints; “O Lord how long will the wicked,” (Habakkuk 1:1-4). But then, God answered and said, that HE will surely bring justice to the wicked (Chapter 2). When Habakkuk realized the horror and devastation of God’s justice on earth and to the wicked, he asked God for mercy. “In wrath, remember mercy..” (Habakkuk 3:2). He also prayed for revival. “O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years.” When Habakkuk heard the response of the Lord God, he was at peace trusting the Lord God will do what He was supposed to do- to bring judgment and justice to the wicked.
Habakkuk 3:17-19: Though the fig tree may not blossom
Nor fruit be on the vines… Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Through this I’m reminded to pray for God’s mercy for those who are involved in fraud, corruption, deceit, and those who do unrighteousness–for God to have mercy on their souls. Surely God will bring justice to the wicked, but He is also merciful waiting for them to repent.
Psalm 145:8-9:
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works.
I realize many of us are praying for justice in this nation, we want punishment to the wicked, but the Lord God is merciful, waiting for them to repent. So, whether we pray for justice for them or not, the Lord God is just and holy, He will surely bring justice to the wicked, but we have to pray for His mercy, for their souls to be saved.
As I prayed for justice, I felt the Lord also said, “You want My justice to the wicked, but judgment begins at my House (the Body of Christ).
2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
The Lord God is also calling His people, the Church, the Body of Christ to repentance.
We have sinned against the Lord God with our judgmental attitude, lack of prayers, complacency, not sharing the Gospel, etc. (Editor’s note: Pride should also be on this list.) The Holy Spirit also convicted me of saying negative words to people who disagree with us. Yes, I praise God with my words, but in my heart, I hate the media and left people, in my words I speak negative words about them. I prayed and asked the Lord to forgive us, the Church, the Body of Christ for our sins, and to have spirit of unity in the Church, in the Body of Christ.
(Used with permission from Vicki Creel. Photo Credit: Unsplash.)
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Thank you for response and for expanding the message in Habakkuk! Appreciate that. Bless you!
Thank you for sharing what the Holy Spirit revealed to your heart! I was encouraged but also convicted for
wanting justice without mercy! Showing my sin of pride….but for His Grace there go I!
A part of the hope that can be underestimated is “vengeance is mine saith the Lord, I will repay”. Eventually all wrongs will be righted. Ultimately at the lake of fire. Until that final chapter, we have to deal with the burdens, iniquity, wickedness, unrighteousness, etc. It all can take a toll on your emotions. It all many times makes me angry. Ephesians 4:26-27 helps me consistently to deal with my anger. Our gracious Lord has taught me how to deal with it, get over it, as quickly as possible and to press into to Him in fruitful intercession. The way I, put it, “then I am part of the solution, instead of part of the problem. The same holds true, in dealing with discouragement, weariness, depression, confusion. All the multiple things and attacks that are thrown at us in this dying world, we are to shine as a light in. Just remember to look to the one unto whom, nothing is too hard, He will give you, courage, refreshment, strength, joy, peace, soundness of mind, etc. He is always faithful. Please don’t let the world distract you with all the noise it constantly perpetuates, so, you cannot hear the voice of Him, who gave his life for you! Many times the best button on the radio, TV, etc, is the off button. Proverbs 4:23, Psalm 131. God Bless all of you!
I’ve also been greatly encouraged as I joined other believers in prayer (in unique ways) over the last several months. I’ve been privilidged to participate in several global zooms (organized by 10days.net, IFAPRAY, the Return and others). I’ve prayed with believers from Mexico, Canada, the UK, Australia, Africa, Asia, Samoa and even the ends of the earth – Fiji – What an incredible Blessing! For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father from whom every *family* in Heaven and on earth derives its name and thank Him for His providential Hand of Grace in the midst of the present darkness, despite our different backgrounds, as C.S. Lewis penned long ago,
“It is at her centre, where her truest children dwell, that each communion is really closest to every other in spirit, if not in doctrine. And this suggests that at the centre of each there is something, or a Someone, who against all divergences of belief, all differences of temperament, all memories of mutual persecution, speaks with the same voice.”
I Praise God for that!
Additionally, I’ve been encouraged by many of the Scriptures you listed. Allow me to highlight just one – the book of Habakkuk (time and/or space won’t allow for an in depth commentary, so I urge the reader to do their own study of this fascinating book, “The Bible Knowledge Commentary” is a great resource to go along with this and other Bible studies).
