I come from a big family. My father had three wives and we were 18 children and now perhaps we have over 60 grandchildren. I take it as my responsibility to pray for this family. I don’t want to be in heaven for ever and live to see them in anguish in hell for ever.
One time I was in Hungary, doing missionary work. God showed me a vision that one of my brothers was going to die. I prayed and fasted for 4 days. In the fourth day God spoke to me; “I have heard your prayers. I will still take your brother because of his wickedness but because of your prayers I will keep his evil from affecting others in the family. He died not so long after and God has preserved his family just as He said to me.
I have prayed for my family and sometimes dangerous prayers. I have prayed to God that He may do whatever it takes to make sure that none of my family dies in sin. A few have died but all in the Lord. I have witnessed two who were far from God become really sick and in the sickness they have received Jesus before they die.
When you learn to take a stand for God, He will give you a prevailing position of prayer. You will wear the mantel of priesthood.
(Genesis 6:5-9) Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.”
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. (NKJV)
If God could be abhorred by this wickedness in Noah’s time what does He think of our world today?
Abortion and homosexuality are not just allowed but are constitutionalised as human rights. Pornography is widespread in the church. Divorce and remarriage for flimsy reasons is rampart in the church not to say in the world. Not just in members but in mainstream churches, gay clergy is allowed. No question about it just like the times of Noah, the end of all things is near.
But as I read the above verse I get hope for you and me today. God deals not with the world in whole sale. He notices the just and the righteous in the midst of the wicked even when the righteous person is one and alone!
(Job 1:8) Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” (NKJV)
(Genesis 18:17-19) And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, “since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? “For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” (NKJV)
(2 Chronicles 16:9a) “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” (NKJV)
When Religion is in fashion, it is easy to follow along. But today it is not. Those who stand with the truth are branded as fanatic or fundamentalist or a sect. I have been called all these and you also will be called the same just as Paul was!
(Acts 28:22) “But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.” (NKJV)
When you take a stand for God, the world will hate you but God will honor you. One of the great privileges’ of those who take a stand for God is that they have a prevailing position of prayer. They pray and intercede and God hears and answers them.
Abraham came quite close to saving Sodom and Gomorrah.
(Genesis 18:32-33) Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?”
And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” So the LORD went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place. (NKJV)
Job had a unique position of intercession before God;
(Job 42:7-9) And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. “Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD commanded them; for the LORD had accepted Job. (NKJV)
Many who are reading this may be saying O.K, I will stop compromising and take a stand for righteousness. But I want to end this session with a caution. We do not compromise on our faith because we hate God, but we do it because we are weak. Peter promised Jesus not to deny Him but still did it for three times. We can only take a stand for God when we take a stand for the word of God. As God told Joshua;
(Joshua 1:8-9) “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (NKJV)
David also put it nicely; avoid wrong company and make the word your friend.
(Psalms 1:1-3) Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. (NKJV)
I have seen it time and time again; those who don’t take reading the Bible seriously, they don’t take prayer meetings seriously, they miss church or come late on Sunday and do not think seriously over the offerings and the tithe they give in God’s house live a compromised life. Jesus warned that there is no future for such;
(Revelation 3:14-19) “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ –and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked– “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. (NKJV)
There is no doubt that the number 666 is coming soon. For all the compromisers, it is your soul that the devil is after. Rise up now before it is too late. For you who are striving against the current, hold on. God will give us grace and strength and soon we will see His face in Zion!
(Psalms 84:5-7) Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion. (NKJV)
Till next week.
You are in my prayers.
Pastor James Kimani.
Immenstadt.
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