In light of the recent Occupy Nigeria protests, and discussions last Fall regarding mobilizing people to conduct silent prayer meetings in front of abortion clinics, (when the clinics are closed), (Bound4Life), I want to know what you all think about Christians protesting and silently seiging.
To give you an idea of where some people have fallen in the discussions, I'll provide you with a brief outline:
On the one hand, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. Protests typically have a negative connotation. Thoughts of rioting come to mind, when protests get out of control, which they have the tendency to do, as they are emotionally driven.
Regarding protesting, some believe our energy can be channeled to a more effective means of affecting change. Firstly, we can "protest" to our just Judge, Our Father in Heaven. We could intercede from a room, tucked away from the public, where we are not visible and God will still hear and can answer our prayers. Additionally, one person can pray for something to happen and it could happen. Lastly, depending on your skills and giftings, in addition to prayer, you can do other things. ie educating, writing etc.
On the other hand, we are commissioned to go out into the world and be bold, spreading the gospel and truth. Protesting and seiging certainly make statements to the public. Regarding seiging specifically, the prayer meeting makes a statement to the public while warring in the Spirit on behalf of others. Furthermore, there is something more powerful, more impacting, when praying with others. Notwithstanding, the importance and presence of God while connecting with God on your own, in your secret place. However,when believers come together and join their faith, God is in their midst and the presence of God is felt.
I want to know what you think. So, what are your thoughts about Christians protesting? Share what you know about this topic, based on your own revelation or teachings you have received.
Thanks!
omowun-me
Showing posts with label intercession. Show all posts
Showing posts with label intercession. Show all posts
Friday, January 6, 2012
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
It Could Be Me
I’m racing home during my break to get something. On the way there, I'm thinking of how grateful I am to have a car, so that I can just up and go somewhere. I arrive home, get in, get out and a few minutes later I turn around to head back to IHOP, the same way I came. I couldn’t help but notice this huge accident that was at the intersection that I was just at! Fire trucks, airbags, cars off to the ditch, the whole nine.
The first song that comes to mind: “It Could’ve Been Me”
In the same vein, I think “but it’s her;” it’s that elderly woman, and this middle-aged woman, and that guy, and their cars. None of them planned this, they are children of God. They may be saved too. I’d like to think the middle-aged woman was praying, post-accident, otherwise she was actively engaging with an invisible person, hand motions pointing and all.
Are they more deserving of this accident than I am? Are other cities and nations more deserving of judgment than me in my comfortable square footage in the city I call home?
Not at all.
I feel this way with several of the intercession topics.
Sometimes we pray for the persecuted church in China or the end to sex trafficking and child exploitation.
Then I just remember how that could be me, a 25-year-old woman that cannot practice religion without physical persecution; persecution that many of us in the West have barely even smelled. I could be a 25-year-old woman and all I’ve ever known in life is oppression and sexual exploitation. At any given time, a man can and will enter my cage and rape me!
But, it’s not me, for God’s reason, but through the enemy, yet under God’s sovereignty, it is someone else. So we pray, we intercede for these children and women, halfway across the globe and in this very city, Atlanta, as the nation’s sex trafficking capital. We intercede for these people who will likely never know we are praying for them. That’s okay, no one needs to know.
That’s praying what’s on the Father’s heart. Feeling what He feels towards these injustices. Hating what He hates, and loving what He loves. Praying for what He would have us pray about, not just about what we want and what will satisfy our present desires.
It could've been me, yet it is someone else, so we pray. That’s intercession. You feel bad – for the injustices, You feel good – as in feeling His presence. You feel God.
The first song that comes to mind: “It Could’ve Been Me”
“It could’ve been me, with no clothes, no shoes and no food to eat.”
In the same vein, I think “but it’s her;” it’s that elderly woman, and this middle-aged woman, and that guy, and their cars. None of them planned this, they are children of God. They may be saved too. I’d like to think the middle-aged woman was praying, post-accident, otherwise she was actively engaging with an invisible person, hand motions pointing and all.
Are they more deserving of this accident than I am? Are other cities and nations more deserving of judgment than me in my comfortable square footage in the city I call home?
Not at all.
I feel this way with several of the intercession topics.
Sometimes we pray for the persecuted church in China or the end to sex trafficking and child exploitation.
Then I just remember how that could be me, a 25-year-old woman that cannot practice religion without physical persecution; persecution that many of us in the West have barely even smelled. I could be a 25-year-old woman and all I’ve ever known in life is oppression and sexual exploitation. At any given time, a man can and will enter my cage and rape me!
But, it’s not me, for God’s reason, but through the enemy, yet under God’s sovereignty, it is someone else. So we pray, we intercede for these children and women, halfway across the globe and in this very city, Atlanta, as the nation’s sex trafficking capital. We intercede for these people who will likely never know we are praying for them. That’s okay, no one needs to know.
That’s praying what’s on the Father’s heart. Feeling what He feels towards these injustices. Hating what He hates, and loving what He loves. Praying for what He would have us pray about, not just about what we want and what will satisfy our present desires.
