Shared…
The following excerpt is taken from Grace Vs. Judgment by Keith A. Butler:
The Consequences of Violating the Covenant
August 15, 2005: 63,000 Israeli soldiers and police delivered eviction notices to Israeli settlers living in Gaza and northern Samaria. On October 17, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon authorized mandatory evacuation of residents refusing to leave the Gaza. On August 22, President Bush said, “My vision, my hope, is that one day we’ll see two states—two democratic states—living side-by-side in peace.” From October 23–29, Hurricane Katrina, the largest disaster in United States history, hit Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, devastating New Orleans and forcing one million people from their homes. 225,000 homes were destroyed, 473,000 people were without work, and the estimated cost to insurers was $40.4 billion. The United States government spent up to $112 and $200 billion. The great financial collapse of 2008 during the last days of the Bush presidency is also attributed to this same thing.
I’ve given you a few examples of what happened when the U.S., along with other nations, participated in negotiating land for peace deals. I can identify 57 such events just up to 2005. Notice that the events get bigger and more costly in terms of loss of life, jobs, property, and money. Today, the United States government continues to follow those policies. The Lord says to tell the nation that judgment is coming again. Notice that judgment comes in different forms—weather, economic loss, terrorist attacks, or other disasters.
What Can You Do?
Many people love to quote Second Chronicles 7:14, but it’s important to look at that verse in context. Solomon had obeyed God, giving many tithes and offerings to the building of the temple. He had finished the house of God.
“And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice” (2 Chronicles 7:12).
God then tells him what will happen in the future, if certain things occur: “If I shut up heaven that there will be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people” (v. 13).
Remember, 90% of the people in the world at that time farmed their own food and raised their own cattle, so if it didn’t rain, they experienced unprecedented economic disaster. No rain meant no crops, which meant no money. There would be no work harvesting the crops and nothing with which to feed the animals.
If the locusts devoured the land, the crops would still be destroyed, bringing economic destruction. Pestilence, sickness, disease, and other disasters would also bring about extreme trials. God then says:
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (v. 14).
Do you see why the context is so important? In the midst of pending disaster, God says that if His people—and if you are a believer, you are a member of the body of Christ—humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from wickedness, He will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Believer, God needs you! Whenever Jesus isn’t manifest the way He should be, you are to fill all in all, in every place in the world. Look at Ephesians 1:22–23:
“And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.”
We are that which fills all in all. We are a filler; we are supposed to supply an area that is not full already. Jesus has gone to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God. He’s put up His feet, expecting His enemies to be made His footstool (see Hebrews 10:12–13). The church is tasked with keeping His enemies under His feet, but that cannot happen if His people don’t do these things.
I want to identify some of the things that caused the nations of the world to get to where they are today. God has called me to several countries in Europe, places that have experienced the great revivals of the 16th through the 19th centuries. Although they experienced massive moves of God, today they are some of the least godly places on earth.
If we were to look at a map showing distribution of the world’s major religions, we would see that the United States, most of Africa, and India are the places today with the most evangelical Christians. We think of the latter two as missions destinations, because we think in terms of economic poverty, not spiritual poverty which is actually worse than economic poverty. Spiritual wealth can handle natural poverty!
There are more Christians in China, a community nation, than there are in Europe. In Europe, less than three percent of the population is born again. That is not the will of God! Look at what the Word says:
“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of truth” (1 Timothy 2:3–4).
The only places that have as few Christians as Europe are northern Africa, Indonesia, and the Middle East—nations that follow Islam. If you were God and had designed the church to be filler where supply is lacking, wouldn’t you send your people to these places? Why has this happened in nations that used to be primarily Christian nations? Let’s take another look at Second Chronicles 7:14:
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Yes, there will be opposition to God’s truth—these things will happen—but if God’s people do the following things, then God has promised to forgive and heal.
- First, the body of Christ must humble themselves. When the church comes to the place that the Word of God is not the only standard by which it operates, when it gets secular education, public acceptance, and its own intellect and feelings involved in a matter, the church has lifted itself into a prideful position. To receive God’s promise, the church has to bow down only to God and His Word.
- Second, they need to pray. If the church is not aware of its dependency, it’s not praying a lot.
