Prayer Targets: Innocent Bloodshed, Extraordinary Prayer; Solemn Assemblies; More

April 22, 2020

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)

Dear Praying Friends,

We are facing life and death issues in America. Our problems go far beyond the pandemic. We serve to promote prayer rooted in scripture (2 Chronicles 7:14, 1 Timothy 2:2-8; Luke 18:1-8 among them) and the teachings and testimonies of men and women of extraordinary prayer and faith -- from Genesis to Revelation. God has put us here, in this time and in this country, to be part of His solution.

God rules over the nations. And He uses the serious biblical, Spirit-led, and faith-filled prayers of His people to change lives, save souls, heal bodies, minds, and spirits, and to build up churches and revive them when they grow tired or stumble. He hears the prayers of the brokenhearted, the sick, and the needy. He teaches us to pray often, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." He uses our prayers to work miracles and advance His Kingdom on this earth! Our prayers, mixed with obedience, move heaven and earth, empowering individuals, families, and churches to advance the spread of the gospel and righteousness in the land. Our prayers work with God to destroy the works of the devil and even raise up righteousness (Ps 2; 149:5-9; Jer 1:9-10; 31:27-28; I Cor 6:2-3).

I have written much about abortion in recent issues. It is one of the greatest evidences of our nation having abandoned God. While President Trump has done much to restrain abortion in our land, a growing number of states are passing laws to limit and restrict abortion. Nevertheless, 62 million abortions later, far too many women are spiritually and psychologically damaged even if they survived abortion and retained physical health.

Only God's people can turn the tide in America to a wave of life and revival through prayer and action. Some weeks ago, we wrote about Margaret Sanger having laid the foundations for the strategic abortion plan. Dr. Bernard Nathanson (4/15/20) built on her foundation to co-found the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL), gaining widespread support for abortion and ultimately its legalization using his 8-point strategy to achieve his goals. He succeeded in winning generations of men and women to the ideology of "choice" through deception, a plethora of outright lies, and modern public relations and advertising to persuade America to believe abortion was OK. It was not until after he had been personally responsible for the abortion of 75,000 babies that he was convicted and shaken to moral senses. He saw, in his first live viewing of an abortion via sonogram technology, the tiny baby in the womb struggling to avoid the abortionist's deadly instruments. With its mouth open, clearly the baby was screaming aloud although she could not be heard. The "abortion king" instantly decided he had performed his last abortion. Repentant, he sought God's forgiveness. He later produced a short video, "The Silent Scream," to warn the world just what an abortion really is -- the intentional killing of an innocent unborn human being.

Terry Beatley, a pro-life home school mom, now author and speaker, promised Dr. Nathanson in his declining years that she would carry on his story. This abominable evil has not only killed more than 62 million unborn babies, but damaged the lives of millions more mothers, fathers, and others involved in the decision to abort. Whether knowing or unknowing, each carries a burden of guilt into their future that can only be lifted by repentance and faith in God who alone can forgive, cleanse, and heal hearts. God sent His sinless Son into the world for that very purpose, that whoever would believe in His death, burial, and resurrection, might be saved. Unfortunately, too many women who have had abortions join the ranks of abortion advocates. Or, if they go to church, watch Christian messages on TV, or otherwise expose themselves to the gospel, shrink in silence, ashamed of their dark secret. Jesus said He did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. It is our job as intercessors to pray for and volunteer and/or financially support good pregnancy care centers and ministries that lovingly reach out to women who are thinking of an abortion in order to help them choose life for their baby, choose eternal life for themselves, and ultimately their child and future children.

Abortion is not only an individual sin; it is national sin that we must repent of as a people. We all share some guilt. We have elected people to public office who advocate for abortion. Many advocate for using our tax dollars to pay for abortions. As citizens of a free nation "of, by and for the people," we elect our leaders and so affirm the policies they support, advocate for, enact, and execute. Among "we the people," Christians must do their absolute best to elect candidates who share biblically informed values. We must participate in the process. Abortion, the shedding of innocent blood, is a bellwether issue. Those who advocate for life will usually be good on other issues, too. But when we vote for an abortion advocate, we are voting for abortion and for a culture of death. Of course, we should examine how a candidate stands on other biblical values fundamental to our faith -- marriage, family, religious liberty, and other values pleasing to God. The Christian who says, "Politics, bahh! I don't get involved in politics" is denying the responsibility to be salt and light in our nation and denying the responsibility to love our neighbor (all our fellow citizens and those yet unborn). As a Christian in a free nation and a contributing citizen in our free nation, we must "render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's" (Mt 22:21).