With that said, here are a few brief comments,
“The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw.” Habakkuk 1:1
Planet Earth may look marvelous from a satellite, but for those who live on the dusty globe things tend to look rather grim. Increased turmoil, rising terrorism, mounting tragedies, unprecedented trauma, increasing pollution, deepening trials, and unparalleled tensions cast dark shadows over earthlings. The world looks more and more like some ominous black sphere with a very short fuse, a time bomb sizzling to explode.
It is little wonder that thinking people begin to ask questions. “Why is there so much oppression? Why all the injustice? Why do evil men prosper? Why do the righteous suffer? Why doesn’t God do something? Why doesn’t God make things right? Why? Why? Why?”
These penetrating questions are hardly new. Centuries before Christ came to earth, an ancient prophet looked around at the violence and wickedness of the world and cried out to God, “Why do You make me look at injustice? Why do You tolerate wrong?… Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?” (Hab. 1:3, 13). The prophet not only asked the mysterious whys that plague mankind; he also received answers to his questions. The answers given by God are carefully recorded in the book called Habakkuk.
The Uniqueness Of The Book Of Habakkuk:
Habakkuk is a unique book. Unlike other prophets who declared God’s message to people, this prophet dialogued with God about people. Most Old Testament prophets proclaimed divine judgment. Habakkuk pleaded for divine judgment. In contrast with the typical indictment, this book records an intriguing interchange between a perplexed prophet and his Creator.
The Timeline Of Habakkuk
Habakkuk wrote in a time of international crisis and national corruption. Babylonia had just emerged on the scene as a world power. When the Babylonians rebelled against Assyria, Judah found a brief period of reprieve reflected in the reforms initiated by king Josiah. The Assyrians were forced to divert their energies to stop the Babylonian rebellion. The Babylonians finally crushed the Assyrian Empire and quickly proceeded to defeat the once-powerful Egyptians. A new world empire was stretching across the world. Soon the Babylonians would overtake Judah and carry its inhabitants away into captivity. It was on the eve of pending destruction, a period of uncertainty and fear that Habakkuk wrote his message.
The Dilemma Of Habakkuk
The crisis internationally was serious. But of even greater concern was the national corruption. Great unrest stirred within Judah. Josiah had been a good king. When he died, Josiah’s son Jehoahaz rose to the throne. After only three months, the king of Egypt invaded Judah, deposed king Jehoahaz, and placed his brother Jehoiakim on the throne. Jehoiakim was evil, ungodly, and rebellious (2 Kings 23:36–24:7; 2 Chron. 36:5–8). Shortly after Jehoiakim ascended to the throne, Habakkuk wrote his lament over the decay, violence, greed, fighting, and perverted justice that surrounded him.
Is it any wonder that Habakkuk looked at all the corruption and asked, “Why do You make me look at injustice? Why do You tolerate wrong…? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?” (Hab. 1:3, 13). Godly men and women continue to ask similar “whys” in a world of increasing international crises and internal corruption. World powers target each other with an ever-increasing array of complex nuclear and bio-chemical weapons, while they simultaneously pledge peace, peace, peace… To the astute eye, World War III seems imminent. As nation rises up against nation on the international scene, locally, sin abounds!
A World In Spiritual And Moral Degeneration
While the stage is set for a global holocaust, an unsuspecting home audience fiddles a happy tune. The nation’s moral fiber is being eaten away by a lazzie-fair-aire playboy attitude that makes personal “happiness” (really, pleasure), the supreme goal of life. Hedonism catches fire while homes crumble. Crime soars while the church sours. Drugs, divorce, and debauchery prevail and decency dies. Frivolity dances in the streets. Faith is buried. “In God We Trust” has become a meaningless slogan stamped on corroding coins (Isaiah 1:13).
In such a world of crisis and chaos, Habakkuk speaks with clarity. This book is as contemporary as the daily headlines.
The Perplexity Of Habakkuk
Finally, the prophet was perplexed. Wickedness and violence seemed to go unchecked. Would there be no end to the rising tide of sin? Habakkuk took his complaint to God: “Why don’t You do something?” God answered, “I am doing something – Judah will be punished by Babylon.” We can almost hear the Prophets perplexion, “What!” The plot thickens (God had stated so in verse 5) and Habakkuk’s distress deepens to a profound dilemma, so he continues his conversation with God: “Why would You use those wretched Babylonian barbarians to judge Judah?”