- Third, the church needs to seek God’s face. Seeking God’s face is not holding just church services; it’s intentionally and regularly spending extended time before God in intercession.
- Fourth, God’s people need to turn from their wicked ways.Only when we do these four things, will we hear from heaven and receive God’s forgiveness and healing. Much has happened in our country. There has been degradation in our culture, eliminating God from our schools and public square and accepting lifestyles that the Word of God opposes. I could go on and on. We’ve turned away from God, and that brings judgment. On top of all that, we are trying to force Israel to divide the land that God said was theirs forever. That is why the Lord has said, “Son and daughter, My mercy has been shown to you all this time. Turn. Stop. There’s a brick wall ahead. You’ve hit it at 5 mph, 30 mph, and 70 mph, but now you’ve floored your accelerator, and you’re about to hit it at 120 mph. If you do, the consequences are going to be disastrous!
Prayed…
Father, give us wisdom in these last days
By Your mercy and by Your grace, You are leading and guiding us
We pray for those in authority, give them eyes to see and ears to hear
Give every pastor, prophet, teacher, and apostle the words to speak, Father
Trusting You for Your gifts to be upon us to fulfill Your will and plan
Awaken Your body, that they would be right on time and right in time
Alarms are going off in the Church of the Living God
We will be in position for operations of and by Your Spirit
You have called us to be distribution centers in these last days
Declaring boldness and courage; no, we will not back down!
Proclaiming what Your Word has said regarding the nation of Israel
Loosing angels and ministering spirits to assist and accompany and preserve them, Father
You are making a way where there seems to be no way!
Pierce the hearts of governmental leaders, that the voice of the people would be heard
Reveal the consequences to them that will transpire, if we cause Israel to stumble or fall
We pray for the Jewish people here in the United States, open up their eyes concerning Israel
Pleading the blood of Jesus over the Golan border
Applying the blood of Jesus over the borders that You declared, for it is Your land, Father
Calling for a greater awakening, a greater movement in Israel amongst Your people, Lord God
Boldness and courage for Your people, Father, that they will not back down in Jesus’ name!
Covering every border with a blaze of fire, that land shall not be given up
Praying for protection and direction in the name of Jesus!
Give them wisdom on what to do and when to do it, Lord
Preparations, preparations, preparations!
Moving and standing upon the rock of Your Word!
Grant wisdom and courage to those in the military
Give them divine strategies of and by Your Spirit, dear God!
Lifting those codes before You, only You can decode it, Father
Sprinkling the blood over the people, over the land, and over the borders
By faith, we apply the blood in Jesus’ name!
Stability in all of their ways, stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty!
Your name is above every other name
Give them help from heave, safety and protection from heaven, today!
Lifting up the Jewish people in our own city and state
We watch over them, Father
Pleading the blood of Jesus around them, open their eyes, Lord God
Give them the strength to stand up and take their position in support of Israel
Praying for the President of the United States, pleading the blood over every decision he needs to make
Coming in by the Spirit into some board rooms, where decisions are being made
Change their hearts toward Israel, and we declare that Your will be done, Father
Calling for the United States would stand in support and stand together in support of Israel
Standing in the power of agreement over the CUFI meetings in Washington
Applying the blood of Jesus over every meeting, every representative, every attendee, and every speaker
Give them the words to speak, ears to hear, and eyes to see the importance of supporting Israel
Assistance of and by Your Spirit, dear God
Greater in dimension, scope, and depth of it, Lord
Momentum for CUFI in Jesus’ name!
Every speaker and every meeting we cover by the blood today!
What is needed to be taken care of will be taken care of!
Divine supernatural direction and protection over every leader of CUFI
Saturate them with Your presence, Father
Provide them with Your resources right on time and right in time
Clarity, wisdom and understanding for every state representative in Jesus’ name!
Praying over the government and leaders in Canada, covering them with the blood of Jesus
Glory to God, they have begun to move in Your right will and plan and we thank You for it, Father
We declare an awakening and a revival in Canada
Covering every border of Canada with the blood of Jesus
Every evil plan of the enemy, we cast you down in Jesus’ name!
Thank You that we have access to You through the precious blood of Jesus
We give You all the glory, honor, and praise today, Lord
Hallelujah!
