Prayer Guide: Raise a Standard in times of Injustice

Raising a Standard: Advancing the Kingdom in the midst of Chaos and Injustice

“Righteousness and Justice are the foundations of Your throne.” Psalm 89:14

The Bible is filled with examples of people living in troubled and corrupt environments. From Joseph, Moses, Deborah, Esther, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, the minor prophets, to Jesus, the twelve disciples and the Acts Church, all had their challenges. There were two things in common in all of their lives. First, they did not withdraw from the culture, but engaged with it. Secondly, they were solidly grounded in the love of God and in His word. Below is a guideline to help us stay focused and moving forward as Watchmen in days of adversity. May they help us build a strong wall of living stones connected with tempered mortar and keep us moving forward for the Kingdom.
Application for today: Unrighteousness in our government(s) will be an important challenge in the coming months and years as the political landscape becomes increasingly hostile to Christians and our values. Paul wrote, “submit … to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1) and pray “for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (I Timothy 2:2). Peter wrote, “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God,” 1 Peter 2:12-16. These words are even more striking when we realize that Peter and Paul penned them during the reigns of the Roman emperors Nero and Caligula, two of the worst tyrants known to history who would eventually kill both of them.

The question is, how do we handle these difficult scenarios now unfolding before us. In the middle of brutal Roman empire and government, Paul states, “For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God,” Romans 13:1. Even Jesus affirmed Pilate’s authority, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above,” John 19:11. Jesus responded to Pilate knowing God’s word. He knew His calling. He knew a redemptive plan was unfolding, even though he would face unfair judgments, brutal beating and death. He trusted in God’s redemptive plan. As the spirit of the Antichrist is rising in the nations, we need to be grounded in His Word with a spirit of wisdom and revelation in how to respond. In the end, God will give authority for a limited period (forty-two months) to the Antichrist or “Beast”, Rev. 13:5, 7, but it does not mean that God approves of him. However, we can trust that God will work out governmental systems for the ultimate redemption of mankind, Isaiah 11; Rev 21:22-27.

How then shall we pray when we are not in agreement with the laws being passed and with those who are in authority over us, or in disagreement with those around us?

Stance of Watchmen:

We are strongest when united and advancing as one
1. Mt. 18:19 “Again, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”
2. Acts 1:14 “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.”
When polarization develops, deal with the conflict according to Matthew 18
1. Go to the person directly first and see if you can work out your differences, Mt. 18:15. That means no public statement on Signal threads, or small group discussions over the issue.
2. Only if he does not hear, communicate and take one or two with you to talk out the differences, Mt. 18:16
3. If still unresolved, come directly to the GW leadership Mt. 18:17
Make love our aim particularly when it involves other Christians. Instead of reacting, take time to pause and think through how Jesus would respond. Understand, we are all human and fall short of His glory. We can tend to react rather than respond in His love.
1. 1 Thess 5:8-11 “But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”
2. 1 Cor 14:1 “Let love be your greatest aim”

Our Job as Watchmen

Keep our hearts and heads clear, looking above the distress and chaos, to hear what the Lord is saying.
1. Hab. 2:1 “I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected.”
Declare what we see in light of God’s word. This does not mean we necessarily interpret it, but declare it and allow God’s word to work through the situation.
1. Ezekiel 33:7; 3:17 “So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me.”
Stay anchored in God’s word.
1. John 17:17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth”
Do our research and use trustworthy sources. This will take some doing in days when the media is changing and rapidly under fire. The enemy is lurking to lure even the elect
1. Mt 24:24; Mark 13:13 “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
Take away the pointing of the finger and stay open to correction.
1. Isaiah 58:9-12 “If you take away the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness…you will become Repairer of the Breach and Restorer of streets to dwell in.”
Educate yourself in the end-time narrative from solid, scripturally based resources. It will be a way of peace in the midst of chaos and keep us from falling into the secular narrative which leads to fear. There are wide varying eschatological views and we stand to respect yours and willingly invite questions.
1. For the Global Watch, we are upholding the stance with IHOPKC End-time Study Group and Joel Richardson, joelstrumpet.com. We uphold a pre-millenial/pre-wrath view of the rapture which means we are focused on equipping people to be encouraged to continue to advance the Kingdom knowing that endurance will reap a great reward. The end-time narrative is redemptive.
Be engaged with corporate prayer, worship, local church community. The enemy is seeking to isolate and polarize, we seek to build relationship, community, and agreement
1. 2 Cor 5:18 “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”
2. Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

