Lord, Confront and correct the weak and misguided who minister from the safety of compromise. Those who chose comfort of agreement over truth, and silence over courage. Shatter their excuses. Lord, call them back to boldness. Stir in them a holy conviction that refuses to bend to the pressures of this world.
For too long, many have gazed upon the world and, in doing so, have begun to resemble it. They were meant to stand apart and yet they have become indistinguishable from what they were called to redeem. They have tried to blend in with it, until they are nearly indistinguishable from the darkness they were meant to confront.
You did not call Your shepherds to be entertainers or brand managers, but officers in a real war. You set them to speak what is unpopular, not to chase applause and approval or avoid criticism. Where they have feared man’s opinions more than You, break that fear. Where they have loved comfort more than truth, put that comfort to death.
As Your Word says, let them be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act with courage, and be strong. Let every one who stands in the pulpit hear that as a summons and a warning. If they refuse to watch, if they will not stand, if they will not act with courage, let them know they will be weighed against Calvary and found wanting.
When they stand behind the pulpit, let them stand with the steel of conviction, not the tremor of compromise. Let them speak with the clear command of Your Word, not the soft fog of human opinion. Strip their sermons of vanity and empty talk, and fill their mouths with truth that cuts, convicts, and heals.
And if they will not repent, remove them. Protect Your flock from bad shepherds who feed themselves and starve the sheep. Raise up faithful men who will strengthen the weak, bind up the wounded, seek the lost, and lay down their lives for the people You bought with Your blood.
No subject is too sensitive, no topic too tough. Adhere to the Word of God.
May all who lead do so in fear of You, in love for Your people, and in unwavering devotion to Your truth. Do this, Lord, for the honor of Your name and the purity of Your church. Amen
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. … Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:15 21-23 (NIV)
“As God can send a nation or people no greater blessing than to give them faithful, sincere and upright ministers, so the greatest curse that God can possibly send upon a people in this world is to give them over to blind, unregenerate, carnal, lukewarm and unskilled guides.” – George Whitefield “The Method of Grace” 1740
Hold Fast, Spread the Word and God Save the Republic.
Operation World Pray for Iraq : Iraq suffered great upheaval in 1991 (with the Gulf War), in 2003 (with the 2nd Iraq War and the fall of Saddam Hussein), yet again in 2013 with the rise of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), and then in 2018 and beyond with widespread civil unrest and a broken political system. Pray for God to deliver this land from seemingly interminable conflict!
* The Kurdish Region of Iraq is one of the few bright spots to emerge from the last 30-plus years of war and conflict. It has far more autonomy, progress, and freedom than other parts of Iraq. Religious minorities (such as Christians and Yazidis) have a much greater degree of protection under the law, and Christian ministries experience greater openness to work.
* Many deep and violent divisions run through Iraqi society (Kurds against Arabs, Shi’as against Sunnis, secular politicians against Islamist groups). The ethno-sectarian system of politics in Iraq may keep wider conflict in check, but also holds back genuine progress and keeps the same elites in power. Outside of the Kurdish Region, Christians and other religious minorities lack true religious freedom. They face demands for bribes, kidnapping, destruction of their property, rape, and murder. Christian workers have been murdered with impunity. Most Muslim political leaders want to see progress, but extremist groups and a fundamentally divisive political framework continue to hamper efforts to bring peace to Iraq.
* The brutal violence and oppression that accompanied the rise of the Islamic State (IS) in 2014 has been greatly reduced. Thank God that their capacity has been greatly diminished. While almost all of their territory has been retaken, the destruction and trauma they wrought remains, and their violent and brutal ideology remains a threat via the use of terrorist cells who are able to strike with little or no warning. Millions were uprooted in the 2010s, and many of them – especially Christians and other religious minorities – have suffered intense trauma. Pray that Christians might minister life to those impacted by this evil; pray also that IS survivors and former IS fighters might encounter the Risen Jesus who forgives all sins and heals all wounds.
Leave a Reply