Condemnation Or Intercession?

Given the election results and the situation Believers find themselves in as a result, the question for each of us as individuals is how do we respond in a Godly way? I like to use Biblical examples for a key to unlock the answer to this important question. Here is what I have deducted from my reading. These are the examples of my conduct I wish to emulate. They are not all encompassing, given the complexity and life giving nature of the Word of God, all efforts to make them so, to put them in stone, so to speak will not work for me; because the Word of God is a living organism, changing us, molding us, and conforming us to the image of Christ as we yeild to His Spirit working in us. A work in progress for us as we hopefully grow in His knowledge, His graces His mercies toward those who love Him and await His appearing.



In Philippians 4:8 I am admonished to think on, continually, anything that is true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report and be occupied with things that are full of virtue and praise. A tall order, but not impossible in these troubling days. I strive to keep my mind on things above, where God is.



The conversation of Believers is in heaven; from which we look for our Saviour the LORD Jesus Christ ( Philippians 3:20). We should measure our words; and this is almost impossible given the political, economic and social crisis we are in. But this is a goal worthy of reaching.



In times of crisis how did Moses react? When the children of Israel formed a golden calf for themselves they also had to convince Aaron the High Priest to go along with their idea; and he did. Create the scene in you mind; here is Moses in the very presence of God on the mountain and God's people get tired of waiting on Moses and God so they form another god of their chosing! Sound familiar given the condition of many churches in America and Western Europe? Entire denominations are allowing the ordination of gay priests and lay persons and their is little spoken opposition to abortion and the removal of the ten commandments and prayer from the public forum. Many have formed their own religion because they refuse to wait upon God. There is no prayer, no intercession and only condemnation for what remains of most of the Body that exists in the nation.



As Moses led this rebellious throng through the Wilderness what was his response? God became so furious that He was ready to wipe the slate clean, destroy the people, and make of Moses a new people! Moses interceeded and reasoned with the Almighty on thier behalf. If not for his intercession, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would be totally different. God relented of what He was prepared to do as a direct result of Moses intercession. Moses did not tell God, go ahead and do it, they deserve it! His patience, his humility, his intercession for God's original promise to Abraham saved the day. What is going to save the day in 2008?



We face forces that we could have never imagined would exist in our country and the world. In context of Moses' respose, what should ours be? In a later incident, when Moses became angry and lost his temper it resulted in his not being allowed into the Promised Land. He did not glorify the name of God before the people which was a grave mistake as far as God was concerned. Do I glorify God in my language and opinion? Do I really trust in Him to bring my family through the last days, through the fires and being delivered with not even the smell of smoke on us? Now is the time to settle this issue once and for all.



Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the Children of God." If I am truly flesh of His flesh, and bone of His bone, I have to examine my motives and actions on a daily basis. If I rant and rail about the situation we find ourselves in, and do not guard my words and actions; if I start to sort through and tear at and destroy what I do not like in the Body of Christ, I am in danger of destroying not only the tares, the weeds that are growing, but the wheat may also be damaged. God has angels that perform this task; not man. In His time, He will send them forth to do this, it is not my job. I want to be like Moses and interceed on behalf of those who may be in error.



Another example of a great intercessor is the man Daniel. In his prayer of intercession for the sins of his people Israel he was not bombastic and full of immediate condemnation. In Daniel 5 he says:
* we have sinned
* we have committed iniquity
* we have rebelled
* we have departed from Thy precepts
* we have departed from Thy judgments
* we have not listened to Thy servants
* we are confused
* our tresspasses have overcome us
and finally- But You are merciful-forgiveness belongs to You.



I seek guidance and direction from Heaven. Do I pray like this. I have not. While Daniel was praying, the man Gabriel touched him and he explained and answered Daniel's petitions. Daniel's intercession, his confessions moved heaven!
Why should I expect the same result if I do not follow Daniel's example? The Apostle Paul told us that the events of the Old Testament were recorded for our example; a pattern which we could, and should follow.



I have taken not a little heat and discussion regarding prayer for our leaders after the election of Nov. 4, 2008. I feel this way in this context;
I have my job to do, intercession, God has His job that He said He will do. I cannot play God. He has said that He removes kings, and setteth up kings (Daniel 12). He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to them that know understanding. I want to understand the days in which I live. Like the sons of Isscahar, they knew the day in which they were living. God reveals the deep and secret things that are happening, Believers should not be taken by surprise. God knows what is in the darkness and light dwells in Him. Light, revelation, understanding is in Him. He has said that He is in us, corrrect?



What are we to do? What is coming down the road for us? He has told us in Daniel 8-



* At the time appointed, the end shall be.
* A king of fierce countenance will arise
* The transgressors (sin) will have reached its fullness (there is a cup of iniquity in the heavens)
* This king will speak in dark sentences, sentences that are puzzling, tricky, proverbs and riddles.
* This kings power will be mighty
* He will be enpowered by another (satan)
* He will destroy wonderfully
* He wil prosper
* He will destroy the mighty and holy people
* Craft and deceit will prosper under his rule
* He will magnify himself in his heart (be full of pride, like satan before his fall)
* By peace, he will destroy many (example: Oslo Peace Process)
* And best of all, this man of sin will be BROKEN WITHOUT HANDS.


Believers cannot stop the formation and rise of this man of sin. It is preordained from God. This man will rise in great power from satan and will fall at the hand of God; not mankind. My duty while this is happening is to witness, intereceed, support works of God, and let His graces work in my life so that I exibit His love for the lost.



The end of this rebellion is in the near future. The climax has been spoken from the days of old. The judgment shall occur; this man of sin's throne shall be taken away. His dominion will cease and will be consumed and totally destroyed on God's time table.



An excellent example is the man Dumriti Dudiman. He is the founder of Hand of Help ministry and orphanage in Romania. He was captured while preaching and smuggling Bible's to Believers in former Communist nations. He was tortured and mistreated, and ridiculed while in prison. What was his response? He prayed and interceeded for his captors and those who tortured him! Another example is the founder of Voice of the Martyr's, Richard Wumbrand. He was tortured and injured for life while in prison for doing the same as Brother Dudiman. He interceeded also and prayed and witnessed while being tortured. After his release, one of the officers who was in charge of his torture came to the faith and he was himself inprisoned. The former captor said that the love, the intercession and prayer of Brother Wumbrand won him over!



I compare men such as these to be examples of proper response to the world system, what ever shape it may turn out to be. It is easy to condemn those lost along the way; it is most difficult to interceed and remember that we were also once lost and blind. Prayer like these men, and Daniel and Moses moves heaven and earth. This is my goal. This is my example.



God is the judge. Abraham said shall not the Judge of all of the earth do right?




The kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the whole kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High God (El Elyon), whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him. HETHERTO IS THE END OF THE MATTER!



God, who is faithful and true, has promised to bring out Abraham's seed with great substance!



THIS IS THE END OF ALL THINGS! PRAISE GOD!