It could've been me, yet it is someone else, so we pray. That’s intercession. You feel bad – for the injustices, You feel good – as in feeling His presence. You feel God.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
June is...
June is the president-instituted (Clinton and Obama) designated month for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride and celebration.
The Friday before I hit the road to drive down here, May 13th, a few friends and I were having a discussion. One friend brought to our attention that, the once thought of as conservative sect of Christianity: Presbyterian Church United States of America (PCUSA) is now the fourth Protestant denomination to allow the ordination of gay and lesbian clergy as of May 10th.
I am guilty of this: tip toeing around the subject. I worked with and went to school with people who are very open about this and therefore struggling with this bondage.Whenever I learn that someone is committing themselves to that lifestyle, I accept them but I do not question them about it. Moreover, I don’t necessarily commit them to prayer for the Lord to take them out of it. I pretty much tip toe around that and the elephant in the room eventually becomes a painting on the wall.
Organizations would promote Days of Silence and pass out rainbow ribbons. Of course, I don't support hate crimes but my stance was not taking the rainbow ribbon or in anyway promoting the rainbow symbol. The symbol intended for Noah, I was now refusing to wear.
Some Christians condemn this specific sin with a self-righteous or judgmental spirit. It is as if one sin is greater than another, as if a person identifying themselves by that orientation is living in greater sin than the next person.
During the intercession sets on Tuesday, we prayed for the LGBT community.
In the morning, we prayed that they would be released from their captivity and experience the freedom that the LORD brings.
During the All-Staff intercession the prayer leader called a Rapid Fire on this point of intercession. Rapid Fire is when the prayer leader calls asks for people to come up to say a prayer, at the altar, on the microphone for about 10 to 30 seconds. The prayer is related to the topic of intercession.
Then the worship leader of the all-staff intercession set asked us all to break off into small groups to lift this in prayer.
We prayed all across the board on this issue. We prayed for people who believe they are born that way and therefore must engage in this practice. There are people in lifestyle only because of hurt and pain from past relationships from parental figures or former significant others. There is homosexuality in the church and it’s being covered up. There are people who are dealing with this issue silently as well with few or no one to turn to. We must cry out to our Judge for this must end.
The room became really hot really soon.
We need to continue praying for them or start if we have not. Pray that they would know the Father’s love, and that in Him they would find their true identity. Pray that they would be directed to loving Christians holding steadfast to the second commandment; to love one another as the Lord loves us.
Pray that they would come into the Lords house with open arms. Pray that they would have joy in his House.
We take back the rainbow as the reminder of the Noahic covenant:
What a powerful intercession! Keep praying. Testimonies have come, testimonies are coming, I know of another one already!
The Friday before I hit the road to drive down here, May 13th, a few friends and I were having a discussion. One friend brought to our attention that, the once thought of as conservative sect of Christianity: Presbyterian Church United States of America (PCUSA) is now the fourth Protestant denomination to allow the ordination of gay and lesbian clergy as of May 10th.
I am guilty of this: tip toeing around the subject. I worked with and went to school with people who are very open about this and therefore struggling with this bondage.Whenever I learn that someone is committing themselves to that lifestyle, I accept them but I do not question them about it. Moreover, I don’t necessarily commit them to prayer for the Lord to take them out of it. I pretty much tip toe around that and the elephant in the room eventually becomes a painting on the wall.
Organizations would promote Days of Silence and pass out rainbow ribbons. Of course, I don't support hate crimes but my stance was not taking the rainbow ribbon or in anyway promoting the rainbow symbol. The symbol intended for Noah, I was now refusing to wear.
Some Christians condemn this specific sin with a self-righteous or judgmental spirit. It is as if one sin is greater than another, as if a person identifying themselves by that orientation is living in greater sin than the next person.
During the intercession sets on Tuesday, we prayed for the LGBT community.
In the morning, we prayed that they would be released from their captivity and experience the freedom that the LORD brings.
During the All-Staff intercession the prayer leader called a Rapid Fire on this point of intercession. Rapid Fire is when the prayer leader calls asks for people to come up to say a prayer, at the altar, on the microphone for about 10 to 30 seconds. The prayer is related to the topic of intercession.
Then the worship leader of the all-staff intercession set asked us all to break off into small groups to lift this in prayer.
We prayed all across the board on this issue. We prayed for people who believe they are born that way and therefore must engage in this practice. There are people in lifestyle only because of hurt and pain from past relationships from parental figures or former significant others. There is homosexuality in the church and it’s being covered up. There are people who are dealing with this issue silently as well with few or no one to turn to. We must cry out to our Judge for this must end.
The room became really hot really soon.
We need to continue praying for them or start if we have not. Pray that they would know the Father’s love, and that in Him they would find their true identity. Pray that they would be directed to loving Christians holding steadfast to the second commandment; to love one another as the Lord loves us.
Pray that they would come into the Lords house with open arms. Pray that they would have joy in his House.
We take back the rainbow as the reminder of the Noahic covenant:
And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come. I have set MY RAINBOW in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth. So God said to Noah, “THIS is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.” Genesis 9:8-17
What a powerful intercession! Keep praying. Testimonies have come, testimonies are coming, I know of another one already!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