We are each citizens who have a part in the government of, for, and by the people. God hates the shedding of innocent blood and no one could be more innocent than a baby that has not yet emerged from the womb. We are warned in Scripture, "Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, 'But we knew nothing about this,' does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?" (Pr 24:11-12)

We are deep into another presidential election season. Primaries are underway and the General Election is just 194 days away. As a nation, we have accumulated a record of having shed the blood of over 62 million babies, ripping them from their mother's womb and taking their lives in the most gruesome ways imaginable. It is easy to look away. But we must repent as a nation for what we have already done, and we must change our ways, speedily.

Near the end of the Civil War, during his second inaugural address, President Abraham Lincoln warned:

Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."

In the Civil War, between 650-750,000 people died -- soldiers and civilians. What would it take for God to requite the blood of 62 million innocent babies spilt willfully by abortion? If we do not repent, the price would be unthinkable. Thankfully for us, Christ has spilled His blood for the forgiveness of sins. The Bible illustrates the Solemn Assembly as the means for any people group to confess and repent of their shared corporate sins and find God's forgiveness and favor. (See Call2Fall.com/Solemn-Assembly-Guides. Here is in-depth information about solemn assemblies, especially The Solemn Assembly by Rev. Richard Owen Roberts and a sample proclamation.)

Pray over this list of scriptures regarding God's view of humankind, whom He created in His image and likeness. God loves all people, hates the shedding of innocent blood, and deals with individuals and nations who disregard His law, Thou shalt not kill. You can read through these linked scriptures on a single page: Gen 1:26; 2:7; 4:8-10; 6:5-6; 9:5-6; Lev 17:1, 11; 18:21; 20:1-5; Dt 19:4-5, 10-13; 21: 1-8; Pr 1:11, 18; 12:6; 6:16-19; Ps 72:12-1; 94:20-21; 139:13-24; Is 5:20; Jer 1:5; 19:4-5; Eze 35:6; Heb 9:11-14. They are but a tiny sample of the scriptures pertaining to God's attitude toward life and the shedding of innocent blood. I recommend, given the current practice of abortion in America, that all Christians do a word study of every scripture where the Lord mentions blood, including creation, the Law of Noah, the Law of Moses, and the sacrificial blood offerings that point to the once for all offering of the blood of Jesus Christ as a propitiation for sin. This is but a smattering of the 392 Scriptures that speak of blood.

Finally, please pray over these matters: 1) Elections: Primary and General (obtain an online voter guide, comparison of the party platforms and the current Congress's Score Card; 2) First Responders: Hear Chaplain Jack Crans share a brief word with first responders and all of us amid the COVID-19; 3) Kim Jong-Un has undergone heart surgery, causing even greater concern among some regarding the North Korean government's stability. Meanwhile, already persecuted Christians are suffering even more under the weight of COVID-19; 4) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz have agreed to take turns at the helm of the Israeli government (see Duel or Dual Leadership? and listen to Tony); 5) Planned Parenthood will spend $45 million between now and November 3rd to defeat pro-life candidates and support "pro-choice" office seekers; 6) West Virginia Pastor Dan Biser is hosting a virtual Solemn Assembly this Saturday and Sunday afternoon (view via YouTube Live or Facebook Live). Pastor Biser, Dr. Ronny Floyd, Bishop Doug Small, Doug Stringer, Pastor Carter Conlon, and Tom Philips will be speaking and leading participants in prayer and repentance. Please don't forget to pray for the National Day of Prayer, Call2Fall, Promise Keepers, and the major national and worldwide Solemn Assembly called The Return, which is in the advance planning stages for September. Look for more information on each of these.

Thank you for taking these prayer issues seriously and thank you for praying!

https://www.frc.org/get.cfm?it=PW

The following is from the President of Care Net National:

 "Calls to Care Net's Pregnancy Decision Line have increased by 40% since March 1st! As we suspected, COVID-19 leaves many people at risk for abortion who wouldn't have even considered it a short time ago. The reasons are predictable... more time at home with a partner and a suddenly less rushed schedule, job losses, and economic uncertainty."