Open Blinded Eyes

If there was ever a time when the blind were leading the blind, it is now. As we have removed GodGod from our schools and the national conversation, we are reaping the consequences.

The problems we face today will not be solved by governmental change, better education, or social improvements. We are now seeing the results of a generation and society that has lived independently from God.

This week we are praying for GodGod to open the spiritually blind eyes across the country. The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians that Satan blinds the eyes of the unsaved.

The God of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. – 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV)

Satan blinds unbelievers through deception. They don’t recognize the truth of the Gospel because they have believed a lie. The problem is, deceived people don’t know they are deceived; therefore, they can’t free themselves from the deception.

The book of Romans gives us more insight into the topic. When a person refuses to honor GodGod, their heart is darkened to the truth of God.

For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. – Romans 1:21-23

That’s why many unbelievers can’t even see the truth in the Gospel – their eyes have been blinded.

The only hope for the unbelieving world is for the Holy Spirit to open blinded eyes and break the deception in their lives. Only Jesus, the Light of the World, can break through the spiritual darkness and bring about freedom.

If we are going to see a spiritual awakening, then we must pray for God to open these spiritually blinded eyes and break the chains of deception.

Join me in asking the Father to open the eyes of the blind, so they can see the love of Christ. Let’s pray that deception is broken with the truth of the Gospel. Let’s pray for a new openness to the truth and light of the Gospel.

Today’s Prayer

Father, today we agree together, asking You to open the spiritually blind eyes across our country. We pray you will uncover Satan’s deception in their lives and bring about freedom to see the truth of the Gospel. Let them see how much You love them. Let them see their need for Jesus. Thank You for desiring everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Breakthrough the blindness in Jesus’ name! Tear down the deception they have received and bring about a new openness to the Gospel.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

714PRAYER – Spiritual Apathy

“Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” – Matthew 24:12

Jesus warns of a time when spiritual apathy will be the defining characteristics of the age. When instead of an intense passion for Christ, the heart of many will become cold and apathetic.

Spiritual apathy settles for religious activity instead of a personal relationship.
Spiritual apathy no longer desires prayer and Bible study.
Spiritual apathy causes our hearts to be no longer moved by the lostness of those around us.
Spiritual apathy has no desire to see those without Christ come to Him.
Spiritual apathy lets our heart become cold, and not be concerned about it.

So many Christians and churches suffer from spiritual apathy. The wold has anesthetized their passion for Christ, and they simply go from week to week, happy with business as usual Christianity. (more…)

714PRAYER – January 8, 2019

Open Blinded Eyes

In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul makes an interesting statement about this those who have turned their back on God. They not only practice unrighteousness, but they give hearty approval of those who practice these things. (Rom. 1:32)

This comment is lived out on the streets, in the news, and on screens across the country. Things that would have made our society blush just a few years ago are now flaunted before the world with pride. Now they are even encouraged and viewed as normal.

Their sin has allowed Satan to blind them to the truth. They are living out Judges 17 where “every man was doing right in his own eyes.”

Today we’re asking God to open blinded eyes across our county. Giving spiritual sight to those who have been blinded to the sin their lives and those around them. They need a healing touch from the Father’s hand. Before they can repent, their eyes must be opened to their sin. They need a vision of the holiness and righteousness of God. (more…)

Spiritual Awakening Begins Wth Me

Spiritual awakening begins with the individual. Every great awakening began with an individual or a small group of believers who took Jesus at His word. As individuals, they turned from the Christian religion to an intimate fellowship with Christ.

We pray for revival in our country, but what we need is a revival of Christians. Our churches are dying because we have assumed the world will come to us instead of we bringing Jesus to them. We are still trying to attract people to our church. (more…)

714PRAYER – God Moves in Response to Our Prayer

God moves in response to our prayer. Prayer is at the heartbeat of the Christian life. God invites us to bring our every need to Him in prayer. He invites us into His presence as His children. The very throne room of God is open to us, and we are to come boldly into His presence.

As Christians, we are often reluctant to pray. We consider prayer as a last effort instead of a first response. Too often we talk about prayer, but don’t spend the time before God in prayer. The book of James puts it this way,

You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. – James 4:2 (NASB)

We do not have because we do not ask. Could it be that God is waiting for us to pray before He moves in power? How many nights have we spent in worry instead of in prayer? How many days have we lived in fear because we haven’t brought our needs and concerns to the Lord? How many times have we spend 2 minutes in prayer and then 2 hours in distress? (more…)

714PRAYER – Repentance, the Pathway to Awakening

Repentance isn’t usually a positive word. Repentance sounds negative and feels condemning. It brings up images of old street preachers with megaphone crying “Repent; the end is near.” Maybe that’s the reason we hear so little about repentance. When was the last time you hear a sermon on repentance? Repentance doesn’t seem to fit into the current positive Christian message.