This is not merely a little on-the-street interview with God, however. Habakkuk went beyond that. The dialogue developed in chapter one. The prophet’s complaints were then met with the Lord’s command, “Write down the revelation,” in chapter two. God’s declaration included a lengthy dirge, or taunt-song, of five woes on the evil Babylonians. Chapter three climaxes with a magnificent doxology of Praise. The ever-present “why?” is best answered by the everlasting “Who!” Though the outlook may elicit terror, the uplook elicits trust. The prophet’s complaints and fears were resolved in confidence and faith. This is the heart of the message of Habakkuk: “… But the righteous will live by his faith” (2:4).
Summary
In the dark days of Jehoiakim’s reign just before the Babylonian Captivity, the Prophet Habakkuk penned an unusual message of hope and encouragement for God’s people. Though doubts and confusion reign when sin runs rampant, an encounter with God can turn those doubts into devotion and all confusion into confidence.
Habakkuk’s book begins with an interrogation of God but ends as an intercession to God. Worry is transformed into worship. Fear turns to faith. Terror becomes trust. Hang-ups are resolved with hope. Anguish melts into adoration. What begins with a question mark (?) ends in an exclamation point (!). The answer to Habakkuk’s “why?” is “Who!” His confusion, “Why all the conflict?” is resolved with his comprehension of Who is in control: God! (An Introduction to the book of Habakkuk by J. Ronald Blue).
“But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.” Habakkuk 2:20 (See, Psa 2; 46; 115:3).
Thank you for response and for expanding the message in Habakkuk! Appreciate that. Bless you!
As I was in quiet time with the Lord I spoke to Him about all the political and social unrest and the immorality that is rampant…He said to me…This is not about politics or social unrest…the root of it all is ME…it’s ME they are rebelling against…I knew in that moment it was true…those involved in all the turmoil and mayhem is because “they” want to do away with God…the enemy is using people to try to accomplish his evil desire…I pray that in HIS mercy a move of HIS Spirit would come upon every man, woman and child that all could have a Holy Conviction and reverencial Fear of God and be free from the influence of the enemy so their eyes could behold truth.
As I meditated this morning, it occurred to me again that this turmoil and confusion in our country is not about a pandemic or politics! At this time, we are not being called to pray, we are being called to intercede for America, and so….
I stand before you, Lord, knowing full well that we deserve your judgement. You have asked those of us who are called by your name to stand in the gap as one voice for righteousness in this nation and we have not.
I stand before you, Lord, asking you to stay your hand of judgement on America as you did for Moses with the people of Israel. I plead with you to give us more time for your people to wake up and repent and return to you, Almighty God!
I stand before you Lord because the time is short! The peoples of this world are stampeding toward the cliff of destruction and we, your people, have been caught in its sweeping tide! We have not stood on our Foundation, the Rock that would lift us above the current.
I stand before you, Lord, because we, your own children, have sinned and desperately need your mercy and forgiveness! Spare us, O God, and give us a window of time in your judgement of this Earth to return to you with all our hearts and souls and minds and strength. That your name will be glorified and exalted in our nation and on the earth!
Amen. This really gets to the heart of the matter.
I love all the scriptures you printed out! And your comments about them too! What encouragement from God’s word!
Thank you Nancy!
What an absolutely wonderful and needed article!
For the last few years, I have begun to pray for justice in our nation. But God, in His great mercy and wisdom impressed upon me to start with “me”. Start with a heart of constant repentance for myself and to encourage others in the body of Christ to do the same. He didn’t tell me to stop praying for justice or for corruption to be revealed and properly prosecuted. God just wanted to be sure that I was “checking the injustices within my own heart first”. In addition, a shift took place within me months ago that I needed to pray for justice with “mercy”. Many of us (if we are honest with ourselves) relish and salivate at the idea of much of today’s willingful corruption being doled out by God in a Clint Eastwood style fashion. Now, God may do that but that’s up to Him. My responsibility is to pray for justice with mercy (because he was and is merciful to us) and then release it to Him on how he determines what that will entail. He will take care of it…in His time and place. By releasing it to Him in this way, it helps take the sword of vengeance out of my hand and places it, in faith, with God. We will still have righteous anger and rightly so but if we don’t guard our own hearts, then unrighteous anger settles in…and pollutes our walk with God and effectively can kill our testimony with those around us.
