Peter gave this warning, “Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Paul said, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).
We walk in the flesh, yet we do not war according to the flesh (2 Corinthians 10:3-6). Ours is a spiritual battle and our adversary, the devil and his demonic forces, oppose the things of God, the church and every born-again believer. Just as God uses people to show Jesus’ love and eternal life through Him, Satan uses people to show hatred and bring about destruction and death.
The United States is engaged in a spiritual battle. Satan has taken his fight to homes, the streets, the media, and in the halls of government. Manufactured lies, manipulation, hate, disunity, and destruction have been used for the purpose of creating division. A spirit of antichrist is behind those who cause divisions for they are worldly-minded and devoid of the Spirit (Jude 1:19). We are in an all-out war between God and Satan for the souls of mankind.
God is calling all Christians to unite in prayer and humble ourselves, seek God’s face, and turn from our wicked ways, (anything that opposes the Word of God). Then He will hear from heaven and forgive our sin and heal our country (2 Chronicles 7:14).
How are Christians opposing the Word of God? We have been apologetic, timid, and tolerant of sin. We have, along with church leaders, remained silent as 61 million babies were murdered and continue to be slaughtered on our watch. For God formed their inmost being and knit each baby together in its mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-14). Only now have a small number of Christians, pastors, and organizations rallied for the protection of the unborn and offer help to women who suffer from that decision to end their child’s life.
Then there is tolerance of the immoral, sexual sin and depravity (I Corinthians 6:9-10; Ephesians 5:5.) Jesus said, “The cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death” (Revelation 21:8). This is why God is calling us, the Church, to seek Him with all our hearts, turn from our wicked ways, repent, and pray for this nation. THEN He will heal our land.
Many dismiss the 2 Chronicles prayer because of the word, “wicked.” Most see wickedness as a person who does evil. However, the Hebrew word for wickedness is “rish`ah,” meaning “guilt.” If used as an adjective it is “rasha,” which means “criminal” or “guilty one” or “guilty of crime.” So ultimately, God views disobeying His Word as wickedness.
2 Timothy 3:2-4 defines wickedness:
Lovers of self: a preoccupation with one’s feelings, interests, or situation.
Lovers of money: seek wealth and things, but are not satisfied.
Boastful: excessive pride and self-satisfaction in achievements, abilities, and possessions.
Arrogant: an exaggerated sense of importance or abilities.
Revilers: someone who criticizes rather than encourages.
Disobedient: disrespects authority and refuses to obey God.
Ungrateful: not showing gratitude to God as provider of all things.
Unholy: sinful. Doing things that are contrary to God’s Word.
Unloving: lacking love, forgiveness, and compassion towards others.
Irreconcilable: uncompromising, inflexible, bitter, disagreeable.
Malicious: spiteful, vindictive, vengeful, speaks unkind words.
Gossips: whisperers, tattlers, rumors.
Without self-control: lacking self-discipline and willpower.
Brutal: without mercy, heartless.
Haters of good: haters of what is moral, excellent, outstanding, acceptable.
Treacherous: disloyal, deceptive, unreliable, untrustworthy.
Reckless: rash, thoughtless, impulsive, foolhardy, irresponsible.
Conceited: proud, arrogant, boastful, self-centered.
Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God: pleasure takes precedence over God.
We have the unmatchable power of God’s Word that enables us to walk in holiness and defeat the enemy, but we have neglected His Word, prayer, and fasting—a mighty force against the enemy’s agenda for a Godless society. Know that Satan is relentless and will set up strongholds to deter God’s people, the Church, and anything that brings truth and advances the Kingdom and knowledge of God.
Unfortunately, many Christians allow those strongholds by failing to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Is it possible that some believe their prayers would not make a difference and prefer to leave the praying and interceding to other Christians and pastors? However, many strongholds are personal habits and thoughts that keep us in bondage. During six weeks of fighting pneumonia and other complications, God revealed that I had allowed a stronghold of unbelief in my mind. When I repented and prayed against that lie, the stronghold was broken.
“The eternal God is our refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out our enemies before us, saying, ‘Destroy them!’” In other words, when we seek God for direction, He exposes the enemy and his plans, as He did for me. Then He gives us the command, “Destroy them!” (Deuteronomy 33:27) Unfortunately, many Christians assume that it is God’s responsibility, when in fact, God gave us that authority. Just as I did during my illness, we must ask God to search us, try us, know our thoughts, and see if there is any evil way (unbelief) in our hearts (Psalm 139:23-24).
Without faith and belief in the power of God’s Word, the enemy will not regard our words as having authority. Even the disciples struggled with their faith to believe. When they tried to command a demon to leave a boy, they failed. Later they ask Jesus why they failed in their mission. He replied, “Because you have so little faith” (Matthew 17:20).
God said, “My Word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it (Isaiah 55:11). We have been given that authority to speak His Word and expect it to produce fruit. For He said, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). Do we believe that God’s Word is alive and active, sharper than any two-edged sword?
The Word of God tells us that Satan is very intentional in his opposition to God and to those who love God. His agenda is to deceive, steal, kill, and destroy. He is fully aware that we parish for lack of knowledge of God’s Word (Hosea 4:6). So, to accomplish his goal, he distracts Christians with many things, so that studying the Word, praying, and fellowshipping with other Christians is neglected.
Storm clouds have been gathering over America, but there is a ray of hope, and that hope is the praying Church. We, as the Church, must be united in one purpose to defeat our adversary and reclaim the godly values that established America as a Christian nation—a nation that welcomes all to live in peace with liberty to practice their faith without interference. May God order our steps in these difficult days (Psalm 37:23).
PRAYER: FATHER, reveal anything within me that requires change and repentance. Place a hunger in my soul for Your Word and a passion for prayer. Give me wisdom and discernment to know Your truth and recognize the enemy’s agenda to destroy Your people and this nation. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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