However, repentance is an important Biblical word and principle. Repentance always proceeds a new work of God. Before God moves two things must happen; We must ask, we must repent.

Repentance is the pathway to a new work of God in our country, our churches, and our lives.

We need repentance because our sin keeps us from experiencing all God has for us. Here is what the prophet Isaiah said.

Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. – Isaiah 59:1-2

For the Christian, repentance is all about lordship. As a Christian, your sin is forgiven. When Christ died on the cross, all your sins were forgiven when you placed your faith and trust in Christ.

However, sin is a choice to move away from God. It’s choosing our desire over God’s will for us. It is a choice of disobedience. The book of James says it this way.

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. – James 1:14-15

For the Christian, sin is always a choice. We choose to follow our own lusts instead of the leading of the Holy Spirit. Repentance is returning to the Lord. Repentance is turning from our sin and once again making Jesus Lord and master of our life.

I’d like to focus on one area where Christians need repentance. It’s a silent sin of the modern Christian. It is destroying families, relationship and lives. A quick look at the statistics and it’s easy to see we need repentance.

As Christians, we have lowered our standards and allowed the culture to influence what comes into our homes and lives. I’m talking about Pornography.

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714PRAYER – The Priority of Prayer

Read through the book of Acts and one theme is repeated again and again. The church prayed, and God moved. From Pentecost to freeing Peter from jail to sending missionaries to spread the Gospel, prayer played a significant role in the life of the early church.

When we pray, we confess our need and dependence on God. When we pray, we step beyond our strength and into God’s abundance. When we pray, the doors of heaven open and God’s power is poured out on us.

God calls us to be a people of prayer. His church is to be a house of prayer. How often is prayer a priority in your church? Let’s make it personal, what is the priority of prayer in your life?

Prayerlessness is the great sin of our day. It’s an indicator of our self-reliance and pride. A prideful person will never be a person of prayer.

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714PRAYER – Pray for Pastors

714PRAYER is all about praying for spiritual awakening and revival in our nation, our church and in ourselves. Thank you for your commitment to join me each week in praying for spiritual renewal.

This week our focus is on praying for our spiritual leaders.

Rarely a week goes by without a news story of a pastor or Christian leader who has been caught or confesses a moral defeat.

It seems the Kingdom of darkness is working overtime to bring down our pastors and spiritual leaders. Satan knows that if he can destroy a pastor, it will affect the church, the Christians in the church and the Kingdom’s reputation in the community.

If he is not successful in tempting a pastor with compromise, he will try and beat him or her down with discouragement. With so many churches struggling, it’s easy for a pastor to feel discouraged and disheartened. (more…)

714PRAYER – Pray for Our Leaders

Today we are praying for our nation’s leaders. Our President, Vice President, and other national leaders have a significant impact on our nation’s culture. They can move a country back toward God, or remove God from the national conversation.

In 1 Timothy Paul encourages us to pray for our leaders.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV)

We may not always agree with our leaders, but we are commanded to pray for them. As Christians, We may disagree on politics, but we can all agree that our national leaders need our prayer.

Here are five prayer topics we can agree on for our national leaders.

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714PRAYER – Heal Our Land

Today, as we pray 2 Chronicles 7:14, we’re focusing on God’s promise of healing. When we pray, He will hear and heal our land.

Our country is in desperate need of healing. Division, anger, and hopelessness abound. These forces are taking their toll on our young people.

When you remove God from your worldview, you are left with nothing but a life of hopelessness.

Could it be that the next generation is suffering the most from removing God from the national conversation? Life is hard. Life without God or hope for the future is often unbearable.

Is it any surprise that their hopelessness shows itself in suicide, gun violence, depression, and anger.

American Academy of Pediatrics, found a nearly 50% increase in adolescent depression over the past 11 years.

After decades of decrease, the suicide rate in the US has been on the rise since 2000. According to the CDC, there was a noticeable spike in 2008. In 2012 suicide was the second leading cause of death for adolescents 12 to 19.

As we pray for God to bring about a spiritual awakening in our country, let’s pray He begins a new work in the lives of the next generation.

Join me in praying for the healing of our country and in the lives of the next generation. Let’s ask the Father to touch this next generation with the Gospel.

Let’s Pray Together,

Father, we join together in praying for healing for our nation. We need You as never before. We know Your heart breaks at the pain this next generation is experiencing. Touch this next generation with your love. We pray for our students and young people. Let them see their need of You.

We agree together, asking for You to release a spiritual awakening across our country. We need You in the forefront of our nation, our churches and in the lives of the next generation. Let them see that hope and peace are only found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Bring about repentance and a return to you in the lives students across our country.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

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