Thanks so much for posting these great words from scripture! They are a boost to faith and encouragement to spiritual warfare. Here’s some more scripture with music about spiritual warfare and victory in Jesus! https://youtu.be/UkUXACpzB-4
Thank you for sharing the music on spiritual warfare!
Hearing the Word of God brings such peace to our spirits! We KNOW the character of the one true God because He has revealed Himself in His Word: and so we can stand on what we know of Him. He hates lies and wickedness, and He is a merciful God Who is always looking to withhold judgment when He sees repentance and turning to Him. Millions of us have repented of unloving thoughts and complacency, and we have asked Him to heal our land and grant one last worldwide revival in these last days of the present age. Thank You, Jesus, for correcting us and for causing us to grow by Your Spirit. May the Name of Jesus be proclaimed throughout the whole earth for His glory!
Holy, Everlasting, Sovereign Lord,
We praise You for Your faithfulness and the gift of Your Word. You have provided all we need yet we neglect our daily bread! Help us to recommit ourselves to a growing, deep, abiding relationship withYou. Help us to put You first following the path You have placed before us. Grant us supernatural wisdom through the power of Your Holy Spirit. Protect us and lead us! Forgive our sins and show us mercy as we move forward. Lord, please hear the cries of Your children! Awaken the hearts that have grown cold and weary. Ignite in us a love for Your Truth! You will bring justice and restore righteousness at the appointed time. Help us to trust in You! Maranatha, Lord Jesus, come quickly in Your precious Name we pray! Amen!
I really appreciate this prayer and transparency of the writer. It’s refreshing and encourages me to persevere with my eyes on him… our prayers will be answered in his time.
Praying in agreement! Lord bring the pastors in America to their knees in repentance.
I agree with all those scriptures the Lord is encouraging us with. Thank you for sharing them with us.
In November the Holy Spirit led me to read the book of Habakkuk 3 times. These scriptures were highlighted to me:
Waiting for the vision written down to come to pass .
It will not linger but will come to pass. The Lord reminding us that the Righteous will live by Faith.
Even though it sounds there is no hope God laughs at the enemy and the Earth will be filled with the Knowledge of the Glory of the LORD as the waters cover the seas. HE triumphs every time.
Habakkuk’s prayer “Lord I have heard of your fame and stand in awe of your deeds O Lord
Renew them in our day in our time make them known in wrath remember mercy.”
In our language “Do it again Lord ,Do it again.” “Save the lost resurrect the dead encourage faint hearted !
Let those dead bones come to life and make a mighty army of believers stand strong in your word.
At end of Habakkuk it says:
Even though fig tree does not bud no grapes on the vines olive crops fails fields produce no food no sheep or cattle in stalls
Yet : I WILL REJOICE IN GOD MY SAVIOR
THE SOVEREIGN LORD IS MY STRENGTH
HE makes my feet like the feet of a deer He enables me to go on the heights
It is written and I believe it
Righteous will live by Faith!
Lord, In Jesus’Name, I confess my sins of neglect of prayer time, neglect of deeper concern for the underprivileged, the infirmed, the refugee, and all who suffer for any reason, Lord. Thank You that Your Word assures me I am forgiven as I am truly sorry for my neglect. Help me, then, and all Christian everywhere to repent of their sins because, “there is none that is righteous, no not one”.
I ask the Holy Spirit to convict those who need Your gift of forgiveness, but have allowed themselves to make excuses, or rationalize their sin(s) in lieu of confessing them. Lord, erase pride from our hearts. Help us to see our need for humility and thankfulness. We “Need Thee Every Hour”, and every moment of our lives. You give us each breathe we take. Help us to remember our dependency on You. Thank You for loving us so much even though we cannot comprehend the height and breadth of that love.
Help Your Church, Your people to remember and instill that confidence in us to go forth and be effective disciples, representing Your Church and its mission impacting all who we meet for Your glory and their salvation. Grant us Your mercy, Lord as we face “One Day at a Time”. That is all You ask. Help us to keep it simple. Help us to pray and believe those prayers are being answered even if we don’t see an answer, or fail to see an answer because God answered it in a way different than what we asked. Help us to trust. Amen
Absolutely agree with every word. We will be standing when all of this is over without reservation.hold the line and only believe! God is about to show us what our faith can accomplish…if we keep it in him!
I have had to repent and ask for God to forgive me for negative words that I have spoken and posted on social media towards those that I disagree with and it seems as if they are committing so many unrighteous things and getting away.wit it.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all you do and He will direct your paths.