Monday, February 25, 2008

A Call to Repentance: WEEK SEVEN - February 24, 2008

"I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:32)


INTRODUCTION

This week, we continue to press in during WEEK SEVEN of the 40 Weeks of Prayer and Fasting, to offer prayers of repentance for the sin in the church, the sin in the nation, and the blessing of Israel.

We now address these areas:

1. SIN IN THE CHURCH: THE IDOL OF JEALOUSY
2. SIN IN THE NATION: ROE V. WADE
3. THE BLESSING OF ISRAEL: IRANIAN THREAT

SIN IN THE CHURCH: THE IDOL OF JEALOUSY

REPENTANCE FOR SIN IN THE CHURCH:

THE IDOL OF JEALOUSY IN THE HOLY PLACE

(Ezekiel 8:3-5)

Ez. 8:3b: "The spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem to the door of the inner gate that looks toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy."

This image of jealousy is in the Holy Place. Ezekiel sees by vision the sins of the people and the ministries. As a Pastor and Minister of the Gospel, I see the sin of jealousy rampant in the Body of Christ universal. The "Church" like Israel has allowed the spirit of idolatry into our congregations for numbers, dollars, fame, and political power within Christianity. Until the "Church" repents of this "idol of jealousy" that energizes the "spirit of idolatry", we will have no power to resist the spirit of idolatry (which is the spirit of antichrist) from taking over the government of our nation.

It is not the Government Officials who will be held accountable for this sin, but it is the Ministers of the Gospel who must preach the Truth of God and bring first the church into repentance. We wonder as we watch this "spirit" gain momentum across this nation. Ezekiel reveals to us in chapter 8:14 this mystery of iniquity (11 Thess. 2). Tammuz is the Babylonian consort for Adonis. My friends, this spirit has attached itself with brazen ambition for the highest office in our land. The Church of the U.S.A. will not have power over this until we comes into true repentance for the idol of jealousy in our midst that gives place to idolatry.

The people will not elect a Godly President until we have a Godly people. It is the Ministers of the Gospel who have failed the church just as the priesthood failed Israel.

Carolyn Sissom, Pastor

Eastgate Ministries, Inc.

www.eastgateministries.com


SINS OF THE NATION: ROE V. WADE

REPENTANCE FOR THE SINS OF THE NATION:

OVERTURNING ROE V. WADE

As we continue to address the issues of our judicial system that are grieving the heart of our Father, we must fully acknowledge that the sanctioning of the killing of our unborn babies in 1973 was a lynchpin in Satan's work against our nation through the shedding of innocent blood.

We must stand in repentance for the ruling of Roe v. Wade in the U.S. Supreme Court on January 22, 1973.

Since that infamous date, tragically almost 50 million abortions have now been performed in the United States of America -- each one sanctioned by federal law. This holocaust of the unborn must be stopped. Offer earnest intercession, in repentance, for this wicked decree that still exists as "law" today in our land, and ask our Lord to reveal the ROOTS of this evil and how to eradicate it. PRAY FOR THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE.

Recently, Norma McCorvey, who stood as "Jane Roe" in the Roe v. Wade abortion case in 1973) gave her testimony on the steps of the United States Supreme Court, as follows:

MCCORVEY: AMERICA IS SLOWLY DYING OF A HOLOCAUST OF ABORTION

The bitter cold in the nation's capital Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005, did not deter a pro-life activist whose landmark court case led to the legalization of abortion in the United States 32 years ago. Standing outside the U.S. Supreme Court, 57-year-old Norma McCorvey was accompanied by about 35 people -- some with personal experiences with abortion, and others who are lawyers backing McCorvey's request for the high court to reverse Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that made abortion legal.

McCorvey was identified as "Jane Roe" in that controversial case, but for the last decade has charged that she was deceived and manipulated by abortion proponents who needed a test case to challenge the prevailing law at the time. Despite the fact that her case ended up serving as the legal justification for abortion, McCorvey did not abort her own child.

"America is slowly dying of a holocaust of abortion that began with Roe vs. Wade," McCorvey said Tuesday. She said her experience working in abortion clinics in the 1990s and her conversion to Christianity in 1995 made her regret the part she played in making abortion legal. (CNSNews)

- OFFER THANKSGIVING for the courageous public testimony of coming to faith and freedom from guilt through Jesus Christ delivered on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court by Norma McCorvey. PRAY that the Supreme Court will accept her petition to re-hear the 1973 Roe v. Wade case, and will reverse Roe v. Wade. PRAY that the Lord anoint, strengthen, protect and sustain Norma and her lead attorney, Allan Parker of the Justice Foundation. PRAY for the millions of women who have been victimized by abortion. TRACK IN PRAYER by visiting the Web site www.operationoutcry.org.html". [Prayer offered by Intercessors for America


THE BLESSING OF ISRAEL: IRANIAN THREAT

THE BLESSING OF ISRAEL:

IRANIAN THREAT

This week Iranian threats against Israel have increased greatly. There is concern that Iran will respond militarily to last week's assassination of their Hizbullah- Iran go-between and master terrorist, Imad Mugniyah. Whether Iran uses Hamas or Hizbullah, or something else, her leaders have all openly called for Israel's soon destruction - labeling Israel a "dirty microbe", a "wild animal", etc., and that the annihilation of Israel will be soon.

- "Keep not silence, O God: hold not Your peace, and be not still, O God. For, behold, Your enemies make a tumult: and they that hate You have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted against Your hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance." (Psalms 83:1-4)

- Lord, arise. Defend Your name, Word and nation against this satanic threat.

- Set Iranians free from their demonic overlords as You said You would in Jeremiah 49:38: "And I will set My throne in Elam, and will destroy from there the king and the princes, says LORD." (Jeremiah 49:38) [Note: Some Iranian believers see this prophecy about Elam, from Jeremiah 49:34-39 as applying to modern Iran.]

- Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, shake Iran - both spiritually and physically.

(Source: Intercessors for Israel)


A Closing Thought . . .

TRUST - NOT ADJUST

By A.W. Tozer

"Your life is hid with Christ in God." (Col. 3:3)

We ought to recognize one of the great problems in our modern Christianity: those who come to Christ probably have their minds made up that to stay sane they must remain "adjusted" to society around them.

This notion has been drilled into them from their playpen, and it never occurs to them to question it. There is a "norm" out there somewhere to which they must conform, and that norm is above criticism. Their success and happiness depend upon how well they adjust to it; and Christianity, though it may add something to it, must never disagree with the main idea!

This is the popular notion in the world: "To be happy, adjust to the social norm!" The problem is that the idea will not hold up under examination. The world does not know where it is going; it has not found life's highest good; it is instead puzzled, frightened and frustrated.

Thankfully, it was to this kind of world Jesus came. He died for its sin and now lives for the salvation of all who repudiate it!