How to pray for unrighteous government

Recognize that the word of God carries governmental and creative weight on earth as it is in heaven.
1. 2 Tim 3:16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2. John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
3. 1 Peter 1:25 “The word of the Lord endures forever.”
4. Isaiah 55:10-11 “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 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.”
Recognize God is sovereign over the nations. Ps 22:28 “For the Kingdom is the Lord’s and He rules over the nations.”
1. God is sovereign
  1. Daniel 2:21 “He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.”
  2. Rom 13:1 “For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”
2. God desires righteousness in our nations.
  1. Pro 14:34 “Righteousness exalts a nation.”
  2. Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.”
3. God rules in righteousness
  1. Psalm 89:14, 97:2 “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne.”
Pray in accordance with His will
1. Pray according to His word: 1 John 5:14-15 “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
2. Keep ourselves humble: 2 Chron 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
3. Be anchored in His word
  1. John 17:17 “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
4. Seek peace and pursue it.
  1. Romans 12:18 “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men” (Rom. 12:18). In Paul’s time, if Christians had tried to revolt against Rome, it would have resulted in destruction and heavier persecution for the burgeoning Christian movement. About a decade after Paul wrote this, the Zealot party in Israel attempted a violent coup to oust the Romans from Jerusalem. This resulted in the Jewish War in AD 66. Within four years, the Romans decimated Jerusalem and the Temple. Josephus recorded that 1.1 million Jews were killed, 200,000 were taken captive, and the Jewish children in the Roman siege of Jerusalem were cannibalized! If the Christians had tried a violent revolt, it would’ve likely resulted in similar results. Instead, the Christians reached the Romans with the gospel. Now, centuries later, the Roman Empire is dead, and Christianity is thriving. This turned out to be the proper strategy!
  2. Jer 29:7 “And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.”
Pray for God’s intervention in governing authorities lives from school boards, city councils, mayors, state and national congressional delegates, judges, lawyers, kings and presidents.
1. For all in Authority: 2 Tim 2:1 “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
  1. For those who believe and revere God
    1. Pray for their strength: Isaiah 35:3-5 “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”
  2. For those who do not know Jesus
    1. Pray for their salvation John 3:16 “God is not willing that any perish.”
    2. Pray for conviction of sin and deception that will lead to heartfelt repentance and life over ungodly acts, laws, alliances
      1. Mt 9:13 “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
      2. 2 Cor 7:10 “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
    3. If unrepentant, pray that God would stay their influence
      1. Ps 109:6-7 “Set a wicked man over him and let an accuser stand at his right hand. When he is judged, let him be found guilty, and let his prayer become sin. Let his days be few, and let another take his office.”
2. For all in Authority: Pray the fear of the Lord would sear their consciences
  1. 2 Chron 19:5-7 “Then he set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, and said to the judges, “Take heed to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment. Now therefore, let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes.”
  2. Proverbs and the fear of the Lord:
    1. “Is the instruction for wisdom” 15:33, 9:10
    2. “Beginning of knowledge” Pro 1:7
    3. “Prolongs life” Pro 10:27
    4. “Fountain of life” Pro 14:27
    5. “Leads to life” Pro 19:23
Walk in the light and conduct ourselves in integrity
1. Seek wisdom and pursue it:
  1. Eph 4:17-24 “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”
2. Walk in integrity:
  1. Ps 26:9-12 “Do not gather my soul with sinners nor my life with bloodthirsty men, in whose hands is a sinister scheme, and whose right hand is full of bribes. But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; redeem me and be merciful to me. My foot stands in an even place; in the congregations I will bless the Lord.”
  2. Ps 41:12 “As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, and set me before Your face forever.”
3. Avoid unimportant disputes that polarize and divide.
  1. 2 Tim 2:23-26 “But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”
4. Be without offense
  1. Heb 12:13-15 “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord; looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.”
  2. Romans 12:21 “Overcome evil with good”
  3. Rev 12:10-11 “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

References:

Richardson, Joel:
The Islamic Antichrist
The Mideast Beast
From Sinai to Zion

Rosenthal, Marvin
            The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church

Rowe, Susan
            Remnant Rising: A Watchman Call to the Nations

Walters, Nelson
            Rapture: Case Closed?

Mike Bickle End Times & Eternity:

February 25, 2021