If you are paying attention at all to what is happening in our nation, you are probably alarmed if not unnerved by what you are seeing in some of America’s cities. Rioting, looting, violence, hatred, and threats of more of the same. It is easy to hate the people who are doing these things (and the politicians who have encouraged them) and the agents who are funding these despicable actions. Yet, we must look beyond these people to the real culprits. Paul unmasked them in Ephesians 6:12. There, he said, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
When we find ourselves agitated by the actions of people, especially dangerous people, it is easy to assume that they are the problem, even though there are invisible influencers inciting these actions. The late John Osteen drove this point home in one of his sermons. He told the story about two American tourists in Mexico who went to see a bullfight. They watched with amazement as a scrawny matador faced off against a large and angry bull with sharp horns. The matador waved a muleta (a stick with a red cloth or “flag” hanging from it) at the bull. The bull was provoked by the sight of the red cloth and charged toward it. It looked for a moment like the matador would be crushed by the bull, but with great deftness, he stepped out of the path of the bull and as the bull passed him, he thrust a lance deep into the bull’s shoulder. This action was repeated again and again until the bull was near death. One of the tourist’s commented to the other, “If that bull would stop chasing that red cloth and realize who his real enemy is, that matador would be in for a heap of trouble!” We Christians are often like the bull- chasing red flags instead of the enemy who wields them.
With this awareness in mind, I am asking you to do two things as you come before the Lord of the Universe. One, realize afresh that God almost always restricts His interventions in this life to our requests for them. This is why prayer is vital. To a very large extent, God allows us the life we pray for. So, I am asking you to pray for God to be merciful to America by giving the people of this nation the gift of repentance. Repentance is not something we humans can manufacture. It is either granted (see Acts 5:31;11:18; 2 Timothy 2:25) or it will not be experienced (see also, Hebrews 12:17). Also, I am asking you to consider speaking to the evil powers which are over America. These are territorial principalities and rulers who have been fomenting the rejection of God, the murder of the unborn, greed, discrimination, hatred, self-will, deception, rioting, looting and the violence on our streets. They hide behind their human agents. Most human agents, while easy to dislike, are unwitting partners with evil. Some of them are evil. Either way, because you have authority in Jesus’ name over these dark powers, speak to them and command them to cease and desist. Command them to loose America and give her back to the only One who has a right to govern her- God Himself. I have found myself called to do this and my prayer usually goes something like this:
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I call to attention, the demons, rulers, principalities, powers and any other adversarial agents which are over the United States of America. I speak to you who have incited the rejection of God, the murder of the unborn, greed, discrimination, hatred, rioting, looting, deception and many other evils that are evident in this nation. I command you to cease and desist. I command you to loose America now. I bind you and say, “Give America back. Loose her now! You cannot have her! In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I loose the retribution, the fury, the wrath and the torment of the Lord Jesus Christ against you! I do these things in the name of Jesus Christ!
If you pray to God and also take a stand against dark forces, you can expect push back from those forces. As a friend of mine is fond of saying, “When you experience push-back- push back against the push-back!” Review the following texts and know your spiritual authority- Luke 10:19; Ephesians 1:21 and 2:6; Colossians 1:13; 2:15; Hebrews 2:14 (especially in the NASB); 1 John 3:8a; 4:4;5:18. As a child of God, you can do this!
Feel free to ask for my free book called Prayer Makes A Difference- A beginner's guide to intercessory prayer. Email me at kevinjudemcclure@gmail.com