RESPONSE TO VIOLENCE IN ORISSA, INDIA: WHAT IS GOD SAYING?
I am certain that you are aware of the violent, aggressive actions which are taking place through murder, rape, burnings, etc., where many have been killed and 5,000 mostly Christians are homeless. This is a great tragedy for sure. We are getting reports from many sources and some of our leaders and their churches are involved. This makes it very personal for us. YET, IT IS ALWAYS PERSONAL WHEN IT AFFECTS THE BODY OF CHRIST!
I will share with you a small journey that prepared me to respond to this crisis. This past weekend the Holy Spirit directed me to read Acts 26:14ff, the report of Paul's encounter with Jesus. When I read the words: "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" I found myself stunned.
As in the situation in India, Saul was persecuting, murdering, and imprisoning Christians. Jesus did not confront Saul with how badly he was treating Stephen and nameless others. He was not reminding him that he had mistreated people and caused persecution, death, and suffering; and how bad that was. I saw it as I had never seen it before. Sometimes our minds are so earthly, human, carnal, etc., that all we can see is the way it affects us or others around us. Yet, Jesus said the death, suffering, etc., being caused by Saul was a direct persecution of Him. When we touch one of Jesus' family members (body members) we are touching Jesus and that is the way He responded. I saw how absolutely Jesus is united with His body, the church. He didn't shame or condemn Saul for his atrocious acts to others, but brought Saul to see Him as the Lord of His church. I found myself feeling such love for others in His body (church). I felt how Jesus feels toward each of us and then how He feels toward the corporate body. I felt how He feels that we are united with Him. We are one with Him and He feels everything!
David was an adulterer, murderer, liar, etc., and had hurt so many people. Yet David said to God that "Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, and done what is evil in Thy sight..." (Ps. 51:4). I understood that verse in a much fuller manner. If we touch one of God's, we have touched God. If we do or don't do something to the very least of them we have done it to Him. O, GOD, HAVE MERCY ON OUR SOULS! FORGIVE US FOR PERSECUTING YOU SO MUCH WITH OUR ACTIONS AND ATTITUDES TOWARD YOU (expressed to Your people who make up Your body). It is so true that we cannot love You and hate our brother! We must love those who persecute us. LOVE THROUGH US, O LORD!
It is a horrible series of actions taking place in India. People are suffering. WE ASK GOD EVEN NOW TO INTERVENE AND BRING A STOP TO THIS AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE! These powers are fighting against the church because it is advancing and they are seeking to stop it's increase. However, it cannot be stopped because of the power of God! GOD, HEAR THE CRY OF THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS! LISTEN TO THE DECREES OF YOUR WORD AS YOUR CHILDREN DECLARE THEM TO YOU! EVERY SEED THAT HAS GONE INTO THE GROUND BRING IT FORTH IN RICH HARVEST AND MATURITY!
God told me to pray that there would be many Sauls who are now persecuting JESUS in India who would be CHANGED INTO APOSTLE PAULS! GOD YOU CALLED HIM AND MADE HIM INTO A BORN AGAIN, SPIRIT-FILLED, ANOINTED, MIRACLE WORKING, CHURCH PLANTING, MASTER BUILDER, AND A POWERFUL MAN OF GOD! CALL THE PERSECUTORS NOW! SHOW YOURSELF TO THEM NOW! TURN THEM INTO APOSTLES, PROPHETS, EVANGELISTS, PASTORS, AND TEACHERS THAT WILL NEVER BE SILENCED NOR EVER SLOW DOWN UNTIL ALL OF INDIA IS SAVED!
DELIVER INDIA from the domain of satan and his kingdom and TRANSFER THEM INTO THE KINGDOM OF YOUR BELOVED SON JESUS WHICH IS A KINGDOM OF LIGHT! SHINE THE LIGHT OF JESUS INTO ALL THE DARKNESS OF INDIA THAT HAS SO BLINDED THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE!
BARE YOUR MIGHTY RIGHT ARM AND DELIVER YOUR PEOPLE FROM EVIL AND HARVEST THE MILLIONS YET UNREACHED IN THIS LAND! JESUS, BE GLORIFIED AND WORK ALL THINGS TO THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE YOU AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO YOUR PURPOSE!
BE GLORIFIED OH SLAIN LAMB OF GOD! LET YOUR FAME BE KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE EARTH!
